The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 248

It was decided that I wouldn’t participate in the National Track and Field Competition by Grade Level.

“Jinhyuk, is it okay to report this to the chairman? Will he believe this?”

The official reason for not participating, which was submitted to the foundation, was a lack of training.

I urged the tadpole, who was tilting his head, to report it that way.

“It’s true that I haven’t been training enough because I’ve been playing with my younger siblings.”

Of course, it’s a lie.

It’s hard to find a competitor among my classmates, let alone upperclassmen, and there isn’t a single athlete in the adult division who can compete with Jinhyuk for the top spot. So, why would I participate in a competition that forces me to compete only with my classmates?

“You can be honest with me, hyung.”

“I thought it was a waste of time.”

“That doesn’t sound like the truth either… Do you think I’ve only known you for a day or two?”

He’s sharp for a tadpole.

‘I don’t feel like running because of the difference in skill.’ Jinhyuk kept the words to himself and loosely met Min Yongrak’s gaze. It was Jinhyuk’s ultimate move, which he used in the past on team members who unnecessarily raised issues that were outside the scope of the discussion and their authority. ‘You’re crossing the line.’

“Let’s just move on.”

“Okay… If you say so. The federation will be disappointed.”

You can’t understand a person even if you watch them for a year or ten years, until you become that person. A person with a strong ego tends to dislike even praise, considering it an evaluation. Jinhyuk wasn’t one to smile innocently at people who acted as if they knew him inside and out.

‘Have I become a little strange?’

Since returning, there have been many days when I’ve smiled like a fool, but from some point, it felt like the personality of team leader Son Jinhyuk from the past was emerging.

Still, unlike the old days, I now know how to consider other people’s feelings.

“I’m sorry if you were disappointed.”

“No, it’s not like I’m disappointed. It’s right to focus only on work when working.”

Min Yongrak’s way of handling things is also formidable.

The tadpole’s survival skills weren’t learned with age but were instinctual.

*

An invitation came from the federation.

It was an official letter requesting my participation to motivate other athletes.

However, through my agency, I made it clear once again that I would not participate.

It was the federation that tried to hold me back, trying to keep me under their influence. But now, they’re asking me to participate to encourage the so-called elite athletes they’re fostering. It was an attitude that could only be described as shameless.

Rip, rip-.

Sitting on the porch, Jinhyuk checked the invitation and immediately tore it up.

“You bastards.”

Jinhyuk had become more combative, to the point that he regretted not knowing any harsher swear words.

Hehehek-?

Janggun, who was playing with a mole cricket with his front paws, looked disappointed.

“Sorry. I wasn’t talking to you, Janggun.”

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism National Track and Field Competition was the national competition that Jinhyuk chose. It was partly to avoid being manipulated by the federation’s demands, but also because competitions based on school sports didn’t attract as much attention as the Minister’s Cup.

‘I want to make history with my own hands.’

No, with my legs, not my hands.

It wasn’t a desire to be in the spotlight.

But I was already in the spotlight.

In the past, it was enough for me to be happy and enjoy myself, but now there are many eyes watching, and more people are expecting things from me. Especially, knowing how my juniors look at me, I needed a symbolic achievement.

The dominant opinion was that I had already achieved enough, so I should take it easy.

At one time, Jinhyuk thought so too, and planned to enjoy it slowly.

However, after spending a few months without that dangerous power, a desire began to surface. Perhaps that energy had been unknowingly suppressing Jinhyuk’s humanity, preventing him from expressing his true nature.

“Hmm. I think it’s a good choice. There’s no age limit, and if the county office selects you as a representative, you can participate in the general division.”

“Why is it so difficult to participate in the general division?”

“There hasn’t been a case like that yet, but it would be embarrassing for a professional athlete to lose to a high school or college athlete. It’s always the ones who aren’t good who make a fuss like that.”

“It wasn’t the athletes who decided that, was it? Wasn’t it the policy of the federation or association?”

“That’s just how it is. In my opinion, it wasn’t a policy for the athletes, but rather a very convenient measure. You know, like, ‘A federation that fosters athletes step by step! Athletes who grow step by step!’ How great is that for promotional material? This country hates people who jump ahead. They don’t look kindly on those who try to stand out. If they want to stand out so much, they should run themselves.”

Ah, that makes sense.

Athletes work their butts off, while those who watch, criticize, and evaluate them later boast about how they raised them, and if they don’t do well, they point fingers, saying that’s why they failed. It wasn’t just a problem in sports, nor was it a problem in just one country.

They call it ‘selling the hype,’ right?

It was a behavior that could be observed anywhere people gathered.

“Jinhyuk, look at this. This is data from the US and the UK. In those countries, they don’t care about age if you’re good. If you’re good, you can participate in junior and senior competitions.”

“What can we do? The athletes have no power, so they just ran in the arena that was created.”

“Yeah. Unless you’re going to turn things upside down, it’s right to at least pretend to comply.”

You’re a contradictory human being, with a rebellious streak but also obedient to the system. Min Yongrak muttered.

