Finding the Hacker (2)
The original novel featured exactly three hackers. One affiliated with the heroes, one serving as a trainer within Eclipse, and one operating as an independent villain. Some might wonder why there were only three. The answer was simple: one hero made the rest unnecessary.
C-class Hero Cyber Ghost. He was the hacker on the hero side. Though his combat ability was nonexistent—hence his C-class ranking—his influence easily surpassed that of most A-class heroes. He single-handedly handled every major cybercrime that occurred in the digital world.
He could dive into the internet to extract information, collapse entire websites, and even eavesdrop on private phone calls. A cyber specter who existed everywhere online yet left no trace. Of course, being only human, he didn’t bother monitoring every individual call or text message. He was already overwhelmed dealing with cybercrimes across the entire world.
Illegal gambling sites, drug distribution networks, black market trades, data heists from major villain organizations—the list went on. Thanks to him, dozens of villain groups had been dismantled. Now, in his fifth year as a hero, no one could match him. As a result, fewer people with hacking talents chose the villain path. Villain organizations responded by reinforcing completely isolated databases, cutting themselves off from the outside world, and handling critical information exclusively through paper documents.
He was the top priority elimination target for every villain syndicate. A tyrant of the internet realm, and there was no one who could stop him.
At least, not until one particular villain appeared.
“Oppa. Not here either?”
“Hmm… doesn’t seem like it.”
“Then let’s just grab some ice cream over there and go.”
“Alright, let’s do that.”
Glitch. She began as a C-class villain, but later paralyzed every electronic system in Korea and neighboring countries, hacked military combat equipment to commit widespread terrorism, and ultimately rose to S-class. Her combat ability was similar to Cyber Ghost’s, but because villain rankings factored in overall threat level, she proudly claimed the S-class title.
“Here’s your ice cream, oppa.”
“Thank you.”
In the original story, she was an unaffiliated villain known for her eccentric behavior. I still had no idea why she’d decided to become my fan, but as long as she was friendly toward me, that was fine. If possible, it would be even better if she joined me as a subordinate.
After eating ice cream with Lee Gayeon on a bench, we teleported to another arcade.
I hope she’s here.
“Puhahaha! Finish him! Finish him!!”
It didn’t take long to spot the girl. With her pretty face and cat-ear hoodie, she stood out immediately.
Found her.
The moment I saw her, I knew. She was undoubtedly the future S-class villain, Glitch.
"Ora ora ora ora!!"
"Tuk tadak! Hwiririk! Tak!!"
A girl skillfully manipulating the worn-out machines in an unmanned arcade with dazzling technique. She looked like a high school student—short hair, cat-ear hoodie. Right now she seemed like nothing more than a spirited female student, but she was unmistakably the future S-class villain Glitch.
“Ah~, it’s just a bot after all. Kinda boring.”
She set down the water bottle beside her and took a sip. I chuckled softly and approached.
> [NEW CHALLENGER!!]
Without a word, I slid past her, sat at the machine opposite hers, and inserted a coin.
“Hmm?”
She grinned, clearly intrigued. Our fingers flew across buttons and joysticks as we selected characters and began the match.
Tak! Tadadak! Tak! Tararak! Tatak!!
The fierce battle continued for a while.
“Mister…”
> [YOU WIN!!]
She shot up from her seat, eyes sparkling as she stared at me.
“Wow, you’re amazing!!”
“Haha, it was nothing.”
“Nothing?! I’ve been playing this game for years! It’s been forever since I met someone better than me!!”
Thirteen years had passed since I arrived in this world. Back when I was an elementary school orphan, the older boys from the orphanage had dragged me to arcades.
I thought it was a waste of time back then, but now it’s actually useful… The world really is unpredictable.
“How long have you been playing? You didn’t just start recently, right?”
“I only played a little bit a long time ago.”
“Well, I guess a hundred-year-old classic fighting game wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea these days…”
She muttered to herself, lost in thought. As expected, she was a hardcore fan of this nearly abandoned old fighting game.
“I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed, but it feels good to play once in a while when it crosses my mind.”
Just dropping a few casual comments was enough.
“Right?! There’s something weirdly addictive about it, isn’t there?!”
“Yeah. No matter how advanced mobile and PC games get with all the new fighting titles, the feel of this one is just more my style…”
“Whoa—! Mister, you really get it!!”
She laughed heartily and slapped my back repeatedly. Her personality was refreshingly straightforward.
“Oh, do you like candy? It’s pretty much all I’ve got besides this cute body of mine.”
“…Please don’t say things like that to other people.”
