Ch.276271 – Investment Presentation

*WHOOSH-*

NoName easily caught the swirling fireball.

She immediately created a vortex with Karman Vortex magic, completely dispelling the heat.

They say master mages can gauge an opponent’s skill just by sensing the aura they unconsciously emit.

While Yoon Si-hoo hadn’t reached that level yet, he could be certain of one thing.

‘This attack is so lightweight compared to NoName’s.’

Even with the same fire magic, the temperature and power were completely different.

That’s why Si-hoo felt no threat from his opponent who was displaying magic that amounted to mere child’s play.

After several of his spells proved ineffective, the Altair Academy boy gritted his teeth and charged at Si-hoo.

In that moment when everything seemed to move in slow motion,

[Why can’t I take you down?]

Si-hoo suddenly recalled a question he had once asked NoName.

It was a frustrated complaint he had voiced while learning grappling theory from her.

[Don’t doubt yourself. From what I can see, you’re doing plenty well.]

This wasn’t the answer Si-hoo had wanted.

But as if to prove her point, Si-hoo tracked the boy’s movements, dodged his punch, and grabbed his collar with precision.

“Huh?!”

Si-hoo slipped one arm deep between the boy’s armpit, dropped to his knee and crouched. It was a clean shoulder throw executed without a moment’s hesitation.

“WOOOOOAAAH!”

The thunderous cheers from the audience stands erupted at that moment.

The roaring applause cleared all distracting thoughts from his mind.

Si-hoo immediately mounted the boy who had been thrown to the ground, clenching his fist tightly.

He channeled as much mana as possible into the simple enchantment writer he wore in glove form.

[Enchantment: Liquid Helium]

[Cast: Rapid Cooling]

The magic he had practiced hundreds of times over the past three months with NoName’s help unfolded.

With each swing of his fist, sharp ice spikes formed on his gloves, mercilessly hammering the boy’s aura barrier.

*CRACK-SIZZLE*

This wasn’t enough.

Recalling his match against NoName, Si-hoo raised his fist again, but his arm suddenly froze mid-air.

The cold sensation piercing his lungs snapped him back to reality.

The Altair boy was already covering his head with both hands, trembling violently.

The match had already been decided.

‘I really just hit someone…!’

Though it wasn’t much different from practice, the weight of a real match couldn’t be ignored.

Si-hoo clutched his still-racing heart and followed the referee’s instructions, standing in the center of the arena to bow to the students and teachers.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have the chance to see the contrasting expressions of joy and disappointment on the academy principals’ faces.

Si-hoo dashed to the waiting room as if escaping.

‘Honestly, I think I did pretty well?’

He exited the dark corridor with an excited heart, wondering what praise his friends would offer.

Knowing Ha-ru and Kim Han-gyeol’s personalities, they would act like his victory was a given.

‘I hope Yu-na praises me too.’

As always, he didn’t expect any praise from NoName.

With these complicated thoughts, Si-hoo flung open the door to the second-grade elementary division waiting room.

“Guys! I won my rehearsal match… Huh?”

There was no applause or cheers.

Instead, Si-hoo was bewildered by their complete indifference.

Wondering if this was some kind of prank, he called out to the children huddled together in the corner.

“Oh? Si-hoo’s back?”

“Yoon Si-hoo, where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“I went to the rehearsal… for the match…”

“Rehearsal? Oh! Is it that time already? Oh no, I’m sorry…! We completely forgot to watch your match!”

“What?”

Si-hoo’s shoulders slumped at the children’s apologies.

Kim Han-gyeol patted his back encouragingly, but it didn’t heal his wounded heart.

Instead, Yu-na took Si-hoo’s hand and led him to the television.

Even Si-hoo found it ridiculous how that simple touch melted away his hurt feelings.

“Right now, NoName is on TV.”

“I was on broadcast too…”

“Come on, come on! I said I’m sorry. Forgive me?”

“Fine.”

Since it was Yu-na who spoke, he didn’t press the issue further.

Si-hoo turned his attention to the television to see what had captured everyone’s interest.

[Hmmmm… Haah!]

[Wait, is that smoke? Is this really okay, Contestant NoName?]

[Yes, yes. It’s created entirely by magic, so there’s no sensation at all. Would you like to try some?]

[Haha… No thank you. Eating that could cause problems on several fronts.]

[Anyway, we’ve incorporated various fun features like this. For more details, please check our website. Part of the proceeds will be used to develop treatments for multiple sclerosis. We sincerely thank KBS for allowing this one-minute mid-program advertisement.]

“What are those… horns?”

“Yeah… she says they’re horns. Isn’t it amazing…?”

Si-hoo blinked several times in shock and confusion.

Black horns protruding from her head.

NoName closed her eyes and gently infused them with aura, causing them to glow red-hot like branding irons.

Wispy smoke rose from the marshmallows placed on the tips of her horns as they turned crispy brown.

With a completely nonchalant expression, NoName picked up a marshmallow and popped it into her mouth.

Her face looked utterly serene as she gazed into the camera.

Si-hoo had to admit it.

NoName was truly an unpredictable person.

* * *

[Broadcasting Commission issues ‘caution’ legal sanction against KBS for PPL in ‘Seoul Regional Academy Competition Rehearsal’]

[Startup with an 8-year-old major shareholder? What exactly is ‘Bio-Akashic’?]

