Chapter 62
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Heavy Lifts and the Grandma Squad
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"Yeowon, that's too heavy! Put it down and start lighter, slowly...!"
"Member! You'll get hurt!"
I lowered my body with 100kg loaded on my shoulders. I checked the mirror to confirm I was in a proper squat position, knees bent at right angles.
I thought I could lift it easily,
but I felt the power surging strongly into my lower back, glutes, hamstrings, and other posterior muscles. It had more weight than expected.
Still, straightening my knees and standing up was no problem at all.
"Hoo!"
I rose slowly.
"Put it down quick... Huh?!"
"D-Did she lift it?"
Jeon Yongjun's anxious face twisted in shock.
Oh right, during the big three, you're supposed to rack it right away.
Clang!
I racked the barbell vigorously.
"How...?"
"How's the form? Good, right?"
"Uh, y-yeah."
I asked Jeon Yongjun, who had offered to check my form, but he just gaped like a fish, mouth wide open.
Is it that surprising? I'd seen women on YouTube squatting 500kg in the big three. Of course, they had massive visible muscles.
Still, after training external arts, I had to at least handle this much! Dart arts emphasize agility, so I didn't bulk up too much, but failing to lift 100kg? What kind of martial artist would that make me?
"You didn't see it properly, huh? I'll add 20kg and do it again."
I loaded the plates and got back into position.
And nailed the squat with ease.
"H-Huh...?"
Jeon Yongjun was still stunned, but unlike before, I could clearly feel his eyes scrutinizing my form.
"What kind of training do you do? Doesn't look like powerlifting..."
"Dar... kendo, but my master had me train in a variety of ways."
I played it off as usual.
Back in my prime, I did all sorts of things. Running with heavy bracelets, moving rocks.
I wondered why bother when darts weigh next to nothing, but in real combat, it all shone through.
"Ah..."
"Let's add 10kg more."
"...Sure. Your form is flawless."
Finally, I squatted 130kg.
I could probably push a bit more if I forced it, but since it had been a while with heavy weights, I needed to pace myself.
I followed up straight with deadlifts and bench presses.
Deadlift: 170kg. Bench press: a disappointing 110kg.
410 total. Hmm, in my prime, I could've hit 600 easily.
Have I been neglecting external training since returning to the modern world?
"You're amazing... With this strength, you could train the staff yourself..."
"Nah~ You're too kind. Gotta learn from the pros!"
Jeon Yongjun was impressed at least, but Hwang Sanghun looked utterly soul-lost, caressing the plates.
Thanks for the praise, but dragging civilians into my routine would kill them. We definitely needed trainers to build basics by level.
"Come on, oppa, work hard and you'll lift like me too, so let's go from today!"
"Uh... yeah... I'll try hard."
I encouraged Hwang Sanghun,
then said,
"Oppa here starts lessons today. I'll head out now~."
I left the two men still slack-jawed and exited the gym.
I planned to head to the mountains for some external training while I was at it.
"Can I really do it too?"
Faintly, I heard Hwang Sanghun asking Jeon Yongjun behind me.
Of course you can! You have to!
To see 100 patients a day and boost sales, stamina is basic!
A few days after Hwang Sanghun started work.
At a village hall in Busan.
Heo Sunnam visited infrequently since she had so many regular spots.
"Aigoo! My back!"
The one wailing about back pain wasn't Heo Sunnam, of course.
Her back was practically reborn after meeting Director Han Yeowon.
"No rain, but my whole body aches. Aigoo!"
Kim Oksun, the loudest regular at the hall, thumped her back in frustration.
"Why complain? Go to a clinic for acupuncture."
"I went yesterday! If a few pokes fixed it, it'd be healed by now! At 70, you gotta rely on that stuff, tsk..."
"Still, go! Keep at it, and it gets a bit better!"
Her friend Yu Mallja recommended a Korean medicine clinic, but Kim Oksun dismissed it, writhing.
"Where you going? Try my Seongsu Clinic."
Heo Sunnam, who had been quietly updating on village news, spoke up.
She wouldn't butt in otherwise, but clinic talk? Unbearable.
Heo Sunnam had a mission to spread Director Han Yeowon's greatness to everyone.
"Nah, forget it. Too much hassle. Went yesterday, so in three days."
"Why wait three days? Just go every day!"
"That clinic again? That good?"
Kim Oksun waved it off lazily, but Son Chuncha, mirror-checking on her phone, perked up.
"Did I mention it here?"
Heo Sunnam had promoted endlessly at dance, swim, and hiking groups, but not here lately.
"Yeah, you did. But we got our own spots, haven't tried it."
"Then go quick! Can't you see my back's straight now?"
Heo Sunnam stood and flaunted her straightened back.
Spinal stenosis had always been her complex; now straight and dancing? Pure joy.
"That's impressive."
