Rebound (1)
093
Among the people cheering the loudest at the news of Hong Min-jun's transfer to Barcelona, Kim Hyun-sik, the department manager, was definitely included.
This was because Kim Hyun-sik was the key figure who led the negotiations for the La Liga broadcasting rights as the sports department manager at JBC broadcasting station.
He had successfully secured the 2-year broadcasting rights contract with La Liga last year, but as the viewership ratings were lower than expected, Kim Hyun-sik was withering away day by day. When rumors of Hong Min-jun's transfer emerged, he even went to a church he hadn't visited in his entire life, and for dawn prayer at that. He prayed that he would go to La Liga, any team would do.
There, he coincidentally discovered a sports department manager from another broadcasting station with his eyes squeezed shut, praying, "Please, let him transfer to the Bundes, the Bundesliga," but in the end, God sided with him.
And now.
Kim Hyun-sik was dancing a hula dance of joy, burning with such enthusiasm that he was even broadcasting Barcelona's pre-season friendly match.
"Ah, finally! Finally, Hong Min-jun is stepping onto the pitch! The first Korean ever! The proud Hong Min-jun, recording his Barcelona first-team debut and appearance!!"
"It really is amazing. To debut for the Barcelona first team at just 20 years old. Of course, it's a friendly match, but given Hong Min-jun's skills, it seems he will be able to secure a spot."
"Hmm... Hong Min-jun, his expression is stiff. Is he nervous?"
"Well, I don't know. I heard that our player isn't the type to get nervous easily... but since it's his first professional match, and a debut at a big club like Barcelona at that, he must be nervous. Ah, as I say that, a pass towards Hong Min-jun. Ah, the first touch was long. It goes out of bounds."
The caster and commentator, who had seen Department Manager Kim Hyun-sik dancing a frantic tap dance from afar, glanced at each other.
Although others didn't seem to notice, they, who had been broadcasting soccer for over a decade, felt that the signs were ominous.
Judging by Hong Min-jun's expression, movements, and trapping, it didn't seem like something to be happy about just because he made an appearance; it was a gut feeling that something was off.
The seasoned caster quickly opened his mouth.
"It's his first match, so it's inevitable that he'd be nervous. It's okay even if he makes mistakes, our player. He just needs to calm down and adapt little by little."
"That's right! Even in the same league, when you go on an away game, it takes time to adapt because of the differences in grass or soil at each stadium, let alone in far-off Spain."
"Ah... Hong Min-jun, he misses the ball again."
—He's out!!!
—Hong Min-jun has arrived lololololololol
—Wow f*ck... seeing B.A.R.C.E.L.O.N.A pop up next to Hong Min-jun's age, am I the only one who pissed themselves??
ㄴMe too, I pissed myself....
ㄴBarcelona is so badass
ㄴTo think a Korean player would play for Barca;;
—Look at Hong Min-jun's visuals shining even among the white guys;;
ㄴWait, is this real lol
ㄴHong Min-jun is seriously handsome lol
ㄴF*ck lol he already lost in the visuals department against the white guys lol
ㄴIf you only look at his face, he should win the Ballon d'Or
—But why does his expression look stiff?
ㄴSeems nervous?
ㄴI heard Hong Min-jun isn't the type to get nervous, they said he wasn't even that nervous in the Olympic finals
ㄴMaybe he's nervous because it's not the Olympics, you idiot
ㄴOh, that's true
—???
—???????
ㄴDid you see that touch just now? lol
—F*ck lol he went to Spain and got triangle feet
The community atmosphere, which was cheerful at first,
—Huh?
—What is this;;
—Wow f*ck... why is he like that?
ㄴWe're f*cked, seriously lol
—R.E.A.L. he's showing his amateur side so much;;
—Hey, this really isn't the atmosphere for jokes, right? Is Hong Min-jun sick?
turned cold.
『The elegant ball touches were clumsy, and the dazzling dribbling was awkward』
『The limits of an amateur?』
『Hong Min-jun's revealed skills』
『Where did the wonder boy from Asia go?』
Harsh criticism.
Harsh criticism poured out, to say the least.
As it was a debut match where a lot of attention was focused, the level of interest was high, and the criticism poured out just as much.
However, it was the first professional debut of a young player. Moreover, there was more public sympathy for a player who had only been away from the East for barely fifteen days.
The first match was disappointing, but considering the performance he showed against Spain in the Olympics, his skills must be real. Everyone had the expectation that he would be able to perform well once he adapted.
And September 20th.
Barcelona's last pre-season friendly match.
In this match against the 2nd division Girona FC, Hong Min-jun started for the first time.
And after the first half ended, Hong Min-jun could not be found in the second half of the match after halftime.
Before the regular season even started.
Even though I hadn't played a single game in the league, rumors of a crisis were flowing out here and there.
Looking at the internet, it was a complete shitshow.
『The professional stage was different! From the most anticipated signing to the worst signing!』
『Barcelona, who smiled brightly at the pouring sponsorships, why did they turn into a crying face?』
『Japanese netizens, Hong Min-jun mockery goes too far!』
They're just talking whatever they want.
I was snorting while looking at the articles, when Oh Ha-rin opened her mouth cautiously, unlike usual.
"...Are you okay?"
Her expression was full of worry.
I grinned to show that I was fine.
