Stalkerizing

[Sender: Freedeal / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Fragment (5,000)]
[Sender: Shokrates / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Package (2,000)]
[Sender: GegulGegulFrog / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Package (2,000)]
[Sender: Oath’s Vow / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Fragment (5,000)]
[Sender: a10235044 / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Package (10,000)]
[Sender: a10235044 / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Package (10,000)]
[Sender: a10235044 / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Package (10,000)]

Sa-yoon checked his mailbox and widened his eyes. It seemed his party members had all sent him mail in unison, as if they had planned it together, rather than just pocketing the money he had given them earlier. The attachments were enhancement materials used to upgrade equipment.

As with any RPG game, Divine also had a system where the higher the enhancement level, the lower the success rate and the more materials required.

Since a new dungeon update had been announced, the prices of enhancement items must have skyrocketed. Roughly estimating, the total value of the items sent was about the same as the amount he had distributed earlier—except for one sender who stood out.

Sa-yoon clicked on the mail with the notably different quantity.

 [Sender: a10235044
Attachment: Enhancement Package (10,000)
I’ll keep sending them until you accept.]

“Who’s the stubborn one now?” Sa-yoon muttered quietly before opening the party chat.

[Party] Chasa: You didn’t have to do this.

[Party] Chasa: But I’ll accept it gratefully.

[Party] Shokrates: Lol. Thanks to you, I made a solid paycheck today. ^^

[Party] Oath’s Vow: I figured you’d refuse if I handed it to you directly, so I sent it by mail instead. Maybe I should’ve just given it to you in person lol

[Party] Chasa: You sent it with good intentions, so refusing would be rude lol

[Party] GegulGegulFrog: Chasa-nim’s personality makes him even better.

[Party] Shokrates: For real, a character like him has never existed before.

[Party] Freedeal: Ah, if refusing would be rude!

[Party] Freedeal: Would you like to join our guild? ^^

[Party] Chasa: Ah, I’ll have to think about that.

[Party] Freedeal: He’s actually considering it… (heart pounding!)

[Party] a10235044: You should get a health check-up. Sounds like you’ve developed arrhythmia.

[Party] Freedeal: ㅇㅅㄱㅂ

[Party] a10235044: ?

[Party] Freedeal: Ah, my cat stepped on my keyboard.

[Party] GegulGegulFrog: Freedeal-nim, you have a cat??? Since when? What color?

[Party] Shokrates: I bet it’s invisible.

[Party] Freedeal: haha

 [You have received new mail.]
[You have received new mail.]
[You have received new mail.]

 [Sender: a10235044 / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Package (10,000)]
[Sender: a10235044 / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Package (10,000)]
[Sender: a10235044 / Attachment: Highest-grade Enhancement Package (10,000)]

Even as Sa-yoon expressed his gratitude and accepted the items, more and more mail kept arriving. It was all from the same sender, prompting him to hurriedly whisper them.

[Whisper] Chasa: 44, enough.

[Whisper] Chasa: I get it, stop.

[Whisper] a10235044: Stop what?

[Whisper] a10235044: Can’t I send you a congratulatory gift?

[Whisper] a10235044: You said refusing would be rude.

Though they said that, Sa-yoon had already been planning to send a Cataloa as a return gift. And so, the two continued their back-and-forth over who owed whom.

That day, the temporary nickname emerged as the final victor.

***

Alcohol was like a magical potion that instantly closed awkward distances.

In that sense, the theater club’s gathering was an event that Sa-yoon, who was actively trying to win over Shin-jae, absolutely could not miss.

“Waahaak! So back then, I had to keep going with my pants torn!”

“When you came down after, waddling sideways like a crab—absolute legend.”

“Ah, seriously, just thinking about that time…”

“Hey, hey, your glass is empty. Cheers, cheers!”

The club members burst into laughter as they reminisced about past performances, clinking their glasses together again and again.

Nostalgia like that was always entertaining, no matter how many times it was rehashed—especially when you had comrades who had experienced it together.

It had been less than a week since Sa-yoon had vowed to quit drinking, but he quickly took back his words. If it was for recruiting Sa Shin-jae, he was more than willing to throw away his dignity.

Laughter erupted once more as everyone raised their glasses. Sa-yoon, matching their timing, lifted his own. Just as he brought it to his lips, his eyes met Shin-jae’s across the table.

Sa-yoon offered a casual eye smile before lowering his gaze. The small plate in front of Shin-jae was spotless, without even a trace of food touching it. In contrast, his beer glass was already half-empty. Meaning—he was drinking without eating.

He doesn’t drink carbonated beverages, but he’s fine sipping on alcohol? Choosing beer over soju probably meant his tolerance wasn’t that high.

Still, drinking on an empty stomach like that couldn’t be good.

