The Weightlifting Club Phenomenon
At some point, an unusually high number of incoming philosophy freshmen at Korea University started joining the weightlifting club. And not just any newbies—these were veterans who looked like they'd been at it for years. There were plenty of factors behind this trend, but the core incident was something else entirely.
A post that had rocked online communities seven years ago even made it to mainstream TV news, drawing massive attention from parents and private education insiders. Kim, a high schooler from an ordinary public school—not even an academy—had a physique that made jaws drop. Height: 1.96 meters. Weight: 115kg. His bulging muscles screamed physical education major, not philosophy, and the image burned into everyone's minds.
As the buzz grew out of control, the guy finally clarified: admissions officers had highly valued his high school heroics during the Pyre Bridge bombing rescue. He'd been on the news a couple times back then, smashing the stereotype that aura users were all scrawny. For the government, it boosted goodwill; for the department, it highlighted practical scholarship. His enrollment was a done deal. He'd written that community post just to get attention. But the clarification didn't spread far. Even the philosophy profs saw no need to buck the new vibe.
After all, you need a solid body for the graduation exam before senior year. Kids arriving fully built? Perfect.
Experts' predictions came true, fueling the wild, beastly philosophy department we see today.
"No wonder there are so many guys. Everyone here is from the weightlifting club, huh?"
"Not everyone, but most."
After symbolic logic class—which only runs in the second semester—I side-eyed the string of guys trailing us and asked. Ban So-wol had wanted to take it early in summer session, so the philosophy weightlifters had all submitted lecture opening requests to help her out. Philosophy's goddess, weightlifting club's hope. Her popularity from both sides was beyond imagination.
"Nami, is this big sis really strong? Ever heard of the big three lifts?"
"Weight training?"
"Yeah! Squat, bench press, deadlift—the total's the big three."
Korea University's weightlifting club is actually bodybuilding and fitness, despite the name. I hadn't cleared the plate-number mission yet, so I headed to their gym with them.
"Our So-wol hits 360 on the big three without aura. That's insane—no one her weight comes close!"
The guy explained her feats like they were his own, buzzing with excitement.
"Nami's too young for that stuff."
"Early training's key!"
"Nami, ignore that bro."
A steep staircase loomed. I gripped her hand tight so her unseeing eyes wouldn't trip her. But it was unnecessary—she'd deployed her aura field to scan her footing.
"You handle aura pretty naturally."
"Huh? Oh, just picked it up living life."
"Must be exhausting, though."
Some think mastering aura lets the blind see. Wrong. Deploying it brings huge penalties—like memorizing pi's decimals while holding your breath underwater. Forcing aura into senses limits thinking, and prolonged use strains the aura heart.
"Mind if I ask about that arm-wrestling thing earlier?"
She halted right at the gym door. Her head snapped rigidly toward me. Her gentle face twisted subtly.
"It was heavy."
Her voice sank low.
"...?"
"You really believe humans can lift mountains?"
* * *
140kg deadlift barbell slams the floor with a crisp ring.
"Whoa, 345!"
"Whew... not clicking today."
"Don't push it—you'll get hurt. Call it here."
"So-wol's already famous—don't make her more so!"
Ban So-wol appeared in Nami's Korea University promo video. While members racked plates, she plopped beside Nami, wiping sweat.
"Great job, sis. Towel here."
"Heh. Thanks, I'll use it."
Nami mashed the camera button, checking footage intently.
"Tried any gear here, Nami?"
"Couldn't lift a 10kg empty bar."
"Hehe, normal. At your age, skip heavy muscle work."
"So-wol sis, know Shin Yeon-ho?"
"Shin Yeon-ho...? Who?"
"You don't?"
Nami's face stiffened. She'd assumed they knew each other, but So-wol didn't even remember.
"Nationals quarterfinals—you faced him."
"Quarterfinals... oh, kinda rings a bell. Nami, play the VTube vid?"
"Sure. Wait, what?"
Ban So-wol has severe visual impairment. Barely sees, yet wants VTube?
"Sound alone brings it all back."
"Ah, got it."
Nami nearly fell for bias but quickly pulled up the 2049 Nationals quarterfinals, match 4.
"Who could've predicted this! High school second-years, two dark horses on a single log bridge! Seoul's Alteer Academy, Shin Yeon-ho! Busan's Aspen Academy, Ban So-wol! Whoever wins, this match is legendary!"
"Announcer was hyped even then. Must've been drained—we were the last match."
The tense seventeen-year-olds faced off under moonlit arena lights.
"Previous match ran long—no time for intros. Probably started right away?"
Alteer's top genius, Shin Yeon-ho, crushed by Ban So-wol in one go. Despite her visual handicap, she crushed quarters and semis, reaching finals as a high school second-year—the first in 8 years. First ever for a visually impaired person since founding.
