Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 169



Only Krnovel

The cow-killing knife Kim Min-woo

* * *

The game ended with the referee’s whistle.

I knelt on the ground and took a deep breath.

“Fuck. This is hard.”

The time after scoring a free kick goal was truly a burning time.

Just as the final phase created by the production company comes out when the boss is in a state of near death, Leverkusen pushed until the end of the game after conceding one goal.

To be honest, I was confident before the match, but it was really difficult when playing against a strong team.

Above all, the players’ shots flew in like lasers, so much so that I felt scared even if I received 60 points.

“Still, I held on.”

Dominik Korsic, the only human defender, approaches me with an expression of emotion, kneels down in return, and hugs me.

“Kim. You worked really hard.”

“You’ve had a hard time too.”

Running Mate is in his second year now, so he’s become a defender who can play in the first division.

I’m quite touched.

Corsic, who was a sub in the second part, is now a sub in the first part.

The media, which probably doesn’t know the circumstances, will probably take it as a sign that a defender who is finished growing has shown fighting spirit.

Other experts will also comment that Corsic was able to grow further by gaining ‘enlightenment’ as a soccer player.

And then suddenly, this thought occurred to me.

‘If there was a Korean on the team… … I would have unconditionally given him my running mate without any hesitation.’

Even Kim Jun-young, who has been with him for a few months, is being mentioned as a possible Rookie of the Year in the K League. Even if he is a slow player, he will grow significantly if he plays with him for a few years. As Corsic proved.

however…….

‘There has never been more than one Korean on the same team in Europe… … Ah. That was just once.’

PSV’s Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo.

There were numerous European factions, but only one case.

I hope that a second case will appear when I leave Hanover, whoever it may be.

Then you will do well as a national team member… .

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m thinking of transferring to a team with Koreans.’

A few teams come to mind right away.

Lee Kang-im’s PSG.

Son Heung-min’s Tottenham.

Hwang Hee-cheon’s Wolverhampton.

Kim Min-jae’s Bayern Munich.

They are all good teams, but I have no intention of going there just to raise people from the same region.

I didn’t necessarily want to go that far to get good results as a national representative, and more than anything, I was planning to play for at least 20 more years before I retire, so there was no rush.

‘It’s already quite late for a goalkeeper to retire, and I even have a football manager… ‘

Aren’t you playing in one of Europe’s top 5 leagues even at the age of 40?

Maybe 50s… … This is a bit much. Maybe your joints can’t keep up. You can block it with your head, but your body can’t keep up, so you end up giving up a point while saying ‘Ugh’.

I hate seeing that sight even if I die, so I’ll retire before then.

“Kim?”

“… Huh? Why?”

“No. I thought you fainted. You weren’t saying anything, and your eyes weren’t focused.”

“… … I’m so touched. I’m so touched.”

There was something somewhat touching.

Because it was their first defeat for Leverkusen, who had not lost to any team this season.

Leverkusen’s incredible unbeaten run had many critics speculating that it was a return to Arsenal’s 03-04 season.

It was a very long time ago, but it was such a great season for Arsenal that it is still talked about to this day.

During that time, Arsenal won the Premier League undefeated. They won the championship without losing a single game!

Arsenal’s progress was being followed by Leverkusen, although in a different league, and they were confident that there would be no Hannover storm! Even if there was, we would put them to sleep, but they were dealt a blow by Hannover and their undefeated streak ended.

How touching it must have been. Rather than being touching, it was more of a feeling of exhilaration.

‘Ah. What should I say at the press conference later?’

I usually give humble answers, but in this case, the opponent was the one who provoked me first, and I wanted to say something to give a slap to the Leverkusen coach who was sticking his tongue out so rudely.

A warning that if you talk carelessly to me, you’ll get a big nosebleed.

Just thinking about opening my mouth in front of a camera makes my adrenaline rush and I smile like a crazy person.

Corsic quickly broke away from the hug and left, perhaps afraid of my reaction.

‘What a pitiful kid.’

Are you abandoning your colleague?

I followed Corsic and got up from my seat. My legs were numb from having been kneeling for so long, so I walked with a limp.

Then,

“Kim! Kim! What, what!? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?! Does your leg hurt!?”

The coaches who saw that were shocked and started to get excited.

They were so surprised that all the coaches came running at full speed.

I quickly dismissed it because I thought that if I said I was really sick, they would tell me to go to a university hospital right away.

“It’s just numb because I was kneeling for so long. It’s okay.”

“… … Phew. Surprise.”

Only then did the coaches breathe a sigh of relief.

Especially, Jan was so surprised that he forgot about his manners and ran towards me.

… … This kind of reaction. Not bad, right?

* * *

And of course, Hannover collectively turned on Leverkusen in their post-match interview.

“The director said today―”

“I’m sorry for interrupting you. As I said last time, Leverkusen is definitely not a strong team.”

“yes?”

“If they were a strong team, they would have caught us.”

