Chapter 76: I’m Going into Heat.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: I’m Going into Heat.
“Hyun-kyung, you seem to be in a good mood today?”
“Oh, Coach.”
“Did something good happen?”
“Not really. It’s just that training ended early today.”
Hyun-kyung offered a vague excuse to Head Coach Lee Seo-hye, a small smirk playing on her lips.
She had a total of three coaches working with her.
There was Head Coach Lee Seo-hye, who had just spoken to her; Coach Lee Jin-wook, who wasn't here right now but always handled the tactical side; and finally, the medical coach, Park Yi-man.
If you added the medical staff and managers to that list, the number grew even larger.
With a dedicated medical coach already on her team, she couldn't easily admit that she had sought out someone else for her rehabilitation.
That would only make the situation awkward.
She planned to tell them once she saw definitive results and felt certain she could continue working with him.
‘Just in case.’
Coach Lee Seo-hye was a legendary figure who had achieved monumental feats in the world of Korean women’s tennis.
She was the one who had discovered Hyun-kyung, and she was the one who had worked tirelessly day and night to help her reach this position.
At the very least, Hyun-kyung didn't want to give Lee Seo-hye anything more to worry about.
“Are you going out somewhere?”
“Nothing like that. There’s just a gym I’ve been interested in lately, so I thought I’d check it out.”
“Working out even on your day off? Keep your physical condition in mind while you practice. You’ll ruin your body if you overdo it.”
“I have to work hard.”
“Aren't you going to get a boyfriend?”
“Is that really something a coach should be saying? You’re supposed to tell me not to get a boyfriend so I can focus on my sport.”
“Those words disappear the moment I see a disciple who hasn't even been on a single date by the age of twenty-three.”
“I’ll find someone eventually.”
“What, after you retire?”
“Hehe.”
Hyun-kyung escaped the situation with a casual laugh.
“There are plenty of sports stars interested in you. It’s better to meet people with similar interests anyway. Want me to set you up?”
“No, thank you.”
Hyun-kyung waved her hand, declining the coach’s offer.
Of course, she was twenty-three—an age full of hormones and passion, an age where one naturally wants to date.
The reason she didn't was simple.
‘There isn't a man who meets my standards.’
The world was full of mediocrity.
She had never once imagined building a life or falling in love with someone like that.
For now, she was happier when she was training.
“Anyway! I’m heading out for the day.”
“Be careful. If you overexert yourself and get injured, this tournament is as good as gone. You were already injured once recently.”
“I know. I’ve been through it once, so I know better than anyone.”
Hyun-kyung thought of Jae-ho.
The man who had humbly hidden his own skills.
‘I’ll get better.’
She was certain that if she was with him, she could return her currently uncomfortable body to its original state.
*
“Sigh, it feels like she’s being chased by the shadow of her last injury...”
Coach Lee Seo-hye muttered as she watched Hyun-kyung’s receding back.
Ever since the pelvic injury she sustained during a match, it felt like Hyun-kyung was pushing herself too hard.
Her philosophy was that an athlete should keep as much distance from romance as possible.
However, having no room to breathe mentally was often worse.
Fearing she might suffer a major injury at this rate, the coach had suggested dating as a way to find some mental stability.
‘But she doesn't seem to have any interest in it.’
She worried that the injury might flare up again.
*
The evening after the day I signed the contract with Hyun-kyung, just as the sun was setting.
“I’m in your hands!”
Hyun-kyung arrived.
She was already bursting with motivation.
Since this was my first time dealing with a professional athlete, I felt pressured in many ways.
‘Let’s stay calm.’
Don't get nervous for no reason.
If you’re nervous, even things that should work won't.
“Ahem. Well, as you know, I have zero knowledge regarding traditional rehabilitation, so I’ll just be doing things my way.”
“Of course!”
Hyun-kyung stretched her body out.
“But it looks like you teach from home.”
“I do have a separate gym, but it’s not very large.”
“Opening your own gym at such a young age... you’re quite capable.”
Perhaps because she wasn't under hypnosis, she was perfectly aware that this was my house.
“Since this is for body correction, we’ll start by loosening up with stretching and light exercise. We won't be doing anything overly strenuous.”
“Yes!”
I took my stance in front of Hyun-kyung, who had answered energetically.
I demonstrated a routine that combined stretching with light aerobic movements.
The goal was to relax the muscles and release the tension from her stiff body.
This was the concept I had designed specifically for Hyun-kyung.
‘The system didn't provide a recommended workout, so I put this together myself. I wonder how it’ll go.’
I even calculated the timing of her inhalations and exhalations as much as possible.
How could I maximize the effectiveness of the workout?
I had put a lot of thought into it.
I’d have to wait and see if it actually worked, though.
“Huuuuh! Nngh!”
Hyun-kyung put her heart and soul into the yoga and stretching.
She expanded her small chest and pulled her body to its limit.
“Kaaah!”
She easily performed a move where she spread her legs wide and reached her arms forward while lying flat on the floor.
Her flexibility was incredible.
Her muscle elasticity was also high, allowing her to switch positions immediately after a stretch.
My eyes kept wandering.
What was wrong with me?
Her chest was smaller than Miju’s or Ye-seul’s—hell, even smaller than Young-eun’s—and her hip and butt lines weren't particularly emphasized.
And yet, my eyes were glued to her body and wouldn't pull away.
