Chapter 25
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Park Si-hyun's Mistake is a Strategy.
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[Title: Went to training today... got chills]
I went to training today.
Honestly, up until last year, the atmosphere was so bad I didn't even want to go, but I checked it out after a long time and it was completely different.
Last season, the players looked drained, and the fans just watched quietly...
But today was totally different.
The kids were waving and calling out players' names, the uncles next to them kept laughing and clapping. Even the expressions on the training players' faces were completely different.
And after training ended, I lined up for autographs, and one little girl there suddenly said this:
"Oppa Si-hyun, are you really transferring?"
The mood froze in that instant, and all eyes turned to Si-hyun.
Everyone was curious but too scared to ask. I wanted to ask too, but when I got up to him, I chickened out for some reason. (He's younger than me, but up close... ahem.)
That's when Si-hyun went up to the kid and said:
"When everyone said NO, the team that said YES was Essen. A team like that deserves a reward, and that reward is promotion to the first division."
Goosebumps for real when I heard that.
The fans around went quiet for a second, then burst into applause and cheers...
I thought romance had no place for soccer players, but Si-hyun is overflowing with it.
My heart's still pounding as I write this.
The anecdote from training quickly spread across fan sites where Essen supporters gathered.
A few days later, at the 'Red White' pub in central Essen.
In the basement hall bathed in red lighting, about ten men sat around a round table.
Some emptied their beer mugs, but most wore subtly tense expressions.
"Phew... We were thinking wrong. Si-hyun's way bigger than we imagined."
"Of course. Si-hyun is Essen's god. He's not going anywhere."
"Hey, Joachim. If it's so obvious, why don't you wipe that grin off your face? We can all see it."
"Ahem."
Even short jokes drew no laughs.
These weren't ordinary fans. They were the most infamous—and most feared—ultra-supporter group in Essen, the 'Red Faithful'.
The Red Faithful, shunned even by other Essen fans, had grown more radical as the team declined, united by near-despairing rage.
But this season, with savior Park Si-hyun's arrival, their fury transformed into fanatical faith.
What made them even scarier were rumors that each member wielded significant influence in Essen.
Even Park Si-hyun's chant was their creation.
One of them muttered lowly.
"This isn't the time. Si-hyun's already repaid us. Since he came, the team's alive again, the vibe's changed. Honestly, at this pace, promotion to the second division is a given. And... he said he won't transfer until first-division promotion. So we have to repay him in kind."
"Repay him..."
"What could we do? Our chant was well-intentioned, but it just stirred up controversy. Lucky Si-hyun handled it well."
At that moment, one man quietly set down his glass and spoke.
"...It wasn't a problem. Offering a hymn to our god—why the fuss?"
"Hmm, how about this? Engrave Si-hyun's face on jerseys and hand them out to the crowd."
"No, no. Better—make small wooden dolls of Si-hyun and—"
"What? Did you just say small? Si-hyun can never be small!"
"...Sorry. My bad."
The man at the head table, who had been listening silently, slowly spoke up.
His voice was low and heavy, exuding a presence unlike the others.
"You're all thinking wrong. Just do everything."
"What?"
"Engrave Si-hyun's face on jerseys, make Si-hyun figures, do it all."
Under the red lights, their gazes met.
With those words, unbeknownst to Park Si-hyun, all sorts of merchandise—what would be called 'relics'—began to be made for him.
Even after open training ended, we banded together under the flags of 'league championship' and 'promotion,' diving back into practice.
And that day, the coach gave me a completely different assignment.
"Si-hyun, your play as a striker is already perfect. But... I think the era's coming where strikers need to handle passes skillfully too. The classic target man is fading. Of course, I wouldn't define you that way."
Outsiders call coach Frank Kurt the 'lucky guy winning thanks to Park Si-hyun.'
But facing his gaze directly, I know.
He's not just commanding the present—he sees the coming trends, pulling future soccer into the now.
'Passes, huh...'
Soccer's basics aren't dribbling or shooting—it's passing.
The simplest, most essential act linking the ball's start and end.
I'm racking up insane goals now, but zero assists.
The trap strikers fall into is repeating what they do best.
But then defenses read the pattern and counter fast.
'Of course, no one in the third division—or second, or even first—can stop me now...'
2001.
I see this as soccer's turning point.
World-class talents started pouring out nonstop from here.
So I need to broaden my game.
Even I—soccer's getting scientific, systematized. Someday my patterns could be analyzed.
'Problem is... I suck at passing.'
Even as a defender, I excelled at winning balls.
Tackles, physicals—all good. But passes after? Always botched.
'No, time to change.'
I'm not that old Park Si-hyun. I'm Essen's reborn god, Park Si-hyun.
Past limits stay in the past. Gods turn impossible into possible, right?
From that day, I shifted training—cut shooting, poured time into passing.
But...
"Si-hyun, what the hell kind of pass is that?"
Werner yelled, looking flustered.
The pass I just hit flew over the touchline out of the pitch.
"...Werner, you still don't get me."
I shook my head calmly.
"What?"
"Park Si-hyun's mistakes aren't mistakes—they're strategies."
Ahead of league round 9 against SG Wattenscheid 09, Rot-Weiss Essen pushed aggressively, raising the line and hammering from the start.
[Essen's attack is ferocious. Relentless pressure, no breathing room.]
[Still 0-0, but a goal feels imminent. Park Si-hyun's movement is on another level today.]
[Yes. Si-hyun's dropping deeper than usual to receive the ball.]
Over 5,000 packed Potsipalais Stadium, cheering the players.
Every time Park Si-hyun got the ball, roars pressured the Wattenscheid players.
At the 40th minute of the first half, Christoph passed to Park Si-hyun.
Si-hyun took it with his back to goal, spun instantly to fool the defender, and bolted right.
'The moment's here.'
How tough was practice? Shamelessly calling botched passes 'strategies,' but ashamed inside.
Now show it in a match. How much I've improved.
Thwack!!
[Si-hyun cross? Wait, where's the ball going?]
The ball rocketed toward the bar at blinding speed—looked out to anyone.
[Si-hyun mistake. Too high—it's out.]
Werner by the goal sensed it first.
'What... why no spin on a pass?'
Spinless shots—knuckleballs—are toughest for keepers; unpredictable drop.
High difficulty, few masters.
But Si-hyun's pass was knuckleballing in.
True to form, it plunged suddenly, grazing the upper post.
Ding!
The rebound shot toward Werner's face without warning.
'Ah, shit...'
Werner's last thought.
Smack!
"Argh!"
Roll, roll... splat.
[What...? Si-hyun's pass drops sharp, hits the post, smacks Werner in the face, rolls into goal.]
[Intentional? Or sheer coincidence?]
[Never seen a knuckleball pass. Park Si-hyun style?]
'So that's how it works.'
Despite surprise, Si-hyun sprinted to fans, roaring.
"Yaaaaah!!!!"
Stands erupted.
"Wooooah!!!!"
"Hey, you bastard! I score the goals!"
Ignoring nose-holding, collapsed Werner, Si-hyun spread arms to fans.
As if the world was his.
Post-match, reporters swarmed mixed zone.
To the knuckle-pass question, Park Si-hyun bellowed proudly.
"Boring passes anyone can do don't suit Park Si-hyun. I create art with passes too."