Fitness Veteran (2)

It had already been another ten minutes since I started performing squats with improper form. Sweat was beginning to bead on my forehead, and the droplets trickled down onto my clothes, soaking my entire body. I was a little worried the constellation might lose interest, but there was no reason to get impatient here. After all, I had the Broadcast Genius trait.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, a welcome sound finally rang out.

Finally. At the same time, a translucent window popped up in front of me along with narration. It was the window I had been waiting for all this time.

If I passed this test, I would be able to contract my second constellation.

It was exactly then that Lens, who had been sitting on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠pull-up bar, spoke up.

"...Really?"

I turned my gaze forward again, leaving the cackling Lens behind. If that was all there was to it, he should save his laughter for now. This was only the beginning.

Anyway, I checked the nickname of the new constellation I had just met.

Muscle Pain Lover......

As the name suggested, he was a constellation related to muscles. The Hunter Academy was essentially a gathering place for students who wanted to become stronger. Among them, the spot where the desire for 'strength' concentrated the most was the training center. It was impossible to know every constellation's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠territory, but it was obvious where the god who governed the desire for muscle would linger.

The longing for a perfect body. Muscle Pain Lover's only interest was in the sight of humans working out. And as the mission objective showed, his request was simple. That was exactly why I had chosen him.

But the more important reason for drawing him in as a viewer constellation was something else entirely. My true goal was to diminish the influence of the violence mission.

A message appeared right then.

Perfect timing. But what was I supposed to do? My broadcast wasn't the kind where you could only watch what you wanted to see.

"Hoo, alright then."

I might as well start with the deadlift.

He was throwing a complete tantrum. I ignored his messages and continued the workout.

"Hup! Hup!—"

...Around five minutes later, I finished the final repetition and finally set the barbell down. The required count had been low, so I was able to complete the mission quickly. Right then, narration rang inside my head.

Nice! The sense of accomplishment that came with a successful plan spread through my whole body. With this, I now had two constellations...!

That was when Lens spoke, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

"Huh?"

I paused for a moment before answering.

"Not necessarily, Lens. Cheon-gye TV prepared one rule that's favorable to humans in case something like this happens."

"Knowing the rules before you play the game is basic."

The moment I said that, a red message floated up before my eyes. This was exactly what I had been aiming for!

The rule that daily missions must be completed 'once per day.' Therefore, when multiple contracted constellations existed, the broadcaster gained the authority to modify the dates of those daily missions. Since today's daily mission had been replaced by the eligibility test... the changes would begin tomorrow.

I immediately pushed the violence daily mission to the back of the schedule.

From now on, the exercise mission and violence mission would alternate in order.

Still... I never imagined I'd feel this happy about having a day where I could just work out. I felt pathetic for all the times I used to find exercising annoying.

"Hey, Ha Yeonjun! You were doing it properly, right?"

"...Huh?"

Kim Jeong-a's voice reached me at that moment. I had completely forgotten about her, but she really had come back. Moreover, the class president Kyung-tae who had left with her also returned and tossed me a drink.

"Did you train hard? Here, drink this."

Aqua Sparkle. A hunter beverage containing taurine, vitamins, and electrolytes. Kyung-tae crossed his arms and spoke.

"It's my treat to celebrate becoming the class president of Class 1, dumbass."

"Thanks, I'll enjoy it."

The guy was really showing off... Right then, Kyung-tae's eyes began to sparkle. What had caught his attention was none other than the barbell lying at my feet. He grinned and walked closer.

"Yeah, you've got to work hard if you want to escape Citizen Hall. So how many kilos is that?"

He started reading the number on the plate, then suddenly frowned.

"Let's see the weight... Hey, wait! You didn't lift this yourself, did you?"

I didn't answer his question. There was no telling what kind of rumor might spread from that loose mouth of his. I took a sip of the ion drink I was holding and stood up.

"I'll be going now. Citizen Hall has fixed meal times, so I can't eat if I'm late."

It was best to get out of there quickly before these proud Emperor Hall students started asking all sorts of questions. Kyung-tae stood in front of the barbell tilting his head, while Kim Jeong-a watched me with a somewhat dazed expression. Before heading back to the dormitory, I made sure to thank her.

"By the way, thanks for helping me with my form earlier, Kim Jeong-a!"

"Huh? Uh, yeah... See you tomorrow."

The corners of my mouth refused to come down the entire time I was leaving the training center. It was thanks to the relief of finally escaping the pressure of the daily mission and the comfort of not having to worry about how to pick a fight for a while. On top of that, the new information I had gained today... My plan was far from over.

*

"Haaah—!"

After Ha Yeonjun left, Kyung-tae lifted the barbell in front of Kim Jeong-a. His face turned bright red as he managed to raise it about five centimeters before he couldn't hold it any longer and dropped it to the floor.

Thud!

Breathing heavily, Kyung-tae opened his mouth.

"See that, Jeong-a! This is the kind of guy I am."

Kyung-tae flashed a killer smile, convinced he had looked cool. But Kim Jeong-a's mind was already filled with other thoughts.

I definitely saw it earlier.

While Kyung-tae had stepped away to the bathroom, Kim Jeong-a had peeked inside the training center through the door crack. At first she had only meant to check whether he was exercising with proper form. But the sight of Ha Yeonjun at that moment was clearly... lightly lifting a heavy barbell that Kyung-tae couldn't even budge.

"Jeong-a...? Jeong-a!"

"Uh, yes?"

"What are you thinking about so hard?"

Kyung-tae casually slid right up beside her as he spoke. Kim Jeong-a asked in a small voice.

"It's just... Was Yeonjun always that strong?"

"No way, Jeong-a! You're not about to say I'm weaker than Ha Yeonjun, are you?"

"Huh? Ah, no, that's not what I meant..."

"Logically there's no way Ha Yeonjun could lift that. It must have been the weight some third-year senior left behind. Right?"

Right then, someone opened the center door and walked in with steady steps. A man with a buzz cut and a solid, powerful build. The genius prospect Lee Dae-han had appeared.

"What is this? Are Kim Jeong-a and Kyung-tae dating?"

Only then did Kim Jeong-a realize how close she was sitting to him. She hurriedly scooted away.

"We're not! Stop talking nonsense and come here for a second."

With a flushed face, Kim Jeong-a pointed at the barbell and changed the subject.

"Want to try lifting this?"

"What? This thing?"

Lee Dae-han paused for a moment, then lifted the barbell as she asked. The heavy weight rose unbelievably lightly. Kyung-tae's expression crumpled instantly. Lee Dae-han spoke.

"It's heavy, but... this much is nothing."

"Could a Citizen Hall student lift that easily?"

"Citizen Hall? Why? What's going on?"

Kyung-tae answered in her place.

"Jeong-a keeps saying it looked like Ha Yeonjun lifted it."

"Ha Yeonjun? Ha Yeonjun lifted this? No way. I know the guy."

"See! You think so too, right?"

The two boys looked at her as if she were being ridiculous. Kim Jeong-a forced a smile and shrugged.

"R-right...? I guess I must have seen wrong."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

In the end, Kim Jeong-a had no choice but to agree with them. She told herself that what she had seen was a mistake.

Well, it is an impossible thing.