Can’t Control Be Bought With Money? 7

Chapter 7

[General] Girmu: I know this item, not recently but I know the price from a few weeks ago

[General] Girmu: The value gap between what I gave you and this is too big… I know special items get more expensive the longer they’ve been out ㅠㅠ If you keep it longer, it’ll be worth even more, so I don’t think you should give it to me

[General] Girmu: I was just trying to give you a simple gift out of gratitude ㅠㅠㅠ You really don’t have to give me something like this

Sinu remained silent for a moment after receiving this flood of messages. But soon, a careful rebuttal filled Beodeul’s chat window.

[General] Sinu: I already have that item so I don’t particularly need more of them; that’s why I gave it to you. If you return it to me, it’ll become untradeable and useless

He shouldn’t have given it in the first place! Beodeul’s hands trembled over the keyboard.

[General] Sinu: And the thing you gave me will also increase in value over time… I felt bad just receiving something, so I casually gave you that. Don’t worry about it too much

How could he not worry? Beodeul stared blankly at the item Sinu had equipped for everyone to see. The squirrel ears that occasionally perked up front, back, or side to side were definitely cute.

No wonder people like it… After a year, Sinu’s gift would surely be worth more. Something that cute would be popular with everyone regardless of age or gender.

[General] Sinu: If you’re still concerned

[General] Sinu: From now on, with me

[World] [Hershion’s Idol] SaltySalt: Sinu Sinu Sinu Sinu, I’m asking nicely, unblock me now^^!

[World] [Gourmet] CherryHorse: Sinu<< Will pay 10 million gold for your location info ㅇㅅㅇ~~~~

[World] [Tired Assistant] Youngglory: How can a guild member block their own guild leader, Sinu ㅠ_ㅠ

Sinu’s message was nearly buried by the sudden flood of world chat messages. Beodeul rolled his eyes around and asked the now-silent Sinu.

[General] Girmu: Those people are looking for you, right…?

[General] Sinu: Ah… ㅋㅋ Yes, don’t worry about it

He keeps telling me not to worry about things that are worrying. Beodeul started typing “ㅎㅎ” but deleted it when he saw the next world chat message.

[World] [Sensual Observer] Tangerine: Sinu-nim who abandoned party members in a dungeon and left! How can there be such a bad manner player ㅠ? And even blocking them…

[World] [Hershion’s Idol] SaltySalt: Our Sinu… back in the game and already want to smell the Sasage air?^^*

Oh my god, he abandoned his party members in a dungeon? Beodeul froze in shock, then quickly typed.

[General] Girmu: Sinu-nim, is that true?

[General] Sinu: What?

[General] Girmu: That you left your party members in a dungeon

[General] Sinu: Ah, that’s true but…

[General] Girmu: No matter what, unilaterally disbanding a party in a dungeon ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Shouldn’t you apologize quickly?

After his own death in a dungeon and being unilaterally kicked from a party, to Beodeul it seemed like Sinu had committed something terrible. Of course, his case was a bit different…

[General] Sinu: No ㅋㅋ I was forcibly dragged into a place I didn’t need to be

[General] Girmu: But… you even blocked them?

[General] Sinu: They kept bothering me with whispers

Was he really a bad manner player…? Beodeul was so troubled he couldn’t speak and just remained silent. Taking his silence somehow, Sinu began rapidly pouring out explanations that weren’t really explanations.

[General] Sinu: It’s really just my guild members joking around; they do this often;

[General] Sinu: The dungeon was low-level and they could all go there alone. They just formed a party because they were bored

[General] Sinu: Girmu? Are you still there?

[General] Girmu: Yes yes ㅎㅎ…

[General] Sinu: You don’t seem to believe me

It would be strange to add his own words when Sinu was explaining himself like that. Beodeul felt uncomfortable but decided to set aside his suspicions and asked.

[General] Girmu: What were you trying to say earlier?

[General] Sinu: Ah… I was saying it would be nice if we could run dungeons together sometimes

Dungeons? Beodeul tilted his head in confusion. Based on his previous experience, this wasn’t a bad condition. In fact, it seemed like it would only benefit him.

[General] Girmu: That’s fine with me, but won’t our levels be mismatched? ㅎㅎ…

[General] Sinu: I have alt characters too, so it’s fine. If you want to level up, I can help you, or we can run higher dungeons too

That much? No matter how he looked at it, this arrangement only benefited him. Beodeul unconsciously drooped his eyes and clicked his tongue internally. This person, always taking losses like this, he’s bound to be taken advantage of…

[General] Sinu: I noticed you were working on titles before

[General] Sinu: I can help with that too

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t tempted at that moment. Beodeul let out an “mmm” sound and wiggled his fingers.

[General] Girmu: That seems too beneficial just for me ㅎㅎ Is there nothing else?

Beodeul knew it too. It was already too late to return the costume item he’d received from Sinu. Once he handed it over, the exchange count would become 0, making it completely untradeable, and Sinu already had his own anyway.