When Jan Rytl criticized Leverkusen in an uncharacteristic manner, the reporter asked with a meaningful smile:

“Do you still have a grudge because of the Leverkusen manager’s remarks about Hannover?”

“Not at all! Rather than being a grudge, I just found it funny that the only team that had never experienced Kim kept talking. Honestly, I’m happier today than when we beat Dortmund.”

“Can you say a word to Leverkusen and their manager on this occasion?”

Jan hesitated for a moment before answering the reporter’s question and then opened his mouth.

“I hope we never underestimate Hannover again. We are not at the level of Leverkusen to be taken lightly.”

“Oh my.”

The reporters were amazed as if they had heard a killing verse from a hip-hop musician.

In the long history of football, it is very rare for a manager to take such a direct hit on another manager.

Now, if the media packages this well, it could create a rivalry between Hannover and Leverkusen… … but that depends on how Hannover runs the club after Kim.

If Kim leaves and the team’s performance suffers, it will be seen as the reckless actions of a young manager, but if they rebuild well and remain in the upper-middle ranks of the Bundesliga… … it will be the start of a new derby.

This baptism of interviews also reached Hannover’s captain, Coutinho, a new signing in the winter transfer market, and Kim Min-woo, who is now practically a symbol of Hannover.

Henrik Fischer was embarrassed by the barrage of questions from reporters, but brushed it off by saying that there are no absolute powerhouses in the Bundesliga.

New transfer player Philippe Coutinho spoke about how well he has adapted to the team rather than Leverkusen, the beginning of the fourth act of his football career, and his ambition to do even better in the future.

“Oh, yes yes. I understand… … .”

Of course, it was a story of no interest to reporters.

Isn’t that something you hear when playing against other teams?

What reporters wanted to hear was something that would grab people’s attention and interest.

And Kim Min-woo.

“At the Olympics, Henry and Mbappe also ignored my team and ended up in the same situation as now. I hope other managers of other teams can learn from Leverkusen’s situation.”

“So you’re saying that if I ignore Kim or Hanover in the future, I’ll be in big trouble?”

“Well… … I didn’t mean it like that, but if you ignore someone, they might unleash a force greater than yours.”

Kim Min-woo, who usually answers politely and is nicknamed ‘Kind Kim’ by reporters, seemed quite heated today thanks to the dramatic victory.

Reporters took advantage of this gap to persistently question Kim.

Most of the questions were likely to be controversial depending on the answers. However, surprisingly, Kim Min-woo easily understood the intention and went back to being the friendly Kim.

It was an unbelievable composure for a teenage player.

* * *

“Euuuuuuu….”

Kim Shin-ah screamed.

It was fine until I saw the game, but the game was so exciting that I couldn’t fall asleep right away.

Should I call it a kind of ‘aftertaste’?

Kim Shin-ah, who had been searching for a long time, finally fell asleep at 5 AM, and when she closed her eyes and opened them, it was time to wake up.

And after washing my face with cold water, eating breakfast from the fridge, and putting on my school uniform, I went to school.

Kim Shin-ah felt like she was going to die.

It’s a fatigue that literally crushes your whole body.

It felt like there were four or five ghosts sitting on my shoulders that I didn’t know about, and a huge metal ball was hanging from my waist like a chain.

I didn’t even feel sleepy on the way to school.

This is, I was so tired that I couldn’t even speak, and sitting on a rattling vehicle, my body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds, but I had to force myself to stay awake.

‘Ah. I should have just taken a taxi… .’

I know there will be a ton of traffic if I take a taxi to work, and I also know that the taxi fare will be much higher than usual because of that, but I still don’t have to worry about my family’s finances anymore!

Why can’t I escape the common people mindset?

Kim Shin-ah sighed a few times and then turned on her phone. Normally, she would congratulate Kim Min-woo first after a game, but she couldn’t do that because she thought she had to go to sleep right away.

Maybe it was because I sent him a text message every day after the game, but Kim Min-woo did something unexpected.

[Kim Min-woo: Haha, did you watch the game?]

[Kim Min-woo: I’m tired~]

[Kim Min-woo: Block all the shots and score a goal~]

“Haha.”

You were always up to date, so it must have been pretty lonely when it got quiet for once. You’re cute.

‘Well, who else would that nerd brag to if not me?’

Kim Shin-ah tapped on her phone screen, then stopped. She couldn’t think of what to say in response. Maybe it was because she was too tired.

[Kim Shin-ah: It was fun, but I feel like I’m going to die. I slept for 2 hours and I’m going to school.]

[Kim Shin-ah: Save me]

Then ‘1’ disappears.

It’s probably around midnight in German time now.

[Kim Min-woo: Haha, just give up studying and be my secretary]

[Kim Shin-ah: Haha]

Is it refreshing?

I don’t know about other countries, but in Korea, there was only one reason why I studied hard.

Go to a better college than others and get a better job than others.

Get a better job than others, earn a higher salary, and gain social prestige.

