Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 28



Only Krnovel

Lim So-yeon came up alone from Changnyeong.

The way up was not easy.

Take an intercity bus, take subway line 1, take the KTX train, get off again, and take the subway again…

I could have taken a taxi instead of the train, but I didn’t want to splurge.

I used the same transportation as people in their 20s, and I felt an urgent need to get a driver’s license in the future.

“Whew. Don’t be nervous.”

Lim So-yeon knew the phone numbers of Kim Min-woo’s parents, whom she had to contact, but she didn’t want to approach them like that.

I wanted to approach it more sincerely than that.

So, the place that Im So-yeon arrived at was Suyang High School.

Kim Min-woo’s alma mater.

My heart raced as if I was going into the alma mater of the contracting party to get information, as if it were a scene from a spy movie, but I went in anyway.

But as soon as we passed through the school gates, an unexpected situation occurred.

“Excuse me? What business may I bring you?”

It was school security.

Although he was old, he was very wary of outsiders.

“Oh, I······ There’s someone here who’s looking for a student.”

“Are you looking for someone?”

“Yes. So I was going to stop by the teachers’ office…”

“Ah. Okay. Go in then.”

Lim So-yeon tilted her head and went into the school. Was it this easy to get through?

Lim So-yeon went up to the teachers’ office and asked the teachers sitting there to find Kim Min-woo’s homeroom teacher.

“Are you Kim Min-woo’s homeroom teacher?”

“···Yes? Yes. Who are you?”

The homeroom teacher was using PC KakaoTalk, but he quickly turned it off when Im So-yeon came.

“My name is Lim So-yeon, a scout from Suwon Sunyang Bluewings. Oh, I left my business card here.”

I didn’t want to look down on myself as an intern, so I intentionally didn’t bother to ask, but the teacher just said, “Oh, okay, I guess so.”

And then he immediately looks at Im So-yeon with eyes filled with interest.

“Suwon Sunyang Bluewings scout? So, are you a professional team scout?”

“Oh, yes. I would like to see Kim Min-woo’s student record. Can I see it?”

“Uh uh······.”

The homeroom teacher’s expression became thoughtful for a moment.

The teachers in the teachers’ office are all glancing this way.

The homeroom teacher thought for a long time and then shook his head.

“The living room is not open to outsiders. Minwoo has to come in person.”

“ah···.”

As expected, the real world was full of uncertainties and unknown elements. In this case, the reason for coming to my alma mater was quickly lost.

“Would you like to sit down for a moment?”

“······Huh? Oh, yes.”

“If you’re a scout, does that mean Minwoo will sign a pro contract?”

The homeroom teacher who had asked her to sit down asked Im So-yeon a question as soon as she sat down. Still, she seemed curious because she was his student.

“It’s not confirmed yet, but the club is reviewing it positively.”

Lim So-yeon answered calmly and professionally. She was just a rookie intern, but she had always dreamed of being like this during her school days.

“Oh… But is the student council trying to check attendance or something like that? Or bullying?”

“Yes, teacher. Attendance is important, but these days, if you have a record of school violence, it can affect your professional contract.”

In fact, it’s not just the obstacles.

These days, South Korea is very sensitive to school violence, so if there is even a little bit of a record left, it has become impossible to get a professional contract, and even to compete in high school competitions.

So before participating in the competition, high schools were always inspected by the soccer association to check for any delinquent students.

If players who have committed school violence sign professional contracts through the needle market, and as time passes and the public finds out about it, the team that signed the problematic player to a professional contract will be subject to a lot of criticism.

If that happens, the club will be shocked and say, “We didn’t know!” and just release the player.

If they have the skills, they may protect them until the end, but such cases are very rare, and even if they do happen, they will soon be sold to Southeast Asia or China for the sake of the club’s image.

Some may see it as harsh, but South Korea does not stay still even when it sees ‘evil.’

What goes around comes around. What goes around comes around. What goes around comes around.

If you ruin someone’s life, yours will be ruined too.

“Minwoo is not a bad kid. He’s quiet, kind, and good at studying… I was so surprised when he suddenly told me he was joining the soccer club.”

“Oh, weren’t you originally a soccer player?”

Lim So-yeon was surprised and asked back. The homeroom teacher looked at Lim So-yeon in even more surprise.

“Didn’t you know? Minwoo started playing soccer not long ago. This year, when was it? Was it in April?”

“···Yes? Starting in April?”

“yes.”

Lim So-yeon blinks her eyes stupidly.

What did you just hear?