Every achievement came with "first."
"Looking back, quarters felt tougher than semis. Great stamina—held in a war of attrition."
She wields "heavy" aura mastery. Born from acquired blindness. Middle school: washed her face, right eye gone. Thought poisoned water at first. Hospital: rare genetic mutation, left eye time-limited too.
Harsh for a teen. Home fine with tech, but outside? Constant collisions.
Storm hit her calm life. Crying changes nothing—she resolved to change. Deep-rooted trees withstand typhoons. Heavy rocks endure millennia. Solidify self, world parts.
Endless middle-school insights: "Don't demand world as wished; wish world as is."
Immovable mind. Mencius and Zeno formed her core. Aura like a three-year-old: endless "why?"
-Why think heavy rock eternal? Rain/snow erosion? Still prefer heavy?
-How compare weightless? Love heavier than hate?
Answer all firmly, aura unleashes superhuman power.
"Ban So-wol! Ban So-wol! Brawl ends, shoves Shin Yeon-ho out! Looks like 2nd Circle levitation—first magic? Vanishes from screen! Above Shin Yeon-ho! Right above!"
Heavy isn't slow/clumsy. Moon orbits insanely fast. "Heavy" is "inertia." Aligned with "principle" and "righteousness," heavy mastery maximizes.
She shattered assumptions she'd need ground contact for aura sense. Leapt higher than floating Shin, spun half-turn. In heavy aura field, moved fastest. Heel-point aura smashed his back. Instant crater, dust cloud. Barrier under 1%, shock unabsorbed—he passed out.
"Ban So-wol! Ban So-wol! Baan So-woool! She did it! Ban So-wol did it! Aspen's last ember burns strong!"
Slightly biased announcing, but Nami nodded. Crowd cheered her ascent back then.
"Finals loss must sting."
"Nah. Could've dropped anytime from prelims."
Split-second calls flip fights. She'd fought peak with her philosophy. Loss didn't break it— she was deficient overall.
But when Nami entered class, their auras touched. First shake to her philosophy.
Infinitely light, yet infinitely heavy.
Can't coexist. Golden mean yes, mix no. Hard to articulate, but closest natural words.
"Arm-wrestle now? With aura."
Nami suggested first. So-wol brightened. Wanted closer look at that aura.
"Win, you give me your number?"
"Could give now. That okay?"
"Not for me—for Shin Yeon-ho."
"Why him?"
Nami skipped reply, prone on floor. Not on desk—full power.
So-wol smiled, ponytailing her long hair.
"Alright. Let's see Nami's strength."
Her long arms pumped from big three.
Gauge, then throw it.
Soft small hand met callused rough. With aura, she'd beaten club president. Unidirectional force: peak efficiency.
Dull gray aura crept up. Golden glints between.
"Whoa! Aura this refined already?"
Pure genius? Vivid, even warm. So-wol's gray eyes widened in shock.
Whoosh—!
Arms trembled. Strong-willed auras clashed, hair fluttering in shockwave.
Far stronger than expected—So-wol marveled.
Not just talent... building worldview already?
High mana affinity means high mental age. But this? Unbelievable.
Nami strained to push.
Such being real, before her eyes.
Thud—!
So-wol's hand hit first.
"I lost...! Incredible, how that aura—"
"Again."
Praise cut by Nami's fierce tone.
"You went easy..."
"That—"
"Left hand now. No mercy."
"Got it. Accepting your terms."
Fierce competitive kid. Admirable not accepting win, and cute.
Shooo—
Gray aura swirled dragon-like, wrapping left arm.
"Grab."
Untrained can't pierce aura barriers. Why she doesn't go full: no grip otherwise.
Tap—
What now?
Soft skin again.
"What... how...?"
Same size, feel—palm-wide now.
"Go easy, big trouble sis. Could hurt."
"You."
"For real."
Nami's aura golden? Feel color alone. Now: blood-red black.
Crackle—!
"Sword aura?"
Auras repelled, sparks flew.
"3 seconds. Starting then."
So-wol counted inwardly.
3. Hand heavy—like first touch.
2. Now pushing her back. Nami's aura shaped against dragon: boiling dark red surface, sprouting mouths.
1. Sharp aura: teeth? Vicious chompers shredded gray dragon. Injected more? Sucked faster.
Sudden hunger surged.
"What the—!"
Shwaaaa—!
Mist-like vapor. Mountain-force crushed arm. Wrist veins bulged resisting. Felt like concrete wall.
She finely sensed Nami's face along swollen muscles.
"...!"
[Appetite: Erysichthon]
There: unsmiling girl, ecstatic bliss, drooling transparently, watching lovingly.
"You'll get eaten."