Chapter 22

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 22

Chapter Title: 79.3kg Milestone

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I ate diligently throughout the entire 24 hours.

For my late-night snack, I demolished ramen topped with seasoned fried chicken. After my morning workout, I slurped down a hearty bowl of special blood sausage soup. Lunch and dinner were company cafeteria grub paired with ramen.

My stomach was rock-solid. No matter how much I shoveled in, it was fine. There wasn't the slightest sign of fullness. People around me eyed me with concern.

"Given up on the diet?"

"Aren't you eating a bit too much?"

"People might mistake you for a hippo."

I ignored them completely. In one ear and out the other.

I'd been possessed by a cola-guzzling hippo.

'All this time... honestly... it was pure torture...'

Lately, to lose weight, I'd been eating barely anything. I'd lived off eggs until my mouth reeked of them. My beloved ramen? I hadn't even dreamed of it.

I was the type who always ate as much as I wanted. Trying restraint for the first time was no joke. Stress had piled up without me realizing.

'Gotta stuff myself as much as possible. Opportunities like this don't come often.'

I devoured everything like it was payback.

The more I ate, the more weight dropped off, which kept me seriously motivated.

Twenty-four hours must have passed.

'Satisfying.'

I'd eaten my fill. All the built-up stress melted away. I wore a cozy smile.

I headed to the gym.

'Ha-yeon...'

I looked for Park Ha-yeon. Unfortunately, she wasn't there. No reply to my KakaoTalk message either.

'She's busy, I guess.'

I opened my status window.

Athletic Talent.

The proficiency of Athletics (C) talent has reached 50.446%.

Working out morning and evening had boosted it nicely.

'And appearance.'

[Appearance +4.0]

I'd hit 4 out of my 30-point goal. About 13% complete.

For the secondary goal, I just needed 260 more doses of the Handsome Potion.

I checked the mirror.

'Definitely.'

I scrutinized myself closely. No major changes in appearance. Aside from the weight loss, it was pretty much the same.

But there were subtle shifts.

'Just a tiny bit... barely noticeable... but my features are sharper. Way handsomer than before.'

Here's how appearance levels work:

Appearance +10.0: Average.

Appearance +20.0: Above average.

Appearance +30.0: Likeable type.

Appearance +40.0: Attractive.

Appearance +50.0: Hunk.

Jin-seong's goal was +30.0 in appearance.

'Once I hit 30... base looks plus likeable adjustment... no one will ever look down on me anywhere.'

I closed the status window.

Before working out, I checked my weight.

"Whoa...!"

Finally.

"Wow...!"

A cheer burst out involuntarily.

'7!'

The first digit had finally changed.

From 8 to 7.

'Nice! We did it!'

I'd successfully dropped 15.7kg.

'I did it!'

Elation welled up.

Joy bloomed.

Even changing from 9 to 8 had felt like a huge accomplishment.

But this? It blew that out of the water.

Tremble.

My shoulders shook. Fingertips quivered faintly.

I couldn't hold back the grin. I giggled like an idiot.

"Wow! 79.3kg!"

How long had he been there? Park Man-bok stood beside me, eyeing the scale.

"Congratulations, member. Your first digit's finally a 7."

Clap clap clap clap.

Park Man-bok applauded.

"Over 15kg in such a short time. Less than 50 days. Incredible."

Clap clap clap.

"Ugh, amazing. Truly commendable. So cool."

Clap clap clap.

"The best. Absolutely the best. You look fantastic."

Clap clap clap.

It felt like excessive praise.

But Park Man-bok's face brimmed with joy, admiration, and surprise.

His eyes shone with pride, warmth, and affection.

He celebrated like it was his own victory, wholeheartedly.

[Inner Thoughts: Impressive. Commendable. The fruit of effort and perseverance. Deserves applause.]

[Inner Thoughts: Our Jin-seong has slimmed down so much. Even his face looks strikingly handsome now.]

[Inner Thoughts: Gotta find some diet tips that could help. Share them with Jin-seong.]

Praise gladdens even a whale to dance.

