Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: High School Girl VS Underground Fight Club (3)
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Even the freshest rookie sensations in the fight game sometimes get utterly crushed when they face off against a grizzled veteran.
It's more common than you'd think.
Because experience matters just as much as raw talent in this sport.
I was practically a veteran myself.
I've fought and tangled with all sorts of people,
been through my share of brutal scraps.
Hell, I even went toe-to-toe with a bear and died in the end. That says it all.
So when I look at someone like Gye Geum-ok, I can read her like a book.
I know exactly what strategy she'll pull out.
What her game plan for victory looks like.
I can even guess what she's thinking right now.
'Playing it defensive, trying to time my takedown? How about some unpredictable strikes then?'
Unpredictable strikes.
Attacks the opponent can't see coming.
Like, say, launching a flying knee right at the bell.
It's not a strategy that usually works.
A simple side step dodges it easy.
But.
'The ring here's tiny.'
The straight-line distance between us was about three meters.
Compared to a standard cage, it was tough terrain to react to a sudden rush.
And the result?
Crack──────!!
"Guh...?"
My flying knee sliced through her guard and landed clean.
"Wooooaaahhh-!"
The crowd's roar erupted instantly.
Gye Geum-ok's legs buckled from the damage, staggering her.
Pop-pop-bam!
I followed up with a one-two hook combo.
She scrambled desperately to escape.
Teetering on the edge of collapse but somehow staying upright.
True elite wrestler balance.
'Tough chin on her? And her instincts are sharp.'
If she'd gone down right there, the fight would've been over.
With that much damage already, a few ground pounds would've had the ref waving it off quick.
'Though the outcome was already decided.'
That didn't mean Gye Geum-ok had any shot left.
That one knee had shifted all the momentum.
Not just from the damage.
Because I'd scared her.
Thud.
I pressed forward with heavy steps.
She shook her body with big movements, feinting jabs and takedowns.
Every time, I lifted my lead leg teasingly.
Like I could knee her any second.
"Urgh..."
Gye Geum-ok didn't dare shoot in for the takedown.
After eating one, she knew she couldn't take a second.
Her whole plan was in tatters now.
Either drag it into a wild brawl and hope for a lucky punch,
or clinch up and wrestle,
or just run away the whole fight...
Or what, just blast in with a takedown anyway?
'Her eyes are shot.'
That's only possible with a clear head.
Gye Geum-ok was afraid of me.
Unless you're a warrior at heart, that kind of bold call doesn't come easy.
All that was left was getting beat on.
But ending it too soon would spoil the fun.
Snap!
"Kuh!"
A whip-crack calf kick.
Followed by a rear-hand two-hook.
Giving off the vibe that I was gunning for a striking war.
Then—
Whoosh!
A low takedown.
"What?!"
I challenged the wrestler Gye Geum-ok to a takedown battle.
"You don't think I'm some pushover, do you?"
Her reaction was quick.
A speedy sprawl shut it down.
Guess wrestling really was her domain.
But I never planned to take her down in the first place.
Slide-!
I dropped to a knee and spun my body like I was sliding.
The sudden shift in force unbalanced her just enough.
A tiny bit was all I needed.
Because I was planning to pick her up.
"Crazy. What the hell?"
"Gye Geum-ok's up in the air!"
"A sack carry in the women's division?!"
The technique of hoisting your opponent onto your shoulder.
It got nicknamed "Sack Carry" because it looks like lugging around a bag of rice.
"Wooooaaahhh!"
It's wildly inefficient and eats stamina.
But the reason I do it?
"Wh-what are you doing?! Put me down!"
It humiliates the hell out of them.
"Let go! You little—"
BAMMMMM─────!
"Gack!"
I slammed Gye Geum-ok straight into the mat.
Secured top position and rained down ground and pound.
Thud! Splat!
Every fist that sank into her face sent shivers down my spine.
A feeling I hadn't savored in ages.
Made me sigh in pure bliss.
"Ha. Feels good."
Yeah. This is what I was born for.
I felt alive again after so long.
*
The match was one-sided from start to finish.
Gye Geum-ok ate punches for all five minutes against Go Eun-ha.
Grappling was no different.
She attempted just one takedown.
And it failed.
Go Eun-ha, meanwhile, shot five takedowns in those five minutes.
All successful.
Eventually, TKO by ground and pound.
Go Eun-ha took the win.
"Never thought Gye Geum-ok would lose. And so one-sidedly..."
The crowd was stunned.
Gye Geum-ok was a 4-0 rising star.
A debutante had dominated Fight Club's super rookie from every angle.
It was only natural to be curious about Go Eun-ha.
"Go Eun-ha's skills are insane."
"Not just good—her style's super aggressive."
"Yeah. Doesn't match her face at all...!"
"She really beat An Seung-ho?"
"Nah. No way a girl beats a guy."
The venue buzzed.
In the chaos, the winner's interview kicked off.
"Go Eun-ha! Congrats on your debut win! We saw your straight-cam videos—you dance great. Mind celebrating your victory with a dance?"
"......"
