"Haha! I’ve finally made it into Drake Gym!"
Perry Jayco.
He parked his car with an excited heart.
‘Amazing!’
He could only see the exterior for now.
Even so, the sheer presence of Drake Gym was overwhelming.
The Graveyard of Heavyweights.
A place said to perfectly bury those without talent and those who lacked effort.
A place rumored to have heavyweight gatekeepers.
And a place where, if one could endure to the end, their skills would improve trendously.
‘I’m going to get famous too.’
It was well-known that succeeding in boxing could bring in huge amounts of money.
Surpassing amateur boxing and turning pro would an astronomical sums—
If successful, it was like hitting the jackpot.
With swelling dreams, Perry grabbed his gym bag and opened the door to Drake Gym.
‘What the... No one’s paying attention to ?’
Were rookies like him so common here?
Even though he had entered with a loud slam of the door, not a single gaze turned his way.
They were all staring at the ring as if entranced.
‘What are they watching?’
With no one available to guide him, Perry thought he might as well take a peek too.
He picked up his bag and walked toward the ring.
And the mont he saw what had everyone srized, he imdiately understood.
‘What... What is this?’
It was clearly a sparring match.
Just a sparring match.
But the level was on a completely different plane.
"Not even a second passes, and they’re already exchanging blows like it’s nothing."
"Isn’t this pro-level? Donghu’s just insane."
"He’s only 19! Nineteen! How can soone that young have that level of technique?"
"Ducking, weaving, head rolls, shoulder rolls, parrying... This makes no sense."
Perry was shocked all over again, hearing the spectators’ comnts.
‘Nineteen? That guy is nineteen?’
And he even looked Asian.
‘He’s completely dominating.’
It was like watching an elephant crush an ant.
When the 19-year-old Asian guy moved,
His opponent flinched and stumbled back several steps.
His presence alone was overwhelming.
"Still, that guy’s holding out for a while."
"He should! This is already Donghu’s fifth opponent."
"How much stamina does he even have?"
"Did you see Donghu and his coach training? They’re built different...."
"There’s no way a normal person’s joints could withstand that weight. They’d blow out their knees."
"Even though the coach looks like a brute, he’s actually super educated. Apparently, he has multiple degrees."
Since it was clear the match was already decided,
The fighters shifted back to talking about Kim Donghu instead.
‘Nineteen, Asian, heavyweight?’
It was a string of words that didn’t seem to fit together.
But regardless of whether Perry could make sense of it,
The sparring in the ring ca to an end.
The fighters, now finished, started pulling out their wallets with resigned expressions.
"Alright, pay up. I told you, right? Donghu would finish five opponents in five rounds."
"Damn it! Homkin! You were the fifth. What the hell was that?"
"Ah, fuck! Then you try it! What was I supposed to do when nothing I threw landed?!"
"You should’ve trusted your headgear and charged in!"
"Easy for you to say, Drake and Draco are just holding mitts!"
"Headgear? What’s the point?!"
"I trusted my headgear and managed to land one punch, didn’t I? Homkin, maybe you’re just a cherry boy."
"Get your facts straight. Didn’t you get dropped right after that?"
The focus of the bets wasn’t even on winning.
It was on how long soone could last.
‘Five opponents in five rounds?’
Perry suddenly realized his ability to process information wasn’t great.
The situation was so incomprehensible that his brain needed ti to catch up.
And just as he stood there, watching the chaos unfold—
"Drake, looks like we’ve got a guest."
At the words of the handso boy leaning against the ring, everyone went silent.
It was like the atmosphere when subordinates faced their king.
"Oh, oh! What? When did you get here? You should’ve said sothing."
"You and Draco were too busy watching my match."
"Isn’t that the duty of a gym owner and coach? We have to watch our star player’s matches."
"Wait! Weren’t you just calling yourself the star player?"
"Oh, Homkin... It would’ve been nice if you said that after surviving the first round."
"Aaaagh!"
Leaving Homkin’s screams behind,
Drake and Draco imdiately approached Perry.
"Newcor? Welco. Perry, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good, sorry we didn’t greet you earlier. We had to watch our boss’s match."
Boss?
That one word latched onto Perry’s ears.
‘Drake Gym’s boss.’
It was an unspoken rule.
Since this was a place where fighters ca for intense training,
It was only natural to establish who the alpha male was.
That’s why Drake Gym held monthly tournants for its mbers.