Was this what they called "athletic beauty"?
My gaze kept drifting toward her healthy, bronzed skin.
From the lines where her muscle movements were clearly visible to her skin glistening with sweat.
Every time I looked at her body, I couldn't stop my heart from racing.
‘Why am I like this?’
I shook my head vigorously and slapped my cheeks to focus.
Once again, I felt the elasticity of Hyun-kyung’s muscles.
‘Wow.’
I guess this is what it takes to win a world championship.
The difference in physical specs compared to a normal person was obvious.
And a person like this came to me because she wanted to be trained?
‘Not bad.’
Of course, Hyun-kyung’s expression wasn't great.
However, she remained focused on the workout until the very end.
She worked so hard that I eventually had to stop her.
“Now, now, you’re putting too much strength into it. There’s no need to be so rigid when doing yoga.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, slowly. Let’s try to be a bit more fluid.”
“I understand.”
About an hour had passed.
Hyun-kyung, who had been wearing a puzzled expression throughout the workout, finally asked me.
“Um, Jae-ho.”
“What is it?”
“Is this really the right way to do it? I feel like I’m not really seeing any results.”
Was that why her expression had been bad the whole time?
Not seeing results, huh.
[The effect of ‘King of the Night’ is applied.]
[Exercise effectiveness is increased by 2x.]
The trait effect had definitely triggered.
And yet she wasn't feeling anything?
For anyone else, this routine would have been more than enough to see results.
Even though it was centered on stretching, it was a grueling enough routine that most people would be drenched in sweat and begging for a break by now.
Did I do something wrong?
Did I fail to bridge the gap in athletic ability between a normal person and a professional athlete?
A flurry of thoughts crossed my mind.
But I couldn't back down.
“Didn't we make a promise at the start? That even if there were no results, you wouldn't blame me or question my methods.”
Hyun-kyung licked her lips.
Her face said she had a lot she wanted to say.
“I just wanted to give my personal opinion. I know you have your own way of doing things, Jae-ho.”
“Go ahead.”
“I think we could make the routine a bit more intense. I don't think this is enough to even loosen up my stiff muscles. Oh, it’s just a suggestion.”
Was this the pride of a successful athlete?
Despite our prior agreement, she was asserting her own stubbornness regarding exercise.
I respected her opinion, but...
“For now, I will continue the workout as I have planned. If you’re dissatisfied, you’re free to quit right now.”
I knew she was an expert when it came to exercise and sports.
But this was my field and my gym.
I had no intention of compromising my methods.
It was a matter of pride and authority.
“...No. I’m sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I was the one who asked for your help.”
She eventually nodded.
It didn't seem like she was trying to win a power struggle.
It was just the pure curiosity of an athlete.
That must have been what provoked her.
I didn't intend to blame her.
From her perspective, my methods might have seemed nonsensical, so I might need to adjust the approach or intensity later.
“Fine. Since you aren't feeling satisfied with the current routine, we’ll end today’s workout here.”
“Y-you don't have to do that...”
“Instead, we’ll move on to a massage to loosen your muscles.”
“A massage?”
“Yes.”
“I didn't know you knew how to give massages too.”
“It’s quite effective for body correction.”
Hyun-kyung looked at the spot where she had just been stretching.
“I understand. Should I lie down here?”
“I’ll lay out a massage mat for you, so you can lie down on that.”
“Okay.”
I desperately tried to keep my gaze from drifting toward Hyun-kyung’s body.
‘Why am I like this?’
Every time I looked at her, I felt myself heating up.
It was a workout no different from usual.
Hyun-kyung’s body was certainly attractive, but thinking back on the people I’d trained with so far, there were many who were far more conventionally attractive than her.
So why?
Why was I getting so aroused today, unlike my usual self?
Gulp.
I had no choice but to clutch the mat tightly against my chest as I brought it over.
Why?
‘Because my dick is rock-hard with no sign of going down.’
Even though I was wearing loose-fitting training pants, it was stiff enough that you could clearly see the tent I’d pitched.
My body had reacted just by looking at Hyun-kyung.
‘Why the hell is this happening?’
It was always the members who were supposed to get excited.
I was always the one in control.
‘Was Hyun-kyung’s body exactly my type?’
Had she awakened a preference I didn't even know I had?
There was no way.
I spread the mat out while standing in an awkward, hunched-over posture.
All to avoid showing her my erection.
“You can lie down here.”
“Oh, thank you.”
If she catches me, I’m screwed.
Seriously screwed.
I didn't want to look like some creep who gets a hard-on while training someone who isn't even under hypnosis.
“Whew.”
I caught my breath.
Clear the mind.
Make the dick go limp.
Until the East Sea’s waters and Mount Baekdu are worn away...
But instead of going limp, my dick only got harder.
The moment I saw the straight lines of Hyun-kyung’s spinal erectors as she lay with her back to me—
“Ngh!”
My dick evolved into something I could no longer control.
It was so stiff it actually throbbed.
And then, I saw it.
[The sun has completely set, and night has fallen.]
[The effect of ‘King of the Night’ is applied.]
[After sunset, the effects of charm-related traits are doubled.]
[Effectiveness is increased when receiving a massage or PT at night.]
[Side Effect - As much as the effectiveness is increased, you will go into heat more easily.]
That word. Side Effect.
As much as the effectiveness is increased, you will go into heat more easily.
Wait, I’m the one going into heat?