Ch.319Finally

In the general case.

If you fall from a rope because you can’t withstand the impact.

There could be a real danger since you’d fall head first.

“Ah! Zain Lance! He executed a perfect tumbling at the moment he went over!”

“Donghu Kim seems to have anticipated that, as he doesn’t even bother to look!”

“No, I’m told there was already a mattress placed where he would fall! Amazing!”

“Oh, I didn’t know they prepared something like that. Was this the organizers’ meticulous planning?”

As if there was no concern at all.

Zain Lance got up perfectly fine.

Despite clearly being knocked down.

Despite the impact that should have caused dizziness from a concussion.

“…Ha, there was an unexpected variable?”

Zain Lance looked straight at me, seemingly fine.

But.

‘Did it work?’

His eyes were very different from the Zain Lance I knew.

His mouth moving casually between dilated pupils.

It was as if his body was dead but his mind was still alive.

Anyone could tell, no matter how oblivious.

That this was fate.

“You used some strange technique to postpone death.”

“Wow, wait… this situation is really…”

“What?”

“Lame.”

When you lose, you’re supposed to stay quiet.

To think he’d even possess a body to talk to me.

‘I don’t really like this kind of story.’

This pattern is very familiar even in games.

After getting thoroughly destroyed in phase 1.

Saying things like ‘I didn’t expect this much, you’re strong, I acknowledge you, this is interesting.’

And then in the next match, giving it your all to compete or whatever.

I’ve seen it so many times in my past life that I’m sick of it.

Honestly, there was nothing to talk about.

He tried to kill me, and like a Pokémon, whenever he got the chance.

‘I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!’ he kept saying.

What conversation could we possibly have?

So I immediately turned my back.

Since the winner’s interview was scheduled to be held separately at the press conference.

There was no reason to waste more time here.

+++++++

While Kim Donghu was conducting his official press conference.

The people who had been watching the Kim Donghu vs. Zain Lance match at this point.

ㄴWow, that’s insane.

ㄴHey, replay that.

ㄴNo, this really doesn’t make sense?

They kept replaying the Kim Donghu vs. Zain Lance match over and over.

ㄴI thought he was playing Tekken.

ㄴNo, that uppercut launching the opponent, it’s really like Shoryuken.

ㄴHe’s definitely a just-frame maniac.

Especially the scene in round 1 where they were fiercely exchanging blows.

The moment when he avoided the headbutt and landed a perfect counter.

It was one of the most popular highlights.

ㄴBut is it right to judge this as an unintentional headbutt?

ㄴDid the referee take money?

ㄴNo, his eyes were clearly fixing on the spot and swinging savagely

ㄴI really thought he was a rhinoceros lolololol

How could it be unintentional when his eyes were completely fixed on Kim Donghu?

It seems there was also an attempt to step on his foot.

There were movements targeting the back of the head, why weren’t these penalized, etc.

Despite the numerous public opinions swirling around.

Perhaps because Kim Donghu won, it didn’t become a huge issue.

Moreover.

“There are rumors about Zain Lance’s suspicious actions during the match. What do you think about that?”

“He was just doing his best to beat me. But he couldn’t win, so it’s just unfortunate.”

Kim Donghu’s straightforward interview properly shut down the various foul allegations.

This removed much of the reason for viewers to get angry.

When the athlete himself directly addresses it like that.

What’s the point of arguing about circumstances or whatever?

If the person who directly faced him says so, then that’s just how it was.

“You’ve shown quite a wild image on social media. Can we consider that part of your strategy as well?”

“That’s right. I’m not just a boxer but also an actor, so I felt adding this kind of story would be good.”

“Some say you’re like Bruce Wayne by day, Batman by night. What do you think about that?”

“I’m grateful that you see me as both Bruce Wayne and Batman.”

Having achieved the 4th highest revenue in Hollywood history through “Murciélago”.

And now with an influence known worldwide.

The current viewership for his victory interview was about 300 million people.

He was literally ‘a man the whole world is watching.’

And that man was now.

“I understand your next match is in six months, in the UFC.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Can we hear your determination?”

“Just like today, or perhaps even more easily, I’ll step on him.”

He was explicitly speaking strongly about his rival.

When you need to step on something, you do it properly so they don’t get any funny ideas.

