Just Take It Easy

I didn't say a word, yet the company dinner somehow got decided on its own. Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that I'm complaining. It was about time we did something like this anyway. Plus, getting to have dinner and drinks with two gorgeous women like Moyong Sunae and Hwangbo Ji-eun? What guy in his right mind would turn that down? If I had my way, we'd hit up round one, round two, round three... hell, I could've kept going straight until morning.

'Man, when was the last time I went that hard?'

Racking my brain, the only time I could remember was about a month before I enlisted. Back when I was twenty-one? Wow, that's exactly Hwangbo Ji-eun's age right now. After getting discharged, the only all-nighters I pulled were at PC cafes. I'd never once stayed up drinking through the night. Of course, the current trend these days wasn't exactly "pour it and chug it" either.

But right now, my attention was laser-focused on something else.

Because I was dead set on buying that 1.2 million won Psychokinesis skill. And then there was this.

"Hyun-woo, are you okay with grilled beef tripe?"

"Oppa, do you prefer soju or beer?"

Even though Moyong Sunae and Hwangbo Ji-eun were both clearly excited about the dinner, their enthusiasm somehow made me feel a little awkward. 'They're both really into this.' If someone saw us, they'd think these two had been counting down the days until this company dinner.

"I'm personally more of a beer guy, but..."

That was when it happened.

"...Today, I'm feeling soju."

The moment I saw the quest pop up, I immediately changed my answer. From my usual perspective of not really enjoying alcohol, four bottles of soju would be pretty rough. But if there was a reward involved, that changed everything. Plus, adding that money to what I already had would let me buy the Psychokinesis skill.

What was a little funny, though, was how Hwangbo Ji-eun's face had started to twist slightly when I said I preferred beer. The instant I switched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to soju, it lit up like the sun. Was she after something? And what the hell was the Ring's intention here? Why was it offering me three hundred thousand won just to make me drink four or more bottles of soju?

I had no clue. Damn it...

Still, I figured I should prepare a little.

I stepped into the NU convenience store near the shop and bought some hangover remedies. Three bottles and three packets of the pill version. What gave me the creeps was how even this small purchase drained 23,000 won from my account.

"That'll be 23,000 won. Would you like a bag?"

"...No, it's fine."

'Making money is insanely hard, but spending it is way too easy.' If I didn't have the Ring, I probably couldn't have afforded even this. The thought that my phone bill might've been overdue by now made a bitter laugh slip out. I stuffed the hangover cures into my pocket and headed out.

"Here, everyone take one."

"Whoa, Oppa, nice touch~ Planning to go pretty hard tonight, huh?"

"Ah, thank you, Hyun-woo. How much was it? I could've bought these."

"It's okay, Boss. I should at least cover this much. Especially since you're treating us to dinner."

"Ah, well..."

"...?"

"Never mind. We'll talk about it later. By the way, like Ji-eun said, are you planning to really let loose tonight?"

What the hell? Was the quest written across my face or something? Well, she wasn't wrong.

"Yeah. When I get to drink with such beautiful women, I have to go until I drop, right?"

"Kyaa, Hyun-woo Oppa, so cool~"

"B-beautiful...?"

Hwangbo Ji-eun and Moyong Sunae really were polar opposites. You could tell just from their reactions. Maybe that was why there'd been this strange tension flowing between the two of them lately.

"Cough, cough..."

Come to think of it, it had been so long since I'd drunk outside that maybe that was why. Just looking at the prices on the menu nearly made me spit out the hangover remedy I'd been drinking. Were those prices for real?

"Wow, back when I started college, a bottle of soju was only 3,500 won. And even that had gone up by 500 won at the time..."

Now it was the era of 6,500 won bottles. This really was the age of insane exchange rates and skyrocketing prices. Seeing it like this really hit home. And a single serving of mixed beef tripe for nearly thirty thousand won? If we ordered three servings, that'd be ninety thousand won? This was crazy.

"Wow, this place has only been open for a month and it already has over three thousand reviews. Though about two thousand of them look like they were written by the company itself. Even accounting for that, most people say it's delicious. The prices are on the high side, though. Reservations are harder than you'd think..."

When Hwangbo Ji-eun marveled at the place, Moyong Sunae smiled softly.

"I made a call in advance for today."

"Whoa, Unnie, that's amazing!"

"Since I'm covering the entire dinner, don't worry about the cost at all. Order whatever you want and eat comfortably. And it's not just for the first round. If you two are okay with it, we can keep going as long as you want."

If anyone else had said something like that, even at a company dinner, it would've felt a bit burdensome to accept or made me feel self-conscious. But with Moyong Sunae, it didn't feel that way at all. Everything about her radiated an overwhelming sense of ease. I'd expected it, but she really did come from serious wealth. 'Honestly, our cafe must be operating at a loss...' In this economy, in an area with insane rent, a small cafe employing two staff members couldn't possibly be turning a profit. Yet Moyong Sunae didn't seem to care one bit. Whether it was in the red or not... it felt like she simply found meaning in doing this work itself. It was an attitude only someone with genuine financial comfort could show.

"Boss, thank you. We'll enjoy it."

She flinched.

"Ah, yes... Please eat well, Hyun-woo."

