Chapter 437: Trainer Doesn’t Hide His Strength (2)

The hunters were struck speechless by an answer they had never even considered.

'Why is a gym owner fighting monsters inside a gate!?'

If simply working out allowed someone to fight monsters, there would have been no need for awakened people.

One hunter barely managed to collect himself and spoke.

“Ahem. So, you’re saying you work as a gym owner?”

“Yes.”

“Then I suppose you’re awakened, but you don’t work as a hunter.”

At that fairly reasonable deduction, the other hunters nodded in understanding.

Not everyone who awakened automatically became a hunter.

Hunters might earn large sums of money, but ultimately, it was still a profession where one earned money through combat.

“Um, Gym Owner? Even if you have no intention of working as a hunter, it would be best to register as an awakened person first.”

“Yes. Since there are villains who commit crimes while concealing the fact that they’re awakened, you could attract unnecessary suspicion.”

“You don’t seem like that kind of bad person, Gym Owner, but there’s no reason to invite suspicion.”

They did not suspect Choi Kanghyuk.

A man who had thrown himself into a gate barehanded to save a child and his mother.

They did not think someone like that would secretly be committing crimes as a villain.

Then the scene they had witnessed a moment ago came to mind.

The sight of him rolling around on the ground with the lizardmen as though he were playing with them.

'He seems a little strange, but he probably isn’t a bad person.'

'Of course not. He entered a gate to save a child and mother he had no connection to.'

Their advice continued.

“We could pretend we didn’t see anything, but we’re required to submit a report after clearing the gate.”

“Yes. And the person who reported it already said that a hunter had entered the gate, so it would be difficult to gloss over.”

“So it would be better for you to report yourself now.”

At their advice, Choi Kanghyuk began organizing his thoughts.

'They’re right. There’s no reason to invite suspicion.'

Choi Kanghyuk also knew about villains.

They occasionally appeared on the news.

People who used their awakened abilities to commit crimes.

There were even some who openly registered as hunters and still committed crimes as villains.

And he was vaguely aware that hiding one’s awakening and later being discovered would also invite suspicion.

However, Choi Kanghyuk had one minor problem.

'The thing is, I never awakened in the first place.'

He had merely become capable of using an ability he already knew.

An ability called martial arts.

But he could not explain that entire story in detail.

That he had entered a novel and returned, and could now use the martial arts he had learned there.

'That’s a perfect way to be treated like a madman.'

Even in a world where gates and awakened people had appeared.

He had already been treated like a lunatic once while searching for Author Gagyeong, so it did not seem like a very good approach.

'Or would they become even more suspicious because they’d think I made up such a ridiculous lie?'

In truth, whether he had already known martial arts or learned them after awakening was not particularly important.

He could simply have reported it the moment he first became able to use his abilities.

However, Choi Kanghyuk had been unable to do that.

It was difficult to leave the gym unattended.

Because the gate was still open.

His plan had been to build up some strength first, report his awakening, and then begin working as a hunter.

But somehow, that plan had gone awry.

'Still, as a Buddhist, I can’t lie.'

As Choi Kanghyuk considered the minor dilemma, his mind suddenly flashed with inspiration.

A useful idea occurred to him.

'Right. There’s no need to lie in the first place.'

After organizing his thoughts, Choi Kanghyuk spoke.

“The truth is, I wasn’t originally awakened.”

He was not awakened now either, but there was no need to mention that.

“After entering a gate, I suddenly became able to use an ability.”

It had not been this gate, but the one that had opened in the gym office.

As a Buddhist, Choi Kanghyuk had spoken only the truth.

Could it really be helped if the other party misunderstood?

“Wow. Then you awakened while trying to save the child and his mother?”

“That’s kind of romantic.”

Choi Kanghyuk merely answered with laughter.

“Hahahaha.”

“Then this actually works out well. You should visit the Association while you have the chance.”

“Yes. We’ll finish things here, so you can go without worrying.”

After exchanging farewells with the hunters, Choi Kanghyuk left the gate.

