My Alpha Era Began with Gongjindan Chapter 77

As I tried to press the issue, Jung Pureum grabbed me from behind.

“I’m fine.”

“What do you mean, fine!”

“I’m not hurt. And making a big fuss over this would only be bad for you too.”

The police officer who had been dealing with me quickly read the room. It was obvious he was thinking, “Looks like this can be settled quietly,” and my irritation flared up.

I ignored my burning stomach and felt Jung Pureum all over. Fortunately, since the guy who had been caught was shorter and smaller than me, it seemed he hadn’t managed to injure Jung Pureum.

Surely they weren’t going to give him a slap on the wrist just because there were no injuries? Before I could argue further, the police officer hurriedly left. His retreat was faster than his arrival.

“Director, are you okay?”

Once things had settled down somewhat, Kim Miyoung came out of the clinic.

She said she had evacuated the patients through the emergency exit just in case. Explaining the situation later would be a headache, but at least no one was hurt—that was some relief.

“I’m fine.”

“Still, I’m glad no one seems to be injured.”

“He swung a hammer—even if it was rubber—and they say it’s not attempted murder just because a beta attacked an alpha? Does that make any sense?”

“It doesn’t.”

“Right?”

“But still, it’s best to let this pass quietly.”

“….”

“Getting into more issues again will just complicate things. You know that too, Director.”

She was right.

Our clinic needed some peace and quiet. Things had improved a bit after the drama bubble burst, and if this issue escalated further, it would truly become unmanageable.

So, thinking coldly, the right move was to just put that YouTuber in jail and bury this incident. The problem was that bastard probably wouldn’t even go to jail. He was still young, and if he didn’t have similar prior offenses, he’d likely get probation.

Even if I refused to settle, he might just end up with a fine. Or maybe he’d get a reduced sentence by writing an apology and a statement of reflection, claiming mental or physical weakness.

“Hyung.”

As I irritably ran my hand through my hair, Jung Pureum leaned in close from behind me.

“How about taking a break from the clinic for a while?”

“Another closure? No way. This is our busy season.”

“People like that don’t give up easily. I’m worried you might get hurt.”

“Pureum’s right. Even if it’s not a long break, consider closing for a bit. Or at least change the security company.”

No matter how I thought about it, closing was difficult. I’d rather spend the money and change the security company.

Just thinking that far made me so exasperated that the back of my head throbbed. Technically, I was the victim—why should I have to spend my own money to hire a new security company? Why should I, the victim, have to worry about closing the clinic?

But getting this angry would only raise my blood pressure. I grabbed the arm of Jung Pureum, who was looking at me with concern.

“You, don’t come to the clinic for a while.”

“…What?”

“You’re about to enter the training camp soon. What if something happens to you because you got caught up with that crazy bastard?”

“….”

“That bastard even did a background check on you. It’s better to prevent danger in advance.”

Jung Pureum’s pupils trembled as if there had been an earthquake. But in this situation, even Jung Pureum couldn’t argue with “I don’t want to!”

No matter how legitimately Jung Pureum had earned his Olympic qualification, if he got injured, everything would be for nothing. If doping or injury issues arose, another athlete would take his place.

“I can stand getting hurt myself, but I can’t stand you getting hurt.”

“Hyung….”

“Besides, getting hurt because of my problem, not even your own? That’s absolutely unacceptable—not as long as I live!”

“….”

“Until you safely enter the training camp, take care of yourself and play it safe. This is absolutely not because I don’t like you….”

“I know. It’s because you like me.”

“Yeah, you know that well.”

Even if I tried not to worry, I couldn’t help it. Unlike Jung Pureum, I was the type who attracted trouble just by breathing. The level of attention I drew was on a different scale.

If he stayed by my side, Jung Pureum’s career might collapse. I’d been trying not to think about that, but Minjun TV’s rubber hammer had shattered all my efforts.

Thank goodness he dodged it—if that crazy bastard had hit Jung Pureum’s shoulder, that would have been a real disaster. The Republic of Korea would be losing three gold medals next year!

At my urging to preserve his body for the time being, Jung Pureum slowly nodded. The way he darted his eyes to the side wasn’t exactly reassuring, but if he had any sense, he’d know he needed to listen to me.

“Then I’ll wait for you in front of the apartment at your closing time.”

“Why bother? Worried about me? I can take down that bastard in an instant with acupuncture needles and a broom.”

With tools, I could beat anyone—I’m an offensive-style Korean medicine doctor. At my reaction, Jung Pureum smiled. It was a Buddha-like smile, as if he had reached some higher plane.

“Of course I believe in your strength, hyung.”