Kim Donghu wanted to use this opportunity to completely crush all of fate’s attempts.

‘Since six months from now will be the last anyway.’

To prevent any more tricks after that match.

Rough waves or whatever, to prevent interference in my future life.

“In fact, one could say that the UFC is Zain Lance’s home turf.”

“Is that so?”

“MMA involves many things besides striking with hands. Aren’t you afraid of that aspect?”

A journalist asking the winner about fear.

It was obvious who he was supporting, which made me laugh.

“Why should I fear the loser?”

“W-what?”

“Why do you think I can’t do MMA? Do you really think this is my first time competing under MMA rules?”

When someone gets disrespectful, you need to put them in their place.

“This isn’t the first time the UFC has offered me a match. And each time, I refused. Why do you think I refused? Because I couldn’t fight?”

“W-well…”

“No. You seem to misunderstand something. It’s not because I was afraid or anything like that.”

Making a circle with his hand.

Kim Donghu smiled brightly at the journalist.

“It was because the money was insufficient. The amount needed to put me in the octagon cage.”

At those words, similar to saying he could go out and beat everyone anytime.

Flash! Flash! Flash!

Camera flashes erupted relentlessly.

Kim Donghu continued calmly.

“After Zain Lance gets destroyed in the cage at the end of the year… who should I fight next? Can you prepare the amount needed to put me in a ring or cage again?”

If Zain Lance, currently considered the strongest, is miserably defeated in the cage.

Then who should Kim Donghu face next?

No journalist could answer that question.

And with the astonished expressions of the journalists, the victory interview came to an end.

+++++++

After all the boxing-related events and schedules were over.

I immediately returned to my home in Hollywood and collapsed on the bed.

“Phew… not easy.”

Even after the match was over, there was still a mountain of things to do.

I wanted to rest right away.

But I was greedy and didn’t want to miss out on fan service.

But.

“…You all didn’t leave?”

I got up, sensing presences around me.

“Of course we didn’t leave. If we go now, we won’t see you for a while again.”

Starting with Sujin.

“…It’s rare for a tour to align so perfectly.”

Jaerin.

“I’m your boxing manager, isn’t it obvious?”

Yerim.

“Harley Quinn is supposed to be paired with the Joker, you know.”

Evelyn.

“Oppa! Chisako is Catwoman, you know!”

And Chisako.

I don’t know when they started waiting at my house.

“Honestly, it’s about time we won.”

“Huh?”

Despite Sujin’s sudden words.

The four women excluding Sujin nodded in agreement.

“How long can you keep up that stamina? Is that even possible? It’s impossible, honestly!”

“Huh? Wait, I don’t understand?”

“The match is over… no proper rest, events, going here and there. You must be tired, right?”

“Right?”

“So the moment we can win is right now!”

Sujin continued to spout incomprehensible words.

Chisako, who was calmly listening, nodded saying, “Mm-hmm, that’s right, that’s right.”

‘Wait a minute… are they concerned about what happened in the waiting room?’

Even though all five of them attacked, they couldn’t find the bottom of my stamina.

But that day was really good. Honestly, it was the first time I felt such satisfaction.

But.

Now they were talking about revenge.

Why now? Because right now is when I’m at my weakest.

“H-honestly… I heard that for a long marriage, this kind of thing is important too!”

At Jaerin’s embarrassed but brave words.

“At night, women should win!”

Yerim chimed in.

“It’s common sense that the side with greater numbers should win, Tarzan.”

Evelyn added.

“Charge! Forward!”

With Chisako’s final declaration of attack.

All five of them rushed toward the bed where I was.

The result was, of course.

“…Phew, today was really dangerous.”

My victory.

++++++

Six months of reprieve.

Honestly, nothing special happened during that time.

YouTube kept churning out Kim Donghu vs. Zain Lance videos.

The articles were all similar.

When I browsed YouTube channels out of boredom, they were all analyzing what kind of match it would be.

From active fighters to retired ones.

Anyone even remotely connected to combat sports jumped on the bandwagon.

And each video recorded at least 500,000 views.

Videos related to the Kim Donghu vs. Zain Lance match became an absurd goldmine for views.

While everyone was discussing the outcome of the UFC match.

Time flew by as fast as the interest.

Finally.

The day of the UFC match arrived.