A short distance away, he saw the child and his mother.

The mother also spotted Choi Kanghyuk and hurried toward him.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

After bowing deeply, she spoke to the child as well.

“Suchan, you too! Hurry and thank him for saving you!”

“Thank youuu.”

The mother and child bowed together and expressed their gratitude.

Choi Kanghyuk smiled.

“It’s all right. I’m glad you’re both safe.”

Sincere words of gratitude.

Whenever he received them, his heart would fill with pride.

Choi Kanghyuk bent his knees and met the child’s eyes.

“Suchan. From now on, you need to listen to your mother. Understood?”

Was it because of Choi Kanghyuk’s fierce appearance?

Or had the child already been severely scolded by his mother?

The child cautiously read the mood before answering.

“Yeees.......”

Choi Kanghyuk was about to pat the child’s head when he paused.

'Ah. It would be a little wrong to touch him with this hand.'

After fighting lizardmen and rolling around in a swamp, he looked no better than a beggar.

'I should shower at the gym before going to the Association.'

After organizing his thoughts, Choi Kanghyuk stood up again.

“Then please get home safely.”

After saying goodbye, he turned around and headed back toward the gym.

***

After washing, he called a taxi and headed to the Hunter Association.

It was not because he was in a hurry to reach the Association as soon as possible.

He needed to minimize the amount of walking he did.

He had already done too much cardio. He had to be careful about muscle loss.

After examining the building directory near the Association entrance, he spotted a place called [Awakened Registration Center].

“It’s on the second floor.”

When he reached the Awakened Registration Center on the second floor, it was noisy from the entrance.

“I’m telling you, fire really came out! I’m awakened, awakened! I need to register as a hunter!”

“Yes. Then please come back next time and show us the fire.”

“Then just one more try right now! Give me one more chance! I feel like I can do it this time!”

Was it because hunters could earn large sums of money?

Apparently, people with delusions occasionally came here.

After taking a number and waiting, all kinds of extraordinary scenes unfolded before his eyes.

Were they not afraid?

Watching people stubbornly insist that they wanted to become hunters despite possessing no abilities was truly fascinating.

“Haaaaam.”

He yawned at length and took out the snack he had brought.

They said eating was also part of exercise.

Moreover, today had been a particularly strenuous workout day.

So he wondered whether he should have a cheat day.

The snack he had chosen was a protein bar. And not just any protein bar, but a chocolate-flavored one!

As he enjoyed the chocolate protein bar and protein drink he had brought as a snack, his turn soon arrived.

“Is number 213 here?”

“Yes!”

The desk employee asked in a businesslike tone.

“Please write your name, phone number, and address here.”

“Yes.”

After he finished filling it out, the desk employee asked again.

“Please briefly explain when and under what circumstances you awakened.”

Why did they ask about the circumstances of awakening?

Ah. Was it some form of data collection?

It was not particularly important, so he answered truthfully.

“I awakened after entering a gate. Ah, didn’t you receive a report a little while ago? Someone entered a gate to save a child.”

“....... One moment. I’ll check.”

She picked up the receiver and called somewhere.

After exchanging a few words, she asked in a slightly less businesslike tone.

“Ah, then are you perhaps the person who entered the gate to save the child?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’re saying you entered the gate to save the child even though you weren’t awakened?”

“Yes.”

He was not awakened, so it was not a lie.

“Then may I ask what ability you awakened inside the gate?”

He briefly fell into thought.

Should he say martial arts?

Ah. A simpler answer occurred to him.

“Iron Shirt.”

“Iron Shirt?”

“Yes. It’s an ability that hardens the skin and muscles.”

The desk employee typed rapidly, recording what he had said.

“Yes. Your application has been received. You can go in over there.”

He turned his head and looked where the employee was pointing.

[Ability Verification Room]

He walked there.

Inside the verification room were various unidentified devices.

There were even skewers, hammers, and awls.

It looked almost like a torture chamber.

Just then, a man approached.

“Welcome. I’m the verification officer.”

