Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 125



Only Krnovel

Episode 125: A Familiar Taste (2)

The journey back home is tedious but easy. From Dubai International Airport to Frankfurt, and then on to Cologne after Jae-seon leaves his brother.

I was escorted straight to the vehicle by Alex Pasek, who was waiting at the airport, and my driver, Guwi Aziz.

One day, not long after April, I lean back in the back seat and feel the weather getting warmer.

The agent’s compliments were a bonus.

“I’ve seen your performance well. The response has been good both domestically and internationally.”

“Domestic or foreign? Are you talking about Germany?”

“Both Germany and Korea. Your profile has really grown through this call-up. You’re getting a lot of advertising inquiries. It’s definitely an honor to be on the national team, but the commercial aspect can’t be ignored either.”

“… … Really? Where did you come from? They give a lot of money?”

Although the long journey may have diminished my fondness for airplanes, it seems to have paid off.

Even though it was late at night, I was still awake and worried whether I would be able to handle tomorrow’s schedule, but I was more interested in the fact that I could earn a huge amount of extra income.

“First of all, Ethics.”

“That’s a clothing company I contacted before going to Korea. We already filmed a commercial for it.”

“That’s right. That’s why it’s even better to talk about it. Clothing companies can’t help but love the Asian market. They want to sign a multi-year contract with you.”

“… … Huh.”

“There are many other places as well. Watch, beverage, confectionery, automobile, and sporting goods companies have also joined. Oh, and since there are existing sponsorship contracts for sporting goods, we need to coordinate them more precisely. Just the fact that you received an offer is a positive sign. It means that they see your potential as that big.”

“Do I have to decide right now?”

I asked a question, thinking it was something urgent, but the middle-aged man sitting in the passenger seat suddenly burst into laughter.

“No, no. I’m not asking you to do a commercial shoot. I just wanted to tell you how well you’ve done. You can take your time deciding. We won’t have any regrets. At least not anymore.”

“Well, I did pretty well. It’s a shame I couldn’t play in the UAE match though.”

The playful pimples were only temporary.

A mysterious expression appeared beyond the rearview mirror.

“Well, personally, I think not being able to play in the UAE match actually had a positive effect.”

“why?”

“Because it seemed like the difference between winning and losing was the difference between when you were there and when you weren’t. Of course, it wasn’t just because of that. But sometimes, how you look to others is also important. You’re a really young player, and there were high expectations before the game, and when you got on the pitch, you proved that those expectations weren’t wrong, right?”

“… … Ahem, is that so?”

“You know what?”

“Huh? What?”

“The birth of a genius drives people crazy. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Germany or Korea. That’s what your debut meant.”

If you blow air into my lungs as soon as you come… … it is only natural that I would gladly accept it.

“Okay. I won’t pretend to be humble. This is my home ground.”

“Haha, I just happened to enter Cologne. But is this your home ground? The club people would be happy to hear that.”

“It’s home ground. Home is home. And it’s not Korea. They always use formal language there, so it felt weird.”

“Well, you can talk comfortably in Cologne. It must have been quite uncomfortable, though? Haha.”

“Rather than feeling uncomfortable… … it was a mysterious feeling.”

“I see.”

Yeah, that’s right.

It’s both good and inconvenient, it’s neither here nor there?

… … This isn’t it either.

I really don’t know how to describe it. How do you define that feeling of being comfortable yet uncomfortable?

Ss …

However, the car was speeding along the neatly maintained highway, soon slowing down and passing the intersection, and a familiar scenery gradually appeared through the car window.

The river (which was clearly the Rhine) was briefly visible, so it seemed like I was almost home.

“Anyway, I didn’t mean to give you ‘poor’ praise. I heard that the club’s administration team has a lot of good news. In a way, you may finally be getting the attention you deserve. But while you enjoy yourself, you should also take care of yourself. There’s a league match in two days. Don’t do anything else because you can’t sleep, and just stay in bed. Even if you can’t sleep well, keep your eyes closed. Little things like that can have a big impact.”

[It’s dark.]

“huh?”

“I mean, I understand.”

But reality doesn’t always work out as expected.

* * *

The next morning.

I return to a familiar space and show off my hazy eyes.

[Hingen Wildegard Gymnasium]

The classroom was noisy as usual due to the noise of my classmates’ talking and footsteps, but since I had stayed up all night with my eyes closed (I just closed them), it was quite annoying.

In Korea and the UAE, we are given some time to recover, but there is no exception for going to school. Since I don’t have enough sleep, I find myself becoming more nervous without realizing it.

If there’s one silver lining, it’s that my new friends—Morisi, Lisa Weiss, Sophie Hertz—are quiet.

“I’m tired. Well, you don’t have to give me the figure. I’m fine.”

“… … .”

After making Jonas Dr shut his ugly mouth with a sharp gaze, he lies down in his seat and tries to close his eyes during his break.

Perhaps, I could have fallen asleep if it hadn’t been for the commotion happening nearby.

“… … I said it was different?”

“I already said I would draw the picture and submit it… … .”

At that moment, when a slight feeling of irritation rose, I glanced up and saw the boys facing each other on the other side of the classroom.

The confident one is one of Ralph Pfaff’s gang, and the one with a troubled expression is Huu Lien.

“Then there’s nothing to do on the day. Do you want me to do something big? Help me move equipment like speakers. You’re going to listen to me play anyway.”

“… … You want me to move it?”

“No, I’m not asking you to move it by yourself. I need help. Why can’t you understand?”

“… … .”

It wasn’t a difficult picture to understand.

As perpetrators tend to attack those who appear weak, it seems that a classmate who immigrated from far away Southeast Asia, either Vietnam or the Philippines, was targeted.

