Chapter 44
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Even Park Si-hyun Has an Idol
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Park Si-hyun had an idol of his own.
The president of the German Football Association had resigned, and Marie, who had led Park Si-hyun's doping test, had stepped down as well—
Yet for some reason, dozens of fans still surrounded the association building.
They held picket signs in their hands, and angry chants shook the association building.
"Boooo—! Racist association doping tests!"
"Stop discriminating against East Asians!"
"Soccer must be fair!"
"We can't trust the association anymore!"
Inside the building, looking down at the scene through the glass windows, the finance vice president, Mayer, spoke with a hardened expression.
"What the hell is going on here? The president has resigned, and that team leader woman has already stepped down... Why are we still hearing this crap?"
In response, Vice President Klein, in charge of international relations, who was sitting across from him, shook his head gravely.
"We haven't pinpointed exactly who's behind it yet. But someone keeps fanning the flames. It's like they're trying to bring down the association itself..."
Mayer gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the desk.
"Damn it, does messing with one third-division player really have to blow up like this?!"
Their frustration ran deep.
Though they all bore the title of "vice president," the association's vice presidents weren't a single role.
They were the top executives representing various fields: finance, international relations, amateur soccer, referees, legal affairs, and more.
In other words, these people had no direct involvement in doping, and they couldn't have known the minute details in the first place.
But public opinion couldn't care less about their ignorance.
The moment the association became tagged with "doping tests = discrimination," the blame poured down on them entirely.
"Hoo..."
Vice President Mayer, in charge of finance, let out a deep sigh before speaking.
"So, what's the solution?"
A brief silence fell.
No one could open their mouth easily.
At that moment, the one who cautiously raised his hand was Vice President Schneider, in charge of amateur soccer.
"What they're saying is simple. They can't trust doping tests led by the association anymore. That's the core issue. So why not..."
As Schneider paused to choose his words, all eyes turned to him.
"...establish a completely independent organization? One that prioritizes 'fairness' above all, separate from the association."
The conference room buzzed in an instant.
"That's ridiculous!"
"What authority would the association even have left?"
Sharp opposition poured out.
Yet even amid the dissenting voices, fear and anxiety were mixed in.
If things continued like this, the association's trust itself would crumble.
This wasn't just about weakened authority—it was a crisis that could shake their very existence.
Vice President Klein, in charge of international relations, bit his lip and said,
"Authority isn't the issue right now. If we don't resolve this, our credibility won't just fall in Germany—it'll collapse across all of Europe."
Silence.
Then, Mayer nodded heavily.
"...I think that's the most realistic option. We're still without a president. In this state, we can't even properly elect one. So at the very least, we should decide among ourselves. Let's vote."
"Vote?"
"Yes. The vice presidents here will decide by vote on establishing an 'independent anti-doping agency.' That's the fastest way right now."
Tense breaths filled the conference room.
And soon, a simple but historic vote took place.
4 in favor, 2 against.
In the end, the motion passed with majority support.
This day marked the laying of the foundation for the "National Anti-Doping Agency"—NADA (Nationale Anti-Doping Agentur).
An organization originally slated for establishment in late 2002 had been born a full year early, thanks to the unprecedented "Park Si-hyun incident."
Hans, who had been listening from afar, flashed a satisfied smile and said,
"Heh heh... It's gone just as planned. Now, order the withdrawal. Our god can now play fairly on the German stage."
His voice brimmed with the satisfaction of a perfectly executed plan.
It was a reaction so natural, as if he had foreseen every part of this situation from the start.
"Shouldn't we do a little more?"
One of the believers cautiously offered an opinion.
"No. The Red God Association no longer needs to intervene."
He shook his head firmly.
"The German soccer world has created its own system for fairness. Our goal is achieved."
Cold calculation gleamed in Hans's eyes.
"Excessive meddling would only invite suspicion. This is the perfect timing."
* * *
Before long, mid-April 2002 arrived, and the league had entered its second half.
We had won every match up to Round 31 of the second half, with early championship now within sight.
The single loss from the first half meant it wasn't an invincible title run, but our overwhelming record overshadowed even that tiny blemish.
