Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Best Trainer's Debut
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"Can I really do this?"
"You'll be the best trainer I know. Don't worry."
"Phew, but is it okay to do something this big without even telling Mom and Dad?"
"What's the harm? It's not like we're doing anything bad. At your age, you should be able to handle this much on your own."
"This is tough... so tough."
Even after accepting the early awakening ticket, Shin-woo hesitated, unable to use it right away.
It was only natural, in a way.
Awakening was a massive event.
The most important event, perfectly timed for the year you turned twenty, was now being pulled forward by a full two years. It was only expected that worry would come first.
But Shin-hyeok didn't mind.
"Just trust your big bro. I'll even build you a ten-story gym that's a thousand pyeong big, all for you."
"A gym that huge? Do we really need something that big?"
"Who knows? You might end up needing to expand it because it's too small."
"......How much faith do you have in me? You're just making me feel the pressure."
"Don't sweat it. They say a great tiger sires no weak cubs. Your bro turned out this awesome—think you'd be any less?"
"You're you, not Dad."
"Little bro... talking back? No brotherly bonding time for you?"
"......Sorry."
Shin-woo's talents were undeniable.
All that was needed was to boost his lacking confidence and ease his anxiety.
Sure, high school second-year and middle school second-year were just a thin line apart, so a bit of rebellion was natural, but it meant nothing before his brother's authority.
Even in ordinary sibling relationships, a big brother's authority was formidable—but with Shin-hyeok, it was on another level.
A newly minted Platinum player was like a walking tank.
Diamonds were tactical weapons, each and every one.
An ordinary(?) Diamond tier was one thing, but Shin-hyeok was evaluated as being on par with beyond-the-heavens levels that crushed even those Diamonds.
There was no way unawakened Shin-woo could do anything about that.
In the end, Shin-hyeok patted the shoulders of his shrunken little brother and took a step back.
"Rip it."
"Got it. If you're saying this much, there must be something in me worth it. Phew, ripping it?"
"I'm watching."
"You're really gonna watch me rip it?"
"Yeah, rip it for real."
"For real, for real?"
"Rip it quick before I rip you apart?"
"......Yes, sir."
Unable to hide his trembling heart, and dragging it out until the very last moment, Shin-woo finally tore the early awakening ticket.
A brilliant light erupted the moment the ticket tore, enveloping Shin-woo.
And with it, messages appeared.
"Whoa, I got Silver right away?"
"I know. Thanks to the dimension messages, the whole world knows now too, right?"
"Eek, that's kinda lame though......"
"Get used to it. Once people hear what you're gonna do, you'll get even more attention than this."
"Yeah......"
"Check out everything you got first."
"Okay."
Shin-woo, who'd been cringing at the thought of his early awakening being broadcast worldwide, was pushed by Shin-hyeok to check his rewards—and his jaw dropped.
"They gave me a title? 'First Early Awakener.' It boosts all speeds. Does this apply to the players I train too?"
"Probably."
"Jackpot! Jackpot! And my stats are at Silver average—pretty high. I get what it means to feel power surging through every muscle... I could stay up all night and still feel fresh. But if I'm this strong already, then you, hyung..."
"Strong enough to yawn through a truckload of you and smash them all?"
"......Want me to rub your shoulders?"
"Nah. Check your trait now."
"Okay!"
[Gym Designation]
• Classification: Trait Skill
• Designate a gym to increase training speed and efficiency.
• Players trained by the Best Trainer inside the gym see dramatic increases in stat growth speed, recovery speed, and injury prevention rate.
"This the one you saw, hyung?"
"Yep, that's it."
"......With a trait like this, becoming the world's best isn't just a dream."
"Enough to turn trainers in America or China into instant has-beens."
"Alright, let's give it a shot."
"That's the spirit. The gym'll be ready soon. Start work as soon as it's set."
"Got it! I'll research curriculums and find my own style in the meantime."
"Good posture. I'm looking forward to it."
Seeing Shin-woo's face light up with excitement and confidence after checking his trait, Shin-hyeok smiled softly.
"But if I become a trainer, will you train under me too, hyung?"
"Nah. Dimension Arena runs are more efficient for me. Don't need it."
"Aw, I was hoping for a legal chance to grind you......"
"Repaying kindness with enmity? No wonder they say not to adopt black-haired beasts. Wanna buy some hops today?"
"Joking! Joking! Whoa, don't pull out the spear!!!"
Sure, there was some brotherly roughhousing along the way, but Shin-woo was grinning even after getting headlocked by Shin-hyeok.
"......H-hyunggg. C-can't... breathe......"
At least for a few minutes.
What perfect brotherly love.
No big brother in the world ever released a headlock before his little bro passed out.
Anyway, time flew by quickly.
[All Mighty Gym]
"This is my gym?"
"Precisely, it's under the All Mighty Guild. You're the gym master. I'm the owner."
"Tch."
"I'll hand it over eventually. Just do a good job."
"Yes, sir! Boss! Loyalty! Loyalty!"
A week later.