[Innate Magic ‘Adera’ already used over 100,000 times in Japan alone. What is the body-modification magic ‘Demon King’s Horns (tentative name)’ showcased by NoName?]

[‘Katsuhata Financial Group’ invests 500 million yen (¥) in biotech venture ‘Bio-Akashic’ developing new drugs]

Broadcasting Commission sanctions?

Perfect for noise marketing.

Plus, KBS wouldn’t mind the deal at all since they could justify it to viewers by contributing to the development of treatments for intractable diseases.

With the Katsuhata school’s investment news coming at just the right timing, the fledgling startup could gain unprecedented reputation in a short period.

“Our streamer seems truly remarkable. Do you have some ability to see the future?”

I quietly sipped my coffee at words that seemed to praise me too highly.

It was rare to see someone use the term “streamer” in real life.

Well, it’s a term used on Twissy after all.

“So where should I begin, Executive Director Lee?”

“It feels so awkward being called Executive Director… Couldn’t you just call me by my username?”

“What? In a setting like this?”

The man shrugged nonchalantly as if there was nothing wrong with it.

“Hmm…”

I fidgeted with the business card he had handed me while considering.

[DuWorld Innovation Strategy Division, Executive Director Lee Hyeon-seo]

Lee Hyeon-seo was an executive director at a famous fintech company that consistently ranked in the top 10 in domestic sales.

But his age was the issue.

No matter how advanced South Korea’s plastic surgery technology might be, he looked no older than his late twenties.

‘I thought he was a scammer at first when he said he was an executive director…’

The hint came from knowing that DuWorld had been under owner management rather than professional management until eight years ago.

Only after searching for DuWorld’s shareholding disclosures and understanding their complex governance structure could I nod in agreement.

This person is DuWorld’s actual owner.

“Then I hope you’ll consider investing in our company positively, NyangsterCall.”

One of the biggest donors in our stream.

Adella’s passionate fan.

“Yes! I came to support you offline, NoName.”

Someone who had barely appeared on stream for the past few months suddenly showed up with money.

“Haha…”

I let out an awkward laugh but quickly composed myself. After all, he’s a valuable investor for our cash-strapped company.

“The Katsuhata Group only invested a measly 5 billion. When I saw that news, I felt so relieved. If I had known you started a company, I would have been the first to rush over and invest.”

“Let me explain our business items step by step first.”

“Haha, yes!”

This person seems ready to invest before even hearing the explanation.

I don’t know what makes him so blindly confident in me.

For now, I seriously explained the company’s business goals and direction using the PowerPoint that Baek Hochan had given me.

“While ‘Bio-Akashic’ has been introduced to the public as a biotech venture, the multiple sclerosis treatment is just part of our business items. Of course, don’t misunderstand—our business direction is different, but the possibility of the treatment passing Phase 3 clinical trials is internally estimated at over 99%… Why are you smiling?”

I asked Lee Hyeon-seo who was chuckling.

“Haha, it’s nothing. I just find it interesting that you refer to something as significant as a new drug as a ‘business item.'”

“Is that so? I apologize if my word choice was inappropriate.”

“No, no, no! Not at all! I just thought it was cute. I’ll listen seriously again.”

I’m really not cut out for management.

The CEO Baek Hochan insisted that investor meetings must be conducted through me, which is why I went through the trouble of writing an outing plan to come here.

If he makes me suffer like this and then backs out of investing, I’ll have to either serve him a spirit tablet or throw a brick at him on a dark street.

After finishing the explanation about the multiple sclerosis treatment development status, I moved on to the Demon King’s Horns.

The innate magic “Demon King’s Horns” was a magic that recreated demon horns for when I lost my horns in emergencies in my previous life.

It was merely a structural “recreation,” and the magic itself was as empty as a tin can.

So it was our company’s job to breathe abilities into the horns.

“In short, if the horns are like smartphones, each horn ability can be compared to applications.”

“Applications?”

“Yes, more precisely, we’ll be releasing various editions. For example, the simple casting magic I previously used on the Katsuhata heir only had the ‘purification’ function.”

“Hmm… Are there no other functions?”

“That’s something I’ll discuss with our employees. As you saw in the rehearsal broadcast, we can implement functions like converting mana into thermal energy. The possibilities are endless.”

“From my perspective, these Demon King’s Horns seem closer to recreational magic rather than combat magic.”

“Yes, that’s right. Most 3-circle magics are like that. Actually, you can think of them as disposable toys.”

It’s a mistake to think of demons as a warrior race.

They were just humans with horns on their heads and slightly less family affection.

Just as we naturally use both hands, demons used their horns naturally in daily life as if they were organs.

“We usually draw magic circles with our hands because hands are the most sensitive organs for handling mana. But what if we had another organ on our body similar to hands?”

“Then anyone could do double-casting, triple-casting.”

“Bingo. That’s exactly it. We plan to release evolved 5-circle Demon King’s Horns for professionals. Wouldn’t they be incredibly useful in industrial settings?”

I never intended to include all functions in the Demon King’s Horns anyway.

The horn as an organ is as profound as the aura heart, and there would be no end if one became engrossed in mastering it.

But what if we use just one function per magic?

Not only would it be safe, but our company would virtually monopolize the only hardware of its kind in this world.

“How much would you like to invest?”

I can confidently say that Bio-Akashic is at its cheapest right now.