I Became a World-Class Striker Episode 6
Chang-ryong, Let’s Admit It
We beat Seoul.
And 2:1 at that.
Honestly, it made no sense. No matter what they say about a ball being round. Suwon FC, which had only just been promoted, beat FC Seoul, last season’s runners-up? If someone had placed a bet on Sports Toto, they definitely would’ve cursed up a storm.
Why the hell would you bet on Suwon FC of all teams? Stupid.
But a miracle happened. Yeah, that seemed like the easiest way to put it. Me, I Chang-ryong, who had been warming the bench forever, scored the opener, and in a dramatic equalizer situation, Bak Chan-seong turned the game around with a diving header....
Even for an unscripted drama, isn’t this too much?
“Woooooah!”
“I Chang-ryong! I Chang-ryong!”
“Thank you, Player I Chang-ryong!”
“…….”
Still.
My heart raced at those sounds coming from the exit as I left. Honestly... until now, whenever I went to and from matches, all I heard was endless cursing.
But today was different. Thank you, I’m grateful, you’re the best. Words close to high praise poured out, and since I’m only human, my chest trembled for no reason and the corners of my stupid lips twitched.
‘MOM, huh.’
1 goal, 1 assist.
Plus, a dramatic match against Seoul. In this game, I was chosen as the Round 1 MOM. And in K League 1 at that. K League 1!! Isn’t that amazing?
‘People call it the gay league, but it’s still Korea’s top league. And in a place like that, me... ahh.’
I hoped that if it were a dream, I wouldn’t wake up, but at the same time, I was afraid.
Actually....
Thwack! Thwack!
“Chang-ryong! You punk, that resourceful run you made was impressive, huh? See? You trained hard.”
“Coach, that’s....”
“Yeah, I knew you’d make it. Yeah. Hahaha.”
‘A mistake... into a coincidence... ugh.’
Thwack! Thwack!
“M-my back hurts....”
“Because you’re pretty! Because you’re pretty! Heheheh!”
“…….”
It was a situation where mistakes and coincidence overlapped. There was absolutely no guarantee such situations would keep happening. But people didn’t see it as a mistake or coincidence.
Especially for today’s assist, they praised it as a “masterful first-touch skill.” Moreover.
“When I made a mistake, Chang-ryong told me to trust only him. That he’d somehow make it work.”
“Ahh!”
“And I felt it. When Chang-ryong was toying with the opponent and running down the line, I thought: This is it! The chance is here!”
“There was such an episode?”
“Yes. Chang-ryong doesn’t say empty words. He really created the chance, and I eventually made up for my mistake. Actually... Chang-ryong, who won today’s MOM, should have been the one giving this interview instead....”
“No, there are so many fans who want to see Bak Chan-seong, who scored the dramatic winner.”
“Is that so? Haha. Anyway, I’m grateful to Chang-ryong. I got to make my first goal of the season too, and I’m so happy today. Chang-ryong, I love you!”
Bak Chan-seong had gone and given that interview.
Thanks to that, I had become a player extremely popular with Suwon FC fans, receiving cheers as I went outside, and the gazes of the team members had changed a bit too. Especially....
Tap-
“I Chang-ryong. I’m seeing you in a new light.”
“Huh?”
“Chan-seong, I mean. Honestly, after he made that mistake, he was so discouraged on the pitch it was problematic. But you created that chance for him. That consideration for a teammate. I... honestly, I was moved.”
‘Huh?’
Midfielder Yang Hyeok, twitching his mustache with reddening eyes, said that. That hyung who had been looking at me like he couldn’t wait to devour me until before the match, now that the match was over... how should I put it... was radiating thick camaraderie as he squeezed my shoulder. It was awkward and unnecessarily embarrassing.
“I-it’s only natural. We’re a team.”
I said that, but.
“You punk... till the end.... You really are a good guy. Hmph. I’m weak to this kind of thing.”
“…….”
For some reason he liked it even more. And he acted even friendlier, saying, ‘But earlier in the match, you know. After you scored, when you said there was no time for celebration, that was cool. Can I use that line later too? Huh?’
“Chang-ryong! I was grateful too! That cross was really sharp!”
