Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Hell's Physical Fitness Test - 2
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'Awakener' is a title reserved for specialists in resolving Anomalous Phenomena.
If simply possessing powerful abilities was enough to make someone an Awakener, then everyone who awakened to a power would be one.
But in reality, only an 'extreme minority' among those who awakened to an 'extreme minority' of abilities can become Awakeners.
The reason is clear.
Not everyone can resolve an Anomalous Phenomenon just because they have a strong ability.
Take Yoo Euisul, for example.
Someone who suddenly declares she needs to go for a run and is already on her twentieth lap around the track.
She possesses the ultimate cheat ability of 'immunity to all mental attacks.'
Suppose that ability of hers went to an average guy with single-digit body fat and above-average physical stats.
Could that average man resolve an Anomalous Phenomenon?
Even if he wielded not the 'Iron Sword No. 3,' but the real sword called 'Excalibur,' he still probably couldn't handle one.
Resolving an Anomalous Phenomenon requires more than just ability.
Basic stamina.
Muscle strength.
Instant judgment.
Endurance.
And so on.
If even one of these is lacking, you absolutely can't resolve an Anomalous Phenomenon or become an Awakener.
And among all these factors, the most crucial is having enough guts to walk into danger on your own two feet.
In simple terms, you need the madness to willingly throw your life away.
No matter how much the difficulty of resolving Anomalous Phenomena has dropped lately.
Their danger is something that's painful just to talk about.
Take the transmitter I resolved last time... It took Awakener Oh Hyunjong's arm with ridiculous ease.
If the person there had been a regular civilian instead of an Awakener, their entire body would have been shredded.
Oh Hyunjong got off lightly with just one arm because he's an Awakener brimming with caution toward Anomalous Phenomena.
Word is, he even rejoiced with, 'Oh, only one arm flew off!'
Awakeners are basically a gathering of lunatics.
And I, who evolved from human to Fervent Devotee overnight, now belong to this mad group.
I still can't get used to it.
That said.
It's an undeniable fact—even to me—that I'm more than qualified to be an Awakener.
My ability.
My physical prowess.
My mental fortitude.
Out of the three essential elements for an Awakener.
I've already mastered two.
First, my ability.
Or more accurately, the racial trait of a Fervent Devotee, but anyway, my ability.
What more is there to say? It's specialized for resolving Anomalous Phenomena.
A single snap lets me check the wiki and figure out the solution in one second. What could be more useful?
Having a sturdy body is just a bonus.
Next, mental fortitude.
I don't know if it's because of my racial trait as a Fervent Devotee of the Great Being Reflecting Myriad Stars.
But my mental strength seems absurdly high.
Of course, I'm not immune to all mental attacks like Yoo Euisul.
Unlike her, who wasn't affected at all by the mental assault from the 'Portrait of the Mad Woman.'
Mental attacks do work on me, after all.
Thanks to Reflecting Myriad Stars's grace, I only felt a bit dizzy—my mind didn't crumble.
The issue is physical ability.
Through three Anomalous Phenomenon resolutions, I've proven my ability and mental fortitude are top-notch.
But my physical ability was still untested, so the Association asked Yoo Euisul to measure my fitness.
The stamina test results were more than passing.
How many people in the world could run seventeen laps on a 400-meter track without stopping once?
And according to Yoo Euisul, the time difference between the first and last lap was less than ten seconds.
I maintained the same pace from start to finish.
As for durability—one of the physical stats—it's already been proven I can take a knife stab without issue.
Now, just the strength test, and I can go home.
About twenty-five laps around the track later.
Yoo Euisul returned drenched in sweat and downed a liter of ion drink in one go before saying to me,
"Let's go."
"Aren't you tired?"
"Not really."
"..."
I thought she'd rest at least a minute.
Does this woman have two hearts or something?
After leaving the item-generated outdoor track, we took the elevator.
The gym was on the 22nd floor.
While the elevator moved, I asked Yoo Euisul,
"The strength test is in the gym, right?"
"Yeah."
"Is the gym another item-generated space by any chance?"
"Don't say stupid things. The gym's just a gym."
"Uh... Heh, is the gym empty like the outdoor track?"
Ding.
Before Yoo Euisul could answer, the elevator doors to the 22nd basement level slowly opened.
"Hup, hup, hup, hup!"
