Gym Beasts and Commendation Day
The day after meeting Kim Jin-seo, I headed to school. Classes were suspended due to the break, but we could still use the various facilities on the Florence Academy grounds. I planned to hit the gym. The school had advised us to stay indoors as much as possible, but I didn't want to spend the day moping alone in my empty apartment.
I'd intended to do chest day with bench presses, but some monstrous beast had claimed the bench, so I switched to back exercises instead.
"Hoo."
40kg, 10 reps, 5 sets. I stuck to perfect form on the lat pulldowns, pushing hard through my back workout, then caught my breath for a bit. It had been a while since my last session, so it felt tougher than usual. During the break, I casually scanned the room.
Even during the suspension, there were more people around than I'd expected. Mostly aspiring Holy Warriors or paladins from their classes, it seemed. And among them was Kim Jin-seo. She was doing cardio on the treadmill. Good to see she'd recovered well. Her expression looked brighter than usual too.
"What the hell. You're out of the hospital? When?"
I'd been watching her when someone called out. It was Gu Jun-hyeok.
"Yesterday."
"You get discharged and don't even tell me, you punk? You knew I visited, right?"
"Oh yeah, Uncle mentioned it. Thanks."
"You knew and still didn't hit me up? You're a real piece of work."
"Yesterday was crazy busy. Too much going on."
The deal with Bae Jeong-hwan. Meeting Kim Jin-seo. By the time I got home, I was wiped and crashed right away. No time to even think about texting. Besides, I had no real reason to reach out to Gu Jun-hyeok specifically.
"Anyway, you sure it's cool to jump straight back into workouts after getting out? Whoa, check this out."
Gu Jun-hyeok suddenly looked shocked.
"You got a thing for Kim Jin-seo?"
"What the—out of nowhere."
Then he started spouting nonsense.
"Nah, you were staring at her. Weren't you?"
"I just glanced for a second. You're making a big deal out of nothing."
"Busted. You like her. Right? Admit it. You do, don't you?"
"No. She just recovered fast, that's all. She got pretty banged up too."
No need to mention yesterday's meeting. I brushed it off with a vague excuse.
Gu Jun-hyeok glanced at Kim Jin-seo, who was sprinting away, and nodded slowly.
"...Yeah. How'd she bounce back so quick?"
"What?"
"Super recovery? Hmm."
He crossed his arms, pretending to ponder, then grinned.
"Must've had a fancy hospital. Girl's loaded."
"Yeah, probably."
"Anyway, keep grinding. I'm out. There's a psycho in here."
Gu Jun-hyeok wiped his sweat with a towel and bolted from the gym. He seemed in a hurry. I jumped back into my set before the flow broke. No time to wonder who the psycho was.
Lat pulldowns into pull-ups, then seated rows. Once my back muscles gave out, I switched to biceps.
"Right way! Hoo—!"
Mid-lift, a bizarre roar echoed from the bench area. Too primal for a human—practically a beast's howl. The guy had a flawless physique: arms, legs, chest, all perfect. A total giant. Five 20kg plates on each side of the barbell. 220kg total, and he pumped it like it was nothing.
[Is that even human? Looks like a bear in disguise.]
Even Legba, who'd seen it all, was stunned.
"Come on! Right way. Easy way! Hoooo—!!"
The guy was a total maniac. I tuned him out with my earbuds blasting music, but his yells still pierced through now and then. The volume was ridiculous.
He approached me right before my final set.
"Stop. You'll get hurt!"
His massive voice cut through the earbuds.
"Lock those elbows! Or your joints'll shatter."
My elbows had been stinging anyway, so I adjusted like he said. The pain vanished like magic, and the burn hit my biceps perfectly.
"Good, Do Seon-woo!"
"How do you know my—"
"Love seeing you train hard even after that incident!"
His gym shirt had a name tag: Kang Dae-man. Familiar name. One of the freshman reps, holder of the Diligence Holy Mark. The only one who hadn't cracked the top ranks in diagnostics.
Kang Dae-man finished with that and went back to his routine. Right way—! Hoo—! His grunts echoed through the gym.
"What a lunatic?"
[Seems like it.]
Even after I finished and left, Kang Dae-man was still going strong. Tireless.
*
A week. The endless suspension finally wrapped up. My routine stayed the same: gym, practicing blessing and healing circles, occasional voodoo drills. Uncle Lee Jin-seong texted that they'd soon locate the altar. And finally, the walk to school. The sky was especially clear today. My steps felt light. First time the commute felt this good.
