Ch.317312 – Destroying Innocence

[Don’t cry! Don’t cry! Santa Claus doesn’t bring presents to children who cry!]

[All I want for Christmas is you.]

Familiar children’s songs and Christmas carols echo faintly through the apartment complex.

The noise waking up late-sleeping children naturally roused NoName at 7:50 AM, a bit earlier than her usual 8 o’clock.

She stretched fully and sat perched on the edge of her bed.

Her long hair cascaded down to the floor.

She needed a moment to fully wake up.

The fatigue hadn’t subsided after checking Professor Cheon’s gift in the middle of the night.

“Is it fully charged?”

NoName wiggled her toes to pull the charging cable toward her.

She pressed the center power button firmly with her tiny big toe.

A robot shaped like a small bird, about the size of a fist, rested on the circular wireless charger.

Ding-ding diri-ding~

Blue and green lights flickered on the bird’s nape as it chirped its activation signal.

Professor Cheon’s Christmas gift was none other than a hummingbird robot.

Unlike noisy, bulky drones, these hummingbird robots equipped with cameras and hologram functions were frequently used among streamers.

NoName thoughtfully stroked her chin before finally speaking.

“Hi Bibi. Want to try flying?”

Bzzz-

The hummingbird robot took flight with rapid wing movements.

The room was so quiet that the low-pitched flight sound was audible, but it was easily drowned out by normal conversation.

NoName stared at the robot, her eyes sparkling with wonder at this marvel of modern technology.

“Follow me.”

The hummingbird robot buzzed frantically around her shoulder.

When she opened the bedroom door, sharp sunlight pierced her eyes.

She squinted until her pupils adjusted to the light, then shuffled to the living room in her slippers.

Professor Cheon was leisurely enjoying a cup of coffee while watching TV.

As he aged, he needed less sleep, typically waking up two hours earlier than NoName.

NoName emerged with messy hair and a sluggish demeanor.

Professor Cheon couldn’t help but smile at the red marks on her cheeks from being pressed against something while sleeping.

“NoName, Merry Christmas! What’s that beside you? Did Santa Claus bring you a present?”

Professor Cheon inwardly chuckled, thinking ‘NoName is still such a child.’

After all, she normally rushed straight to the bathroom to wash her face upon waking, but today she had completed the robot’s initial setup first.

However, NoName squinted one eye and pointed at the hummingbird robot.

“Didn’t you give this to me?”

“No, this is my first time seeing it. I guess Santa Claus left you a present because you’ve been so good.”

Professor Cheon feigned ignorance to preserve the child’s innocence.

He smiled contentedly, savoring one of the happiest moments of raising a child.

But NoName wasn’t one to be easily fooled by adult deception.

“Oh, so you’re saying an elderly man with severe obesity, suspected diabetes and hypertension, violated labor laws to work without breaks or pay for 32 hours, delivering 200,000 tons of gifts—equivalent to 20 Eiffel Towers—to 400 million children at a rate of 1,200 households per second, like firing a laser?”

Faced with NoName’s sharp retort, Professor Cheon finally surrendered completely.

“Haa… okay, I give up! So, do you like the Christmas present I gave you?”

“Yes. I’ve only seen it in advertisements before. It’s really cute. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Though her response seemed a bit curt, from his long experience with NoName, he could tell she was genuinely grateful.

NoName extended one arm straight out, and the hummingbird stopped fluttering to perch on it.

It seemed to understand commands through the user’s movements and gaze without needing verbal instructions.

When NoName stroked its head, the hummingbird showed no particular reaction.

They were remarkably similar in their robot-like demeanor.

Meanwhile, NoName’s hand sneakily reached for Professor Cheon’s coffee cup.

“Hey now. Not allowed. You can drink coffee when you’re older.”

“Yaaawn… What time are we heading out today?”

NoName withdrew her hand and smoothly changed the subject.

Limited edition mana stones, available only at Christmas, would be released in large quantities today.

NoName planned to stock up on mana needed for activating 7th circle magic arrays in the future.

However, for safety reasons, Professor Cheon had agreed to accompany her today.

“Shall we go as soon as you’re ready?”

“Can I bring the hummingbird robot with us? I want to test it outside.”

“I don’t see why not. Do as you please.”

NoName, who had started toward her room, turned around.

She went behind the sofa where Professor Cheon sat.

In an awkward posture, she attempted a hug but compromised by gripping his shoulders.

“Thank you always, Dad.”

Though the words still felt unfamiliar, someday they would become natural.

Only after properly expressing her gratitude did NoName dash back to her room.

* * *

Just as one goes to department stores to purchase luxury goods or jewelry, the same applied to high-value mana stones.

However, by commercial law, mana stones valued over 3 million won were considered precious items, and customers could only purchase one from a single retail store.

This was partly for safety reasons, but primarily to minimize the potential for immediate criminal or terrorist use.

But whether due to lobbying of high-ranking officials who created these laws, stores within department stores were treated as separate retail outlets.

‘Wouldn’t terrorists be more likely to strike in crowded department stores anyway?’

It was ironic that regulations weren’t applied where they were most needed.

“Miss, what’s the biggest one you have here?”

“Wands? I think our young customer should use a wand that matches her height…”

“No, no. I mean mana stones.”

