Ch.305300 – The Lonely Name Room

Like admiring Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, everyone tilted their heads back to take in the empty ghost city before them.

The view of the city from hundreds of meters up—like an eagle’s perspective—resembled both a painting and sometimes a miniature model.

Those witnessing this fantastic scenery were divided between those who smiled and those who couldn’t.

“It’s so beautiful…”

“Where could this be? Rome? Florence?”

“Let’s take pictures and look it up later!”

The ice mirror showing the world beyond began to sublimate into vapor as time passed.

The cold air gently settled on the children’s cheeks.

They giggled with delight, experiencing the wonder of magic firsthand.

But Kim Seok-il, Raon’s Vice Clan Leader, couldn’t share in the laughter with others.

“Seven years… how lonely must she have been for seven years…”

Perhaps he was experiencing early menopause.

Tears rolled down the middle-aged man’s face.

“How suffocating that tiny capsule must have been… surely she wanted to run free in a vast world like this…”

According to Descartes’ theory of worldview, expanding one’s mental world fundamentally begins with confronting inner solitude.

Perhaps it would have been better not to know about the existence of others from the beginning.

The desperate reality of being unable to connect with others despite their presence would certainly have drawn NoName deep into her inner world.

“And it wasn’t even just seven years.”

Creating such a vast world in merely seven years would be nearly impossible.

Like those with Savant Syndrome, her time likely flowed more slowly than others.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume she felt trapped for 10 or 20 years.

Kim Seok-il couldn’t speak until the ice mirror disappeared, looking at NoName with sorrowful eyes.

‘Right. What does it matter whether NoName helps our clan or not? People should come before the clan.’

Kim Seok-il found himself reflecting on how he had viewed people merely as economic resources until now.

Every person has emotions and self-agency.

Therefore, even if she had no future connection with Raon Clan, he wanted to support her path forward.

That was the resolution of Kim Seok-il, the human being.

The play continued.

[Actually, the great magician Rosalin had a terrible curse placed on her by a witch. The more magic she used, the younger she would become.]

“What? Me?”

“NoName, quickly!”

“Uh… waaah?”

“Louder!”

“Oh geez… WAAAH!”

[Having used all her mana, Rosalin reverted to a one-year-old baby, forgetting all memories of Romeo. Romeo and Juliet adopted Rosalin as their daughter, and they all lived happily ever after! Whew!]

5:45 PM.

Due to NoName’s unexpected magic viewing time, the play was extended by 15 minutes.

Pressed for time, the narrator hastily created a story with an ending where everyone could be happy.

“Bravo!”

Kim Seok-il gave a sincere standing ovation, and the audience responded with whistles.

The narrator, apparently quite parched, gulped down a 500ml bottle of water.

The Raon Clan members who had preserved the children’s innocence all came out to give closing remarks.

The seemingly endless applause continued for quite some time.

“Hmm?”

Sensing a familiar presence, Kim Seok-il turned around.

There was someone who hadn’t finished applauding—Professor Cheon Kyu-jin.

“Oh my! Aren’t you NoName’s father! I had no idea you were here. I was too busy to greet you properly!”

Kim Seok-il’s waist bent at a 90-degree angle.

Professor Cheon waved his hands dismissively and helped the bowing Kim Seok-il stand up.

“No, it’s fine. I should be thanking the Raon Clan for indulging NoName’s stubbornness.”

“Do you have a seat for your daughter later? I could offer mine if needed.”

“Oh, that won’t be necessary. NoName will be in the next play too.”

“What? What do you mean…?”

“Hansel and Gretel, I mean.”

“NoName is in the Changcheon-Namgung guys’ performance? Why…?”

This was a moment that slightly shook Kim Seok-il’s earlier firm resolution.

‘Well, I suppose kids can do that… I shouldn’t connect this to our clan’s interests.’

He felt distinctly uncomfortable, like he’d been blindsided.

“NoName seems to have been magic-starved for a while. I’m so grateful that the clan willingly covered the costs—I’ll treat you to a meal sometime.”

“Ah, a meal…! Yes, yes, that would be great! I’ll visit whenever you call! What’s a few tens of millions of won compared to nurturing a growing seedling… what could be more rewarding in this world! Haha!”

“The Raon Clan Leader is truly generous.”

“Haha, I’m still just the acting leader. I appreciate your kind words.”

Consumed by the desire not to miss an opportunity for a private lunch with Cheon Kyu-jin, Kim Seok-il regained his peace of mind.

‘Right, what’s a children’s play anyway! Opportunities like this don’t come around often!’

That’s when it happened.

Ding-!

A direct text from the Korea Mana Corporation.

Kim Seok-il’s face twisted grimly as he checked the content.

[Korea Mana Corporation has sent an invoice to Raon (Special Purpose Magic Support Joint Office-Clan). Please pay within the payment deadline.

Purpose: Wide-area Mid-level Circle(5) -glacies imago- magic casting

Amount: 208,439,100 won (Total: 240,993,100 won)

Payment deadline: 2051/12/31

32,554,000 won of the invoice amount has been paid by ■■ Industries Co., Ltd.

For inquiries about the invoice, please contact the billing company. +See more]

“T-two hundred million! What 5th circle!”

Kim Seok-il, veins bulging in his neck, turned his head back.

“Hehe.”

Professor Cheon gave a benevolent smile.

It was definitely not just his imagination that this unparalleled father-daughter scam duo seemed like devils.

* * *

Handal and Guraedal, their black uniforms fluttering, are being chased by a witch.

That’s just a figure of speech—due to stage constraints, it feels more like they’re circling around me.

I carefully examined the faults of the three people.

