Shooting Trajectory is Visible - Chapter 48



Only Krnovel

Ten days have already passed since I officially started participating in the team’s training.

I devoted all my time, except for training or exercise, to studying German. My German teacher, funny enough, was also Sophie.

“I’m the only one in the club who speaks Korean and German well. I’ll teach you well! I also taught myself Korean, so I know how hard it is to learn a foreign language!”

“Uh… Sophie?”

“yes!”

“Sophie, don’t you have a job that you normally do at the club?”

“The position has changed! I was originally in the marketing department, but I guess the club was reluctant to hire a new employee for Kim!”

Ah. So you’re saying that you’re going to run the ones that are already there? After all, it’s not like the existing departments won’t run because Sophie is gone, right?

‘This is definitely a good Korean company…’

Is it no different from Germany?

No. Now that it’s our club, let’s decide that we should manage it efficiently.

“Kim. You know the alphabet, right?”

“Of course. I can communicate in English, too. Just a little bit.”

“German is similar to English! Okay, slowly. Step by step. I’ll teach you from the very basics.”

After ten days of studying, I learned how to read German. It’s just the beginning, so I still have a long way to go, but at least I’ve memorized a few football-related terms.

“Stick!”

“Stop it!”

“far!”

“Hit him!”

It was a word shouted at defenders almost all the time. Why are you shouting ‘hit’ at defenders when you’re not even an attacker?

Sometimes, when you guys build up with each other and watch from below, you get so anxious that you shout like that. If you get taken away like that, it’s a disaster.

Besides, this is Germany, a country synonymous with oppression.

“Good job everyone!”

And the practice match is over.

1:0 win.

I entered the game beating out the existing sub-sub goalkeepers.

I think it was the director’s intention.

Since I had already recruited him, I thought about how useful he would be, but after the game was over and I thought about it carefully, it reminded me of the time I was at Suyang High School.

‘Even back then, everyone tried to dissuade me, but Yoo Jin-ho was the only one who was obsessed with me and hired me. I still smell that a little bit.’

By the way, I wonder what Suyang High School is doing now. Kim Jun-young will probably make his pro debut, even if it’s not right away. I hope to see him at the stadium again.

[You finished the match without conceding a goal in a Bundesliga 2nd division practice match. As a reward, your ‘Stamina’ increases by 3.]

[‘Stamina’ increases by 3.]

[‘GK Speed’ increases by 2.]

[‘GK Diving’ increases by 2.]

[The current player’s stats are very low compared to the league. The stat improvement rate due to the correction will increase more than before. However, if the stats rise above a certain level or increase, the improvement rate will decrease.]

Another reward bomb was dropped on me as I finished the game with a shutout.

A whopping ten stats in a practice match!

Considering that even if you train hard, your stats will drop by 1-2, there is nothing that gives you as much stat boost as actual combat.

In addition, my already high stat improvement rate increased even more after signing with Hannover. As expected, my stats are really low compared to the players here.

If this is how it is in practice matches, I wonder how much it will come in an actual match. Just imagining it makes my mouth water.

“Kim! Nice play. Nice play.”

The center back wearing a fluorescent vest hugs me, drenched in sweat. I’m really happy that he’s showing off his skills even though he doesn’t usually act friendly.

Is it exactly like Go Young-jun?

Even the fact that he is so full of lies is like Go Young-jun, and even his name is···.

‘Youngjunshichi, Youngjunshichi, I just thought to myself that I should laugh, but I never thought I’d see a real Shichi here…’

The name of this guy, who was the center back of the fluorescent vest team and secretly gave off a Ko Young-jun vibe, was Dominik Korsic.

Like Ivan Perisic, who plays for Tottenham, he is from Croatia.

He is 28 years old. His role in the club is that of a stopgap player. If there is a leak somewhere or a situation arises where he needs to step in, Corsic is put into the game.

As a third-option defender within the club, he takes advantage of opportunities when regular players get injured.

‘Your situation is similar to mine. Of course, your situation looks much better than mine.’

What kind of situation would have to arise for me to be put into the game?

First of all, starting goalkeeper and captain Chiller must be injured.

