Preparing for the Promotion Exam (1)
"Eunha, did you know? It's been three years since anyone last asked me to help with exercise."
It was 6 p.m. After closing the cafe, Eunha and Banharin met at Euncheon-gu Park. Dressed comfortably in tracksuits, they stretched lightly while chatting. When Eunha asked if Banharin could help with training, she agreed readily and suggested starting right away. The scars on Eunha's lower back and left hand from the Transparent Baby's kitchen knife bothered her a bit yesterday, but the tracksuit covered them, and she'd gloved her left hand, so it was fine. The sunset-tinged, refreshingly cool weather was perfect for working out, and Banharin cheered her on.
"I always thought you were just some slacker office worker. If I'd known you were a hunter, I'd have asked ages ago."
"Is that so... I should have said something sooner. For reference, this is me."
As Eunha sat with her legs spread wide, Banharin pressed firmly on her back with one hand and pulled her hunter license from her tracksuit pocket to show it.
Eunha took the card, her eyes widening in surprise.
It was that shocking. Banharin's hunter license was jaw-dropping.
"What... Banharin, you're a C-rank hunter? Why tell me now...!"
"I didn't want to intimidate an F-rank hunter from our neighborhood."
"You don't get intimidated by stuff like this if you're gonna be a hunter."
Eunha clutched Banharin's(?) hunter license and made a huge fuss. And rightly so— a hunter's rank meant more than one might think. Especially a proper combat-class C-rank hunter, which was Eunha's first goal and ideal type.
"So, what's it like being C-rank? Have you been in the Artificial Rift Zone?"
"Quiet. Focus on stretching now."
"Kuh-hurk..."
Having successfully fooled Eunha with the 'fake' hunter license, Banharin pressed down hard on her back with a stern "be quiet." Eunha's legs, already spread wide in flexibility stretches, splayed out fully, flattening her onto the lush grass.
...Huh, was I always this flexible?
Pinned to the ground and feeling breathless, Eunha tilted her head at her strangely limber body. Her flexibility had always been average. Her Self-Regeneration skill kept her from getting more flexible or stiffer. But now, inexplicably, she was ridiculously bendy. Legs stretched wide, belly-flopped on the ground—no pain.
"Whoa... Banharin, can you pull my legs back a bit?"
"Like this?"
"Aaaah!! I surrender! Surrender!!"
Curious how far she could go, she'd asked Banharin to try—only for her to yank Eunha's legs up like tearing off a chicken drumstick. Knees pinning her hips precisely, Eunha couldn't even flail. After screaming surrender five times, Banharin finally relented. Freed from the tearing pain, Eunha rubbed her throbbing thighs and sat up.
...It hurt, but just shy of infuriating. Precisely calibrated so Eunha wouldn't snap. Chillingly precise strength control. Impressive.I'll be able to do that too at C-rank.
"Are you okay?"
"It hurts."
"Such a baby... But Eunha, with Self-Regeneration, do you really need to stretch?"
"Nah, just for the vibe."
Eunha rubbed her stinging inner thighs and stood. Banharin had already finished stretching and set up a yoga mat and push-up bars on the grass, waiting nonchalantly.
"Stretching done?"
"My crotch hurts."
"You probably know this, but I'll explain briefly. The 'E-rank promotion exam' is divided into written and basic fitness tests."
Ignoring Eunha's groans crisply, Banharin began explaining with her usual icy face. The 'E-rank Hunter Promotion Exam' that Eunha had failed 30 times. It checked basic morals/common sense and the fitness to flee from monsters. Yes, fleeing ability. E-rank hunters weren't combatants yet. They couldn't enter monster-infested Artificial Rift Zones alone—only with a C-rank+ mentor, gathering mana-grown herbs and such non-combat tasks.
"You're good at the written part, so I'll help with the fitness test. Okay?"
"Of course. I'll do whatever you say."
"Good. First, push-ups."
Eunha trotted over at Banharin's call and stood before the push-up bars on the ground. Her heart pounded. Eternal F-rank hunter Eunha's first hurdle: push-ups. Pass criteria: 90+ in 2 minutes.
"Eunha, Self-Regeneration makes building muscle hard, right? And you can't sense mana either?"
"You know it."
"So today, not raw strength training—tips on using strength efficiently."
Crackle. Banharin wrapped an arm around Eunha's waist, her eyes glowing golden as she adjusted her form. Ironically, thanks to Self-Regeneration, Eunha's stamina was near-infinite. Nail one push-up, and the rest followed easily. But that one...
Anyway, Banharin's plan: find the minimal-effort push-up form. As tense Eunha leaned forward gripping the bars, Banharin touched here and there, optimizing via 'observation'—grip, foot width, descent angle.
"Th-this feels awkward."
"You're not used to the form. Now, slowly... I'll support from the side, so lower slowly."
