Ch.139I wanted to pray for his soul’s peace for no particular reason.

“…Why am I like this?”

I can feel my heart beating intensely for no reason.

I’ve thought countless times that Kim Donghu is handsome,

and it’s true that’s why I started liking him.

But the emotion I’m feeling now is somehow different.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

I feel my heart beating violently again.

“What is this…?”

Shin Yerim’s eyes take in Kim Donghu’s figure.

Round 2, 2-minute TKO.

For someone who just achieved an unbelievable result, his face is incredibly calm.

I watch as he removes his headgear and comes down from the ring.

“…W-what, why am I like this?”

My gaze remains fixed on Kim Donghu’s upper body.

Normally, I should be bringing him a towel and water right now.

But my feet won’t move easily.

“Was it because of me again?”

Kim Donghu doesn’t usually move this intensely during sparring.

If there was ever a case like this, it was just once in the past.

When an opponent insulted him.

“It’s exactly the same as now.”

Did he fight like that this time because the opponent insulted me?

I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t even move my mouth properly.

An inexplicable tension grips my body.

“Why are you so stiff? Are you okay?”

And then as Kim Donghu approached me first,

Unconsciously, Shin Yerim…

Tap.

Placed her hand on Kim Donghu’s chest.

“S-sorry!”

Despite being the one who touched him,

Shin Yerim was more startled than anyone.

“…No, why are you sorry? You see this all the time.”

Right.

Shin Yerim had seen Kim Donghu’s upper body more than anyone else.

After all, she was his self-proclaimed boxing manager.

But why was she reacting like this now?

“What is going on?”

It was the moment a new worry arose for Shin Yerim.

+++++

Two months after the sparring ended.

“Hmm.”

Baeksang MMA Gym was experiencing unprecedented prosperity in its history.

With the number of members hitting an all-time high,

they were bringing in tremendous amounts of money, but…

For Paek Sangha, the gym owner whose bones were filled with martial arts spirit, this situation wasn’t entirely pleasant.

“I apologize, but registering as a member doesn’t mean you can meet Kim Donghu.”

“What? Why not? Don’t we train together?”

“He trains separately.”

“Then if I train separately too, can I meet him?”

“That’s not possible. And there may be times when I can’t personally instruct you.”

“Oh… really? Then I don’t want to join.”

“Alright, have a good day.”

With the belief that only people who want to exercise should come to the gym,

Paek Sangha rejected everyone whose purpose was anything other than training.

Yet perhaps because of the reputation as the gym where a promising boxer trained,

despite imposing various conditions, the number of members exploded.

Of course…

“…Do I really have to do this?”

“Yes, we’re just doing it lightly.”

“Ah… I don’t think I can come tomorrow.”

“If you let me know in advance, I can give you a refund, so please feel free to tell me.”

“Then please refund me.”

As explosively as the membership grew, so did the number of refund requests.

No matter how casual the exercise might be,

without proper motivation, it was difficult to maintain any workout routine.

“Especially having to move again after finishing a full day’s work… that’s really tough.”

But among them, there were people who showed up consistently.

“What did Donghu train today?”

“Uh… we focused on running to avoid stressing his joints.”

“Then I’ll do that too.”

“He also did some stair climber.”

“Wow… I’ll do that too.”

There was Kim Sujin,

“Will you teach me how to hold mitts later?”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll focus on boxing.”

Ryu Jaerin,

“I want to… try everything! A variety of things!”

“Yes, understood. By the way, your Korean is very good?”

“Hehe, I studied really hard because of Senior Donghu.”

And Usami Chisako.

Along with Shin Yerim, who consistently exercised while working as a manager.

Though they couldn’t come often due to their schedules,

they were all steadily improving their skills through consistent training.

“But they’re all related to Donghu somehow.”

And every single one of them had tremendous potential.

Perhaps it was from his many years as a gym owner,

but he had somewhat developed an eye for spotting people with great potential.

“Hmm… but it seems like they all like Donghu.”

But isn’t Korea monogamous?

Well, Donghu will figure it out himself.

Paek Sangha shrugged his shoulders,

and time quickly flowed to May.

“…Wow, is this really happening?”

It was the period when Kim Donghu’s body was slowly being sculpted.

“Seven kilograms in four months… you’re really amazing, Donghu.”

Through clean bulking, Kim Donghu’s height and weight were now 185cm and 93kg.

Considering the weight class limit of 91kg, this was an ideal bulk.

“How does your body feel now? Are you okay?”

“Yes, not bad? My stomach is fine too. I think I could gain more.”

“I’d like to hit 100 if possible, but we need to keep monitoring your health, so let’s see.”

“Yes.”

As Kim Donghu prepared to go out for cardio,

Paek Sangha swallowed hard while watching him from behind.

“Honestly, his physique is no joke.”

Intimidating would be the word.

He just looked big and strong.

Like a tiger walking around in human form.

