010. Nameless Monster (1)

While Han Yu-ra was tormented by guilt and a sense of debt, Shin Na-young instinctively sensed an opportunity.

'This is my chance.'

Han Yu-ra—big breasts, red hair, successful businesswoman—was somehow in a groggy state for reasons unknown. She thought,

'A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has come to me.'

As a marriage prospect, Shin Na-young was outmatched by Han Yu-ra. That was an objective fact. If the two stepped into a pro wrestling ring, their size difference would send her flying out and breaking bones. But what about now?

'President Han. Did you know?'

The type of woman men hated most wasn't unexpectedly ugly, flat-chested, or stupid. The hardest woman to date was a depressed one.

'Even if she's a total menhera! As long as she's pretty!' No one lasted over a year saying that.

'Can't be helped.'

Having experienced depression herself once, she knew. A gaping hole in the chest, an overwhelming emptiness. When you realize nothing can make you happy, you crave attention and pleasure endlessly. Because you know you can't generate vibrant energy from that hollow heart.

You eventually realize it yourself: no amount of others' comfort or motivation can truly make you happy.

'But you can't stop.'

It's human instinct to crave even a tiny taste of joy. So you pester those around you sweetly. You want them to notice your torment. You wish they'd cry in your place—and the more you wish, the more you're betrayed. The pain doesn't lessen at all. That's how depression eats away at a person. A disease that makes you hang desperately on even the tiniest glittering speck of pleasure.

How would someone afflicted treat their partner? They'd torment them until they collapsed from exhaustion.

'But you won't do that.'

Han Yu-ra was the capable, prideful type, so the odds of her tormenting Im Seong-u were low. She'd sooner hug herself and quietly sink away. Embracing her darkening inner world, descending without communication. Thinking of that made Shin Na-young's breath catch.

She felt like she'd win the romance battle, but a bitter taste lingered.

'I don't want you to break.'

Seeing Han Yu-ra lost in thought with a vacant expression didn't bring the victory rush she'd expected.

'Might be early-stage depression.'

It didn't look like something she'd shake off easily. Could be the start of a nine-year ordeal. The inevitable mental cold of one's twenties. A massive Saturn tormenting the soul. If she couldn't overcome it, Han Yu-ra's eyes would never sparkle with stars again.

Surprisingly, that depressed Shin Na-young. Because she'd once thought Han Yu-ra was truly cool.

'But no choice.'

Half of romance was luck. She didn't want to miss this chance over some trivial sentiment, whatever the reason.

At the moment Railroad Software successfully wrapped up its open beta...

What was Kim A-ram doing right now?

She sat bundled in blankets like a tiny armadillo, in front of her computer. Dark circles ringed her eyes.

'Fuck! You fucking bastards!'

Kim A-ram clutched her messy hair and hammered the keyboard. After nine job applications got rejected simultaneously, she'd plunged into deep despair. Even if she'd landed one, it would've been a thorny lifeline of pain. The lawsuit with Han Yu-ra was a sure loss, and she owed at least 100 million won. But now, even that lifeline was gone.

What could she do? One thing only.

'Im Seong-u, you bastard!'

Become an internet warrior.

'I'll make sure you all crash and burn!'

Like a true Warrior, she entered the Sepiros Online minor gallery. And began her solitary battle, unbroken throughout the open beta.

'Give it... my all!'

For the downfall of the Sepiros Online minor gallery—aka Semagal.

She'd made multiple fixed nicks, even learned VPN-based fluid alt-account techniques the day before. Cracking her knuckles like a pro gamer, she gripped her mouse.

'Here... I go!'

And unleashed her posts.

She no longer spewed random flaws of Sepiros Online. Now, she cunningly played the intellectual, pulling aggro and slowly souring public opinion.

She obsessed: How to craft a "quality post" that hits recommendations? Maximize views? Make people fatigued by Sepiros Online talk?

Time-wasting no normal person would do—but she had time to burn.

Thus, an invisible, intangible gallery demon was born.

'No way, how...'

Yet human intuition was a wondrous thing. No matter how she changed her style, her personality and vibe didn't shift easily.

Kim A-ram gritted her teeth and manipulated opinion.

'Shadow Clone Jutsu! Shadow Clone Jutsu! Shadow Clone Jutsu! Shadow Clone Jutsu!'

Like Naruto. She spammed hate comments like a fallen stan discovering her idol was dating.

But even her ninja rampage couldn't last forever.

'Huh...?'

Flustered, Kim A-ram checked her own posts again—

'What? At this hour?'

She was stunned. This shouldn't happen. It was 10 a.m. on a weekday. Regular office workers couldn't be at their keyboards.

'I've been switching IPs every ban...?'

Plus, she had over 200 VPN servers. How could they block every single IP manually?

Posting comments was futile. With trembling hands, she kept switching IPs. And realized: all her overseas IPs from yesterday were blocked. Available proxy servers were dwindling. This gallery mod was an insane internet ghost.

'No... crazy? Actually insane?'

DCInside gallery mods got no pay. Meaning this lunatic had censored every comment sleeplessly. For zero won.

'Wha... what...'

