Chapter 216

<Dead Point (4)>

***

Jang Gun-i is indeed Jang Gun-i.

Just when it seemed like he was about to be caught, he mustered his strength, and as the distance closed again, he kicked the ground even harder and escaped from Jin Hyuk’s grasp.

“Enough!”

Despite wearing shoes and a school uniform, Jin Hyuk couldn’t catch up to Jang Gun-i. Realizing he couldn’t catch him like this, Jin Hyuk gave up the chase.

As he clutched his knees and caught his breath, Jang Gun-i, sensing the tension in the air had dissipated, flopped down beside him. Even though Jin Hyuk often threatened to kill or save him, Jang Gun-i knew the safest place was near Jin Hyuk.

“Ughhh! I can’t get any speed!”

Jin Hyuk’s body could still run, and his oxygen supply was fine, but his limits were all too clear. Jang Gun-i had grown so much.

Heh heh heh.

Jang Gun-i, panting with his tongue out, lay sprawled next to Jin Hyuk.

Startled by Jin Hyuk’s sudden burst of energy, Jang Gun-i couldn’t turn his head toward the training center, so they ended up running laps around the 5-kilometer track until they both collapsed.

The track was steaming, but that wasn’t the main concern.

‘When was the last time I ran like this?’

Even with his head hot and breath short, the fact that he was curious about it meant he was still alive.

Well, he couldn’t remember ever running such a long distance so desperately.

Heh heh heh.

“Don’t make Cheon-ma catch fish. That’s why you got sick.”

Jin Hyuk was about to say that, but Jang Gun-i suddenly bolted.

It all started when Jin Hyuk picked up a broom to sweep up the spilled feed.

“Hey, what’s that?”

Heh?

Jang Gun-i, with his tongue out, perked up his ears.

“How do you do it? How do you almost collapse but then find the strength to keep going?”

Jang Gun-i lay on his side, wagging his tail.

It’s something he often does when he’s being cheeky.

Sometimes, problems that seem impossible to solve start unraveling from the most unexpected places.

Just like now.

‘How many dead points does a dog cross while running?’

If it weren’t for the stamina bestowed by the heavens, humans could hardly mimic such energy.

Was it because he ate raw fish?

Or maybe he felt the crisis of life and ran with all his might.

Grunting, Jin Hyuk struggled to get up and grabbed the broom.

Startled, Jang Gun-i jumped to his feet, looking for a chance to escape.

But Jin Hyuk didn’t care and brushed off his sweat-soaked uniform.

“Let’s go home.”

Heh heh.

It was getting dark, and the gnats were starting to swarm. The ground was too hot to lie on.

“I’m sweating too much. If my uniform pants weren’t sticking to my legs, I would’ve caught you.”

Heh heh.

What are you talking about, you only have two legs.

And your tail is in the front.

Even as he panted, Jang Gun-i was in a good mood.

*

While showering, Jin Hyuk fell deep into thought.

Had there ever been a moment of crisis that threatened him?

There were a few moments when he had to focus, but he never felt lacking in physical ability.

Since returning, all physical challenges had been trivial, so it was natural.

No iron soldiers or zombie hordes attacked, and no dragons suddenly appeared to turn the village into a sea of fire, so there was no need to fight for his life.

‘On the other hand, Jang Gun-i…’

That guy must have experienced it frequently.

From his puppy days, he fought butterflies and flies, got bitten by ground beetles, and chased by bees. Not just that, as he grew older, he got bitten by snakes, picked fights with guard dogs, and ran all over the neighborhood.

Those experiences must have accumulated, allowing him to overcome his limits effortlessly in short moments. To Jin Hyuk, Jang Gun-i was a dog who had learned the truth that when faced with a limit, if you squeeze out every ounce of energy, strength will surge again.

‘To surpass limits…’

He vaguely understood why his progress had stalled.

He also recalled that he didn’t tire easily because of the energy swirling in his chest.

*

After showering, he went to the living room to find Yoo Jin playing with Jeong Won.

He had something to ask Yoo Jin.

“Like this, like this?”

“Yeah. Take it all out.”

“Jeong Won is watching.”

“Jeong Won won’t notice.”

Jeong Won was just an ordinary baby.

He didn’t sleepwalk up the stairs to find his brother, nor did he have the ability to heal himself. Every time he got bitten by a mosquito, Yoo Jin had to treat him.

The only extraordinary thing about him was that, as a baby, he had a knack for finding things.

“Ouchie-.”

“Ouch-.”

Even now, he’s pinching his brother’s chest through his T-shirt.

Jin Hyuk didn’t scold his brother. Yoo Jin was like that when she was a baby too.

Despite Jeong Won’s interference, Yoo Jin, who had been concentrating with her hand on her brother’s chest, shook her head.