A minor talking about her body—what was she thinking?
“Puhaha! Sorry, just kidding!”
She giggled and handed me a candy. Once I accepted it, she grinned in satisfaction and propped one foot up on her chair.
…Was she always this casual?
I remembered her acting quirky in the original story, but the details were fuzzy. It had been quite a while since I last read it. Anyway, we ended up chatting for a long time.
“I’m Narin! Just Narin, no last name!”
“I’m Kang Ian.”
We exchanged names, shared tips on combos, and played several more rounds.
“Hoo…! That was fun after so long!”
“I enjoyed it too. It’s been a while since I had this much fun.”
After several hours, Narin suddenly turned to me with a bright smile.
“So, mister, where did you come from?”
“…You knew?”
“You’ve been getting searched for everywhere, you know!”
She puffed out her chest proudly and ran a hand through her hair.
A little surprising.
I’d assumed she hadn’t suspected anything.
“Normally I would’ve run away… but your face is totally my type, and you seemed genuinely into the game, so I played along!”
“Haha! Or maybe you just didn’t have anyone else to play with?”
“…Shut up!”
Her face flushed slightly as she scolded me.
“So, where are you from? Hero Association? Villain organization scout? If it’s a personal request, I might consider it.”
“Unfortunately, it’s a scouting offer.”
“Haa…”
She sighed and slumped over the arcade machine.
From what I remember of the original, she always worked alone. She probably doesn’t like group activities.
Still, I had to make my pitch. I created Maker’s half-mask and put it on.
“…I don’t know who sent you, but I’ll have to declin—huh?”
“Narin. First, I apologize for deceiving you.”
“……”
“As you guessed, I belong to the villain organization Eclipse, and I’ve come to scout you. I am one of its executives…”
“M-M-M…”
“Executive…”
“M-M-M-M-Maker?!!!!!!”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
Narin stared at me in stunned silence after I put on the mask. Her face gradually turned bright red, and when I confirmed I was Maker, she let out a piercing scream.
“R-Really Maker oppa…?”
“…I’m not sure about the ‘oppa’ part, but yes, I’m the real Maker.”
I created a simple flower in front of her eyes and offered it to her.
“I-It’s real!”
Narin looked back and forth between the flower and me. Then—
Grab.
“I-I’m a faaaan!!!”
She seized my hand and shook it vigorously up and down.
…I should’ve worn the mask from the beginning.
"The real Maker came to meet me! This isn't a dream, right?"
“Should I pinch your cheek to prove it?”
“Huk! P-Please do!!”
She squeezed her eyes shut and trembled. When I gently pinched her cheek, she bounced around in excitement.
“It hurts! Oh my god, it’s real!!”
…Kid, isn’t your personality doing a complete 180 from a minute ago?
Well, if she liked me, that was even better.
“But how did you find me, oraboni?”
“……”
I silently took out my phone and showed her the Maker Gallery.
“You could say that.”
“Eclipse’s intelligence network is more impressive than I thought…!”
It was really just me guessing from the original story.
“Then do you also know that I was the one spreading videos every time Maker oraboni went villain hunting?!”
“Yes, I do.”
I had suspected as much. Thanks for confirming it.
“Then you must know I’m the leader of Maker oraboni’s fan club ‘Mafi’ too?!!”
“I… beg your pardon?”
“Eclipse… what a terrifying organization…!”
That part was new information to me. She didn’t seem to notice my dumbfounded tone and simply continued thinking to herself.
At that moment, my phone vibrated.
I had told Lee Gayeon to head back to the organization and rest because I expected the conversation with Narin to take a while. She had puffed her cheeks but ultimately listened. It seemed she was checking in now that it was getting late.
After ending the exchange, I put my phone away and looked back at Narin.
“…Anyway, that’s why I came looking for you.”
“Because my skills are just that amazing? Hehe.”
“That’s part of it. But more than anything, it’s because you created my fan cafe.”
At my words, Narin suddenly looked nervous, watching my reaction carefully.
“…I’m sorry. Was it unpleasant that I made a fan cafe without permission…?”
“No, not at all. I was simply curious about your reason.”
I corrected her misunderstanding and added my own thoughts.
At first I thought she had some ulterior motive, but now it really seems like she made it out of genuine fandom.
That only made me more curious. Why would she create a fan club for a villain even though it was clearly illegal?
“…The reason?”
“Yes. Forming an organization that supports villains is strictly illegal, after all. I wanted to know why you did it.”
“……”
Narin fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. After a brief pause, she finally opened her mouth.