Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 23
Only Krnovel
Between the stairs and the stairs, in a place where there were no people, I had a conversation with Ko Young-jun and Han Seung-woo.
“No, I felt their gazes ever since I played against that Wolf Knight or something. I told you, they were unusual. Their expressions were like tiger cubs about to eat people.”
I explained everything from how I felt, what happened today, and how I felt in the high league.
Actually, I had a feeling that it was right from the Geumgang Banseok competition.
Seungwoo Han and Youngjun Ko, who had been listening for a while, just sighed.
“This is really fucking ugly. The director told him to prove it, so he did, but the other two guys couldn’t prove it, so they’re just going to soak him. I understand, but isn’t this a bit too much?”
It was Ko Young-jun. Han Seung-woo also nodded.
“Song Jae-hyun, he deserves it. He didn’t even play in a single game.”
“That kid was a sub to begin with. And honestly, Kim Min-woo is overwhelmingly good, and Lee Seung-hyun wasn’t that great in his first game, so it’s only natural that he’ll keep playing.”
“What should we do, hyungs? Should I just go to the director and tell him about this?”
Then the answer comes out at the same time.
“no.”
“no.”
Then, Go Young-jun adds:
“You know the director’s personality. If you knew this, those guys would really be screwed.”
“Brother! I almost got screwed too! If you fail to screw someone over, isn’t it only natural that you get screwed too?”
“Hey. I know. It’s just a guess that they were trying to beat you up. It didn’t actually happen. And it’s possible they were just saying it.”
“No, brother!”
“It may be unfair, but Minwoo. Let’s resolve this between us. You should hold off on telling the director.”
It was Han Seung-woo.
I wasn’t convinced at all, but I said I understood and was going to go and tell the director right away, but I held off for now.
The soccer team has barely won the hearts of the people, but if they keep messing with it, they could end up becoming a real public enemy.
In this case, it might be a good idea to establish the argument’s side, although I don’t know how the argument intends to deal with those guys.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“We’ll have to talk to them. And we’ll make sure they don’t touch you. I promise this as a promise. If they touch you even a little bit, that little shit’s gonna lose to us.”
Even if I become half-crippled and kill him, wouldn’t it only be me who suffers a great loss, brother…
I swallowed the words that were rising to the tip of my tongue.
If I had been my usual personality, I would have just said it frankly, but I held back because I remembered the director’s advice.
“And Minwoo. Honestly, we didn’t acknowledge you at first either. And we were sorry back then. Honestly, we were going to let you go.”
Han Seung-woo’s sudden confession. I paused for a moment and nodded to answer.
“I understand. The people who were doing it before have been together for a long time. I don’t.”
Here, you are a fleet.
I wanted to be conciliatory towards them and create discord among the existing soccer players.
To be exact, it’s a resentment against all the goalkeepers except me and everyone else.
“Yeah. And they might come looking for your class again, so be careful for now.”
“yes.”
Just then the lunch bell rings.
I went down the stairs and back to my class, went to the popular kids I used to play soccer with, explained the situation, and asked them to watch out for me if those kids came again.
Luckily, these guys readily agreed. These are real friends…
*
The goalkeepers haven’t come back since.
To be honest, I was so scared that I didn’t even look at my phone during the break and just watched to see if they would come or not.
And now after school was the problem, as we went to the playground for training, surprisingly, I found out what Han Seung-woo meant when he said let’s finish at our line.
‘Why are those kids alone?’
They were going through the same thing that happened to me and Kim Jun-young!
No one talks to you, treats you like you’re invisible, and doesn’t treat you well.
They were whispering amongst themselves, confused by the situation, but that was it.
Even if our eyes met by chance, he would just avoid me and not do anything else.
‘Is this the power of argument?’
It seems that Han Seung-woo was using his power to exert pressure.
The two goalkeepers were literally crushed throughout training.
Even the freshman goalkeeper avoided those two goalies, which was honestly a bit surprising.
‘Han Seung-woo’s apology was sincere.’
When I first came to the soccer club, I guessed that Seungwoo Han’s influence was probably significant in the subtle contempt and bullying.
And now that I’ve shown my skills, they’ve opened their hearts.
I can’t be 100% sure, but I feel like I have some peace of mind.
*
There are no competitions in June in which Suyang High School participates.
Coach Yoo Jin-ho said he would submit a letter of intent to any competition he could participate in, but the high school league schedule was quite packed this June.
Once on June 10th.
Once on June 17th.
Once on June 23rd.
Since the schedule for the competition was somewhat ambiguous, training was conducted more leisurely in June than in May.
And we played the game as scheduled.
The opponent I caught on June 10th was someone I remember very clearly.
It’s impossible not to remember them since they were the first opponents we played against in a soccer match.
Because it was the Suyang Football Center, the friendly match opponent.
At that time, we had won, so I expected them to come out with their teeth gnashed, but the result was, to my surprise, our victory once again.
The result was a 2:0 win.
Even one of those goals was a goal using the special ability I acquired this time, ‘Quick and Accurate Kick’. Although it wasn’t recorded as an assist by me, Kim Jun-young, who received my goal kick, kicked it well and passed the ball to Han Seung-woo, which led to a goal.