The ability verification with the officer continued.

“We’ll conduct a few tests to determine the strength of your muscles and skin.”

After saying that, the officer brought over the torture tools.

He began striking Choi Kanghyuk’s body with objects such as baseball bats and hammers.

Weakly at first, then gradually increasing the force.

“Wow. At this level, even if a baseball player struck you with an aluminum bat, it probably wouldn’t hurt.”

After confirming the durability of his body, the officer pointed somewhere.

Several extremely familiar objects were placed there.

Dumbbells, barbells, and weight plates.

“In the case of awakened people with physical enhancement abilities, their athletic performance is often enhanced in addition to the ability itself. Therefore, we’ll also conduct an additional assessment of your physical performance.”

It was not particularly pleasant news.

Perhaps noticing his expression, the officer asked with a puzzled look.

“Is there a problem?”

“I worked out this morning.”

“And......?”

“And I don’t know whether you were informed, but I also entered a gate and brawled with some lizardmen.”

“....... Ah! Were you injured?”

“No. I’ve already completed two workout sessions today, so I’m not particularly eager to lift weights again.”

It was a serious misunderstanding people had about gym fanatics.

Too much exercise could also become poison.

Muscles grew larger and stronger during the process of recovering after being damaged.

Once the daily quota was finished, one had to rest thoroughly from that point onward.

“Um, verification is mandatory for the license to be issued.”

At the officer’s words, Choi Kanghyuk scratched his head.

“Tsk. It can’t be helped.”

He simply felt some regret.

Had he known he would have to exercise here too, he would have come tomorrow instead of today.

***

Around the time Choi Kanghyuk finished all the verification procedures and left the Association.

In the chairman’s office on the top floor of the Association.

“The awakened ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) person who rescued the child came by?”

The secretary answered the Association Chairman’s question.

“Yes, Chairman.”

Judging purely by the scale of the incident, it was not significant enough to reach the Association Chairman’s ears.

At most, it had occurred inside a C-rank gate.

However, the circumstances were somewhat unusual.

A hunter who had awakened while trying to rescue a child.

“To think people like that still exist these days. Hahaha. So, what were his verification results?”

“His athletic performance and the defensive power of the ability called Iron Shirt were around C-rank. However, since he’s only at the beginning stage, I heard they safely issued him a D-rank license.”

The Hunter Association prioritized hunter safety above all else.

Therefore, even if someone awakened an outstanding ability, they were initially issued a low-rank license.

They could then be promoted after accumulating a certain amount of practical experience.

The Association Chairman stroked his chin with a disappointed expression.

“What a shame. If a man with such a strong sense of justice also possessed an exceptional ability, he could have been a great help to the world.”

“That is true, Chairman.”

“Especially in uncertain times like these, it would be wonderful if someone like a hero appeared.”

It had not been reported by the media, but subtle data had recently been collected in countries throughout the world.

Since the beginning of the year, the average annual frequency of gate appearances had increased slightly.

The average gate rank had also risen by a very small amount.

It was not immediately serious, but the Association Chairman felt an inexplicable unease.

As though trying to soothe the chairman’s disappointment, the secretary cautiously spoke.

“Still, it seems someone heroic is preparing to return.”

“Someone heroic?”

“Hunter Kim Jicheol recently resumed his activities.”

“Oh.”

Since Kim Jicheol had been active from the early days of the gate crisis, the Association Chairman also knew him very well.

“Kim Jicheol’s case was truly unfortunate. I have never seen anyone with such an overwhelming sense of duty.”

A hunter who had retired because of the injuries accumulated due to that very sense of duty.

“But Kim Jicheol has started working again?”

“Yes. He entered a C-rank gate one month ago, then a B-rank gate two weeks ago, and another B-rank gate last week.”

“Hahaha. As expected, Kim Jicheol truly is an extraordinary man.”

With the world in such an unsettled state, it could not have been more encouraging news.

However, at the same time, a single question arose in his mind.

'I heard every hospital he visited said there was no solution. Just how did he recover?'