Olmunt, Kimpo City's Mascot (4)

Yawn~

Man, I slept like a rock. Ever since my body changed, waking up refreshed after a deep sleep has become my daily routine. This is what a blessed physique feels like.

We crushed Cheonan Skies 5-1. As a bonus, Paulo, who pulled ahead in the scoring race thanks to my passes against Miguel, promised to buy me a meal.

Time to head to the training ground, I guess?

"Take a photo with us!"

"Olmunt! Over here, over here!"

"My son's a fan—please, just one autograph!"

Uh... what the hell is this?

The moment I stepped out, a barrage of handshake requests hit me. What was going on?

Should've come out a bit earlier if I knew it'd be like this. But hey, pros don't turn down fans. I signed as many autographs and posed for as many photos as I could.

How did this marketplace madness even happen? As it was finally time to actually leave, I asked some of the people I'd just snapped pics with.

"Ah... I'm a Gimpo fan originally. The others are probably here because of that YouTube video."

Ah... ah?

"You said you're a Gimpo citizen too. That you commute from Gimpo XX Apartments. It was so cool! Thanks to you, I'm starting to like Gimpo City."

I blanked out for a second hearing that. Honestly, I still don't clearly remember what I even said in that interview.

I somehow rushed to the training ground, speeding there in my car.

Should've checked it out first. Wonder what the YouTube reaction was like? I regretted not glancing at my phone before heading out, but once I arrived, I realized it didn't matter.

"Whoa! YouTube star!"

"Whoa... that's the top-viewed on Gimpo City's official YouTube? 1.3 million."

"Hyung Mont, just be Gimpo City's mascot."

"Naturalize! Naturalize! Naturalize!"

"Military! Military! Military!"

No way did I ever roll my R's like that. Still, it was nice of them to explain it kindly. Actually, it wasn't nice at all.

And military? What the hell. Even the Military Manpower Administration exempted this body. Though that was my previous life.

The rowdy atmosphere quieted down once the coach opened his mouth.

"Alright, everyone focus. We've got the next match to prep for."

Come to think of it, Chaewoo hyung and the coach had come out too—why were they only teasing me?

"Since we're all 'Gimpo citizens,' don't give an inch against Chungnam or Seongnam next."

With that, the coach headed off to discuss training prep with the staff. Casually lighting the fuse on the mockery and walking away.

But I saw it. He didn't show it, but it caught my eye: pursed lips and cheeks tensed with effort. That guy's holding back a laugh.

Betrayed by the coach I trusted, I endured teasing all day. Right up until match day against FC Chungnam.

"Gimpo citizen!"

"Hyung went out there too—why am I the only one getting roasted?"

"'Cause your pronunciation was kinda funny."

Chaewoo hyung stifled a laugh as he pulled up the Shorts on his phone and showed me.

So thoughtful of him to replay it. The long-form had over a million views, and the short... holy crap, 2 million.

I was deep into the comments when hyung snatched his phone away.

"You'll wear your neck out. Check yours, superstar."

"But hyung, there's a short with you in it too, right? Why only me and coach?"

"Dunno. Sleepy. Don't ask."

He was sulking. 100% sulking. Even if, come on, over something like that? I turned on my phone and checked the channel...

No Chaewoo hyung indeed. No wonder he was sulking.

Still, I thought I said some serious stuff too. Why am I only stuck with Son-Cha-Park rankings and Gimpo food recs?

The comments I wanted—like "Citizen clubs play that role" or "I'll cheer as a Gimpo resident"—were mostly on the coach's shorts. I was starting to feel a bit bummed out when...

"Olmunt, what're you doing? Let's go."

The bus had arrived. Time flew while reading comments. Still, with lots of "Gimpo's top-tier among citizen clubs," public opinion seemed to be shifting.

I hurried out, and sure enough, more chatter followed.

"Superstar gets to show up late? Hurry up."

Jealous much? The words almost slipped out, but I swallowed them—no way I'd get passes in this match if I said that.

Revenge after the game.

FC Chungnam, our away opponents, were a newbie club like Gimpo, freshly turned pro.

Lately—precisely ahead of promotion-relegation between first and fourth divisions—local governments everywhere were launching citizen clubs.

More clubs mean a broader base and better infrastructure, which is great, but... can every locality run them well? Honestly, no idea.

