An Offer from the Ju-ttak
"Wanna meet up?"
The message "Enhancement failed" appeared. For a moment, I was startled by the text that seemed capable of triggering childhood maple leaf PTSD just by looking at it, but then the next line caught my eye.
[Device performance is insufficient to apply the corresponding expansion pack]
Device performance is insufficient. In other words, it meant I needed a better computer than this to apply that package.
"This is bad…"
Buying a computer wouldn't be cheap. No, even if I bought one, there was another problem.
Even just purchasing the graphics expansion pack had caused this much trouble. If I added other features including sound, I had no confidence that a newly bought computer could handle it.
'They definitely said it wasn't just about buying it, but upgrading later too.'
If I upgraded and improved the performance, I'd surely run into the same device performance issue again. If that happened, buying a new computer would just be throwing money away.
> [Constellation, Art God of Joy asks if you can't make a computer]
"…Of course not."
No matter how much of a former game developer I was, or how I came from a corporation in this cyberpunk world, I couldn't build a computer. After all, I wasn't an engineer.
That was someone else's job, not mine.
Just like how liking games or being good at writing Hangul reports didn't mean you were good at making games or anything else.
> [Would you like to check the final required specifications for downloading the expansion pack?]
"…Check."
Then all sorts of information floated in the air.
Because my knowledge of machines was severely lacking, I couldn't interpret the details, but within the range I could understand, I managed to figure out two things.
One was that such a computer existed with current technology.
Two, I didn't have the means to obtain one.
> [Constellation, Art God of Strings asks what you mean by that]
"Because almost all of them are only used by government agencies."
Yeah, the specs this guy was demanding were supercomputers at the very top even by this world's standards. In short, they were things only usable by the confidential facilities of the Big 5 corporations in this city, or by personnel belonging to government agencies that oversaw the entire city.
Like limited editions that you couldn't even glance at even if you had the money. No, this was something beyond limited editions.
Those you could at least buy from resellers at a markup later, but this was impossible.
> [Constellation, Tragedy's Art God laughs and asks if you need qualifications to buy something even with money]
"…Right."
If I was going to be born anyway, I should've been born into a chaebol family. What the hell is this? Then I could've gone wild with massive authority like the youngest grandchild of a conglomerate family.
No, if that had happened, instead of doing this, I'd probably have to sell nationalistic propaganda games for the country.
"So what do I do now…"
Even if I compromised on the features, the fact remained that I needed a new computer. No matter how well I was earning money now, I couldn't live my entire life making only dot-graphic games while excluding high-quality graphics.
The other people in the gallery would still cheer, but my developer's pride couldn't bear it.
It wasn't like it required astronomical amounts of money to produce—electricity bills were basically all it cost.
> [Constellation, Celestial Art God asks if you called for her]
"No, it was just a metaphor."
While I was continuing to worry like that.
"Wait a second…"
A thought flashed through my mind.
'Maybe there's something on the dark web?'
Since it was a place beyond the government's reach, there was a good chance items were circulating.
Though it wouldn't be a legal transaction, so the price would be overwhelming…
'It wouldn't hurt to check once.'
With that thought, I logged into the gallery and wrote a post.
Hello everyone, this is GM.
Is there any way to buy a high-spec computer at a slightly cheaper price?
I need a computer as good as the Ultra computers used by corporations or the government.
If anyone is selling, I'd like to make a trade.
Not long after I finished writing the post.
-Ding -Ding -Ding
At the sound of notifications ringing continuously, I checked the comments.
ㄴ For real lol
ㄴㄴ No way anyone would actually look for something like that lol
ㄴㄴㄴ What would an individual even use that for in the first place?
ㄴ It'd be faster to just go to a junkyard and find discarded Ultra PC parts from corporations and repair them one by one
ㄴㄴ Fact) That would actually be better lol
ㄴ Even if there is, it's insanely expensive lol
ㄴㄴ Just give that money to me instead
ㄴ We don't have the capability…
ㄴ You crazy bastard lol
ㄴㄴ We'll see you on the news tomorrow lol
ㄴㄴㄴ ???: Roll call in prison~
"Haa, as expected…"
I had roughly anticipated this. Even though they were mutants, most of them were just ordinary people.
It meant they were nothing more than office workers living day to day like I had in my previous life.
Expecting supercomputers from people like that was definitely asking too much.
Just as I was about to accept that.
[What was that post you just uploaded??]
A message arrived from the gallery's Ju-ttak, who had been quietly watching the situation.
***
The sudden private message from the gallery operator, commonly called the Ju-ttak.
The only thought that came to my mind at that sight was one thing.
'Am I… about to get banned?'
Computers in this world were largely divided into two types. Ultra PCs, which corresponded to supercomputers in the original world, and Common PCs that anyone could use.
Among them, Ultra PCs were legally designated to be managed exclusively by the state. I didn't know the exact reason…
Well, it was probably something similar to what was described in 'Papillon.' After all, none of the higher-ups would be pleased to see powerful weapons fall into the hands of citizens.
Anyway, to avoid possible censorship, I had written that I wanted a computer "as good as" an Ultra PC instead of outright saying I was looking for one…
'I didn't expect her to check it personally like this.'
This was dangerous. Even if there was nothing in the post that violated the gallery rules, I didn't know how Hacking Master herself would interpret it. What if she thought I was trying to obtain an Ultra PC and suspended me?
My brilliant developer life, where I could make whatever I wanted to create, would evaporate, and I might end up having to make nothing but dot-graphic games for the rest of my life.
So the only thing I could do now was…
I immediately bowed my head and apologized to Hacking Master. What came back was a puzzled message from the Master.
'What, is she testing me?'
Alright, then I need to apologize more clearly.
Hmm, a logical explanation.
After all, people should aim high. That way, even if they fail, they still get something out of it.
Perhaps sensing something unsatisfactory in my explanation, Hacking Master was silent for a long while.
…Surely she wasn't actually going to report me to the government.
Just as I was feeling anxious.
[I have no intention of selling you out]
[So relax]
…Is she serious?
I'd been betrayed by people so many times that it was hard to be sure.
"…Now I can understand."
People don't lie when their own interests are at stake. From my perspective, knowing how Hacking Master had reacted when she first encountered the game, this was definitely a trustworthy statement.
"…What?"
About a week after starting game development in the gallery, I immediately heard our Ju-ttak's criminal declaration.
As expected. No matter how good the game was, there was no way she could do something like that so casually.
Unless she was completely out of her mind, people prioritize their safety over their enjoyment.
Feeling anxious about what the Ju-ttak might demand in exchange, I asked.
[Meet me once]
"…Excuse me?"
What was this about now?
> [Constellation, Art God of Roses says she feels a romantic aura and her eyes are sparkling]
Shut your mouth, Constellation-nim.