Genuine encouragement warms the heart.

"Thank you."

I bowed my head.

"Thanks. With your help, boss, the diet was smooth sailing. Without you, I'd have struggled."

Sincerity dripped from my words.

"Haha, my help? I didn't do much. It's all your effort. You worked hard and dropped 15kg."

"Thank you."

We wrapped up the chat.

I hopped on the treadmill.

I checked the achievement.

Sighed.

'Running and squats are doable...'

The problem was jump rope and burpees.

'Jump rope is hell...'

Burpees were demonic.

Especially burpees when exhausted—they were the devil incarnate.

No wonder burpees are called the devil's exercise.

'Let's go. Do it. Work hard. You got this.'

Before starting, I popped in my earbuds and fired up some music.

Bought them yesterday. Not pricey—12,000 won.

Cheap earbuds, sure.

'But listening to girl group songs while working out? Pure bliss.'

True small happiness.

'Wonder who’s prettier, Ha-yeon or Min-ji?'

Min-ji was an idol.

'Can't pick a winner. Both are insanely gorgeous.'

I dove into achievement grinding.

55 points acquired.

'Shopping time.'

Letting points sit idle is just rude.

I opened the shop.

Bought five Handsome Potions.

[Stamina: +10.0]

[Appearance: +4.5]

Appearance went from +4.0 to +4.5.

Grabbed one vitamin too.

Save it for tomorrow morning.

4 points left.

Spent 3 points.

Couldn't resist the gacha.

It's sneakily addictive.

There might be folks who've never pulled once, but none who've pulled just once.

'Big win incoming!'

I cracked open the Small Happiness Random Box.

...?

...Misfortune Diary?

What the hell is this?

View misfortunes?

The diary appeared. Red cover. Just looking at it felt ominous and creepy.

'Curious.'

I checked the diary.

"... "

I furrowed my brow. Page 1 was already heavy. The diary had three pages.

Next, page 2.

My brow furrowed deeper.

Finally, page 3.

Uncomfortable.

Reading the Misfortune Diary left me deeply unsettled.

Page 1.

Mom gets scammed by voice phishing?

Page 2.

Dad gets hurt?

And page 3.

"This is insane."

It was enough to drive me mad, jumping in frustration.

"Tomorrow the sun's rising in the west? Our busy boy calling first?"

Mom's voice was unusually bright, full of delight.

"This Saturday, I'll head over by bus after work."

- "Saturday? Won't that be tough? Why not rest and come Sunday?"

"Nah. I'll crash Saturday night and head back Sunday evening."

- "Okay, whatever suits you, son. Anything you wanna eat?"

"Craving doenjang jjigae."

- "Doenjang jjigae? Got it. Mom'll load it up with brisket and pumpkin."

"Sounds good."

I was sitting on a chair at the convenience store.

Took a swig of canned beer.

"Mom, uh... you know about voice phishing?"

- "Voice phishing? Isn't that a scam?"

"Right. Scams. I looked it up—voice phishing and Ponzi schemes are trending. Oh, voice phishing specifically means..."

I explained voice phishing in detail.

Who runs the scams, why, common tactics, why people fall for it.

What happens if scammed, what help police provide if reported.

Spelled it all out.

- "Those guys are awful."

- "Victims must cry blood tears."

- "But aren't victims idiots?"

- "Obvious tricks—why fall for it?"

I was dumbfounded.

'Idiots? Obvious, so why fall?'

Oh man, Mom falls for it in the future too.

'15 million won, no less...'

The diary clearly said 15 million lost, me covering 10 ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠million.

To top it off, Dad gets badly hurt over the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠remaining 5 million.

"Don't take it lightly. Even you could fall for it."

- "Pfft, kid, think I'd bite on cheap tricks? Mom's got eyes like a hawk."

"Got it. Anyway, any call demanding money, transfers, or personal info is a scam."

I still wasn't at ease.

'Gotta explain again in person Saturday.'

Plus, grab tons of siblings' favorites.

Dorm-living brother loves pork belly.

Med-school-aspiring sister craves sweets.

It's Saturday.