Chapter 36
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Meeting Park Si-hyun's Devotees
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2. Basic Salary
The player shall receive a weekly salary of 10,000 euros (pre-tax).
Payments will be made every Friday.
3. Incentives
1. On scoring a goal: 3,000 euros
2. On recording an assist: 1,500 euros
3. Starting in a league match: 2,000 euros
Substitute appearance: 1,000 euros
4. League match victory: 2,000 euros
5. If the team achieves promotion to the 2nd Division: one-time payment of 100,000 euros
'A weekly salary of… 10,000 euros?'
My eyes widened involuntarily.
But the real shock wasn't the salary. It was the incentive clauses listed in the contract.
My current weekly pay was 2,000 euros. But according to this contract, just showing up for games would already exceed that.
One goal alone was 1.5 times my current salary. A single win added another full week's pay.
'This is… a jackpot.'
Jang Do-yoon examined the contract closely, his expression hardening before he immediately turned to the club owner.
"Frankly, I understand the salary. It's reasonable for a top 2nd Division contender. But… this incentive structure is too generous. Can you really afford to pay it?"
Johannes burst into hearty laughter at Do-yoon's question.
"Hahaha! Truth be told, I wanted to offer an even higher base salary. But that might cause backlash from the existing players. So, I came up with this workaround."
He tapped the contract with his finger and continued.
"Incentives draw less flak. If Park Si-hyun underperforms, he doesn't get them—and if he excels, he deserves them. And honestly, I think even this amount is too low. Essen is about to take off for real. How could we mistreat the player carrying our wings?"
Johannes smiled and added,
"Once promotion to the 2nd Division is secured, we'll renegotiate right away. Your salary will go up, of course. Park Si-hyun, what we want isn't just an ace. We want to make you the symbol of Essen."
A moment later, Do-yoon pulled me out of the room and looked at me with a serious gaze.
"What do you think? In my view, these are the best terms possible. Three-year contract, 10,000 euros weekly. And the incentives are basically 'just play, and we'll shower you with money.'"
He pointed out each clause one by one, explaining them, then looked at me after finishing.
"And… the most important part. The buyout is set at 2 million euros."
Two million euros was an outrageous amount for a 3rd Division player, but considering it was my buyout, it wasn't large at all.
In other words, this contract wasn't a chain to hold me down—it was a promise of respect based on faith in my abilities.
Do-yoon looked me straight in the eye and said in a low voice,
"Si-hyun, this is an opportunity you absolutely can't miss in your career. A 2 million euro buyout means they won't block you from moving to another club."
Johannes setting the buyout at 2 million euros was both a show of faith and a pragmatic decision.
He knew he couldn't keep me forever.
That's why he'd set a modest buyout and packed the contract with terms far exceeding 3rd Division standards.
'We've shown this much sincerity. So even if you leave someday, remember the trust we've given you.'
That message was etched plainly into the contract.
It was easy to see why Johannes was a renowned businessman in Essen.
He had a keen eye for people.
'Kindness shown to Park Si-hyun will always be repaid.'
That was the foundational creed of the Park Si-hyun style.
If someone extended goodwill to me and I didn't reciprocate, that was never cool.
And to shine on the pitch, I always had to be cool—with a story to tell.
A story where, even when I transferred later, my departure was met with cheers.
Park Si-hyun, the player who never betrayed the club's faith and wrote history alongside them. What story could be more perfect?
We reentered the room, and Johannes looked deeply into my eyes.
"Park Si-hyun. Will you sign?"
Without a moment's hesitation, I grabbed the pen and scrawled my name boldly.
[Park Si-hyun]
The moment I finished signing, Johannes stood and gripped my hand tightly.
"Thank you, Park Si-hyun. We'll make history together."
I smiled faintly for a moment, then replied in a firm tone.
"I'll write the history. Essen, just provide the stage to make it shine. I won't forget the goodwill in this contract."
Johannes paused at my words, then burst into booming laughter.
"Hahaha! Excellent! That confidence… that's exactly what we wanted! …Oh, by the way, have you heard of the 'Red Devotees'?"
Why were the Red Devotees coming up here?
