Ch.328323 – Even a Brief Encounter is Fate

Cannon King is an excellent host.

He had a talent for taking words that guests let slip and transforming them into laughter.

While NoName was busy interacting with fans, he needed to gradually wrap up the first part of the event.

He called Professor Cheon, who had been quietly watching from behind the curtain, onto the stage.

“Sir, let’s imagine your daughter brought home a boyfriend, or someone she’s interested in. Would you be willing to approve of her relationship?”

Despite this being a hypothetical scenario, an unpleasant expression bloomed on Professor Cheon’s face.

The wrinkles on his forehead deepened as he expressed his disapproval.

“Such a terrible thing should absolutely never happen.”

Any father raising a daughter would relate to this sentiment.

Whether he was serious or joking, all the fans supported his opinion with applause.

“Hahaha! Now let me ask NoName. You’ve clearly stated your dream is to become the strongest in the world. If the day comes when you must fight your father to protect your love, are you confident you can win?”

Both Professor Cheon and NoName’s fans all leaned in, focusing on her answer.

“Even if it’s not for love, I think I could win within a few years.”

NoName gave an answer that avoided the core issue.

“Ahem.”

But Professor Cheon, interpreting this as her not being opposed to fighting, cleared his throat.

A subtle spark flew between father and daughter.

“NoName truly possesses ridiculous combat abilities. A few months ago, she defeated all her academy seniors.”

“That was pretty easy.”

“But I understand your father was also an exceptional mage in Korea. Specifically, how many years do you estimate until victory?”

At what age would she be able to fight and win.

NoName looked up at the ceiling and extended her fingers one by one.

“Four years at most?”

“Four years! Sir, please remember this day. NoName’s adolescence will begin in four years. As someone who’s raised children, I know teenage years are no joke…!”

Though he whispered the last part, it was picked up by the microphone and echoed throughout.

“Ah… yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Great! I hope you maintain a peaceful household for these four years. We’ll return for part two in this harmonious atmosphere!”

-What’s good about this? Nothing’s good lol

-NoName’s adolescence started in 6th grade bruh

-NoName seriously contemplating is too cute haha

* * *

With Cannon King as the MC, the fan meeting had somewhat turned into a talk show.

The atmosphere flowed so naturally that time passed quickly.

Lee Bo-reum occasionally brought strange items to put on me, each one more bizarre than the last.

For example, a rabbit ear headband, or a pink magic wand.

“Could you wave this around once?”

“How?”

“Umm… like using a wand?”

“That’s too vague of an instruction. But okay.”

I raised the magical girl wand and roughly moved it along the path of a light circuit formula.

Click-click-

What I got in return was an endless barrage of camera flashes from fans.

“Ugh, my eyes!”

It’s shooting out light by itself even though I didn’t infuse any mana. Talk about a real magic wand.

I grabbed a 500ml water bottle to wet my throat in preparation for the upcoming signing session.

“Wait, NoName, I prepared a straw for you!”

“I don’t need a straw when I’m drinking alone.”

“No, you’re supposed to drink water with a straw at fan meetings!”

“Why?”

“I don’t know either!”

There must be some profound reason that’s become a custom?

Bo-reum was kind enough to even punch a hole in the cap like for a juice box.

“Here.”

“Thanks.”

She’s treating me too much like a baby. I wouldn’t coddle even a 5-year-old this much.

And I just figured out why people drink with straws.

It’s probably so lipstick doesn’t smudge, right? Completely irrelevant to me.

It was too late to turn back now, so I put the straw in my mouth.

Sluuurp-

“…?”

Click-click-click-click-click-!

“Pfft. *cough*!”

I burst out laughing at the overwhelming camera shutter sounds.

I almost choked.

“Aren’t you taking too many photos at once?”

“Because NoName is cute!”

“Even drinking water is cute!”

I never thought I’d actually hear such doting comments.

I shook my head and picked up the microphone to announce the start of the fan signing session.

“Please come forward one by one.”

To meet all 112 people within two hours, I can only spend one minute per person.

From the fans’ perspective, even the time I spend signing might feel precious.

But stamping out signatures like a seal would seem insincere.

So this was my solution.

“Hello.”

“I’m first in line! Could I get your signature on this paper please!”

[Cast: Coordinate Synchronization]

First, I synchronize the marker tip with the magic circle coordinates.

When I adjust the magic circle with my finger and sprinkle mana onto the paper, the black ink follows the mana thread and absorbs into the paper.

Hands may be faster than eyes, but they can’t be faster than the brain.

At the speed of writing a magic circle, a cat signature was completed in just one second.

“Wow, what is this? Magic? NoName’s signature is so cute!”

“Yes, I modified a coordinate synchronization spell a bit.”

“You’re so multi-talented! Oh right, I brought you a gift. Ta-da! Red ginseng set!”

“Red ginseng?”

“You need to be healthy to stream a lot!”

“Thank you so much. I’ll enjoy it.”

The gift offensive continued after that.

“Isn’t this a luxury brand? You’ll outgrow it in a few years…”

“What? I thought NoName would never grow!”

“How could you say such a mean thing…? And even so, this luxury item…”

“Even brushing sleeves creates a connection! Think of it as a million won donation and accept it, okay?”