And the 2nd and 3rd option goalkeepers also had to lie down with food poisoning and a virus, respectively.

Only then will my opportunity come to me.

And that kind of situation doesn’t come up very often.

That is, it means that you have to somehow get recognized by the director for your skills and move up.

You shouldn’t hope for luck.

‘It’s one thing to be recognized for your skills, but in the end, luck is on your side. I can only play if there are unavoidable circumstances that prevent us from using our starting goalkeeper. Or if Chiller’s skills suddenly drop drastically and we concede three goals per game.’

And even in such a situation, he must be selected over other existing sub goalkeepers.

In a word, it means that we must do better than we are doing now.

To be honest, I feel lost.

‘It’s okay. Let’s take a long look. My soccer life is just beginning.’

I never thought about becoming a starting player from the beginning. If I just quietly do what I have to do today and what I have to do tomorrow, the opportunity will definitely come.

There’s no rush, so let’s take our time and do what we have to do.

*

“Kim!”

I was cycling at the indoor training ground when Corsic came up to me and was friendly.

We spoke to each other in English, but I smiled and chatted with Corsic, as I felt like I had a friend who approached me first at the club.

‘Come to think of it. I guess it’s time to pick a running mate.’

It would be a loss to stay like this without a running mate. If you train together, your growth efficiency increases more.

And I glanced at Corsic riding his bike next to me.

‘···Should I do it with this guy?’

The special Quick Accuracy Kick can now be used even if you are not a running mate. This means that you do not necessarily need to have a running mate with a forward.

Of course, it would be nice to have a striker on the team, but I feel more attached to this guy. Our situations are similar.

Besides, there were no close players in the club yet. Excluding Korsic, who I became close with this time, the only one I knew was Ken Muramoto?

However, Muramoto seemed to take care of me rather than being friendly. He would take care of me when he saw me…

‘Of course, if you approach them first, they will treat you well, but they won’t buy your favor.’

If you compare him to Suyang High School, he feels like Seungwoo Han or Seungmin Lim? Plus, Muramoto is the starting right back, so it’s hard for a slacker like me to approach him.

“Kim! Kim!”

Corsic speaks again with a smile.

In that bright smile, Go Young-jun’s face was visible.

So I just pointed to my running mate. Last time I matched up with the attacker, so this time I’ll match up with the defender.

I think it’ll be secretly fun.

[Center back position ‘Dominik Korsic’ is designated as the running mate. From now on, ‘Dominik Korsic’ will be assigned the role of a substitute player.]

[Semi-players are granted a growth efficiency of approximately 30% compared to players.]

[If you are no longer on the same team as your running mate, your running mate designation will be canceled.]

[Playing with a running mate grants an additional 5% growth.]

[Training with a running mate grants an additional 5% growth.]

[Running mate ‘Dominik Korsic’ gains the trait ‘Football Intelligence’.]

Just like when Kim Jun-young was first pointed out, countless message bombs are pouring in.

Since I had experienced it once, I checked the characteristics that Corsic had acquired.

[Characteristic: Soccer Intelligence]

[Description: Defensive sense increases.]

[Effect: Defensive Sense Stat +5]

==

‘Oh?’

You’re giving me ‘5’ in stats?

Is it because you’re a pro?

Certainly, there is a big difference in stats compared to Kim Jun-young’s time.

I also checked the stats of Bundesliga 2nd division players, something I had been curious about.

[Dominique Corsic]

– Stamina: 95

-Stamina: 94

[Details]

Location: 73

Dribble: 75

Pass: 85

Determination: 79

Kick Power: 88

Heading: 96

Defensive Sense: 99

Interception: 91

Speed: 92

Agility: 93

Balance Control: 95

Body fight: 97

– Trait: Football Intelligence

Opposite foot accuracy: 2/5

Height: 188 cm

Weight: 90 kg

Dominant foot: Right foot

==

The moment I checked Corsic’s stats, my mouth dropped open.

What is this? Is this it?

Comparing to the stats seen in the game, Corsic’s stats were almost like those of soccer legends.

There was a monster like this in Part 2? And even with these stats, he was beaten so easily throughout the game?