"Yes, I'm aware. They're the fan club that made my chant and holy relic, right?"
"Haha, correct. And they've just become investors in our club."
My smiling face stiffened slightly at that.
"…Investors?"
"Yes. And their leader wants to meet our Park Si-hyun in person. Would you?"
I shook my head immediately.
"It's best to keep distance between a god and his devotees. Get too close, and the mystique fades."
Johannes smiled meaningfully and continued.
"That leader… is Essen's deputy mayor."
"…Pardon?"
My mind reeled in an instant.
The deputy mayor of Essen was the head of a fanatic group?
What was this… a German cult drama?
"The deputy mayor is the head of something like the Red Devotees, a toxic fan club?"
Johannes nodded.
"Haha, I was shocked too. But it's true. Thanks to him, we're getting city-level support—for the new stadium site and infrastructure."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
Honestly, I didn't want to meet him.
But he was a public official, no less.
And now playing investor for my club? It felt unavoidable.
Besides, I was a little curious.
Just what kind of mindset created something like that?
"…Yes. Let's meet."
I'll chew him out so he never pulls that crap again.
But at the time, I had no idea.
That I might end up the one getting swept up by them.
That there's a reason parents always say to choose friends wisely.
* * *
"Is this the place…?"
The meeting with the Red Devotees was arranged remarkably quickly.
Johannes had barely made the call when they responded with eager confirmation.
"It looks like a regular pub, at least at first glance."
The sign read 'Red White' in stylish lettering, illuminated by mostly red lights—nothing out of the ordinary for a standard pub.
Do-yoon scanned the entrance and said,
"More ordinary than I expected. I thought it'd be some secret hideout."
I shrugged and replied,
"It's just a fan club made by some well-off folks. What difference would it make?"
As we pushed open the pub door, warm air and the scent of beer wafted over us.
The interior was surprisingly spacious, with soccer posters plastered all over the walls.
But what really caught my eye… were my photos.
"What the…"
The entire back wall was covered in my pictures.
Goal celebrations, training shots, even casual daily life photos.
'This feels straight out of a stalker den.'
A bit further in, there was an enormous photo, surrounded by what looked like an altar.
Draped in red cloth, the altar held my picture flanked by lit candles, a small soccer ball, and an Essen uniform.
"Hey, Si-hyun. Should we bolt right now?"
"Probably?"
The moment I considered Do-yoon's words and turning to flee, a middle-aged man from the back of the pub stood and approached us.
About 175cm tall, hair neatly combed back, dressed in a suit.
The epitome of a bureaucrat.
"Ah… Park Si-hyun! What an honor!"
He grabbed my hand with both of his and said,
"I'm Hans Müller, Essen's deputy mayor… and the head of the Red Devotees."
I shook his hand lightly and responded,
"Park Si-hyun. Nice to meet you, Deputy Mayor."
"Right now, I'm not the deputy mayor—I'm the head of the Red Devotees. And my Lord, please speak casually."
"…I'll loosen up in a bit."
Hans's eyes sparkled as he grabbed my arm.
"Let's head to the inner room. The other devotees are waiting."
"Is the inner room different from here?"
"Yes. This is the general fan lounge for everyday Essen supporters. The inner room is the sacred sanctum for Red Devotees only."
I really didn't want to go, but Hans was pulling me along by the hand, so I had no choice but to follow.
Do-yoon whispered behind me, "This isn't actually dangerous, is it?" But it was too late.
The moment he opened the heavy wooden door…
"We behold the Lord!"
The sudden explosion of cheers nearly knocked me over backward.
The six people inside dropped to their knees in unison, bowing to me.
Regardless of age or gender, they gazed at me with expressions of true reverence, as if facing a god.
"Ah, shit…"
The curse slipped out unbidden.
I wanted out of there less than a minute in.
'Fan club my ass—this is worse than Shincheonji.'
But I couldn't just leave like that.
So I decided to play along like a madman.
"So, you are my devotees?"
Do-yoon gave me a look of utter bewilderment as I suddenly launched into full god mode.
But what could be done?
Only the mad can comprehend the mad.
And today, I was going mad in this place.
"Your god, Park Si-hyun, has graced this spot with his presence."