“It’s not working. I don’t need any more because my chest is full.”

Yoo Jin tapped her chest with her palm.

It meant she was full, like after a meal.

Compared to the immense power her brother possessed, Yoo Jin’s capacity was too small, and since she didn’t use her power, she was already full and couldn’t draw out any more.

‘I want to know right now.’

In the past, he would have waited patiently.

Realizations come like lightning, whether you’re eating, sitting on the toilet, or lying down to sleep.

But he didn’t want to wait aimlessly.

When you don’t know anything, all you can do is wait, but now that he knew the cause, it was only natural to think of a solution once he identified the problem.

‘I need to drain my energy.’

Not muscle strength, but the energy in his heart.

He needed to drain it all and face his limits with just his physical abilities.

And once he surpassed that moment.

‘A new realm will reveal itself.’

It was a simple conclusion to draw.

Though it was a bit funny that his benchmark was Jang Gun-i.

‘Let’s find a way.’

The only way he knew was to have Yoo Jin draw it out, but Yoo Jin said she was always full because she never used her power.

He couldn’t rush even if he wanted to.

It’s not like he could keep beating someone up and then ask Yoo Jin to heal them. That would be insane.

‘I’ll try it during the vacation.’

Jeong Won, who had been pinching and twisting his brother’s chest, waved his short, chubby arms up and down.

“Ooh, ooh-. Airplane-.”

“Yeah-. Let’s ride the airplane.”

***

Middle school and high school students have different class schedules, so their break times are different too. Meal times are also different, so the only time they can hang out with middle school juniors is before the first period starts.

Jin Hyuk’s education focused on helping his juniors develop the habit of studying while exercising.

“Thank you, Vice Manager!”

“Have a good vacation.”

As the vice manager, after finishing the maintenance of the wrestling arena and helping the wrestling team warm up, Jin Hyuk checked the academic progress of his juniors in the study hall where Choi Mi-kyung was self-studying. Since they promised to focus more on academics than sports, he was checking if they were keeping their word.

“Enjoying yourself isn’t everything. You need to have something in your head.”

The juniors said they were learning English and math at a local academy.

Jin Hyuk carefully examined the traces of their studies on the printouts from school and the academy.

Muttering incessantly like a sage.

“What’s the point of running straight if your thoughts aren’t straight?”

Choi Mi-kyung, who was self-studying nearby, thought Jin Hyuk’s way of speaking was starting to resemble Cheon Gil-ryong’s.

Jin Hyuk checked not only English and math but also other subjects.

“You need to do well in everything to find your aptitude. This answer is wrong. The foremost of the four virtues is not righteousness but compassion.”

Ugh-. Choi Mi-kyung let out a shallow sigh.

No matter how much it was academic guidance, Vice Manager Son Jin-hyeok, who muttered like a wet hen in front of these young kids, had been talking too much lately.

“Ugh! I’m leaving first!”

As Choi Mi-kyung, the high school girl, packed her bag and left, the kids all stood up.

“Goodbye, unnie.”

“Bye!”

Jin Hyuk tilted his head as he watched Choi Mi-kyung stomp out.

Is she sensitive lately?

Is it because of the heat?

“You guys said Taeyang High School is better than Chego, right?”

“Yes.”

They were juniors who followed Jin Hyuk’s footsteps and entered Taeyang Middle School instead of a sports middle school. They planned to choose Taeyang High School the same way.

Jin Hyuk vaguely guessed what they wanted but didn’t make an issue of it. It must be something like connections or networks.

“Taeyang High School only accepts wrestling team members as sports recruits. If you’re not good at academics, you can’t get in. Forget about cramming in your third year to get into a good high school. That’s only possible for kids with a solid foundation.”

No Gyeong-ho raised his hand.

He was the second tallest among the three.

“Hyung, which university are you going to?”

Are you planning to follow me to university too?

That’s not a good choice.

“It’s a secret.”

He had something in mind but didn’t feel the need to share.

Everyone’s environment and circumstances are different, and their goals vary, so walking the same path would be impossible.

“Are you all exercising properly?”

“Yes!”

As Jin Hyuk turned the whiteboard, the paper attached to the back fluttered.

「Sweat every day」

「Keep your posture straight, don’t stop breathing」

「Always tighten your core」

「Stretch before and after exercise」

「Don’t lift more than your body weight」

「If you’re in pain, go to the hospital immediately」

「Even if you don’t feel like exercising, don’t rest for more than two days」

Tap tap-.

He tapped the paper with his finger.

“Are you all following this?”

“Yes.”

The kids answered confidently, and Jin Hyuk nodded.

He had been watching them exercise actively.

“Now, I have nothing more to teach you.”

“Ah…”

Shin Min-seong made a disappointed sound, but Jin Hyuk’s job was done after correcting their posture and ensuring they gave their all while running.

