Ch.311306 – Countless Handshakes

No matter the climate or environment, green trees grow abundantly like weeds all over the world, and apple-shaped bulbs light up the night paths instead of stars.

Christmas was just two weeks away.

The original meaning of celebrating Jesus’s birth had faded across time and space, and it was now mostly accepted as a day marking the end of the year.

[Only I♡N Seoul]

Seoul was no exception.

Befitting a hologram powerhouse nation, outdoor advertisements played on the walls of tall buildings.

A girl wearing a red Santa hat jumps out of a gift box.

She draws a magic circle, and cold air flows from the gift box, constructing a massive ice castle.

Hopping in place.

Twirling clockwise.

Walking toward the camera with bouncy steps, NoName grabs the microphone and begins speaking.

[Modern Outlet is holding a special Christmas event, so please check the QR code below for details. Ah, this has been Little Santa NoName. Merry Christmas!]

Her refreshing voice echoed through the boring eight-lane road during rush hour.

Office workers were all busy searching for the source of the sound.

And they discovered NoName in her Santa outfit.

She was a child who had been appearing frequently in various advertisements lately.

An incomprehensible being who solved mathematical problems with intelligence far beyond human average and defeated seniors seven years her senior in duels.

Various conspiracy theories circulated—that she wasn’t really 8 years old, that she was a super-soldier whose brain had been modified by Walpurgis—but the truth remained unknown.

Since she lived in a world quite different from ordinary people, there was a considerable distance.

However, NoName’s appearances in various media made people think differently.

“Was that child always this pretty?”

It’s extremely rare for someone to say “pretty” rather than “cute” when looking at a child’s appearance.

True, she had a small face and big eyes, but beyond that, there was a strange charm that caught the public’s attention.

And what might have remained simply a “feeling” was transformed through the careful attention of marketing professionals into “sales.”

[NoName surpasses Lee Sang-yoon and ENVY, ranks 8th in advertising model brand reputation. Are major corporations now obsessed with Name?]

* * *

As NoName set a record by filming 10 advertisements in a month, online communities buzzed with talk about her.

[NoName’s going absolutely crazy now that her limiter’s off lolololol]

And she’s only accepting ads from mega-corporations like Samsung, Nike, Modern, Baskin, and Gigastudy lolol

More surprising than getting 10 ads is that she cherry-picked from hundreds of offers.

[Comments]

-Each one pays at least 100 million won.

└ Now I see why she didn’t get the Wolf Award lol. One lick of ice cream = 100 million won lolol

└ That explains it lolol

-I want to pinch Farmer NoName’s cheeks, she’s seriously adorably cute TT

-Baskin messed up their marketing from the start. Instead of just using her as a model, they should have released a NoName edition ice cream. It would have sold out nationwide.

└ You’re a genius?

└ What flavor would NoName be…

└ Kyaaaaaaah!

[Name, did I ever wish for you to be this happy…]

Actually, that’s right.

Instead of the government that’s done nothing for you,

Grow up strong by sucking the marrow from these corporations.

[Comments]

-ENVY’s ad rate is 1 billion won, and NoName’s is barely 200 million, so what exactly did she surpass? (genuinely curious)

└ Idiot, ENVY is a 5-member group. Plus, their agency takes a cut, but NoName pockets everything herself.

-I don’t watch idol music videos, but I never miss NoName’s ads lol

-Yes, this is how you should make money TT

[Why NoName’s ads have been so successful.hmmteresting]

1. Minimal relative deprivation. What little existed was completely neutralized by her donating public service ad fees.

2. Patriotic marketing potential. Rejecting the Swiss immigration offer was probably the biggest factor.

3. Unlike idols, her image isn’t fixed, allowing for a wide advertising spectrum. She can maintain both premium image and mass appeal.

4. She’s just extremely cute (most important). When properly styled, most child actors can’t even compare.

(SantaName.jpg)

Simply GOD.

[Comments]

-I didn’t understand why people were obsessing over a poor kid like she’s an idol… but now I kind of get it.

└ Cool-pretender-

-Her past is too tragic to feel any relative deprivation…

└ She even suffered a terrorist attack from a mentally ill person.

└ People seem to like her more because she’s so bright despite her difficult life.

-Is there really no limit if you’re just smart? I’m an aspiring actor, and I felt the wall after seeing her public service ad.

└ That was truly legendary, shame it got buried in controversy.

└ I still don’t understand why it became controversial. Name surely knew what she was choosing.

-She’s only appeared on broadcast TV once for the Academy Competition, but has 10 ads lol. Truly unprecedented.

-Is this the ad Spirit Bomb?

[I want to send Name a gift, what are her hobbies?]

Based on her image, I think she’d like embroidery, knitting, classical music appreciation, flower arranging, and tea time!

[Comments]

-Whoa… reporting you as a terrorist.

└ (Original poster): I’ll send it with secure delivery!

-What do elementary school kids like these days?

└ Collecting idol photocards, Roblox, playing with slime, TikTok challenges, watching Skibidi Toilet videos.

└ Wow… you’ve listed everything Name would absolutely never do lolol

└ Fun expert.

-Is she royalty or something? lolol

-Surprisingly, Name actually does enjoy classical music appreciation.

└ Whoa?

-She really does appear elegant in the ads. Am I the only one who thinks so?

└ I think I understand what “elegant” means now. Kind of like a swan.

└ Yeah, like a slightly annoying swan.

Depending on what image marketers assign, the same person can give completely different impressions.

