Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 159



Only Krnovel

Episode 159: Big Mistake

It was Tim Remperle who reacted to the soft insults.

The peers look surprised at Seong Ha-neul’s blatantly annoyed expression, and then quickly look to the veteran players.

But in reality, the person involved has endured a lot, so the displeasure does not go away easily.

“Don’t interfere too much. I’m already annoyed. Mom always talks about Munich, and the agency keeps telling me that other clubs are contacting me and asking me to meet them. I need to rest when I have to.”

“Can you rest? I heard you were busy with housework and taking care of your brother.”

“… … I did meet some friends. I have to do club activities.”

“Oh, really? But there are things that are more important than club activities.”

“Ut, as Hanul said, it is a burdensome topic. It’s not like we’re talking alone, so why are we talking about transfer?”

Jonas steps in to mediate, as the boy’s sharp reaction is not entirely wrong, but Mark Ut refutes him in a firm tone.

“No, no. You have to pinch what needs to be pinched. This little kid doesn’t understand the situation.”

“Me? That I don’t understand the situation?”

“Yeah. If you stay with the team like this, do you think you’ll be able to play with Modeste next season too?”

“Why are we suddenly talking about gorillas?”

“Why come out, everything from your studies to your personal life and the next season in Cologne is intertwined. The relationship between you and Anthony has crossed the River Styx. Do you admit that?”

“… … It’s not the Styx, it’s the Rubicon.”

“Anyway, it’s the same thing that both of them can’t come back. Well, then let’s go with the Rhine. But you know what I mean, right?”

“I don’t know.”

In succession, he even coldly rejected the tone that seemed to be throwing a tantrum.

“No, you know. We all know. The club would rather keep you or Modeste. They don’t want to start the new season without their top scorers.”

“… … .”

“And at least for now… … it seems like they want to protect you. Even if you call it self-discipline, it’s only a fine, right?”

“I was even excluded from official training.”

“But you weren’t excluded from the game. And Sandra Schroeder, a journalist very close to Cologne, was busy covering up what you did. Do you think that was a coincidence?”

“… … That reporter might be my fan.”

“Ha. Ha. Ha. That’s a funny joke. But it’s actually good. Your current reaction, your evasive behavior, is the reason why I interfere with you too much.”

“… … .”

As the atmosphere in the room grew heavy in an instant, the fork moving across the plate stopped moving, and Benno Schmitz quietly got up and took a beer out of the fridge.

Normally, I would have stopped him at this point, but seeing someone who was usually playful do something like that made me think there must be a good reason, so I decided to watch.

“Football is no joke. You’re young. But that’s only 15 years. How long do you think your career will go smoothly?”

“I never thought it was a joke.”

“Yes. But right now, you look like you’re joking. Or you’re throwing a tantrum. Transfers aren’t something you can do the moment you decide to do it. What kind of team are you moving to? Is it a place that suits you tactically? What kind of team members are there? Is it the coach’s pick or the club owner’s or general manager’s pick? What kind of qualities did the scout see in me that made him decide to recruit me? There are a lot of things you need to find out in advance.”

“… … .”

“That’s it? If you’re moving to another country, what’s the local life like, how up-to-date is the training facility, how is the training conducted, etc. You need to spend at least a month or two on the ground. It’s not like you can just leave it to the agent and let it happen—just wait and see the results.”

“… … .”

“Timmy (Remperle’s nickname), you should take note of this. I know you’re young. You’ve probably been running with the goal of playing on the professional stage. But you both achieved your own results this season, right? You must have received offers from unspecified clubs that no one, including me, knows about. On the one hand, you might be excited, and on the other hand, you might want to wait a little longer and decide slowly. However, doing nothing is different from waiting while preparing. When you achieve results, when you have the fruits of your labor in your hands, you need to be even more careful and cautious. Otherwise… … you’ll regret it. You’ll definitely regret it.”

* * *

Mulberry!

While the sound of a beer bottle being opened drifts into my ears, out of place in the atmosphere, I stare at the man in front of me.

A flushed face, a serious expression that doesn’t answer, and even heavier content.

At this, somewhere in my heart… … a feeling of resistance rises.

Why is it that everyone always tells me what to do?

I know it’s closer to advice than reprimand, but sometimes it’s hard to accept even when you know your intentions are good.

That’s what I did recently.

My pride was at an all-time low due to the loss in the finals, and naturally, a warning light was on inside me. That’s why, the more I listen to it, the more irritated I become.

Jonas’ belated addition was the same.

“… … Even though the expression is direct, what Ut said isn’t entirely wrong. It means that you should prepare in advance, whether you make a decision or not. Of course, I understand that you are stressed, Hanul. There are many factors to consider. Family, friends, and teammates are all involved.”

“Did you hear from Alex?”

In response to the aggressive questioning, he shakes his head, flapping his beer bottle with one hand.

“Alex and I both keep the line. Your information will not be passed on to me. The only thing we have in common is that we are all affiliated with the same agency. So I have no idea what kind of offer you received or how you are doing. That’s why I asked to meet you today. I didn’t know that… … other people would show up.”

