"…Will this really work…?"
I stared at my smartphone screen, uncertain.
Min Seo-ah—An influencer who had appeared like a comet, gaining explosive popularity overnight.
And yet, a few years ago, she had become the victim of an unexpected sulfuric acid attack, forcing her to withdraw from all public activities.
Dong-sik had suggested offering her the Skin Regeneration Agent I developed.
If Min Seo-ah's severe burn scars were completely healed using our product—What kind of publicity could possibly rival that?
That was clearly what Dong-sik had in mind, even though he never said it outright.
I found his reasoning sound and began searching for a way to contact her.
But how do you reach someone who retired years ago?
According to Dong-sik, Min Seo-ah hadn't checked DMs sent to her official account in a long time.
…Wait a second.How does Dong-sik even know that?
Was he… a fan?
…I'd ask him about it later.
In the end, I decided to ask the quantum computer for help.
The same terrifying cyber capability that had seized every government and financial server in South Korea in the blink of an eye.
Maybe—just maybe—it could help here too.
Of course, the National Intelligence Service was undoubtedly monitoring my every move even now.If I was going to use the quantum computer's hacking abilities, I had to make absolutely sure nothing looked suspicious.
First, I rerouted the quantum computer's internet connection through a paid overseas proxy.
Then, instead of speaking aloud, I opened a DOS window and communicated purely through typed input.
If I spoke out loud as usual, there was a chance the NIS's planted listening devices might pick it up.
I typed into the DOS window:
[Input: Can you secretly hack Onstagram's servers? Very discreetly?]
[System Message: By Onstagram, do you mean the global social media service?May I ask why you suddenly wish to hack it?]
I briefly explained my situation and what Dong-sik and I had discussed.
After a moment, the reply came.
[System Message: Understood.Since this is fundamentally an act meant to help a woman who suffered severe burns,and also an act that benefits the world using technology from the Akashic Records,I will actively assist you.]
As expected—Even though it was my quantum computer, it clearly exercised judgment over its owner's commands.
Come to think of it, the knowledge I decrypted recently had included a similar message:Use the technologies of the Akashic Records to make the world a better place.
If I ever went insane and ordered it to manipulate military systems to trigger a global nuclear war, it probably wouldn't obey.
I typed again:
[Input: I want my message to reach Min Seo-ah.First, check whether the Onstagram app is installed on her phone.If it is, see whether DM notifications are enabled.]
The cursor blinked for a moment.
Barely two or three seconds passed.
Then—
[System Message: I have taken control of all Onstagram servers.The operation was conducted covertly. They will not notice.]
…As incredible as ever.
To seize the servers of Onstagram—a core service of MATA, one of the world's largest corporations—in the blink of an eye.
[System Message: The woman has the app installed on her smartphone.However, DM notifications are disabled.]
[Input: I see. Thanks.Then can you adjust things so that notifications are sent for the DM I send her?]
[System Message: Simple.I will apply the change immediately.Once you send the DM, a notification will appear on her phone.]
[Input: Got it. Thank you.]
With that, I sent a DM to Min Seo-ah's Onstagram account.
[Hello, Ms. Min Seo-ah.The company I am currently affiliated with has developed a technology capable of completely removing severe burn scars and restoring the skin to its original state.If you are interested, please contact me.]
Would she read it?
Would she see the notification and still ignore it?
She had once been a celebrity with millions of followers.After the attack, she must have been targeted endlessly by cruel jokes and malicious pranks from netizens.
Then—
A (Read) mark appeared beneath the message.
At least she'd opened it.
After that, there was no response for a long time.
Just as my anxiety peaked, a message appeared at the bottom of the chat window:
[Typing…]
Min Seo-ah was writing something.
Soon after, my phone vibrated softly.
[Min Seo-ah: May I ask what your company is called…?]
A reply.
I'd made contact.
I answered immediately.
[Our corporation was founded under the name Luktic.As a startup, our name recognition is still low, but we are confident that the technology we've developed is second to none.]
[In recent experiments, we successfully removed scars that had remained on burn patients for over ten years and restored their original skin.If you're interested, we would like to meet you in person.]
[Min Seo-ah: Do we really need to meet in person…?]
I replied:
[If you're considering treatment using our new technology, it would be best to meet in person so we can accurately assess the condition of the burns.]
The moment I sent it, I felt I'd made a mistake.
She'd lived her life showing off her beauty—only to lose it overnight.
Now she looked, by society's standards, horrific.
She was likely suffering from severe social anxiety and depression.
Was it really necessary to insist on meeting face to face?
I could have just mailed her the cream.
For several minutes, there was no reply.
Maybe she felt uncomfortable.
Maybe the conversation would end here…
But then—she surprised me.
[Min Seo-ah: Please tell me the date and location.]
***
Dong-sik and I arrived at the agreed meeting place.
She had requested a location with a private room, away from other people, so I reserved a private room at an upscale café Dong-sik recommended.
But Dong-sik was acting strangely.
His face was tense, his movements stiff—completely unlike him.
…Odd.
When the scheduled time arrived, someone entered the room.
A woman, her face and upper body completely concealed by a deep-brimmed hat, a mask, and thick clothing.