Tax-funded as they are, there are limits.

Rooooar!

Uncommon cheers erupted as I stepped onto the pitch.

"Gimpo citizen Olmunt, fighting!"

Uh... this is Chungnam's home ground? Should I acknowledge it or not? While I pondered, I spotted the away section as the source and waved with a sigh of relief.

Lately, more fans in the away stands. With our unprecedented hot streak, we're drawing more interest than some first-division flops. Second division or not.

Probably 'cause of me, right?

"Olmunt, those fans are screaming for me."

I ignored Paulo's random nonsense and felt the weight of responsibility. Gotta perform this match too—that's payback to the fans who traveled to Chungnam.

"Brazil's finest Paulo! Fighting!"

"That guy's definitely not your fan."

"Shut up. Probably Miguel."

Miguel dribbled better than you. That's why he went to Japan.

Beep!

Chungnam tried a double-deep defense for counterattacks, but it wasn't enough against players addicted to bus-busting.

Chaewoo hyung slalomed past the fullback for a curler. Paulo took my pass and scored his usual. Rookies teamed up to assist Park Jaeyoon's goal. Three in the first half alone.

Same story in the second.

By the time I added one and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kvirin Moll another, pity started creeping in. Then, right before full time, Minsu stole their season goal number three—sympathy overload.

"Why the pity faces when I score?"

"Should've scored more during the season, Minsu."

"What kinda talk is that, hyung?"

"Sorry, meant to think it. Slipped out."

Dojin hyung dragged Minsu off sternly. But Minsu started it. What grudge against Chungnam?

And when the scoreline blows out, you restrain celebrations. Manners.

**

In a meeting room at Suwon Red Motors' club house. Spotless facilities, thanks to the corporate parent.

Problem: the people inside looked anything but pleased. Faces full of worry as they watched the broadcast.

Dead silence, broken only by the hyped announcers cheering Paulo's goal.

Click.

Suwon Red Motors coach Byeon Jaehyeon irritably killed the screen power.

"Points gap with Gimpo?"

"Five."

"Incheon?"

"Seven."

Brief silence, but the coaches soon wore funeral faces, eyeing the boss.

"Even if we beat Gimpo next, it's two points?"

"Weren't you all laughing at Gimpo for signing some idiot early season?"

More silence. No one had words. Another failed promotion? One of Korea's few big clubs stuck in second division three years running. Career killer.

Coaches inwardly blamed Byeon Jaehyeon's inconsistent tactics, but that didn't matter. Who sat at the head did.

Byeon Jaehyeon glanced at the analytics team, nodding at the lead analyst.

"So, do we just keep getting owned by this Olmunt guy knowingly?"

The team lead sweated bullets, adjusting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠glasses and fumbling his notes.

"Uh... weakness is physical battles."

"Physical battles?"

Defensive coach Park gawked.

"Know how tall Olmunt is? Near 2 meters. Headers over four markers on corners. Physical? Like ramming Goliath?"

"Never... rammed him."

"What?"

"Hold on."

As their debate heated, Byeon Jaehyeon raised a hand to quiet Park, fixing on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the analyst.

"Keep going."

"Pardon?"

"No one's rammed him hard. Even in second division. You too, coach."

Tension gone, the analyst stared Byeon down, continuing.

"What the..."

Byeon Jaehyeon trailed off as past games flashed: even his solid squad advised against charging Olmunt. Others the same?

"Takes guts to ram a tiger. Mudball teams mark to deny ball, not tackle rough. Won't even try."

"Right. Analysis vs. doing it are different. Got anyone to catch the tiger?"

"Yes. New signee. Lee Youngik."

Murmurs among coaches as Byeon pondered deeply.

Lee Youngik.

Top-tier defender despite bad manners and personality. Issues: cards from fouls, teammate clashes.

Wouldn't touch normally, but summer window end, main CBs injured en masse—desperate signing.

Byeon stood amid the whispers.

"Let's hunt one Swedish tiger. Jang Coach, have Youngik report to my office before tomorrow's training."

He strode out past the murmuring staff.

"You okay? Lee Youngik roughed up Yoon Jongmun too."

"Yeah... karma, maybe. Olmunt's tough—body like that."

"No way a tank like him fears tackles. He just doesn't bother."

"We'll see."