The True Identity of KnightSuperMan!
"…So, you came here with him?"
Standing next to Im Harin, who was puffing out her chest proudly as she spoke to me, was a high school boy I'd never seen before in my life.
"Yeah, unnie! Tell us quick. Hurry! I made a 100,000-won bet with him!"
"Harin-ah…"
I couldn't hold back. I shot up from my seat and grabbed her right boob, pinching and twisting it hard between my thumb and forefinger.
"Ow!! That's what you do?! Huh?! Is that what smart girls do?! Harin-ah! Are you in elementary school?! Huh? Or kindergarten?!"
"Ah, why—ow! It hurts! Unnie! Why are you mad at me…?!"
"Harin-ah, Harin-ah! Harin-ah! Im Harin!! You just doxxed me to show off, you know that?!"
"…Huh?!"
Im Harin finally seemed to realize what she'd done.
"U-uw…! But! Unnie! The one who lied first is the bad guy, r-right?!"
"And what about you? Huh? Not content with spreading rumors everywhere that your awesome gamer unnie is a girl, you drag in some random boy you barely know and use him for a stupid 100,000-won bet?! Huh?! Huuuh?!"
"Ugh…!"
Clutching her chest with her hand, Im Harin pouted, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I-I… Unnie, you were the one lying first…"
"I appreciate the sentiment. But that's just how the internet is. Don't sweat rumors like that, got it?"
"Y-Yeah! Got it! Got it! I was wrong! Unnie…!"
I finally released her chest and turned my gaze to 'Lee Siwoo.'
What a fine-looking kid—handsome as hell…!!!
"And you. Hey. Get over here."
"Y-Yes? No, ack!"
I grabbed Lee Siwoo by the neck, bent his waist in half, and locked him in a headlock.
"Gahk…!"
"Siwoo-ya. Lee Siwoo? Huh? What happens if you go around spreading lies like that? Don't you have anything else to brag about?"
"S-Sorry…"
"How were you gonna prove that lie? And if you're friends with KnightSuperMan, what's so great about bragging? Huh? Doesn't it sound ridiculous now that you're thinking about it? Right?"
Kek—kek! Lee Siwoo thrashed, slapping my thigh with his hands.
"Unnie…! He's gonna die! His face is turning white!"
"Guys don't die from this. Jeez…"
"Kek…! Gek! S-Sorry! I'm sorry!"
The moment I released the headlock, Lee Siwoo dropped to his knees and clasped his hands together, begging in front of me.
"Siwoo-ya. Be honest. I was checking the community earlier, and there were kids bragging they knew me~ we're close~ I know her age and job and all~."
I thumbed at the monitor where I'd been gaming before they arrived.
"N-No! No!! That's not me!!"
"You sure it's not you? If you come clean now, I'll let it slide—no lawsuit for spreading false info."
"I-It's really not!"
"Really? You might be thinking how to dodge a KnightSuperMan lawsuit, but I did an interview saying it'd be fine?"
I have no idea! Just scaring him.
"Ugh…"
"Did you really never lie online?"
"R-Really… Please forgive me, noona. This was my first lie today."
"Fine. But I can't just let it go on faith…"
I jabbed my elbow into Im Harin's side.
"You're not actually gonna take 100,000 won from him, right?"
"Huh… Why not? Of course I am! Hey, Lee Siwoo, pay up."
"Friends don't do that. High schoolers betting 100,000 won? That's elementary school shit."
Of course, it's not like no one online calls out 'pathological liars' or 'poser trash' for no reason…
People everywhere lie about knowing famous internet celebs: 'I know XX! That guy's trash!'—regardless of age or gender.
It's not just immature kids doing this.
Plenty of 30- and 40-somethings at work who lie through their teeth the second they open their mouths…
"Figure out the 100,000 won between yourselves."
"Yesss~!"
"Siwoo-ya. You know you still need my forgiveness, right?"
Lee Siwoo, for all his posturing, nodded obediently.
"Here's the deal. You do communities or whatever?"
"Uh…?"
"Doesn't matter if not. Anyway, you can tell your friends you know me. You actually met me now."
Im Harin and Lee Siwoo stared at me with wide eyes.
"But don't say I'm a girl. Spread the rumor I'm a guy instead."
"Th-That's okay with you, noona?"
"Yeah."
I waved dismissively, signaling I was done, and turned away.
"Unnie, why? You want people to think you're a guy?"
"Yeah. If word gets out I'm a girl, all kinds of bullshit follows. I wasn't planning to advertise it anyway."
This was a hard-learned lesson from over ten years in Lost of Fantasy.
