Chapter 101
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Park Si-hyun Likes Fireworks
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Park Si-hyun likes fireworks.
"Ha... what the hell is this mess..."
Peter Lautner, manager of SSV Reutlingen 05, let out a deep sigh at the shouts echoing from outside.
"Just try losing!! You're all dead meat!!!"
"Relegation? Who gives a damn about that!! Crush anyone who messes with our pride!! Win no matter what—even if you get injured!!!"
...What?
Winning the opener matters more than avoiding relegation?
That fans would actually scream such madness...
Lautner muttered in exasperation.
"It wasn't always like this..."
When he'd arrived mid-season during the 00–01 campaign to salvage the sinking ship that was Reutlingen, he'd been full of resolve to turn things around. But reality had hit hard.
The club was rotten to the core, overrun by players obsessed with partying over soccer.
A couple of bad apples might've been manageable, but the problem was that nearly everyone—from the captain on down—was steeped in it.
At that point, a manager's words were just hot air.
This was where a manager's authority came into play.
Authority stemmed from proven skill and past results, but Lautner—yet to build his own through achievements—needed the club's backing.
Reutlingen's brass, however, offered no trust. They couldn't care less about results, only scheming how to line their own pockets.
With players ignoring him and no upper management to enforce discipline, he was powerless.
The fans had long abandoned their pride in once reaching southern Germany's top league. Weary of the team's fall, average attendance last season had plummeted to levels befitting the bottom of the third division—far below second-division norms.
Two-thirds of the stands sat empty, the few diehards looking like they regretted showing up. Fan trust had bottomed out ages ago.
The stadium was aging, guzzling repair funds; the club bled red ink; and Lautner endured daily sacking rumors.
Honestly, he'd already given up.
"Ha... just waiting to get fired at this point..."
Then, out of nowhere, the apathetic fans exploded.
And the trigger? The promoted Rot-Weiss Essen picking Reutlingen as their opener "event" opponent.
Absurd, right?
Zero interest when they were flailing in the relegation zone, but suddenly united in rage over being treated like a "weak team."
Didn't they realize relegation would bring even more mockery?
Clinging to past glories was just pathetic.
Lautner stared blankly out the window.
"Affection's all worn thin... from the club, from the fans."
Yet a faint spark of hope flickered too.
This level of frenzy might just spark a miracle for one game.
But he soon remembered miracles didn't come to those who waited.
A knock at the door, and his assistant coach burst in, breathless.
"Boss... Captain Kraus got into it at a bar... got jumped by a group... his leg's fractured."
Lautner slowly closed his eyes.
Yeah. No such thing as miracles in this world.
They only come as rewards for effort.
And naturally, they skip those who slack off.
He shut the window to block the fans' roars, swept the "Rot-Weiss Essen Tactics Prep" stack off his desk to the floor, slumped back in his chair with a heavy sigh.
"Whatever happens, happens... tch."
Lautner gazed blankly at the ceiling, quietly picturing the catastrophe the opener would bring.
2. Bundesliga: Rot-Weiss Essen vs. SSV Reutlingen 05.
Park Si-hyun's return after capping the World Cup with a win, plus Essen's first big show for fans post-promotion—it drew unprecedented crowds. Even those without event tickets snapped up scalped ones, selling out all 20,000 seats at Potsipalais Stadium.
The atmosphere blazed, aimed at intimidating the visitors.
"We march with the gods, toward the heights,
With red hearts aflame, chanting Essen's name,
Together today, no foe holds us in fright—!"
⟨ With the Gods ⟩
The club's freshly minted official anthem upon 2. Bundesliga promotion.
Title: "With the Gods."
Surprisingly, Lisa Schmidt composed it.
She flew to Korea for her own song, hit Japan for the World Cup final—when did she whip this up?
The woman destined for Park Si-hyun really was something else.
Ahem, confession's pending, of course. But a man doesn't quit after one miss.
Ten, a hundred tries—that's manhood.
Though cap it at a hundred, or you're a stalker.
A hundred's already stalker territory?
Nah, that's passion, tenacity, refusing to fold.
And there's extra reason for the great mood today.
New signings: Philipp Lahm, Kaká, and loyal bodyguard-turned-rusher Charlie Adam.
All in the squad.
The shaky defense and midfield bite from third division? Solved in one swoop.
'Bundesliga's done for.'
No bluff.
After today, 2. Bundesliga clubs will dread us; even top-flight sides won't relax.
This squad's flawless. I'm certain.
Direct promotion, direct title—100% locked.
Hell, easier than Korea's World Cup win.
'But right now, something's even bigger.'
I drew a deep breath, eyeing the packed stands.
Fans shelling out premiums for tickets they couldn't win—they believed, filled the place to see us.
Time to repay them.
And it kicked off with the supporter event.
Five fan-voted lucky ones stood with me at midfield.
Excitement, nerves, thrill lit their faces.
I held up a ball.
"Alright, watch close. Penalty kicks aren't about blasting it."
One uncle fan stammered,
"Uh... isn't it just... kick it super hard...?"
I shook my head.
"Go for power, and it floats high. Keeper won't catch it—it'll nest in the third deck."
I positioned them one by one: waist angle, toe direction, plant foot...
They could've picked any player, but all chose me—my teaching session it was.
"See, don't 'kick' the ball—'push' it in. Hit just below center, inside of the foot, soft like this."
Demonstrating, their tense faces eased one by one.
"Like this??"
"Exactly. Push it in, feel that."
One raised a hand.
"Doesn't Park Si-hyun blast these?"
I grinned lightly.
"Basics for you: push kick. But your 'god' here blasts and pushes. Stronger, deadlier accurate."
Stands erupted in laughter. First fan stepped up.
Thwack—
Ball rolled pristine into the corner.
"Ooooooh—!!"
Stands shook like a real goal.
Second fan's thighs quivered from nerves.
"Si-hyun... my feet are wide..."
"Good thing—wider base, steadier."
"...Oh?"
Success.
All five nailed it.
Instantly, stadium roared as if we'd scored first.
Waaaaaaaaah—!!
Potsipalais quaked.
The new signings are on fire! You can tell just from that sequence. Charlie Adam wins a monster duel, feeds Kaká straight away! Kaká burns past at insane speed, drags every defender, floats it easy—and Park Si-hyun volleys home! Goal in five minutes flat!
Yeah, Reutlingen's tactics—or lack thereof—are laughable. But Essen's transformed. Loan kid Philipp Lahm's organizing defense like a vet, Bauer's crisp passing shines without the physical gaps 'cause Charlie Adam's filling 'em. Kaká brings the boom up top. This transfer window? 'Nailed the signings' doesn't cover it.
As the announcers buzzed, Essen dominated possession.
Then, odd stirrings from the visitor supporters...
Whoa—what's that? Fire...?
Fwoosh—!
Red flames bloomed.
The infamous "Crimson Flare."
A radical outburst for when things soured—pure rage and frenzy.
Reutlingen ultras screamed next.
"Win somehow!!! WIN!!! Lose and we'll burn you all alive!!!!"