Stalkerizing

The question didn’t linger for long. As soon as the enemy’s death log appeared, Barcode’s body began to glow, drawing attention. It was the healer’s innate skill—self-resurrection.

The attempt was good, but the timing was bad. Barcode had been positioned behind Sa-yoon, which meant he had failed to check the lancer. The lancer, who had been charging toward Chasa, abruptly changed direction toward Barcode.

“Ah….”

Sa-yoon let out a small sigh.

Divine had a death penalty. Upon resurrection, a portion of HP and mana would be reduced, and the motion of getting up took three full seconds. Naturally, during that time, the player was completely vulnerable.

As a result, mistiming a resurrection often led to dying again before even getting fully up. And right now, at this rate, the healer’s death was guaranteed. Sa-yoon had no intention of handing over 150 points that easily.

[Combat] Using Spirit Sacrifice. Sacrifices a summoned spirit to exchange HP with a party member.

If there was one role in the party that absolutely had to survive, it was the healer. Priests were inherently defense-oriented, so unlike robe-wearers, as long as their HP was fully restored, they wouldn’t die from a single skill.

Chasa sacrificed his summoned creature, swapping his HP with Barcode’s. The health bar that had been filled to the brim with red from using potions instantly emptied, drawing the enemy’s aggro.

A nearly full-HP healer versus a summoner who would die from a single hit, having exhausted all escape skills. Naturally, the latter was the more enticing prey.

The lancer, having made its judgment, charged at Chasa like a raging bull. Sa-yoon could also sense the sharpshooter, who had been dodging around under the temporary nickname, now turning their attention toward him.

The healer, who had barely gotten back on his feet, hesitated between replenishing his own HP and healing Sa-yoon.

[Party] Chasa: Self-heal.

If the lancer got in close and landed a hit, no amount of healing would keep him alive unless he was a tank. On top of that, the resurrection penalty had left Barcode with only 30% mana. If he wasted it on healing someone else, they might both end up dead.

Dodging the spear that came crashing down toward him, Sa-yoon quickly ran through his options.

“Ah!”

[Combat] Using Curse of Chaos.

[Combat] Target resisted the effect.

Murphy’s Law at its finest—skills worked fine until they mattered. The lancer, stacked with debuffs, closed the distance effortlessly. Of all times, both his invulnerability and evasion skills were still on cooldown.

Why the hell did it have to fail now?

But luck was also a skill. Accepting his imminent gray screen, Sa-yoon resigned himself to fate.

Still, he wasn’t going down alone—he kept casting skills until the very end. Just as the lancer reached him, it suddenly collapsed.

[AloeJelly has died.]

[You have gained 150 points.]

“Huh?”

While debuffs did increase damage over time, they weren’t enough to kill an opponent outright.

As expected.

The temporary nickname player had already taken care of the sharpshooter and was now behind the lancer. Checking the combat log, Sa-yoon let out a quiet breath of admiration at the flawless combo. And judging by the sheer amount of damage dealt, a critical hit must have landed.

[Party] liiiiiiiil: Wow, I’ve never seen a summoner tank this well!!

[Party] liiiiiiiil: Thank you for saving me ㅠㅠ

[Party] Chasa: It’s because the healer did great.

[Party] Chasa: Thank you.

As they ran toward the waiting party near Kirash, the healer turned to Sa-yoon with a grateful expression. If it hadn’t been for Sa-yoon’s HP swap earlier, the healer would have died before even getting up.

Acknowledging the healer’s performance as the party’s sole support, Sa-yoon returned the compliment. In truth, Barcode hadn’t done much in the previous fight, but healers deserved appreciation just for existing.

Amid this mutual praise and warm atmosphere, a soft clatter—like a wooden die rolling—sounded. It was the whisper notification.

[Whisper] a10235044: What about me?

Did he want a compliment? Sa-yoon tilted his head slightly as he read the short message.

He was someone who never hesitated to praise others, yet he felt little about receiving compliments himself. If he performed well, that was enough for him—other people’s opinions were separate matters. That’s why this request from the temporarily nickname player felt oddly refreshing.

