NOVEL NEXT Chapter 512
“I wish we could do this online…”
[The President really hopes to meet the NoName Wizard. Is there any way we can make it happen?]
“Hmmm, then let me know the schedule around mid-August, and I’ll try to participate in the award ceremony. Thank you, thank you.”
Since the National Exchange Tournament is currently taking place, the Legion of Honor award ceremony has been postponed to next month.
After all, it’s just the fourth-place badge, ‘Officier,’ so it didn’t matter much when I received it.
I got quite the scolding from Professor Cheon, who rushed over after receiving the call.
My friends were looking at me with curious eyes, thinking, “Looks like Na-me is getting scolded by dad.”
But to maintain my father’s dignity, I bowed my head and showed a listening attitude to the lecture.
“Since we have friends here and we should finish our trip on a good note, I won’t say much more… Ha-ah, Na-me, I almost had a heart attack. You won’t do anything this dangerous again, right?”
“Yes, sir…”
“Good. I’m glad you’re safe. Now—”
“Hey, guys, we kept you waiting! Originally, we were supposed to go to the Champs-Élysées, but we’re running a bit late, so how about we go straight to the Arc de Triomphe instead? Sound good? Call?”
As my dad finished his lecture, I instantly changed my expression and smiled brightly.
“No, no, what’s that! Did you cast noise-canceling magic on your ears or something…!”
Professor Cheon burst out laughing, seemingly in disbelief.
While driving, I preemptively bought tickets online to go up to the Arc de Triomphe.
“Wait, you could go up to the Arc de Triomphe?”
Yuna, who had already been there once with Saetbyeol, asked.
“Yeah. You just watched from below last time, right?”
“Whoa. I thought you couldn’t climb it like the pyramid. But how do you go up?”
“By using a ladder.”
Yoon Si-hoo chimed in with an answer halfway through.
Yuna was about to agree when she sensed something strange.
“No way. I didn’t see any ladders when I went.”
“Oops, I got caught.”
“Argh, stop joking!”
This time, I decided to tell the truth.
“The truth is, there’s space inside the pillar. You can take an elevator up.”
“… That’s also a lie, right? Na-me, I’m too smart to fall for a lie like that now.”
“It’s the truth!”
The Arc de Triomphe is located at the center of a rotary where twelve roads converge.
Since there are no crosswalks, we went straight through the underpass to the entrance waiting area and stood in line.
When it was our turn, we followed the staff’s guidance into a secret room.
An elevator appeared grandly.
“Wha-what? No way! That wasn’t a lie?”
“Ha-ha, Seo Yu-na, you fool.”
Carrying the still-shocked Yuna, we took the elevator up to the observation deck.
Once we reached the observation deck, we saw portraits of the French magic battle team displayed around the building.
It was a vibrant atmosphere that really made it feel like the National Exchange Tournament was happening.
A large screen stationed at the observation deck was broadcasting highlights of the French players.
People wearing tricolor headbands gathered in small groups to cheer.
While they were engrossed in the match, we quickly went to get pictures where the Eiffel Tower was visible.
“Na-me, could you take off your hat and mask for a second?”
“Sure.”
“Okay, smile everyone! Na-me, you need to smile a bit more! One, two, three!”
Click—
After taking pictures with my friends and coming down from the photo zone, the people waiting for their turn called out to me.
“Na-me! NoName! Hello!”
“Oh, hi there!”
“We’re really enjoying the tournament. We’re cheering for you so much, Na-me!”
“Thank you!”
“Na-me, what are you doing? Come on! Let’s go watch the match over there!”
My friends took my hand and led me to the large screen.
The floor was covered with soft artificial grass, so we could sit freely without a mat.
Already, rumors that I had arrived were spreading and making noise on the observation deck.
“Well, I guess I can take off the mask now. Phew.”
I embraced my hair blowing in the wind and inhaled the cool air.
After the highlights from France ended, a familiar commercial from a Korean company popped up on our screen.
It seemed to be a cheering area created as corporate sponsorship.
Just then, a staff member came up and started fixing the screen.
“Do you think if I ask, they’ll show a game with you in it?”
Si-hoo raised a question.
“I don’t know. I doubt it…”
Still, since we are in France, it would be appropriate to show something from France.
“Let’s go ask.”
“Ugh, that sounds tedious. Can’t we just watch it in the car later?”
“Come on! Na-me, you’ll be featured huge, won’t that be great?”
“What does that even mean?”
Yuna grabbed my hand and pulled me up firmly.
“Bonjour, monsieur!”
“Hmm? What can I do for you, ladies?”
“Ugh, I can’t understand a word. That’s all I can do. The rest is up to you, Na-me!”
“We came to ask if we could watch videos from other countries on the display here.”
“Oh, uh, sorry, but—”
Suddenly, Yuna snatched the hat I was wearing.
The staff member looked momentarily confused but quickly widened his eyes in shock.
“Whoa! You’re that one, right? The one with the sword and magic fighting!”
“Yes, that’s right, the National Exchange Tournament!”
“Right, the National Exchange Tournament! Umm… I’m not sure if that’ll work, but who do I need to contact?”
The staff member checked here and there via phone, got permission from headquarters, and immediately connected to the internet.
“What match should we show?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to show the one with the USA?”
“Ha-ha, yeah, right! I felt amazing when that guy fell!”
The relationship between France and the USA isn’t very good.
Although they outwardly proclaim to be allies, there are tensions among the citizens due to the AUKUS alliance between the US, UK, and Australia.
[Summary South Korea vs United States | Duel of the World 2053 [TF1]]
“Yaaaay! It started!”
“Wow, I can’t believe we’re truly watching this.”
“Miss, do you need a microphone? Would you like to commentate up front?”
