July 26, 1995.

[“Windows 95 Released... A Revolution in the IT Industry”]

[“Microsoft Korea Launches Campaign to Promote Legal Software Use... Cooperating With Government to Crack Down on Piracy”]

[“Command-Free Interface Simplifies PC Usage, Some Complain ‘Now Anyone Can Use Computers’”]

At last, Windows 95 had been released. Unlike the original timeline, the Korean version was released simultaneously, and even with the earlier launch, that infamous blue screen issue had already been resolved.

“All thanks to me.”

—Click.

With my arms crossed just under my chest, I looked over the high school computer lab.

“Mm. Perfect.”

Macintosh is honestly better, but giving that out now would spoil them.

“Young miss, wouldn’t it have been better to install this during the break?”

“Our break is only two weeks, remember?”

“...Thanks to who, exactly.”

Well, it's a private school. We do what we want. And since we teach highly practical knowledge here, we can’t afford to waste time like ordinary schools.

Frankly, students should be grateful they even get two weeks off. They’re hired straight into jobs that pay 50 million won a year right after graduation.

Besides, the number of school days is about the same anyway. This era doesn't exactly care about student rights.

“And one of those two weeks is for a trip, remember?”

“Isn’t that vacation, then? I’m even footing the bill.”

“Young miss, even if you don’t care—I mean, you probably do know this—some students don’t like the idea of going on trips at all. Mostly introverts. Are you okay with that?”

“As for the boys, they’ll be fine. What kind of guy would turn down a chance to serve Yoo Ha-yeon in person? I wear a bikini and play ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ beach volleyball with them, they’ll be over the moon.”

“...Please don’t include me in that.”

Not sure what she imagined, but Seo Ji-yeon turned beet red and shook her head. Maybe she’d internalized a bit too much of the smut she keeps confiscating.

“Well, fine. Sports like that are all about bust physics anyway, so I’ll just do it with Lisa. Mm, and as for the girls... Since I don’t only use female bodyguards, I’ll just have them hang out with the security guys.”

I said that while gazing straight at Seo Ji-yeon.

“W-What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Don’t like the idea? You know, I’m actually pickier with guys than I am with girls. Wouldn’t it be fun to hang out with some ripped dudes? I enjoy it.”

“...Not really? I don’t get why you think I would.”

“Well, you like guys, don’t you? So I figured you’d enjoy that.”

“...I don’t know. Whose fault do you think that is?”

Suddenly pouting, Seo Ji-yeon stuck her lips out.

What was that?

.

.

.

Ah.

With a sly smile, I realized something. Someone as self-assured as me—who believes the whole world loves her—wasn’t going to miss this kind of signal.

—Snicker snicker.

“Our Ji-yeon has finally fallen hard for the young miss, huh?”

Ah, I just can’t help it. I really am a sinful woman.

“I-It’s not like that!”

“Mm-hmm, I understand. It’s hard to compare regular humans to someone like me from the heavens. But don’t worry—as much as you love me, I love me too.”

“...Excuse me?”

“Of course! You’re quite pretty, Ji-yeon, no doubt about it. But compared to me, it’s just not quite there. You understand, right?”

“...”

Perching on the desk, I stretched out my legs. The thin black stockings made them look particularly seductive.

“What? Got something to say?”

—Tilt.

While admiring my own figure in the full-length mirror, Seo Ji-yeon made a tortured expression.

—Grit.

“Young miss... You really are... the worst.”

Nod nod.

“Rejected without even confessing? Yeah, that happens.”

I get it. Same thing happened to me once.

“Or try what I did. Flirt hard, then dump them. Isn’t that cool? Of course, there’s a long line before you, but that’s just how it is.”

“...Sigh.”

With a deflated breath, Seo Ji-yeon ran her hand down my leg and shook her head.

“Seriously... You’re ridiculous. I can’t beat you.”

“Well, since you’re one of my loyalists, I could give you some posters or photos.”

In my private room, I’ve got photos of myself, a full-length mirror, and even a custom Yoo Ha-yeon body pillow. That wasn’t easy to get—it’s not even a commercial product yet.

—Rustle.

“Here. These are special ones I’ve collected—everything from Bunny Girl Ha-yeon to Maid Ha-yeon. I’ll let you have them.”

She recoiled in horror and took a step back.

“...I-I don’t like you that much, okay?”

“What? How could you say that? These are private collection prints! Do you know how hard it was to take them myself and develop them?”

I widened my eyes in protest.

“...Okay.”

