Ch.43Unknown Villain!

#043

Unlike Dexter who lives in Honeygood Springs, a barren area on the outskirts of Las Vegas, Judy lives in “Summerlin,” a neighborhood slightly removed from downtown Las Vegas.

Though Summerlin, a typical residential area, might give the impression of being noisy due to its proximity to Las Vegas, it’s actually a quiet and clean place.

Following Judy to Summerlin for the first time, Dexter looked around and unconsciously let out a whistle.

“Wow, my place is practically a rural backwater.”

The houses were built so densely that Dexter felt this was truly what a modern 21st-century residential area should look like.

Judy’s white Ford Explorer had already pulled into the garage of an ochre-colored detached house that resembled the surrounding homes.

As Dexter parked in front of the garage and got out of his car, Judy peeked her head out from the front door.

“Come in quickly.”

“Well then, excuse me for intruding.”

As Dexter entered the house, he felt a warm, familiar scent, as if he’d known this place for a long time.

Given Judy’s external image of being small and cute, Dexter had expected her house to be extremely dainty and filled with pink, but what he experienced was the complete opposite.

‘It’s like a parent’s house from a movie or drama?’

Rather than having the bright atmosphere typical of a woman in her twenties, Judy’s house had many wooden furniture pieces giving it a brownish hue, with subtle lighting creating a cozy ambiance.

It felt like a hometown house one would visit every year.

‘Of course, I don’t really have a hometown to speak of.’

If he looked, he might find that he owned a house in Boston, but since Dexter had been missing for so long, it might have become someone else’s property by now.

“It’s a bit messy, isn’t it? I left in a hurry this morning… Please, sit here.”

As Judy gestured toward the living room sofa, Dexter sat down and looked around.

However, no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t find anything messy.

“Messy? It’s incredibly clean.”

“It’s a bit challenging to manage such a large house alone… I’m considering hiring a housekeeper.”

Judy smiled sheepishly.

“Oh, would you like some tea? What kind do you prefer?”

“Since it’s evening, anything with low caffeine would be fine.”

“Ah, I’ll prepare it then. Just a moment?”

While Dexter was admiring the interior decor, he began to hear the bubbling sound of a teapot boiling on the gas stove.

‘Not a coffee pot?’

It seemed her meticulous nature permeated her daily life.

Shortly after, two teacups and a teapot were placed side by side on the coffee table in front of the sofa where Dexter was sitting.

“As expected of a British person, you take your tea seriously.”

“You’re the first person I’ve invited over since moving here.”

“Oh, really? I’m wondering if I’m intruding.”

“Not at all. You’re here to help me, so it’s good.”

Dexter was a bit taken aback, as he wasn’t used to people treating him so gently and quietly.

Thinking about the women he’d been associated with so far, Jessie was aggressive, and Himena was willful.

Trying to recall if there were any more docile women, he remembered that Marsha was rough, Kiara was bubbly, and the rest were either inmates or people he had no connection with.

‘Looking at it this way, I’m surrounded by nothing but strong-willed women.’

While Dexter was sighing inwardly, Judy carefully poured tea into the cup placed in front of him.

“It’s chamomile tea.”

“Ah, thank you.”

After taking a sip of the chamomile tea, Dexter felt compelled to say something due to the serene atmosphere.

‘I can’t just keep quiet.’

Wondering what to say, he decided to ask about the quiet ambiance itself.

“Is it always this quiet around here? I thought only my place was this peaceful.”

“Oh? Where do you live?”

“Honeygood Springs. You know, that town with the Air Force base next to the prison.”

Judy, who hadn’t realized Dexter lived so close, responded enthusiastically.

“Ah, that would be quiet indeed. But it must be convenient for commuting.”

“It’s less than a 20-minute drive, which is nice. I deliberately chose to live there.”

“I see.”

Judy was holding her teacup and taking a sip of chamomile tea.

Watching her quietly, Dexter felt like he was forgetting something, and then quickly realized what it was.

“Oh, right. I came to teach you how to exercise.”

“That’s right. After finishing our tea, shall we change into workout clothes?”

“That would be good. As for me, these clothes are sufficient.”

Dexter pointed to the uniform he was wearing.

“What? You’re going to teach me in your work uniform?”

“Come on, I wouldn’t make you do such intense exercises from the start.”

Dexter smiled and spoke as if it was no big deal, but his inner thoughts were different.

‘I need to see just how bad it is.’

“Let’s first check indoors and then go outside.”

“Alright, I’ll go change quickly.”

After emptying her teacup, Judy stood up and went to her room, while Dexter, still holding his cup, looked around.

“Big TV… sofa looks new… and that’s a real oil painting, not a print.”

Though not comparable to Himena, Judy also seemed to come from a wealthy family.

However, her taste seemed to lean towards a rural ambiance, with thick white lace and clean but worn blankets on the table.

“It seems unbalanced, but strangely harmonious.”

Next to the fake fireplace was a single-seater sofa and a small table, with yarn and knitting needles on top.

‘Does she sit on that sofa and knit?’

Even though Dexter had lived in space for a long time, this didn’t seem like a typical hobby for a woman in her twenties living in Las Vegas.

‘Don’t they usually prefer more active hobbies?’

Feeling like he was showing too much interest in someone else’s affairs, Dexter stopped thinking about it and placed his teacup on the coffee table, wandering around.

