Even the Nation Obstructs My Fandom
She had no idea how the day had slipped by. That evening, Yul lounged on the sofa, sipping the banana milk her constellation had gifted her.
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' says our Yul mustn't be stressed, so gifts five packs of 'Banana Milk'.
With the status window, one pack sat on her lap, and the other four were safely stowed in the fridge. She also tucked away the gold bars gifted by her constellation into her inventory.
Ignoring the noisy forums and news, Yul logged into Nutube.
"Fancam, fancam... Huh."
If there's a constellation in my universe, it must be your soul for sure.
A bell rang out. It was the latest track from the idol group Yul adored to death—and the one she'd unintentionally knocked from the top spot by going dark.
The text on the screen was simple: Mom.
Confirming that much, Yul picked up immediately.
"Hello? Mom, what's up?"
-Just checking what you're doing. You home?
"Yeah."
-Get some fresh air. You'll grow mold at this rate.
"I went out today."
Yul chuckled at the worried scolding. Just like Star-nim.
-Dropping out and no part-time job... At least work at the café! Don't just laze around.
"I told you, I'm resting this year."
-Want me to find you a gig?
"You're not listening..."
Yul's mom was pretty laid-back, but she wouldn't just let her daughter rot in her one-room forever.
-Anyway, you went out? There was a gate today—not there, right?
"If I was, would I be chatting fine like this? I just saw the texts too, no worries."
-Speaking of, that person's back, huh? Ugh.
Yul's face soured instantly. Of course her mom knew 'Lee Sunjwa Killer' too. She still vividly remembered choking on water when Mom had first heard the nickname and laughed, "Isn't that what you always say?"
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' clutches their neck seeing your mother mistake that vile impersonator for our Yul.
They anxiously hope the day for reticketing comes soon.
Casually ignoring the status windows, Yul replied offhandedly.
"Yeah."
"What does that have to do with me?"
-True, but... still, that person's human too. Must've been tough. Looks like they rested up well.
"Uh-huh..."
They might not be resting well right now. Yul thought.
The previous 200-odd days had been satisfying enough, but today's fallout had wiped all that away.
Impersonating me.
...Is this how celebrities feel?
Hunter impersonations were virtually unheard of. Maybe a handful in the chaotic early days when hunters first appeared.
"Anyway, I'll think about the part-time thing."
-Really?
"...In like 100 days?"
-Aigoo. Study in the meantime then. What'll you do when semester starts?
"I'll handle it, don't worry. How've you been?"
Yul's mom ran a modest café. Just two years ago, she'd shut down her clothing store to start it. And the bit of Yul's capital that had gone into it was still their little secret.
-Come home soon. I'll pack side dishes.
"Got it."
Yul hung up as her mom said they'd meet at the family home.
"So, Star-nim. What should we do?"
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' asks if they should summon that presidential worm here.
"No, please."
Let's keep the scale normal, for once.
Yul was level-headed, but oddly cautious about weird stuff. Like rejecting her constellation's offers and handling ticketing and merch buys herself.
"I meant it when I said we'd wait for general tickets. And it's not like they made a huge fuss yet..."
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' rants that impersonating our Yul is already a huge deal.
They whine that it's plenty big based on the others' reactions too.
She was struck anew by how boldly expressive these status windows were.
Setting down the empty banana milk carton, Yul spoke.
"First, let's figure out what they gained from this. Then the culprits will show themselves."
Yul felt no big thrill, but objectively knew the clout her ranking carried. Direct or indirect influence, for sure.
Hunter Management Bureau? I just registered the nickname and ghosted... Turned down every guild invite.
Not many suspects. They'd likely profited already, but storming in without certainty was iffy.
Once the impersonation blows up, even if it's not me, they'll be public enemy to the masses.
With her fandom(?) even overseas, no escaping that. Directly skewering the bastard—who'd eat shit from all sides regardless—felt too hasty.
The impersonator hadn't said anything uniquely 'Lee Sunjwa Killer' yet.
If they had, I'd have dragged them out and forced a correction presser by the collar already.
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' wipes tears, saying our Yul is too merciful.
"I'm not letting it slide. But first, let's see what they got out of impersonating me... If it's something annoying."
Then I can step in later.
Yul glanced at her phone by the bed. The Hunter forum app—with alerts on for news—was overloaded.
Search portal news at least...
Her hand froze scanning political headlines.
"...Star-nim. What do you think? Possible?"
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' agrees it seems this side cooked it up.
"Right?"
The screen glowed in the dark, reflecting in her black eyes. The article fixed her gaze: foreign governments contacting Korea's Hunter Management Bureau.
All about checking on the top ranker's wellbeing, cooperation requests, maintaining ties, etc.
The answer was clear now. The Bureau was government-affiliated. Backed by the state, the nation.
Meaning...
"...They can't let me stay dark, huh."
Yul buried her face in the sofa in despair. Now even her country was cockblocking her fandom.
Long story short, Yul didn't storm anywhere.
Bigger scale than expected... Why's the government meddling in hunter stuff?
Final boss being the government? Total curveball disaster.
Yul spent until morning the next day laughing hollowly.
"Coming back or not, it's the same problem... Nothing changes in the end!"
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' vows to hurl all the worms who schemed to drag out our Yul into hell.
"Sounds good."
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' cheers that our Yul permitted it.
"Ah, don't actually do it."
Yul poured milk from the fridge over cereal.
That guy would freak if he knew. What time is it there now?
Constellation 'Blind Sovereign of the Sky' gasps upon remembering that worm exists.
Their eyes gleam, noting it's finally useful for once.
Probably just crashed after a binge. Left alone, that friend's kid would pull all-nighters then sleep for days straight.
Yul had just scooped her first bite of cereal when...
In my universe...
"Perfect timing. Hello?"
-General!!
A yell exploded from the screen. As if expecting it, Yul—who'd already set her phone at a distance—replied casually.
Loud, quiet down.
-You think I can stay quiet right now?! That comeback—no, that's not you!!
"Sharp catch. Everyone else bought it."
-Am I like those idiots? With your personality, you'd sneak out, handle it, and vanish—not strut under spotlights like that.
Yul gave a short impressed hum at the guy's sharp bite.
Ooh. Spot on.
"You know me too well."
-Call me Character Interpretation Master. Wait—this article's from yesterday Korea time. You've been watching for over ten hours and no correction?
"Character Interpretation Master, right? What do you think I was doing?"
-Pissed obviously, but too messy to flip, so you're watching and waiting. Wondering why they pulled that knowing you so well.
Yul thought. The guy raging on screen was her friend.
-Hold on. I'll hack the Korean Bureau, pull the list of who did this. They're insane—how do you impersonate a hunter...
His name: Ryu Shin-ah. Nickname: RecordFucker. A+ hunter, specialized in hacking, record tampering, intel gathering. The sole soul who knew Yul's identity—and kept the Bureau from finding her.
Gates, dungeons, monsters. Awakeners, hunters, constellations. Names varied slightly, but since those concepts emerged on December 25 five years ago, a new organization appeared worldwide.
The Hunter Management Bureau, registering and managing all hunters' identities and ranks in each country—practically a state agency.
Guilds, where high-rankers self-assemble freelance teams.
Common thread: Both operating in Korea meant at least minimal government ties.
The Bureau knew every hunter's true identity. Or rather, should.
If not for Ryu Shin-ah, that would've been a given.