Did I see that wrong? For a second there, Moyong Sunae's expression seemed to turn icy cold. On the other hand, the corner of Hwangbo Ji-eun's mouth was...

"Ah! Seriously, nothing's getting cheaper these days. You all feel the same, right? Even the cheapest ice cream at discount stores starts at 900 won now. I can barely remember when they used to be 400 won each."

"For real? It really has gotten expensive."

"Ugh, tell me about it. Cosmetics prices have gone through the roof too. If you accidentally walk into a place like Yollybe Young, you might as well declare bankruptcy. I have no idea where my entire month's paycheck goes."

"Puhahaha!"

I'd expected it, but Hwangbo Ji-eun was perfectly suited for gatherings like this. If she'd gone to college, she would've been a total riot. She'd get dragged to freshman orientation, MT trips, everything. Inside the university, she'd probably be praised with grand titles like one of the three goddesses of the campus. She must've broken quite a few hearts for real.

"I'll grill for you."

"Thank you!"

Chiiiik!

Right on time, the part-timer came over with tongs to grill the meat. The way he kept sneaking glances at Hwangbo Ji-eun and Moyong Sunae said it all. It wasn't particularly unpleasant. It was just male instinct. If anything...

"Then shall we get started properly? Woo-hyo, achuchuchu!"

The way Hwangbo Ji-eun used her index and middle finger to tap the bottom of the soju bottle and pour it with a glug-glug was enough to make me feel self-conscious. Normally when someone comes to grill your meat, people tend to shut up out of politeness. But she had zero filter.

"Alright then, for today's company dinner!"

"Cheers!"

"Ch-cheers...!"

Anyone watching would think Hwangbo Ji-eun was the one who organized this. But Moyong Sunae didn't seem to mind at all. With her face already faintly flushed, she raised her glass.

Clink!

"Krrgh, this soju tastes so good!"

"Oh! It's pretty decent today, huh?"

"Yeah, it really is."

All three of us reacted positively after downing the soju. Hwangbo Ji-eun beamed, and I nodded, surprised at how little the soju burned tonight. Moyong Sunae seemed to feel the same. 'Was soju always this sweet?' I'd heard they added sweeteners these days, but I'd never tasted any sweetness in soju in my life. Feeling it tonight caught me off guard. 'Is this the Ring's power?'

Ah, right...

Feeling a bit awkward, I fiddled with my empty glass and glanced at the two women beside me. 'Wow, who needs side dishes when you've got this view?' I was genuinely surprised. I used to hate soju so much that I'd immediately chase it with soda or water, or stuff my mouth with food. But right now, I didn't need to. Just looking at the two women's faces glowing faintly red from the heat of the grilling tripe made even the alcohol lingering in my mouth taste sweet. 'Four bottles... this might not be so bad after all.' At this rate, I might even make it home completely sober.

"It's all cooked, so feel free to eat. Call me anytime if you need anything."

"Thank youuu~"

"No, it's nothing..."

The part-timer seemed to like Hwangbo Ji-eun a bit more. Even after setting down the tongs, he kept staring at her. Maybe he wanted to ask for her number. In this day and age, though, that wasn't easy either. 'After COVID and now the AI era... people have gotten a lot more used to getting rejected in all sorts of ways.' Just as a slightly bitter feeling started to rise, I quickly shook my head. I didn't want to get serious during a drinking session. Especially not with these two beauties sitting right beside me.

"Oh, right. Boss, Ji-eun, why didn't either of you go to college?"

Moyong Sunae was older than Hwangbo Ji-eun, but if she'd attended a four-year university, she'd still be college-age. The fact that she was running a cafe instead made me curious if there was some story behind it.

"Ah, well... I, um... I just didn't really fit with university life. I went for a year and then dropped out..."

...So there really was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠story. Watching Moyong Sunae fidget, looking embarrassed and like just thinking about it was painful, cold sweat broke out on my forehead. 'You idiot, of all the questions you could've asked, why'd you pick that one?'

While I was thinking that...

"Ugh, what would someone with a thick skull like me even do at university? It's not like graduating guarantees a job these days anyway. It'd just be a waste of expensive tuition."

"Hmm, that's not wrong."

Just looking at myself proved it. What good was a four-year degree? I couldn't get a job anywhere and was still a bum. Ah, now I was feeling bitter again for no reason.

"Still, there are those special memories you can only have as a college student."

"Well, that's true, but I think I made the right choice by not going."

"Huh? Why?"

When I tilted my head at how confidently Hwangbo Ji-eun said it, she grinned. With that signature sly, fox-like smile of hers, she answered.

"Because I got to meet you, Oppa."

"......"

That loaded straight punch left me speechless for a moment. Wow, these young people... they really don't hold back. At the same time...

Crash!

The soju glass in front of Moyong Sunae fell to the floor and shattered loudly. I jumped in surprise and asked if she was okay.

"Boss, are you alright?"

"Ah, s-sorry. I was trying to pour soju into an empty glass and my arm got caught..."

"It's fine. The staff will be here soon, so don't touch it. Ah, here they come."

"By the way, Hyun-woo."

"...Yes?"

"Instead of calling me Boss, I'd prefer if you just used my name."

"Huh?"

As I stood there flustered, Moyong Sunae added with a gentle smile.

"Just take it easy."