The National Exchange Tournament pre-evaluation meeting went completely differently than I expected from start to finish.
In a bad way.
Most importantly, Kim Love, who was selected as a representative, didn’t even participate because of the academy’s midterm exams.
People came to me one by one asking for handshakes, but few introduced themselves.
It seemed like some acquaintances dropped by for the pre-evaluation meeting just to see me.
Though there were parts in the presentation about the training roadmap or modern duel equipment that piqued my interest a bit, the self-praise was so overwhelming that I stopped listening by plugging my ears.
To summarize in one line, it was basically, “I’ve secured this much budget from the government this year, so please clap, related persons.”
In the end, I just sat quietly among the formally dressed uncles and aunties before stumbling my way home.
[NoName Wizard, starting next week, you need to come to Sejong Mirinae Academy for the training camp. The accommodation is right in front of Lake Park, and it’s huge, plus the view is insane.]
If I had known it would be like this, I should have just stayed in the U.S. for another month or two.
“The balance issue might still be pending, but we can open the multi-server tomorrow. We’ll accept applicants this week and operate it from there.”
– So what about the broadcast!!!
– Teacher, stop joking around.
– The viewers are sufferingㅠㅠ
“Meditating reminded me that when I was in Massachusetts, every time I went into a restaurant, student reporters were always crawling around asking for signatures, and I had a crazy hectic day. I was surrounded by people so much that I was constantly fighting off headaches. One day, I went to the park at Philips Academy, and seeing a student meditating calmly on the grass really moved me—”
[‘Cat Love is the Best’ donated 1,000,000 won!]
– I’ll give you 1 Na-me, so please stop…
“Cat, oh it’s the manager. Thank you for the million won donation. I wasn’t expecting money, but I’ll use it well, thanks.”
With Bo-reum Unni now nagging me, it seemed I could no longer postpone my answer.
– Suspicious manager, nice timing ㅅㅅ
– Rich people are the best~
– Is 1 Na-me enough to hold on?
– Please clear my throat that feels stuffed with 100 sweet potatoes, please.
The viewers were on the verge of fainting from frustration.
I said with a gloomy expression.
“However, if I don’t attend the national representative base camp because of the broadcast, you guys are going to say something to me, right? Is it laziness… I mean, it’s not like it makes sense for one of the two representatives not to show up… Do I look like a kid to you… Does being a national representative look like a joke… Go get your tax investigation…”
I hugged a stuffed Honey Badger the size of my body and buried my face into the soft stuffing.
I swayed my body left and right, waiting for the viewers’ reactions.
– You should be grateful that Na-me is participating as Korea’s representative.
– Who in their right mind would say that?
– Na-me, do whatever you want. Don’t worry about what people say.
– Seems like the room leader tasted a bit of bad opinion before…ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
– Na-me, cheer up!
– If help alone could make you fight well, then anyone and everyone would participate, lol.
– I could totally tell adults were whispering something to the kid again.
– National Exchange Tournament is only for two weeks, but broadcasting lasts for months, that’s a major difference.
– Aww, tax investigation….
I found the public opinion to be surprisingly friendly.
I threw the stuffed animal onto the bed and said with a big smile.
“See, you guys think so too, right? Actually, there was no choice for me; I had to be forced to participate, but I just said I wouldn’t do it and ran away. Instead, I agreed to a evaluation match in a month with Kim Love, a best of three. If I win, I don’t have to attend training until July; if I lose, I’m out of the national team.”
– What what what?!
– What are you talking about, Na-me?
– Out of the national team if you lose, whoa.
– Room leader, what on earth did you mess up there?!
– Wow~ So you declared war already, huh?
– Hahahahaha
– Yeah, Na-me, this is how it should be.
– How dare they drop Na-me from the national team? Ignorance is bliss, lmao.
“It’s been a while since I’ve had a serious duel, it should be fun. Anyway, that’s that, but it might be a bit boring for you, but I’m going to wrap up today’s content with a coding stream for the Kaizen World Death Match content. Please enjoy it!”
“Even if you’re crossing a bridge, you need to check it a couple of times; I’m trying to make a habit of checking public reaction just in case I might be wrong.”
[‘Little Devil Na-me’ donated 5,000 won!]
– The pain of not being able to kill Na-me will only make Na-me more cunning.
“Did you know I really like that saying? I believe pain and growth are always inseparable.”
Thanks for likening me to a cool philosopher.
The status of magic dueling in Korea can be evaluated as ambiguous—not too high, not too low.
It’s rare to find people who regularly enjoy watching international magic duel matches.
Even for the Academy Competition, over 70% of the audience traffic comes from abroad, according to analysis; that’s saying something!
But once an international event is held, it attracts nationwide attention—it’s the charm of magic dueling.
Rumors spreading at the speed of broadcast heated up the domestic community.
[Domestic Magic Gallery]
[Live Best]
[According to a source from the Wizard Association, it’s rumored that NoName may not participate in the Sejong Base Camp.]
Quoting:
“I’m an official from the Wizard Association, and it seems like NoName might not attend the Sejong base camp.
I’m not exactly sure why, but during the training introduction, it seemed like the athlete had some complaints.
But if we were to deduce a reason, there’s about an 80% chance that old-timers around here treated Na-me poorly.
The other 20% is probably just that they think they can perform well on their own without needing training.”
They’ve gathered first-tier training coaches from the U.S. and put together a glamorous course, but it looks doomed.
[Comments]
– Wow, what’s this? A new bait, lol.
– Are you back again, Wizard Association?
– Is a festival going on?