"Grrrrrr!"
"Ten more! You can do it!"
As Yoo Euisul said, it was just a regular gym.
Since it's inside the Association building, everyone there is probably Association staff.
But more people than I expected were working out with real passion.
At a glance, over thirty.
"Shit."
A curse slipped out naturally.
Why are there so many people?
Obviously, I hadn't changed clothes yet.
Stepping into a gym full of enthusiastic iron-pumpers while wearing a sweat-soaked pink sports bra took more courage than I imagined.
I scurried after Yoo Euisul into the gym.
In that instant, the eyes of everyone working out turned to us.
Why are they staring so suddenly?
...It wasn't completely incomprehensible.
The Association's gym was a perfect 100% male sauna in terms of gender ratio, so two women entering would naturally draw eyes.
And one of them was the top Awakener Yoo Euisul, so the attention was inevitable.
But.
It might just be my imagination.
But it felt like their gazes were directed at me, not Yoo Euisul.
My cheeks flushed bright red.
Having all this attention in this embarrassing outfit wasn't pleasant at all.
What can I do?
I can't just yell 'Don't stare!'...
"What the hell are you staring at?"
"..."
...Apparently I can.
The stares were pretty blatant, so Yoo Euisul must have noticed too.
She didn't hold back.
She opened her mouth in the rudest tone imaginable.
And that was it.
The men in the gym looked disappointed but returned to their workouts.
Hmm.
Reliable in times like this.
...
...
...
We came to the gym not to work out.
But solely to measure my strength.
After a light stretch under Yoo Euisul's guidance, the test began.
The most straightforward way to measure strength is, obviously.
Squat, bench press, deadlift.
The big three of powerlifting.
Of course, these three don't perfectly measure strength.
But they're still an effective method.
We started with squats.
Yoo Euisul said to me,
"Start light with about 10 kilos."
"...That's light?"
I'm clueless about gyms.
But I know starting squats with 10 kilos isn't normal.
I hear the bar alone is pretty heavy.
"What if I hurt myself pushing too hard?"
"Who'd get hurt? You?"
"Me, I... Oh."
Right.
Come to think of it, my body is insanely tough.
A knife stab only stings a bit, so no worries about injury even overloading.
Then I started learning basic squat form from Yoo Euisul.
"Keep your upper body straight, stick your butt out more."
"M-more from here?"
"Yeah."
Following her guidance, I stuck my butt way back.
And straightened my upper body.
There was a full-body mirror, so I could see my form myself.
"This is really the right form...?"
"Yeah, it is."
Were squats always this embarrassing?
Chest and butt emphasized—it looked obscene even to me.
But Yoo Euisul said it's correct, so whatever.
After learning the basics, we moved straight to weighted squats.
Insanely fast progress for a beginner.
But as I said, today's goal is strength measurement, not training.
With a body that won't get hurt, to Yoo Euisul, I'm like a fun new toy.
I started the squat from standing.
Even with 5 kilos per side plus the bar—over 25 kilos total on my back.
"Huh?"
It didn't feel as heavy as I thought.
A burden, but manageable.
Huh.
Am I gonna total over 300 on the big three?
I recalled the form Yoo Euisul taught and started squatting.
One.
Down and up.
Done.
"That count?"
"Like hell. Do ten more."
"One, and now ten times?"
"Obviously. Anyone can down-up once."
...That's how it works?
According to her, you need at least ten to check if the weight suits you.
I nailed ten without issue.
"Two more sets. Nail those, add 5 kilos."
And so.
The workout hell began.
...
...
...
I couldn't understand.
Why gym rats yell weird kiais while lifting.
But.
Once I tried lifting myself.
"Giyaaaaah!"
I finally got why gym rats yell kiais.
During the first set of 25-kilo squats, I thought I was born with strong bones, tough as nails.
That Fervent Devotees have insane strength too.
But no.
By the third set, screams leaked from my mouth naturally.
Strength test, my ass.
I thought it was just strength, but why test stamina too?
Yoo Euisul showed no mercy.
"Not bad for a fat lump. Add 10 kilos. 35-kilo squats, 10 reps, 3 sets. Go."
No illusion.
Watching me sweat and suffer.
Yoo Euisul was definitely smiling.
...So that's why she threatened to make me pay with my body.