Chapter 28

In the original work, three hackers appear.

“One on the hero side, one affiliated with Eclipse as a training officer, and finally, one villain who operates independently.”

You might wonder why only three appear.

“That’s all because of one hero.”

C-class hero, Cyber Ghost.

The hacker on the hero side mentioned earlier, ranked C due to having no combat abilities, but his influence is above A-class.

“This guy alone handles all major cyber crimes happening in the digital world.”

He was a hero who could enter the internet world, steal information, take down entire websites, and even eavesdrop on individual communications.

A cyber ghost that exists everywhere in the internet world, yet leaves no trace.

Of course, being just one person, he doesn’t bother checking individual calls or text messages.

He was too busy dealing with cyber crimes happening worldwide.

“From simple gambling sites, drug trafficking, illegal smuggling, to stealing data from major villain organizations…”

Thanks to him, dozens of villain organizations have been dismantled.

Now in his fifth year as a hero, there’s no one who can stand against him.

Thus, naturally, fewer people are becoming villains in the hacker community.

Villain organizations have strengthened their databases, completely isolated from the outside, and even started handling crucial information on paper documents as a precaution.

A top-priority target for elimination by villain organizations.

He was a tyrant in the internet world, and there was no one who could stop him.

“Until one villain appeared.”

“Brother, is it not here either?”

“Hmm… doesn’t seem like it.”

“Then let’s just have some ice cream over there and go.”

“Alright, let’s do that.”

Glitch.

Starting as a C-class villain,

Later, she paralyzed all electronic systems in Korea and neighboring countries, hacked military combat devices to commit terrorism, and ultimately became an S-class villain.

Her combat abilities were similar to Cyber Ghost’s, but considering the overall danger level characteristic of villain rankings, she rightfully earned the S-class title.

“Brother, here’s your ice cream.”

“Thank you.”

In the original work, she was a rogue villain who did eccentric things.

I don’t know why she’s acting like my fan, but if she’s friendly towards me, that’s good.

‘It would be great if she could join my team.’

After having ice cream with Gayeon on a bench, I teleported to another arcade.

‘It would be nice to stay here.’

“Puhaha! Hasegi! Hasegi!!”

And not long after, I found a girl.

With a pretty appearance and wearing a cat-shaped hoodie, she stood out even more.

‘Found her.’

And as soon as I saw her, I knew.

She was the future S-class villain, Glitch.

***

“Oraoraoraora!!”

Tuk tadak! Hwirik! Tak!!

A girl skillfully controlling the old arcade machines in an unmanned arcade.

‘Appearing like a high school student with short hair and cat ears on her hood.’

Now she looks like a cheerful high school girl,

But she was definitely the future S-class villain, Glitch.

“Ah~, maybe because it’s a bot. It’s a bit boring.”

Saying so, she drank the water beside her.

Seeing that, I chuckled and approached her.

[NEW CHALLENGER!!]

Then, without a word, I passed her and sat at the arcade machine opposite her, inserting a coin.

“Hmm?”

Seemingly intrigued, she smiled slyly.

Tadak! Tak hwirik!

Tak! Tarak! Tatak!!

After lightly selecting characters, she and I began the battle, pounding buttons and joysticks.

Tadak! Tadadadak! Taak!!

Hwirik! Tak! Tudak! Taak!!

After a while.

“Bro…”

[YOU WIN!!]

“You’re amazing!!”

She jumped up, looking at me with sparkling eyes.

“Haha, it’s nothing.”

“Nothing?! I’ve been playing this game for years! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone better than me!!”

It’s been about 13 years since I came to this world.

‘Hey! Gang Ian! Don’t just study, come play with us!’

‘How important is pre-learning these days, brothers. And I…’

‘Ah, stop talking and come quickly!’

As an orphan and elementary school student, I was dragged around by the older kids from the orphanage to play at the arcade.

‘I thought it was a waste of time back then, but now it’s useful, huh…’

The ways of the world are truly unpredictable.

“Since when have you been playing? It doesn’t seem like you just started recently.”

“Just a bit in the past.”

“Still, it’s unlikely to like a classic fighting game that’s over 100 years old now..”

Muttering to herself, lost in thought.

As you can see, she was a hardcore fan of an old fighting game with few players.

“I can’t say I like it, but it’s good to play a round when I think of it.”

So, just throwing in a few words like this.

“Right?! There’s this inexplicable addictive quality, isn’t there?!”

“Yes, no matter how mobile or PC games develop and new fighting games come out, the feel of this one is more to my taste..”

“Kuh-! You know your stuff, bro!!”

She really likes it.

Laughing heartily, she patted my back.

“Ah, bro, do you like candy? All I have is this pretty body and candy.”

“..Please don’t say such things to others.”

Where did she learn to talk about her body like that.

“Pfft! Sorry, just kidding!”

