Chapter 20
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 20: Jiu-Jitsu (2)
I am currently rolling on the blue mat.
The basic drill the master taught me who came early. I was repeating the 'shrimping' motion, crawling on the mat with my hips and shoulders.
'It's been really long.'
Even if the head forgot, the body remembers. Flexibility has dropped a bit, but the muscle memory embedded deep in the muscles remained. The movements flowed without stiffness like water.
Just then, the master who was watching me from a distance hesitated and came up onto the mat.
The bright and mild face from earlier was nowhere to be found, and she had an expression carrying all the worries of the world.
"Um... Jin-hyuk-nim?"
The master called in a voice crawling like an ant. I stopped what I was doing and got up.
"Yes?"
"Um... that is... I posted a notice saying a guest is coming today... asking to keep manners... y'know...."
She bowed her head low like a sinner.
"Yes. So?"
"That is... a few too many members are coming today..."
Her pupils shook anxiously.
"Usually not even five people come... but right now the reservation is full with thirty people, and there's even a waiting list."
"......"
Thirty people where five used to come? 600% growth rate. Miraculous marketing that would make Warren Buffett cry. The problem is that I'm the bait.
The master asked with a tearful face.
"By any chance... will you be okay? If it's too burdensome I'll take down the notice again..."
I thought for a moment.
It's like walking into a pack of swarming wolves on my own feet.
But I have a secret weapon.
Exactly, the holy ritual performed right before coming.
My current state is a Living Buddha with zero sexual desire and zero anguish. Even if not 30 but 300 people come and rub against me, my junior won't budge an inch.
I answered with an infinitely peaceful expression.
"Don't mind at all. I came to exercise anyway, what the hell. Good if there are many people."
"Ah... Yes... Thank you..."
The master sighed in relief, but her expression still looked uncomfortable.
Time passed, 30 minutes before class starts.
The gates of hell opened.
Rattle! Rattle!
"Hello!"
Along with a loud shout, the first one to barge in was a high school girl wearing gym pants under her school uniform skirt.
"Hello~"
Following her, office workers off work and college students flooded in like a tide.
As soon as they entered, they half-heartedly greeted the master, then fixed their gazes on me as if promised.
"Oh...!"
The high school girl who came first approached with sparkling eyes.
"You must be the male member who was coming! Nice to meet you! Wow, really tall!"
'Member. Haven't even registered yet.'
"Uh... Ah that... Where do you live? How old are you?"
As soon as she sees my face, she loses her mind and starts census taking. Looks ready to drool.
"Ah.. that... I moved to this neighborhood the day before yesterday."
"Wow, daebak! Got a neighborhood friend! I live near here too! Let's go together after this!"
Just then, the master's sharp voice burst out.
"Ye-na~ Didn't I post a notice? If you bother the guest today, I'll make you do 50 burpees alone?"
"Ay~ Master! It's his first day today, just talking to relieve tension! Gotta appeal that our gym atmosphere is good!"
Ye-na retorted shamelessly. The master grabbed the back of her neck.
"Haa... Jin-hyuk-ssi, are you okay?"
"Ah... Yes.. Well..."
Honestly fcking burdensome, sht.
Fortunately, just as the master was trying to pull Ye-na away, the office worker woman who entered earlier subtly took the spot next to me and started stretching.
"Hello? How did you come here today?"
"Ah... that.. saw the sign while passing by, just remembered old times..."
"Oh my, did you exercise in the past?"
"Yes.. a little.."
"Oh.. Amazing.. exercising even though you're a man...."
Her gaze scanned my chest and thighs blatantly.
"Uh... that.. well... your body is quite good..."
The gaze is so sticky it feels like it'll stick.
Taking that gap, that high school girl from earlier stuck again.
"Wow... really. Oppa body is good. Look at the shoulders. Pacific Ocean."
"Hello~"
"I'm here!"
Members kept entering. Every single one discovered me as they entered, lit up their eyes, and hovered around.
"Where do you live?"
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Wanna have a drink after this?"
F*ck.
Don't know if this is a gym or a neighborhood meeting.
Everyone has too much energy. I just want to sweat quietly and go, but people talking from all sides makes me feel drained.
Eventually unable to endure, Master Lim Chae-yang clapped her hands.
Clap clap!
"Now now, everyone~ Attention! If you give too much excessive interest the guest feels uncomfortable so I hope you restrain yourselves. You came to exercise."
"No, Master aren't you interested? So heartless~"
"Right! Just trying to get close!"
Members booed. The master sighed deeply, then beckoned with her finger.
"Mm~ Ye-na, come here."
"Yes?.. No..."
"Just come here."
The master called Ye-na to the corner. And whispered something in her ear.
'Hey, that person hasn't even registered as a member yet... If you guys come on drooling like this, he'll feel burdened and never come back right? Then that ship has sailed. Never see him again.'
