Ida-in, Advice (1): Darknet Frenzy
With trembling hands, I logged into the darknet, and the page was plastered with an insane number of posts. The keyword was 'Blank'. Everything was about me.
No way. We've got this prime topic of top-tier villains in the world clashing it out. And it's getting buried?
I'd accidentally ended up ego-searching.
Someone had captured crystal-clear footage of me, Seo Ha-yoon, and Brain Buster in combat.
The comments stretched on like the Great Wall—reading them all one by one was giving me a headache. I dipped into another thread.
'So the mainstream media did censor it after all.'
The official press only covered how a villain group tried to occupy the warehouse for a terrorist attack, and Blank and Flash got caught in a three-way battle.
'Even the mainstream media has my name...'
If they were gonna censor, couldn't they have buried my name too? My stomach suddenly started hurting.
Some guys were spinning clickbait about me and Seo Ha-yoon teaming up.
I never expected the villain community to be pumping out this much estrogen-fueled fanfic.
Fuck. What kind of conspiracy theory is this?
Ah. Dizzy as hell.
These serious analysis posts were actually worth a read. Some interpretations were off, but they'd nailed my abilities pretty damn close overall—impressive stuff. I'd skimmed most of the crap posts and was about to refresh for new ones when I regretted that decision hard.
My bounty had gone up.
'Ah. Headache.'
It was before the original story even started, and I'd drawn way too much attention. If it'd just gone up normally I wouldn't complain, but this felt so bullshit. My plan to lay low was fucked.
Riiiing.
Yong-pal's call hit at the perfect timing. Like he wanted me to curse him out or something?
I picked up, and he yelled in an excited tone.
"Blank! You see the darknet? It's blowing up!! Haha!"
Yong-pal was a villain down to his core. Bounties up, fame rising? All good in his book. Gave me another headache.
"Requests for you are flooding in! Now you can cherry-pick the gigs you like! Haha!"
Yong-pal cackled.
"... "
I wanted to unload a barrage of swears, but it wasn't all bad.
'From now on, only safe gigs.'
Grab a few high-paying ones, cash out, then ghost till the money runs dry.
That was the plan.
———
Feeling drained, I figured I'd grab a coffee and headed out in civilian clothes. That convenience store from before. Coffee there, maybe snacks if anything looked good. Hoodie and jeans, off I went.
And at the store, I ran into someone unexpected.
"Ah! The citizen who took my card last time!"
It was Ida-in. She waved enthusiastically to greet me.
'Ah, we met yesterday, right?'
I almost slipped up.
"Ah, nice to see you again."
I played it cool and headed inside. Ida-in trotted after me.
"Here for coffee again today?"
I thought it'd end with a quick hello, but she kept pace, chatting away.
"Been craving it lately."
"Ah! Me too! Staying up late a lot these nights! Can't function without coffee."
Ida-in grinned warmly, super friendly.
What was with this affability?
'Just like in the original.'
Unlike Seo Ha-yoon, she was naturally sociable, full of positive energy.
"If it's not too rude, mind if I ask what you do?"
Her sudden question made me freeze. Good thing I was facing the coffee machine—she couldn't see my face.
It was probably stiff as hell. Was she suspecting my identity?
Stupid thought—like a thief jumping at shadows. I smoothed my expression casually.
"Ah, freelancer."
Villain's a kinda freelance gig too—not a total lie. Mixing truth makes the cover tighter.
"Freelancer...?"
She looked puzzled, so I fleshed it out.
What to say?
"Webtoon story writer. Mostly hero comics."
That did it.
"Ah!! Hero comics?! I love those! Hero stuff!"
Ida-in's eyes sparkled as she stared at me.
Hook, line, and sinker. I knew hero manhwa was her hobby. This lie would distract her with her interest, easing any suspicion.
"Tell me the title! Maybe it's one I read? Hehe."
"Haha, too embarrassing. Secret. Secret."
I brushed it off.
"Ah, all creators are like that. Hide their work. But you'll tell me once we're closer, right?"
Ida-in giggled and ordered from the machine. Not Americano—latte.
Gloop gloop glug.
She dumped in a ton of syrup like a madwoman.
Wasn't that gonna be way too sweet?
"Haaa... So good."
I figured we'd split after coffee and whatever, but she stood next to me, sipping and savoring the warmth and aroma.
"... "
Glance. Glance.
She was eyeing me like she desperately wanted to say something.
Why so intense? Kinda pressuring.
"...Got some worries or something?"
Building friendly rapport couldn't hurt—even to deflect suspicion. Get chummy enough, less chance of doubts.
"Ah... Actually, I'm a hero. Apprentice, as you saw on the card."
Yeah. I know. We fought. You and me.
"Ran into villain Blank yesterday. Tried to stop him but let him slip away easy."
Ida-in recounted yesterday's clash.
"He'd just fought Flash sunbae, was exhausted and injured, but I still couldn't catch him."
She looked down bitterly, then at her hands.
"Academy said my ability doesn't suit combat. Is that really true?"
Ida-in was super down.
'Straight out of her canon arc.'
In this world where offensive powers ruled, her seemingly plain ability got underrated. People constantly told her she had no talent. The ugly duckling ignored by all who rises as a swan—that was Ida-in's story. Fans loved it.
Seo Ha-yoon was the complete protagonist; Ida-in felt like the growth-type lead.
"As a hero comic story writer, you must have wild imagination. Any advice?"
She turned to me expectantly.
"... "
Her puppy-dog eyes softened me up.
'Maybe drop a little hint here.'
I knew exactly how she used her power in the original. Coaching her a bit wouldn't hurt.
Her getting stronger was a net positive for me. This world's heavy lifting needed her and Seo Ha-yoon anyway.
"I'm no esper, don't know much about powers, but... how about using it like this?"
A villain coaching a hero. Kinda funny visual. But I decided to give troubled Ida-in a nudge.