Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Stamina Boost and Gym Struggles
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A Stamina Booster Pill materialized in mid-air and dropped to the floor.
You have consumed a Stamina Booster Pill. Stamina permanently increases by 0.1.
TIP: An average adult male's stamina is around 20.
A small change appeared in the status window.
Stamina Booster.
It increases stamina by +0.1 with each dose.
After 200 doses, stamina would rise by +20.
That was equivalent to adding the full stamina of an average adult male.
'Why did I buy Stamina Booster instead of those flashier items...?'
There were a mix of big and small reasons.
If he had to pick the top three biggest ones...
After playing Era of Success for nearly six months, nothing was as efficient in the early game as Stamina Booster.
Because the more stamina you had, the easier it was to unlock achievements.
Most achievements relied more on stamina than brains.
The principle went something like this.
Good stamina → Easier achievements → Talent proficiency rises faster → Better point income.
Even better stamina → Even easier achievements → Talent proficiency skyrockets.
It was a late-bloomer item. The more your character grew, the absurdly efficient Stamina Booster became.
For example, suppose the protagonist's job was novelist.
If stamina was low.
Low stamina → Can't write novels for long → Novel skill levels up slowly → Writes little → Low income.
But if stamina was high.
High stamina → Can write novels for hours → Novel skill levels up quickly → Writes a ton → Income soars.
The efficiency was insane.
Not just work efficiency—life efficiency itself improved.
3. He felt utterly crushed by his lack of stamina.
Just surviving company life was killing him, and trying to exercise at night on top of that was maddening.
The problem was it wouldn't just be tough today. Tomorrow, the day after, two weeks from now, a year from now—it would all suck.
'I desperately need Stamina Booster.'
Jin-seong closed his eyes. He needed to sleep for tomorrow.
'Tomorrow, clear another achievement, buy Stamina Booster with the points, and take it...'
His thoughts faded. He fell asleep the moment his eyes shut.
'Gah, my body...'
When the alarm forced his eyes open, he tasted pure hell.
Exhausted mind. Lead-heavy body. Aching muscles everywhere.
Aftereffects of the workout.
'Ugh, this sucks. Feels like I'm dying...'
Two awful facts hit him.
He had to go to work.
He had to work out.
His mood tanked.
Suddenly, everything felt like a hassle. He even thought, 'Should I just give up on life?'
'Damn, gonna be late. Gotta go.'
He barely made it to work.
"Hey, bros, drinks tonight?"
"Sounds good."
He was half-zombie mode at work when talk of after-work drinks started.
"Sorry, can't make it."
Normally, Jin-seong would've joined without hesitation.
But he had to work out tonight, so he boldly declined.
Lee Ji-seong asked,
"Why? Something up?"
"Nah, not work. I signed up at a gym. Gotta hit it."
Everyone looked surprised.
Jin-seong was the last guy anyone would picture at a gym.
"Trying to lose weight?"
"Yeah, shed some pounds and build the body too."
"Smart move. Keep at it."
Lee Ji-seong clapped Jin-seong on the shoulder.
He genuinely hoped Jin-seong would stick with it.
"Won't be easy, though..."
Kim Kwang-woo trailed off.
'That guy's gonna quit after a few days when it hurts and gets annoying. Bet a million on it.'
He was convinced Jin-seong would never lose the weight.
Most colleagues just shrugged it off with an 'Oh, okay.'
"Good work today."
He clocked out. Before heading to the gym, Jin-seong begged for sleep.
'Condition's in the toilet. Thirty minutes won't cut it.'
He set an alarm for two hours later.
'Ugh, too annoying. Wanna sleep till morning like this.'
Temptation struck.
Just skip one day? Today only?
'No. Go. Lose the weight. Build the body. Live well.'
He'd cleared Achievement 1 yesterday. Today, he wanted Achievement 2.
Achievements meant growth. Growth meant success.
That way, he'd live well, his parents would too thanks to him, and he could date a beauty like Park Ha-yeon.
'Jin-seong, you gotta succeed.'
He dragged himself up and left the dorm.
"You're here!"
Manbok Gym owner Park Man-bok greeted Jin-seong with beaming warmth.
"Hello."
"Hey there. How's the body holding up? You okay?"
"Honestly? Feels like death."