Then, giggling, she handed me a candy.

As I received the candy, she smiled contentedly and put one foot up on the chair.

‘..Was she always this easygoing?’

I remember her eccentric behavior in the original work, but I’m not sure about the details.

It’s been a while since I read the original.

Anyway, she and I started talking for a while.

“I’m Narin! Just the name Narin without a surname!”

“I’m Gang Ian.”

We exchanged names.

“It’s better to mix in a kick in that combo.”

“Oh, really? I’ve been using punches until now..”

We played a few more games, sharing our know-how.

“Huut..! Cha… It’s been a while since I had this much fun!”

“I also had a lot of fun after a long time.”

After playing for a few hours, Narin suddenly turned her head and smiled at me.

“So, where are you from, bro?”

“…Did you know?”

“I’m a sought-after person, you know!”

Then, proudly, she lightly tossed her hair with her hand.

‘A bit surprising.’

I thought she wasn’t suspicious at all.

“Other times, I would have run away, but… well. Your face is my type, and you seemed genuinely into the game, so I hung out with you!”

“Haha! Isn’t it because you don’t have anyone to play games with?”

“..Shut up!”

Narin scolded me with a slightly red face.

“So, where are you from? Another offer? Or are you a villain organization scout? If it’s a personal request, I might consider it specially.”

“Unfortunately, it’s a scout offer.”

“Sigh…”

At my words, she sighed deeply and buried her head in the arcade machine.

‘From the original work, it seems she doesn’t like group activities.’

Still, I had to appeal as much as possible.

I made Maker’s half-mask and wore it.

“..I don’t know where you’re from, but I’ll decline. As I said before, I prefer to be alone… huh?”

“Ms. Narin. First, I apologize for deceiving you.”

“……”

“As you guessed, I am from the villain organization Eclipse, here to scout you…”

“Me, meme…”

“A cadre member…”

“Me, meme, meme Maker?!!!!!!”

“…Yes, that’s correct.”

“Kyaaaaaaah!!!!”

Narin stared at me with a dumbfounded expression as I wore the mask.

Her face gradually turned bright red, and she screamed upon hearing I was Maker.

“R, really Maker oppa..?”

“…I don’t know about oppa, but I am the real Maker.”

I created a simple flower and handed it to her.

“It, it’s real!”

Narin looked back and forth between the flower I made and me.

Then.

Snap.

“I, I’m a faaaan!!!”

She grabbed my hand and shook it vigorously.

…I should have worn the mask from the start.

***

“Really, Maker came to meet me! This isn’t a dream, right?”

“Should I pinch your cheek?”

“Gasp! P, please!!”

Saying so, she tightly closed her eyes and trembled.

As I lightly pinched her cheek, she jumped around excitedly.

“It hurts! What do I do! It’s real!!”

‘..Your personality is so different from before, isn’t it?’

Anyway, if she likes me, that’s even better…

“But how did you find me, oppa?”

“……”

I silently took out my phone and showed her the Maker Gallery.

“Gasp! You knew I was Juddak from the Maker Gallery!”

“You could say that.”

“Eclipse’s information network is more impressive than I thought..!”

Actually, I just guessed from reading the original.

“Then you know that I spread videos every time Maker oppa hunted villains?!”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

I was unsure about that, but thanks for confirming.

“Then you also know that I’m the leader of Maker oppa’s fan club ‘Mapi’?!!”

“Yes..?”

“Eclipse… a scary organization..!”

I didn’t know that part.

Ignoring my bewildered voice, she was lost in her thoughts.

Zzzzz-

Then, my phone rang.

[Gayeon]: Oppa. Should I come pick you up soon?

Since the conversation with Narin seemed longer than expected, I had told Gayeon to go back to the organization and rest.

‘…Alright.’

Although she puffed her cheeks, she eventually listened to me.

I had asked her to come pick me up later, and as night approached, she seemed to check in.

[Me]: Please come pick me up in about 30 minutes.

[Gayeon]: Got it. (Cat glancing emoji)

After ending the call, I put my phone away and looked at Narin again.

“..Anyway, the reason I came to find you, Ms. Narin, is this.”

“Because my skills are too outstanding? Hehe”

“That’s part of it, but more importantly, because you created my fan cafe.”

Then, interpreting my words in her own way, she suddenly became cautious and looked at me.

“..I’m sorry. Did it upset you that I made a fan cafe without permission…?”

“No, not at all. I was just purely curious about the reason.”

I corrected her thoughts and added my own.

‘At first, I thought there was some ulterior motive, but now it seems like it was made out of genuine fandom.’

This made me even more curious.

Why she created a fan club even while committing illegal acts.

“..The reason?”

“Yes. Creating a group that supports villains is clearly illegal. I was curious why you did it.”

“……”

At my words, Narin pondered for a moment.

After a brief silence, she opened her mouth to speak.

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