Chapter 48
The editor-in-chief of the journal sat in front of his monitor.
Then he opened, one by one, the reports written by the panel of experts in each field.
— I could not find any errors. I recommend publication.
— The proof of self-adjointness is solid and flawless. I recommend publication.
— The correspondence of the trace formula is valid. I recommend publication.
— The author's claim that it has a spectrum is valid. I recommend publication.
The format of an official work report.
Though it was clearly written in a stiff, formal tone.
The fact that every reviewer recommended publication was, in effect, the highest praise imaginable.
The editor-in-chief read all of the reports sent by the reviewers.
He leaned back in his chair for a moment, then took a sip of coffee.
Then he slowly opened the email composition window.
He entered Han Seol-ae's email address in the recipient field.
[Acceptance Notice]
— Author Yua Yeon's paper, “On the Proof of the Riemann Hypothesis,” has passed the review process. All members of the review panel recommended publication, and the editorial department has accepted it. The paper is scheduled to appear in next month's issue. Congratulations.
The editor-in-chief moved the cursor over the send button.
But he paused for a moment, thinking, instead of sending it right away.
A little while later.
He added one more line at the very bottom of the body.
— It was an honor to handle this manuscript.
✒️✒️✒️
The news spread quickly.
A professor overseas heard the news and sent a message to a colleague through a chat app.
— It’s going to be published in a top journal. Next month’s issue.
A reply came back quickly.
— I saw it. So it’s finally being published.
— We’ll get to witness a moment in history.
— Remember when we first saw that paper? I thought there was no way.
— I only managed to believe it after reading it three times.
— I still can’t believe the author is six years old.
— Me neither. But academia doesn’t care about age.
— It’s a relief there’s no age limit in the journal’s publication criteria.
✒️✒️✒️
The professor gathered the graduate students in his lab.
“You all heard that Yua Yeon’s paper is going to be published in a top journal?”
“Yes. We just checked.”
Everyone nodded.
“I was called in as part of the verification team and spent over four months tearing this paper apart. To be honest, at first I was hoping something would collapse somewhere, but not a single part gave way; it held firm.”
One doctoral student said.
“It must have been complete enough to satisfy your strict standards, Professor.”
The professor said with a laugh.
“Yes. The contents of this paper. I’m going to include them in next year’s graduate curriculum.”
“What? Professor, are we going to be taking a class on this paper?”
“That’s right. It’s not just because Yua Yeon solved the Riemann Hypothesis. The theorem Yua Yeon used while solving the problem seems likely to become quite important in future number theory research. I suspect it may later be called the ‘Ayeon Theorem.’ You need to learn that part.”
Hearing that, the graduate students looked at one another.
They did not fully understand Yua Yeon’s paper.
But seeing the usually picky professor, who rarely praised anyone, lavish such praise on it let them vicariously experience just how incredible it was.
“...Professor, the fact that our advisor was on the verification team for this paper will probably be something I can brag about later.”
The professor laughed heartily.
“I think so too. The fact that I verified Yua Yeon’s paper is the pride of my entire life.”
✒️✒️✒️
One elderly professor’s hobby was writing popular math books in language that ordinary people could understand.
He had written six books.
Before he was a mathematics professor, he was a writer.
Swish-.
Alone in his office, the professor opened the printed copy of Yua Yeon’s paper again.
The 148-page document was already covered in highlighter marks, and the margins were packed with notes.
Every single sentence in Yua Yeon’s paper was beautiful.
Perhaps he had fallen in love with that beauty.
The professor decided to write a book about Yua Yeon and let more people know about Yua Yeon’s achievements.
He took out his typewriter and adjusted his magnifying glasses.
“Let’s see... what should the title be...”
After thinking for a moment,
he carefully began to type.
Tap- tap- tap-tap-.
[Bernhard Riemann Asked, and Yua Yeon Answered.]
✒️✒️✒️
The Clay Mathematics Institute.
A nonprofit foundation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and an organization founded by mathematicians at Harvard University.
It is neither a government agency nor an official authority in the mathematics world.
But it is the organization that created the Millennium Prize Problems and put up a $1 million reward for each one.
So it can be said to have enormous authority in the mathematics world.
And now that the Riemann Hypothesis has, in effect, been solved,
even they, who normally move with extreme caution, had finally reached the point where it was time for them to act directly.
The Clay Mathematics Institute conference room.
A printed copy of Yua Yeon’s paper lay on the table.
The cover was worn from being read over and over.
“You all heard the news that publication has been confirmed, right?”
One person said.
“Yes. Academic consensus is effectively complete as well. There are almost no dissenting voices.”