My personal stats were no different.
45 goals.
Considering second place had only 19, the gap was staggeringly absurd.
And today.
I sat down for my first official interview with the local paper, Essen Post.
It took place in the club lounge after training.
The lounge was incomparably sleek and modern compared to the past.
The reporter smiled and tossed out the first question.
"Just two more wins, and the early championship is locked in. How does it feel?"
I leaned back in my chair, caught my breath, and replied calmly.
"I'd love to say I'm thrilled... but honestly, it's the expected result. Does it make sense for Rot-Weiss Essen—with me on the team—not to win the third division?"
The reporter chuckled, so I added,
"That said, promotion to the second division has always been Essen's greatest dream. Being able to gift that future to the fans a little sooner... yeah, it feels good."
The reporter followed up immediately.
"Championship aside, we can't ignore your personal records. 45 goals through 31 rounds—and that's without playing every minute. A whopping 26-goal lead over second place... Third-division coaches are even saying, 'Please just leave already.' Any thoughts on transferring yet?"
Transfer.
I'd denied it several times already, but offers kept coming steadily.
Part of it was Essen's absurdly low buyout clause on me, but above all, my skill had long outgrown the "third-division player" mold.
At the very least, my stature in Germany rivaled first-division stars.
I suppressed a smile for a moment, then stated firmly,
"I am Park Si-hyun."
The reporter's pen froze.
He stared at me in bewilderment, then let out an awkward laugh.
"Is there anyone here who doesn't know that?"
I shook my head.
"No. The fact that you're even asking me about a transfer means you don't know Park Si-hyun. From my perspective, I haven't done enough for Essen yet."
The reporter's eyes sparkled as he asked,
"But you've already secured second-division promotion."
"Second division is a given. I want to achieve more with Rot-Weiss Essen. Or more precisely, in the Bundesliga."
"For example?"
I slowly curled the corner of my mouth into a relaxed smile.
"The Champions League trophy."
The air in the lounge shifted in an instant.
The reporter gripped his pen tightly, steadying his breath.
"You mean lifting the Champions League trophy with Rot-Weiss Essen?"
I nodded.
At first, I'd only aimed for Bundesliga promotion at best.
League titles, tops.
But seeing the recent doping scandal and Essen's transformation changed my mind.
Forces like the Red God Association aside, even ordinary fans had believed in me to the end.
Setting emotions aside, Essen's current investment scale evoked memories of Mansour pouring money into Manchester City.
With that level of backing, even if I used my knowledge to bring in future world-class talents, no other club could easily poach them.
Moreover, for someone like me—who craved league titles everywhere like Zlatan—Rot-Weiss Essen felt like the best stage in Germany.
Of course, the future was uncertain, but I'd cross that bridge when I came to it...
I looked the reporter straight in the eye and declared firmly,
"I'll gift the Champions League trophy to Rot-Weiss Essen fans. This is the declaration of soccer's god, Park Si-hyun. Not a goal—a certainty."
* * *
The interview wrapped up, and as I headed out of the training ground toward Hyung Do-yoon's Benz, someone was there with him besides Do-yoon Hyung.
'Who's that?'
As I got closer and saw his face, I froze in shock.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Guus Hiddink, coach of the South Korea national team."
South Korea's legend!
The absolute architect of the miracle fourth-place finish at the future World Cup—the reason South Korea could stand tall against Japan's trash talk even in a group-stage exit!
The supreme dignity who connected my favorite senior, Park Ji-sung, to Europe and Manchester United!
The living myth who gave South Korea hope and even solved the low birth rate!
That Coach Hiddink stood before my eyes.
My mind went blank in an instant.
How could anyone predict a situation like this?
The legendary coach, busy with 2002 World Cup preparations, coming to meet me.
When my name hadn't even reached Korea yet.
Yeah, everyone would know by now.
Among players, I admired Zlatan the most; among coaches, Coach Hiddink.
Who'd have thought choosing Germany would lead to this.
"Ahem, how about some drinks at my place first..."
"Huh? As far as I know, aren't you still a minor, Si-hyun?"
"..."