"Of course I'm fine. You saw it too, right? It's just that my balance collapsed because I suddenly grew taller. Once I adjust to the height, I'll be fine soon."
At first, when the status window gave a warning and took all my points for balance adjustment, it felt like a waste, but now that I'm here, I understand.
That was a true stroke of genius.
If you grow taller rapidly, your balance is bound to collapse.
However, even while I was growing taller, my balance didn't collapse beyond a certain point.
Because of training?
No.
In the first place, I'm still growing, so how could I fix my balance with training?
Adjusting with training is for after growth is finished; there is no way to do it while growing in real-time.
Except for the status window.
Thanks to that, I avoided the worst-case scenario where my balance completely collapsed, but because of the subtle gap where I was constantly growing and balance adjustments were being made, I couldn't perform proper plays.
"It won't be long now. Don't worry, Ha-rin."
Yes.
It won't be long.
My gaze turned to the translucent hologram floating in front of me.
【Height 175cm ▶ ??cm｜63kg ▶ ??kg】
【Points Held ▶ 0P】
『Applying...』
『Point usage is restricted while applying.』
After the season started, I had to stay on the bench.
No, should I be thankful that they even let me sit on the bench?
Barcelona started off aggressively from the beginning.
Winning all 5 matches with overwhelming performance, 5 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses. Amidst the praise for Barcelona, which rose to the top of the league, the only criticism was me.
During the 5-game winning streak, I only played in 1 match.
Having played as a second-half substitute, I showed a sluggish performance and became a target of the media.
And what fueled this even more was the coach's interview.
He didn't say it outright, but he cleverly blamed me, so public opinion was shattered, and thanks to that, my standing was also being shattered in real-time.
'Ha... this is driving me crazy.'
I'd rather have all my stats go down by -3 if it meant my balance would be fixed.
Then, even if my peak is lower than now, I could definitely raise my floor.
I'd rather have played according to my lack of skill if I were actually lacking, but this is the worst because my skill is high, but my senses are subtly misaligned, resulting in even worse plays.
'Ah, f*ck. I should have thought and acted. Is my intelligence okay like this?'
I didn't think it was lacking, but maybe I should have invested more in the intelligence stat.
Despite being sluggish, my teammates treated me kindly for the most part.
The problem is a few players, especially that bastard of a coach.
'Hmm. Come to think of it, it makes sense that he'd hate me.'
Hearing what the media was saying, the Brazilian player the coach originally requested to sign headed to the Bundesliga and is performing well because of my signing.
Hearing that, I felt sorry, but,
"There is a player in our squad who should feel sorry to the other players."
"A player who cannot help with the victory should naturally feel sorry to their teammates."
"Player quality is not all about popularity."
"Looking at the performance of Fernando, who left on loan because there was no spot, it's just a pity. I think Fernando should have stayed at Barcelona."
When he does sniper-like interviews like that, sorry my ass.
Let's see about that, seriously.
No matter how sluggish I was, '5 league starts' was specified in the contract, so I could get occasional opportunities to play.
Although I suffered the humiliation of playing like sh*t in the 2 matches I started and being substituted as soon as the first half ended.
Both matches were picked as the worst, and I heard all kinds of mockery and criticism like Olympic fluke, all-time biggest bubble, a player useless except for his face, for marketing, a jersey seller, but... well, it was more bearable than I thought.
Was my mentality this good?
If I didn't have the status window, if I didn't have the hope that I would recover if I endured a little longer, I might have collapsed too.
However,
【Height 175cm ▶ ??cm｜63kg ▶ ??kg】
【Points Held ▶ 0P】
『Applying...』
『Point usage is restricted while applying.』
『27 days left until application is complete.』
The status window declared.
27 days left.
Let's endure the first half of the season somehow. Because I'll be able to show a changed appearance in the second half.
『Applying...』
『Applying...』
『Applying...』
『Application complete.』
『Physical changes complete』
『Adjusting balance...』
『Adjusting balance...』
『Adjusting balance...』
『Balance adjustment complete』
『Some stats have been adjusted.』
『You can now use points.』
Finally, the long 27 days had passed.
【Technique】
[Individual Skill 75] [Dribbling 70] [Trapping 75] [Short Pass 55] [Long Pass 50] [Shooting 45] [Free Kick 42] [Header 38] [Tackle 32]
【Mental】
[Vision 55] [Anticipation 50] [Judgment 65] [Concentration 56] [Off the Ball 60] [Marking 45] [Composure 52] [Leadership 40] [Teamwork 44]
【Physical】
[Speed 67 ▶ 65] [Acceleration 68 ▶ 64] [Balance 65 ▶ 61] [Agility 65 ▶ 62] [Reaction Speed 79] [Power 54 ▶ 61] [Jump 46 ▶ 49] [Stamina 57 ▶ 59] [Recovery 65 ▶ 68]
【Hidden】
[Genius 48] [Charm 95] [Intelligence 40]
【Height 175cm ▶ 182.7cm｜63kg ▶ 72kg】
【Points Held 21P】
There are stats that have gone down, and stats that have gone up.
Overall, there are many that have gone down, so it's a loss... but having bounced the ball a few times, I could realize it.
That the subtle gap in my senses had disappeared.
In other words, regardless of the increase or decrease in stats, I would no longer be able to show idiotic plays like before.