Chapter 75: I Can Give You As Much As You Want
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 75: I Can Give You As Much As You Want
"Hello."
As the door opened, Ye-seul stepped cautiously into the house.
"Is this the person...?"
"That's right. This is the tennis player, Im Hyun-kyung."
"Hello. You're definitely more handsome in person than on screen."
"Thank you."
Hyun-kyung smiled as she walked inside.
I took a close look at Hyun-kyung, who had come with Ye-seul.
She certainly had the look of a sports star—an athlete. Her style wasn't particularly high-maintenance, aside from some basic BB cream and simple makeup.
She was wearing a navy shirt with matching blackish three-quarter-length training pants and white sneakers. Perhaps as a point of flair, she wore a pale pink sun visor on her forehead.
Hyun-kyung’s hair was dyed blonde. It must have been a while since she’d done it, as her dark roots were showing.
Her skin was a sun-kissed bronze, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail for ease of movement.
Is this what a vibrant sports star really feels like?
She was the textbook definition of one.
She was perfect, except for her chest being a bit smaller than I expected.
"It’s a bit embarrassing when you stare so intensely."
"Ah, my apologies. Please, come in."
I led Hyun-kyung inside.
"Wow, you really do have a lot of exercise equipment. Do you work in the sports industry?"
"Not exactly."
After letting Hyun-kyung in, I whispered to Ye-seul.
"What’s going on?"
"She was looking for you to help with her rehabilitation. I thought about turning her down, but then I thought it might be helpful for you, Senior."
"I see. Thanks."
It seemed Ye-seul had been looking out for me in her own way.
I brought out some tea and handed it to the two of them.
"I haven't introduced myself properly. I'm Choi Jae-ho. I'm nothing special—just a computer engineering student who takes photos."
"...That’s unexpected."
Hyun-kyung blinked.
"I naturally assumed you were in this field. At the very least, I thought you’d be from a physical education department. Computer engineering?"
"You said you came for rehabilitation?"
"Yes, that's right. I saw you training people on Ye-seul’s live stream. I tried following along at home, and the results were better than I expected. I came here because I wanted to get some serious help. You can do it, right?"
Hyun-kyung said with a beaming smile.
"Right now, my physical condition is about 90 percent recovered compared to before my injury. But that’s not enough. If you can get me back to 100 percent—perfect condition—I can give you as much as you want. My advertising and sponsorship fees are quite substantial."
Her tone was kind, but there was a subtle stubbornness beneath it.
She’s convinced I’ll definitely accept her offer.
An inexplicable confidence.
A certainty that her proposal wouldn't be rejected.
I had searched for her while she was on her way here.
A world-class Korean sports star.
Skills recognized even abroad, and the title of the first Korean player to win a major tournament.
She was a tennis prodigy, and she must have always been treated accordingly.
For someone who had always succeeded, the word 'refusal' was likely something only she was allowed to use.
Given her fame, it was only natural.
She reminds me of someone.
I definitely wasn't thinking of Yoo Young-eun.
Really, I wasn't.
"First, if I could just say one thing."
"Oh, is there a need to say it? Whether it's that you're nervous to meet me or that you want my autograph, I'll accept all of it. Of course, I was a bit shocked that you didn't know who I was, but I understand. Tennis isn't exactly a major sport in Korea. Still, I thought I’d raised my profile quite a bit domestically, but I guess I still have a long way to go."
Uh, wow.
She’s the type who talks a lot.
"It's not that."
"Eh? Then what is it?"
"First of all, I am not a trainer who specializes in rehabilitation."
"......??"
Hyun-kyung tilted her head with an expression that practically had a question mark floating over it.
"What does that mean?"
"This is just an ordinary gym. It's just that the exercise methods are a bit special compared to other places."
"Aha, so you're worried because you're not a rehab specialist? Don't worry about that. Even if you explain things poorly, I'm a quick study."
That’s not what I meant.
If I told her she’d already misunderstood me poorly, she’d probably get angry, right?
"I mean that I don't have a specialized rehabilitation program like you're expecting."
"Huh?"
She blinked again.
"That can't be right. I definitely saw results."
"You saw results?"
"Yes. The routine you showed on the broadcast definitely worked for me."
"That was just an exercise for body correction."
"But I'm telling you, it worked!"
"Is that so?"
"Yes!"
If she says she saw results, there’s not much I can say.
Tsk, this is tricky.
There was a real reason why I couldn't hastily accept Hyun-kyung's offer.
[Im Hyun-kyung]
[Member Level: 7]
[Currently placing trust in the Trainer's abilities.]
[Cannot be registered as a member.]
The message saying she couldn't be registered as a member flickered before my eyes.
And then.
[This is a Rehabilitation-only member.]
[To register as a member, a Medic Care Place is required.]
[Facilities are insufficient.]
I knew it.
[Medic Care Place]
She was a member I could only obtain by installing this.
Did the system know in advance?
Which member would come and when.
If not, it wouldn't have told me to build a Medic Care Place at such a perfect time.
It was full of mysteries.
I was making good use of the system, but I had no idea where this power originated or why I had obtained it.
