Chapter 18
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 18: Living Alone (3)
Back at Unit 603, my fortress. Tension released completely as soon as I locked the front door. Homework is done.
I am free now.
Service rice cakes scattered on the dining table. Honey rice cakes, Injeolmi, Garae-tteok. Loot the rice cake shop owner gave me, saying it was the price for my face.
I picked up a honey rice cake and put it in my mouth.
Pop.
Sweet honey water burst out between my teeth.
"Mm, sweet."
Tastes better maybe because it's free. I chewed while looking around the living room.
Empty living room. Desolate because unpacking isn't fully done yet. No TV, no sofa. Only a computer desk and a bed.
"What do I do now."
Thought about turning on the computer but stopped. Having rolled around in the Storm of the Vortex until dawn yesterday, I don't want to see the heroes' faces for a while. Taking a nap is a bit much since I slept too well earlier.
I picked up another honey rice cake and approached the window.
University district scenery visible beyond the curtains. Looks lively.
"...Since I washed, should I go out a bit."
Washed hair, washed face, wearing clothes. Lying back in bed in this state is disrespectful to shampoo and tap water.
It's a neighborhood I have to live in for a few years. Might as well learn the geography, find out where good restaurants or PC cafes are stuck nearby.
"Let's go."
I closed the honey rice cake pack and headed to the entrance again. Crumpled on sneakers instead of slippers.
Coming outside, the atmosphere is definitely different as expected of a university district.
Little past 11 AM. Students coming out for early lunch were filling the streets.
Of course, 99% of those students are women.
"Ah, fck! Professor btch gave another assignment even before classes started!"
"Hey, what should we crush for lunch today? Jeyuk (Spicy Pork)? Tonkatsu?"
Husky curses and vigorous menu selection sounds were heard from here and there. Groups of female students gathering in threes and fives smoking were also visible. Everyone has size, has force.
Is it because they are former 'military service completed high school girls' trained in reserve forces training since middle school? The vibe they emit is no joke.
On the other hand, the male students seen occasionally... really very occasionally, are extremes.
Crazy bastards imitating Casanova amidst women in broad daylight, or guys scurrying behind female students looking like they're being drained of energy. Or quietly crushed in the corner of a cafe.
'Heterogeneous, really.'
Should be getting used to it, but it's new every time I see it. I pulled my hat down deep and walked leisurely among them.
A giant with a sturdy physique. Black hoodie.
Naturally, gazes land on me.
"Hull, look at that man. So tall." "Walking alone? Bold."
Whispering sounds were heard like ASMR, but I plugged in my earphones and cast My Way.
'Let's see...'
First scanned facilities essential for survival.
Convenience store is in front of the house. Coin laundry is over there. Dollar store is on the main street.
And the most important place.
Basement 1st floor. Seeing the worn-out sign, it has deep history. High probability that places like this are true gourmet spots. Feeling like they'd cook Chapagetti well. Location saved.
'But well... have a computer at home so won't go often.'
Wonder if they'll hire me for part-time later? No problem living with male support funds, but if I want to earn money, doing part-time would be good. To gain social experience points too.
Walked a bit more and a busy street appeared.
Cosmetic shops had large photos of male models hanging, and clothing store mannequins were all wearing reliable women's clothes.
"Oppa! Wait a moment!"
Just then, someone blocked my way. A part-timer handing out flyers.
"Yes?"
"Take just one of these! It's a newly opened gym, offering 70% discount on PT for male members! Trainer unnis will very kindly..."
The part-timer saw my broad shoulders, eyes shining, and thrust the flyer at me.
"Wow... But Oppa doesn't need to exercise. Body is... no joke."
She said as if smacking her lips. Burdened, I just took the flyer and left the spot hurriedly.
'Soliciting customers like picking someone up...'
Just taking a walk around the neighborhood, but feeling drained.
I turned towards an alley with fewer crowds. Far away, I saw a hill road leading to the school's back gate.
'Is the school over there?'
Studio apartment village near school. A place where buildings slightly more worn and cheaper than the officetel I live in are stuck closely together.
Walking while looking around like that, a sign on a 2nd-floor window of a worn building caught my eye.
"Hmm..."
Steps stopped automatically.
Faded sign where time is felt. Crude font. Felt like the smell of sweat and muscle pain patches was mixing and coming out through the window crack.
Looking at it, a forgotten sensation wiggled at my fingertips. The rough texture when grabbing the collar of a uniform (dobok), friction sound rolling on the mat, the heat rising to the chin.
I stared up at that worn sign for a moment.
"Should I... attend again..."
Something, body feels itchy. Swinging a toy hammer would be enough for self-defense. But waking up dormant senses, sweating a bit wouldn't be bad.
Took out phone and checked the time.
"Time is a bit ambiguous."
Usually gyms open late afternoon, or if there's a lunch class, shouldn't it be open by 12?
"Let's go see for now."
If closed, just come back.
I climbed the worn building stairs to the 2nd floor. End of the hallway, peeked through the transparent glass door.
Empty gym. A few punching bags hanging alone, blue mats laid on the floor.
And in the middle.
A woman wearing a white uniform was sitting in a kneeling position. Seemed to be meditating with eyes closed. That person must be the master (Gwanjang)... right?