“So, teacher, it’s been 4 months since Minwoo started playing soccer, or 3 months now?”

“That’s true in terms of number of times. But he’s already been offered a professional contract… Our Minwoo didn’t join the soccer club for nothing. He joined because he had his own beliefs. He’s already gotten a professional contract after only three months of starting soccer. Well, he’s not really talkative, but he’s really smart….”

The teacher chattered as if he had met his master. Im So-yeon remained silent and just nodded.

‘Oh my god. Is there such a thing?’

I thought it was a case of hard work that blossomed, but it turned out he was a genius. Like Lionel Messi…

“I can’t give you a life lesson, but I can tell you about Minwoo, so I’m telling you this, Scout Teacher.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.”

I didn’t get the vitality I was aiming for, but I was able to get some information. I don’t think it was a waste of time.

“So, is our Minwoo really signing a pro contract?”

“I can’t give you a definitive answer yet. Sorry.”

“Ah, yes···.”

Im So-yeon paused for a moment as she was about to leave. Then she opened her mouth to speak to the teacher.

“Um······ In your opinion, what kind of student is Minwoo?”

“Uh… Well, he’s not really talkative. He’s just an ordinary student.”

Kim Min-woo is an ordinary student.

Having only watched the game once, I couldn’t believe it, but I nodded.

“Or how about asking Minwoo’s younger sister? Minwoo has a younger sister.”

“Your younger sister?”

“Yes. I go to this school. My name is Kim Shin-ah and I’m a first-year student. The school festival is going on right now, so I’ll be in the auditorium.”

Lim So-yeon hesitated for a moment and left the teachers’ office, saying thank you.

‘What should I do?’

The worry didn’t last long. Since I was already at Kim Min-woo’s alma mater, it wouldn’t be difficult to ask his younger sister what kind of person her brother was.

I walked down the school hallway.

Occasionally, the few students left in the class would be chatting among themselves or playing on their cell phones.

When it comes to festivals, it’s usually expected that everyone will participate, but is it just a one-man show?

Of course, it didn’t matter. I asked the students to confirm the location of the auditorium and went in.

The auditorium was dark with all the lights off.

The only thing that was bright was the podium, and on the podium, some male students were rapping, as if they were taking turns performing on stage.

“Girlfriend number 2 likes hamsters. Girlfriend number 3 doesn’t like dogs. Because I remember being bitten by one when I was little···.”

“Girlfriend number 8 likes spicy soup. Girlfriend number 9 doesn’t like chocolate. My lips are sweeter!”

Students sitting closely together and cheering.

It was hard work to find Kim Shin-ah by asking around.

And finally, a student who knew Kim Shin-ah appeared.

“Are you a newbie? Oh, if you’re a newbie now… Oh! Over there!”

“yes?”

I raised my head at the female student’s scolding. The place her finger was pointing to was the stage on the podium.

There, naked girls were just coming up on stage.

“They’re next on Shina’s stage!”

“yes?”

Ah… Lim So-yeon realized what he meant and made an embarrassed expression.

The naked female students drew an enthusiastic response from the male students. The stage started with a thumping sound of music, and provocative gestures that made people frown appeared.

‘Minwoo said he doesn’t talk much, but is his younger sister’s personality the opposite?’

The naked children’s performance ended after two songs.

The female students, wearing see-through shorts and revealing tops, pulled their chests together between dance moves to openly provoke reactions or performed provocative dances that shook their pelvises, and Im So-yeon, who was watching, felt embarrassed.

‘Should I just go?’

I think it’s a bit rude to call someone over and ask them about their older brother while we’re having a festival.

As the time of contemplation grew longer, Kim Min-woo’s younger sister Kim Shin-ah came up on stage. Her outfit was very different from the previous stage.

With cat ears, colorful gloves, and even tails on top of their uniforms, there were six of them.

The reaction from the male students was good, but the reaction from the female students was unusual. They screamed as if their ears were going to burst as if they had seen an idol.

Lim So-yeon approached the female student earlier and asked again.

“Which one among them is student Kim Shin-ah?”

“Hey! Center!”

Although I couldn’t see it well because it was far away, I could clearly see a girl with distinct facial features and white skin standing in the center. She looked at least a hand taller than the students next to her.

And the music starts playing right away.

It was a familiar melody.

yet-

“Bo peep Bo peep Bo peep Oh······!”

“ah.”

Lim So-yeon gave a short exclamation of admiration.

It was a song that came out when I was in elementary school.

A song from 14 years ago.

Even these days, students perform this song.

I admired it with admiration.