Some people gave me t-shirts with large luxury brand logos,

“This is nothing compared to other people’s gifts, but I hope you’ll accept it…!”

“Your sister made this herself through knitting? Wow, that’s amazing. I’ll wear it well every winter.”

“Yes! And… um… can I… hug you… during Falling Guys…”

“A sniper?”

“Yes…”

“Well, a promise is a promise. Come here for a hug.”

I also received warm mittens that reminded me of a cozy campfire.

But the most impressive fan was the person who came last.

An elderly woman who looked twenty years older than Professor Cheon approached.

Her slightly hunched back and the cane in her hand showed the passage of time.

I respectfully welcomed her and pulled out a chair.

“Hello ma’am, if you don’t have anything specific, would it be okay to sign on the paper we prepared?”

“My, how considerate you are. Thank you, Miss NoName.”

[Cast: Coordinate Synchronization]

“What’s your name?”

“Not for me.”

“Pardon?”

“I came for my grandson. Kwon Jun-woo. Our Jun-woo really loves your streams.”

“Oh, you came on his behalf. Please tell him thank you for watching my broadcasts. Here’s the signature.”

The grandmother, falling silent for a moment, stroked the paper with her dry hand.

“Our Jun-woo has been sick since he was young.”

“Really? What was wrong with him?”

“The doctor called it leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia.”

“Ah…”

The grandmother recited her grandson’s exact diagnosis.

How many times must she have heard it from doctors to be able to say it so precisely without missing a syllable?

It’s a sad truth that when someone in your family is sick, you become knowledgeable about that particular disease.

“Because of the recurrence, Jun-woo had to be hospitalized again last year. His parents are busy earning money until late at night and taking care of Jun-woo’s siblings, so at least I should be by his side. It’s really unfortunate that he couldn’t properly attend middle school before graduating.”

“Both you and your grandson must have had a difficult time…”

“But last year, the kid gained a lot of strength from watching your broadcasts. This child who showed little emotion would sometimes cry his eyes out watching your stream, sometimes laugh out loud and roll around in bed like a crazy person! He says meeting you is on his bucket list.”

“I’ll hold a big fan meeting at a stadium someday. So everyone can participate.”

“Your words are so beautiful… My grandson said he hopes you do well. He said it’s heaven’s principle that you should be happy as much as you’ve suffered, and he hoped you would prove that by being happy for your whole life. Anyway, thank you so much for being Jun-woo’s strength. I just wanted to say this, but I’ve talked too long, haven’t I?”

“Not at all. I’m the one who should be thankful…”

I placed my hand over hers.

This is a moment that will make me think deeply in many ways.

The warm emotion welling up from deep in my chest still feels unfamiliar.

I took a deep breath and said to the grandmother before she left:

“After the fan meeting ends, would it be okay if I video call your grandson?”

* * *

The brilliant sunset light dyed the snow-covered road red.

The scenery visible through the hospital window was as beautiful as a fairy tale, but on the other hand, seeing that sunset like a dying matchstick made me feel melancholic.

Knock. Knock-

The interrupted knocking sound belonged to the grandmother.

Kwon Jun-woo adjusted the bed’s backrest to sit up.

“Welcome back, Grandma!”

“Jun-woo, when are you going to get better? Making your grandma suffer at this age.”

“Did you get the signature? What did NoName say? Did you tell her that I saw NoName at the hospital before?”

“Huh? When did you ever tell me that?”

“Grandma, I told you yesterday, come on!”

“I don’t know about that. Here, she was a pretty and considerate child.”

“NoName is a genius, a real genius. Who knows how much each of these signatures will be worth later? Hundreds of thousands, millions of won? Though I’d never sell it even if I died.”

“I’ll be going now. Make sure to answer the phone when it comes.”

“Hehe, it’s a signature~ hehe. What? What phone call?”

Jun-woo tilted his head at his grandmother’s seemingly indifferent attitude today.

He wondered if asking her to get a signature on his behalf had been such a difficult request.

As the sun disappeared and he was left alone in the hospital room,

♪♫♪♬~

At this gloomy hour, a call from an unknown number came in unexpectedly.

[010-XXXX-XXXX]

“Not spam? What is this?”

A video call, no less.

Kwon Jun-woo didn’t have friends close enough to video call with.

His thumb wandered aimlessly for a while before remembering what his grandmother had said, and he pressed accept.

“Gasp!”

Jun-woo was so surprised by the person on the screen that he dropped his phone.

‘A new type of voice phishing? That can’t be!’

He cautiously picked up the phone that had fallen onto the white blanket.

Jun-woo wasn’t mistaken about what he saw.

[Hello, Mr. Kwon Jun-woo.]

The slightly languid voice, cat-like bright eyes, and above all, the identical outfit worn at the fan meeting.

“No way… how…?”

Surprisingly, the person who made the video call was none other than the idol he so deeply worshipped.

[Nice to meet you. I’m NoName, streaming on Twissy. My real name is No Na-me.]

“Ah…”

The reason night and dawn come is to welcome a new morning.

At this moment, another sun was rising high in Kwon Jun-woo’s heart.