There’s a saying: no tree stands after being struck ten times. Maybe it was thanks to Lee Han-seo trimming the truth a little with his pitiful pleas, but luckily, Lee Jung-hyuk gave in before they even hit ten.
Even after stepping down as Chief of Guides and handing off all his training programs, when it came to dungeon-entry guidance, no one was better than Lee Jung-hyuk. They hadn’t even officially started training yet, but Han-seo was already lost in the delusion that everything would magically work out.
But of course, nothing ever goes that smoothly in real life.
“So should we start today? Should I book the simulator?”
“Calm down. We’re definitely not starting today. And we’re not jumping into simulator sessions right away either.”
“Huh? Then what are we doing?”
“…First.”
“First what?”
Jung-hyuk looked down at Han-seo’s goofy, overly excited face, lips parting as if to speak several times before finally answering slowly.
“Let’s start with basic physical training. A light 1,000-meter run should do.”
A light 1,000 meters? What was that—like ordering a hot iced Americano? For Han-seo, who hadn’t run even 100 meters since middle school gym class, it felt like getting struck by lightning.
“Wait, hold on. Hyung, what does running have to do with dungeon guiding…?”
“Can you start tomorrow? If so, let’s go buy you some workout clothes.”
If you stick with it, I’ll help you convince Park Woo-jun too. That quiet kindness behind Jung-hyuk’s calm, stern face always melted the sharpest parts of Han-seo. But today, that same firmness felt especially suffocating.
“We’ll alternate between running and circuit training to build your stamina. Han-seo, you know how to do burpees, right?”
“What? What even is that… I mean, look, Hyung, this is… Are you sure this is right?”
It had been ages since dungeon expeditions or Guide training had anything to do with him. In hindsight, it should’ve been obvious, but somewhere deep down, Han-seo had been blindly relying on his S-Class rank—assuming things would work out just because he showed up. Somehow, he had a feeling this training was going to be seriously intense.
“Of course I’m sure. I’ll check your condition tomorrow and put together your weight training program.”
So this is what people meant when they said you dig your own grave… At a complete loss for words, Han-seo just blinked while Kim Joon-young stood off to the side, laughing smugly.
***
“Uuughh! It hurts! Be gentle, please!”
“…Baby. How could I possibly be more gentle than this?”
All he’d done was gently rub his thigh while kissing him, but that alone had Han-seo groaning in pain. Who knew what had happened while Woo-jun was away on his mission, but his one and only boyfriend—someone he cherished more than life itself—was now covered in pain relief patches from head to toe, groaning like an old man.
Han-seo didn’t exercise much, and his lack of muscle was almost alarming, so when Woo-jun heard he’d started a “light” workout routine with Jung-hyuk, it sounded like a big deal. For someone who hated moving, it was completely out of character.
“Baby, there’s no way I can do anything today. Let’s just hold hands and sleep.”
“Mmhmm.”
“…You’re not seriously sulking because I haven’t done any Guiding while I’m sore, are you?”
Still, did you know it’s been a whole week of just holding hands, baby? Not that I’m complaining. I love that you’re trying to get healthy—but if kissing for too long makes you wince in pain, I can’t help feeling a little bit… neglected. They say the soreness gets better as your body adjusts, but when exactly is that supposed to happen?
Woo-jun swallowed all those words and managed to reply through a sniffle.
“…Of course not.”
Though he couldn’t quite hide the tremble in his lips.
“Good. I’m sleeping first.”
“Okay. Good night.”
“……”
“Han-seo.”
“……”
“Han-seo, you asleep?”
“…….”
“…Guess so.”
Just like always, Han-seo passed out the second his head hit the pillow. What the hell is Jung-hyuk putting him through? Woo-jun pulled up his schedule, looking for the next free day. At this point, he needed to see for himself what kind of training Han-seo was doing—and whether it was too much.
That little plan of his came together exactly three days later.
He didn’t even have time to be surprised. Han-seo woke up at dawn, rubbing his eyes like a sleepy kitten. The same Han-seo who couldn’t be dragged out of bed even with a crowbar was now stretching in his track suit, mumbling about warming up before going for a run.
“What are you doing? If you’re coming, hurry up.”
“Ah—yeah, I’m coming!”
Is this real? A dream? Some kind of delusion?