The famous works and thick dissertations filling the bookshelf explained why she never missed being first in written exams.

Heading towards the kitchen, he found not a sophisticated space but a cozy area with a warm image.

It wasn’t just for show; it was clean but had a lived-in feel, as if it had been used dozens of times.

‘She has quite a domestic image.’

Dexter nodded and returned to the sofa, just as Judy approached him wearing slightly loose workout clothes.

“Did you buy them new?”

“No, these are workout clothes I’ve had for a while.”

“Do you have a yoga mat?”

“Um… just a moment. I think I do.”

Soon, Judy brought a yoga mat, and Dexter laid it out in a spacious area and said to her:

“Let’s try some knee push-ups.”

“Oh, not the standard form?”

“No. Let’s first check how many you can do.”

As Judy knelt down and got into position, Dexter looked at his wristwatch and said:

“3, 2, 1. Start.”

Judy began doing push-ups earnestly at Dexter’s command.

“Huff, huff, hah…”

She was exerting considerable effort, but neither her speed nor the number of push-ups increased much.

‘If I remember correctly, to get a 100% score, men need to do 80 in 2 minutes, and women need 56.’

That’s based on the standard form, with legs fully extended on the ground, not kneeling.

In Judy’s case, she was barely managing 26, which would earn her a 70% score.

‘No wonder she’s close to failing the physical test.’

“Two minutes up. Stop.”

“Oh my, oh my… h-how many did I do?”

“32.”

Dexter scratched his chin and said:

“Hmm, this is a bit worse than I expected.”

If Jessie had a body with neither muscle nor fat, like someone starving, Judy had a bit of flesh but almost no muscle.

Noticing that her lower body seemed slightly more toned than her upper body, Dexter asked:

“How long did it take you to run 1.5 miles (about 2.4km)?”

“About 20 minutes…?”

For the 1.5-mile run, to get even the worst score of 50%, one needs to finish within 21 minutes and 38 seconds.

Dexter nodded.

‘At least her running speed is somewhat decent.’

Though he had given Judy an exercise regimen, he planned to proceed with the physical correction device, so he was starting to get a sense of how to approach it.

‘I won’t push her too hard, but it needs to be somewhat challenging.’

Having gotten a feel for her capabilities, Dexter had Judy do some light stretching and then they went outside.

“It’s hard to do an agility test here, so let’s just check the 1.5-mile run.”

“Should I run there and back?”

“No, I’ll run with you.”

“What? But you’re in your work uniform and shoes…”

Unlike Judy, who was wearing comfortable workout clothes and cushioned sneakers, Dexter was in a shirt, dress pants, and work shoes that were hardly different from regular dress shoes.

“I’ll adjust my pace, so just run as you did during the previous test.”

“Okay… are you sure you’re alright?”

“The one who should be worried is you, not me.”

Dexter grinned at Judy’s concern.

“Let’s go then. 3, 2, 1. Start.”

As soon as he said “start,” Judy began running.

Dexter observed her running form for a moment, nodded, and then started running after her.

‘Her form is utterly sloppy.’

Dexter is someone who runs about 6.3 miles (about 10km) daily.

Despite the stiff shoes and uncomfortable work uniform, Dexter ran without any change in expression, seemingly unbothered.

As Dexter ran alongside Judy, she was startled and looked at him in surprise.

“Keep running. Don’t mind me.”

“Huff, huff, h-how…?”

“You’re breaking your breathing pattern. Look ahead and keep running.”

Judy continued running with an expression of disbelief, while Dexter maintained his pace.

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”

After a few minutes, Dexter glanced sideways at the strange breathing sounds.

While Dexter maintained a consistent pace, Judy was gradually falling behind.

Of course, the fact that she had just completed a 12-hour shift should be considered, but she was still too weak physically.

‘She really needs special training.’

After completing the 1.5-mile run, Judy was sitting on the sidewalk, dripping with sweat and catching her breath roughly.

“Hic, huff, hic…”

“Good job. Have some water.”

As Dexter handed her a water bottle he had brought, Judy took it, had a sip, and said:

“Huff, h-how many minutes?”

“23 minutes and 34 seconds.”

“Wow, I completely, huff, failed.”

“It’s okay. Just do as I instruct.”

Dexter, who had only broken a slight sweat, wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and said:

“From tomorrow, I’ll definitely manage your lunch. Breakfast, well, you’re British, so eat British food. For lunch and dinner, you must consume meat and carbohydrates. No more eating just carrot glacé like today.”

“But it’s simple!”

Dexter chuckled at Judy’s determined response and said:

“However, the quantity should be 1.5 times what you’re eating now.”

Judy exclaimed in shock:

“Eek! I’ll burst and die!”

“Not acceptable.”

Dexter looked at Judy and showed his arm, saying:

“From what I’ve seen today, Ms. Goswell, you’re in terrible shape. From now on, you must strictly follow the exercise regimen and diet I’ve prescribed.”

“Huff. I understand.”

Looking at Judy, who was still catching her breath, Dexter smiled and said:

“Let’s rest for about five minutes and then head back home. I’ll keep the exercise schedule light for this week.”

“Yes, okay.”

‘The physical correction device will handle some of it anyway.’

Dexter smiled contentedly at the thought of making good use of the physical correction device.