Chapter 219: What I Want to Do (8)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 219: What I Want to Do (8)
The topic of my girlfriends moving in came up, and starting with Eunha, Yura also began preparing to move into Su-ah’s place.
And I made one thing very clear to them.
I told them there was absolutely nothing I could do to help with this move.
Normally, I would have naturally helped them, but Yubin’s advice had a strong impact on me, so I decided to pour all my focus into creating the hacking tool.
Eunha and Yura found it a bit strange, but since they knew I had resumed my investigation into Superhumans, they didn’t ask any further questions.
Shutting myself in my room, I spent several days glued to my laptop, constantly moving back and forth to the headquarters, focusing solely on the task at hand.
While writing the program, the fact that everything was going so smoothly suddenly bothered me.
It felt as if this peace was only being granted to me because of what was about to happen.
I couldn't help but feel this way.
What I was trying to do was extract data from the PC of an Earth Defense Union executive, and there was bound to be information inside that I had never known before.
Regardless of the weight of that information, something new and alien was certain to exist.
My anxiety far outweighed my anticipation. Above all, there was no guarantee that what I was about to do would definitely succeed.
Since Yubin had agreed to help me, all I had to do was create the program and establish a solid plan.
However, even if everything proceeded according to plan, that was only something that could be confirmed by the results.
In the middle of the process, one never knows what variables might arise, and every circumstance must be considered.
Yet, if I only sat around considering every single possibility, I would never get anything done.
Falling into a complex state of mannerism, my hands stopped moving over the keyboard.
“?”
Yubin, who was sitting next to me watching me work, looked at me. She probably thought a problem had cropped up with the task.
There were no problems with creating the program. In fact, it was strange how smoothly it was going despite it being a while since I’d done this kind of work.
“It’ll be okay, right?”
When I asked her tentatively out of anxiety, she realized what I was worrying about and let out a sigh.
“Are you worrying about that now?”
“I can’t help but be worried.”
The biggest concern wasn't me making the program. In the end, my role was the preparation; the one who would take what I prepared and execute the operation wasn't me, but Yubin.
The plan was this: install the program on a USB drive, plug it into the computer, and transmit the data to my PC.
No matter how well I made the program, if the USB couldn't be plugged into the computer, the operation was impossible. I had only made up my mind to do this because Yubin was there, and I started preparing because she said she would help.
However, as someone who didn't know the internal affairs of the Earth Defense Union, I couldn't help but worry about Yubin performing the seemingly simple task of plugging a USB into a PC. Even if the act itself was simple, it was an act that would cause internal data to leak outside.
“I’m doing this to help you, Oppa, but I’m also doing it because I’m curious myself. I’ll be that much more careful, so you don’t have to worry already.”
In the eyes of Yubin, who was helping me, there was more certainty that this could be executed well than in mine, the one who had started the whole thing.
“Alright.”
If I hesitated here, I wouldn't be able to do anything. Yubin had agreed to do this because she heard I was making a hacking tool.
Ultimately, if I didn't prepare, Yubin couldn't move to execute it either. We were both essential to each other for this task, and Yubin, knowing I was worried, spoke to me with an even more confident voice.
If I, the one who asked first, wavered here, Yubin wouldn't be able to feel confident about completing the job successfully either.
“How should we proceed?”
“I’ve thought about it, and I think the day of the duel would be best.”
The date of the operation after the hacking tool was finished was also important. We had to figure out when it would be easiest to access the executive’s PC and when there would be no eyes around.
“On the day of the duel? Wouldn't that be more dangerous?”
Though we had treated the duels casually until now, they weren't entirely without weight. I thought it might be dangerous because the executive would definitely be at work on the day of a duel, but Yubin shook her head.
“I’ve had the feeling that the Director has been avoiding us lately. I don't think he’ll show up for work on the day of the duel.”
“The next duel is… on the Eve.”
Christmas was on Friday. The Thursday of the duel was exactly the day before Christmas.
“I wanted to get this settled before Christmas if possible. That worked out well.”
It might be hard to properly celebrate a holiday like Christmas, but I didn't want to show my girlfriends a version of myself that was still working even during the holiday.
The operation date was Christmas Eve. The only thing I had to do until then was make the hacking tool perfect. Just that one thing.
“But what are you doing now?”
“I’m creating a firewall that the external network won't recognize when the data is being transmitted….”
I explained things one by one to Yubin, who was showing interest in the creation of the hacking tool, and placed my hands back on the keyboard.
And so, the days passed one by one.
The cold winter wind grew harsher by the day, and pure white snow fell from the sky.
Because I was so immersed in my work, the time I spent with my girlfriends decreased drastically, but none of them voiced any complaints to me.
In the meantime, Eunha and Yura moved into Su-ah’s house, but I didn't even have the mental capacity to pay attention to that.
Of course, I ate with them on the day they moved in and even had a drink with Yura, but I couldn't satisfy the expectations of the two who thought I would hold them.