"Haha, must've been rough and annoying, but you showed up. You're the man."
"Gotta show up. Gotta grind."
Park Man-bok's smile softened even more at Jin-seong's response.
"Good attitude. Awesome. Go change and come out."
From the vibe, he'd guide the workout again today.
And sure enough, Park Man-bok planned to.
Great mindset. Nothing much to do anyway, so I'll coach him. Hope he succeeds with the diet.
As Jin-seong headed to the locker room,
'Thanks a ton.'
Park Man-bok's kindness was simply touching.
'Once I get some breathing room, I should get him a little gift.'
He changed while silently thanking him over and over.
Receive guidance from Park Man-bok.
Reward: 15 Points
Same achievement as yesterday.
Except yesterday's reward was 10 points—this time, 15.
'Why?'
He wondered.
The system never gave extra points without reason.
It wasn't hard to figure out why.
'Holy crap.'
Just stretching had his body screaming.
'Worse than yesterday...'
Running felt like dragging a waterlogged sponge.
Weight training made his limbs tremble like they were spasming.
'Way tougher than yesterday.'
At least three times harder.
Honestly, it deserved 20 points, not 15.
Of course, Jin-seong gave it his all. No slacking.
'Ugh, done.'
He collapsed.
You have achieved Achievement 2.
Distributing reward.
You have acquired 15 points.
Athletics (F Rank 60.442%)
Description: Proficiency rises when exercising. Higher rank increases exercise efficiency and effects.
Athletics talent proficiency jumped from 25.685% to 60.442%.
A whopping 39.757% gain. 14.075% more than yesterday.
Because he'd trained harder and longer today.
'One more day like this, and it'll go from F to E rank.'
His breathing steadied.
"Mind showing me pics of your work meals?"
"Sure, one sec."
He showed the photos.
"You eat breakfast?"
"Nah, skip it."
"Just lunch and dinner then?"
Jin-seong handled lunch and dinner at the company.
"Late-night snacks?"
"Sometimes after work."
"Hmm. From now on, eat breakfast and cut the snacks. Best to eat three meals on time."
"Ah..."
Jin-seong couldn't easily say 'Got it.'
Eat breakfast? No late-night snacks?
Advice that was extremely, extremely, extremely hard to accept.
"If that's too tough, reduce frequency. More breakfasts, fewer snacks."
"...Okay."
"Boiled eggs, banana, tomato for breakfast. And lunch portions are huge—cut to half."
"...Yessir."
"Same for dinner. Reduce rice. Dieting's mostly about portion control. Keep eating like this, and diabetes'll come knocking later."
"...Understood."
"Taking supplements?"
"Huh? No, don't do that stuff."
Park Man-bok's brow furrowed.
To him, Jin-seong's life was a total mess.
Now he got why a young guy hit 95kg.
"Start supplements for sure. Balanced nutrients mean healthy long life. Good for body and diet. One sec."
Park Man-bok grabbed pen and paper.
"I'll recommend some. Pharmacy or online. Supplements vary in ingredients and dosage—know what you're taking."
"...Yessir."
"For you, just two: multivitamin and omega-3. This multivitamin I recommend..."
Park Man-bok briefly explained vitamins.
"Thank you."
"Good work."
He showered, changed, and left the gym.
He glanced around. Looking for Park Ha-yeon.
'There she is.'
Park Ha-yeon was jumping rope.
Light as a feather. Her chic hips stood out.
Pretty face, killer curves, insane thighs.
'Wow, damn, she's gorgeous.'
A beauty that stole his soul.
'Bet she has a boyfriend. So jealous. What would dating a stunner like her feel like?'
Park Ha-yeon stopped jumping rope. Turned her head back.
Jin-seong whipped his gaze away before their eyes met.
Averted his stare.
Favorability: -8
Pig was staring at me again. Gross.
He felt like crying.
Favorability dropped. Inner thoughts full of contempt.
'Sigh, craving beer.'
You have purchased a Stamina Booster Pill.
He took the Stamina Booster Pill.
Stamina hit +0.2.
Family Comprehensive Health Vitamin (3-day supply): 1 Point
Splurging a bit, he bought the vitamin too.
'Not your average vitamin.'
Vitamins from the shop were special.
Fundamentally different from off-the-shelf ones.