And anyone who won three consecutive tournants earned the title of “Boss.”
So that ant—
‘That kid won three tournants?’
Tournants were usually held at the end of the month.
And now it was early August.
‘Did he win since May?’
Could that be real? Was this a joke?
‘Is this so kind of prank? Like a surprise setup? This doesn’t make sense.’
His face must have shown his disbelief.
"Hahaha! Look at that face!"
Gym owner Jack Drake instantly caught Perry’s reaction.
Assistant coach Hamr Draco also laughed.
"Of course, who would believe it? A rookie would think we’re joking. Right? An Asian heavyweight?!"
As if this was so familiar routine,
The atmosphere suddenly heated up.
"Yeah! He should prove himself, right?!"
"Right!"
"Yeah! We’re joking, huh? Donghu? Who cares about that guy!"
Things were naturally shifting toward another match.
What was going on?
Behind Perry’s confusion, Kim Donghu sighed in frustration.
"You’re making do this again? Why am I always the level tester?"
"Because the boss has to do it. And you’re the most accurate gauge."
"Co on...."
"And honestly, it’s partly your fault. You KO’d the last tester in one round, and he quit that day."
"I told you, he provoked first...."
"He made a racist remark, so it’s fine. But soone still has to fill the spot."
Tired of repeating the sa argunt,
The boy called the boss gave in with a nod.
Despite his youthful face, his physique didn’t match it.
"Anyway... Perry, right? Warm up and let know when you’re ready."
"Wait, what?!"
"This guy’s out of it. Warm up. It’s ti for your level test."
The intensity of Drake’s words made Perry nod instinctively.
And in that instant, the other fighters gathered around the ring again.
"Let’s make a bet."
"Ever since Donghu beca the tester, holy shit, it’s been brutal."
"No kidding. Let’s make a bet, then."
"What’s the topic? Sa as last ti?"
"Will he score mid-tier or not? What do you think?"
"Hmm, sounds fair. Definitely no chance for top-tier, so we’ll leave that out."
"You know what Donghu said when I asked him how to get top-tier?"
"Wait, I think I’ve heard this one too."
"He said you need to be on his level. I asked if he was serious, and he said yes."
"That’s insane. How can anyone be like him? Honestly, our young boss is annoying sotis."
"Homkin! Stop sulking and co bet with us!"
"I’m betting he won’t make it!"
And the result—
"Damn it!"
—was Homkin’s defeat.
*****
It was already mid-August—a ti that felt like it passed in the blink of an eye.
I was surprised at how accustod I’d beco to life here.
‘Ti really flies.’
Maybe it was because my routine revolved entirely around training.
Each day went by in a flash, and it felt like ti itself was speeding up.
‘At least that date has passed.’
I felt relieved, perhaps because my parents’ morial date had co and gone.
My body was brimming with energy.
It was as if strength kept pouring out of endlessly.
"Donghu, seriously, isn’t your English way too good?"
"Huh? Why bring that up now?"
"Exactly because it’s surprising. Even the interpreter from the broadcasting station said you’re better than him."
With Sangha hyung teasing like this every now and then,
I didn’t really have ti to get hosick.
Of course—
Donghu sunbae, when are you coming back to Korea?
ㅎ.ㅎ Chisako is waiting and taking voice acting lessons in the anti!
I had juniors who kept updated on their lives.
Kim Donghu, I know you’re busy training, but are you eating properly?
Should I make ti to co visit? I’ll bring you a lunchbox.
Actor friends who worried about , even while being blunt.
Donghu, I’m rooting for you. I believe in you.
And, um, if you need anything, let know. I’ll send it over from Korea right away.
And even an idol friend who sent heartfelt ssages of support.
There was no room to feel lonely.
"Donghu, should I make hamburgers for dinner today?"
"Hamburgers sound great."
On top of that, I had a model-turned-manager looking out for .
In hindsight, it made perfect sense why I always felt energized.
‘I just need to focus and do my part.’
I was about to resu training with that thought in mind—
"I heard there’s a ridiculously handso... boxer here. Is that true?"
The gym door suddenly burst open.
A man, appearing to be in his mid-40s, walked in.
His sharp suit and polished look scread wealth and influence.
Without hesitation, as if he had already confird his target,
He walked straight toward and handed his business card.
"I’m with GOT, a fashion magazine. Would you be interested in becoming a model for us?"
"What?"
A fashion magazine model? Out of nowhere?
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