episode_0013

“Ugh! This is tough!”

I finished the last set of push-ups, trembling.

Just standing there made the sweat drip down.

“Huff, huff.”

I breathed heavily.

My shoulders involuntarily twitched.

It was just 20 push-ups.

Only 20.

Compared to regular people, it was a far cry from a proper workout, but for me, it was a significant improvement.

“I couldn’t even do half of this before.”

I wiped away the flowing sweat.

I felt like my body had changed quite a bit.

The truth was, my previous body was terrible.

[You have gained 10 health points.]

“Phew, good.”

I closed the message window that informed me of gaining points.

It felt good to feel the changes in my body.

“I’m dying.”

My body couldn’t take it.

The exercise schedule given by the system was quite challenging for me to endure.

Especially since I was far from being into exercise in the first place.

On top of that, there were part-time jobs, preparing to go back to school, taking care of the members, and so on.

My whole body ached with muscle pain.

“It hurts a lot.”

I massaged my aching muscles.

I was good at helping other members recover from fatigue, but why couldn’t my body do the same?

“Is there no way?”

I asked into the air.

To others, it might seem crazy, but it was the best way to ask the system.

[We recommend this item.]

Before the words were even finished, the store window opened frighteningly fast.

[Workout Clothes – 50 points]

[Workout Clothes – Team Tee: Increases the sense of belonging to the gym.]

[Additional Effect: Random]

“Workout clothes? It increases the sense of belonging?”

[Random additional effects are attached. Among these effects, fatigue recovery exists.]

Ah, it was a common method seen in RPG games.

Items dropped with random special effects attached.

“What’s the probability?”

[The probability of muscle pain improvement and fatigue recovery effects appearing is 33%.]

It meant that one out of three times it would appear.

“Not bad, right?”

It was worth a try.

There were no other items worth buying right now.

Moreover, with the extensive training, I had accumulated a fair amount of points.

I currently had 220 points.

If I spent all my points, I might get at least one fatigue recovery effect.

“Okay. I’ll buy one.”

I purchased the workout clothes.

[Purchased workout clothes.]

The system window flashed brightly.

Whoosh!

The light pouring out of the system window illuminated the living room, and in the light’s glow, a set of black workout clothes appeared.

It was similar to the scene in mobile games when you open a box.

“Wow, the effect is amazing.”

I picked up the workout clothes that had been summoned into the living room.

[Workout Clothes (B)]

[Team Tee: Increases the sense of belonging to the gym.]

[Strength Increase: Strength increases when worn.]

Grade B?

“It seems quite decent…”

It looked like a decent effect, but it didn’t immediately help me.

“One more time.”

I purchased another set.

Once again, the light filled the living room.

“Hmm?”

This time, the light was different?

If the previous light felt like just white light pouring out, this time, golden light scattered among the light.

It was a sign that a better item had appeared compared to before.

Once again, a black workout suit appeared.

[Congratulations. You have obtained a high-grade item.]

[Workout Clothes (A)]

[Fatigue is Just a Matter of the Liver: Natural recovery rate increases by 2.5 times when worn.]

“Alright!”

I succeeded in two tries.

Grade A as well.

Clearly, the summoning effect was better than the B-grade workout clothes.

There were differences in effects based on grades.

It was exciting to draw.

“I wonder if other items will have similar effects?”

I looked at the store list.

The detailed page mentioned that additional effects were randomly attached.

From dumbbells to treadmills, even to an apartment with a Han River view in Gangnam.

“It’s amazing.”

Muttering to myself, I put on the workout clothes.

My clothes fit perfectly to my size, clinging tightly to my body.

[Equipped effect applied.]

“It feels like something has changed.”

My natural recovery rate has increased, so I’ll feel it as time goes on.

I checked the time.

It’s almost time to go to work.

“Now I need to shower and head to work.”

Now that I’ve equipped the item, I can focus more on exercising in the future.

In the end, I have to become stronger.

To earn the trust of the members, I had to improve even more than I am now.

“I think the reason the satisfaction was low when Haedaryeong first came was because of my body.”

Let’s train ourselves.

[New Quest!]

“Enjoy light exercise while showering.”