Each athlete’s body is different, so imposing the same style isn’t right, and personalized training is only possible in the early stages. If he had to keep coaching them, Jin Hyuk wouldn’t be able to focus on his own training, so he hoped they would build their stamina and improve their strength on their own.

“You guys are pros. Pros are people who master rather than learn. You realize your limits, overcome them, and when you hit a wall, you break through. That’s how you improve. If you feel your training is lacking, come find me anytime. I can run with you.”

“But we don’t get paid, so how are we pros?”

Seemingly confused, Shin Min-seong scratched his head.

“In my opinion, a pro is…”

Jin Hyuk paused to catch his breath.

How should he explain so these kids could understand?

“A pro is someone who proves themselves through skill, not money. I don’t think money determines whether you’re a pro or an amateur.”

“But on TV, pro athletes get paid to play. Like you, hyung.”

“I don’t get paid either.”

He received support for equipment, supplies, and schedule management, but Jin Hyuk wasn’t a salaried athlete yet. Other agencies mimicking SI Management were the same. Agencies manage athletes and share the profits they generate. The salary comes from the team, not the agency. In school sports, the team is the school, and no school pays a student-athlete.

“What do you think a pro is, hyung? You said we’re pros too.”

Kim Yo-han, more serious than the other two, asked in a slow tone.

Jin Hyuk rolled his eyes for a moment before speaking slowly.

“Someone who represents. Represents the school, the region, the country, the world.”

Kim Yo-han pursed his lips, while Shin Min-seong and No Gyeong-ho tilted their heads.

It seemed none of them fully grasped it immediately.

“There are athletes who become national representatives without a team. There are many. The poorer the country, the more there are, and in basic sports like ours, individual event athletes are even more common. Yet they compete in international competitions, representing their country.”

“Ah…”

Finally, Kim Yo-han seemed to understand.

“People who think, ‘I’m the best in this event,’ and give their all. Whether anyone recognizes them or not. Whether they have a team or not, get paid or not. With that mindset, they push through countless challenges and constantly hone their skills. People who grit their teeth and overcome limits. That’s what I think a pro is.”

In that sense, Jin Hyuk wasn’t a pro yet.

In terms of mindset and experience overcoming limits, his juniors were more deserving of being called pros.

“Oh…”

Beyond understanding, Shin Min-seong and No Gyeong-ho seemed impressed, their lips forming an ‘O.’

Fortunately, the explanation seemed straightforward.

After looking at the kids, he added as a final note.

“It’s best not to argue or engage in long conversations with people who define a pro as ‘someone who gets paid to play.’ Those people will never change their minds. It’s better to talk to a wall.”

Jin Hyuk had never personally encountered such people in the past.

But from what he observed, many defined pros solely by money.

“Pros and amateurs are the same people. But those who divide and judge people solely by money can never respect others. They spout nonsense about the value of different professions and put a price on life. They see people as mere performers. Let’s not be like that. Let’s not be swayed by such people.”

After finishing, he tidied up the desk. For some reason, he felt his words got longer when talking to these kids.

Long speeches aren’t good.

The more thoughts in your head, the more tangled your words become.

“This is Min-seong’s English test…”

This is No Gyeong-ho’s math test, this is Kim Yo-han’s social studies test… He returned each to its owner, patting their shoulders. They had achieved excellent grades with just a word of encouragement not to neglect their studies.

‘My role as a mentor is over.’

The kids saw Jin Hyuk as a mentor and tried to mimic his words and actions.

Even now, without being told, they picked up trash left by wrestling team members and straightened crooked desks.

It’s inevitable to have some influence, but being someone’s idol is a heavy burden.

One person like Son Yoo-jin is enough.

There’s also Jang Gun-i, the pro among pros.

Kim Yo-han, who carried his bag like a porter, grabbed his shoulder strap.

This guy always carried lead weights in his bag. He was a tough kid who wore lead weights on his ankles and thighs.

“Hyung, what are you doing during the vacation?”

“I have to attend supplementary classes.”

“What about days without classes?”

“I’ll rest at home.”

“Not going to the beach or something?”

The beach?

Are these guys trying to suggest we go on a trip together?

Seeing Shin Min-seong and No Gyeong-ho side-eyeing Kim Yo-han, it seemed like Kim Yo-han’s idea alone.

‘Is Yo-han lacking in tact?’

Soo-jung might come down during the vacation.

Jin Hyuk was curious about Hong Soo-jung, who was growing taller than Choi Mi-kyung and would soon catch up to her mother.

What to do?

Jin Hyuk quickly racked his brain.

“I have to take care of my siblings. They’re still young…”

“Ah…”

Fortunately, his old trick still worked.

He planned to use the vacation period without supplementary classes to train alone.