I felt a sense of disconnect, but I racked my brain to regain my composure.

‘Reality isn’t a game. The stats I know and the stats in Football Manager are different.’

Okay. Let’s think about it carefully. Kim Jun-young’s stats were in the 50s to 60s. My stats, which I saw at first, ranged from 10 to 40.

If you think about it that way, the puzzle is solved.

Corsic is a professional player, and he plays for a second-tier team, the Bundesliga.

At best, even high school students who are considered to be good at ball-playing can score in the 50s or 60s, so it is theoretically possible for a Bundesliga 2nd division pro to have stats in the 90s.

But when I think about it like that, I feel even more miserable now.

‘When will I be able to eat 40~50 main dishes···.’

Stats aren’t everything, but mine were too low. If I had stats like Corsic…

‘Even now, I’m having a hard time blocking the Hannover first team, but what if I had those stats?’

I’m really going to Munich.

“Ouch, Kim. My legs are going to burst. Can you keep up the pace?”

Corsic, unaware of the circumstances, laughs and taps my thigh.

I smiled and nodded.

“I’m so far behind, I have to work hard.”

“Huh? What did you say? Speak English. No Korean.”

“Hard training. Hard training···.”

“OK.”

I gritted my teeth and cycled.

[Training hard. GK Kick increases by 1.]

***

Sophie Riva watched Kim work out from a distance. Since her temporary change of position, she has become Kim’s bodyguard.

In fact, when Kim was training, she had enough free time to do something else for a while, but she insisted on watching him train. Every time.

And the conclusion is.

‘He’s so sincere. He’s truly Korean.’

If you go to European communities that admire Korea and Koreans, you will occasionally see posts that look down on Korean men.

Sophie also likes Korea and K-pop, but she has never met a Korean man, so she was skeptical and curious about what real Korean men were like.

‘What if he really is a bad person like the community says?’

There are bad people in every country. I also don’t think all Koreans are as handsome and good-natured as the actors in movies and dramas.

So, Sophie watched Kim with interest, pretending not to care, for over ten days.

And the Kim Sophie saw fit the ideal Korean she had been hoping for.

‘Honest. Kind. Polite. Handsome···.’

Kim’s ambition for success is so strong that he is drenched in sweat during every training session and accepts the coaches’ training instructions without complaint.

‘If you can dance and sing well, you’re an idol.’

Sophie Riva gulped and secretly looked at Kim. But then.

“What are you doing here?”

“Whoa!?”

When I looked back, it was the manager. Jan Rytl, manager of Hannover 96.

“Oh, hello, director!”

“Sophie. Have you been watching Kim? Is he doing well?”

“Ah, yes. Hehe···.”

“Is that part of the job?”

Sophie shook her head.

“It’s just a sense of duty. I’ve been guiding Kim since he came to get his medical test. But now I’ve become his German teacher, his driver since he came alone without his parents, and I’ve been taking care of him so much that I think I’ve developed a kind of maternal instinct.”

Jan Light smiled and nodded.

“That’s not how people usually start falling in love.”

“H, huh!? No!”

“But if you look at her from behind, she looks exactly like a woman I have a crush on.”

“no.”

“Yes. She’s still a minor, so she’s hiding her feelings. When Kim becomes an adult, then you can go and confess to her. I don’t know if Kim will still be in Hanover by then.”

The director left, muttering something like that. I don’t know if he was muttering something or giving advice, but Sophie stood there for a moment, as if she was nailed to the spot.

“···I’m just interested because he’s the player I’m in charge of.”

And then he quickly left the place.

When my head is complicated, kimchi is the best.

Because when you eat spicy and healthy vegetables, you don’t have to think about anything.

She quickly left the training ground and imagined something like this. Imagine confessing her love unilaterally and Kim rejecting her, saying that she needs to focus more on soccer now and that it’s a burden.

‘Eww!’

It was terrifying just to imagine.

How awkward will things get between me and Kim?

You might lose the job you worked so hard to get because of embarrassment.

Sophie was moving quickly. She needed K-Food.

End

ⓒ Doctor Am

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