The remaining goal was scored by Kim Jun-young with an assist from Han Seung-woo.
Kim Jun-young’s decision-making power has really improved these days.
Suyang High School won both of the remaining games, and the only thing that was special was that they both kept a shutout.
Currently, Suyang High School is on a five-game winning streak in the high school league, and has also recorded five consecutive shutouts.
It was a very satisfying record because I started winning exactly from the moment I entered the game.
“Can you see it?”
“yes?”
“Look closely over there.”
Suyang High School successfully completed June.
And Yoo Jin-ho, who leads the training center, called me into the director’s office and handed me something.
It was a piece of paper containing the records of the high school league that Suyang High School belonged to.
There are a total of 11 teams, and the wins, losses, and points so far are also written.
“Do you know how the high school league works?”
“You don’t know?”
Eugene Yoo explained it simply, as if he thought you wouldn’t know.
“We’ll face each of the teams there once. There are 11 teams, so we’ll face each other 10 times, right?”
“yes.”
“After 10 matches, you get to divide the points. If you’re in the top 3 after the league ends, you’ll advance to the King of Kings tournament, and if you’re in the top 4, you can go through the playoffs to the King of Kings tournament.”
“aha.”
“What’s our current record? What rank are we in?”
“wait a minute···.”
I checked the ranking of Suyang High School.
“7 wins and 1 draw in 8 matches. That’s 1st place.”
It’s a bit surprising. It was popular even before I came in. Suyang High School, maybe because the basic weight class is strong?
“There are two games left, what do you think will happen?”
“You’ll advance to the King of Kings tournament, right?”
“That’s it!”
Eugene Ho nodded with a proud face.
“Even if we lose the remaining two games, there’s no way out! So, what you’re saying is that?”
I scratched my head. If I don’t say anything, Yoo Jin-ho will probably tell me, right?
“Your professional debut is just around the corner!”
“Is that how it is?”
“Yeah, Imma! Don’t you know how great the King of Kings Tournament is?”
“Is it that great?”
“Ha, this kid. A kid who plays soccer doesn’t know the importance of the King of Kings Tournament!”
“How long has it been since you started?”
As I habitually grumbled, Director Yoo Jin-ho’s gaze grew fierce, but I just stuck my mouth out and avoided his gaze.
“As the name suggests, it’s the King of Kings. All the high school kids who play soccer from all over the country are coming. You just come? Only the kids who are somewhat filtered like us come.”
“Is it of a higher level than the Geumgang Banseok Competition?”
“Then! Hey. In the King of Kings tournament, even the youth players within the clubs participate. Do you know what I mean? Even the semi-professional players who have contracts with the clubs all come. But what happens if you win a tournament like that?”
“···oh.”
It will get a lot more spotlight than the Diamond Jubilee Tournament?
Although he didn’t say anything, Yoo Jin-ho clenched his fist as if he had read my thoughts.
“If you just show what you did at the Geumgang Banseok Tournament, you’ll get a pro contract right away! Since you’re still young, you’ll get a semi-pro contract, but if you prove yourself there, you’ll get called up to the first team right away, right?”
“What is a semi-pro contract?”
“When signing a contract with a minor, it’s called a semi-professional contract. Under the current law, a professional contract is not possible.”
“Oh. Really?”
What kind of law is that?
“Anyway, get ready. There’s really not much time left.”
“I think the director likes it more. Is there anything that will fall in front of the director?”
“Hey, you little brat. If you become a pro, it’ll all be reflected in my career! Who trusted you and let you join the soccer team when you’re nothing?”
“The director.”
“Who signed me up and kept me competing?”
“It’s the director.”
“Then what will become of me?”
“···It’s definitely good news.”
Only then did Eugene Ho let out a pleasant laugh.
“Yeah. If I’m lucky, I might get a job as a K-League head coach or maybe even a position as a performance analyst. Maybe? After proving my abilities, I’ll get a job as a national team coach by age group.”
“Hey. That’s a bit···.”
“Yeah. That’s a bit much. Anyway! This is the beginning of my soccer coaching career! That’s why you’re so important. Do you think you, Kim Jun-young, and Han Seung-woo will all sign professional contracts?”
“yes.”
“I’m saying this because you’re the only one here, but a coach who has produced three professional debutants from Suyang High School is truly amazing. To put it simply, it’s like coaching Vietnam or Malaysia to advance to the World Cup.”
“Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”
“You little shit!”
I quickly averted my eyes as he scolded me.
Anyway, I have to give credit to the old people for their MSG skills…
“Of course, there’s still some time left until the King of Kings tournament. The King of Kings tournament starts in August. The high school league in July will end early, so the rest of the schedule is going to be blown out of order, right?”
“Oh. Are you competing again in the meantime?”
“yes.”
Eugene Ho smiling brightly.
“I know that other kids besides you will be given a chance in the remaining high school leagues, so let’s prepare hard for the competition, okay?”
“yes.”
That’s good.
I have a midterm exam coming up in early July, so I’ll have to take advantage of it and cram.
I was already worried about my grades, but if I study hard, I can at least make up for the points that would have dropped sharply.
End
ⓒ Doctor Am
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