Chapter 81: Chapter 81

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Chapter 81: Training or Discipline (1)

Blink!

The world shut its eyes and opened them again.

The asphalt road transformed into a carpeted floor, and the sky, on the verge of dusk, became a high ceiling.

The empty shops lined with no owners or customers became white, plush walls.

[Subject 'Lee Eunho.' Transferred to Training Facility!]

"Where is this?"

This isn’t the same training center as before.

Last time, it was just a moderately sized lecture hall.

But here...

‘An auditorium?’

It’s incredibly spacious.

If we’re talking interior design, it resembles a university campus auditorium.

At the front stands a platform large enough to hold at least a hundred people, and rows of seats ascend higher toward the back.

There must be over 500 seats.

I’m not sure who they’re meant for, but it’s certainly a large-scale setup.

On top of that, the screen covering the wall behind the platform is massive, incomparable to the one I saw last time.

Clack, clack.

Walking toward the platform, I simultaneously checked my messages.

Since I arrived safely, I figured it would be best to check on my group’s safety.

[You have 12 unopened gifts.]

[Would you like to view them all?]

"View."

The 12 messages were mostly similar in content:

Concerns about my whereabouts, questions about where I ended up, who I was with, and requests to reply soon.

It seemed everyone had seen me lose consciousness at the last moment.

──── ────

ㆍRecipient: Lee Eunho

ㆍFrom: Choi Jaehyuk

ㆍAre you okay, hyung? Hanul and Yura are okay. Please reply if you see it!!

──── ────

So Jaehyuk and Yul ended up together.

That’s a relief.

──── ────

ㆍRecipient: Lee Eunho

ㆍFrom: Lee Yeji

ㆍMr. Lee Eunho! Are you okay? For now, I'm inside Mapo Station with the grumbler. Let me know when you've decided on a destination!

──── ────

So Yeji is with the grumbler at Mapo.

──── ────

ㆍRecipient: Lee Eunsho

ㆍFrom: Song Hyunsook

ㆍMr. Kim! Is this the right way to send this?

──── ────

I spent a while pondering who this "Song Hyunsook" was, looking for a Kim-ssi.

"Oh-ho! Ms. Song, not bad! Is it because her name’s Song? What a great 'song'-like talent she has, ha-ha!"

Come to think of it, the janitor used to call the cleaning lady Ms. Song.

She must’ve accidentally sent exactly what she was asking the person next to her.

In any case, I’m glad everyone’s safe.

It’s like bungee jumping without a cord—hard not to worry.

"Jieun must’ve had a hard time."

She likely had to control everything to ensure no one crashed to the ground.

With that thought, I opened the last message, Jieun’s second one.

──── ────

Recipient: Lee Eunho

Sender: Kim Jieun

-I think I fell near Gwangheungchang Station, but I can’t find you. Are you safe? I’ll wait for your reply!

──── ────

Damn.

I’ve ended up worrying everyone unintentionally.

I felt I needed to reply quickly, but even having such thoughts felt strange.

‘When did I become someone so many people looked for?’

Before the world turned upside down, I rarely got calls or texts outside of work.

They’re people I feel both grateful and apologetic toward.

Anyway, to summarize:

Jaehyuk, Yura, and Hanul are at Mangwon Riverside Park.

Jieun is near Gwangheungchang Station.

Yeji and the grumbler are at Mapo Station.

The cleaning lady and the janitor’s locations are unknown, but they’re safe.

That seems to be the gist of it.

I still don’t know where the two elders fell, but they’re probably nearby.

Most of the others seem to have landed in Gangbuk, near the Han River.

First, I decided to message Jaehyuk:

‘Let’s meet at 7 PM today, Exit 8 of Hongdae Station. Let me or Jieun know if there’s any danger.’

Hongdae’s area isn’t crowded with survivors, and the remaining people there aren’t particularly threatening.

I sent the same message to everyone.

‘I hope they stay safe while moving.’

Jaehyuk and Jieun shouldn’t have any issues, even if they encounter people or monsters.

But I’m a bit worried about the ones who haven’t unlocked their abilities yet.

Still, given that everyone’s made it this far safely, I decided to ease my mind.

It’s proof the immediate vicinity isn’t too dangerous.

But just in case...

‘Let’s finish quickly and get out of here.’

Resolving myself, I moved toward the screen, which resembled a university bulletin board covered in posters, filled with countless training plans.

As I rubbed my eyes and scanned the screen…

Step.

Footsteps echoed from afar.

'!!'

Not mine, but someone else's footsteps.

Step. Step. Step.

A man descended the steps of the tiered lecture hall.

Wearing a black baseball cap pulled low, I initially thought he might be a troublemaker.

But I dismissed the idea immediately upon noticing his towering height and sturdy build.

'So, there’s someone else.'

Someone else who passed the entrance exam with an S+ grade.

[A special lecture has been prepared for top scorers of the entrance exam.]

[Use your training points to enroll in various lectures.]

So far, the condition for earning training points has been straightforward: achieve an S+ grade.

Jieun, who received an S grade, didn’t get any points, so this must be true.

‘I’ve never seen him before.’

He’s not from Yongsan-gu.

Where is he from?

Is he nearby?

It wasn’t a matter of concern but sheer curiosity.

And it seemed the feeling was mutual.

“Someone’s here.”

Step. Step. Step.

Noticing me, his initially hesitant steps quickened along with his furrowed brow.

He’s over 185 cm tall.

His face was obscured by the cap, but the broad shoulders, chest, and muscular arms visible beneath his black T-shirt spoke volumes.

