Chapter 141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Can I Pull It Off?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Can I do it?
That was my first thought. Even without smiling, the excitement bubbling up in a somewhat positive direction was the same for me. Right beside me, Han Se-ryong's eyes flickered with confusion as he alone picked up on my feelings. A look that said, Is this kid crazy?
In the midst of the tension, I was well aware I wasn't crazy. It was just that, after so long, I was thrilled by the pure attention and gazes directed solely at me.
"W-what are you doing? Hurry up and speak. Oppa. The angel is calling for you. You'll get divine punishment at this rate."
How much time had passed since I'd last gone down to the family home? That's when I'd felt it—the electrifying thrill of all that attention on me turning into a spotlight.
Even on the train ride back to Seoul, thanks to the quest, I'd smacked my lips thinking I'd get to savor that feeling often from now on. But once I was back up here, not a single instance like that had ever happened.
My role had always been limited to covering for the other women in the studio apartment, taking the spotlight in their place. At some point, I'd quietly accepted that it suited my level perfectly and given up on it. Yet here life was, throwing another moment like this my way.
'Whew.'
Even a light exhale drew sharp stares clinging to me. Those stinging gazes made my heart race. It felt like standing at the center, like I'd become the protagonist.
In reality, showing off cool here would make me the hero, while looking pathetic would at least break even. Sure, it'd be a bit embarrassing, but I had nothing to lose. The ones with everything on the line were the bold ones strutting out there.
'Can I do it?'
I asked myself coldly once more. I'd already confirmed my physique was better than his during our runs together. But everyone knew—even elementary kids these days—that physique wasn't everything in a fight.
'It's important, but technique is just as crucial.'
In that sense, the current situation was ironically the opposite of how it looked. My physique outclassed that buff guy's, while his technique as a pro was overwhelmingly superior. Logically, my physical edge shouldn't bridge that technique gap.
...But could my physique really be judged by normal standards anymore? Why didn't it feel like it could?
"Sorry about this. If we end it like this, the whole team's face will be ruined just as the Chairman said. I'll finish it as quickly as possible."
The buff guy standing before me oozed confidence with those words. Polite on the surface, but barely so. His eyes weren't much different from mine. They burned with the will to shine here and become the protagonist.
The difference? He was complacent, while I was desperately wracking my unresponsive brain.
'How can I win this?'
I wasn't fantasizing about some absurd scene where he tried a joint lock like an armbar and I just powered through, hoisted him up, and slammed him down.
No, I was frantically searching for a fighting method that could narrow the technique gap with my physical superiority.
'How?'
The scariest part was their basic restraint techniques as security pros—self-defense moves. Pros like them would lock you in before you blinked. If it was a joint lock, no amount of strength would get you out easily.
My head throbbed with the effort, and that's when my eyes met Han Aebom's, who'd moved to the VIP seats beside Han Se-ryong.
"......"
Her eyes held such unwavering confidence in my victory that it flustered me instead. Seeing that, I scratched the back of my head awkwardly and loosened up. Maybe it was my imagination, but I felt a surge of energy. I'm a guy, after all. When a beauty like that cheers you on so steadfastly, how could you not get fired up?
"Please go easy on me. Just so you know, I don't know any fighting techniques at all. Sorry if I hurt you."
"No worries, don't sweat it."
The buff guy burst into laughter but barely held it back. A reaction like, What kind of nonsense is that? Team Leader Kim seemed to judge this whole show as the buff guy's one-sided win and the Chairman's consideration for the security team's pride.
"Alright, since this is a light sparring event, no going too hard! Stop immediately if you pin the opponent or they tap out!"
Whew, tense.
How long had it been since I'd faced someone one-on-one like this? Probably the last time was elementary 6th grade, when I earned my taekwondo belt.
"Here we go! Begin!"
At Team Leader Kim's signal, the buff guy grinned and casually beckoned with one hand.
"Come at me whenever you're ready."
Unbelievable. It wasn't like I had a gun; did first strike even matter? A security guy should've trained against charging opponents. Shameless bastard.
'Still, if that buff dude charged like lightning on purpose, it'd be scary in its own way.'
Training together had taught me: big bodies didn't mean slow reflexes. True to Hanban Group's security team, they all had agility belying their size.
In the end, all I could trust was Stamina +8 and Strength +4. Agility +1 was a nice bonus.
