... Blink. Blink.
He lifted his heavy eyelids with difficulty.
His vision was blurry. The familiar sting of disinfectant pierced his nose.
The first thing to enter his sight was a white textured ceiling with square fluorescent lights embedded in it.
It wasn't the yellowed, peeling wallpaper of a semi-basement room.
Still groggy from the anesthesia wearing off, Gangcheol instinctively muttered that famous line he had seen and heard somewhere many times before.
[ An unfamiliar ceiling. ]
......No, actually, [it was a familiar ceiling]. Because in his previous life, he had visited the hospital more often than his own bedroom. It would be more accurate to say, "A damned familiar ceiling."
'Wait, did I... survive?'
The memory of the moment he was hit by the truck flashed by like a reel of film. Horrible pain, the taste of blood, and the blue system window he had seen at the end.
"Patient? Can you hear me?"
"Blood pressure normal, pulse normal! Consciousness is returning!"
Urgent voices reached his ears as if floating up through the surface of water.
Gangcheol slowly turned his head.
Several doctors and nurses in white gowns were staring down at him as if trying to bore holes through him. Their expressions were closer to shock than relief, like people who had seen a corpse in a funeral parlor sit bolt upright.
"Oh my god... he really woke up."
"Look at his vital signs. Does this make any sense? He was crushed by a 25-ton truck?"
Gangcheol swallowed dryly and opened his mouth. His throat was parched.
"This... is a hospital...?"
"Yes, this is the emergency room at Seongmo Hospital. Do you remember? There was an accident at the crosswalk."
The doctor shone a penlight and checked his pupillary response. A sharp-featured doctor in his mid-thirties. Gangcheol recognized him at a single glance. It was exactly that attending physician who had delivered the death sentence to him in his previous life: "Unfortunately, your playing career is over."
Gangcheol blinked and assessed the situation.
He was alive. And he had awakened.
Then the most important thing was... my legs?
He focused all his nerves on his legs beneath the blanket.
If his previous life's memories were correct, by now his legs should have been crushed beyond recognition. The hellish pain that came as the anesthesia wore off should have already begun.
Flinch.
He tried moving his right big toe.
It moved. Very smoothly.
This time, he rotated his ankle.
A stabbing pain? A stiff, foreign sensation?
There was nothing. Like a freshly oiled new machine, the joint rotated smoothly.
No, they felt even lighter than before the accident. From his toes to his thighs, blood surged powerfully, like a highway that had been completely cleared of a traffic jam.
'It's real. The System... that last message was real.'
[Hidden Quest Completion Reward: Physical Restore (Physical Restore)]
The message he had seen just before losing consciousness flashed through his mind.
Gangcheol bit his lip to suppress his surging emotions. He wanted to kick off the blankets and tap-dance right away, but doing that now would get him treated like a lunatic. He began acting like an 11-year-old.
"Doctor... my legs... are they okay? They really hurt..."
He asked in a deliberately tearful voice.
At that, the doctor scratched his head as if troubled. His expression showed he simply could not accept this.
"That's the thing... it's really bizarre. The paramedics clearly reported your legs were crushed under the truck wheels, you know? Your pants were all torn up and covered in blood."
The doctor tilted his head as he flipped through the chart.
"But looking at the X-rays and CT results we just took... you're perfectly fine."
"Perfectly fine?"
"Yes. Not a single crack in the bones. The ligaments are strong too. Aside from some abrasions and bruising, there isn't a single broken bone anywhere. Should I call this a miracle, or did the paramedics all collectively hallucinate..."
The nurses standing behind the doctor also whispered among themselves.
"When he came in earlier, he was definitely in shock..."
"It's ridiculous. It was a 25-ton truck. Even a graze would cause serious injuries."
Gangcheol cheered internally.
The System's reward was certain. It wasn't simply at the level of stitching wounds closed; it had reconstructed his body into a state as if the accident had never happened—no, into an even more perfect state.
'My body... is light.'
He could tell even while just lying in bed.
The chronic fatigue, arthritis, and knotted muscles that had tormented him in his previous life had completely vanished. Every single cell in his body seemed to be shouting, "Hurry, I want to run!" This was the 'optimal body' capable of letting talent bloom.