“… … .”

“Anyway, listen to what Utt says with a grain of salt, but make sure to take what you need. Don’t put it off for too long, and if possible, talk to the people around you. What are Baumgart’s plans for next season, what the board thinks, what options does his agent think are better, and most of all… … what does his family think?”

The first ones were quite acceptable, but the last one is something I can’t even laugh off.

“There’s no point in talking about it at home. Mom has become a Munich fan, Dad is silent whenever the topic comes up, and my brother doesn’t even pretend to care. Do you know what I mean? When my brother is sick, no one cares about my future.”

“… … I see. But you care.”

“Me? Of course I care. But what difference does that make? I’m still a minor, and I can’t even properly transfer without my mom and dad’s consent.”

“I don’t think so. Your opinion matters. Your opinion always matters. If you have the intention to transfer, and you will someday, it would be worthwhile to speak a little more openly.”

Despite the soft tone, the subsequent response naturally becomes sharp because a certain sentence pops into my head.

“It’s easier said than done. I know you meant well, but I’m different. Our circumstances are different. Just this morning, I was just doing my brother’s chores.”

“… … .”

“Not only does he not even say hello in the morning, he doesn’t even respond to what I say, and he can’t do anything on his own. And what about Mom? Your brother, your brother, your brother. I told Mom that I wasn’t there, right? And you want me to tell him that I want to transfer to another place on my own?”

No, no. It wasn’t that he was angry, but he got angry for a moment, and soon his angry voice spread like waves throughout the room.

“Hanul… … .”

“Lucas? Jonas’ older brother’s name was Lucas, right? I told you before. Right?”

“……okay.”

“Seong Ha-jun is not Lucas. Instead of being confident like your brother, he’s stuck in a wheelchair, and even though he wants to study more, he’s stuck at home with his head buried in his books. In fact, he can’t even read properly when he’s under the influence of drugs. He just groans and wastes time. But how can he do whatever he wants? Yes. Of course I can do that. He’s my doctor and I’m a jerk, and if I’m going to go anyway, I want to go to England. That’s what I’m saying. But is that really the right choice?”

“… … .”

I know that too.

That you are taking your anger out on someone you don’t like.

But what can I do when I feel so angry when I hear people telling me to do something I can’t do, as if it were so easy?

That must mean that the castle sky in the corner of the house was in a bad state, but just a month ago, the castle sky outside was also a mess… … There was nothing I could do.

“… … Well, you’re right. I can’t say that it’s the right way. And my previous words may have seemed like they were disrespectful of your way of life. I sincerely apologize.”

“… … .”

Fortunately or unfortunately, Jonas lightens the mood with a polite apology.

Ding ding.

Then suddenly, his cell phone rang, indicating that he had a call. Since it had come to this, he said he was going to go to the bathroom and left.

“Hanul.”

“huh.”

Remperle, who had been at a loss for what to do since a while ago, spoke with a hesitant expression.

“Over there, that… … .”

“Well, if you have something to say, say it quickly.”

He was so cautious that he would start talking halfway through, and I had to ask him several more times to get his answer.

“… … I told you about the Jonas family earlier.”

“Lucas Hector?”

“Yeah.”

“Why is that?”

“… … He left.”

“what?”

As if he were going to throw firewood into the story that had barely evolved, he spat out a firm tone for a moment. As soon as Remperle’s lips left his mouth, his mind went blank.

Did I mishear you? Did I misunderstand you?

Nothing will change even if you ask questions.

On the contrary, it only drives a wedge into the ground.

“I heard he passed away.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

“… … Ah, no. No way. That can’t be. Even if he’s Jonas’ older brother, he’s not that old. What on earth happened?”

“I heard you had a heart attack. I thought you knew.”

This is crazy.

I unconsciously fell into a state of panic and looked back on the previous conversation. It was really foolish, but looking back, I realized that I had overreacted in some way.

No, it seems like I was the only one causing trouble.

Idiot, moron, idiot.

I belatedly started to criticize myself fiercely, but before that, someone teased me first.

“That was really bad, Jonas was just trying to take care of me.”

“… … .”

“I even drove here myself.”

“… … .”

“He is a married man with a two-year-old child.”

“Ut.”

“Ellie, did I say something wrong? Ah, I’m so annoyed~”

oh my god.

It was a really serious matter that he didn’t even have the presence of mind to react to the provocation of a clumsy meerkat.

and.

Suddenly-

“Oh, you came back so quickly. Wife?”

“Well, I asked you to buy me something on the way back. By the way, the World Cup is just around the corner. I heard Hanul has an A-match in June?”

“… … .”

“Do your best. There’s only half a year left, so it’s time to impress the director. Of course you’ll do well, but… … I’m just saying hello.”

“… … .”

Jonas, who had returned to his seat, brought up a different topic with a calm expression. I could see that he was determined not to provoke me any further… … A little, no.

I was very embarrassed.