Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Power Gym
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On the way back with Chan-seong to return the stray dogs we'd picked up.
Dozens of puppies scampered ahead, while we walked side by side behind them.
Even when the dogs got distracted and tangled up with each other, Chan-seong skillfully adjusted their leashes.
Eventually, the conversation naturally turned to the Pitbull Guild.
It had been such a massive scandal that it dominated the news, and Chan-seong had been one of the direct victims. Plus...
'I basically exposed it and solved it myself.'
Even if no one acknowledged it, I'd played a huge role in uncovering their crimes. And since my subordinate Brüel had handled the actual takedown, it might as well have been me, right?
My shoulders straightened with pride just as Chan-seong continued his explanation.
"Bro... well, the investigation into the remnants is mostly wrapped up. They're just waiting for the courts now."
But the deeper they dug, the more unimaginable atrocities came to light.
"...Drugs that only work on Awakeners?"
They'd been running bars and illegal gambling dens as fronts to peddle drugs targeted at Awakeners.
They lured in young Awakeners and trafficked them like commodities.
Drugs and underground casinos—shallow schemes that anyone could see through.
The kind of flimsy cover you'd use if someone had your back.
A minimal safety net to shut down the gambling ops if they got heat, while the bigger crimes slid by.
Anyone else might have sensed something off...
But expecting that kind of suspicion from Su-hyeon was a stretch.
'They were even worse than I thought!'
Sensing Chan-seong starting to gloom up again, I switched topics to lighten the mood.
"Anyway, how've things been for you lately?"
Sure, his debts and drug bills were gone, but a guy still needed work.
He'd just made a donation to the animal shelter on the way over, after all.
"Mm, I'm doing part-time gigs while prepping for other guilds' open recruitment. I've ranked up to D-grade, and they say I might even snag a special invite if I play it right."
Chan-seong replied as he tugged the leash of a dog veering off the path.
Following Ga-eun's advice, he seemed to be gearing up for a spot in a bigger guild.
Apparently, it was prime time for the major guilds' mid-year hiring season.
Hope he lands somewhere decent this time.
"I've just been following orders all this time, so I'm clueless about this stuff, but Da-hye's been a huge help in all sorts of ways."
"...Huh?"
Su-hyeon tilted her head at the news that Attorney Da-hye was still helping Chan-seong out.
Wasn't that a bit much for aftercare?
She wasn't even from his company, and she was still looking after a guy she'd just met...
The leaves on her head rustled as Su-hyeon came to a conclusion.
'Attorney Da-hye's got a bigger heart than I thought!'
I'd pegged her as prickly with that foul mouth and intense vibe.
Guess you can't judge by first impressions.
"What about you? Anything happen since then?"
Now Chan-seong turned the question back to me.
"Oh...!"
Her turn to talk, and Su-hyeon lit up, chattering away excitedly.
"Listen to this—I went to a movie theater the other day? I'd lived in the sticks forever, so it was my first time in Seoul, and..."
The story of going to the movies with Ga-eun. Marveling at the theater, booking tickets for a blockbuster and waiting...
But then there was a stalker tailing her, and Ga-eun spotted it early and took him down like a pro.
She blabbed on without even breathing, looking just like a kid recounting her kindergarten adventures.
"That sounds serious. You seem to get dragged into incidents and accidents a lot. Maybe be a bit more careful?"
"Yeah... but that's rich coming from you, isn't it...?"
Minus the theater thing, all those mishaps had happened together, right?
"Fair point."
Chan-seong slowly nodded in agreement.
"Hee hee."
Something about it tickled her funny bone, and she giggled.
The chatter kept going.
The theater ended up closing unfortunately after that, but then the visit to Ga-eun's place.
Even Brüel joined in, and they all watched movies together. She skipped the part about bathing together and sharing a bed out of embarrassment...
"I've seen that movie too."
"Really?"
Chan-seong relating made her perk up again, diving into the plot details.
Chatting with someone who got the references was so much fun.
"Oh yeah, what about Hunters? Do they fight all flashy like in the movies?"
