episode_0002

[Gym Level 0]

A sudden rectangular window popped up.

The word “Gym” was written on a transparent window with a blue hue.

“What is this?”

I reached out my hand towards the window in front of me.

What is this? Is it a prank?

The blue window moved its position every time I moved my hand.

At that moment, I realized.

A status window that I had seen a lot in web novels and webtoons.

Isn’t this a status window?

Gulp.

I unconsciously swallowed my saliva.

It’s not like the world suddenly turned into an apocalypse or something, right?

I looked out the window.

No signs of anything like a gate opening in the middle of Seoul or any emergency situation happening.

“Phew.”

But what kind of ability is a gym?

I can see the ability if I click on the word.

I clicked on the word “Gym.”

Ding.

As expected, a new window popped up.

[Gym Level 0]

[This is a beginner-level gym. It is not fully open yet and lacks many things.]

[Gym Skill – None]

[Assigned Trainer – Choi Jae-ho]

It was just basic information.

A gym.

The explanation was too vague and confusing.

“What is this all about?”

I feel like I gained an ability, but I have no idea what it is.

I don’t feel like I’ve gotten stronger.

“And it doesn’t seem like my house has changed either.”

I looked around the house.

I wondered if anything had changed, but nothing was different.

Just when I still had doubts.

Ding!

[Basic Quest – A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body]

“The basics of exercise are bodyweight exercises. Increase your strength through exercise.”

[Dumbbell Exercise 5kg – 30 reps]

[Barbell Squats – 30 reps]

[Kettlebell Swings – 30 reps]

[AB Slide Exercise – 30 reps]

[Success Reward: Health Points (HP) 10]

“Of course, that’s how it is.”

It’s frustrating when there are no quests in the status window.

Quests appeared quite frequently in the novels I usually read.

“Getting health points means…”

There must be a shop where I can spend the points.

I don’t know what I can buy, but…

“There’s no harm in getting them.”

I bought equipment and decided to exercise in the first place.

To change.

To boost my confidence and self-esteem.

But the status window appeared and urged me to exercise.

There was no reason not to.

But…

“There are so many exercises on the list.”

I couldn’t even lift a 10kg dumbbell ten times without my arms itching.

But thirty times?

It’s dizzying.

I was so weak that I was called a shrimp.

“Do they expect me to do this in one day?”

Surely not.

I hesitated and picked up the dumbbell.

Ding!

[Trainer Development Program is starting.]

“Follow the system’s instructions.”

I followed the system’s instructions and grabbed the dumbbell.

I stood with dumbbells in both hands.

“Maintain good posture when lifting dumbbells.”

“Lift your arms comfortably from a relaxed position to shoulder height.”

“Alternate between arms to earn 1 rep.”

“Ugh!”

I completed one rep.

Just filling one rep in the correct posture made sweat drip down my whole body.

“Was this exercise this difficult?”

It looked so easy on TV, but doing it myself, the difficulty was no joke.

My thin arms were trembling.

“Repeat 10 times.”

“Ugh!”

Ten reps.

It might be an easy number for those who are good at exercising, but for me, it was a distant goal.

“I will! Somehow! Succeed!”

[Dumbbell Exercise 5kg – 4/30]

[Dumbbell Exercise 5kg – 5/30]

[Dumbbell Exercise 5kg – 6/30]

I felt dizzy.

I put so much effort into my face that my vision blurred.

I realized how weak my body was.

“Ugh, ugh.”

Just ten reps.

Even though I only did ten, my arms and chest were itching.

“Oh, my muscles are sore.”

I’m going to die.

I might actually catch a real person like this.

“I’ll do the rest later, huh, let’s do it. Huh.”

[Completed one set of dumbbell exercises.]

[Proceeding with one set of barbell squats.]

However, the system did not leave me alone.

“Hey, take a break.”

[Proceeding with one set of barbell squats.]

The system urged me to do it right away.

It felt like being scolded by a personal trainer during a PT session.

“Do squats?”

[Place the barbell on your shoulders and assume the squat position.]

“Bend your knees without shaking. Make sure your knees do not go past your toes by pushing your hips back.”

“Alright, damn it. Let’s do it.”

Curses involuntarily slipped out of my mouth.

I grabbed the barbell while grumbling.

“Ah!”

“Ugh! Ugh!”

Sweat dripped down profusely.

Each repetition felt incredibly challenging for me.

I couldn’t even complete five repetitions before my thighs started trembling.

“Argh! You bastard!”

I gritted my teeth.