The same applies to Name giving an elegant yet subtly approachable impression.

Numerous PDs, writers, hairstylists, makeup artists, and fashion designers worked to maintain Name’s cute and innocent image.

As a compilation video titled “Name’s Stan-worthy Moments” spread widely on VTube, corporate executives found themselves saying “happy Monday” without even thinking.

However, as if deliberately betraying those expectations, Name was spotted in a truly shocking location.

[Real-time Best]

[OMG NoName is sitting next to me right now… is this real?][279]

(NoName in person.jpg)

I met Korea’s one and only goddess and took a picture with her.

I blurred my face. No need to mention the difference in face size, we all know.

NoName and her father are sitting next to me right now.

My hands are shaking as I hurriedly write this after taking the photo.

Lol she just asked if I’m posting this on a community site lol. I guess that counts as permission…?

This is where we are:

(UFC SEOUL Olympic Gymnastics Arena.jpg)

* * *

“What an extraordinary scene! Even before the fighters enter, countless autograph requests are happening in the stadium seats! NoName! Do you remember me? We met at the Academy Competition!”

The microphone voice boomed throughout the stadium.

I’m already busy signing autographs, and people are calling me from everywhere.

When I noticed a jib camera pointing at me, I looked in that direction and mouthed ‘Commentator Kim Jae-sung?’

My voice wouldn’t reach that far anyway.

“Did you hear that? She remembers! Wow, I even interviewed her in that closet back then!”

“I don’t think she actually said anything?”

“NoName clearly mouthed ‘Commentator Kim Jae-sung is handsome.’ I hope you’ll watch the replay when you get home!”

“Hahaha, yes, I hope you get sued!”

Part of the fun was listening to the commentators’ banter, but I didn’t have time for that.

Right now, my hands needed to move even faster.

“Name! Did you come to watch UFC with your dad?”

“I was the one who begged to come.”

“Wow, really? I didn’t know you liked this stuff! Thanks for the autograph!”

“Name, sign here too! And here!”

After security intervened, people stopped crowding around.

Finally, I can catch a breath.

Professor Cheon, who was dragged out because of me, looked around the stadium with interest.

I originally wanted to come alone, but given my age, a guardian was mandatory.

“When did you even get tickets? Do you like this that much?”

“I’m excited. Even more nervous than when I competed in the competition.”

“Heh. What’s so good about fighting without using aura?”

That’s completely wrong.

Humans always pursue romance.

Soccer, where you can’t use hands to control the ball, and tennis, where you can only use a racket—these sports are popular because they both utilize and restrict human abilities.

In duels, you might just lose consciousness for a bit.

But fights where noses break and skin tears with blood splattering are much more thrilling, in my opinion.

They say humans yearn for what they don’t have.

People who demonstrate explosive athletic performance and animal-like reflexes without aura are impressive, both then and now.

Many people must think like me, which is why UFC is so successful even in this world. Money never lies.

The fighters entered one by one with determined expressions, and the audience stood up to applaud.

Spotlights slowly moved to the octagon, showing the fighters’ path.

Each fighter removed their tops, and referees carefully applied Vaseline to their faces.

Next is the Aura Heart check.

This procedure verifies that the remaining aura in the body is less than 10kE upon entering the octagon, and it’s handled even more thoroughly than doping tests.

This is the important part now.

Each fighter selects an audience member from the first floor to verify their opponent’s Aura Heart test.

This rule was created to prevent potential bribery of referees, though now it’s more of a fan service.

I stood up, raised my heels as high as possible, and lifted my right arm.

This is a chance to see the fighters up close. I don’t care which one picks me.

“1-2, 012.”

Fighter Zakhaev pointed to a foreigner sitting in the opposite direction.

That makes sense for a match held in Korea—a foreigner would likely be chosen.

I can only hope that Seo Jong-chan will pick me, despite the low probability.

“1-5, 016.”

“Huh?”

I took out my ticket from my pocket to check.

1-5 016. That’s my seat.

“Oh! Congratulations, Name!”

“Name, hurry along now.”

“Yes, yes!”

Receiving cheers, I quickly made my way through the crowd and made eye contact with Seo Jong-chan.

He seemed to have noticed I was here from the beginning.

“Come and monitor carefully, little miss.”

“Don’t worry, I will.”

If Zakhaev exceeds even 0.1kE, no, even 0.01kE, I’ll extract his Aura Heart right here.

The Russian fighter had complex wires attached all over his body.

“A little kid at UFC? Don’t get scared when you hear heads cracking, hahaha!”

What a dull provocation.

The chubby referee pressed a button, and the Aura Heart measurement began immediately.

Beep-!

[9.98kE]

I shook my head in disappointment.

“That’s too bad. If you had violated the regulations, you might have left here alive.”

“Haha. I’m really looking forward to fighting Seo Jong-chan. Will you cheer for me?”

“Of course not.”

“Then get lost. Go drink more of your mother’s milk.”

“I don’t have a mother.”

“…”

Zakhaev made a complicated expression, as if he’d been hit hard on the head with a hammer.

Really… the problem with UFC fighters these days is they’re too soft-hearted.

“Come on, did you think I wouldn’t recognize that level of provocation? Don’t worry about it and both of you show your best performance. Though personally, I’d prefer if you lost.”

Seo Jong-chan also passed with 9.96kE.

I returned to my seat and watched the match with excitement.

It was only later that I realized it wasn’t my imagination that cameras kept focusing on me.