"For now, let's move you to a ward and monitor your progress. There could be aftereffects later."
At the doctor's order, the bed began to move.
From the moving bed, Gangcheol gazed at the [unfamiliar ceiling] and clenched his fist.
A second life.
This time, he was not a crippled, third-rate player.
With this perfect body, he would stand at the peak of the world.
And this time, he would absolutely not live like a pushover.
It was not a regular ward, but a VIP suite.
He learned later that upon hearing the news of the accident, the LK Group secretariat had called the hospital and ordered, "He is the savior of the child's life, so put him in the finest room available."
Lying in a spacious private room bed, Gangcheol stared blankly into the air.
To others, he would have seemed spaced out, but right now, a translucent holographic window was floating before his eyes.
[ Name: Ma Gangcheol (Age 11) ]
[ Affiliation: Unaffiliated (Haeseong Elementary School, 5th Grade) ]
[ Position: MF / FW (All-Rounder) ]
[ Physical Condition: Optimal Condition (Growth Plates Open) ]
[ Stats (Republic of Korea U-12 Standard) ]
- Strength: A-
- Agility: A
- Stamina: B+
- Soccer Intelligence: S+ (Veteran's Memory / Unmeasurable)
- Technique:
* Brain Simulation: S+ (Pro Level)
* Physical Realization: A
- Mental: S+ (Pro Level)
[ Special Notes ]
: Your physical abilities are top-tier (A) by 'elementary school student' standards, but your brain demands the movements of an 'adult pro (S+)'.
Due to this gap, your physical balance may collapse when attempting advanced techniques. (Current Synchronization Rate: 15%)
"......Hoo."
Gangcheol curled up the corner of his mouth.
The status window's numbers were quite satisfactory. No, at this level, it was a broken character.
'All A's... as expected, it really was the talent that Real Madrid drooled over. The System made my body brand new, and top-tier at that.'
An A-rank by Korean U-12 standards. This meant he was virtually a 'Lu Bu' at the neighborhood soccer level. It meant that no matter how much guys like Park Min-su flew around, they wouldn't stand a chance against him physically.
But Gangcheol's gaze was fixed on the [Special Notes] section.
[Software Overload]
[Gap between Brain (S+) and Body (A)]
'So... my body is indeed the latest sports car, but my head is trying to run at F1 machine speed.'
Gangcheol wiggled his ankle on the bed.
In his mind, he perfectly imagined floating the ball into the air and performing an 'Elastico.' The angle of the ankle break, the spring in the knees, the upper body feint movements—all replayed at 100 frames per second.
But when he actually put strength into his leg, he felt a subtle sense of wrongness.
The muscles of an 11-year-old were excellent, but they weren't yet mature enough to endure the 'explosive impact' that the soul of a 35-year-old remembered.
'The hardware isn't bad. The problem is the software is too high-spec.'
Gangcheol smiled bitterly.
An ordinary person would have rejoiced, "Wow! A-rank!" but he was a 35-year-old uncle who had already tasted the peak and fallen to the very bottom. There was no way he could be satisfied with an elementary school level A-rank.
'I have to narrow this gap. To execute what's in my head at 100%, I need to make my body stronger.'
Still, a hopeful phrase caught his eye.
[Growth Plates Open].
These six characters made his heart pound.
In his previous life, his height had stopped at 173cm. Due to his small stature for a soccer player, he had constantly been pushed around in physical battles. But this time was different. If he ate well, slept well, and trained systematically with the System's help, 185cm—or maybe even more—might be possible.
'Just you wait. If my physique can just keep up... Ronaldo? Messi? Bring them all on.'
That was when.
A commotion was heard from outside the hospital room door.
It wasn't the noise of ordinary visitors. The sound of orderly leather shoes, radio static. And a heavy presence filled the hallway.
Knock, knock.
With a knock, the hospital room door opened.
Large bodyguards in black suits entered and lined up on both sides.
And between them, an elderly gentleman with white hair slicked back walked in.
A face he had only ever seen on the news.
Lee Dae-su, Chairman of LK Group, ranked second in the Korean business world.
