Chapter 9: A Little Game
I will show her that I am not a pushover.
[I believe you just want to make use of her.]
"You don’t have to comment on everything," Klaus said, completely disregarding the system’s input.
[Noted.]
Sure, I want to get on good terms with her because she’ll become a renowned hero. But that’s not the only reason I’m doing this. I just refuse to let her think I’m some pushover. Hmph!
Klaus stepped into the training room with a determined expression, and his eyes shifted to Trina at once.
The future hero was leaning over a machine with her back toward him.
Unintentionally or not, his gaze fell on her refined butt held tightly in shape by her black gym shorts.
’Peach...?’
He froze by the door, staring at her tanned buttocks and thighs with his mouth agape.
’Dammit! Is this a setup?’ He gulped and shook his head.
’Focus. Something like lust cannot weaken my resolve!’
He tightly shut his eyes and began thinking about various things to forget the view he had just been graced with.
The world is constantly spinning, and so is everything within it. To the vast universe, we are no different than a bunch of monkeys!
Sun Wukong was also a monkey. But he wasn’t just any monkey; he was the Monkey King.
The Jade Emperor had appointed him as the guardian of the heavenly orchard, but he instead stole the Queen Mother’s peaches!
At the end, everything comes back to irresistible peaches.
As Klaus stood there fighting his inner self, Trina finished setting up her machine and turned around.
Her brows rose in surprise. "You actually came."
Hearing her voice, he shivered, and his eyes snapped open.
"Obviously." He crossed his arms and blew a stray lock of hair away. "Heh. Why would I let go of the opportunity of using this premium gym?"
Of course, that wasn’t his real reason.
He was a VVIP; he could probably use this training room whenever he wanted, but he couldn’t just say that he had come to show her her place, right? A gentleman of his caliber couldn’t possibly admit something like that.
Trina blinked.
’He is just like me.’
She was also from a humble background and had earned the opportunity to train here by becoming one of the best taekwondo athletes in her college.
Seeing how serious he was about this, she couldn’t help but relate to him.
She pumped her right fist and spoke with her eyes blazing in determination, "Alright then. I will make sure to help you to the best of my ability!"
’Huh? Why is she firing herself up???’
[It seems Host has flipped her switch. My condolences.]
He let out a deep breath and mumbled, "I can do this."
Klaus was in no way less determined than she; rather, he was burning from within to cement his superiority.
"Let’s start then," he said, already preparing the words he would say after defeating her.
However, suddenly the soft, cheerful aura around her vanished, and a stern look appeared on her face.
’What just happened?’ He instinctively took a step back and mumbled inwardly, ’Did I trigger her boss phase or something?’
"Get on the machine, you lazy bum," Trina stated, her voice sharp like a blade.
"Y-Yes, ma’am!" He stammered and shuffled to the machine.
Why am I calling her ma’am?! She isn’t a hero yet!
[Host, didn’t you come here to show her her place?]
’You are right. I must set things right.’ He stopped in his tracks and turned toward her with a resolute expression. "You—"
But Trina cut him off. "What?"
She stared down at him with sharp eyes, her expression strict.
"How do I use this machine?" He asked while scratching the back of his head, sweat drops rolling down his face.
She sighed and helped him.
Although Klaus had already learned the posture and form from TheeTube, he attentively listened to her instructions.
After helping him, Trina settled on the machine beside it, and the two began to work out.
’This is too easy!’ He remarked inwardly.
His level-ups had already made him as good as the world’s top athletes, so he had more strength, endurance, stamina, and agility than Trina.
He glanced at her a few times, and seeing her giving her all, he smiled and said, his eyes on the front, "You look cute while working out."
’Shit! Did I say that aloud?’ He instantly regretted opening his mouth.
Suddenly, Trina stopped her arms.
’Is she mad? She isn’t going to kick me out over something like this, right?’
"W-What are you talking about?" She stammered, flustered.
"Huh?" Klaus turned his head toward her and noticed that she had a slight blush on her face.
His eyes shone with understanding. ’Is she weak to compliments?’
A mischievous plan began to form in his mind.
His expression turned serious, and he spoke with sincerity, "I am simply saying the truth. If someone is cute, then I will call them cute."
She looked away from him and muttered, "S-Stop talking nonsense and focus on the workout."
"Heh." His lips stretched into a playful smile, and he said, "Why don’t you say it while looking at me?"
The instant he said those words, the blush disappeared from her face. She had finally understood that he was pulling her leg.
’I feel much better now.’ He closed his eyes and took a deep breath of victory.
All of a sudden, Trina stood up from her machine and looked at him with her hands on her waist. "What are you doing?"
This time her eyes were softer than blade-sharp, and her face held a look of embarrassment.
’Should I push her further?’ He thought for a brief moment and inwardly shook his head. ’Nah, I should stop.’
"Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude," he said remorsefully.
"So in the end you are all talk," Trina stated smugly while hiding her face, and moved to the next machine.
"Huh?" A dumbfounded look appeared on Klaus’s face, and he thought, ’Is she trying to one-up me? No way in hell!’
"Wait!" He blurted out before he could even finish his thoughts.
She looked at him with a slightly flustered expression. "What?"
’Think of something!’ Klaus racked his brains and came up with the best response possible. "Let’s play a game, whoever stops working out last will treat the other."
Trina calmed herself down and said flatly, "I am not a fan of such childish games."
"Heh," he smirked and asked, "Are you scared?"
A vein throbbed at her forehead, her face darkened, and she said, "I will make you regret this."
"Suuure."
The two stared into each other’s eyes with determination as sharp as blades and returned to their workout with a newfound resolve.
This time, though, Trina was forced to notice something she had failed to notice before — Klaus was physically much more capable than she had initially thought.
It made her wonder if he was really an amateur.
Throughout the four-hour workout, she couldn’t help but notice his explosive strength, his calm breathing, his quick recovery, his near-flawless form, and above all, his relentless determination to win.
’Is he even human?’