'Whew, will this go how I think?'
If not, I'd just end up humiliated. But I couldn't back out just because it was embarrassing.
"Huh?"
"Pfft, what the hell?"
"Whoa, that's wild."
Laughter erupted around us. Even Han Se-ryong let out a hollow chuckle.
In the midst of it, I crouched low, arms crossed and clenched tight, glaring at the buff guy. Like a kid gearing up for a cute body slam at an adult.
'At least this way, he can't break my arms.'
Just watch the neck and legs then. Actually, just the neck.
If my hunch about the legs was right...
"Hup!"
"Come on, that's adorable!"
The buff guy smirked and lunged, trying to grab me lightly with both hands.
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
Instead of blocking me, he bounced back, tumbling ass-first unceremoniously. He sprang up quick, but looked utterly flustered. I was even more surprised he hadn't dodged.
'He really sees me as cannon fodder.'
We'd trained together for hours; he knew my physique wasn't bad. Head empty? Forgot already?
Now I was certain: Strength +4 matched his power. Add Stamina +8, and that was that.
"Haha, just kidding. Kidding. I'll let it slide once."
"You gonna do that in a real fight too? Show that crap again, and you're done! Get serious!"
"Yes, sir!"
With Han Se-ryong watching, Team Leader Kim yelled even harsher, his gaze on me shifting. Han Se-ryong focused less on the buff guy's pathetic showing and more on my unexpected performance. Fitting for Hanban Group's Chairman—focusing on the positive over the negative. Most people zeroed in on flaws first...
Ah, no time to admire Han Se-ryong's attitude. The buff guy, playfulness gone, closed in slowly with dead-serious eyes. No longer seeing me as a newbie. Now I was a thug he had to subdue at full power.
'Fights really make you read eyes.'
Experience is everything. I realized how crucial eye contact was. Watching his cautious approach, I charged again.
He ducked like he'd been waiting, lightning-fast, going for my legs. His speed and flexibility nearly made me gasp. I almost instinctively kneed his face but held back. A knee there—if it didn't drop him—my leg would've been caught.
"Gotcha!"
He had my leg now too. But both my feet on the ground made all the difference.
"...? No way, what kind of legs... Ugh!"
Taller and bulkier, he grabbed one leg with both hands to lift. It didn't budge. Instead, my elbow plunged freely into his exposed back.
Thud! Crack!
"Guh, grrrgh!"
God. I felt bad even hitting him. My elbow sank satisfyingly into his back muscles and bone.
"Argh! What the hell!"
Flustered, annoyed, and anxious, he backed off frantically and reset his stance. He'd tried subduing with self-defense before. Now? He just wanted to pummel me. Team Leader Kim flinched, but with Han Se-ryong and Han Aebom unfazed, he shut his mouth.
'He's right, though.'
Arms crossed tight like sealed, I was just a sandbag that could shuffle on two legs.
'Not planning to uncross them, though.'
His leg grab confirmed it. High Stamina and Strength meant—unless joint-locked, pummeled one-sidedly, or counter-hit perfectly—
the physically superior guy wins fights.
'Picture's a bit weird.'
Visually, the buff guy looked like he'd hurl me a meter with a tackle, yet here I was overwhelming him physically.
I glared without letting guard down, and he charged, swinging a full-power fist at my face—no mercy after eating hits. My stance awkward and no dodge in mind, I took it and twisted, elbowing his side.
"Gack!"
"Ngh!"
My head rang faintly, a metallic taste in my mouth. Unlike Han Aebom's punches, this had real impact. But that was it.
"Fuck! What the...!"
Clutching his side, face twisted, he charged again. Faked a punch into a low kick at my leg. Unexpected? I reflexively lifted mine, bones clashing.
"......!"
Thump!
A dull thud echoed; his kicking leg trembled. Mine just tingled.
Seeing him grit through the pain, I body-slammed again.
"Guh!"
Thud!
He ass-planted once more, and Team Leader Kim raised a hand.
"That's enough!"
"Team Leader! I can still—"
"I said stop! This spar was just to save face for the security team in front of the Chairman. Not to beat the opponent!"
"But..."
The buff guy sighed deeply, head hanging. Probably sorry and embarrassed to his teammates. No one glared at him reproachfully, though.
Instead, they all stared like they'd spotted a rare zoo animal.
At the end of those gazes? None other than me.