Standing before the shiny new building with its "All Mighty Gym" sign, Shin-woo joked around with mock salutes.
Shin-hyeok chuckled, ruffled his hair, and flung open the doors.
"Everyone's waiting inside. Let's go."
"Everyone?"
"Yeah. I wasn't the only one who helped build this. Everyone pitched in."
"For real? Hyung and noonas must've worked hard...... I gotta try even harder."
"Not harder—better."
"Sheesh, no romance in you."
"Romance doesn't pay the bills. Or block blades."
"......I'll do my best."
"Good."
All Mighty Gym wasn't Shin-hyeok's solo project.
Proving it, the people already inside welcomed them warmly.
Pop! Bang bang! Pop!
"Congrats on the early awakening, Shin-woo!"
"Congratulations, Gym Master Choi Shin-woo!"
"Ugh, why am I even here... I could be brewing one more potion... Ah, no. Dad said he'd take away Paracelsus's Regret if I go back... Just hang in there... Good job, Hyo-rin. Aja aja!"
"Unni. I can hear everything."
"Eek!"
"Sigh, Hyo-rin, why are you like this even on a good day?"
Popping confetti cannons and a three-tier cake amid it all.
Held by Shin-hyeok and Shin-woo's parents.
Hyo-rin, biting her nails and unable to hide her anxiety in crowds.
Su-ah and Se-jin scolding her.
Everyone who could be called family to Shin-hyeok, all gathered in one place.
Shin-woo, looking dazed as confetti rained on him, stared at Shin-hyeok.
"What's all this? All these busy people gathered just for me?"
"Told you they were inside."
"I figured maybe just Mom and Dad! Or Su-ah noona!"
"Se-jin hyung and Hyo-rin noona helped a ton with building All Mighty Gym."
"Those two?"
"Yeah. All the equipment inside was made at Myth Workshop. The high-end stuff on the top floor is Se-jin hyung's work; the rest by the artisans under him."
"Myth...? Is that even possible? Myth Workshop's swamped lately!"
"They are. But time's relative. Prioritize the important stuff."
"And that was making gym equipment?"
"You got it. Exactly."
"Ha......"
Shin-woo couldn't have imagined Se-jin and Hyo-rin—whose stocks were skyrocketing lately—being here. He let out a hollow laugh at the unbelievable follow-up.
He couldn't wrap his head around it, even seeing it with his own eyes and hearing it with his ears.
But the surprises didn't end there.
"All Mighty Gym comes stocked with exclusive potions."
"No way, right?"
"Way. Hyo-rin filled the fridges herself, and the warehouse is pallet-loaded."
"Hyung! That's gotta cost a fortune!"
"Dunno. Tens of billions maybe? Whatever, tell me when it's gone. I'll have Hyo-rin restock."
"......Huh."
He'd kinda guessed from Hyo-rin's involvement, but actual dedicated training aids?
Shin-woo was out of shock capacity.
'Tens of billions, my ass... Resell that and you'd double your money.'
Hyo-rin's elixirs were reservation-mad despite sky-high prices right now.
Dedicated player training supplements made by her herself.
Muscle-head players would lose their minds.
Piled in pallets—not boxes—in the warehouse? Shin-woo's head spun.
But Shin-hyeok didn't bat an eye.
"Fighting."
"H-hyungg."
Because it wasn't his job.
He just provided the resources—that was his simplistic plan.
'They always said engineering students just need resources to grind themselves down. Give 'em infinite supplies, and they'll self-destruct. Our Shin-woo can be a fine engineering student too.'
With engineering students as the perfect model, Shin-hyeok trusted him.
"Alright, enough celebrating. Shall we get some training from Shin-woo?"
"Huh? Us too?"
"Su-ah's a must, but Mom and Dad, Se-jin hyung, Hyo-rin—all lacking exercise. Se-jin hyung gets some from workshop hammering, but the rest? Hopeless, you know."
"Ahem, Shin-hyeok. Dad's turning sixty soon......"
"Dad. Time to lose the spare tire."
"......!!!"
Shin-hyeok had prepared the perfect teaching materials for Shin-woo.
Near-normal parents.
Lifetime lab rat Hyo-rin.
Se-jin, who hammers but never trained systematically.
And promising player Su-ah.
Perfect nutritional lab rats for a newbie trainer.
In-gyun tried to slip away slyly, but Shin-hyeok's words sank him.
He was called a flower-middle-aged for his upkeep, but that was just surface.
His beer gut under clothes was brother to the spare tire.
Shin-woo, now tasked with training everyone here, looked at Shin-hyeok in dismay—but
"Fighting."
Shin-hyeok just clenched a fist in cheer.
Refuse here, and that fist would fly his way for the celebration. Shin-woo could only bow his head.
"Like a damn bro-con......"
His empty echo rang through All Mighty Gym's first floor, but no one cared.
"I haaaate exercise!!! They said just celebrate!!!"
Because unwilling Hyo-rin was next to him, flailing windmills in protest.
Anyway, it was summer.