I apologized to them and postponed it for a while, then went back into my room.
Seeing me so absorbed in my work that I seemed to have lost my mind, there were voices of concern, but because there were now people who worried about me, I didn't create a schedule so reckless that it would ruin my health.
And then, the long-awaited day of the duel.
Before heading to the headquarters, I handed the USB containing the program to Yubin, who had come to the house.
“I just have to plug this into the Director’s computer, right?”
“Yeah. Once you enter the password, the process will start immediately.”
Yubin nodded and stared intently at the USB in her hand.
She had proceeded with the task with the conviction that she would succeed, but now that the day of execution had arrived, she seemed nervous.
“Oppa.”
I silently watched Yubin as she looked up, her voice carrying a certain weight.
“It’s strange to ask this now, but who are you doing this for?”
Until now, I had naturally thought I was doing it for my girlfriends, and I still thought so.
However, I realized that from an outside perspective, it might not have looked quite like that.
It could look like it was for myself, or it could look like it was for Spacetro.
As the air between Yubin and me grew heavy, the other girlfriends, who had been watching indifferently from nearby, also turned their attention to us.
It wasn't difficult to say I was doing it for them. It was true that I had moved with them in mind until now.
But was it entirely for my girlfriends? When I asked myself that question, it wasn't quite so simple.
In the end, the fact that I was a soldier of Spacetro remained unchanged, and if this task ended successfully, it would become my achievement.
And depending on the results, I thought it could also affect Spacetro’s invasion.
Unlike what I thought, I also had to sufficiently consider the situation my position created.
Yubin, who was staring at me, and the other girlfriends watching me from around us.
After making eye contact with each of them once, the answer came surprisingly quickly.
“For everyone.”
For myself, for my girlfriends.
And if it contained important information regarding Superhumans, then for all Superhumans and for Spacetro, who fought against those Superhumans.
“I see.”
A faint smile played on Yubin’s lips.
Once we left the house, we would face each other as enemies at the duel site once again.
But today, the duel wasn't the important thing. I had no intention of disregarding the duel, but we had something even more important ahead of us.
“Then, I’ll be going first.”
Feeling the gazes of my girlfriends on me, the feeling of going to work to fight them was quite subtle, but since it was something that would continue for a while, I’d have to get used to it.
* * *
“Shall we head out too?”
After A left the house first, Pink, who had finished her preparations, got ready to leave.
Just as all the members of Hunter Killer were about to get ready to go, Red looked at them. Feeling the leader’s gaze, the members all stopped in their tracks and watched her silently.
“I have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Oppa.”
At her unusually serious atmosphere, the members quietly listened to what Red had to say.
The result of the duel was as clear as day. Team Hunter Killer defeated Team 3, and Team 3 left in the car they had arrived in.
Team Hunter Killer also returned to headquarters on their bikes, and because the members knew Red had an important task ahead of her, a heavy atmosphere hung within the team.
“I’ll text you as soon as he comes. Stay focused.”
Yellow spoke to everyone from a bench in the lobby. It would be suspicious if everyone was scattered about, so they decided to split the personnel and monitor if the Director was coming.
“Got it.”
Clutching the USB in her hand, Red felt a cold sweat running down her back and nodded at Yellow’s words.
“It’s okay.”
As if she could feel her tension, Blue, who was next to her, took Red’s hand.
“Yeah.”
In reality, the entire team was participating in the act of stealing internal information, but the desire to know more about Superhumans as Superhumans themselves became the driving force, putting them in a state where nothing could stop them.
“Then, I’m going.”
Exhaling a deep sigh, Red said her goodbyes to the members and got into the elevator, heading toward the office where the Director’s room was located.
There were many people inside the office, but the employees, who were used to Red coming to find the Director on duel days, paid her no attention at all.
Even though she knew no eyes were on her, Red felt a sense of tension as she trudged along, stopping in front of the Director’s office and knocking.
No sound came from inside, so she turned the doorknob, opened the door, and stepped inside.
As expected, there was no one in the Director’s office. Glancing back at the closed door in case someone might come, Red approached the Director’s computer without delay.
The Director’s computer was on. The computer, which wasn't even password-protected, was displaying the desktop, and Red immediately plugged the USB she was holding into the tower.
And a moment later. A window to enter a password appeared on the screen, and placing her hands on the keyboard, Red slowly typed in the password A had given her.
“Huh? What?”
The gazes of Yellow and Blue, who were sitting in the lobby, turned toward the door.
They thought the Director, who was intentionally avoiding them, wouldn't come until Team Hunter Killer had finished work, but he was currently opening the lobby door and entering the headquarters.
“What do we do?”
“First, send a text to Red. I’ll try to buy some time.”
“Buy time? How?”
“How else? I’m going to pick a fight.”
With her eyes turning sharp, Yellow immediately picked up a sofa and hurled it toward the Director, who had just entered the lobby.