“Haha. I knew it since the promotion playoffs. I Chang-ryong, this guy’s a late-bloomer type footballer. I saw it right away.”
“Ooh. Bak Won-u, really?”
“Of course! My two eyes are accurate.”
‘I think those eyes are wrong....’
Not only that, but Bak Chan-seong and Bak Won-u, who had given interviews, joined forces to try and spin stories. What should I call it... were they trying hard to strike up another conversation with me? We weren’t this close before... I’d never received this kind of attention within the team before....
“You punks... the atmosphere is good. Heheheh.”
“I hope we keep cruising like this, Coach. Honestly, I was worried when Jason left, but I’m relieved that Chang-ryong seems to be filling that gap.”
“Haha. Chang-ryong’s skills are blossoming this time. I always believed in him.”
‘Even the coach and the coaches... everyone is looking at me with such warm, pleased expressions....’
It was a situation born from deep misunderstandings and coincidences piled up, so it was awkward and embarrassing for no reason. But still... this kind of attention... maybe it’s not bad? Thanks to that, strength entered my shoulders for no reason.
“Ahem. Let’s do our best in the next match too. We still have a long way to go.”
“As expected... Chang-ryong is already looking at the next match.”
“Well, I had a feeling you’d be like that.”
‘I was just spewing empty words like some self-help philosophy.... Don’t read too much into it.’
I... must have been really hungry for this kind of attention. Yeah, what the hell is life anyway. Might as well enjoy the good things while they last.
That’s what I thought.
Not knowing the future.
* * *
-Jackpot! I Chang-ryong! I Chang-ryong!
-Finally getting your chance... you were working that hard.
-He seemed to be grinning his teeth lately. The first goal was good and the assist was great too!
-Lol everyone who said I Chang-ryong would flop has shut their mouths?
-Honestly he was a weekly-wage parasite who wouldn’t have had room to complain even if he flopped.
-Don’t be too harsh! Malicious comments are fatal to players!
-Whatever, it’s better to train more than read this stuff.
-Player I Chang-ryong was really cool yesterday. Player Bak Chan-seong was great too!
-Yesterday I was so excited I couldn’t sleep. Suwon FC fighting!!
When I open my eyes in the morning, I’m curious about last night.
What news will come up today?
Humming a song roughly like that, I checked my smartphone in the dormitory, and the spotlight shone on me more brilliantly than I thought.
“This... is burdensome.”
Everyone ran hard, and honestly I... just got lucky. I wanted to enjoy the brief victory for a moment, but soon the heavy weight of attention pressed down on my shoulders.
‘Up until yesterday it was good... but opening my eyes, I have to face reality.’
In the end, I let out a small sigh and quickly changed my clothes.
“Haah....”
“Going out already?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn... you’re so hardworking.... Aren’t you sore?”
‘I am sore, man.’
One of the players sharing the room asked, but I nodded and moved my feet. I would do recovery training and wrap up later, but I felt like I had to move my body for some reason. Nothing intense; just some stretching.
Trudging out of the accommodation used by five players, I passed the cafeteria and headed near the stadium. Ah, by the way, Suwon’s accommodation is located inside the stadium, so I could see the pitch right away.
It still felt like we hadn’t shed our second-division image, but the roads weren’t congested... so there were advantages. Anyway, I walked slowly around the stadium, ran a bit faster, and stretched while waiting for recovery training.
While doing so, I thought.
Will such coincidences keep happening? But I soon shook my head.
‘I just got lucky.’
Believing that was the answer, I had only the mindset to do my best to build my body. Actually, my parents had contacted me again yesterday. Father was so happy he treated his friends. A man who even had debts.
That just shows how happy he was, right? Anyway, to bring him that kind of joy, I had to work hard. I didn’t hope for anything tremendous. Just to survive here, in the first division.
So that I could help our family a bit and receive fewer curses. That was all I wanted.
‘Hoo. It’s hard... but I have to endure.’
How do world-class players endure this kind of weight? Feeling anew that they were incredible, I circled the training ground round and round.
* * *
“The punk was determined.”
Coach I Geon-il watched I Chang-ryong warming up early with a satisfied expression. He had always worked hard... but the coach had never seen him burn with such passion like this season.