“What?”
With the staff’s excessive consideration, I was pushed forward in front of the screen.
They went through such trouble to prepare this for me; it would be rude to back out now.
Gripping the microphone, I confidently strutted to the side of the screen.
“Wooooaaaah!”
“What? Who is that… Wow, it’s NoName!”
“Is this real? NoName is at the Arc de Triomphe!”
“Mom, come quick! This is not the time to be taking pictures of the Eiffel Tower.”
Excited tourists cheered passionately.
I even saw a group of Korean tourists seated in the front row.
“Hey, you’re Korean, right?”
“Yeeees!”
Seeing these people made me feel a little less nervous.
“Hello, I’m NoName. If anyone doesn’t know who I am, I’d appreciate it if you would pay attention to the video that’s about to come out.”
“The girl who defeated the USA!”
“Wahahaha! NoName! NoName!”
The atmosphere heated up.
“Why were you so serious when playing with us? You’re American too!”
A tourist shouted in English from one side.
“Did you come from the USA?”
“New York!”
“Oh! But I lived in Boston.”
“Ah! That can’t be helped…!”
New York and Boston are famously linked as rival regions.
The man laughed heartily and nodded in agreement.
I was at a loss on how to commentate, not being a regular commentator but a highlight commentator.
Every scene already had interesting commentary, making it tricky to jump in.
So, every time the scene changed, I tried to give a short preview of what would happen next.
“This part is kind of like a whack-a-mole, isn’t it?”
Levi was on a tall pillar, slamming down with his spear.
I formed a thick layer of mana horizontally below to minimize the impact.
Since the mana layer was cloudy, I peeked out from time to time to see if Levi was coming down from the pillar.
This made it look like I was renacting the role of annoying the opponent, but it was surprisingly sincere.
“Hahahaha!”
The audience broke into laughter together.
Gaining confidence, I continued my commentary.
While both were panicking and swinging their spears, I called out to the audience with a wronged voice.
“Did you see the shape of his lips just now? He started cursing me first! I wasn’t the one who instigated!”
This led into the explanation of the subsequent backflip.
“Uuugh, that American is bad!”
“Waaaah!”
Sounds of whistling and applause mixed together as the highlights were unfolding.
“Oh, why didn’t I do my celebration at that time? Just a moment, I’ll show you here.”
I wondered what I had missed, and it seemed I forgot the most important part.
After the match ends, my mind goes blank, I suppose.
[Cast: Demon King’s Horn]
I created wings using my aura and gently sat on them.
Then I floated in the air, swaying left and right.
This is probably a scene that’s hard to see anywhere else.
“Yuna, do you want to ride too?”
“Uh? Can I sit too?”
“Yes, it’s a two-seater.”
“Yay!”
Of course, only by the standard of children.
In the midst of a flash of cameras, I waved my hand lightly and smiled.
“Until next time, this was NoName. Have a wonderful trip, everyone.”
*
[The live video of NoName who caused a commotion floating above the Arc de Triomphe in France]
(Na-me standing in front of a large screen)
(NoName’s floating ceremony)
(A thumbs-up picture taken together)
Sure, that’s totally me, LOL!
Went on a package trip to the Arc de Triomphe and suddenly NoName appeared, and I ended up having a fan meeting in the front row.
Nobody wanted to follow the guide, so we spontaneously canceled the next schedule and stayed at the Arc de Triomphe for another 30 minutes.
At first, I wore a hat and mask, but seriously, with that hair, nobody could mistake me for anyone else, LOL!
[Comments]
– Is it the Arc de Triomphe this time? This rest time is pretty well spent, LOL!
– Wow, I’m so envious getting so close!
– You dare to put your hand on the shoulder of the divine Na-me? You’ve committed a heresy and are doomed!
– I saw Na-me’s friend last time, LOL! So cute!
– NoName, if you see this, return my wallet quickly!
In the community, Na-me’s current state was being mentioned in real-time.
In the hotel dining room where Yuna’s family and Si-hoo’s parents gathered.
It was a hotel the Korea National Team was using for accommodation.
“That’s my lucky coin I collected to make a wish, why on earth did I bring that?”
Cheon Saetbyeol set her phone down under the dining table and gritted her teeth.
“Saetbyeol, don’t you feel sad? Didn’t you want to travel with Na-me?”
Si-hoo’s mother quietly asked her after observing her.
“Yes? Aah, no. It’s tiring when there are so many kids, and I’d have to look after them one by one.”
“But your younger sibling is really sharp.”
“Na-me? Oh, my little sister is definitely not that kind of person. You’ve mistaken her completely.”
“Hohoho, I guess you play around with your sister at home? Sisterly bonding is wonderful. Our Si-hoo is an only child and seems to get lonely sometimes.”
“But he has a girlfriend, so he shouldn’t be that lonely.”
“Who? Si-hoo?”
Si-hoo’s mother said that with a serious expression.
Si-hoo’s father felt a jolt at Saetbyeol’s bombshell declaration.
“You knew?”
“Well, it’s just… casually…”
“Who is it?”
This time, Yuna’s mother turned her head.
“Yuna’s mom? Don’t tell me…?”
“I wasn’t trying to hide it. Your mom is negative about dating, so he begged me to keep it secret…”
“Right, Si-hoo’s mom. If they want to date healthily, why should we oppose?”
“He’s keeping it secret even from his mom, so what can we do? No, dear. Call Yoon Si-ho.”
“Aigo, Si-ho, you’re in trouble when you come.”
Saetbyeol’s eyes started to dart around in panic.
Tap, tap
“Saetbyeol, can we talk for a second?”
Seo Maru and Seo No-eul separately called her to start a strategy meeting.