Dragged into Workout Hell
"It's pretty expensive, but after the accident, I barely wear it anymore."
After getting the smartwatch from Athena, I sadly gaze at my Rolex, which hasn't seen my wrist since. The Rolex is prettier, sure, but it can't beat the smartwatch's convenience.
I'm glad you're wearing what I gave you. But is your arm okay?
I showed top marksman-level skills at the shooting range, which was great, but the recoil left my arm a bit sore.
"Still kinda numb. Guess I need to hold back from now on."
I can pull off superhuman athletic feats in bursts, but my body can't quite handle the aftermath? The hangover's worse than I expected.
"If a pistol does this, I'd be dead from a rifle or machine gun."
Since getting out of the army and skipping workouts, I can feel myself turning into a total weakling.
Why don't you ask the guys to teach you some exercises? They're all experts, right?
She's got a point, but... their workout intensity is on a whole different level from army seniors.
"Hold on, now that I think about it, I've never actually seen them working out."
They're always too busy shadowing me; I haven't caught them doing personal stuff.
They work out early mornings or late evenings on their own. Want to join them, Master?
Athena nags when I skip exercise, so to live peacefully without the lectures, maybe I do need some routine.
"Starting today feels a bit much. How about tomorrow?"
These things are meant to be procrastinated by a day.
Sadly, you're already too late.
"What does that mean?"
Her cryptic reply has me pondering when the doorbell rings.
Ding-dong~
"Ah."
Here it comes. That exact feeling from getting dragged to the army.
"No way, right?"
I approach the intercom, and there's Jacob on the screen.
"Why are you here?"
I can guess, but politeness demands I ask.
"Come out now, and I'll go easy. Behave and step out."
"I have no idea what you mean..."
I really don't want to work out. So damn annoying.
I'm stalling with excuses when a cheerful chime rings, and the door unlocks.
"Why'd it open?"
Because I opened it.
Ten seconds before my plan to hole up inside and postpone crumbles to dust.
"Good morning, Boss. Let's go."
The massive white guy grabs my shoulder and kidnaps me outside.
────
Dangling helplessly from Jacob's thick arm as he drags me—it's a pathetic sight. Like a kid throwing a tantrum about going to hagwon?
A short walk later, we arrive at the apartment's fitness center. This luxury place has top-notch facilities, as Athena once bragged. It's usually quiet since it's residents-only, but today it's completely empty. Weird day?
"Whoa, Boss? You actually showed?"
Dragged inside, I spot Carlos squatting with a barbell that looks twice my body weight. He greets me.
"No, I'm not here willingly..."
"Nah, nah. Boss volunteered for basic training."
Liam, jogging on the treadmill, approaches with a creepy grin.
"Drink this first. Perfect for muscle relaxation and fatigue recovery."
"...This isn't poison, is it?"
The color looks ominous as hell. Do I really need to chug this? But Jacob's silent pressure wins; I squeeze my eyes shut and down it in one go.
Control your expression, Master. It's really good for you.
'Shut up. How can you do this to me?'
Rebellion surges, but escape's impossible now.
"Alright, stretching first."
Jacob lays me on the floor. What follows isn't light stretching—it's torture, my screams louder than gunfire.
"Aaaah! My arm! It's gonna rip off!"
"We're not even half range yet. Relax."
I tried Hollywood action-hero resistance, but Jacob doesn't flinch, just torments me. The team huddles nearby, eyes gleaming, waiting their turn to watch.
After 10 minutes of hellish stretching in Jacob's grip, I'm drenched in sweat already.
"Warm-up done. Time for the real thing."
Carlos grins, hauling over massive dumbbells.
"...You're really doing this?"
I fed them, regrew their legs, gave them homes—and now they repay with vengeance. Regretting my leisurely Rolex complaints this morning.
────
As a newbie, they keep it to 50 minutes of main workout plus cooldown. Emerging from the shower, my hands and feet tremble.
Shuffling out like a soulless zombie, Carlos slaps my shoulder with a refreshed face.
"You held up better than expected?"
"What kinda nightmare talk is that? I won't move tomorrow."
He looks baffled.
"Haha, you're exaggerating. Tomorrow'll feel lighter than today—no worries. First day's always the worst."
"Tomorrow feels lighter" means enduring this hell again. 'I hate this so much...'
But isn't working out good for you?
It is good. But... this wasn't the workout I had in mind.
Stroking my quivering legs, I collapse on the floor as the others head to shower.
'Should run now, but no strength left.'
Zoning out at the gym, they emerge quick—combat showers?
"Time for chow, Boss. Steakhouse nearby—sound good?"
Carlos suggests lunch, looking a tad disappointed.
"Craving kimchi jjigae..."
With rain brewing, spicy stew sounds perfect.
"No can do. Post-workout means protein."
Liam, who fed me poison earlier, states firmly.
"...Fine, let's go."
────
"...Huh?"
At the steakhouse, someone who shouldn't be here is.
"Dude, didn't your mom get in a car accident? You psycho."
The guy who bolted from the PC bang claiming his parents crashed—Kim Hyun-seong.
"She wasn't badly hurt. Just checked and discharged. But who are they...?"
Korea's so damn small. Running into him here is absurd.
'Ugh, why'd I bump into Kim Hyun-seong here of all places.'
I skipped explaining on purpose during Jamsil trips, didn't expect this.
"So, who are they?"
They're casual, but four hulks behind me? Hard to explain.
'Fuck, what now? Can't say bodyguards.'
Insist they're acquaintances. Say they came to Korea for fun.
Dunno if he'll buy it, but better than "bodyguards."
"Acquaintances. Came from the US to tour Korea."
"...No offense, but they don't look ordinary."
Their builds scream suspicion from Hyun-seong, but I grit my teeth, ignore it, and get seated.
"Wanna join if you haven't eaten?"
"Nah, I'm a steak delivery guy—gotta drop this off for Mom."
Missed it in shock, but his takeout bag sways pitifully.
"Yeah, scram then."
Today's cursed—bad luck piling up.
────
Post-meal, Jacob in the passenger seat speaks up.
"Who was that guy? Seemed like a friend from how you talked."
"Yeah, friend. The one we met when you guys were furniture shopping last time."
Liam beside me asks.
"He seemed clueless about you, Boss. Keeping distance for security?"
"Nah, not that. Just... complicated to explain. Don't wanna make it awkward."
Carlos at the wheel chuckles.
"Fair. If my buddy rolled with thugs like us, I'd think crime syndicate over lottery win."
"...Please shut up, Carlos."
Always reining him in.
────
No tasks, but I head to the office, slumping in my chair, zoning out.
"Came to work, but nothing to do."
Athena handles work; team does the legwork. So my "job" is scenery-watching from the chair.
Gazing at bustling folks, Athena chimes in.
Master, okay to send Eric and Liam to Ansan on dispatch?
"Ansan? Why there?"
Just the semiconductor factory.
Made nano-film for the office here, home, and unmodified Panamera. Need someone to pick it up.
Makes sense to send gear-loving Eric.
"Won't take long—half day max?"
Yep, sending them together to sightsee too.
Half the guards gone, but no issue.
"Heading out now?"
Yes, departing on your approval. Eric's face lit up beet red at 'high-tech factory.'
"Fine by me—tell 'em to enjoy the breeze."
Approval given, Liam and Eric say bye and leave. Office feels emptier with two gone.
"Why's my ear itching? Someone badmouthing me?"
Hyun-seong's been Kakao-bombing you since earlier.
"Send a middle finger. Too lazy to reply."
Dunno what crap he'll spew, but dealing with it sounds exhausting.