Catching a passing waiter, Sa-yoon discreetly ordered another side dish. With everyone devouring food like it was a battle, no one would even notice the extra order.

A short while later, the waiter approached their table, carrying a plate stacked with thickly rolled omelets.

“Whoa! Look at that omelet—what a beauty!”

Someone exclaimed loudly at the sight of the new dish, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

“Did you order this, sunbae?”

“Yeah, I was craving some omelet.”

Sa-yoon replied nonchalantly as he accepted the plate. Instead of placing it in the center of the table, he set it down directly in front of himself.

Everyone blinked, confused at his apparent intention to monopolize the dish. But since Sa-yoon was the oldest at the table, no one outright questioned him.

If Ha-rim were here, she would’ve called him out on his nonsense, but she was too busy chatting animatedly at the executive table.

The rich aroma of eggs, mixed with alternating drizzles of ketchup and mayonnaise, filled the air. True to the generous spirit of eateries near college campuses, the portion was massive. It wasn’t too heavy, and it was substantial enough to serve as a decent meal.

Sa-yoon picked up the tongs and personally placed a piece onto everyone’s plate.

“Eat something while you drink, or you’ll wreck your stomachs.”

“As expected—what a thoughtful guy!”

Unaware of the real reason, the club members flashed him thumbs-ups in appreciation.

Shin-jae, who had been staring at the untouched omelet, finally picked up his chopsticks.

So he does eat when it’s put in front of him…

Watching piece after piece disappear, Sa-yoon felt oddly satisfied, despite not being the one eating.

He looked like a playful golden retriever that enjoyed rolling around on the grass, yet his attitude was as aloof as a cat obsessed with grooming itself.

Come to think of it, this felt a lot like feeding a prickly stray cat…

Sa-yoon, who was notoriously unpopular with animals—receiving nothing but hissing whenever he got close—was now humanizing Shin-jae into a cat.

Maybe he had been staring too much in his moment of satisfaction. Sensing the gaze, Shin-jae, who had been neatly slicing his omelet, suddenly lifted his head.

“Eat a lot, Shin-jae.”

Their eyes met, and Sa-yoon smiled warmly. He didn’t stop there; he looked at him with the same affectionate gaze a grandmother would give to her frail grandson, encouraging him to eat more. Under the dim lights of the pub, it even seemed as if Shin-jae’s eyes shimmered with emotion.

Now, the next time they had class together, he could probably ask him to eat together again, right?

A hopeful future unfolded rapidly in Sa-yoon’s mind, and his smile deepened.

“Thank you for looking out for me, sunbae.”

People naturally develop affection for those who treat them kindly. Shin-jae returned his gaze with a small smile. The atmosphere was pretty good.

After that, Sa-yoon continued to subtly look out for Shin-jae, and the polite junior made sure to express his gratitude each time.

As the drinking session progressed, people began to move around, carrying their glasses and utensils with them. The seat next to Shin-jae changed occupants several times.

Unsurprisingly, Shin-jae’s side was a prime spot. Sa-yoon, who had been waiting for the right moment, finally seized the opportunity.

“Mind if I sit here?”

Shin-jae stared at Sa-yoon as he took the seat, then wordlessly held out his empty glass. Earlier, he had been drinking beer, but at some point, he had switched to a soju glass.

Glug.

The clear liquid filled the glass with a soft sound. After pouring, Sa-yoon handed over the bottle, and Shin-jae took it by the neck, returning the favor. The same action was repeated, just with the roles reversed.

As their glasses clinked, a crisp sound rang out. Shin-jae downed his drink cleanly. Watching his Adam’s apple move absentmindedly, Sa-yoon asked,

“How much can you handle?”

“I’m not sure. It depends on the day.”

As always, it was a vague answer. Some people were just like that. Respecting diversity, Sa-yoon accepted it with a nod.

Meanwhile, Shin-jae was already refilling his empty glass. Before Sa-yoon could ask another question, the next drink was already being offered.

“Isn’t this a bit fast?”

“Is it?”

His tone was gentle, yet the outstretched glass remained unchanged. In the end, Sa-yoon clinked glasses again.

And then again.

There wasn’t even a chance to grab a bite in between. For someone who didn’t know his limit, his pace was surprisingly fast. At another table, Sa-yoon would have casually entertained it for a while before slipping away—but tonight was different.

Tonight, he was determined to leave with Shin-jae’s number.

Besides, if he were being honest, Sa-yoon enjoyed drinking.

Back in his freshman year, there were countless nights where he’d catch the first train home, take a short nap, and head straight back to school. His drinking tolerance was solid.

So Sa-yoon had confidence.

There was no way he was going to lose to a twenty-year-old who didn’t even know his own limits.