“Squats under the water.”

A new quest appeared.

There was no time to rest.

***

I went to work at the store for my part-time job.

“Oh? Jaeho oppa, you came early today?”

Miju was already at work, singing a tune and tidying up the store.

“Oh, why did you come to work so early today?”

“I’ve been coming early these days.”

“Is that so?”

“Ever since I started getting personal training from you last time, I’ve been coming earlier than my usual work hours.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. I just feel like my body is getting healthier. If I don’t move, my body feels sluggish and heavy!”

Miju exclaimed cheerfully.

She was her usual self.

A bit more energetic, though.

“I’m glad. I was worried if there was something wrong with your body.”

“I got personal training from a good trainer, so why wouldn’t it get better?”

“That’s true, but….”

I was about to bring up the topic of formal registration with her.

“Oh, Jaeho oppa, I heard from the boss that you also go to Ulsan University?”

“What?”

“Is that true?”

Miju asked with sparkling eyes.

“Oh, right.”

“Really? Wow.”

Miju clapped her hands in admiration.

“Why?”

“I’m also a student at Ulsan University. I started this year.”

“Oh? Really?”

Miju was also from Ulsan University?

I had no idea.

“Are you surprised too? I was really surprised. But what major are you in?”

“Well….”

There was a momentary communication breakdown.

I was taken aback by the fact that Miju was from the same school, and the answer to her question didn’t come to me easily.

“I’m in Computer Science. Computer Engineering.”

“Wow! You’re in Computer Science too?”

“Me too! I’m in Computer Science at Ulsan University, Class of 21.”

We were in the same school and major?

What a coincidence.

The restaurant where I worked was famous near Ulsan University. But what were the chances of having a part-time worker from the same major and year at the same place?

“Why didn’t I see you at school, oppa?”

“I was discharged from the military not too long ago.”

“Oh, right. You said you were discharged from the military this year.”

Miju sang a tune happily.

“Are you going back to school this time?”

“Yeah.”

“So you’ll quit working here soon.”

“I guess so.”

There wasn’t much time left until the new semester started.

I couldn’t keep working, so I had to go back to school.

“It’s a relief. I’ll see you often even after quitting the part-time job.”

“What?”

“You said you’d give me personal training if I visited.”

“Oh, right.”

“Do I have to call you senior now?”

“Haha.”

What should I say here?

While I was pondering in my head, Miju chuckled.

“Why are you so nervous? You’ll still be called oppa at school. Don’t distance yourself for no reason.”

Miju teased, leaving me puzzled.

“Don’t worry about that. It’s my first member, so I have to do well.”

That’s when it happened.

“Hey, Choi Jaeho.”

It was Jongnam hyung.

He called me over, frowning and with his arms crossed.

“What’s up?”

“Can we talk for a moment?”

He had a displeased expression on his face.

What’s wrong?

Did I do something wrong?

My gaze naturally turned towards Miju.

Oh, right.

Hey, did you have feelings for Miju?

I mean, you were pretty obvious about it.

“Well, I’ll be back in a moment.”

“Oh, okay….”

Miju’s expression also darkened in response.

I followed Jongnam and Hyung to the alley next to the store.

It was a path connected to the kitchen, and sometimes it was a place where Jongnam, Hyung, and the boss would come out to smoke.

It was also a place where they sometimes smoked joints.

“Hmm.”

Jongnam exhaled a puff of smoke.

“What’s going on?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Yes?”

“I warned you last time, didn’t I?”

“About Miju?”

“You know and still do it?”

“It’s well-known. Hyung, you’re being obvious about Miju.”

“Look at this guy?”

Jongnam’s eyebrows trembled.

“You have nothing better to do? You start working out and suddenly think you’ve changed? Just because a loser like you who stays in his room all day found someone to hang out with, you start acting like this? Huh?”

His blunt way of speaking sometimes made the listener feel uncomfortable.

Like now.

In the past, I would have just endured it.

Because if I endured it, everything would end smoothly.

That was my thinking.

“Please stop. It’s unpleasant to look at.”

“This guy?”

“If you can’t do your job and smoke joints, I’ll accept it. But this is different.”

