If You Get Bitten by a Madwoman, You're Truly Screwed (Part 1)
My savior. My hope. The hero who would save me from that crocodile named Masugomi Rin.
After the incident at the Bohemia Church, she'd vanished without even leaving contact info, so I'd figured our connection ended there. But now Christine Yang was standing right in front of me.
"Ae-ri, long time no see-da! You look like you're in a bind. Mind if I butt in-nikka?"
Christine strode up to me and Masugomi, who had my wrist in her grip, and crack!—she smacked Masugomi's wrist with a sharp snap.
"Ow! What the hell?!"
It looked like a solid hit, but Masugomi released my wrist and let out an "Ow!" that sounded so forced anyone could tell it was fake, then shook her wrist dramatically.
"I swung like I was ready to snap it, but it's sturdy-da!"
"So you're admitting it now?"
"Admitting what-nikka?"
"That you just tried to smash my wrist with intent to break it."
"Ah! Yes-da!"
Masugomi grinned wickedly at Christine's response.
"A radical civilian tried to assault me out of nowhere while I was just attempting a legitimate interview. If I hadn't dodged, I might've gotten hurt."
"What are you even talking about-nikka?!"
"Just rehearsing the article I'll write tonight."
Christine's face twisted in disgust at Masugomi's words, and she leaned in to whisper to me.
"She's weird-da."
"Don't bother talking to her. Words don't get through."
"Feels that way-da."
Christine glared back at Masugomi.
"Our G.M. refused the interview. Why keep pushing-nikka?"
"I just want to spread the truth to the people of this country. Guarantee their right to know, deliver the facts—that's all."
"Isn't that just your selfish delusion-nikka?!"
I one-hundred percent agreed with Christine there. Who the hell was she to "spread the truth" to people? And "guarantee the right to know"? For folks who didn't want to know, was she planning to force it on them? Facts? As if the world ran on facts alone. She probably didn't think that way herself, but Masugomi Rin was straight-up selfish.
"Fine if the world calls me selfish. Even if everyone hates me, as long as one person wants the truth, I'll write the story."
Masugomi's eyes sparkled as she declared her "aspiration."
Damn... this wasn't just crazy bitch territory. This woman was mentally unstable. Shouldn't they lock reporters like her in a psych ward by force?
"She won't listen-da! Come on, Ae-ri."
Christine grabbed my hand, deciding to ignore Masugomi entirely, and we walked off without looking back.
I glanced over my shoulder. Masugomi wasn't chasing us, at least. Should've just ignored her from the start. But that final smirk on her face as she lifted the corner of her mouth nagged at me a bit.
Rin watched the two walk away, thinking,
'I'll make her do the interview no matter what.'
With that, Rin headed straight home to write the article she'd cooked up.
Rin used to write for Cyber National's Korean branch, but today was her day off, so she was in her private office—slash idea brainstorming spot—that she'd bought for this purpose. She started turning the day's events into an article.
"This should make her want an interview, right?"
Rin gazed at her finished piece, deeming it perfect. Even if the Golden Sun Hero didn't read it, she'd have no choice but to grant an interview. Rin was that confident.
I had a reason for posting this article so suddenly.
This morning, I was enjoying some rare downtime in the university district. That's when I ran into the hot topic of the day: the person behind S-Tube's Golden Sun Hero channel.
Even though it was my day off, my reporter instincts kicked in hard. For the curious citizens, I requested an interview with the Golden Sun Hero.
But she tried to refuse, saying no one needed to know about her.
I begged—bowed my head and everything—but she was ruthless.
I clung on out of professional duty. Just when it seemed like she might cave a little, someone who looked like her acquaintance approached and suddenly assaulted me.
Then came threats: "Do it again and you're done." And off they went with the Golden Sun Hero.
(Video from the scene)
Just in case, I've attached the footage I recorded. If any citizens spot the Golden Sun Hero on the street, please ask her to do the interview. That's how I'll wrap this up.
— Masugomi Rin, Reporter
After that, Rin's article started spreading everywhere.
Cyber leechers saw it as prime content and began making videos off it.
And just like that, Ae-ri got branded as trash who didn't just refuse an interview but resorted to violence.
"Ugh... my head... Did Christine head out?"
Looks like I'd gone way too hard with Christine last night. Nanomachines filter out anything toxic, but one thing they can't touch if you disable it: alcohol filtering.
I'd turned it off and pounded three bottles of that traditional gaoliang liquor she'd brought while chatting her up. Now my head was throbbing from the hangover.
"Hera, kill this headache for me."
[Relieving a headache from alcohol with filters off could lead to severe liver damage.]
"What is this, Tylenol?..."
I gave up on asking Hera.
"Right, gotta recycle."
I cleaned up the trash from last night's binge, grabbed the recycling bin, and headed down to the villa's trash station.
"Gotta live clean."
Humming a tune while sorting recyclables, I felt eyes on me—people whispering nearby.
"What the...?"
I looked toward the sound: two ajummas glancing my way, whispering.
"Hera, what're they saying?"
[“Young-soo’s mom, isn’t that the woman from the news yesterday?” “Yeah, yeah. Sigh, looks normal enough.” “That’s ‘cause you don’t know, Young-soo’s mom. It’s the normal-looking ones who are the worst.”]
Want me to keep listening?
"Nah, that's plenty."
They're talking about me like that? What news was I in yesterday?
[Ae-ri. Call from Christine. Connect?]
Christine was calling. Why?
"Connect it."
"Ae-ri. S-Tube algorithm's flooded with stuff about you-da!"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Christine jumped right into it the second I picked up.
"You gotta see it yourself-da! Communities are forming Golden Sun Hero hunter squads-nikka!"
"G-Golden Sun Hero hunters?"
Fuck... what the hell?
"Better stay indoors for a bit-da!"
"Got it. Thanks for the heads-up."
After a few minutes of her chatter, I headed back inside and fired up S-Tube right away.
[The Truth Behind the Bohemia Church Hero: Golden Sun Hero's Real Face]
[Is a Hero This Violent Even Worth Calling a Hero?]
[Bounty on Golden Sun Hero Leads to Crowdfunding—Scam or Legit?]
...
The second S-Tube loaded, titles like these flooded the feed endlessly.
I clicked one. The content was insane.
"What the fuck? Devil's editing?"
It was cleverly cut to make it look like I was the one hitting Masugomi. Christine had done it, but they'd edited her out and put my face in.
Bang!—Bang!—Bang!—
Suddenly, someone started pounding on my door like a maniac.
"Fuck... Thought I'd escaped the water, but now I'm drowning in crocodile tears?"
Thought I'd been released, but nope—still clamped in her jaws.
Fuck... Masugomi Rin!!! You goddamn bitch!!! What the hell did I ever do to you?!