“The final reports from the foundation’s verification teams have all come in as well.”
“Was there any team with a dissenting opinion?”
“None.”
The meeting room fell silent for a moment.
“Then from now on, the Riemann Hypothesis should be called the ‘Riemann Theorem.’”
Riemann Theorem.
The words lingered in the meeting room for a moment.
The fact that something that had been a hypothesis for more than 160 years had become a proven theorem gave everyone a strange sense of exhilaration.
Changing the official terminology carried that much resonance.
“Let’s prepare an official statement.”
“We should invite the press.”
“Yes. We will hold an award ceremony along with the official announcement.”
“How should we structure the statement?”
“Please divide it into an award announcement, a paper citation, an explanation of the verification process, and background on the Riemann Theorem.”
“What about the venue for the ceremony?”
“As with the 2010 academic conference commemorating the resolution of the Poincaré Conjecture, it seems appropriate to hold it in Paris, France.”
“Then I’ll start by drawing up a list of major figures in the mathematics world to invite.”
One person said.
“Ah, and please invite Yua Yeon herself, the one who proved the Riemann Theorem.”
“Of course.”
“Do you know how to contact her?”
“According to our investigation, it should be sent to the email address of Seol-ae Han, the paper’s second author.”
The meeting was over.
And under the name of the Clay Mathematics Institute, messages began going out to major figures in the world of mathematics.
— An official award ceremony regarding the resolution of the Riemann Theorem will be held. We would be grateful if you could attend.
— so it said.
✒️✒️✒️
“Huh?”
One day.
I saw a single academic article quietly appear.
[Clay Mathematics Institute Begins Process to Recognize the Riemann Hypothesis Resolution]
The article itself didn’t have many views.
Because most people didn’t know what the Clay Mathematics Institute was.
A straightforward title that didn’t even try to bait clicks probably didn’t make people want to click it.
But those who knew, all knew.
That the Clay Mathematics Institute is the foundation that announced the seven great unsolved mathematical problems—the Millennium Prize Problems—and offered a $1 million reward.
And that that ridiculously slow-moving foundation had finally started moving on its own this time.
“Uhehing-.”
Which means they’re going to heap praise on me!
Pitter-patter-pitter-patter-!
I ran over to Mom, who was working on her laptop.
“Mom! Mom!”
“Hm?”
“Open the inbox! Quick, quick! Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry...!”
“Why are you suddenly in such a rush? Okay, okay.”
I couldn’t hold back my excitement and bounced in place.
Mom’s inbox was already on the verge of bursting, with the “99+” mark always showing because of countless interview and lecture requests.
So it had been a long time since she’d only skimmed through emails once every few days.
‘But now that the Clay Mathematics Institute has moved, there must be a very important email waiting for me!’
Click-click-.
Mom opened the inbox.
Ignoring most of the interview and lecture request emails, two important emails caught her eye.
One was from the journal I had submitted to.
The other was from the Clay Mathematics Institute.
“Nihihi.”
Grinning broadly—
Just seeing who the emails were from sent the corners of my mouth soaring into the sky.
I read the email from the journal.
It said my submitted paper had passed review and would be published in the next issue.
The final sentence, in particular, felt very good.
“Mom, did you see? The journal’s editor-in-chief uncle says it was an honor to handle this manuscript—an honor!”
“This uncle is way too good at flattery! It’s so sweet my teeth are going to rot...! And I’ve never even been to the dentist once!”
“Hehe, Ayeon, you must be incredibly happy.”
Mom, having also published in journals herself, seemed to sympathize and smiled warmly.
Next, I read the email from the Clay Mathematics Institute.
………………………………………………………………
The Clay Mathematics Institute will be holding an award ceremony regarding the resolution of the Riemann Theorem.
To award the prize money and present the Millennium Prize, we request the attendance of mathematician Yua Yeon, who proved the Riemann Theorem.
The venue and date of the ceremony are as follows.
Venue: Sorbonne University Auditorium, Paris, France
Date: May 23–24, 2026, 1:00 PM–6:00 PM
………………………………………………………………
I read it with automatic brain translation, and the phrase “Yua Yeon, a mathematician who proved Riemann's Theorem” kept hovering in my mind and wouldn’t go away.
“Wow! Mom, did you see? It says ‘the mathematician Yua Yeon who proved the Riemann Theorem’! Uhehit-!”
Recognized by none other than the foundation that designated the Riemann Hypothesis as one of the seven great unsolved problems...!
Official praise from an official institution—something nowhere near comparable to the praise in internet articles!
Naturally, its resonance was far deeper and sweeter.
I threw my arms up in triumph and hopped up and down.