Ch.141I heard there’s a really handsome… boxer here, is that right?

“Haha! I’m finally entering Drake Gym!”

Perry Jaco.

He parked his car with an excited heart.

‘Impressive!’

Though only the exterior was visible so far.

Even just seeing the outside, Drake Gym exuded tremendous dignity.

The graveyard of heavyweights.

A place rumored to have heavyweight gatekeepers.

Who completely dunk on those without talent or effort.

The story that if you endure until the end there, your skills grow tremendously was very famous.

‘I’ll become super famous too.’

It’s well-known that you can earn a lot of money if you succeed in boxing.

Beyond amateur boxing, becoming a pro means astronomical amounts of money in succession.

If you succeed, it’s like hitting the jackpot.

With high hopes, Perry gathered his things and opened the door to Drake Gym.

‘Wow, what… nobody’s even paying attention to me.’

Perhaps they were used to newcomers like him.

Despite opening the door roughly, he didn’t receive a single glance.

They were all staring at the ring as if entranced by something.

‘What are they looking at?’

Since there was no one to guide him, maybe I’ll take a look too.

With that thought, Perry walked toward the ring with his bag.

And immediately understood why people were staring at the ring as if hypnotized.

‘W-what is this?’

It’s clearly sparring.

Just simple sparring.

But the level was on a completely different dimension.

“They’re exchanging attacks and defenses in less than a second like it’s nothing.”

“Isn’t that professional level? Donghu is really unbelievable.”

“He’s only 19, just 19. To have that level of technique at that age…”

“Ducking, weaving, head roll, shoulder roll, parrying… it’s insane.”

Perry was surprised again by the comments of the gym members watching.

’19 years old? That boy right now?’

And he even looked Asian.

‘He’s completely dominating.’

It was like a fight between an elephant and an ant.

When the 19-year-old Asian boy moves.

The opponent flinches and takes several steps back.

He’s being overwhelmed by sheer presence.

“But he’s definitely lasting longer.”

“Of course, Tonghu, I mean Donghu is already on his fifth opponent.”

“How good is his stamina?”

“Did you see the coach who came with Tonghu, um, I mean Donghu? When they do stamina training…”

“It’s unbelievable how his joints can support that weight, normally knees would give out.”

“The coach may look like he exercises brutally, but he’s actually very studious… has several degrees too.”

Since the momentum had shifted, as if there was nothing more to see in the match.

The fighters began talking about the fighter named Kim Donghu again.

’19 years old, Asian, heavyweight?’

It was a series of words that didn’t seem to fit together.

Whether Perry understood or not.

The sparring on the ring ended like that.

And the fighters, with expressions saying they had to do what they had to do, each took out their wallets.

“Anyway, give me 5 dollars each, didn’t I tell you? Donghu would take exactly 5 rounds to handle 5 opponents?”

“Damn it! Homkin! You were fifth in line and that’s how you performed?”

“Ha, shit! Then why don’t you try it! What am I supposed to do when I can’t hit him no matter how I swing?”

“You should have trusted your headgear and charged in!”

“Drake and Draco can say that because they’re just holding mitts! Headgear? What good is that!”

“I trusted my headgear and took a hit though? Homkin, maybe you’re just a cherry boy?”

“Watch your mouth, you got knocked down right after that, didn’t you?”

The bet wasn’t focused on winning, but on enduring.

‘And that’s 5 people for 5 rounds?’

Perry just realized that his cognitive abilities weren’t that great.

The situation was so incomprehensible that his brain needed a lot of time to process it.

As he was quietly observing the confusing situation.

“Drake, looks like we have a guest?”

At the words of the handsome boy leaning against the ring, everyone stopped talking.

It was similar to the attitude of subjects addressing their king.

“Oh, oh, wow. What’s this, when did you arrive? You should have said something.”

“You and Draco were too focused watching my match, right?”

“Isn’t that the duty of the gym owner and coach? We must always watch our star fighter’s matches.”

“Wait! You said I was the star before.”

“Oh, Homkin… if only you had lasted one round against Donghu and then said that.”

“Aaaaargh!”

Leaving Homkin’s scream behind.

Drake and Draco immediately approached Perry.

“A newcomer? Welcome. Perry, right?”

“Yes!”

“Sorry we couldn’t pay attention to you. We had to watch our boss fight.”

Boss?

That word caught Perry’s ear.

‘The boss of Drake Gym.’

It was like an unspoken rule.

Of course, since many fighters come here for training camps.

There’s a desire to determine who is the strongest alpha male among them.

So once a month, Drake Gym holds a tournament for its members.