Aching... Banharin paused her skill due to pain in Eunha's left eye. Still, she continued training like nothing happened.
Wow... nice.
With Banharin supporting her chest, Eunha did push-ups. The form felt subtly off and uncomfortable, but way less effort. Tailored to her skeleton and habits—special training only keen-eyed Banharin could provide. Truly C-rank. Teaching's on another level.Wonder how amazing B- or A-rank are?This'll get me through the next exam easy.
"Form's stable, so I'll ease off a bit."
...But Eunha's confidence crumbled like sand as time passed.
"...Eunha? Use more strength."
"Don't talk. I'm busy."
It went great with chest support, but the instant Banharin eased, Eunha froze like a ghost stopped her. Moved fine with side guidance, but a light tap-off, and she halted like a robot unplugged. After repeats, Banharin stood with baffled eyes, leaving plugged-out Eunha rigid in plank pose.
"...Eunha."
"Don't say it."
"Compared to before, your strength's gotten weaker?"
Eunha flinched at the bullseye. Yeah. Already weak muscles got weaker post-womanhood. Nearly failed opening a beer can last time—scary. Body flexible, but turned to tender chicken. Felt like trading strength for flexibility.
"...Sit-ups first."
"Got it. We'll find a way."
They switched events. Before complaints, Eunha flopped onto the yoga mat, legs together. Banharin adjusted her eyepatch, sat by her legs to hold them, and corrected form with her skill...
But Eunha lay motionless.
"Eunha."
"......"
"Eunha?"
"......"
Comfy. Nap time?Yeah. Pointless even with perfect form. Say sit-ups need average 100 strength. Banharin optimizes to 80. But Eunha's 70 dropped to 50 post-change. Efficiency didn't matter.
Eunha smiled serenely, eyes closing softly.
Banharin, stone-faced, slipped a hand under Eunha's top, prodding her smooth, soft abs.
"...What half-baked belly is this... Better learn 'mana' for Body Enhancement. Faster."
"Body enhancement? Tried two years, felt zero mana."
"...Understood. Then I'll demonstrate. Hold my legs?"
Frustrated, Banharin swapped. She lay on the mat; Eunha held her legs. Hands behind head, textbook-perfect form. She explained sit-up tips with her body—half-given-up, more 'know it exists' than teaching.
"Basically, use every trick—rebound, whatever—right up to the rules' edge."
She held her breath lightly and started. Eunha's body jolted up and down.
"Eek! W-wait...! Hnghk!"
Couldn't hold Banharin's legs firm; each sit-up launched Eunha airborne. C-rank leg strength too? Eunha clung tight, squealing embarrassed shrieks.
Feels like getting airplaned as a kid.
"Hah! Hyat!"
Her veteran mind aside, her body had pathetically low fear tolerance. Just bobbing up-down made her scream preemptively. Hope no one's walking the park.
"Ha-ng! Yah! Hngh!"
"......"
"Kyaa! Hnng...... Ah, crap, what."
How many whimpers from terror? By the time she noticed, Banharin sat up, legs wiggling idly, watching Eunha's antics calmly. Faint smirk—clearly amused.
Eunha slid off her legs, face beet-red like a radish.
Suddenly the girl hugging legs and squealing cutely. Embarrassing. Why'd I do that?
"...Pfft."
Then Banharin twitched, bursting into laughter. Fun, huh. Small but genuine. First time hearing her laugh. Eunha, fanning her hot face, stared wonderingly.
"...Why stare?"
"Banharin can laugh too."
"When did I laugh? Keep exercising."
Banharin turned away, feigning ignorance. Eunha misheard? But those reddened ears said otherwise.
Ice queen smiled.We're even.Embarrassment's okay sometimes.
"Don't smirk. I'll get mad."
"You totally laughed."
"...Know what? I recorded your moans earlier."
"What?"
"I'll play it for Eunbangul too."
"What?"
"What."
Eunha vowed inwardly: Never ask Banharin for training again.
"Kidding. Sorry, Eunha. Didn't know you'd be that embarrassed."
"Let me flick your forehead once."
"Okay."
Flick. Banharin's face twisted subtly.
"You can hit harder."
"When I hit C-rank, I'll really whack you."
"Understood. And... I planned to give this anyway, but as apology—drink at home."
"...What's this? Drink?"
Ignoring her stinging flicking finger, Eunha brushed dirt off her clothes. Banharin handed over a tumbler.
"Protein smoothie with red ginseng, vitamins—good stuff for your body. Made specially since you seem off lately."
"Self-Regeneration means I don't need this."
"So you don't?"
"I'll drink it well."
...Gotta ask Banharin for training tomorrow too.
Thus, Banharin's assisted workout training ended with just Eunha's first black history and zero gains.
Until the next promotion exam...... Long road ahead.