His skeletal structure was also large, so he definitely had the aura of an athlete.

“But usually when bulking, the face should get fatter too.”

Why did he still have a defined jawline despite gaining 7kg?

Just as he was confirming that truly handsome people look good no matter what…

“Ah, right!”

Suddenly speaking loudly to himself, Paek Sangha urgently checked his email.

Sure enough.

“He said he’d send the email today.”

It was the moment Kim Donghu’s overseas training schedule was confirmed.

+++++

“Donghu, things are looking unusual these days.”

“Pardon?”

“You know how Jinwoo asked you to look at his project before?”

“Ah, yes, I remember.”

“He’s getting ready to release it soon.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he said he went with your recommendation without hesitation, so that’s what happened.”

Right, that’s what happened.

As I listened to Seokho’s answer, I recalled Jinwoo’s KakaoTalk message from before.

“He asked me to choose one of three projects, I think.”

And what I chose was “Assassination, The Age of Shadows.”

A film that far exceeded ten million viewers.

It would have a positive impact on Jinwoo’s filmography later.

Then, as if Seokho was finishing his introduction and getting to the main point,

he straightened his posture and handed me three proposal documents.

“…What are these?”

“Documentaries.”

“Like what we did with Flame Theater Group?”

“Yes, that’s right. But this time, it’s not about the theater group…”

He wants to document boxer Kim Donghu, I guess.

Honestly, I felt a bit dazed at the suggestion.

“No, I’m not even a national team member yet, and already this.”

All three major networks unanimously proposing documentaries.

There was even a contract saying they didn’t mind joint filming like last time.

“They say they’ll film very discreetly, but whether we can trust that…”

“Ah, but for this… it’s trustworthy because I saw how they did it with the Flame Theater Group documentary.”

“Really? Well anyway, these proposals came in, and I wanted to ask what you think.”

Honestly, isn’t this trying to buy low?

That’s what I thought as I checked the contract.

Perhaps they felt the same way.

The amount was quite substantial for it to be considered buying low.

Plus, there was a separate section for incentives.

“This is quite different from regular documentaries.”

“Since you could become the new face of boxing, they seem to be betting big.”

“Right… I mean, Korean boxing is kind of… you know?”

“It’s in a slump.”

“Oh, and right, about Paek Sangha…”

“Yes?”

“It seems like he might need an agency later, so if he’s interested, please tell him I’d like to meet him.”

There was strong conviction in Seokho’s eyes as he said this.

“He believes I’ll definitely achieve results.”

Not just referring to a gold medal.

He believed I would achieve overall success.

Eyes that seemed to believe in me more than in himself.

This kind of support was truly reassuring.

“Oh, and we got a message from Red Horn.”

“What?”

“It doesn’t seem like they want to do anything specific, but they just randomly sent an email saying they’re watching you?”

Seokho showed me the email from Red Horn, looking genuinely puzzled.

The famous sports drink company Red Horn.

It was surprising enough that they contacted us.

And the email content was simply that they were watching and supporting me.

“Strange, isn’t it?”

“It really is.”

“Maybe they want to sponsor you but you don’t have results yet?”

“…That could be it? Oh, but I’m going to the US soon.”

“Ah, I know. For training?”

“Yes.”

“Then what about this documentary? You don’t have to decide right away, but communication might be slower when you’re abroad.”

After a moment’s consideration.

“I’ll do it. But… will they be able to follow me to the training camp?”

“That’s for them to figure out. I’ll let them know you’re in.”

“Yes.”

“Are you really okay with this? It won’t interfere with your training?”

“Of course, I know what I’m getting into.”

By the way, going abroad for training.

“I wonder what kind of people I’ll meet?”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited.

And right at that moment, as if she’d been waiting:

“I’m coming too! I’m your manager! That’s okay, right?!”

Yerim stuck right by my side.

But why does she touch my arm so often these days?

“Is it just my imagination?”

+++++

At the same time.

Colorado, USA.

“Hmm… so he’s really coming?”

“Who? Who’s coming?”

At Drake Gym,

Owner Jack Drake laughed helplessly as he read the returned email.

“An Asian is coming for training camp.”

“Really? What weight class? Light? Welter?”

“No, heavyweight.”

“What? An Asian heavyweight? Ha!”

I thought he wouldn’t actually come, so I casually said yes.

I didn’t expect him to jump at the chance and say he’s coming.

He even seems to have already booked tickets, saying he’ll arrive next week.

“But which country?”

“Korea.”

“Korea? Haha, well this is something…”

Coach Hammer Draco scratched his head.

An Asian heavyweight coming here for training camp.

“Did you explain what kind of place this is?”

“I explained everything.”

The hell of heavyweights.

Drake Gym was like a gatekeeper that crushed all promising prospects who came with dreams of becoming heavyweight fighters.

And now an Asian heavyweight was coming there.

“…R.I.P.”

He couldn’t help but wish him peace in the afterlife.