Van Cleef & Arpels—a store selling wands, watches, jewelry, and mana stones.

I thought such expensive products would make for a quiet store, but that was just my misconception.

Click-

Click-click-click-

“?”

Two young girls covered in luxury brands were taking photos.

“Oops, sorry… is it okay if we take pictures?”

“Oh, yes… do as you please.”

Their makeup skills looked amateur—they couldn’t pass for older than middle schoolers no matter how generously I judged.

Where did they learn the manners of asking permission after taking photos?

Being wealthy clearly didn’t automatically instill consideration.

This made me newly appreciate the Lee Bo-reum and Lee Ha-ru sisters, who ranked 16th in the business world.

“Excuse me, would both of you come this way?”

An employee led me and Professor Cheon deeper into the store.

After passing through a dark corridor, we found ourselves in a separate VIP section.

A massive green gemstone radiating energy greeted us prominently in the center.

The mana stones in the side displays didn’t even catch my attention.

“What you see here is a moldavite-based mana stone excavated from the Grand Canyon magic field. Its output pressure ranges between 8.5 and 9 on the logarithmic scale. If you’d like precise measurements, we can perform them right here.”

Though the explanation seemed directed more at Professor Cheon than me, I didn’t mind.

“How much does it cost…?”

“The price is currently set at 1.54 billion won at our Modern Outlet.”

“Whew…”

The amount made me nod involuntarily, even as the clerk made an honorific error.

At 1.54 billion, it deserved respect.

How could a mere stone cost 1.54 billion?

My value system, influenced by my previous life, protested violently.

It’s like being fine with chicken costing 20,000 won but fainting at the thought of paying 20,000 won for a Netflix subscription.

I had no choice but to leave the store dejectedly, saying only “I’ll come back another time.”

To think that using 7th circle magic, which I could previously cast after a good night’s sleep, now required such extensive preparation.

Of course, money could solve everything, but the problem was the astronomical amount needed.

“NoName, want me to buy you a pearl ice cream?”

“Yes, I’ll have the rainbow flavor.”

Lick-

As I cooled my head with the cold ice cream, I continued thinking about money on this sacred Christmas day.

BioAkashic’s Phase 3 clinical trials remained completely silent.

At this rate, I might need to turn to stocks or foreign futures.

But whenever the devil’s whispers tempted me, I recalled Isaac Newton’s famous quote:

‘I can calculate the motion of heavenly bodies, but not the madness of people!’

Even the century’s genius lost approximately 5 billion won in the South Sea Company stock incident.

That was equivalent to 40 years of a mint director’s salary, which would feel like about 20 billion won today.

‘Don’t rely on luck; live honestly.’

There’s no guarantee that luck will always be on my side.

In those moments, I could only trust myself.

Still, since we were already at the department store, we couldn’t leave without buying anything.

“I saw they were selling puffed rice snacks in the basement food court. Should we go get some?”

“Do you like puffed rice?”

“Yes. Surprisingly, they say it’s Western style.”

“Western? Okay, let’s go check it out.”

Just as we finished our ice cream and stood up,

“Hello? Yes! NoName is at that ice cream place by the back entrance on the first floor. She’s still here, so hurry!”

“Kyaaah! She’s so cute!”

“Does anyone have paper for an autograph? NoName! Please sign our T-shirts!”

I suddenly realized I was surrounded by a crowd.

It was clear that dealing with each person individually would be endless.

“I should learn a signature copying spell when I get home. Someone must have developed one by now.”

* * *

After being humiliated by NoName and doubly scolded by Kariri for missing her Christmas Eve broadcast, Adella spent the morning angrily playing World of Arsheria ranked matches.

‘Hmph! I won’t speak to my sister for a while, Christmas or not!’

Adella had firmly closed her heart, determined to refuse even if NoName offered her truckloads of game money.

She slashed enemies with dual blades as a rogue, despite rogues being relegated to tier 5 in the current meta.

But her death count exceeded her kills, leading to consecutive defeats and mounting stress.

Then she encountered Mephistopheles.

Once a villain powerful enough to destroy an entire world, in Challenger ranked matches, he was merely an object to be hunted.

But they say luck comes from the most unexpected places.

[Blue team has defeated Mephistopheles.]

After defeating Mephistopheles, the final puzzle piece was finally in place.

“Huh?”

[Mephistopheles’ Memories – 100% (Complete!)]

[Mephistopheles’ memories scattered in the Mist of Death. No curse can be found in the mist.]

As soon as the game ended, Adella immediately cast the emotion magic NoName had taught her.

[Cast: Emotion]

“4, 35, 38, 20, 14, 63, 63, 13, 35, 31, 5… What the heck is this! How am I supposed to understand anything from this!”

An ordered cipher unfolded from left to right.

NoName had asserted there must be some profound meaning to it.

That’s why Adella couldn’t give up on deciphering this code.

But her mind wasn’t as brilliant as NoName’s.

After hours of struggling alone, NoName returned from the department store.

“Tch… looks like they had fun shopping together… even though she said she’d give me a Christmas present first thing in the morning…”

Adella checked her VR money in the inventory.

[Private Room]

[NoName and Adella’s House]

[system: ‘Adella’ has left the ‘NoName and Adella’s House’ party.]

Adella had finally declared her independence.