To Su-hyeon, Hunters were inseparable from combat.
She was curious about Chan-seong's take, given his solid frontline experience.
"Dunno. I'm not really the type to throw punches."
"...?"
Su-hyeon scanned the musclebound guy walking beside her from head to toe.
Sensing the look, Chan-seong elaborated.
"I'm support, so I don't end up up front much. In the old guild, I mostly handled odd jobs or blood donations. This body's just from my gym hobby."
His powers made him heal fast, so his muscles grew quick too, he said.
"Not sure, but I figure martial arts are for human-on-human scraps, so it doesn't mesh great with Hunters. Formations and tactics matter way more."
"I see."
Made sense—magic beasts varied wildly in looks, traits, size, even anatomy from humans.
You couldn't expect mind games or feints to work on beasts.
Hearing about Hunters' world—which she'd always seen as some distant other realm—sparked Su-hyeon's interest.
"Still, I bet you'd be good at it."
She pictured him charging in without hesitation: shielding her from the terror beast at the exhibition hall, or blocking Chang-hoon's ambush on Da-hye.
"You think?"
"Yeah. Or wanna come watch at Ga-eun's gym with me? Might click if you see it in action."
One more spectator wouldn't change much.
Plus, it'd feel less awkward with someone she knew.
"Sure."
Chan-seong accepted surprisingly readily.
Things never went south when he stuck with Su-hyeon.
Blind trust in his benefactor.
After dropping off the strays, we headed to Ga-eun's boxing gym.
"This the place."
I paused in front of the gym, looking up at the sign.
"Korea Power Gym..."
Kind of tacky name.
Under the weathered, peeling sign were words like 'Boxing, Kickboxing, MMA.'
Worn and rustic, but didn't that prove it had history?
Framing it that way suddenly made it seem legit.
Stepping inside, the gym's signature stench of sweat and leather hit me like a wall.
"Ugh, what a stink!"
I pinched my nose and scanned the room.
Old posters on the walls, trophies and plaques everywhere.
All the plaques and cups bore the name 'Kim Cheol-ho.'
Passing the empty reception desk—weekend vibes, I guess—the training floor opened up.
Sparring boxers in the ring caught my eye. Thuds of gloves and sharp kiais echoed.
I gawked around, wide-eyed.
"Way more intense than I pictured."
Then a guy approached from across the room.
He seemed a bit startled by Chan-seong's build.
"Well, hey there. You the one Ga-eun said was coming?"
Older guy, dark-skinned, ripped as hell.
"I'm the gym owner, Kim Cheol-ho. Made a name for myself back in my pro days, but went D-grade and retired. Name's... Su-hyeon, right?"
This guy's the owner, huh.
He eyed Chan-seong up and down, grinned approvingly, and stuck out a hand.
Clearly mistaking him for me.
"Whoa, look at that frame—bet you work out. You'd crush it on the heavy bag here! Ha ha ha!"
Chan-seong shook naturally and replied.
"No, thanks."
"Eh? Oh, not interested?"
Half-joking or not, the flat rejection threw the owner off.
"I'm Kang Chan-seong. The one Ga-eun invited is over here."
The owner followed his gaze to me and spotted Su-hyeon.
His face cycled through expressions—pretty entertaining.
"Hi, I'm Su-hyeon, Ga-eun's friend."
"Wha—huh? This little one's the friend?"
The owner's eyes bugged out.
Mine narrowed in response.
Realizing he'd irked her, he boomed a laugh.
"Whoops, my bad! Misjudged ya. Sorry 'bout that. But hey, Ga-eun's pal is cute and feisty—boxing'd suit you perfect. Kids' class, though! Uh ha ha!"
I didn't know boxing, but damn if I didn't wanna punch him right then.
"Hmph, whatever. Where's Ga-eun?"
I blew off the noisy guy and started hunting for her.
Right on cue, a familiar voice rang out.
"Su-hyeon! Oh, Chan-seong's here too?"
"Wha—Ch-Chan-seong?"
"Huh."
A woman sprawled unceremoniously on the mat scrambled to her feet.
Why's the attorney here?