"Healers get asked if they're Hyeji right off the bat. Once they know you're a girl, they whine you don't need as much gear, bitch if everyone messes up the same and wipes that you're mouse-heal-botting, pick fights over 'what's a girl doing in raids?'—that kinda crap."
"…Y-Yeah! Exactly, unnie! It happens! Dark Watch 2 had it too! I turned on voice 'cause I was frustrated, and suddenly 'oppa will carry you~~ How old are you? Voice changer? Trans? Call me oppa! Moan since we won! Where you live?' Those assholes are always there!"
"Exactly. I just wanna play the game pure. But getting aggro from world-firsts and then 'oh, she's a girl?' on top? No thanks."
Not every gamer's like that, obviously.
Maybe 3 or 4 out of 100.
But I don't wanna deal with the sleazy drooling from guys trying to hit on 'a girl gamer.'
I'm a guy at heart anyway—makes me wanna puke even more.
"O-Okay. I'll do that."
Lee Siwoo nodded, standing up. I patted the empty seat to my left.
"Anyway, you play Lost of Fantasy too, right? Level gap's big, but ask if you're curious. I'll answer."
For such a ridiculous first meeting, the kid didn't seem half bad.
* * *
"Unnie, unnie. Gotta hit the bathroom real quick."
"Sure."
Im Harin patted my shoulder, stood, waved, and headed to the restrooms.
Finally, just me and Lee Siwoo.
Something had been bugging me since earlier, though.
"Lee Siwoo."
"Yes, noona?"
Lee Siwoo looked up, startled. His build was solid—about 180cm tall, decently handsome face, honestly.
But his school uniform? Rough shape. Looked like it hadn't been properly washed or mended.
The bag shoved under the table screamed worn-out too.
"You… uh…"
And that smartphone… damn, does it even get texts?
Six, seven years old easy.
"…Nosy from a stranger, but you strapped for cash?"
Lee Siwoo eyed me rebelliously.
Pubescent rage and pride flaring up—probably stung his ego.
"Why do you ask?"
"Thought I'd help if you're struggling."
"…I'm good. Not that bad."
"Alright then."
…When's Harin coming back?
Awkward now 'cause I pried.
"Live with grandma and little sib."
"Parents?"
"One ran off. One's dead."
"Not exactly well-off, huh."
Lee Siwoo stared silently, then nodded at his game screen.
"But Siwoo-ya. You bought chicken with gold, right?"
"…H-How'd you know?"
He flinched back, shocked.
"Obvious. Your character's broke AF—gold's zilch. Skimped on skill gold, repairs, did real-money trades."
"…Yeah."
"PC at home?"
"Yeah, but can't run Lost of Fantasy."
"Subscription?"
Might sound weird to Korean gamers, but…
Lost of Fantasy costs about 20,000 won a month.
PC bangs? Unlimited.
"Yeah…"
"Been there."
No one here'd get it, but in my old world, Lost of Fantasy launched with insane sub fees—huge backlash.
25,000 won just to try an unknown game?!
Way pricier than trendy domestic MMOs—big uproar.
I PC-banged it too—didn't wanna drop near 30k monthly but wanted to play.
"Wanna keep playing, gold for chicken via trades… but gear weakens, so need to brag to friends… that vibe?"
"……Ugh."
His face flushed—I nailed it—then he sighed and nodded.
"Noona… Like Im Harin said, you know everything."
"Had tons like you around back in the day."
"Back in the day?"
I shrugged.
"Anyway… Open your spellbook. P key."
"This?"
"Whoa… Kid's a pro at rice-eating."
No mentor needed—he'd maxed free skills perfectly, only paid for a couple attacks. Frugal as hell.
"Sold every level-up gold?"
"Yeah… Needed cash."
Talent for rice-eating…
"Siwoo, no 100,000 won for Harin, right?"
"…No."
"Why bet then?"
"B-But a girl max-level? No way—ow!"
I smacked his head.
"Whatever. Here's 100 gold loan. Buy some skills. I'll teach nogada—earn 100k, pay Harin. Got it?"
"R-Really? Lending me 100 gold?"
Grateful but wary eyes.
"Not free…?"
"Nope. Pay back 10x. No deadline, but 10x. Got it?"
"1,000 gold?!"
"Yeah. But…"
I grinned, wagging a finger.
"I'll teach a nogada secret even Harin doesn't know. Hustle hard, you'll pay 10x easy."
Perfect—Demon Black Magician, rice-eating optimized.
Mold him into nogada machine, he'll farm pro materials later…!