'...Kind of awkward to interrupt.'
She's gathering energy so solemnly, wondering if it's right to barge in. Should I just go.
But having come up here, it's awkward to just go down.
"Eh, don't know."
Receive a customer.
I crumpled my hesitation and pushed the glass door.
Jingle—
The wind chime sound on the door broke the silence.
"...Excuse me."
Entered as politely and quietly as possible.
Then the woman sitting in the middle of the mat snapped her eyes open.
"......!"
Her eyes grew big.
Round eyes. Droopy eye corners like a puppy.
I paused for a moment. Unlike the savage sign 'Practical Gracie Jiu-Jitsu', the master's impression was too... mild.
A bright face that I'd believe if told she was a kindergarten teacher or a neighborhood bakery part-timer rather than a gym master.
"Uh... Uh... Hello."
The master jumped up from her seat as if flustered. Fixing her belt, she approached me.
"What brings you... here?"
Her gaze scanned my whole body. Not in sportswear, a sturdy man with a hat pulled down deep.
"By any chance... are you lost? Or looking for someone..."
Voice is soft. She clearly thinks I'm lost, or a 'young master on an errand' looking for his sister or mom.
Indeed, in this world, there's no way a man would come on his own feet to learn martial arts, especially Jiu-Jitsu where men and women tangle bodies and mix sweat.
I slightly lifted my hat and met her eyes.
"Ah... that, I saw the sign outside and came..."
Honestly speaking, I am naive with women (ssuk-maek).
Family like mom or sister, or tiny elementary schoolers or aunties passing by on the street are fine. To my standards, they aren't the opposite sex but just family or people, I don't see them as women.
But facing a stranger adult woman 1 on 1 like this and talking...
'A bit burdensome...'
I felt the master's eyes twinkling with curiosity. If she had a fierce impression I would put strength in my eyes and have a staring contest, but staring blankly with that mild face makes it more burdensome.
I'm clear on distinguishing enemies and allies. Whether woman or whatever, if they pick a fight or attack, I just fight back and suppress them. That's my specialty.
But... people approaching with blind goodwill or pure curiosity like that, I have absolutely no resistance against. Brain freeze comes on how to handle it.
I instinctively lowered my gaze slightly to the blue mat floor, and asked mumbling.
"By any chance... are you open for business?.."
"..Yes?"
The master opened her eyes round. Ah, words came out wrong. Open for business. Not a market.
"No, that.. is a one-day trial or something possible?"
At my correction request, only then did the master seem to understand, but smiled awkwardly as if a bit troubled.
"Ah... We are currently on break time because it's lunch hour. And..."
She hesitated for a moment, then added carefully while gauging my mood.
"Our gym members are all women. There are no male members yet... would you be okay?"
'...Ah, sh*t.'
Honestly a bit, no, very burdensome.
A man alone doing Jiu-Jitsu, rubbing bodies, amidst swarming women? It's obvious this will be a thorny path not a flower path. An environment perfect for becoming a monkey in a zoo.
Just when I was contemplating going home quietly to polish my toy hammer.
"Ah, and the one-day trial is free. We lend uniforms too."
"......"
Free? Zero won?
The scale in my heart tipped instantly. They say people drink lye if it's free, what's the big deal about sweating a bit.
"Then... Yes. I want to try once. What time is possible?"
"There is an evening class at 7 PM today but..."
The master still looked at me with worried eyes. That gaze unique to this world, like looking at a child put out by the water.
"Will you really be okay? Since it's martial arts there is a lot of physical contact... and female members are a bit strong so you might get hurt if you're not careful. Do you have guardian consent..."
Is she treating me as a weakling, or worrying for me.
Of course both, but asking with that mild face felt strange rather than bad.
Honestly speaking, I don't lag behind anywhere with my weight class.
Height is decent and weight 85kg. Not a skinny anchovy, never been pushed back physically anywhere. But by the common sense of this world, I must look like a 'target needing protection'.
Suddenly, my gaze landed on her waist.
Brown belt.
The stage right below black belt. In Jiu-Jitsu, brown is skill level comparable to most masters. Means she rolled thousands of times on the mat with that mild face.
'Can't judge a book by its cover.'
I answered calmly.
"Yes, it's fine. I'm an adult too so I should take care of my own body. Can I do the one-day trial today?"
At my stubbornness, the master pondered for a moment, then nodded as if it couldn't be helped.
"If you insist... okay. Class starts at 7, so could you come around 6:30 to change into a uniform and hear the explanation? I have to look if there's a matching size among spare uniforms."
"Yes, understood. See you then."
I bowed my head and tried to leave. Just then, the master asked urgently as if she remembered.
"Ah, by any chance have you done Jiu-Jitsu before?"
"...Yes."
"Oh my, really?"
The master's eyes became round again. Seems fascinating that a man has experience in combat sports.
"How long did you do it?"
I hesitated for a moment and equivocated roughly. Even if I explain in detail here she won't believe it, and showing with the body is faster than words.
"Well... just so-so."
"Ah, is that so?"
The master nodded with a good-natured smile. Probably thinking I took some self-defense classes somewhere.
"Then see you later in the evening. Go safely."
"Yes, keep up the good work."
Jingle—
I left the gym leaving a short bow.
'Gonna exercise a bit after a long time...'