episode_0069

“Hey, you really need to work out.”

“…”

“No matter how weak you are, seriously, how can you collapse on a bar without even a plate? You don’t have muscle strength, just water muscles.”

Jae-hyuk, lying collapsed on a bar without a single weight plate, grumbling for mercy.

As I burst into laughter at his pathetic sight, he avoided my gaze and spat out excuses after excuses.

“…If it weren’t for you, I could have lifted that easily and more. Who made me lose my strength, huh?”

“Wow, you’re really pitiful. Blaming the person who assisted you? Alright, let’s hear your reasons. What did I do to make you lose strength? Huh?”

Arms crossed, I questioned him, but he remained silent.

Feeling confident, I called over a passing middle-aged man who seemed friendly and cautiously asked for his judgment.

“Excuse me, may I ask you for a favor?”

“Hmm? What’s up, miss? Did this young man do something wrong?”

“No, it’s not that… He keeps saying he lost strength because I helped him with bench pressing. What do you think?”

As I explained the situation, the man seemed to understand and nodded.

Then he said, “Is it true that it was your fault?”

He delivered a verdict of 7:3 in terms of fault ratio.

What did I do wrong to receive such a judgment?

When I asked for an explanation, the man chuckled and slowly began to speak.

“It’s true that the young man is at fault for not being able to lift a bar without any weights attached. But you know…”

“…Please continue.”

“I’m not sure if I should say this… Miss, isn’t it a lack of self-awareness about your own body?”

“…”

Since it seemed like he understood vaguely, he spared further words. With a chuckle, he said, “Well, young people are passionate, aren’t they? Haha,” and swiftly disappeared from sight.

Mulling over the man’s words, I turned my gaze towards Jae-hyuk and hesitantly posed a question.

“Um, no, wait…”

“What?”

“You, when you stood in front of me… No, that’s not it! Ugh…!”

Feeling embarrassed, I fidgeted with my feet, struggling to find the right words.

Why can’t I say what I usually say so easily now?

After hesitating like a fool for a while, Jae-hyuk sighed deeply and took the lead.

“It was an unavoidable physiological phenomenon, dude. Objectively speaking, realistically, how many men in the world wouldn’t stand looking at that body?”

“…”

“For a man with normal tastes, standing is natural, isn’t it? Why would the male patrons at the cocktail bar be so flustered by you? And now, do you get it? Why I couldn’t lift the bar properly?”

With a triumphant attitude, he finished speaking and quickly moved away as if wanting to experience another piece of equipment.

Left alone, I stood in front of the fan to cool down the fiery heat within me, realizing that clearing my mind was the first step, so I immediately started exercising.

“When you need to clear your mind, nothing beats exercise.”

While searching for a suitable dumbbell, I noticed an adjustable one.

Confirming that no one was using it, I gradually increased the weight by adding plates one by one.

Making it as heavy as possible, it looked quite substantial.

Hoping for some stimulation, I tried lifting it slightly, but it felt like lifting a feather, so I sighed and placed the dumbbell back on the floor.

“…Maybe barbells feel different.”

Formerly despised, mimicking plate collectors, but what can I do? No stimulation whatsoever.

But is it not inappropriate to exercise with light weights?

Disassembling the adjustable dumbbells while keeping an eye out, a golden opportunity presented itself shortly after.

Seizing the moment when no one was around, I began fitting one plate at a time, gauging the level of stimulation.

After fitting and securing the maximum amount possible, a slight weight could be felt on the barbell.

Not entirely satisfying, yet feeling some mild stimulation was better than nothing.

Carefully ensuring the plates didn’t slip, I commenced my bicep workout.

“Now I’m starting to feel something.”

…Though it feels more like lifting pink dumbbells.

Losing interest if no stimulation is felt is only natural.

Without that familiar strenuous feeling from before, I quietly set down the barbell for a rest.

I soon realized the gym had fallen silent.

Why is it so quiet?

Did something happen while I was fitting the plates?

Curious, I glanced around, only then noticing the astonished gazes of the people.

Realizing I was the cause, I looked down at the barbell with a puzzled expression.

Fitted with six 20kg plates on each side and a 2.5kg locking collar, it was no wonder they were amazed by a seemingly powerless woman lifting 265kg with her biceps.

Feeling overwhelmed by the stares, I quickly disassembled the barbell and as I was about to leave the gym with Jaehyuk, I saw the face of the orc trainer.