‘And even after going through all that difficult and arduous process, you’re saying you’re not even at the level of Kim Min-woo’s secretary?’

Ah. Suddenly, I feel dizzy… .

My brother’s annual salary increased to 6 billion won in just two years since his professional debut. He is also currently the most promising goalkeeper in the world.

There is no way to estimate how much more the salary will increase here.

Is it just the annual salary?

If he continues to build up these ridiculous records, at some point his income from additional sources may be greater than the salary he receives from the team.

You could create your own brand like everyone else, or you could become the world’s advertising king and rake in the money.

In the end, your older brother might say, “Hey! Just start a business over there. I’ll help you!” … … .

Thinking like that, I feel like my fatigue and sleepiness are slightly going away.

[Kim Shin-ah: Hehe. Oppa~]

[Kim Shin-ah: Do you know that I love you a lot? Haha]

[Kim Min-woo: ?]

[Kim Min-woo: I just got goosebumps]

[Kim Min-woo: The power of money is truly scary… When Kim Shin-ah was alive, she told me she loved me.]

Well, I definitely think this is a bit off. If it were before, I would have screamed, but even now, I feel quite uncomfortable.

[Kim Shin-ah: Cancel… Cancel]

[Kim Shin-ah: I must have gone crazy because I only slept for 2 hours]

[Kim Min-woo: Yes, it looks like that…]

[Kim Min-woo: But you can come to Europe, okay? If you transfer, you’ll move to a bigger place.]

Kim Shin-ah blinked for a moment.

Hmm. What should I reply with?

For a moment, I pictured my future. A future where I would lean on my older brother and live a happy life… .

Not really?

[Kim Shin-ah: I’ll just prove it to you]

[Kim Min-woo: What proof]

[Kim Shin-ah: Just look at it and you’ll see]

[Kim Min-woo: Okay~ Let’s meet in Europe]

[Kim Shin-ah: Hahahahaha]

Oh. Wait a minute.

If you don’t get into the university you’re aiming for, you’ll eventually have to take the CSAT, and if you fail that exam, you’ll have to retake it…

Shin-ah giggled and left her last message.

[Kim Shin-ah: If I fail the CSAT, I’ll go to Europe~]

* * *

After a short break, I boarded the plane back to Korea with my mom.

I put on my sleep mask and thought about the upcoming preliminary round.

‘Vietnam and Iraq. Hmm… .’

From what I heard from Yoo Jin-ho, coach Leon Harpers was weighing whether to play between me and Kim Seung-gu.

Honestly, when I first heard that, I was beyond dumbfounded and thought Yoo Jin-ho was lying.

“Me and Seunggu hyung?”

After saying that, I was silent for a moment.

It’s not that I was silent on purpose, I was just so dumbfounded that I fell into a stunned state.

“Is this absurd?”

“No, I mean, uh, um… .”

“That makes sense. It makes no sense. But those people seem to see it a little differently.”

That was Eugene Ho’s heartfelt words.

Kim Seung-gu is a Middle Eastern leaguer, and Iraq is a Middle Eastern country. Vietnam is also a weak team that is too weak to compete against Korea.

There was a coaching staff meeting where they said that it would be overbalanced to use Kim Min-woo, who has already proven himself against Vietnam and Iraq, so it would be better to use Kim Seung-gu, a sub-option, in case of an emergency.

“So, does that mean that using me is too powerful or something?”

“It felt like using a slaughter knife to kill a chicken.”

“… If that’s the case, then why did you call me?”

“If I don’t call you, people will start to riot again. This time, public opinion has finally calmed down after Mexico and Japan were captured, but if I don’t call you again… … Ugh.”

I didn’t understand at the time.

If it’s not a friendly match but a World Cup qualifier, wouldn’t it be right to send out the best available force?

Even though the opponent is very weak… … you wouldn’t know because the ball is round.

It was only yesterday that Leverkusen, who were overconfident, got beaten by Hannover.

They also say that they prepare for an emergency situation (perhaps I get injured and can’t play), but such a scenario is only appropriate in a friendly match where it has no effect on the outcome.

No matter how many World Cup tickets there were, this was arrogance.

… Above all, my family and friends will all be coming, so it would be a shame if I couldn’t go!

“So, that meeting was held after your business trip to Europe?”

“This came up during my business trip to Europe. We had a video conference.”

“The director insisted on that?”

“The underlings under the director. The director doesn’t necessarily agree, but he seems to be generally sympathetic.”

You’re hesitant to hire me because I’m so good… … That’s some really cool nonsense.

“I’ll just go to Korea and have a private meeting with the director. We’ll find out after we talk.”

“Yeah. Appeal strongly. That gentleman seems to be inconsistent. Every gentleman you bring in as a director seems to have a screw loose at some point.”

Eugene Yoo kept gossiping about the director to me and then cut off contact.

That was my last memory.

“Oh my.”

I sighed and tossed and turned.

Damn, even if I do it well, it’s still bullshit.