Chapter 85
The effects of the manager contract became apparent the very next day. At the agreed-upon Taekwondo dojang, the place was already buzzing with unrelated crowds before the match even started.
“Who the hell are you people!”
“No filming allowed.”
“Who says...!”
“Mr. Kang Moon-soo has requested no filming. If you attempt to film anyway, there will be legal consequences...”
“Why should you decide that!”
The self-proclaimed genius shaman Yuil-am and his camera-toting disciple were being blocked by men in black suits, unable to enter the dojang.
“Moon-soo!”
“......”
“You can’t just ignore an elder calling you!”
“......”
Following Jeon Ji-eun’s advice, I cleanly ignored Yuil-am. The moment I acknowledged him, he could slyly edit the footage to make me look like his disciple. Modern video editing tech was terrifyingly advanced.
Beep beep—
“Please leave your hidden pocket camera at the door before entering.”
“What the fuck is wrong with these guys!”
Yuil-am, who’d been allowed in only after turning off his camera and agreeing not to film, vented his frustration. His ace in the hole must’ve been caught by the family’s electronic device detector.
Impressive.
The most surprising part was that Yuil-am, who’d run wild at school, was getting shut down without doing a thing. Seeing him flounder after underestimating me and facing this unexpected backup—it was pathetic. Just witnessing that made the contract worth it.
“What do you think?”
“I love it.”
I answered Jeon Ji-eun’s question honestly, though I did feel it was a bit overkill.
“......”
“......”
Behind me and Jeon Ji-eun stood a line of bodyguards in black suits. Their intense presence made it sink in just how powerful a family I’d contracted with.
The downside?
“Moon-soo?”
Coach Jang Seo-yeon, arms crossed, staring at me with extreme discomfort. I’d contacted her after the contract was done. But...
“I’m sorry, Coach!”
I bowed 90 degrees in apology.
“Didn’t I tell you not to report after causing trouble?”
“I’m sorry!”
“...This time it’s related to your main job, so I won’t scold you, but consult me on big matters.”
“Of course!”
“I’m scared I’ll get a wedding invitation in the middle of the night at this rate.”
Coach Jang Seo-yeon glanced at Jeon Ji-eun as she said it.
“That won’t happen.”
“Can I believe you?”
“Yes.”
Then Jeon Ji-eun cut in abruptly.
“Coach Jang Seo-yeon. Sorry to interrupt, but as his manager, I need to point this out. Marriage is the athlete’s private life. There’s no obligation to report or get permission from the coach.”
“Oh my! The manager is so naive. How many cases are there of vigorous athletes knocking up someone and causing scandals?”
“Kang Moon-soo is male.”
“Knocking up an unmarried woman gets the same ethical backlash.”
“...Seems like our roles overlap a bit, Coach.”
“Yeah. We should coordinate privately later, right?”
“Yes. Please set the time and place, and I’ll make it work.”
“Oh! Being considerate?”
“Of course. I’m the rolling stone here.”
Zzt zzt—
A strange tension crackled between the two women.
Is this okay? My fault for not worrying about the free lunch, I guess?
I’d have to treat Coach Jang Seo-yeon to a meal later as atonement. There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world.
“Beat that arrogant bastard!”
“Yun-kyung! I’m counting on you!”
“You got this, Senior Go Yun-kyung~!”
We were on the opposite side. It was packed with men and women in white Taekwondo doboks, contrasting sharply with the bodyguards’ black suits. Leading them was...
“Il-chung oppa. Don’t forget your promise to buy me a luxury bag after the match.”
“Of course!”
“Win, and make it two.”
“What?! No such promise...”
“Two. Or quit now if you don’t like it.”
“Ah, no! Of course I’ll buy them!”
Yoo Il-chung, massaging his girlfriend’s shoulders, made a miserable face. Whatever.
“Weird. He doesn’t look that strong.”
The women’s Taekwondo world #1 ignored her boyfriend and sized me up. Same here.
She’s like Gomushin Coach reincarnated as a woman.
Despite the physical disadvantages of being female and her arrogant attitude diluting the intimidation, she wasn’t someone to underestimate. Her build? Legs as long as Song Seon-yeong’s. But as a Taekwondo athlete where leg power mattered, her muscled calves and thighs were seriously threatening. Common to all women with Taekwondo aptitude, but...
Something’s different.
My instincts screamed it. Lose focus, and I might lose? I’d need a real spar to know for sure, but that was my current read.
“Player Yang, forward.”
“......”
“......”
At the serious master’s call, we stepped to the center of the dojang.
“Bow.”
“Kang Moon-soo.”
“Go Yun-kyung.”
We gave slight nods and took our distance.
Beep—
The whistle signaled the start, and she’s fast!
Pop!
Go Yun-kyung boldly charged into my attack range without probing.
Then!
My choice: the roundhouse kick Gomushin Coach loved! It was reliable since I’d learned it getting one-sidedly pummeled.
Thwack!
“One point!”
A light impact hit my side as my kick whiffed, followed by the master’s joyful shout.
“What—?”
“Surprised? But that’s the face I want to make.”
As I staggered slightly off-balance, Go Yun-kyung quickly retreated and said it.
“What’s that mean?”
