Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: King of Information
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Aaah...
The world is made of information.
Therefore, the one who controls that information can be called the true king.
At least in the modern age.
And he was fully prepared to claim that throne.
A precious support-class Awakener.
Among them, an especially rare IT specialist.
Not on the level of world-class guilds like Camellia or even the tier below like Steel, but still proudly among the major guilds—Mystic Guild's head of IT, B-rank Hunter Lee Jae-hyuk's thoughts.
His combat prowess was practically nonexistent, making the title "B-rank Hunter" feel hollow, but his worth was on a different plane from ordinary Hunters.
That was why he had a particular habit of looking down on combat Hunters.
So what if their physical abilities fell short? The sweaty, dangerous fighting could be left to those lowly grunts.
'Everyone's secrets, their hidden pasts and concealed desires. In the modern world, it all exists in the flow of data.'
A mindset befitting an IT specialist who wielded information as a weapon. His abilities felt nearly omnipotent on the internet.
At least in his surroundings—no, even looking overseas—no solo IT specialist could rival him.
There might not be any at all.
Anyone living in modern society had no choice but to fall under his influence. Even his own haughty Guild Master.
That was how it should be...!
"Why! Why isn't it working!!"
Lee Jae-hyuk looked up at the monitor screen. Endless streams of code and data scrolled across it.
Ughhh—
In the dim, stuffy room, frustrated, Jae-hyuk tore at his hair and vented his rage.
Clang, clank—
Empty energy drink cans clattered noisily to the floor, but he paid them no mind.
With bloodshot eyes, he deployed his ability for the umpteenth time.
Of course, nothing came of it.
He usually maintained his image as a B-rank Hunter affiliated with Mystic Guild, but in truth, he had a shady hobby.
All sorts of information floating around the internet, including videos and photos.
And in an era where most people used cloud services attached to editing tools, snagging the unedited originals was easier than grabbing a snack from the table.
Just poke around, breach the cloud, and take them.
The videos he obtained this way were mostly of affairs or sexual crimes.
He'd select the best ones to blackmail targets or even sell them to those who wanted such material, without hesitation.
And then savor the reactions afterward.
If asked why someone with such absurd abilities wasted time on this, there was no particular reason.
Money? He already had more than enough.
Then why?
Just because it was fun.
There was a sexual bent to it, sure, but the superiority of gripping someone's lifeline and shaking it—that was likely the root of his vile hobby.
Suddenly, all his accounts were blocked.
Not just accounts. Bank accounts, internet, even his phone—everything was cut off.
Cut off from the world, save for physical means.
"How, how could this...?"
An incomprehensible situation, but in a pinch, he routed through the guild's intranet to pierce the internet.
Disguising it under the guild's name barely got him online, but that was it.
He could only surf passively; nothing else.
None of the countless accounts he used worked.
IP spoofing, which he did as naturally as breathing, was useless.
No, not useless.
They just got blocked instantly.
The longest lasted 24 seconds.
"What the hell...? This doesn't make sense?"
By nature, offense is faster and more advantageous than defense. Hacking was no different.
But this situation?
No chance to attack; the moment he probed for an escape, it sealed shut.
It felt like standing naked before millions of soldiers.
These soldiers jabbed him with spear tips at the slightest movement, drawing blood.
As his powers proved futile, Jae-hyuk felt a flicker of fear.
But realizing he'd been scared wounded his pride.
"Kuh...! The nerve!"
Rattle, slam!
"I'm different! I'm the one destined to rule this world from the shadows...! Someday that bitch too...!"
Springing up fiercely, Jae-hyuk bellowed as if denying his emotions.
Huff... huff... whoo...
Still a B-rank Hunter, rotten or not, Jae-hyuk quickly calmed and began piecing together the cause.
That perverted politician's daughter from before? No, few in the country could pull this off. And the real heavyweights had always steered clear on their own.
As he pondered, his memory snagged on a NewTuber he'd casually targeted recently.
'No way...? But still...'
It had been a thoughtless prank.
Just bored amusement at watching pigs and dogs get riled by fake news.
Some pretty-faced streamer, strutting as a C-rank Awakener.
A mere C-rank, yet acting cute in public—it made even him feel diminished, souring his mood.
Checked her out: as expected, inferior body-enhancement type.
Hated seeing trash like her get spotlighted in the news.
No talent for Hunter work, just survived an accident and paraded like some hero—ridiculous.
She'd lived easy as a woman, no doubt.
But her background was ordinary. Nothing to snag on.
Then the kid with her...
Thought it was just a cute face, but digging revealed oddities.
Felt like they were hiding something...? The kid's info seemed awkwardly paved over, like fresh asphalt.
Not wrong, but subtly off...
Intrigued, he dug deeper: orphan with only a grandma, no notable assets. Just a small plot in Jirisan under the old lady's name.
'Wasted time.'
Annoyed at the dud, he whipped up some fabricated info mixed with real, scattered it to communities and Rexka streamers. Make the pair squirm a bit.
Surprisingly, even Rexka guys filtered info.
Despite churning fake news, they had cartels, colluding and verifying among themselves.
Meaning info from their cartel got used unquestioned.
Quality varied, but he could tweak upload priorities. Once seeded, it spread on its own.
That was two days ago for the kid's info...
Really just a nobody.
"No way..."
He hadn't thought it could cause issues.
Just a little hazing.
Not ruining lives like with others.
Seemed like it'd fizzle as a minor incident.
At worst, the Rexkas eat shit, or suckers who bought it.
But this?
Just swiped some vids for Rexka fodder, and now he's isolated.
That kid.
The kid was suspicious.
That awkward feeling wasn't for nothing!
Then the woman? Was the streamer just a front?
Aiming for him?
Who? How? Why?