I remembered what Miju had said when Jongnam and I were involved last time.

-Actually, I don’t really like that senior. He makes women too obvious. It’s really uncomfortable.

If Miju had feelings for him, I had no reason to stop her.

But if not, there was no need to show respect to someone who was causing trouble like this.

“Stop bothering her and find another girl. It seems like Yeojin likes you.”

“This guy is crazy. I might have to hit you.”

I had no intention of avoiding it.

This was what I had done.

I didn’t have confidence in fighting, but a man shouldn’t back down in times like this.

“It’s pathetic.”

Jongnam pushed my arm.

His tattoo on his forearm was clear.

It looked threatening to anyone.

“I won’t let you go. Tell the boss you’re taking the day off today.”

“You talk too much. Just come. Jongnam.”

Jongnam clenched his fist and lunged.

At that moment, a small system window appeared in front of me.

[Trainer protection protocol activated.]

What?

Suddenly, Jongnam’s fist slowed down.

I turned my head in the opposite direction to look at the fist.

Jongnam’s fist grazed past my face.

Before I could do anything, my body moved first.

Thud!

“Argh!”

My fist hit Jongnam’s ribs.

The impact made Jongnam bend over.

Was it the shock of something unfamiliar?

Jongnam screamed in pain, clutching his ribs.

My body twisted at an odd angle, and my left knee struck the guy’s abdomen.

Thud!

“This guy….”

Jongnam gritted his teeth and yelled.

[Trainer is under threat.]

[Counterattack initiated.]

In response to the sound, my body moved automatically.

I struck the back of his knee with my leg.

“Oof!”

Jongnam couldn’t do anything and knelt down.

“Huh?”

I looked dumbfoundedly at Jongnam, who was looking up at me.

I slapped Jongnam’s cheek as he looked at me in fear.

Slap!

“Ow!”

Jongnam’s body rolled on the ground.

It all happened in a fleeting moment.

“What, what the hell?”

Jongnam, holding the spot where he was hit, looked at me.

Fear was evident in Jongnam’s face as he looked at me.

“I told you. I learned how to fight.”

I smiled casually and said, “Don’t pick fights for no reason. And don’t bother Miju for no reason either.”

She was my customer.

Refusing to be taken by a tough guy was out of the question.

Despite his relaxed smile.

“Damn, it hurts like hell.”

His whole body was throbbing.

The pain was so intense that it was incomparable to working out.

Muscle soreness was like a new level of pain.

Especially the left foot that hit Jongnam’s stomach at a weird angle felt like it might have been broken.

It really, literally, hurt like hell.

“Is this the protection protocol?”

It felt like being controlled by someone.

Like a child playing with a doll, forcibly moving my body around.

Honestly, it was uncomfortable.

I’d rather have fought and taken the hits myself.

This way, surrendering was on my side.

“Don’t control me like this unless I’m really about to die or in the future.”

[Confirmed.]

The system appeared in front of me as if responding.

“Oh, and.”

I turned to look at Jongnam, still clutching his wounds.

Our eyes met, and he flinched and stepped back in surprise.

“Control your expression. You know, you’ve been ordered to do it a lot.”

I headed back to the store first.

“Oh, are you okay, oppa?”

Miju asked with a worried expression.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

She should be more worried about Jongnam than me.

“I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I’ll go talk to Senior Jongnam.”

“No, it’s fine. I spoke nicely to him, so it’s okay.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Jongnam came in.

He avoided my gaze.

Tsk.

I heard the sound of him clicking his tongue, but I didn’t bother to point it out.

I didn’t want to fight over something like this.

“Oh, and Miju. I had something to say earlier.”

“What did you want to say?”

“Yeah.”

I took a deep breath.

The words I wanted to say to her since earlier.

But I kept hesitating and couldn’t say them.

My face turned red for no reason.

“Ahem.”

“Are you going to keep hesitating?”

“Sorry.”

Every time I tried to speak, the words got stuck in my mouth.

‘I can’t avoid it.’

I gathered my courage and opened my mouth.

“You know, Miju.”

“Yes, oppa.”

“Would you like to officially register as a member of our gym?”

“What?”