The victim looked at me as if asking for help… … but that was okay.

If you were going to ask for help, you should have taken my side when the rumors about Claudia started going around. Looking back, I just brushed it off as nothing serious, since I was just one of those guys who was laughing in the corner of the classroom.

Isn’t that too spicy?

This is how life is. At some point, Hu Lien becomes weak, and then the next, he becomes strong and bullies someone.

From my own experience, skin color isn’t necessarily the only thing that separates allies and enemies.

“Stop it. I told you not to.”

“… … It’s you again?”

Shit, shit, fucking shit.

This time, I agree with Ralph Pfaff’s opinion.

Sophie Hertz, it’s you again.

“If you guys are going to play, you should prepare it yourself. Why are you making Ae-man act as a porter?”

“You’re asking me to be a porter? I said you want my help. We’re all going to enjoy the festival together. Is that difficult?”

“That’s because that’s not what you really mean.”

I can’t understand why they are so wide-eyed.

No, why today of all days?

Right now, I’m in a state of near nirvana. Every muscle in my body is aching here and there, and my mind is in a state of confusion, so my sense of reality is blurred.

I’m not saying this in vain; I haven’t cared about anything since last night.

He went home in the middle of the night and went to bed without even saying a word of complaint, even though he didn’t even say hello to his family.

But why does it always make me lift my heavy butt?

“Then you help me.”

“I am-”

“That’s a good thing. They have nothing to do.”

Then, suddenly, a small friction quickly spreads to the surroundings. The ones who are targeted by Ralph Pfaff’s gang are Miss Liberia (Morsi) and Miss Poland (Lisa Weiss).

I was going to go out reluctantly, but he started a fight openly.

Knock knock.

As curious eyes flock to the sound of a chair being dragged, I walk straight over and extend my hand.

Thud.

What he grabbed with his hand was the back of Hu Lien’s neck.

“Uh, uh… … ?”

“Don’t say anything. I’m not helping you because I like you.”

He drags Jonas Drur to the seat next to him and sits down, then returns to where the commotion was taking place and blocks Sophie Hertz’s path.

Although I have lost some of my influence in the classroom, I am Seong Ha-neul.

It’s enough to just look at him in silence, because he still has the ripple effect of being a crazy guy with a personality, not a celebrity to be admired.

“you…….”

“what.”

“… … .”

There was no need to get angry or show any signs of excitement.

Not yet.

* * *

The main training ground of FC Köln.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that I regained my composure.

“Okay.”

“So? Did you fight?”

Osvald, the club’s physical therapist, is kneading my muscles to relieve the fatigue from the long flight.

I felt half-asleep, but I decided to finish the conversation I had been having. I guess I missed the official training, so I felt more relaxed.

“Fighting. They’re kids who can’t even throw a punch.”

“… … .”

“I’m just kidding. It’s not okay for a professional athlete to go around throwing punches. That’s the end of it. Ut might laugh at me, but I have responsibilities too.”

“Hahaha, now stand up and sit down.”

“huh.”

As I stood up at the other person’s request, I soon found myself holding a long rubber band in both of my hands.

“Pull it all the way in. Keep your elbows fixed to your sides without letting them flare out, and feel the stimulation of the muscles around your shoulder blades.”

“Huh.”

Physical therapy is a truly magical thing. Pulling on a piece of rubber cloth can loosen up your muscles.

Although I didn’t immediately return to my previous physical condition, the feeling of being unwell improved significantly.

“Don’t fight within the club.”

Then, suddenly, Oswald, who had been quietly watching my movements, let out an incomprehensible sound from beyond his thick arms.

“… …Why do you think I would fight?”

“Why are you like this? It’s no secret that you and Modeste are at odds.”

“You’re the one growling. I’m responding in a more gentlemanly manner.”

Do you find what I’m saying funny?

He lets out a sly laugh, but then continues speaking with a serious expression.

“Maybe you’re right.”

“… … All of a sudden? I told you that you were acting immature normally.”

“I didn’t say you were immature. I said you looked like you were your age.”

“That’s what I mean. Anyway, why did you change your mind overnight?”

“… … .”

Sometimes facial expressions convey more information than words, so I’m quick to catch any hint of hesitation.

“The gorillas fought, right?”

“What… … That’s what happened.”

“With who?”

“lay.”

Are my ears deaf?

“Who? Duda? Are you talking about Ondrej Duda?”

“Yeah. They had a practice match with the second team during the A-match period, and it seems like they had a clash of opinions. They collided in the middle of the field.”

That’s good news.

Ondrej Duda was saved in my phone address book as [Gorillane Duda]. Given that he is a regular attacking midfielder, this might be a golden opportunity to bring him over to my side.

Of course, before that, the first thing to do was to reassure the other person.

The physical therapist was looking at me with concern.

“I didn’t tell you this to spread rumors. The atmosphere in the training grounds is cold-”

“Don’t cause any accidents? I know.”

“Yeah. If you clash with Modeste again, Stefan won’t let you off easy. If you’re going to punish someone, please do it to the other team. Our next round opponent, Union Berlin.”

“I told you, I got it.”

Even though I repeatedly assured him, saying things like, “I understand, don’t worry, I understand,” etc., he didn’t seem to be convinced easily.

“More than anything, there are many eyes watching you. Did you see that on your way here? Please don’t cause any trouble. FC Köln is my workplace and also a club that I have great personal affection for.”

“There are always eyes watching, so it feels new.”

“… … You haven’t seen it?”

“what?”

“Take a look when you go out later, there are Koreans everywhere.”

I was wondering what this was all about.