“Damn right. I’m an awesome offensive-style Korean medicine doctor.”

“But if I don’t do this, it’ll be hard to see your face.”

“….”

“…Oh my.”

Kim Miyoung said she’d excuse herself and backed away. Doesn’t Jung Pureum know what embarrassment is? Why does he say things like that where everyone can hear?

“…Fine, do whatever you want.”

“I will. And hyung, don’t stay too late. Try to leave with the others if possible….”

Jung Pureum grabbed me and started lecturing me at length on safety precautions. Hearing him say he couldn’t bear to see me get hurt as long as he lived made one corner of my chest tingle.

…This kid, he’s just repeating exactly what I said earlier. They say you shouldn’t even drink cold water in front of children, and that saying was dead on.

∞ ∞ ∞

Jung Pureum rotated his right shoulder once. There was no pain, but the movement felt slightly unnatural.

Lately, the coach had been telling Jung Pureum to focus on physical therapy rather than training. Jung Pureum was diligently following the coach’s instructions.

Unfortunately, even before dealing with Minjun TV, Jung Pureum had been feeling some strain in his right shoulder. Having followed the elite athlete path since childhood, he was familiar with injuries, but it had been a while since he’d felt pain like this.

He hadn’t experienced joint soreness since his growth spurts. Jung Pureum glanced sideways at the coach, who was shouting at the other athletes.

The already intense training had become even more severe since he was selected as a national representative. It was so bad that even senior athletes who were jealous of Jung Pureum asked if he was okay.

Having been selected as a national representative for both long-distance and short-distance events, Jung Pureum was in a position where he had to manage both endurance and speed. With double the factors to consider, the increased training intensity was inevitable.

But the coach was driving Jung Pureum too hard. It was obvious even to onlookers that he was trying to control Jung Pureum by any means necessary.

“That’s why I told you to manage your body properly.”

“….”

“You’re getting physical therapy every day, so why isn’t your speed coming back? If this keeps up, you won’t be able to compete in short-distance events.”

“It’ll be fine before the training camp. They said there’s no problem with my bones or ligaments.”

“Tsk, what kind of national representative can’t even handle this level of training… You’ve gotten lazy since becoming an alpha, haven’t you? You wouldn’t have been like this before.”

How could he talk so meanly! Jung Pureum was once again impressed by the coach’s verbal skills. There was no need to project his own inferiority complex in such a way.

The team doctor, who had been quietly listening to the coach, looked up and studied Jung Pureum’s expression.

“Coach, as I’ve mentioned before… it would be better to reduce the training intensity. Right now it’s just mild muscle strain, but continuing at this intensity could make things worse.”

“I’ll handle the training intensity adjustments. I’m the coach.”

“But….”

“Pureum is a national representative. To win a gold medal, you have to put in the effort—effort. Jung Pureum was originally a beta, so he barely keeps up even by doing twice as much as everyone else.”

That was ridiculous. Jung Pureum quietly lowered his head to keep from laughing out loud. The coach, thinking he had successfully intimidated Jung Pureum, raised his voice even more.

“On top of that, other kids are gossiping that he used to be a beta, which is a headache. I warned them, but those bastards don’t listen.”

Just a few days ago, the coach had gathered the students and threatened them not to post things online.

Because people who had quietly known that Jung Pureum went from beta to alpha in his third year of high school had spread posts about him on online communities.

Fortunately, reports were filed promptly and the detailed content was soon blinded, but Jung Pureum’s personal information had already been exposed as much as it could be.

[So is J really competing in the Olympics?]

└[Yeah]

└[What sport?]

└[I can’t say—if I do, someone will come running like that wasp ajusshi and report it]

[Swim cough cough oh my the fine dust here cough cough]

└[Thanks, I was really curious—I found out thanks to your sacrifice]

└[Wow, he’s not even a born alpha but made the national swim team?]

└[Hey, delete the word swim////ming quickly]

└[Wasp ajusshi reporting in 3 seconds—3, 2, 1… half of 1]

Everyone seemed worried about being sued, so his real name wasn’t openly circulating. But someone had spread a blurry photo of Jung Pureum that was floating around the internet.

[Please explain in detail whether J became handsome after becoming an alpha or if he was always handsome]

└[Probably just a good-looking beta from the start]

└[No way, he got that face after becoming alpha]

└[Why? Betas can be handsome too]

└[Are you crying? Like a beta who couldn’t become alpha?]

Jung Pureum let out a long sigh.

Every time he tried to make progress in his relationship with Moon Yeonghwa, something like this always happened. If it got out that his shoulder was hurting in this situation, Moon Yeonghwa would absolutely not stay still.