Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Takuya's Will!!
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Splash splash.
Every time Takuya kicked his legs, ripples spread across the water, sending out vigorous sounds.
"Yeah. Like that. Keep going. Keep it up."
"Nek... hyung..."
Not even five minutes in, and Takuya was already breathing raggedly.
"Geum Taeyang-nim! Shouldn't Takuya-nim take a little break?"
"Right! He'll die of dehydration at this rate!"
Dying of dehydration while swimming.
What an irony that was...
"No. If he rests now, it won't count as a proper workout. Takuya, keep going."
Geum Taeyang callously brushed off the pleas from his escorts—who were staring holes through his body while gripping Takuya's hand—and lay down beside him.
Splash splash.
Then he began swimming alongside him by kicking his legs.
It was a bit of a stretch to call it swimming when it was just treading water with their legs.
But it was swimming, at least.
Whoa, seriously... huff huff!
Ha... so much I wanna say...
Keep that up and you'll end up begging to get railed...
The chat kept scrolling endlessly, but Geum Taeyang paid no more attention to the stream.
Right now, it was time to focus on teaching Takuya how to exercise.
"Hek hek... H-hyung, aren't you tired?"
"Me? I'm good. We just got started."
About five minutes had passed.
Takuya shot Geum Taeyang a look brimming with desperate pleas to rest.
But the response was a fierce glare that said no chance in hell.
"Takuya. Do you want to lose weight? Look cool? Get strong?"
"Hek hek... Yes!!"
"Then conquer that weak urge to quit first. Got it?"
"Y-yes!!"
Takuya gritted his teeth and matched the pace of Geum Taeyang's kicking legs.
"Good! Rest time!!"
"Hek hek... Thank you!!"
"Ten minutes rest, then back at it. Fifteen minutes swim, ten minutes rest. That's one set. We're doing three."
"Three sets?!?"
The moment they climbed out of the pool, Takuya collapsed face-first onto the floor—too exhausted to even register his wet clothes clinging transparently to his body. He stared in horror.
Just one set had him on the brink of death. Two more...?
"Losing weight means steadily grinding an hour at a time."
"Got it, hyung."
Unlike other guys, Takuya didn't whine or complain. He just nodded at Geum Taeyang's words.
He'd begged Geum Taeyang to teach him, after all. He couldn't start crying about it being tough.
"Takuya-nim. Want us to massage your legs?"
Seeing Takuya panting and spent, the escorts blurted out the offer without thinking.
'He'll refuse.'
They regretted it the instant the words left their mouths.
Takuya hated even the thought of women touching him. No way he'd allow it.
Hell, this might make him hate them even more.
"Hoo. Feels nice with the noonas rubbing me down."
Takuya glanced to the side.
There sat Geum Taeyang, utterly relaxed in a chair as Darae, Aeri, Kim Gyul, and Aka massaged his arms and legs.
No trace of terror on his face at the thought of women potentially raping him.
He looked like he could overpower them anytime.
'I wanna be like that...!'
"...Please do."
"!!! Yes! Yes!"
Takuya wanted to be like Geum Taeyang—to face women without fear, with total composure.
Only then could he shake off his clingy noona and find the girl he truly loved.
Three weeks had passed since Takuya started his workouts.
"Hup-! Hup-!!"
He'd made tremendous progress.
Sitting in a chair with back support, Takuya was steadily pumping a 5kg dumbbell—up, down, repeat.
"Owaaah..."
A crowd of women who had flocked to the gym were watching the scene.
The gym was no longer a place for working out.
Ever since Geum Taeyang began coaching Takuya, Darae Gym had turned into a spectator venue for the two men's bromance.
"Popcorn for sale. Popcorn sets just 100,000 won."
"Fucking pricey?"
"A portion of proceeds goes straight to Geum Taeyang-nim and Takuya-nim."
"Fucking bargain?"
They'd even started hawking popcorn—totally out of place in a gym!!
Of course, neither Takuya nor Geum Taeyang paid the slightest mind to the circus around them.
Thanks to the magic barrier screening out the gawking crowds for Takuya's sake.
"Hyung. That's gotta be fifty already...?"
"Not yet. One more."
"...Hyung, I think I get it now. We're already past the target, but you just say 'one more' anyway!"
"If you get it, do one more!! Takuya!!"
"Kwaaaak-!!"
Takuya let out a guttural roar as he hoisted the dumbbell.
Pssshhhh...!!
Thick steam billowed from his body, signaling he'd hit his limit.
In a world where mana and magic power truly existed, fat seemed to burn off as visible vapor every time.