"But how daily? Takes forever to get there."
"I'll try later. Fix my shoulder?"
"Heh, why go far when you got one nearby?"
"True. The doc there knows us, right?"
Kim Oksun, Yu Mallja, Oh Youngsuk, Son Chuncha, then Kim Oksun again.
"No, mine's really different!"
Heo Sunnam pushed Seongsu Clinic hard, but the four remained lukewarm.
They didn't know how bad her back was before.
"Speaking of, they got a handsome young doc now."
Just then.
Kim Deokbae, Heo Sunnam's boyfriend and hall regular, spoke, drawing all eyes.
"Really?"
Son Chuncha, the only one made up in a dress, reacted first.
"Oh yeah. Director fixes patients so well, clinic's bursting—hired a new doc. Two weeks now?"
"Handsome for real?"
"Tall and fine."
"Shoulda led with that!"
Son Chuncha's apathy flipped 180.
A doc young enough to be her grandson—what mattered his face?
"Let's go now."
Heo Sunnam couldn't sway them, but handsome doc talk? They bolted to the shoe rack.
"Maybe? Was gonna go later anyway. Shoulder and arm hurt."
"You all go too. Whatcha doing otherwise?"
"My back's killing me... Let's go!"
"Call a cab together! Knees hurt, can't walk!"
Oh Youngsuk, Kim Oksun, Yu Mallja joined in.
Heo Sunnam nearly protested in disbelief.
"Just let 'em."
But Kim Deokbae stopped her.
Any reason bringing new patients? Director Han wouldn't mind.
Better if these pain-plagued ladies got fixed.
Sighing at such people, Heo Sunnam rode the cab Son Chuncha called.
She was heading to the clinic with Kim Deokbae anyway.
Thus, four names added to Heo Sunnam's referral list.
"Madam Heo~ Hello~."
Seol Yuhee greeted warmly from the desk.
Heo Sunnam grandma—Hwang Sanghun knew her as a regular.
He'd treated her once, but got scolded for not matching Han Yeowon.
Factual, no offense taken.
'She'll see Yeowon.'
Two weeks into practice post-hiring, he wasn't fully settled.
Tensed at each check-in, relaxed only for Han Yeowon's patients.
"Hello~."
"Aigoo, clean interior!"
"Register here? First time for us four!"
"Smaller than my old one."
"No massage chairs? Hot packs or that vibrating bed?"
Four new patients at once?
Hwang Sanghun, eased by Heo Sunnam's name, straightened up.
Shared new patients evenly on workdays. Referrals split too unless specified—likely two for him.
'Picky bunch. Hope it's fine?'
Loud from entry, comparing clinics. High-difficulty estimated. Han Yeowon handled any type; his shoulders tensed.
"Register in order. Two directors, so two to male director..."
"Me 'n Deokbae get acupuncture from Han like always. These four to Hwang director."
Thunderbolt from outside.
Heo Sunnam's referrals, skipping Han Yeowon for him? Why?
"Might wait a bit—okay?"
"Fine!"
"We got time~."
"Back killing me—see first?"
"Yes, sit a sec, one by..."
"Aida. Why wait? All in together!"
Seol Yuhee couldn't wrangle them.
Han Yeowon might've mediated if free, but she was needling.
[See them all at once.]
No choice.
Hwang Sanghun messaged to bring them in together.
They'd barge anyway. Better than hassling staff.
"Then, together please."
Heo Sunnam and boyfriend to treatment room; four newbies piled into Hwang Sanghun's.
"Yu Mallja first here, others sofa please."
"Oh my, interior too?"
Hwang Sanghun called the first registrant, pointing to chair by desk.
Loud at desk about order and pains, now they followed meekly like lambs.
'Doctor's coat authority, huh.'
All four grannies stared quietly.
He regained calm, ready for steady questioning. If they stayed like this, treatable.
"Ms. Yu Mallja, what's bothering you today?"
"Knees hurt comin' here. Hard."
"Since when?"
"35 years? Aida, 37!"
"Injury or trigger?"
"Yes! Mother-in-law dragged me to mountain temple. Monk said..."
But as Yu Mallja's 37-year knee saga began, Hwang Sanghun zoned out.
"...Flat ground fine then, but age hits—knees ache, walking hard, right one surgery 15 years back. Doc said left lasting 5 more is good, but hate surgery, so living with it!"
"This sis made us cab it today!"
"Fix us good. Nothing works, heard y'all great—last shot!"
"So tall n handsome, bet you heal great. Trust ya!"
Treat 37-year unfixable knees.
Heo Sunnam's back was Han Yeowon; why him?
Not to torment, surely.
Four grannies eyed him expectantly.
Hwang Sanghun smiled softly, nodding.
"Of course. I'll treat you well."
In his head, desperate plea.
'Yeowon... save me...'