Chapter 38
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Park Si-hyun Discovers a Brainy Prospective Devotee
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Park Si-hyun had spotted a sharp-minded potential follower.
The analysis room at Bayern Munich II stayed lit through the night ahead of their first match of the second half of the season.
The reason? Their opening opponent was none other than Rot-Weiss Essen, dominating the league with overwhelming results.
"Ugh... There really isn't any way, huh."
Hermann Gerland, manager of Bayern Munich II, kept replaying Essen's first-half games, racking his brain for a winning strategy, but nothing came to mind.
He vividly remembered getting crushed 2-0 back then.
They'd thought they'd prepared well, but every tactic fell apart against that monster, Park Si-hyun.
At that moment, the door creaked open, and in walked Gerd Müller, his assistant manager and right-hand man.
"Coach, why don't you head home and get some rest?"
Gerd Müller set down a steaming hot cup of tea he'd just brewed in front of Hermann.
"Just one more game. We're Munich. We lost in the first half—we've gotta get revenge."
"Sigh... Fine, then I'll watch with you. Two heads are better than one."
"You bet, thanks."
Some managers hated interruptions while analyzing games, but Hermann Gerland believed pooling brains led to better tactics, so he agreed without hesitation.
Gerd Müller pulled up a chair and plopped down.
"So, Coach. Have you figured out how to stop that monster, Park Si-hyun?"
Hermann let out a deep sigh instead of answering.
He tapped the monitor with his finger.
"If I had, would I be sitting here like this?"
On the screen, a man in a red uniform moved like a beast.
Lightning-quick feet, overwhelming physicality, innate scoring instinct.
Forwards usually had at least one weakness, but Park Si-hyun showed none.
Even Bayern's second team was a hotbed of Germany's top prospects.
It was the dream destination for any player, and that pride alone had kept Hermann going.
Yet here he was, spending all day—rewinding footage no less—studying videos from no-name Rot-Weiss Essen.
Essen was that bizarre. No, freakishly strong.
"These the same players from last season?"
Gerd muttered absentmindedly.
Last year, they'd been average at best in the third division.
Actually, below average.
But this season, every single one had leveled up several notches.
And on the wing, Christoph Bauer.
He shredded fullbacks with his speed and whipped in razor-sharp crosses.
Plus, his vision let him thread impossible passes.
Hidden in Park Si-hyun's shadow, he was one of the season's top debut prospects too.
And at the center, devouring everything...
Park Si-hyun.
"Look for weaknesses... and you just see strengths. Try targeting elsewhere... and it's all strengths."
Hermann scratched his head as he spoke.
Gerd nodded.
"Normal forwards have patterns. Deadly finishers, strong post players, speed demons, smart positioners... But that guy's just good at everything."
"Yeah. He morphs into a different type every game—preparation's pointless."
Gerd rewound the footage, narrowing his eyes.
"Still... it's different from the first half. Philipp Lahm's back. Stick him on Park Si-hyun man-to-man and..."
Philipp Lahm.
Bayern's prized 18-year-old prospect.
Short at 170cm, but his soccer IQ was unmatched.
Primarily a right back, he could play central midfield or defensive mid too—a tactical Swiss Army knife already turning heads in Bayern's first team.
A minor injury had sidelined him for the first half, but he was ready for the second.
"Philipp, huh..."
Hermann rubbed his chin, murmuring.
"He might pull it off. Great stamina, insane focus... and that soccer brain of his."
A spark of hope lit Gerd's eyes.
"Right. The others got toyed with by Park Si-hyun, but Philipp could be different."
But Hermann soon shook his head.
"The problem... is the physical gap with Park Si-hyun."
Gerd's gaze hardened.
Lahm was 170cm; the height difference with Park Si-hyun was over 20cm.
The physical wall wasn't just height—it was raw power and coverage range.
Hermann continued in a low voice.
"No matter how smart Philipp is, how does he bridge that? If he can't hold up in physical battles, reading the play won't matter."
No matter how long they burned the midnight oil analyzing footage, man-to-man marking with Lahm was their only option.
'Even if Philipp loses, it'll be good experience.'
But at that moment, neither Hermann nor Gerd knew.
The ripple effects this decision would have on Bayern Munich's future.
Unbeknownst to them, the gears of fate had already begun to turn.
Time flew, and the morning of the second-half opener dawned at last.
Potsipalais Stadium.
From dawn, fans poured in, blanketing the stands in a red tide.
First half's peak attendance? A measly 4,100.
Today was different.
The contract renewal announcement and the club's massive investments had ignited fan passion, and the numbers proved it.
A whopping 8,000.
Nearly double the crowd, all hyped for one fact.
—Park Si-hyun hadn't left.
Even the fans could hardly believe it.
No matter what he said about staying in Essen, promises flipped in soccer all the time.
Better offers, bigger clubs—players jumped ship easily.
And Essen had no money.
Fans knew holding onto Park Si-hyun was a long shot.
But a miracle happened.
He really re-signed, and the club poured cash like they meant to defend him to the end, expanding the team.
The news lured back even fans who'd abandoned Essen.
The old, rundown stadium.
Capacity for 20,000, yet it always felt empty with average crowds of 3,000—but today, it buzzed full.
8,000 red waves filled the seats, heating the air itself.
"Oh, Park Si-hyun—name descended in light! Our savior, our song, we shall praise forever—!"
"You who pierce the darkness, steps of steel, touch of heaven! Roar of victory echoing on the green field—holy cry!"
"Oh, Park Si-hyun—name descended in light! Our savior, our song, we shall praise forever—!"
"Look—over 8,000 fans showed up for us! Some probably disappointed from the first half, others who turned away entirely!"
In Rot-Weiss Essen's locker room, Frank Kurt slammed the tactics board, firing up the players.
"This isn't just an opener. It's our chance to win back fans who gave up on Essen!"
His voice boomed with power.
"So today, we grab those turned shoulders! Show them we're not that Essen anymore—we've grown, and now victory's expected, not feared!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
The players' eyes burned hotter than during their first-half streaks.
No matter the money or wins, victories without fan love meant nothing.
As everyone steeled themselves desperately, Park Si-hyun's mind wandered elsewhere.
'Philipp Lahm... Can't wait to face him.'
How disappointing the first half had been.
Lahm out injured.
He was the first fixed future legend world-class player Park Si-hyun would meet.
Even a Zlatan fan like him had nearly switched idols after Lahm's 2014 World Cup win and retirement quip: "I've had enough fun."
The guy oozed romance.
Getting to face his 18-year-old self?
A smile crept across Park Si-hyun's lips.
His heart raced imagining clashing with Lahm on the pitch.
Stepping out to the tunnel, tense breaths filled the narrow space among the players.
Amid Essen's red uniforms, Park Si-hyun glanced back.
There, a few steps behind, stood a blond young defender.
Short, but with a strangely reassuring silhouette. Calm eyes hiding sharpness.
He was the name that would one day symbolize Germany—Philipp Lahm.
'Finally met you... Philipp Lahm.'
A strange glint flashed in Park Si-hyun's eyes.
Lahm sensed the gaze, turned.
Staring straight back was the Asian striker's intense look.
Lahm furrowed his brow, thinking.
'...A taunt?'
But what followed was utterly unexpected.
The Asian striker grinned—
A relaxed smile, like reuniting with an old friend.
Lahm narrowed his eyes, concluding inwardly.
'Guy's a bit off in the head.'