"Ah..."
'So, if you want to increase the probability of seeing him even a little more, I'm saying come on moderately. Got it?'
"Ah... Ah...? Aha!"
A light of realization flashed on Ye-na's face. She turned around immediately and shouted toward the members.
"Now now! Unnis, let's warm up! A guest came this time though not a member yet, we have to show a cool image for him to register right! Let's not act ugly!"
Then like a miracle, the sticky gazes pouring toward me were withdrawn a little.
'...I never said I'd register though.'
Don't know. Just roughly get through today and run away making an excuse that I have no money as a college student. Everyone knows male support funds are fat, but there's no way they know my wallet situation. Sue me.
"Ah, right. Not a member yet."
"Please take care of us for today's exercise~"
"I'll go warm up too."
Members scattered one by one and started taking form. The gym which was a mess 5 minutes ago finally looked like a place to exercise.
"Now, gather up first!"
At the master's command, scattered members lined up all at once. Over 30 people lining up is a spectacle.
"There is a guest here today, can I ask for a brief self-introduction?"
All gazes focused on me. I bowed my head calmly.
"I am Seol Jin-hyuk."
"He happened to come as a guest this time, everyone please give a round of welcoming applause."
Clap clap clap clap clap—!
Thunderous applause filled the gym. Would think a cult leader entered.
"Please take care of me."
I bowed shortly.
"Now, let's run first. Su-min over there, you stand lead and count. Jin-hyuk-ssi can follow this line. But there really are many today..."
The master clicked her tongue and started the running.
Tap, tap, tap.
Over 30 people circling the mat, the gym heated up instantly. After running 10 laps, beads of sweat formed on the forehead.
"Hmm... How should we do it... Hmm... For now do the shrimping motion as usual."
The master divided the personnel and instructed drill training.
"Jin-hyuk-ssi can follow them as you saw earlier. If the posture is strange I'll correct it."
"Yes..."
I mixed among the members and rolled on the mat.
Glance, glance.
Felt gazes stealing looks at me from all sides. Feel like a monkey in a zoo, but moving the body makes distracting thoughts disappear and the familiar smell of sweat isn't bad. Doesn't seem like a completely wasted trip.
"If everyone's done, drink water for a moment!"
Break time. While I was catching my breath, the master approached holding a water bottle.
"Jin-hyuk-ssi, you are quite good. The form is not ordinary. How many years did you do in the past?"
Her eyes twinkled with curiosity. Must have noticed seeing the drill motion earlier.
"Did it quite long but... about 7~8 years in the past. Did it since elementary school days."
"Wow... really did it long... By any chance how old are you now?"
"19 years old in international age."
"Uh... much younger than I thought. Career is almost half your life."
The master was amazed.
"Ah.. yes, true. I quit exercise not long after entering high school."
"Many do. There are many members in our gym too who quit due to academic issues after entering high school. Shame, talented friends."
The master nodded and empathized.
"Now, everyone must have rested enough so starting class now!"
The master gathered the members again.
"First... right... since there are many people, pair up with those close to you... and um... Jin-hyuk-ssi, is there anyone you want to partner with?"
The master looked at me and asked.
At that moment, hot eye lasers were fired from all sides.
"Master me! Me!" "I can teach well!" "I'm a blue belt! Do it with me!"
Shouting while raising hands here and there. Among them, some sent fighting spirit... no, burning gazes toward me.
'...Enthusiastic to a burdensome degree.'
Usually when a total beginner comes to a gym, people play the noticing game (try to avoid) because it's annoying. Correcting posture, explaining techniques. It's quite a hassle.
But people in this gym are even competing to teach.
'...Yeah, let's think positively.'
If I start interpreting those eyes in a different meaning, my head hurts.
Just the affection (Jeong) of thorough martial artists. Or pure passion of stagnant waters crazy about Jiu-Jitsu.
'Thinking like that is beneficial for my mental health.'
I tried to blur my eyes and laughed awkwardly.
"Anyone is fine... Master please decide. Instead, please give me the person who is best at it."
"Anyone is fine... Master please decide. Instead, please give me the person who is best at it."
Hearing those words, the master, Lim Chae-yang's brow furrowed. Her gaze scanned the members clamoring like surging waves.
'These crazy people...'
Struggling to tangle with him because a man came. If I attach just anyone, our precious guest won't even be able to salvage his bones.
Chae-yang scanned the members with sharp eyes.
Amidst these wolves, the person who harbors less ulterior motives and can focus only on exercise. And a skilled person who can handle the guest's skills.
"Then the person who is best..."
Chae-yang's gaze stayed at one place.
The person with the highest belt except herself (Master) among them.
Blue belt.
"Kang Yu-ri..."
Chae-yang pointed to the opponent with her chin.
"You come out."
Earnestly, praying please don't cause an accident today.