Jinhyuk chuckled and pretended not to hear Min Yongrak’s mumbling, which sounded like Janggun’s sleep talk, and continued the conversation.

*

The county office sent a positive reply immediately.

“I’m glad the county is picking me as a representative for the general division.”

“The county should be thanking you. They haven’t had an athlete for the National Sports Festival, so they had the flower shop owner and the stationery store owner from the town go as athletes.”

Some of the fast runners from the youth association’s soccer team participated as track and field athletes. The result was, well, they said they were just happy to participate.

Since there were no sports teams other than the wrestling team, it was understandable.

“Anyway, it must be hard for you to prepare, Manager Min. Please take care of it.”

“Hey, hey. What do you mean hard? This place feels like home now. I’m sad that I have to go back to Seoul in the fall.”

Min Yongrak’s transfer to Seoul had been decided.

It was a condition for his promotion to manager, and it was necessary for his fiancée and his future.

“But I’ll still manage your schedule for every competition, so don’t worry.”

“Yes. I trust you.”

Who else would I trust but you?

A decent person who, even in his past life, would work like a demon for his team leader.

For better or worse, he’s my guy.

*

Before the competition, I made a radical change to my workout routine.

First, I eliminated the Gubongsan mountain climb that I did every morning and changed my morning workout to stretching and light cardio at the Bear Gym.

The amount of stamina that can be allocated to training is limited, and if I overdo it, it can cause problems with my condition the next day. The ability to exert all my strength in 10 seconds is important, but to maintain my physical rhythm at its peak, it’s also important to keep my body awake, so to speak, rather than pushing myself to the limit.

After finishing night self-study and running on the track by the waterway after school, and finally measuring my 100m record, my daily workout, which had become much easier than before, was over.

「9.97」

Even though I wasn’t in top condition, I got a pretty good record.

“Is this broken?”

“I think it’s right. It’s Manager Min’s workout time now.”

Once the daily record measurement is over, I drag Min Yongrak, who is gaping, and start the belly fat reduction program. Hong Gijun had instructed him to lose his belly fat by the fall and come up to Seoul.

“My stomach is sore, I think I overdid it yesterday.”

“Muscle pain is the sure sign of exercise.”

And muscles are a true partner for life.

Tadpole-belly Min Yongrak had a lot of subcutaneous fat for a man, so the workout program consisted entirely of exercises to stimulate the abdomen and power walking.

If he did anaerobic exercises like Jinhyuk as if they were aerobic, he would definitely collapse, so he was doing it at a low intensity.

“Ughhh-. Save me-”

You’re not a human. You’re a tadpole.

The fate of a tadpole is either metamorphosis or death. To transform Min Yongrak into a frog, Jinhyuk became his trainer.

Teaching is learning twice. Looking at another person’s body, looking at the muscles that are stimulated during exercise, and finding points to apply to myself was also a form of training for Jinhyuk.

“Just one more-”

“J, Jinhyuk hyung-! S, save me…”

“Hey, you! No, five more!”

Where are you trying to pull a fast one?

*

Gubongsan was climbed on all fours only on weekends. It was the most effective exercise for building stamina and training the whole body, but there wasn’t enough time and energy to do it on weekdays.

On weekends, five dogs, including Janggun, followed Jinhyuk.

Huff-, huff-, huuff-.

Hehehek-. Hekhek-.

The dogs, who could walk normally, bent their front paws, lifted their butts like Jinhyuk, and climbed the mountain. To Jinhyuk, it looked like they were teasing him.

“Hekhek-. Hey, Janggun. Isn’t that too much? Why are you copying me? Hekhek-.”

Woof-.

Whatever.

Janggun’s snorting expression is always insulting. It’s a face that makes you wonder if he’s really a dog. I’ve even had the delusion that there might be a zipper somewhere on Janggun’s body, and if you opened it, an alien would come out.

It was a good sight for hikers.

“Oh my, look at the dogs.”

“Hahaha-. Are they copying their owner?”

Woof-! Woof woof!

This bastard is copying us! Don’t pretend to know when you don’t know anything!

“Oh, how cute-”

Since no one could understand Janggun’s words, they just thought he was a playful mutt enjoying the attention. It was natural for people to think that way since they couldn’t understand dog language. Janggun was wagging his tail so hard it looked like it would fall off, even while barking like that.

“Wow-, that’s the athlete-”

“Ah-, too bad! He’s working out, so I can’t ask for an autograph!”

Because of the rumors that Son Jinhyuk was training, it seemed like I would have to develop a new hiking course due to the increased number of hikers. Not because I disliked the attention, but because my workout posture was embarrassing.

Jinhyuk, whose face was flushed red from the blood rushing to his face due to his posture, stood up abruptly.

“Give it to me. I’ll sign it for you.”

“Oh, well. I didn’t mean to say it out loud for you to hear.”

“It’s okay.”

They said it out loud for me to hear, but they’re being coy.

It wasn’t a hindrance for Jinhyuk either, as he could catch his breath while signing autographs. It’s not like signing autographs costs money.

“My daughter is a fan. She says it’s cool that you’re an athlete instead of one of those many singers.”