‘I’d like to tell you to sell the one you’re wearing instead…’

In any case, there was no way to prevent the item’s value from dropping due to the reduced exchange count. And it seemed Sinu didn’t want that either.

[General] Sinu: ;; If you insist, I’ll think about it slowly

[General] Girmu: Yes yes, sounds good!

[General] Sinu: But now I feel like I’m forcing you;

[General] Girmu: Oh no, I actually wanted this item too ㅎㅎ I’m just having a hard time accepting it because I’m grateful ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

[General] Sinu: Really? That’s good. Is there anything else you want?

He looked ready to empty his storage to get it. Beodeul was alarmed and rapidly sent ‘ㄴ’ multiple times, and seeing his vehement refusal, Sinu backed off with an “I understand.”

[General] Sinu: Then since we’re talking about it, want to go to a dungeon now?

What…? Now?

## Chapter 3: What’s So Special About a Voice

Shin Wooseok never intended to return to <SOG> this quickly. After being discharged, he received calls from various people, but rarely made plans. The longest activity he enjoyed as a civilian was simply lying in bed and breathing.

“It’s the weekend, and you still have no plans today?”

“Yeah.”

“No friends, huh?”

Opening his eyes to the sassy voice, he saw his sibling standing at the doorway with a pouty expression.

“Shin Yuri.”

“What.”

“Are you picking a fight with me just because you’re going to the study room?”

“Oh please~”

The stormy teenager had nothing to fear. Unable to deny it, Yuri turned around and shouted toward the living room in a booming voice.

“Mom! Mom, your son says he’s just going to lie around at home again today!”

“Geez, at least close the door when you leave.”

Grumbling, Shin Wooseok got up and followed Yuri to the living room. There, he found his mother getting ready to go out, with his mom’s daughter clinging to her back, chattering away.

“I’m going to exercise later, what are you talking about?”

“And then you’ll just come back and lie around again, right?”

“What’s wrong with resting a bit?”

“You were like a zombie even when you came home on leave during your final months.”

“Yuri has a point. You should go out more, Wooseok.”

At that moment, unread messages piled up in Shin Wooseok’s mind. Most messages started with “Congratulations on being discharged” and ended with “Come out, let’s have a drink.”

Others asked when he’d return to the game or if he was going back to school this semester…

‘I doubt they’re telling me to go out and get drunk.’

He’d be out all the time once the semester started anyway, and he didn’t feel like doing that yet. But he also understood what his mother was worried about, so he just ended it with a simple “Yes.”

Still, he didn’t feel like going out because it was bothersome. But as always, life doesn’t go as planned.

“Wooseok, get ready and come to the café.”

“…?”

“Yeah, come help with mom’s work!”

“I’ll drop Yuri off at the study room and go to work first, okay?”

“But I need to exercise—”

“You can go in the evening, can’t you? Right?”

His mother’s gentle yet firm words couldn’t be defied. And so, Shin Wooseok unexpectedly found himself with a short-term part-time job.

*

“One latte and a blueberry smoothie. Oh, I’ll take them to go!”

“Would you like the latte hot?”

“Yes, please. Please charge the latte on this card and the smoothie on this one.”

“Do you need a receipt?”

“No. Please throw it away~”

Shin Wooseok skillfully tapped on the POS machine to take the order, then passed the slip to the coffee machine area.

“There are too many customers today…”

The long-time part-timer, Park Sunha, muttered in a gloomy voice. They barely had time for a proper meal break, and for four hours straight, they hadn’t even had a moment’s rest as orders kept pouring in.

Shin Wooseok looked back at the lamenting Park Sunha and chided him, unaware of his feelings.

“Hyung, is that something you should say in front of the owner’s son?”

“Hey, I have to go home briefly later and then come back to cover the closing shift… Cut me some slack. I even have to open tomorrow.”

“But I’ll be helping you for the time being, right?”

“Help? Helping? You?”

Park Sunha snorted as if it wasn’t even funny. Then he glared at Shin Wooseok resentfully and nodded toward the store packed with customers.

“Can’t you see? This is all because you came… Ah, what am I saying to the boss’s son.”

Couldn’t that guy be a little less handsome? Park Sunha pouted and grumbled, but his hands were steadily pulling espresso shots.

“Then I’ll make the smoothie.”

“Sure.”

After handling another order, while Shin Wooseok was washing the blender, it happened. As Park Sunha went to get cake from the freezer, a customer entered, making the bell ring.

Shin Wooseok reflexively started to take off his gloves when Park Sunha rushed back.

“I’ll take the order. Keep doing what you’re doing!”

Thanks to him, Shin Wooseok could withdraw his attention from the counter. But that was only for a moment.

“Hello.”

“Oh, you’ve been coming often lately!”

“I have. Could I get a vanilla latte, please?”

“Hot and to-go again today, right?”

“Yes.”

The sweet voice that came from behind, one that you’d expect to hear from a late-night radio DJ, captured Shin Wooseok’s ears.

*Sasage: Short for “incident & accident board” (a forum section for drama)

Author: Hyacinthus B

Hyacinthus