└ Not a festival, but a funeral.
– Let’s stay neutral for now.
└ If you’re neutral, I’m just going to support Na-me, lol.
└ If you’re confident while being neutral, go ahead and try it.
– Bring popcorn!
The popular posts on internet communities guarantee a hot topic of success.
In drama terms, it’s a hit web novel; in anime terms, a hit manga.
Thus, hyena reporters for view counts competed to write news articles.
[With the U.S.’s participation confirmed in the France National Exchange Tournament, the government has announced that it will allocate an additional 4.7 billion won for international competition operating expenses in the supplementary budget proposal. If passed in the National Assembly, the total budget will rise to 23.8 billion won, an increase of 8.3 billion won compared to last year’s budget of 15.5 billion won.]
[Next, high wizard NoName’s absence from the national representative base camp has been trending on internet communities. A member of the Wizard Association dismissed the laziness controversy, stating that the participant would definitely join in May due to personal reasons.]
The most entertaining sight in the world is, of course, watching fires and fights.
Everyone focused on the strife that sparked even before the wizard representative team was properly formed.
[I wonder what personal circumstances the Wizard Association is talking about for NoName.]
(NoName’s broadcast screenshot – Market Monster Battle Royale announcement.jpg)
Is this even valid…?
[Comments]
– What? They said it’s only for streamers, and yet I see names I recognize?!
└ Seriously, there are so many celebrities.
└ NV and White, wow!
└ Exiel too must be a boy idol, right?
└ Instead of a love scandal in front of the accommodation, it’ll be a fighting scandal in the game, it’s crazy!
└ Whoever loses will have their fandom annihilated, whoa!
– This looks appealing when you look at the list, right?
└ They said they’ll train later, lol!
└ You can’t just enjoy this fun by yourselves, that’s too unfair!!!
[Breaking News! The reason officials believe Na-me will join in May]
In May, there’s an unofficial duel between NoName and Kim Love. If Na-me loses, they agreed that he would join the team.
Since Na-me himself mentioned it during his broadcast, it’s pretty much confirmed.
Isn’t it unfair to have such a sweet match kept behind closed doors?
[Comments]
– Is Na-me confident he’ll win? Lol.
– I feel like Na-me will win this somehow.
└ But that’s not entirely true; without the U.S., Kim Love would at least be a top four contender in the National Exchange Tournament. It’s a whole different level from Jo Soo-yeon who was hyped for nothing last year.
└ Famous?
└ Last year’s Academy Competition MVP after all.
└ Plus, her sister Olivia Kim, who won the national sports competition last year, is a Korean-American.
└ Wow, both sisters are monsters!
– Na-me, the girl enjoying the meltdowns.
└ At this point, we should question her dopamine addiction, lol.
[Still, is it right to just throw away a month just because the U.S. is participating…?]
It’s an international competition funded by taxpayers, and the U.S. is not a weak opponent.
Shouldn’t we cherish every single day from now on?
Bringing in celebrity streamers for a gaming tournament—what is even happening?
You might think it’s a childish thought because she’s 9 years old.
[Comments]
– Fact) There are 20 million wage workers in Korea, among which 40% are tax-exempt. This means each worker is using 2,000 won of taxes for international tournaments, and Na-me paid 200 billion won in taxes last year.
└ Really, 40% tax exemption rate? Our country is doomed, for real, lol.
└ Literally a tax payer at the national power level.
└ It’s a king-sized deduction for sure.
– Isn’t it normal that a 9-year-old thinks like a kid?
└ Wait, is Na-me really still 9 years old?
└ Still? She’s already 9 years old…
└ Crazy person, crazy person.
└ I forgot just how unreasonable NoName is until this instant!
– Everything should just be proven by performance.
└ For real, if you win, it’s justified, and if you lose, it’s never too late to say something!
The concerns Na-me had about the laziness controversy surprisingly did not spread much.
Unlike the Wizard Association, which had become a thorn in the side, Na-me had plucked every thorn during her period of self-reflection.
With the public’s support, Na-me no longer needed to hesitate and proceeded to host a tournament.
[NoName]
[Broadcast Platform: V-Tube, Twish, Myverse]
[Kaizen World – 1st Kaizen World Taming Master]
[Broadcast Time – 0:23:20]
[Number of Viewers – 241057]
“Next, I will explain the evolution system.
To survive in the dwindling magic field, monsters need to go through two evolutions, medium and large.
You could catch neutral monsters to obtain magical energy, but the best method is to defeat opposing monsters.”
Only endless battles will pave the way in the last city, Rapavnk.
If you wait it out, your monsters will become obsolete, do you understand?”
The number of participants increased from the original plan of 50 to 100.
As the commentator, Na-me explained the rules while riding on Black Dragon Luri.
As it was a copy of a game that already existed, the participants all nodded their heads easily.
A member of NV, dressed as the White Witch, raised his hand excitedly to ask a question.
“Na-me, is there a prize if you win?”
“Prize?”
Na-me stroked her chin, raising her eyes.
Luri also mimicked Na-me’s action by raising her gigantic front paw.
“Well, I haven’t prepared anything in particular… maybe a kiss?”
Na-me shrugged, smiling.
Then, she quickly negated her own statement.
“Just kidding! I’ve actually planned a special prize for the top-ranking participants, so make sure to do your best—”
“Eek! That’s all I need!”
“No, wait…”
“Wow, Na-me! Awesome! Let’s all give Na-me a round of applause!”
“How many ranks do I need to be in to get a kiss?”
Na-me struggled a bit to calm the frenzied participants.
“I messed up…”