Was this even human? Instinctive fear gripped her.

'No choice... time for the high nick.'

Her undetected fixed nick. She pulled out the precious one she'd used for a year.

—gulp. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

Yoon Se-hee. Railroad Software's official community cripple. Handing out flyers stressed her out immensely, and her personality barred her from any non-professional job.

But she had a shady hobby...

'Se... Director Seong-u... so... cool...'

Sneaking peeks at Im Seong-u's back. Facing him directly was too scary.

Her stealthy glances evaded even Han Yu-ra and Shin Na-young.

'Will he... notice my feelings? He looked twice today...!'

Of course not. Yoon Se-hee sulked. Then reflected seriously on herself.

'I'm... so bad at communities...'

True enough.

'Haven't changed since middle school...'

While others enjoyed fresh romances in school, she oozed dark aura and pointless laments.

Her mind buzzed: 'Lon... lonely...'

She wanted to play too. Gossip idols with friends, catch boys' subtle glances during soccer, beg for extra sausage at lunch.

But she couldn't.

—What? Se-hee?

—I... I...

—Dummy! Speak slowly!

She couldn't talk.

'Sad... lonely.'

Maybe her personality. In high school, a bully girl targeted her, leading to isolation.

Se-hee was heartbroken.

—Hey, fuck. Can't you talk? Huh?

—Uh... ugh...

—Hey! Look at this! She can barely fucking speak!

—Hey, stop. She's pitiful.

—Why! Oppa, don't stop me! She's a retard anyway!

Eventually, Yoon Se-hee grew terrified of people, holing up at home as backlash.

Her only path:

'Lonely... so... make friends online...!'

Thus, she dove into SNS young.

At first, the internet was kind. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Funny posts earned likes; hate? New account.

She felt freedom. Adapted like a bird in flight.

'Love... it so much!'

She could barely converse IRL anyway. Likes were numbers to others, but to her, praise for life; dislikes, knives to the heart.

One day, impulsively, she posted hate.

A backlash of her unrecognized self, an attempt to step out.

But the net wasn't merciful. She tasted pain for the first time.

In an era before rampant insults, her heart shredded. First hearing such words crippled daily life.

But... she had to change. The net was too precious.

'Won't get hurt... by anyone... anymore...'

She wanted to live online—even if it made her a monster.

Day by day, she honed herself. Saw idol fan cafe extremes, BL obsessions' filth. Viewed Hulkass memes. Deep web horrors.

Keyboard wars with countless netizens. Years later, she sensed her mastery.

Patterns and win formulas flashed in her mind.

'Yawn.'

Even the last two weren't her main ID. Three-headed something? She mobilized parents' accounts for opinion wars. Already a monster.

Logic? Insult character.

Numbers losing? Pad-lip to flip opinion slowly.

Use politics to paint opponent enemy. All natural as breathing.

'I... feel enlightened...'

By the time her online personas pierced 100...

She realized: online hate no longer hurt.

'You... do Insta too?'

College days. She finally revenge'd her bully. Dozens of goroshi. Cyber violence thrill. The Insta-obsessed bully ended ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up medicated; Yoon Se-hee's feeling? Deep gratitude.

'Internet... Internet, you're my god...!'

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠net let her live as human. Communicate. Made her god in cyber space.

After 20 years of community lurking, Yoon Se-hee transcended humanity.

'Bu... but what's... this emptiness.'

How much could net strangers soothe loneliness? Amid managing two DC galleries, feeling void...

Han Yu-ra said:

—Se-hee.

—Y-yes...?

—Can you converse online?

Her heart swelled.

—Y-yes! On... internet... I talk... well!

—Then, could you mod our Sepiros Online minor gallery? Manage opinions too...

Light. Her online personas were acknowledged, but real-world praise from Han Yu-ra was sweeter. 20 years validated as "skill." Akin to Im Seong-u's revelation.

Bliss.

'Unniii...♥'

Red hair. Big boobs. Super pretty. Yoon Se-hee adored Unni Yu-ra—wanted her hair strands. Even matched her love for Im Seong-u.

Couldn't half-ass it...

Thus, she class-changed to guardian of the info age.

Staring at such comments, she thought, 'Cute.' A twisted mom smile.

20 years of unregulated hate images and ugliness as hikikomori? Untouched.

She tilted her head.

"Huh?"

Her sharp instinct warned.

'This... commenting fluid... one person...?'

Yoon Se-hee grinned chillingly, lips curling up.

Proving each fact made her glad to be alive.

'Won't... forgive...'

Pretty Unni Han Yu-ra. Director Im Seong-u she'd liked for a year.

Their Sepiros Online was like...

'Their... baby, right...? Hehe... so cute...♡ Too cute...'

Trying to kill that child? Like abusing a pet kitten. Barbaric.

Long-lost blood boiled.

One possibility hit.

'Maybe... that bitch Kim A-ram...?'

Plausible. She'd wiped servers, verbally killed Yoon Se-hee's mom, owed company reparations. Plenty motive for revenge on Railroad Software.

She gnashed teeth.

'Ple... please... let it be! Just once! Please!'

Yoon Se-hee prayed fervently.