In his intimidating expression mixed with defeat and jealousy, I felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction and started writing a post on the community board.

[Now I’m even scared of myself…]

Author: Gaebokchi

Envied by the harpy, a self-proclaimed scamming species.

Jealous of the orc who has nothing but strengths except for his ugly appearance.

Capable of easily chasing away reptiles with sheer force.

I, a vampire, am truly terrified…

How much higher will his status rise?

But isn’t it time to admit defeat?

Is a vampire really a scamming species?

Recommend 2 Dislike 17

– (Roughly: Wow, seriously?)

– Okay, enough already;;

– Are you really taking rat poison? If not, you seem schizophrenic; please go to the hospital quickly. I’m really worried…

– I wish this guy looked half as good as Mamang for once, seriously

ㄴ Who’s Mamang? Let me know too

ㄴ (Roughly: Is the green cat still pretending not to know?)

– Every time I see him, I feel like throwing up, seriously lol

ㄴ Are you the only one doing that, you rat? lol_(Author)

ㄴ I’m better than you lol I defeated Sama-gwi and Dai-dai today and even got certified on the community! I’m better than you who just talks big, right?

ㄴ Yeah, your crap is thick lol Oh wait, since you’re a pixie, does it have to be thick in millimeters?_(Author)

“Why do you look so upset? Did something bad happen in that short time?”

“…No, nothing. Phew! Since the workout is over, let’s go eat! What do you want to eat?”

“I feel like having a simple rice bowl. It’s hot, and I don’t feel like moving, plus I’ve sweated a lot and just want to go home and shower.”

Jaehyuk weakly pointing towards a rice bowl place, as if he had a hard time with regulars in my absence.

Seeing his dejected state, I couldn’t joke around and headed straight to the restaurant with him.

“I’ll have a steak rice bowl and a fried chicken rice bowl, and two bottles of soda, please.”

“Order received! One steak, one fried chicken, and two sodas, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“We’ll get it ready right away! Please wait a moment!”

Arriving at the restaurant and finishing their order, were they catching their breath while drinking cold water?

Jaehyuk leaned back on the chair, starting to groan.

“It’s hot, tough, tiring, and I’m hungry. Why does it not feel like a day off…?”

“You’re whining even though we barely exercised. Hey, we only did it for an hour.”

“That less-than-an-hour time was tougher than guerrilla training. You… sigh, you can’t even imagine what kind of time I had.”

“…Was it that tough?”

If I knew you’d hate it this much, I wouldn’t have taken you to the gym.

Feeling guilty for bringing him along unnecessarily, as he fidgeted with his hands, the guy who watched me in that state grabbed a piece of pickled radish and slowly spoke up.

“It was quite tough. Seems like you didn’t enjoy being scolded, the uncles really taught us well. Phew, it’s hard to refuse help when it’s offered out of goodwill…”

“…Sorry.”

“No need to apologize… Well, maybe you should feel guilty. Already low on blood, now I might die from muscle pain, damn it.”

Moving his body slowly, furrowing his brow, the guy chuckled despondently.

I bowed my head deeply, seeking forgiveness, but Jaehyuk said it was fine and turned his head away.

“It’s a joke, man. Why take it so seriously?”

“…It was tough.”

“It was tough indeed. But didn’t you say before? If it’s not tough, it’s not exercise.”

Stretching out fully and letting out a painful cry, the guy weakly continued speaking with a smile.

“Still, it wasn’t a bad experience. It’s something worth trying at least once in your life.”

“A fair assessment from you.”

“…But I don’t want to go through it again. Just working at the bar is tough enough; I don’t want to strain my body further.”

As the brief review of the gym ended, the rice bowls emerged as if waiting.

Exchanging one of his steak pieces for my karaage, I cautiously voiced the question that had been lingering since the gym.

“Hey, but… you really don’t like me, do you?”

“…”

“Why so silent? Say something at least.”

“Stop talking nonsense and eat your food. Why ask such obvious questions?”

“Is that so? Haha, right. There’s no way you’d like me.”

Awkwardly laughing, we moved on, but my mind was currently a mess.

…The appearance of menstrual symptoms ultimately means I got caught.

So then.

If, truly if.

If that guy confesses he likes me, what should I do?

The once sweet and tangy teriyaki sauce.

For some reason, started to taste a bit bitter.