Chapter 39
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Park Si-hyun Discovers a Clever Prospective Believer (2)
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Early in the first half, both teams continued a cautious probing battle, testing each other's intentions.
After blocking one of Rot-Weiss Essen's attacks, Bayern Munich quickly caught their breath, slowly circulating the ball through midfield to adjust their rhythm.
Bayern slowly ramps up the tempo. How will Rot-Weiss Essen respond?
"Maintain the line! Don't leave your zone!"
At Frank Kurt's command, the Essen players held their positions without rushing forward, eyeing Bayern's movements.
However, their gazes kept drifting to one spot.
The midfield.
It was the 18-year-old defensive midfielder relentlessly linking passes and dominating the flow: Philipp Lahm.
Philipp Lahm wasn't impatient.
'They'll have to move first eventually. The moment we charge in blindly, we'll lose the ball and face an instant counterattack.'
The opportunity came sooner than expected.
"I can't wait anymore! I'll steal it myself!!"
"Hold on, Werner! Stay in position!!"
Oh—! Couldn't hold back after all? Werner Klein charges in himself!
Philipp Lahm's eyes flashed.
'Here it comes.'
He nudged the ball slightly sideways, using his body to block Werner's line of sight.
And just like that, a return pass flew in.
Philipp Lahm didn't trap it.
He let it pass straight through his legs.
Philipp Lahm! A split-second decision sends the ball through his legs!
The crowd buzzed as one as he tore down the right flank.
Stefan Kling receives it! And lays it right back to Philipp Lahm!
Philipp Lahm was slotted as the defensive midfielder for this match, but he was no ordinary one.
Hermann Gerland had placed him in midfield to mark Park Si-hyun exclusively, but he'd also prepared a tactic called "fullback switch" to unleash creativity in attack development.
Philipp Lahm immediately drove down the flank, scanning ahead.
The forwards were tightly marked, no passing lanes in sight.
'If there's none... I'll create one.'
His young frame flashed with an intensity beyond his years.
Philipp Lahm ramped up his sprint, racing along the touchline.
As he advanced, his teammates pushed up the line together, shaking Essen's defense.
"Philipp!"
Pfohlner shouted for the ball, and after passing it, Philipp Lahm darted quickly into the penalty box.
Pfohlner returned it swiftly—but
the pass was short.
'Damn, if it gets cut off here, it's over.'
The ball didn't come to his feet; it rolled awkwardly behind.
Stopping would kill the momentum.
Going forward would hit a defender's foot.
Philipp Lahm didn't hesitate.
In full stride, he flicked his back foot— lofting the ball up.
A exquisite chip pass grazing over the defender's legs!
Oh! Philipp Lahm— incredible improvisation! He dismantles the defensive line in one go!
Berkant Göktan storming into the box!
A direct right-footed shot on the dipping ball!
BAM—!
The net rippled wildly.
Bayern Munich first blood!
Philipp Lahm's genius moment delivers the opener!
Philipp Lahm clenched his fist briefly and charged forward as teammates swarmed him in celebration.
A 170cm frame.
But in this moment, he towered like a giant over the pitch.
'Not as impressive as I thought.'
The points records and overwhelming stats had everyone intimidated, even making his own heart race a bit.
But facing them head-on, it was just meh.
'Soccer's so boring. Can't wait to quit.'
Every match unfolded exactly as he calculated.
How the opponent would react, their tactics, even the exact timing of goals.
Like playing chess—everything predictable, and that's why he was losing interest.
The only reason he hadn't quit the ball?
It was the fastest way to make money.
Deep down, he dreamed of a normal job like banker or baker.
'Gotta make bank quick, retire, and open a bakery.'
Finishing his celebration and heading back with teammates, he suddenly wondered about Park Si-hyun.
'What kind of face is he making now?'
Before kickoff, the kid had given him a weird smile. Still doing that?
Just a sixteen-year-old punk.
No matter how explosive or flashy, he couldn't match this level of intelligent play.
Convinced the kid was hitting a wall and despairing, Philipp Lahm slowly turned his head.
The boy was trembling lightly, making a strange noise.
"Kuh... kuhuhu..."
'Crying?'
This giant kid, at least 20cm taller, crumbling and sobbing at his play.
Philipp Lahm felt a subtle thrill and stepped closer.
But—
It wasn't tears.
It was laughter.
The moment their eyes met, Park Si-hyun burst into a brilliant yet maniacal grin, like he'd been waiting.
A shining, chilling expression hard to describe.
A chill ran down Philipp Lahm's spine.
'Not crazy... just plain insane.'
Instinctively, he averted his gaze and quickened his pace.
And swallowed one deep thought.