The siblings committed breaking and entering and property damage, the witch responded with unlawful confinement causing injury and special intimidation, and the siblings attempted murder by burning the witch with fire magic.

If there were a trial, the key issue would be whether the final act could be considered self-defense.

Of course, I couldn’t expect a proper trial in this play’s world.

“Beautiful duck with red horns! Please take us across the river!”

“A terrifying flesh-eating witch is chasing us! We’re completely out of energy!”

Handal… no, Hansel and Gretel’s story had been adapted into a chaotic escape story featuring senior students, and even I found it difficult to watch.

The narrator sister had apparently given up on commentary and put down her microphone early, while the Changcheon-Namgung clan members chuckled at their juniors’ antics.

Still, it was quite popular.

The acrobatic scenes frequently performed earned enthusiastic responses from the young elementary school children.

I roughly made up my mind.

Pulling the hood of my yellow duck pajamas over my head and dragging my uncomfortable duck shoes, I walked toward them.

Quack-quack-quack-quack-!

The strange squeaking sound from the duck feet immediately drew everyone’s attention.

Then I lay face down on the floor.

“Step on me to cross.”

I needed to help them cross the river, but I didn’t want to just let them go.

It reminded me of the young nobles who once tried to hunt me down.

With my mana depleted from the earlier magic, this was the best I could do.

If they’re confident, they could try using lightness techniques.

* * *

[NoName: I got an award.]

[Adella: Busy.]

[NoName: Just look at this.]

[Adella: ?]

[NoName: (Sent a photo.)]

[NoName: It’s a Popular Character Award trophy. Cute, right?]

“Yaaawn. Ughhhh…”

I sprawled out holding my phone, fighting off waves of drowsiness with yawns.

The Magic Dream Contest group award went to the Raon Clan for showing that precious scenery.

But Han-gyeol’s great-uncle didn’t seem particularly pleased.

I think people should be able to find joy in small things, but perhaps adults lose their childlike wonder.

The Popular Character Award was determined through rigorous audience voting, with the finals coming down to ‘Rosalin vs. Duck.’

I’m not sure why the duck was so popular.

Rosalin received 345 votes and the duck got 155, making Rosalin the final winner.

That’s how I got this golden trophy of Neverland’s mascot ‘Quackquack.’

‘Ah. Maybe young kids just simply like ducks? Come to think of it, Neverland’s mascot is a duck too.’

Even after the contest ended, I shook hands with audience members one by one, promoting the Devil’s Horn.

I figured I’d fulfilled my duty as a major shareholder and started heading home.

Professor Cheon had already fallen asleep a while ago.

The steering wheel was diligently turning by itself in autonomous driving mode.

I was so bored that I kept messaging Adella, but that kid had no intention of responding.

“Hmm?”

[Group Chat: “Lonely NoName Room” #NoName #Lonely #Pics #LonelyNoNameRoom #NoChat]

[1487/1500 members | Created 2051.7.23.]

A massive chat room trending in real-time searches.

I entered it as if in a trance.

Why would a single room have 1,500 people?

Cephiron Academy’s elementary division doesn’t even have 500 students, so 1,500 is three times that size.

[NoName has entered.]

[Notice: 1. No conversation allowed (text emoticons permitted)

2. When entering, please upload 2 NoName images instead of greeting

3. Only NoName (No Name) photos, GIFs, videos allowed (bundled sending recommended)

4. NoName is love.

Breaking rules may result in immediate removal without warning.]

The cute-styled notice welcomed me.

I was about to type something but hesitated because of the rules.

Looking through the participant list, there were hundreds of people using my name.

“What is this?”

Suddenly, a notification sound rang.

(NoName Neverland Duck Costume.jpg)

(ThumbsUpNoName.jpg)

(NosebleedNoName.jpg)

(NoNameHighlyRates.jpg)

I was surprised at first, but after 5 minutes, I understood the room’s purpose and culture.

“They want me to upload 2 images when entering? I don’t have any.”

While I don’t particularly care about portrait rights, I hadn’t saved any of those photos.

I briefly pulled the curtain separating the front and back seats and turned on the light.

[Camera]

Selfie.

Not just in this life, but in my previous life, and probably the life before that, I don’t think I’d ever taken one except for college applications.

I heard that a 45-degree angle looks good, but when I stretched my arm out, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Maybe because of the lighting, my pale skin and slightly haggard appearance combined to create a look that wasn’t particularly good for others to see.

Still, rather than repeating this embarrassing act three or four more times, I just pressed the send button.

(photo1.jpg)

(photo2.jpg)

“Hmm…”

For the second photo, I specifically posed with the Popular Character Award trophy.

With technologies like deepfakes being so advanced, I needed something to prove it was really me.

“What? No reaction?”

Just as I thought that and tossed my phone aside, it vibrated violently, shaking the seat.

[Unread messages: 135]

Startled, I turned my phone back on and checked the group chat.

(GaspNoName.jpg)

(WhyIsThisNoName.jpg)

(NoName(оﾟдﾟо)NoName.jpg)

(HornedNoName.jpg)

(WhoAreYouNoName.jpg)

(HelloNoName.jpg)

(EvilLaughNoName.jpg)

(CollectingPicsNoName.jpg)

(ThankYouNoName.jpg)

(ElsaNoName.jpg)

(LetItGoNoName.jpg)

“Wow…”

I truly realized how wide the world is and how many interesting people there are.

[NoName: Hello.]

It wasn’t entirely unpleasant that a single photo of mine could provoke such intense reactions from 1,500 people, so I engaged in one-sided chat with them until I arrived home.

Fortunately, they didn’t kick me out.