“That roundhouse kick of yours. Only my dad and I can do it. You can’t fake it from watching videos.”
“...What a coincidence.”
Not a coincidence. Gomushin. Go Yun-kyung. Same ‘Go’ surname—I’d suspected blood ties, and it seemed confirmed.
“But you don’t know how to counter it, huh.”
“......”
Of course not. Nam Hae-su’s dream ended before I learned it.
Lucky in the misfortune? She’s weak.
When I tried that kick on Gomushin Coach, one counter sent me sprawling. Her? Just a valid point.
‘Just’—the impact was pretty solid, though.
The crowd’s vibe said it all.
“As expected of Go Yun-kyung!”
“Eun-kyung! I love you!”
“Knew you’d do it!”
The Taekwondo athletes and masters cheered wildly at her taking first blood. I wasn’t the villain here... Absurd.
“Let’s continue.”
“Watch the face.”
“That’s my line. I don’t go easy just ‘cause you’re a woman.”
“Music to my ears.”
Go Yun-kyung stayed composed. ...I didn’t like it.
Pop!
I infused the ‘killing intent’ Gomushin Coach had scolded me for being sneaky with and dove back in.
* * *
“If that thief bastard hadn’t murdered him...!”
I lost. No bets, so no material loss, but my pride took a heavy hit. With Song Seon-yeong, seeing her happy face after losing at swimming cheered me up instantly... Not this time.
“Close one.”
“Cowardly dodging around just to score points!”
“No, Moon-soo? I wanna side with you, but taking your kicks seriously would kill a woman...”
“Kuh!”
At Coach Jang Seo-yeon’s point, I turned to Section Chief Seo Hye-ju.
“Coach is right.”
But she wasn’t on my side either.
“She’s weakened, though?”
“If before was a missile, now it’s a cannon. Still lethal to humans.”
“......”
Missile to cannon. Blunt proof of how much weaker I’d gotten.
No time to slack.
The humiliation in Taekwondo was just the start. Swimming, track—retests would show clear drops. Word gets out, and gossip follows. Can’t have that.
“Coach. I’ll pause all external activities including training for a while.”
“Got it.”
She approved without fuss, grasping the gravity.
Ding dong!
Then Section Chief Seo Hye-ju’s office doorbell rang.
“They’re here already.”
Click.
She opened the door, and in walked Jeon Ji-eun in a neat gray business suit. Less college student, more corporate secretary? Her professionalism and mature femininity shone, making her seem a tad older.
“Hello, Doctor, Coach. And you too, Moon-soo. Good work.”
“The books...?”
“Here.”
Jeon Ji-eun handed me a memory chip the size of a pinky nail.
“Ebook?”
“215 physical volumes would take up too much dorm space and be hard to carry. Bigger issue: the spelling’s a bit archaic, hurting readability.”
“Aha!”
“This is a revised ebook—easy to read. Connect to your smartphone, and it auto-installs a reading app.”
“Thanks.”
“Just doing my job. Still, makes me happy.”
Coach Jang Seo-yeon, listening with a slightly displeased look, spoke up.
“Moon-soo. What’s the title of that 215-volume novel?”
“This? Is This Heavenly Demon Based on a True Story? A wuxia novel.”
“Really? My husband likes wuxia, so I know a bit. Guess I’ll read it too.”
“Huh? Sure, but no need to...”
“To avoid awkward silences later. Manager must think the same.”
“......”
Jeon Ji-eun stayed silent, neither confirming nor denying.
“215 volumes... You’ll forget the early parts eventually.”
“Yeah. But patients are the same. They never expected to get trapped in dreams.”
Kim Eun-jeong, who entered the romance novel I Became the Youngest Daughter of the Count's Family., was utterly unprepared. Hadn’t even read the finale.
No different here.
Hope it’s not a totally different dream world...?
A twinge of worry.
“When do you start?”
I shrugged at Section Chief Seo Hye-ju’s question.
“Dunno. 215 volumes... No clue how long.”
The I Became the Youngest Daughter of the Count's Family. I read before was a 5-volume epic, but compared to this, it was a poetry chapbook.
“Tell me at least a day before finishing. I need to clear my schedule.”
“Will do.”
As I answered, Coach Jang Seo-yeon chimed in.
“Moon-soo. Tell me too this time? No—two days ahead for me.”
“Got it.”
Easy promise. Finally,
“It burdens the brain, but I recommend a virtual reality reading room to shorten time and reduce eye strain.”
“Ah...”
At Jeon Ji-eun’s suggestion, I wanted to slap my forehead.
Virtual reality reading room. Read in VR where days stretch longer than reality—drastically cuts reading time.
Aftereffects are the issue.
Great short-term, but fatigue piles up exponentially—net loss. Only for dire deadlines.
“What do you think?”
“Table it. Patient won’t die from a few extra days.”
“True...”
Jeon Ji-eun looked a bit disappointed at my refusal.
“Why?”
“Nothing. Thought your stamina could handle it. Sorry.”
“Nah, maybe.”
But my decision stood.
Why? VR reading room means buying a VR machine?
Money’s too precious.
“I’ll head out now.”
From here on, no freedom until I finish all 215 volumes of wuxia!