The paternal grandfather of 'Lee Min-ji,' the child Gangcheol had saved.
"Are you... the little hero who saved my granddaughter?"
Chairman Lee Dae-su's eyes were fierce. The pressure of a corporate titan who had been through countless trials. An ordinary elementary school student would have frozen up, unable to speak.
But Gangcheol's soul was 35 years old. He had been through every kind of ordeal imaginable—land, sea, air, and underwater—and came from a rock-bottom life with nothing left to lose. He had no reason to be intimidated.
Gangcheol got down from the bed and gave a deep bow. As politely as possible, but without servility. His eyes met the chairman's directly.
"Hello, Chairman. My name is Ma Gangcheol."
"Huh...?"
Chairman Lee's eyebrows twitched.
He had expected the child to whine about the pain or hide behind his parents, but this brat overflowed with composure, as if treating an equal adult.
"How are your legs? I heard it was a major accident."
"Yes, fortunately my parents gave me strong bones. Aside from some bruises, I'm perfectly fine. I even wolfed down a bowl of rice."
When Gangcheol vigorously rotated his arm to show him, Chairman Lee's stern expression finally relaxed, and he burst into hearty laughter.
"Well, well, what a plucky lad. Yes, thank you. Thank you so much. You saved my one and only granddaughter."
"I merely did what was natural. When a child is in danger, where is there time to be punching away at a calculator?"
Chairman Lee was startled. 'Calculator.' That wasn't a word that should come from an 11-year-old's mouth. But somehow, those words resonated deeply in his heart.
"Yes... what was natural... you did something that even adults find hard to do."
Chairman Lee pulled an envelope from his breast pocket. It wasn't a blank check, but judging by the thickness, the amount was clearly astronomical.
"This is modest, but it is my sincerity. Give it to your parents. And if you need anything, tell me. Do you want to study abroad? Or a bigger house?"
For an ordinary child, this would have been the moment to say "Wow, money!" or "Buy me a game console!"
But Gangcheol politely pushed the envelope back.
"Chairman, I will gratefully accept only your sentiments."
"Do you dislike money?"
"No, I like money. I need money to buy teddy-bear pork cutlets. But I don't want to bargain with a life."
Chairman Lee's eyes widened. The chief secretary standing beside him also gulped. Gangcheol smirked and drove in the wedge. Now was the opportunity. The opportunity to make this titan before him his certain backer.
"Instead, I have one request."
"A request?"
"I play a bit of soccer. Quite well, actually. But soccer costs a lot of money. You have to buy equipment, eat meat, and so on."
Gangcheol spoke with sparkling, clear eyes. On the outside, he was an innocent boy, but inside sat a sly old fox of a man.
"Until I become the best player in Korea, please be my 'steadfast fan.' Not an envelope of money, but as a proper sponsor."
Chairman Lee was speechless for a moment.
The child before him, beyond being bold, possessed the caliber of a great man. Instead of taking a lump sum immediately, he calculated to make the massive backdrop of LK Group his own ally. This was not the intelligence of an 11-year-old. He had the makings of a hero for turbulent times.
"Kwahahaha!"
Chairman Lee burst into laughter that threatened to blow the hospital room away.
"Splendid! I like you very much! From today, I shall be your number one fan. I will assign the LK Sports Science Team to you exclusively. Until you become a national team player and lift the World Cup! I shall take responsibility for supporting you!"
[System Notification]
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: 'He Who Stole the Heart of a Conglomerate Chairman']
- Reward: Reliable Backing (S-Rank), Financial Support (Unlimited)
Gangcheol cheered internally.
"Done. No more worrying about money or connections. I just need to focus on training."
After the chairman left, the hospital room door burst open as his mother, Lady Bak Yeongsuk, rushed inside.
"Gangcheol! My baby! Where are you!"
"Mom..."
His mother ran to the bed and hugged Gangcheol tightly.
The scent of his mother wafted thickly through the smell of antiseptic. Tears blurred his vision.
In his previous life, he had sobbed in these same arms, saying, "I'm sorry, my legs won't move." Back then, he had heard the sound of his mother's heart tearing apart.