It had to be Min Seo-ah.
"Ms. Min Seo-ah? It's a pleasure to meet you.I'm Hyun Si-woo from Luktic. This is Kim Dong-sik, who works with me.Thank you for coming."
Dong-sik was frozen solid, so I spoke for both of us.
She hesitated, then answered in a small, trembling voice.
"I'm… Min Seo-ah.Nice to meet you…"
She was nothing like the image I vaguely remembered from the media.
But after what she'd been through, how could she be?
She clearly didn't want small talk.
Despite her fear of going outside, she'd come here because she'd sensed a thread of hope in my DM.
So I decided to get straight to the point.
"If you don't mind, I'll begin with the main topic.As I mentioned before, our company has developed a technology that can restore burn scars on the skin to their original state."
"…Is that really… possible?"
"…Pardon?"
"My… face and upper body—Can you erase these scars too…?"
The night before, I'd searched online and seen photos of Min Seo-ah after the attack.
It was severe enough that surviving at all felt miraculous.
There was no way modern medicine could fully restore her.
"…You said you'd need to check my condition first… right?"
Her hands trembled as she reached for her hat.
Should I stop her?
This could be resolved with a single cream—there was no need to reopen her trauma.
But she didn't stop.
Despite her entire body shaking with fear, she removed her mask.
What appeared beneath was something I'd never seen with my own eyes before—
A face devastated by horrific burns.
Beside me, I heard Dong-sik gasp softly.
I understood why.
Her face had melted and collapsed in places, completely different from the image once shown in the media.
Her pupils trembled beneath fused eyelids—Fear and trauma laid bare.
She'd clearly endured countless painful experiences since that day.
Yet what I felt wasn't disgust, rejection, or cheap pity.
I felt gratitude.
Gratitude for the existence of the quantum computer and the Akashic Records.
And gratitude that, because of them, I could heal this person.
I had watched my father's body slowly rot from chemical poisoning—A merciless disease modern medicine couldn't treat.
I'd watched, helpless, as his organs failed one by one.
But standing before Min Seo-ah, I felt hope.
If the Akashic Records could heal her—
Then perhaps even the impossible could be overturned.
At that moment, I finally understood what the quantum computer had meant:
"Use the knowledge of the Akashic Records to make the world a better place."
This was what it meant.
Unable to meet our eyes, Min Seo-ah asked quietly,
"Th-this too…Can you really cure this…?"
I recalled my recent conversation with the Akashic Records.
[Input: About the Skin Regeneration Agent—Does it really heal anything related to skin?]
[System Message: According to the decrypted knowledge, the Skin Regeneration Agent completely regenerates skin cells.Therefore, in theory, the answer to your question is 'Yes.']
I answered with confidence.
"Of course, Ms. Min Seo-ah.The friend beside me suffered a burn as a child that left a large scar on his calf."
I took out a tablet and showed her a photo I'd saved—Dong-sik's calf before treatment.
I signaled to him.
Startled, Dong-sik hurriedly rolled up his pant leg and held out his calf.
"It healed completely.For reference, the treatment took just one day."
Min Seo-ah's pupils shook violently.
But this time, it wasn't fear.
A spark of life returned to her eyes.
"R-Really…?Even when I visited famous professors overseas…They all told me it was impossible…"
I spoke firmly.
"It is possible.Do you wish to receive treatment?"
"If… if it's possible…Then of course…"
I handed her a container filled with the undiluted Skin Regeneration Agent I'd brought from home.
"This is the skin regeneration cream developed by our company.Please apply it to the areas you wish to heal once you return home.The treatment begins now."
"…A c-cream…?"
Her confusion was understandable.
Restoring something impossible even with surgery—starting with a cream?
Anyone would doubt it.
But I spoke with unwavering certainty.
"You've seen the result on my friend.Please trust us.We will heal you—without fail."
After Min Seo-ah left, Dong-sik spoke.
"Damn…You're better with words than I expected."
"Our company's future was on the line.I had to give it my all."
"When we were in school, you were always quiet.Seeing you talk so smoothly caught me off guard."
"Why bring that up now?And you—you were frozen the whole time.That's not like you.Don't tell me… you were a fan of Min Seo-ah?"
Dong-sik flinched and looked away.
"…Let's talk business, Si-woo.Do you think she'll really be cured?The burns looked worse than we expected…"
His gloomy expression gave him away.
"Don't worry. It'll work.She might even return to how she looked before the accident—As long as she trusts us and applies the cream."
"She will.Min Seo-ah is… that kind of person."
"That kind of person?How would you know?Were you really a fan?"
"…I wasn't a fan-fan.I just followed her for a bit.I saw her photos online and thought she was beautiful.Anyway… thank you, Si-woo."
"For what?"
"Because… what happened to her hurt me too.And thanks to you, she has a chance to be healed."
I laughed.
"Heh.You were a fan."
"I told you that's not it!"
I left the café with Dong-sik's pointless excuses echoing behind me.
Now—
Everything depended on Min Seo-ah.
Would she trust us and apply the Skin Regeneration Agent to her face?
I decided to wait for her message.