“My daughter wishes there were only track and field competitions, not basketball tournaments.”

Even if it was just empty words, I was grateful.

Only athletes can understand how much strength a word of encouragement gives to an athlete. Jinhyuk realized that athletes would get emotional even if someone just shouted ‘fighting’ as they passed by, after he seriously embarked on the path of an athlete.

“Oppa, drink some water and keep going-”

Yujin rummaged through her bag and handed me water.

Thanks to Yujin, who followed her brother with a small bag, the workout was much easier.

“Oh my, she’s your sister? Oh, how pretty-”

“Ehehe-”

“Honey, buy something delicious with this, secretly from your mom.”

“Thank you, mister-”

It was a profitable deal for Yujin as the hikers handed her bills.

If her mom found out, she would jump up and down and tell her never to take money or follow me to workouts again, but Jinhyuk turned a blind eye to his sister’s side job. Aren’t we sharing a secret? Yujin also has a strong sense of economics and doesn’t spend money recklessly. It must be the influence of her parents, who taught her to use resources effectively even before she started school.

“Honey, there are a lot of kudzu vines on this mountain. You have to be careful.”

“Kudzu vines? Why do I have to be careful of kudzu vines?”

That’s right. Why do you have to be careful of kudzu vines?

I’m grateful for the allowance, but he’s a strange man.

“You’re still young, so you don’t know? Kudzu vines watch from the trees, and when little kids pass by, they grab their necks-”

“Hey, it’s a leopard cat. You call a wildcat a leopard cat-. Don’t adults even know that?”

Jinhyuk cleared his throat and pretended not to hear. Smart Yujin will take care of it.

At first, I thought the man was joking. That kudzu vines would wrap around ankles or necks like tentacles. But looking at his expression, he was serious.

“No, it’s kudzu-”

“Leopard cat! It’s a leopard cat! Kudzu is that! That!”

Yujin’s specialty came out.

Baaek-!

Yujin, raising her voice, pointed to a withered kudzu vine.

“Cheon Gillon Haebiji said that people who don’t know properly and treat what they learned wrong as the truth will be greatly disgraced later. You should learn it properly now, mister.”

“Wh, who is Cheon Gillon?”

“Are you even an adult if you don’t know Cheon Gillon Haebiji?”

That doesn’t sound right. Jinhyuk thought he should stop Yujin.

However, Yujin’s momentum was so strong that the man, who said he would look into it again, backed away first.

“Yujin, you can just ignore them. Dad said that too.”

Don’t try to teach fools.

It’s also a consideration for them to let them live and die believing that.

“Yes, ehehe-”

Yujin will learn to ignore them when she gets older. Right now, she’s too young and stubborn, so she’s just saying what’s right.

“Where’s Seulchan?”

“He’s at the entrance. He’s looking for bellflowers with Eunjeong unnie.”

He was wandering around the beach every night looking for UFOs, and now he’s looking for unidentified bellflowers. They’re having fun. They’re probably playing piggyback rides in a secluded place while pretending to look for bellflowers.

I didn’t know Kim Eunjeong had such a hobby, but she liked to be carried on Jo Seulchan’s back like a child. Maybe it’s because she grew up in an environment with many uncles. Now that she’s older, her uncles don’t carry her, so she’s riding on Jo Seulchan, who’s easy to handle.

I wondered why she was looking at Jinhyuk, who was carrying Yujin, with a strange look, but she was probably jealous of Yujin. It would have been a disaster if I had given her a piggyback ride back then.

Anyway, Kim Eunjeong is as unique a teenager as Choi Mikyung.

‘It seems like the neighborhood is strange.’

And Jo Ilheon’s strange brainwashing seems to have ruined a lot of kids.

“Then why are you following me? Hekhek.”

Whew-.

Even though the air is still cold, my body temperature, once raised, didn’t drop easily.

When lowering body temperature, pouring water on the crown of the head is more effective than drinking it.

Swoosh-.

“Hah-! I feel alive.”

Anyway, Jo Seulchan became diligent on weekends to hang out with Jinhyuk, and Kim Eunjeong became diligent to hang out with Jo Seulchan.

They’re truly wholesome teenagers.

“Let’s start again.”

“Let’s go!”

Yujin, who was on her brother’s back, kicked her feet as if spurring a horse’s flank.

When climbing the mountain, I carry Yujin on my back. It was a training method chosen by Jinhyuk, who possessed superhuman physical strength, even though he had released the nameless energy.

Yujin was also a child with athletic abilities that didn’t match her age, and her ability to grip her brother’s upper body with her thighs and balance with her waist was superb.

“Yujin could be an equestrian. Hekhek-”

“Giddy up!”

No, I didn’t mean for you to treat your brother like a horse.

It seems that calling her brother the sun and the moon was just words.

What kind of sister treats the sun and moon like this?

“Heeek-, should I make money and buy you a horse?”

“No? I like oppa better?”

My trick didn’t work.

“Kyahahaha! Giddy up!”

Should I do a backward fall while carrying her? I’m so tired I can’t even speak.