'Never cross paths again.'
Heading to the center circle for kickoff, I thought to myself.
'Ah, this is it. This is what I've been waiting for.'
Truth be told, matches had been too easy lately, leaving me pretty disappointed.
Even in the third division, this is Germany—yet the level was this low?
Honestly, sometimes the second-division sides I faced in K League felt tougher.
But now, for the first time, we conceded first despite having me—and despite kicking off first.
The enabler? Philipp Lahm.
He pulled off a one-man show in his own way.
Where I create goals with explosive dribbles and using players, he baited with himself to force situations where teammates had no choice but to score.
"This is fun."
A thick smile spread across my lips.
Werner said from beside me.
"Sorry, if I hadn't gone out, this wouldn't have happened..."
"Nah. Even without that, Philipp Lahm would've found another way to score."
Werner rushing out did collapse our shape easily.
But the Philipp Lahm I know? Even if Werner had stayed cool, he'd have scored differently.
That's how smart he was.
'Man, I want to bring him over.'
Philipp Lahm gets called up to the first team soon, playing league and Champions League games for chances, but with Lizarazu and Sagnol holding Bayern's fullback spots, he gets loaned out to Stuttgart on the spot.
There, he goes nuts, drags Stuttgart to third, returns to Bayern, and writes legends.
But that's still in the future.
'If I could just snag Philipp Lahm, we could dominate the second division like this.'
We're too overwhelming now, so it's not obvious, but Essen's weakness is defense.
Like just now, they struggle to recover from sudden developments, and captain Matthias in goal is great at saves but poor at organizing the backline.
Once we hit second division, that flaw will stand out more.
But with Philipp Lahm?
Defensive organization perfected, more attacking routes—we'd be a real powerhouse.
Even take down plenty of first-division sides in the Pokal Cup starting from second division.
'But is that even possible?'
I ran the numbers in my head.
He's already Bayern's prized prospect.
Realistically, near impossible.
'Whatever. Play on first.'
Something might click during the match.
A reason why Philipp Lahm has no choice but to join Essen.
If not, oh well.
Honestly, beyond him, there's tons of future world-class talent unsigned now that Essen in second division could snag.
Bayern Munich told Philipp Lahm to just shadow Park Si-hyun on defense. He's sticking like glue no matter where he goes.
30th minute of the first half, and so far, it's working. Of course, others have tried this before. But when it failed then and succeeds now, it shows how well Philipp Lahm is playing.
Oh, another clash between Park Si-hyun and Philipp Lahm!
The ball coming from Christoph.
Tap.
I just flicked it up with my foot.
The ball lofted to the left of the player pressing me; I spun right, shrugging him off.
Tat-tat-tat-tat!!!
Then came the explosive dribble.
Ahead, Philipp Lahm backpedaled to keep distance.
Not closing rashly—he'd calculated my speed made it too much for one man, so he was waiting for support defense.
But that's only possible if I don't know.
Now that I do, no chance.
Tap, tap, tap.
Lightly nudging the ball.
Thud.
Feinting right.
Tat!
Left!
In a flash, a flip-flap sent the ball the opposite way from the incoming support.
Philipp Lahm stretched fast too, but misjudged my speed—his leg aimed not for the ball, but my leg.
In that instant, thoughts flashed through my mind.
The tackle too quick; contact inevitable.
Any player would go down here for a free kick.
Perfect distance to aim for it too.
'But Park Si-hyun's different.'
No ugly dives.
I took Philipp Lahm's tackle square on the leg.
But didn't fall—just staggered briefly and kept charging.
Park Si-hyun! Philipp Lahm's leg clearly caught his, but he just staggers and charges on!
Oh, Philipp Lahm's down holding his leg. Is he hurt?
The tackler gets injured while the victim holds firm? Is Park Si-hyun a monster!!!!
I spotted the keeper off his line and—
BAM!!!
Fired a powerful long-range shot.
And the ball—
SPLASH!
Found the net as if it belonged there.
...IT'S IN!!! Park Si-hyun's equalizer!!! Bayern Munich's net is breached!
Fantastic goal! Holding firm in a situation where anyone else falls, capped with a sublime long-range strike! Truly monstrous... no, godlike play!
Grabbing the ball from the net and running back, I said to Philipp Lahm, who was clutching his leg in a daze.
"If your body's weak, use your head. But mine's strong, so no need to think. I just hold and run. Two actions, one goal."
Then, as I turned to exit coolly, I remembered and looked back.
"If you can't win, join Park Si-hyun. A smart guy like you gets it."
No one's coming from that, but keep scoring and saying it—might brainwash 'em.
'Time to gaslight like a real cult leader.'