Driven by the desire to complete the set, I moved my body.

My body screamed in agony.

It seemed like it was telling me to take a break now.

I did a lot, didn’t I?

I usually just did breathing exercises, right?

Shouldn’t it be okay to rest a bit now?

I decided to push away those weak thoughts.

The system appeared.

It was like having a cheat in an ordinary world.

Would I collapse before even completing the most basic quest given by the system?

I wouldn’t be able to do anything in this state of mind.

I decided to change.

I decided to change myself through exercise.

You idiot.

I cursed at myself.

“Phew!”

I completed the first set.

[Now it’s time for kettlebell…]

Status window! What a pain!

***

A day had passed.

Sweat dripped profusely.

The sun that had illuminated the world had set, and the moon had risen.

It was already 7 o’clock.

Time for dinner.

How many hours did I spend working out?

Almost five hours.

Since my body was not in good shape, I didn’t know how long I rested after each set to regain my energy.

My muscles were sore.

My body trembled.

I gritted my teeth through the pain, as the system wouldn’t recognize if I complained.

I maintained the correct posture until the end.

As a result, I strained my body.

It was only natural for someone like me, who knew nothing, to strain their body while exercising in the correct posture for three sets.

“Ha, haha. Anyway, I succeeded.”

After all the twists and turns, I successfully completed my first workout.

My whole body ached from muscle soreness.

[Dumbbell exercise 5kg – 30/30]

[Barbell squats – 30/30]

[Kettlebell swings – 30/30]

[AB slide exercise – 30/30]

However, the sense of accomplishment I felt upon seeing the quest window made the pain more bearable.

Exercising and moving my body.

“Maybe it’s not as bad as I thought?”

[Quest completed.]

It was over.

I completed the first quest.

After accumulating sweat and effort, I finally completed a full set of exercises.

[As a reward for completing the first quest, your body recovers.]

[Received 10 Health Points (HP) as a reward.]

[Obtained points for the first time.]

[The Health Store is now open as a reward for obtaining points.]

The Health Store.

As expected.

I knew it would come.

My body was sore and in pain, but it was worth it.

“Show me the store.”

Before I could finish speaking, a new window popped up.

[Health Store Level: 0]

[Items for sale]

[Text promotion – 10 HP]

[1kg dumbbell – 100 HP]

[Treadmill – 50,000 HP]

…

[100-pyeong Han River view apartment – 99,999,999 HP]

The prices were exorbitant.

To buy a 1kg dumbbell, I would have to do what I just did ten times.

“It’s expensive.”

Even though it’s something I’m doing for my body.

I might as well just buy it with money.

“What I can do now is promote through text messages.”

What is this?

[Text Promotion]

[Sends a text message to a random person nearby.]

[Low gym level, low probability.]

[Success rate – 20%]

Promotion?

Why do I need promotion in the first place?

If it’s my own gym, I don’t really need promotion.

I don’t even need to bring in other members.

What on earth is this promotion for?

Given that it’s just the right amount, it must be a quest to buy this…

It was when doubts started to form in my mind.

[We recommend purchasing text promotion.]

As if urging me to buy it, the promotion shone brightly.

Glittering.

“Hmm.”

I stroked my chin.

Usually, at times like this, buying recommended items was the best option.

The games I used to enjoy also had GM-recommended items that were the most efficient.

And since this was the only item I could buy…

I clicked on the text promotion.

Click.

[First purchase completed.]

[Starting text promotion.]

[Sends a message to a random person.]

[Low level, low success rate.]

[Promotion success rate is 20%.]

Text promotion.

It said it would send a promotion to one person.

With a success rate of 20%.

If it fails, do I have to exercise again?

This is ridiculous.

[As a special bonus for the first purchase, a trial version is provided.]

[Success rate increases from 20% to 100%.]

[The closest customer will visit soon.]

“Huh?”

A customer is coming?

Ding dong!

The doorbell rang.

“Who is it? At this hour.”

It was 7 p.m.

An odd time.

No one should be coming at this hour.

“Who is it?”

I opened the door.

A woman I had never seen before was standing in front of the door with a shoulder bag.

She was about 5’4″.

With a body that was well-proportioned and fit, her shirt revealed just enough and her face was lightly made up with bright red lips.

She was undeniably a beauty that anyone would call beautiful.

What?

A beauty like her coming to our house?

“What… can I help you with?”

Unbelievable words came out of her mouth.

“Is this the gym?”

[Starting a trial session.]

Promotion… worked?