Thinking about it, wasn’t it natural for a teenager to crave recognition?

[Whisper] Chasa: 44, you were the best.

[Whisper] Chasa: Thanks to you, I survived.

Sa-yoon, amused by the cute request, quickly sent the answer he wanted. And in reality, the best performer in that fight had been the temporary nickname player. Without him, the battle would have been much tougher.

His mechanics and reaction speed were exceptional. Was it because he was young?

Realizing he was having an old-man moment, Sa-yoon shook off the thought and checked the map for the driver’s location before moving. The temporarily nicknamed player and the healer followed behind.

[Whisper] a10235044: lol

[Whisper] a10235044: Right? I’m kinda awesome!

Feeling pleased with the praise, the player bounced with little jumps while running.

Hye-yoon used to be this sweet and innocent too.

Recalling his younger sister, who now saw him as nothing more than a late-night snack buddy to meet the minimum delivery price, Sa-yoon shook his head.

[Whisper] a10235044: From now on

[Whisper] a10235044: Just trust me.

[Whisper] a10235044: I’ll carry everything.

The sheer teenage confidence of the statement made him laugh out loud.

[You have obtained the Crown.]

[The Northern Throne has been activated.]

During the battle with Kirash, there had been two more fights.

[Party] Driver: Wow, rankers really are different.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: Bro, that was fucking awesome.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: You’re like a damn phoenix.

And Sa-yoon had fully pulled his weight in both fights.

The enemies assumed that Driver was the courier and all six of them charged at him. Once their Guardian was focus-fired and killed, their next target was the Warlock, a seemingly frail spellcaster.

But Sa-yoon tanked the barrage of attacks, buying enough time for his allies to systematically eliminate the enemies.

Afterward, BeginningAndEnd made a big fuss over him, showering him with praise.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: How the hell did you survive with Kirash on you?

[Party] Chasa: lol.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: We really got lucky with our courier pick.

[Party] Driver: Seriously, if I had to do it, we’d be screwed.

Winning really made everything more enjoyable. After three consecutive victories, the party was in high spirits.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: I always thought Warlocks were weak… Should I level one up during the EXP event?

[Party] Chasa: Don’t even joke about that.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: I’m serious. I had my doubts in the middle of the fight.

In reality, while Warlocks had a bad reputation, Sharpshooters were just as infamous for being a trash-tier class.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: I thought hitting max level would make things better, but Sharpshooter is a total trash-tier class ㅠㅠ

Sa-yoon wholeheartedly agreed. At one point, he had believed hitting max level as a Warlock would change things too. Then, he thought maybe a balance patch would fix it…

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: I seriously feel like I got scammed.

The Sharpshooter suddenly collapsed to the ground, using an emote that showed them sobbing. They had made it so dramatic that it sounded like the wailing of a general who had just lost his homeland.

In response, Sa-yoon used a comforting gesture. The tall young man crouched down and gently patted the Sharpshooter’s back.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: Bro, bro, if I level up a Warlock, will you take me as your disciple?

[Party] Chasa: …Why would you willingly walk into this hell?

[Party] liiiiiiiiiil: Honestly, I think Warlock just looks good because Chasa is playing it well.

[Party] BeginningAndEnd: No way, I had no idea Warlocks had so many good skills.

[Party] Driver: Yeah, I had my own biases, but Chasa changed my mind.

See? Warlock isn’t that bad! Sure, it’s weak as hell before you get proper gear, and the controls are kinda tricky, but once you get used to it…

Just as his ego as a seasoned veteran was about to explode from all the praise, a whisper came in.

[Whisper] a10235044: Do you know him?

[Whisper] Chasa: Huh?

[Whisper] a10235044: The Sharpshooter. Were you two already acquainted?

[Whisper] Chasa: Nope, first time meeting him today.

[Whisper] a10235044: Oh… He keeps calling you “hyung” and acting all friendly.

[Whisper] Chasa: He’s probably just messing around.

If they had known each other, BeginningAndEnd wouldn’t have opposed choosing Chasa as the courier earlier. Gamers naturally gravitated toward skilled players.

[Whisper] a10235044: Then why do you just go along with it?