Even as the soft thudding of sneakers echoed across the ground, Park Woo-jun couldn’t wrap his head around what he was seeing. With a dazed expression—twice as blank as usual—he jogged after Lee Han-seo, who was somehow starting the day with a morning run, looking ridiculously healthy and full of life.
From his form, it seemed like the muscle soreness that had made him groan just from sitting still had eased up a bit. That was a relief. But watching him aggressively down a bottle of protein powder mixed with water, like he was preparing for battle, was a whole other kind of surreal.
They’d run several laps around the small park inside the Center, polished off breakfast at a diner, and it was still only 8 a.m. Compared to the usual mornings—where Woo-jun had to beg just to get Han-seo to open his eyes before noon—this felt like waking up in an alternate universe.
“Baby… aren’t you overdoing it? No wonder you were in so much pain.”
“What are you talking about? I haven’t even started properly. I’ll rest for thirty minutes, then I’ve got bodyweight workouts next.”
“…W–Wait. You’re not done?”
“Nope. Jung-hyuk hyung gave me a set number of lunges and squats. Once I finish those, I’m meeting him at the gym after lunch. This afternoon, we’re doing weight training and cardio.”
…Was he secretly training for a bodybuilding competition or something?
The thought wasn’t too far-fetched. If he’d been interested in fitness before, maybe. But this was Lee Han-seo—the guy who used to whine that walking from the bed to the table was too much effort, flopping his hand and saying, “Woo-jun, carry me~” like some pampered cat.
“You’ve really been doing this every day while I was gone?”
Han-seo beamed and nodded with all the pride of a kid showing off a gold star.
Wow. Our Han-seo… so impressive. Unbelievably impressive…
Woo-jun mumbled like a man in a trance.
This had to be a dream. What else could explain this? But no matter how hard he pinched himself, he couldn’t wake up. Of course, that was only natural—because it wasn’t a dream.
Trying to reward Han-seo for his hard work, Woo-jun suggested tteokbokki for lunch. Only to get scolded like a child. Didn’t he know meals had to follow a strict carb-protein-fat ratio?
As someone who’d awakened into a naturally muscular build without even trying, Woo-jun blinked and thought, Carb-protein-fat ratio? What even is that… but wisely kept quiet. Arguing would only rile up the chicken-breast-chomping version of Han-seo currently in beast mode.
It was the right move. Pretending to head to the restroom, Woo-jun pulled out his phone and searched up this “macro balance” thing. Turns out it was shorthand for the essential nutrients—carbs, protein, fat—that bodybuilders and fitness maniacs had to obsess over. He took screenshots, realizing he’d probably need to start cooking in line with that ratio soon.
After eating, they headed to the gym. Since it was a Guide-exclusive facility, Woo-jun had to sign a waiver promising not to use any of the machines before he was allowed in.
“…You’re here.”
“Sunbae.”
Inside, they found Kim Joon-young already seated, looking just as lost and conflicted as Woo-jun felt. Woo-jun slumped down beside him.
“Today’s back day. Let’s start with 5kg dumbbells.”
“Got it!”
…The only ones thriving here were Han-seo and Jung-hyuk. It was like they existed in a different reality.
“Sunbae… What the hell happened while I was away?” Woo-jun whispered. “It’s not like I’m against Han-seo working out, but this is way too much. And he’s not even being forced—he’s doing it on his own…”
He scratched his head, completely at a loss. Joon-young sighed heavily, then looked at him.
“…He hasn’t told you yet?”
Woo-jun blinked, expression spelling out one big question mark.
“So he really didn’t… Alright. Then listen carefully. He’s not just working out to get fit.”
Joon-young trailed off again, glanced at Woo-jun’s face, and sighed. Once. Twice. It wasn’t like him to drag things out like this. Woo-jun didn’t know why, but his chest tightened with unease.
“…He’s started training to enter the dungeon.”
“…What?”
“Han-seo’s planning to go into a dungeon. For real this time.”
“…What?”
Okay, this is 100% a dream. So why the hell can’t I wake up?!
Woo-jun smacked his own cheek hard enough to make a loud slap. It was no use. All it did was leave his face bright red and make Han-seo yelp mid-set in surprise.
“Hey! What was that for?! Let me see—are you okay? Did that hurt?”
“Baby… I just heard something so unbelievable, I need to ask you one thing…Are you seriously training… to go into a dungeon?”