Go Eun-ha shot the host a glare.
A gaze sharp as a blade.
The host gulped dryly.
"N-no dancing then! Uh, next question was..."
The interview was brutally short.
Thanks to her curt answers and firm demeanor.
"Who are you most grateful for?"
"Myself."
"Such self-love! If you fight again, who would you want to face?"
"Asiatic Black Bear?"
"Pardon...?"
"Kidding. Anyone's fine, but no one'll wanna fight me."
It rang true.
The women from the affiliated teams who came to scout stayed dead silent.
'How do you fight the monster that wrecked Gye Geum-ok...'
You gotta stretch your legs carefully, picking your spot to lie down.
Gye Geum-ok got embarrassed without landing a thing.
Strut out for pride, and you might end up worse.
"If I get the chance, I'll drop by again. Thanks to the fans who came out—hope you had fun. Oh, and Gye Geum-ok. You've got talent. Keep grinding."
That wrapped the interview.
Maybe a bit anticlimactic,
but everyone knew.
'Won't be seeing her in Fight Club anymore...'
This place was too small a pond for her.
.
.
.
.
The building lobby.
A crowd had gathered.
"It's Go Eun-ha."
"Whoa. She looks even prettier in the light."
Fans wanting photos with her.
She handled them coolly, aloof and icy as ever.
"Should we ask for one too...?"
"You do it. I'm kinda scared."
"What a wuss. But yeah, me too. Let's bail."
"I'll take your photo."
"Gah."
Not missing a single fan. Meticulous.
Her fan service was so natural.
Like she'd been a superstar before.
"Thank you!"
"Yeah. Thanks."
She stood for a solid 40 minutes doing fan service.
"Looks like that's everyone."
"Um, me too? Photo please...!"
Last one to hand over a smartphone: Park O-yu-na.
"What're you doing."
"Can't I get one? Just for memories...?"
"Pay up."
"How much...?"
"How much you got?"
"Cash? Only 3,000 won..."
"Deal. 3,000 won."
"Whoa. Total sweetheart...!"
Click-
One commemorative shot with Park O-yu-na.
O-yu-na's smile in the pic was awkwardly twisted.
Go Eun-ha? Stone-cold blank.
Surprisingly, both were in good moods.
"C'mon. Coffee's on me."
"Yay! Thanks...!"
As they headed for the exit.
"Hold up."
A voice stopped them.
"How you just gonna leave?"
A bob-cut woman with bruises on her face.
"Gye Geum-ok?"
The one who'd gotten thoroughly worked by Go Eun-ha today.
She spat out hot words from her throat.
"Listen, missy, don't get cocky. I was off my game today. Got caught by that sneak attack. Was a bit careless too. Panicked for a sec, but I didn't lose on skill, absolutely not......"
Blah blah blah.
She kept rattling off excuses nonstop.
Way chattier than in the ring.
Finally, Go Eun-ha cut her off.
"So, what's your point?"
"Hmph......"
Whatever soured her mood so bad? pouty-faced Gye Geum-ok.
She rummaged in her inner pocket.
Pulled out a crumpled envelope.
"What's this?"
"My prize money."
"Why give it to me?"
"You said before the fight—wanna bet? I never got you down once, so it's yours..."
"You actually believed that?"
Gye Geum-ok snapped.
"Don't toy with money! You think 500,000 won is some dog's name? Pretty face or not, learn the value of cash! That's how many bowls of beef soup?!"
500,000 won was a fortune.
Not because Gye Geum-ok was a high schooler.
She was the breadwinner.
Supporting her little sibling.
Truly precious money—but
"Anyway, a bet's a bet. Take it......"
Keeping your word mattered too.
She didn't want to be poor in spirit as well.
"Nah, keep the money."
But Go Eun-ha turned it down.
"Huh? Why not?"
"I got plenty."
Obnoxiously, ridiculously cocky reason.
But Gye Geum-ok didn't care.
Whatever. She was refusing it.
'An angel?'
Suddenly, Go Eun-ha looked stunning.
No, she always was—but something beautifully pure now?
"Ahem. Heart's kinder than your looks."
"What's wrong with my looks?"
"Never heard you look like a drama villain?"
Still, like an actress. Sorta a compliment.
"Anyway, thanks. But next time, I win."
"Next time?"
"I'm entering High School Fighting King too."
Gye Geum-ok's tournament news.
"Kyaaack!"
O-yu-na jumped, fur standing on end.
"Figured."
Go Eun-ha sounded like she'd known.
She replayed the match in her head.
The final moments.
Gye Geum-ok unleashed freakish strength.
Despite being dominated and gassed, she nearly reversed her.
'A realm of power techniques couldn't touch.'
Her interview praise wasn't empty.
For a woman her size, that power was impressive.
"Train hard. If you want even second place."
"What? I'm going for first. Anyway, don't get hurt. Have fun."
That was the end.
Gye Geum-ok strode off into the night, face swollen but spirited.
*
At that moment.
A post was sweeping recommendations on the Real-Time Popular Gallery, aka 'RealGal'.
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