"That's it for today."
"Yes... hyung!! Hup hup...!!"
At least it made spotting Takuya's limits a breeze—super convenient for coaching.
'He's changed a ton.'
Geum Taeyang gazed at Takuya with a satisfied smile.
The human will was one hell of a thing.
In just three weeks, Takuya's weight had dropped from 190kg to 180kg.
"Hyung, thank you so much. Think I can end up like you?"
"Obviously. Look at how hard you've pushed. You can do it."
"Yes...!!"
"Takuya-nim. We'll help you up."
"Yes. Thanks."
"Don't mention it. It's our job!!"
And Takuya's growth went beyond the physical.
His mindset had evolved too.
The Takuya who'd once flinched at the escorts even trying to hold his hand now casually draped his arms over their shoulders for support.
"Paha... Takuya-nim's scent..."
"Smells so good."
Flinch...
He still shuddered at the sight of them sniffing the steam rising from his fat-melting body, though.
"Hyung, I'm heading out then."
"Yeah. Good work. Stick to chicken breast and salads as much as you can! And only till you're not stuffed!!"
"Yes! Hyung!!"
With a hearty reply, Takuya let the escorts support him as he left.
Truly rewarding to teach a guy like that.
Diet discipline on point, iron will for training.
No trendy gym dropout vibes here...!!
"Alright, time for me to hit a real workout."
Not wanting to embarrass Takuya, Geum Taeyang dove into the exercises he'd skipped while coaching.
Gulp...!!
He dispelled the magic hiding the women—just like when Takuya was around—and soaked in their stares.
The women watching his bold routine had to fan themselves furiously to cool off.
"So fucking hot..."
KA Entertainment's president, Chai Mei, was no exception.
Her flushed face and thighs clenching hard—why did her core burn like this...?
She'd once mistaken Geum Taeyang for a "male cosplay woman" named Geum Mari and tried scouting him as a trainee. But now? She'd given up.
A man debuting in entertainment?
No way that pipe dream happened.
He'd taken her business card before because she'd freaked him out by suddenly using honorifics and spouting that lie...
"Huu..."
Geum Taeyang set down the massive barbell.
Chai Mei joined the other women in a daze, staring at Geum Taeyang—who moved her to tears just by existing. Sweat trickling down his perfect physique made her lower belly heat up unbearably...
"Taeyang-ah. Good work."
"Ah. Darae noona. Thanks."
"Haa~~~!!"
"Hueup...!!"
Finishing his workout, Geum Taeyang streamed with sweat. The women let out deep sighs at the sight of Darae too.
Geum Taeyang's casual indifference to women's touch, combined with Darae laying hands on such a prime specimen—it sparked envy bordering on jealousy.
Chai Mei bit her lip, unable to hide her jealousy as she watched.
Of course, she admired Darae too. If only she knew how Darae had won his heart... maybe she could too...
"Eh? President-nim. Long time no see."
Geum Taeyang spotted Chai Mei and greeted her.
"Eh? Uh...? Y-yes. Yes! R-right, Geum Taeyang-nim!!"
'He called my name!!'
Hotshot entertainment CEO or not, she was nothing before him.
Ecstatic as if an idol had said her name, she gazed up at him.
Chai Mei was pretty tall herself... but still a head shorter than Geum Taeyang.
"Can I still join as a trainee? Wanna try debuting in entertainment. Not too late, right?"
"!!!!"
Murmurs erupted.
A man talking about debuting in entertainment...?
Men were the type who wanted to stay off women's radars as much as possible.
Unless drowning in debt... no need to become an idol.
"That chick claiming to be Geum Taeyang-nim's woman..."
"Tsk. Explains why she's stuck as a gym owner."
"Knew it since the news blared about her becoming a transcendent."
"Being strong ain't the same as Wise Mother Good Wife material."
In other words...
Darae—who'd just been drowning in everyone's envy and admiration—had some fatal flaw when it came to supporting Geum Taeyang.
The women eyed him expectantly.
Plenty here richer than Darae.
Men short on cash dreamed of rich women solving it—even at the price of creampies.
But Geum Taeyang ignored every gaze.
They were all pretty with killer bodies, tempting enough... but junk food next to Darae and the others.
Chai Mei might be the one exception.
Feeling his eyes on her, Chai Mei nodded vigorously.
"Just like you said before, we'll get you debuting ASAP—debut song, composer pick, album production. KA Entertainment promises top-tier treatment!!"
Geum Taeyang was an absolute must-sign jackpot for Chai Mei.