‘Ever since the promotion playoffs... something feels different.’
“Player I Chang-ryong is amazing. Usually you’d be dead tired after a match like yesterday.”
“My, the GM.”
A middle-aged figure in a neat suit had arrived. At the appearance of Bak In-won, Suwon FC’s general manager, the coach greeted him lightly.
“Congratulations on the season’s first victory. You’ve worked hard.”
“Haha. What work have I done? The players ran hard.”
“Still, it must be difficult with a lacking squad.”
“It is... somewhat. Haha. We tried to sign someone in January, but it didn’t work out.”
“I apologize that we can’t do more for you.”
“Hehe. It’s fine. I know the higher-ups have their circumstances too.”
“Still, I think doing our best to listen to the coach is the proper thing to do. You’re the one who knows the players best.”
“Hehehe.”
In-won looked at the pitch. The blue grass. He stroked his chin as he watched I Chang-ryong warming up early on that field.
“I suppose he’s a late-bloomer type footballer. Player I Chang-ryong. It seems keeping him instead of releasing him was the right choice.”
“He’s a hardworking player, and he shows promise. I don’t know what resolve he’s made... but he’s very passionate.”
“Coach.”
“Yes, GM.”
“Financial issues will continue to arise, so discussions about releasing or loaning underperforming players will keep coming up.”
“…….”
“You understand, right?”
“Yes. I understand.”
What could he do about club finances? No matter how much of a first-division team they were, they were a team that had just come up. There was much lacking and much to prepare. It was a situation requiring compromise. The coach understood, and the GM knew the coach’s feelings.
“The PR team leader will come by later.”
“The PR team leader?”
“Yes. We’ll need to take some photos of Player I Chang-ryong.”
“Photos...?”
“After yesterday’s match, apparently more people want to buy I Chang-ryong’s jersey? But we don’t have any in stock.”
“Ah.”
“We’ll promote and restock... it should help the club.”
Come to think of it, back in the second division, Jason’s jersey had sold the most. He was the team’s best striker and ace, after all. But now Jason was absent, and I Chang-ryong’s name kept rising, so it wasn’t a bad flow.
‘That rascal Chang-ryong’s jerseys didn’t sell, so we probably didn’t even produce more, huh?’
I Chang-ryong would have been hurt had he heard this, but what could you do when it was the truth? Still, since his form was good this time, it seemed the higher-ups judged it good to make more, so the coach was proud. Wasn’t I Chang-ryong his player?
“I hope Player I Chang-ryong shows better form. At least for about half a year.”
“Half a year... are you talking about the summer transfer window?”
“Yes. The scouting team leader has a player he wants to bring to our team, and he’s been in continuous contact.”
“Who....”
“Hehe. You’ll find out soon. It’s a player you mentioned before too. I’ll tell you right away when it becomes clearer.”
“Hmm. Alright.”
“Then... take care.”
Leaving those words, the GM departed. The coach fell into deep thought alone before soon turning his head.
Recovery training was starting. He believed without doubt that loosening the players’ bodies would allow them to show good form in the next match as well.
“Come on, hurry up and move! Chang-ryong is already out warming up! Learn from him, learn.”
Learn from I Chang-ryong.
Who knew the day would come when those words left Coach I Geon-il’s mouth? The players were surprised, and the coach himself was surprised, feeling somewhat fluttery.
And so time flowed on.
* * *
Waaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!
“Chang-ryoooooong!!!!!!!!!!”
At the enormous voice, I came to my senses, breathed in deeply, and opened my eyes wide.
[Suwon Samsung Bluewings 2:0 Suwon FC]
A score I glimpsed.
And the Suwon Derby that I had thought I’d face at least once. I felt the ball rolling at my feet.
Thud- thud-
‘Does this make sense?’
Waaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!
Uwaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!
At the voices of our fans cheering, goosebumps rose and I shivered. And I saw clearly.
The goal.
And my position.
“Huuup!!!!!”
WHAM-!!
When the ball, struck with power from my right foot, stretched out in a sharp trajectory, I had to admit it.
I... seem to have pretty good luck after all.