And once someone wins that tournament three times in a row, they earn the title of boss.

So right now.

‘That kid won the tournament three times in a row?’

Usually, the tournament is held at the end of the month.

Since it’s early August now.

‘He’s been winning since May?’

Is that right? Is that even possible?

‘Is this some kind of joke? Like a surprise? Honestly, it doesn’t make sense.’

Was that thought visible on his face?

“Hahaha! That’s a face of disbelief!”

Jack Drake, the gym owner, sharply caught Perry’s incredulous expression.

And hearing those words, Coach Hammer Draco also laughed heartily.

“Well! Who could believe it, you probably think we’re playing a prank on the newcomer. Right? An Asian, in the heavyweight division!”

As if it were a very familiar show.

At Coach Draco’s words, the atmosphere suddenly began to heat up.

“Right, you should face him! Don’t you think?!”

“That’s right!”

“Yeah! We’re joking! He’s nothing special? Donghu? Tonghu? Don’t make me laugh!”

Somehow the atmosphere naturally shifted toward having a match.

What’s going on here?

Behind Perry’s confusion.

Kim Donghu’s tired complaints continued.

“You’re making me do it again? Why do I have to be the level tester?”

“The boss should do these things, right? And you’re the most accurate.”

“But still, no matter how you look at it…”

“And honestly, it’s partly your fault, you KO’d the tester in the first round. He left that day.”

“I told you, he provoked me first…”

“If he was being racist, then you did the right thing, but… anyway, someone has to fill the vacancy, right?”

As if tired of the repeated conversation.

The boy called boss nodded in understanding.

A youthful face with a body that didn’t match.

What is this mismatch?

“Anyway… Perry, was it? Warm up and let me know when you’re ready.”

“What, what?!”

“This guy hasn’t got his head straight yet. Warm up, you need to take the level test.”

With all your might.

At Drake’s words, Perry nodded.

At that moment, the fighters quickly gathered around the ring again.

“Let’s bet, let’s bet.”

“Since Donghu became the tester, it’s been holy shit. It’s so intense.”

“No, let’s bet.”

“What’s the topic? Same as last time?”

“Whether he gets a middle grade or not, how about that?”

“Hmm, that’s doable. First, let’s exclude top grade since that’s definitely not happening.”

“You know what the boss said when I asked him how to get a top grade last time?”

“I think I heard this too?”

“He said if you’re similar to him, that’s top grade. I seriously asked if he was serious, and he said he was.”

“That’s crazy. How could anyone be the same as… our young boss can be annoying sometimes.”

“Homkin! Stop sulking and come bet with us!”

“I! I vote he won’t get it!”

And the result was.

“Damn it!”

Homkin’s defeat.

+++++

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-August.

I was surprised at how accustomed I had become to life here.

‘Time really flies by incredibly fast.’

Maybe it’s because my days are repetitive, just training.

Each day passed very quickly, and the overall flow of time felt accelerated.

‘At least I’m glad that date has passed.’

Perhaps it’s because I’m relieved that the anniversary of my parents’ death has passed.

My body was constantly full of energy.

It’s like strength continuously wells up.

“Donghu, but seriously, isn’t your English too good?”

“What? Why bring this up now?”

“No, I mean, just saying. But you’re really too good. Even the interpreter the broadcasting station provided was amazed, said you’re better than them.”

With Sangha hyung occasionally making jokes like this.

I didn’t particularly miss home yet.

Of course.

>Donghu sunbae, when are you coming to Korea?

>Hehe Chisako is taking voice acting lessons while waiting for sunbae!

With a junior who always keeps me updated like this.

>Kim Donghu, I know you’re busy with training, but are you eating properly?

>Should I make time to visit? I want to make you lunch boxes

Or my actor friend who always worries about me despite being prickly.

>Donghu, I’ll support you. I believe in you.

>And if you need anything, just tell me, I’ll send it right away from Korea.

And my idol friend who supports me reliably.

There was no room to feel loneliness.

“Donghu, should I make hamburgers today?”

“Hamburgers sound good.”

Plus, I even had a model manager taking care of me right beside me.

Looking back now, it was a structure where strength would naturally well up continuously.

‘I just need to do well in this setup.’

With that thought, just as I was about to continue training.

“I heard there’s an extremely handsome… boxer here, is that right?”

Someone flung open the gym door and entered.

He appeared to be a mid-40s man.

Judging by his clean and expensive suit, he seemed to be someone important.

That person, as if absolutely certain.

Walked straight toward me and took out his business card.

“I’m from the fashion magazine, GOT. Are you interested in being a magazine model?”

“What?”

Suddenly a fashion magazine model?