Clearly, he’s an athlete or, at the very least, someone who relies on physical labor.

And most importantly…

‘His face looks familiar.’

I stared at his partially visible face beneath the cap but quickly turned away.

It wasn’t the time for a friendly introduction.

‘The lectures might have limited spots.’

Just in case, I decided to browse the list quickly.

▣ Basic Swordsmanship (Completed)

▣ Charismatic Leadership

▣ All-purpose Cooking Class

Some courses, like “Basic Swordsmanship,” which I had taken during my “preliminary selector” days, were still available.

The strikethrough on the title indicated you couldn’t retake completed courses.

The system was impressively precise.

As I continued reading, more options appeared.

▣ Meditation

-Is your mind in turmoil? Anger, regret, jealousy, longing… do you wish to escape the endless cycle of emotions?

This course is for you. Let everything go and claim the world!

-Completion Reward: Unlock Meditation (Lv.1) Skill

There were courses I had never seen before.

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▣ Extreme Endurance

-Have you suppressed your instincts in this transformed world?

One lecture will open a new realm. Stop holding back!

-Completion Reward: Unlock Waste Management Control (Lv.1) Skill

And courses I wondered why they even existed.

▣ Basic Spearmanship

-The spear—a weapon that allows for unilateral attacks from a safe distance!

Master posture and techniques in one go. Note: Weapon ownership required for enrollment.

-Completion Reward: Unlock Basic Spearmanship (Lv.1)

Some courses seemed genuinely useful.

▣ Healthy Eating and Sleeping

▣ Basic Shield Techniques

▣ Children’s Music Class

There were too many.

Most had “basic” or “introductory” in their titles, but earning a skill from a single lecture was remarkable.

While some skills, like Petrification, could be obtained through luck, most required special conditions.

But what I needed now wasn’t a new skill.

Instead of spearmanship or marksmanship skills…

‘I need ways to maximize my existing skills.’

That’s what I was looking for—especially for the Counter skill that once displayed earth-shattering power.

「Counter (Lv.1): Uses the Resistance stat to reflect part of the damage received back to the attacker.」

「Counter Amount = (Consumed Stat)%」

And the Revive skill that I hadn’t used yet—and hoped never to use.

「Revive (Lv.-): When HP is completely depleted, recover 10% of total HP.」

「Caution: Requires sufficient blood absorption to recharge after use.」

「Usable Count: 1/1」

To use these two powerful skills effectively, one premise was crucial:

‘My total HP must be high.’

The damage for Counter and the 10% recovery for Revive both increase with higher total HP.

So my choice was clear:n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

▣ Basic Physical Training

-The first step to mastering martial arts is building basic strength!

A strong mind resides in a strong body.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—or in this case, a single lap!

-Completion Reward: Increased Stamina Stat

This was "Basic Physical Training," which allowed one to increase stamina without using mission rewards.

Swish!

[Selection complete.]

Without hesitation, I reached out and made my choice.

The problem was...

Swish!

The man next to me selected the same lecture at the exact same moment.

And then— Fwoosh!

Two doors appeared behind the hidden platform screen.

Not one, but two.

[Enter the Lecture Room!]

Of all things, he chose this one?

It didn’t seem like he needed to train his stamina further.

Was he the type to invest in both stamina and strength?

Just as I was about to step forward, I heard a short sigh from behind me.

“Ha.”

And then, an absurd question.

“Are you my fan?”

“...Are you my fan?”

He repeated.

Confused by the random question, I turned to look at him.

That’s when his face finally clicked.

‘...Ah!’

I remembered who he was.

* * *

He was none other than Park Gongchan, the captain of the national soccer team and the player credited with leading a prestigious EPL team to win the Premier League title.

A man hailed as a legend of Korean soccer—past, present, and future.

‘To think I’d meet him here.’

And not just meet him…

[‘Park Gongchan.’ Squat 420 kg!]

[Bench Press 300 kg!]

[Deadlift 450 kg!]

[Congratulations!]

[You have surpassed the limits of the human body!]

...but train alongside him in the three major lifts.

[‘Lee Eunho.’ Squat 190 kg!]

[Bench Press 110 kg!]

[Deadlift 215 kg!]

[Congratulations!]

[You have passed the baseline requirements!]

While Park Gongchan surpassed human limits, I barely cleared the baseline.

It was an expected outcome.

He must have started with strength and stamina that far exceeded the average person’s and poured even more resources into them.

Still...

"Don't feel too bad. This is my livelihood, after all."

"..."

...it didn’t exactly cheer me up.

[‘Stage I’ Cleared!]

[The foundation of stamina is sufficient strength! You have qualified to participate in 'Basic Physical Training.']

[Stamina Stat (+1)]

Although we both cleared the mission, our rewards were different.

[Participant ‘Park Gongchan.’ Achieved excellent results and gains an additional stat point.]

Whether "excellent results" were measured relatively or absolutely, I had no idea.

Either way…

[The ‘door’ has opened.]

[You may proceed to the next stage.]

…it lit a competitive fire in me.

"For a regular person, that wasn’t bad."

His calm demeanor showed not even a speck of doubt in the face of our overwhelming difference.

[Warning!]

[Participants may lose their lives during training. You may quit at any time if you so wish.]

"Still, I’d advise against overexerting yourself."

"What?"

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. From my perspective, it’s fine if you fall behind.”

His sideways glance and mumbled words only fueled my resolve further.

[Would you like to proceed to ‘Stage II’?]

"Don’t push yourself too hard and end up getting hurt—"

“I’ll go first.”

Let’s see who has the last laugh.

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