Thinking rashly in panic is dangerous.
Unlogical leaps lead to assumptions.
And assumptions breed paranoia.
He had to do something.
The guild would notice in a day if contact cut off.
They'd sense something off.
Getting caught by the guild directly was too risky. That vixen Guild Master would squeeze his head. Then his past deeds would surface soon enough.
Jae-hyuk decided to move personally.
No choice now, reluctant or not.
Couldn't delegate something tied to his dirt.
First, scour around that green-haired kid.
Meanwhile, Su-hyeon was thrilled to finally eat the pork cutlet she'd craved so badly.
Su-hyeon gazed at the plate before her, eyes sparkling.
Today's order: sirloin pork cutlet.
Ordering sirloin got you a whole mini hamb steak.
"You wanted that so bad? You've had it before."
Ga-eun chuckled and asked.
"Tsk tsk, that's why newbies suck."
"Huh...? Newbie?"
Ga-eun tilted her head.
Not a game—why the sudden term?
Su-hyeon gave Ga-eun a pitying look and picked up a knife as long as her forearm to slice the cutlet.
The crisp sound of the thick batter cutting was music to the ears.
"Ga-eun, listen up."
Su-hyeon said with a serious face.
"From my year of eating here, cafeteria food comes full circle to pork cutlet."
"Really...? Other stuff's tasty too. Hmm—"
Ga-eun scooped some pork stir-fry and replied.
"Sure, others are good. But the only one that lingers the next day is pork cutlet."
Su-hyeon finally popped the first sliced piece into her mouth, eyes closing.
Crunch crunch.
The batter crackled inside her puffed cheeks.
Ga-eun imagined plopping Su-hyeon down for ASMR content. This would hit a million views easy.
Occupational hazard, maybe. She felt a twinge regretting Su-hyeon's total disinterest in streaming.
"Hear that sound. Frozen cutlet, yet fried so perfect? Thick meat, tangy sauce... Where else do you get this for 3,000 won? This is our school's signature dish."
Ga-eun burst out laughing at the passionate spiel.
"Pfft, that good? And the sauce is store-bought. Ah, the cost-performance?"
This fool still blind.
Well, fresh freshman—what did she know?
In cafeteria menu picks, Su-hyeon was definitely the senior.
"It's not just cheap. Sure, pricier spots taste better, but cafeteria cutlet has that cheap vibe without sticking in your throat. I've tried fried rice, bibimbap, stir-fry, donburi—only cutlet lasts a full week. Others? Forgotten by next day."
"Sheesh, that tasty?"
"Yeah, tasty sure, but it sticks in your mind, y'know?"
Su-hyeon sliced a big second piece and slipped it onto Ga-eun's rice.
"Here."
A hefty chunk atop white rice. Ga-eun eyed Su-hyeon subtly. She seemed expectant.
But that sneaky glance—ah, obvious: it's huge, so sharing the big one on purpose.
Biting her lip lightly to school her face at the adorable scheme, Ga-eun took a bite.
'Falling for it 'cause you're cute.'
Crunch.
Big bite, eyes widening.
Hand lightly over mouth, she gushed dramatically.
"Wow, it's really good! Best food ever!"
"...Feels like you're just playing along with a kid?"
"No? See, like you said—this ain't just cutlet, it's art!"
Fork raised high in worship pose.
Then shoveled the rest in.
"Ah, so good! Tastier 'cause you picked it! Huh? Where'd my cutlet go?"
"...Whatever."
Su-hyeon's lower lip pouted ever so slightly—visible only up close.
Yet she kept slicing steadily.
"Why sulk? I said it's good."
"Not sulking."
"Look, cheeks puffing too."
"No? Rice in there. And don't touch."
"Sob sob, pushing me away... what about our bond?"
Shoving away Ga-eun's persistent cheek-poking hand after setting down the knife, she fake-cried through laughter.
"Hard to eat if you poke, and what's with the drama?"
Not some melodrama line.
Reflexive retort, but a bit curious.
"Mm, first uni friend? We're each other's first real friends!"
"...What? You had tons already."
"Nah, casuals vs. true friends are different. Others are just school acquaintances, business buddies."
"Hmph..."
So, I'm Ga-eun's real friend?
Sweet talk or not, it lifted her mood.
Since this body, emotions swung wildly.
Obvious too...
Even now, fighting a twitching smile.
Then something felt off.
'Wait, first friend...?'
"Hey, why am I first? I'm second-year."
"Huh? Had friends?"
Ga-eun looked more shocked, staring.
Her face screamed, 'No friends freshman year either, so you took a leave?'
Something boiled inside, but no good counter—truth hurt.
"......No."
"Heh, knew it."
"......"
Sigh, I'll endure.
Grumbling inwardly, about to eat—spoon thrust before her nose.
Pork stir-fry atop it.
"Ah?"
"Ahh—"
"Wh-what."
Startled retreat, but spoon followed.
Overwhelming height gap; no escaping this tiny table.
"You got cutlet freebie, so try this."
Too embarrassing, even so.
This is totally...
"Just set it down, I'll eat."
"How with fork? Quick."
...Fair.
Cutlet needed knife-fork; skipped spoon.
"If you fetch a spoon..."
"What, one bite drama? Dirty 'cause I ate off it?"
"Not that."
"Then, ahh—"
"...Ahh—"
No choice, mouth opens.
Spoon slips in.
Ga-eun's eyes crinkle softly.
"Good baby eating well~"
"......"
Totally feeding a kid.
Chew.
'Said surrounded by press, but looks fine.'
Ga-eun watched Su-hyeon stuff her cheeks.
Usually so fragile-looking, worried her, but seemed normal now.
Clueless or quick recovery—either way, relief.
Still, precautions needed.
Follow home after, check once.