“That’s not fair. You should at least love me more than I do.”

“That’s... an impossible request. Why don’t you just keep dating your mirror, young miss.”

Already doing that, you brat.

“Hmph, fine. Let’s talk business.”

I grumbled and tapped the big PC tower next to me.

I’d built it with the best specs possible, but even then, it still fell short of my standards.

“What do you think of this?”

Her face turned serious as she answered, shifting from our playful banter.

“It’s incredible. It feels like it’s going to change society itself. Eventually, everyone will be using a computer. That’ll push the semiconductor industry forward too. And that game industry you’re working on? That’ll get huge. And obviously there’ll be lots of new jobs.”

“Right. That’s where things are heading. But... when, exactly?”

“No way to know. Nobody expected the world to develop this quickly in the first place.”

“That’s the key. You know what’s most important when you’re shorting a stock?”

She nodded.

“Timing.”

Everyone can make predictions about the future. A bubble will burst eventually? Who doesn’t know that?

The real question is when. How high will it rise, and when will it crash? Without concrete numbers, predictions are just prophecies.

I skimmed through newspapers praising Microsoft and preaching rosy dreams about the IT sector. They were acting like the world was about to change any moment now.

That an unimaginable new world was opening up. That IT firms would gain unprecedented power...

“Well, maybe. If they pour in enough money.”

I smiled.

“...So you're saying it won’t happen.”

“In a sense, yes. There’s a reason only nations are doing space development. It doesn’t make money. Sure, tech startups are getting massive investments right now, but investors want quick returns.”

Well, except for maniacs like Myrian.

“Ji-yeon, let’s shift topics for a second. If you really wanted me that badly, isn’t there a way?”

“...Huh? Where is that coming from?”

“If you used force, maybe you could embrace me at least once. Of course, what comes after would be... unpleasant. Basement-level unpleasant.”

Still, most people don’t try.

Even when their desires overwhelm them, just seeing my bodyguard usually restores their sanity.

“That’s... obviously the case, right?”

“Not really. Most people don’t avoid crimes because of guilt. They avoid them because they fear retaliation.”

As Ji-yeon herself has said, I’m not her highest priority. Probably her family is. Or maybe herself.

That’s true for everyone. Few people go all in on a single thing. Even when they feel desire gazing at someone as stunning as Yoo Ha-yeon, they give up.

Because life is more important. The will to survive is (usually) stronger than the will to reproduce.

“It’s the same with people. If you really want something, you can get it. A country can go to the moon if it spends enough. Even an ugly man can get a beautiful woman if he breaks enough rules. But people give up because of reality.”

“You’re so cynical about human nature. Honestly, young miss, it’s your own fault people see you that way. If I weren’t one of your subordinates... Ugh.”

Ahem.

I cleared my throat and looked away.

“Anyway... it's even more true for companies. This doesn’t make money now. Soon, you’ll see a bubble where any company with ‘.com’ in its name will see its stock price explode... but people will realize soon enough.”

Seo Ji-yeon frowned as something clicked in her head.

“But wait, that contradicts what you said earlier. You said companies wouldn’t invest heavily because of real-world limitations. If no one invests blindly, there won’t be a bubble. People don’t get hurt by falling off a cliff—they get hurt when they stop.”

—Tap.

I raised a finger and pointed to Yelizaveta, my ever-present shadow.

“Oh, but here’s the thing. Lisa guards me in shifts with the others. But in the stock market, there’s no such thing as a bodyguard. It absorbs desire 24/7.”

There’s no security in the financial world.

That’s capitalism.

.

.

.

“...You make it sound like people are raping the stock market and blaming someone else for the crime! The bodyguards only show up after reality hits!”

Oho. Ji-yeon really is sharp. Even when I speak in spirals, she catches my meaning instantly.

“Exactly! I didn’t expect our Ji-yeon to use such harsh words, but—”

Though she looked slightly annoyed, Seo Ji-yeon continued speaking calmly.

“Well, we already knew that, didn’t we? You’ve said it before. The main plan is to suck out profits until the bubble bursts, then get out just before the collapse, right?”

Nod nod.

“Exactly. But this time, I’ve got a job for you.”

As if she’d heard something ominous, Seo Ji-yeon cautiously asked,

“...What is it? We only just finished recruiting more student council members...”

“We need to block reality, the bodyguard, from getting too close. And we have to keep feeding everyone else more desire.”

Only I can do this.

It’s still too early for full commercialization, but the dream technologies—they’re all inside my head.