[Morning mass will include the commendation ceremony. You're getting one, Do Seon-woo, so don't be late.]
Thanks to Ha Ye-jin's text last night.
Commendations count toward records, a big boost for higher clergy paths. One step closer to my goal.
I reached the auditorium and dozed in the commendation seats until mass began.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—"
"My fault, my fault, my most grievous fault—"
The priests handled the opening rites. Mass flew by routinely. I mostly slept through it. No reason for me to pay attention anyway. I'm not Romanica.
Mass ended. The priest stepped down, and a teacher took the mic.
"Ah, ah. Thank you for your efforts. Now for announcements and commendations."
Here we go.
"First, please don't spread baseless rumors about last week's magic beast incident. There's nonsense going around about Satanists infiltrating Florence. Faculty and assigned paladins are investigating, so refrain from mentioning it until the truth comes out."
Satanists had infiltrated. But the denial made sense. Rumors like that could tarnish Florence's prestige as a top clergy academy. Obvious motive.
"Next, commendations. Patience Class Kim Jin-seo, Charity Class Do Seon-woo, to the stage."
Kim Jin-seo shot up and hurried forward. I followed.
Spotlights hit us onstage.
"First-year Patience Class, Kim Jin-seo. For demonstrating patience to overcome the crisis, ensuring safe evacuation, and enhancing Florence Academy's honor, hereby commended. Florence Academy Chairman Kim Chang-won."
Kim Jin-seo bowed and took her commendation amid thunderous applause from below.
"Next, first-year Charity Class, Do Seon-woo. Same merits."
I bowed, accepted mine. They clapped, but it was way quieter than for her. I get it, but damn, the difference stung.
"Now, bow to the students."
We turned and bowed. Cheers erupted—but all for Kim Jin-seo. Nothing for me.
Not thrilled, but whatever. The commendation itself mattered. Plenty to celebrate for my high cleric goal.
Mass ended. I headed to class with my commendation in hand. Sky looked a bit overcast. Or maybe just my mood.
"H-hey!"
A clear voice called from behind amid my gloom. Glanced back: Kim Jin-seo. Her short black hair was a bit messy. Breathing hard—she'd run.
"Oh. Your finger, it healed—"
"Here."
Before I finished, she shoved something at me. Jelly. The trendy snack among kids these days. First time seeing one, let alone trying.
"Just... thanks. Couldn't say it then. ...Oh, your finger's fine now—"
"Yeah. ...Huh? Oh, the finger healed? No scar?"
"No scar."
Our talk kept clashing. I'd start, she'd cut in; she'd start, I'd interrupt. Awkward as hell. Her usual smiley face was stiff and cold.
"Anyway, bye."
She joined her friends ahead, pulling jellies from her bag to share. Same kind. Probably bought for them, gave me the extra.
[Reattach her finger and get a bag of jelly! Quite the profitable deal.]
Legba snarked. Pure loss on paper. But I hadn't done it for cash, so no regrets. She just seemed pitiful. Wait, no—Director's daughter, strategic help. The jelly payback? Meh. I hate jelly. One of the few things picky eater me avoids. Not even real food.
"Hey, why you walking solo? ...What's that, jelly?"
Soon Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok caught up. Jeong In-ah eyed the bag curiously.
"Don't sell it around here. Where'd you get it?"
"Didn't buy it. Kim Jin-seo gave it to me earlier."
"Huh? You and Kim Jin-seo buddies now?"
Jeong In-ah's face tightened. Subtly.
"Not really. Just some stuff went down."
"What? That peeping last time—!"
Gu Jun-hyeok jumped in.
"Peeping? When did I—"
"Makes sense if you're swapping jellies. Not peeping—full-on signals exchanged. Totally—"
Thwack.
Jeong In-ah stomped his shin. Felt good. I was getting annoyed anyway.
"Shut it now."
"Ow, hey! Quit kicking my shin. Hurts like hell? Wanna try?"
Gu Jun-hyeok hopped around clutching it.
By the time our bickering ended, we were at class. We slipped in the back door casually. But the stares were off. Specifically at me—ice cold. Eyes full of clear hostility. Aimed right at me.
"What? Mood's weird."
Gu Jun-hyeok noticed too.
Ding!
A cheery text tone. To Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok. Not me.
"What the hell."
Jeong In-ah checked her phone, face hardening.
(To be continued next time)