I'm just making good use of the power I've been given.
That was one thing.
But if I can't register her as an official member, I'm reluctant to teach her.
She wasn't just anyone; she was a professional athlete.
Wasn't she basically an expert in this field?
I didn't want to try and teach a pro her own business; if I messed around in front of her, my lack of depth would be exposed in an instant.
If the member registration prompt had appeared, I would have pretended to deliberate for a bit before accepting her.
Of course I would.
It would mean a star at least as famous as Young-eun would become a member of my gym.
It was a shame, but there was nothing I could do.
It would be difficult, at least until I installed that Medic Care Place.
Even if I converted all the SP I had, my total HP was only around 6,000.
To install the Medic Care Place, I needed 8,000 HP, leaving me about 2,000 short.
If only she had come a little later.
"Ahem, first of all, thank you for the offer, but I'll have to decline."
"What? You're declining? No, is it because you think I won't compensate you well enough?"
"It's absolutely nothing like that."
"Then why?"
"As I said, I'm not a professional rehabilitation therapist..."
"That doesn't matter! What's important is skill! Not someone's professional title or whatever. I'm telling you, I saw results with your treatment method!"
She was stubborn.
I knew what she meant.
She was saying she saw results, so I should have confidence and help her with her rehab.
But what if it was just a change in her condition based on her mood?
I wouldn't know.
"Trust me! I'm telling you to trust me, who trusts you!"
Did the system react to the blind trust Hyun-kyung was sending my way?
[Would you like to purchase the Medic Care Place?]
The system asked.
I'm still way short on points, you brat.
Was it telling me to take out a point loan or something?
Unless a giant radish appeared and put me in point-debt, it was a price I couldn't afford.
[Would you like to use a private loan?]
It actually exists?
But I had no intention of using it.
It wasn't called a private loan for nothing.
[The interest rate is 38% per month.]
Not using it.
Absolutely not.
Anyway.
I had no intention of teaching her half-heartedly.
"Please give me some time."
"Ugh, I don't have much time. My tournament is coming up soon."
I didn't want to kick away a golden opportunity.
Hyun-kyung looked flustered.
It seemed she really hadn't expected me to refuse.
Me neither.
I didn't know the day I'd need to use it would come so soon.
Wait a minute.
What if it's not rehabilitation?
A thought flashed through my mind.
Like early humans discovering fire for the first time, a brilliant idea struck me.
If I can't accept her because it's 'rehabilitation.'
Can't I just do regular training?
The reason Hyun-kyung can't register as a member is that she came to learn exercises for rehab, right?
If Hyun-kyung registers at the gym as a regular member, wouldn't it be possible?
It sounded plausible.
"First, how about you try receiving PT at our gym?"
"Pardon?"
"Since I'm not a professional rehab medical practitioner, it's hard for me to teach you professional things. But if you saw results with the movements I showed on the broadcast, I think I can just teach you exercises for body correction at our gym. Don't you think?"
"That... is true?"
Hyun-kyung seemed somewhat bewildered by my sudden change in attitude.
But I wasn't looking at Hyun-kyung.
How about it, System?
Can't I take her as a member this way?
"Okay! I have no reason to refuse!"
She nodded and puffed out her small chest.
Did she want to work with me that badly?
Hyun-kyung seemed desperate to be with me somehow.
As if she were burning with anticipation.
Even so, the system window to contract her as a member didn't appear.
So it's still a no because it's rehab?
This system is picky.
Very prickly.
[Error! This is an unpresented method.]
[An internal meeting is required.]
"Sigh, I understand."
Hyun-kyung's face brightened, while Ye-seul's face darkened slightly.
"Instead, there are conditions."
"What are they?"
"Even if there are no results, you must never blame me."
"Of course! This is something I forced upon you after you refused."
"And second."
"Is there more?"
"During PT, you must absolutely comply with my words."
"Hmm... Even things I might think aren't right?"
"Yes, everything. Even things that your sports knowledge tells you are wrong, you must follow my opinion entirely."
"...Fine."
"Lastly, I won't accept any payment until you see clear results."
"Are you serious?"
Hyun-kyung's eyes widened.
She looked genuinely surprised.
"Of course. I can't take money for skills I'm not certain of. However, if the results become visible in the numbers later, I will accept it."
That would be...
[Medic Care Place]
After I purchase this.
"I have no reason not to accept."
Hyun-kyung smiled and nodded.
The hand I shook was covered in hard calluses.
"If you put it that way, then alright."
It couldn't be helped.
A stubborn opponent.
I thought it wouldn't be easy.
Let's gather as many points as possible before I start teaching her officially.
I made a vow to myself.
[The internal meeting has concluded.]
[Registering Hyun-kyung as a 'preliminary' member.]
[She is not a target for hypnosis, but Health Points will be awarded if conditions are met with this member.]
This much wasn't bad.
*
He should have just refused.
Ye-seul felt disappointed.
It would have been better if Jae-ho had declined.
Don't tell me another rival has been added?
Her heart felt tight with anxiety.
Surely not.
Would that big-shot sports star really approach Senior Jae-ho for personal reasons?
No way.