It was cute to see the old idol song’s dance after a long time.

***

The quarterfinals are over.

Yoon Tae-yoon couldn’t sit still, so he jumped up and walked around the stands.

The score is 1:0.

Suyang High School caught a big fish, contrary to expectations.

‘Sure. We have to sign a contract. This guy is a pro.’

Is this how a treasure hunter feels when he discovers a sparkling treasure?

The problem is, I didn’t discover the treasure alone.

Right now, only four teams are showing interest, but with this level of star power, word of mouth will spread in no time.

‘If we finish before the end of the competition, we will have three competitors, but if we drag it out, we will have to compete with all the K-League clubs.’

And will Suwon Shenyang Bluewings be able to sign Kim Min-woo despite the love calls from all those clubs?

No matter how he looked at it, Yoon Tae-yoon was skeptical.

Suwon Shenyang was in a total mess this season.

They were currently at the bottom of the rankings and there were no major changes showing, so if things continued like this, they would almost certainly be relegated.

Last year, the team barely managed to escape relegation, but this year was no different.

Even though I survived tenaciously, my life was extended, and I was still at the crossroads of life and death.

A super rookie like this joins a team that is on the verge of relegation?

‘It’ll be hard to get past this competition and get a stamp. But···.’

What if you signed the contract before the rumor got out?

There was also a bargaining chip.

If a team is going to be relegated anyway and go under, wouldn’t they come over if they gave this super rookie a guaranteed appearance contract?

And what if we add a special clause that allows him to be released on a free transfer in case of relegation?

And what if we include a special clause stating that the club will not hold back when a love call comes from overseas?

‘I don’t have the authority to negotiate, but if I try hard enough, it’s possible.’

Player negotiations are a matter for the front office to decide.

Although the scouts were part of the front, they did not have the authority to insert special provisions for Yoon Tae-yoon.

That was a matter for the higher-ups to decide, and for him, simply bringing the super rookie into the negotiating table was a success.

‘First of all, approach Kim Min-woo today.’

Yoon Tae-yoon hurried out of the stadium and got into his car. When the Suyang High School bus leaves the stadium, he will chase after it and meet the coach again.

And I have to request an exclusive interview with Kim Min-woo.

But before that.

Toururur-

First, I called Im So-yeon.

It is necessary to look at how the process is progressing.

After a brief connection sound, Im So-yeon was connected.

“Soyeon-ah. What happened? Did you contact the players’ parents?”

-Yes. I’d like to contact you now.

“······Huh? What? You’re making contact now?”

-yes.

He’s suddenly using formal language again.

No, more than that, what does this mean?

It’s been a few days since you came up and now you’re contacting me?

“What have you been doing?”

-I went to goalkeeper Kim Min-woo’s alma mater and talked to the teacher to see if there were any problems. I also met his younger sister and double-checked to see if there were any problems with the contract.

“what?”

I felt something bubbling up in that moment. Was this what the Director of the Power Reinforcement Room felt when he saw me?

“Soyeon-ah. Why are you doing something I didn’t ask you to do? Didn’t I tell you to contact your parents first?”

-You need to check in advance before contacting···.

“hey!”

A scream that came out without me knowing.

Yoon Tae-yoon counted to three times that he could endure it.

Lim So-yeon is an intern, the chairman’s beloved daughter, and a close cousin from childhood.

Phew······.

“Sorry for yelling. Then go see your parents right now. Okay?”

-···Yes. Did I make a mistake?

A voice that is full of dead grass.

Yoon Tae-yoon quickly shook his head.

“No. You did well. Can you do it by yourself? Should I send someone to help you?”

-Oh, no. I can do it.

In fact, there is no one who can attach it to me. If I ask the director for support, I will get scolded again.

All you can do is believe that you will do well.

“okay.”

After hanging up the phone and letting out a long sigh, Yoon Tae-yoon chased after Suyang High School’s bus.

This side was busy too.

After following it for a while, the bus finally stopped and it seemed like we had arrived at the base camp.

The players get off in droves, and the manager and coaches also get off.

Yoon Tae-yoon also quickly got off and ran to the director.

“Director!”

The coach knew about it because we had met once before after the round of 16.

“Uh, yes. What’s up?”

The players passed by and looked at Yoon Tae-yoon as if they were looking at a curious animal. Yoon Tae-yoon approached the coach and whispered.

“I’m talking about goalkeeper Kim Min-woo. Can I have an exclusive conversation with you?”

Then director Yoo Jin-ho smiles brightly.

As if they had been waiting for this situation.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am

=======================================================