But this time was different.
"Let me see! Are your legs okay? What did the doctor say? Do you need surgery?"
His mother turned pale and kicked off the blanket.
Gangcheol's two legs were revealed. Aside from a few bruises remaining like badges of honor, they were perfectly intact and stretched out straight.
"Huh...?"
His mother touched his legs with a blank expression.
"Does it hurt?"
"No, it tickles."
"What about here? Are the bones okay?"
"Mom, I've got thick bones. A truck hit me, but the truck was the one that got dented, remember?"
Gangcheol got down from the bed and jumped in place as if to show off.
He even squatted down and wiggled his hips.
Only then did large teardrops begin to fall from his mother's eyes.
"Oh my... Thank you, God, Buddha... I feel like I've truly gained ten years of life..."
His mother sank to the floor and burst into tears.
Gangcheol went behind his mother and massaged her shoulders with his small hands.
It was not the touch of an eleven-year-old child. It was the skilled technique of a son on his second time through life, as if he were comforting her with, "Madam, you've had it rough."
"Mom, stop crying. I'm perfectly fine. And I have good news, too."
"Good news?"
"The secretary said earlier that the kid I saved is the granddaughter of a really rich family. He's going to pay all the treatment and hospital bills. And he said he might be able to help me play soccer, too?"
Gangcheol grinned and leaned against the bed rail, starting to stretch.
The refreshing feeling of his hamstrings pulling taut.
*Gurgle—*
His stomach growled at the perfect time. As the tension faded, an intense hunger surged. It seemed the system had used up every bit of energy to restore his body.
"You're hungry, right? Should Mom go buy something?"
His mother stood up, grabbing her wallet.
The sight of her forcing a smile with wet eyes was heartbreaking.
"There's a convenience store under the hospital. Should I buy you cup ramen and hot bars? You said you wanted a hamburger."
This was a menu that the usual eleven-year-old Ma Gangcheol would have cheered for.
Ramen broth full of MSG, greasy hot bars, cola. Just imagining it made his mouth water.
But the soul of thirty-five-year-old Ma Gangcheol was in control.
'Are you crazy? This body is in an initialized state. It's clean like a blank sheet. Pouring instant garbage into it is like putting cooking oil in a supercar.'
Gangcheol shook his head firmly.
"No."
"Huh? You love ramen."
"Mother, do you know how much sodium is in cup ramen? It's ninety percent of the daily recommended intake. It's the main culprit that hinders calcium absorption in growing children and weakens bones."
"...What?"
His mother's eyes went wide. She had an expression that wondered if something had happened to his head when he was hit by the car.
"Hamburgers are out, too. Trans fat blocks blood vessels. Right now, muscle recovery and bone density strengthening are urgent priorities for me."
"Th-then what are you going to eat?"
Gangcheol declared with a solemn expression.
"Do they happen to sell anchovy noodle soup in the hospital cafeteria?"
"Anchovy noodles?"
"Yes. With broth very richly brewed from anchovy stock. Remove the anchovy guts. I need calcium. And do they have pan-fried tofu instead of kimchi? I need to supplement plant protein, too."
Lady Bak Yeongsuk looked down at her son with a dumbfounded expression.
He was definitely her son, Ma Gangcheol, but the words coming out of his mouth were exactly like Old Man Kim from the senior center next door.
"Ah, and please buy one milk on your way back. Low-fat. Regular milk has too much fat."
Gangcheol cracked his neck left and right on the bed, making popping sounds.
"Ugh... That hits the spot. Stretching really is the best."
His mother let out a hollow laugh.
She was relieved he was healthy and uninjured, but it seemed the child had matured in a rather strange direction. Had he grown up too early when he collided with the truck?
"Alright, I got it. Our son needs to eat anchovy noodles and get strong bones. I'll be right back."
His mother left the hospital room.
Left alone, Gangcheol approached the window.
Beyond the glass pane was the hospital garden, and far in the distance, the school playground.
Children were running around kicking a ball.
Gangcheol tapped his own thigh.
"Just wait."
He looked at his young face reflected in the window and grinned.
"With this body, I'll rewrite history."