Slump (2)
Haah...
Huuu...
I let out a deep sigh that seemed to shake the earth.
Was the walk to the training ground always this tough? Every step felt like dragging a boulder.
This was the first time since reincarnating as Leo Olmunt. Of course, I hadn't expected there to be no hurdles at all.
It was just harder than I'd imagined, tougher to overcome.
I grit my teeth, wanting to shove aside the defender charging at me. But something was blocking me—it just wouldn't come together.
The problem was that the slump from the pitch had followed me to training.
"Olmunt! Stay calm, stay calm. You're getting too hasty."
Coach Park kept gesturing for me to relax, but it wasn't working. Especially not in physical battles.
Knowing it in my head but not being able to execute with my body was utterly depressing. I'd never experienced this before.
Of course, training wasn't falling apart badly or anything. It just kept falling short of my standards, and that grated on me.
I'm Leo Olmunt now. It felt like Yoon Jongmun's ghost was haunting me.
Just then, during self-training time, as I sat there staring blankly with a deadpan face...
"Olmunt, why the long face? Can't have that. Come on, let's do some one-on-one."
Sunbae Donghan rolled the ball toward me as he spoke.
He'd always jokingly suggested one-on-ones during training, but this felt different.
Ever since the slump hit, even Donghan sunbae had been tiptoeing around me, not starting conversations, so it caught me off guard.
I glanced at Dojin sunbae in confusion, like always, but he just stared back expressionlessly.
Donghan sunbae stood there snorting like he'd made a big decision, waiting for me.
And since I'd plopped down in a daze, I couldn't even slip away.
And so, my first one-on-one with Donghan sunbae began almost by accident.
Thud... Thud...
I tapped the ball forward, eyeing his gaps.
Donghan sunbae was a unique guy. A defender who could play striker too—and pretty damn well at that.
Off the pitch, he was kind and decent, but on it, he was all fight, rough, sometimes dirty.
I often thought it was a relief he was on my team.
Because...
"Urk!"
If he was on the other side, it'd be like this.
"Isn't that a foul?"
I got up with a dissatisfied look.
"No ref here."
Donghan sunbae shrugged off my complaint and passed the ball back.
Smack!
He lightly smacked my thigh to snap me out of it. Right— if I couldn't beat him, how could I handle Lee Young-ik?
Thud... Thud... Thud...
I quickly closed in with short touches.
If physical battles weren't working, maybe vary my pace and burst past before contact?
It was my makeshift plan when skills weren't landing. But with Olmunt's physique, it should work.
If the opponent wasn't Donghan sunbae.
The moment I feinted right...
Thwack!
I smashed the ball long left and charged. Or tried to.
Crash!
Donghan sunbae threw his body in my path just as I surged. Tripping me with his leg was just icing.
"Phew... Feels like kicking a rock."
He rubbed his knee while looking down at me sprawled out. Wasn't this slide-tackling in another sense?
"Put some power into it. What're you so scared of? If you'd gone in hard just now, you'd have won."
He rolled the ball back as I stood, offering more advice. He was right, of course. But I was sick of hearing it.
It was starting to piss me off, maybe? The issue was, I didn't even have the right to get mad.
Tripped on jersey grabs. Pushed off in shoulder duels. Stepped on my instep. Arms shaking my balance.
Donghan sunbae blocked me with every trick in the book. The thing was, any of those I could've broken through if I'd just overcome the fear a bit.
"Huu... Huu... Huu..."
I steadied my ragged breathing. I have to grit through it. Close my eyes and endure. If I can just do it once... maybe?*
Thud... Thud...
This time, unlike before, I approached slowly instead of rushing.
If I couldn't break through even once before self-training ended, I'd really crumble.
"Fine, I'll go first this time!"
Since I kept holding back, Donghan sunbae yelled and charged me.
I clenched my teeth, powered my shoulder, and collided.
My shoulder trembled, but as I slammed into him, Donghan sunbae's eyes went wide in surprise.
But I couldn't stop here. This was my chance.
Ignoring the shaking, I gritted harder, spun, and nudged the ball through.
Between Donghan sunbae's legs—a nutmeg.
He noticed instantly, but human reflexes got caught in the reverse motion; he was a beat slow chasing the ball.
Yes—with this experience, next match I'll do better...
Then a sharp impact hit my ankle.
For a moment, I couldn't process it. But hitting the ground made it clear.
"Aaaagh! Kuaaaaaagh!"
I clutched my ankle, screaming for ages. Less pain, more the pose reminding me of my youth national team days with Lee Young-ik.
"Even so—that was a—back tackle—" "No—I went clean technically—overreacting" "First—get him up—"
Players gathered, saying stuff as I lay there clutching my ankle, but I couldn't make out the words.
When Dojin sunbae and Heemun helped me up, I realized.
Wait... my ankle doesn't hurt?*
Everyone panicked as I walked fine. Me included. Except one guy.
"I told you! How many times have I done back tackles in matches?!"
Donghan sunbae turned beet red, raging at those branding him a reckless idiot who tackled the team's ace during his slump.
"I planted my studs, lifted my foot—did I go for a dangerous spot? This is the kinda stuff I do joking with my kid! Why won't you believe me?!"
"Sorry. You screamed so much, I just..."
Chaewoo sunbae apologized, sweating bullets, but Donghan sunbae kept fuming.
Then the coach appeared stealthily from behind.
"Even so, a back tackle? Come on."
His sudden reprimand cooled Donghan sunbae's flushed face instantly.
"Olmunt, sorry to pull you during self-training, but let's do some crossing drills. Someone check his ankle."
Right after medical cleared me, I headed to crossing training.
"I was supposed to defend, why..." "He's the captain."
Chaewoo sunbae looked glum, Donghan relieved—they'd mark me.
Two-on-one crossing, basically. But this time, I didn't feel outmatched.
That back tackle played a big part. Donghan sunbae claimed it was technical, but whatever.
Studs down or not, no ankle contact—Yoon Jongmun would've been injured. I guarantee it.
But Olmunt's body? Perfectly fine. Barely hurt. I'd overreacted needlessly. Embarrassing in hindsight.
One thing clear: this body won't get injured again.
Thwack!
Kvirin lofted a light cross, training underway.
Donghan and Chaewoo sunbaes closed in, but I wasn't scared anymore.
I blocked Chaewoo with my hand, shouldered Donghan aside, and shoved past both easily.
Thud!
Splash!
The net shook.
"Whoa..."
Even veteran Hyeongjin sunbae, who'd seen it all, froze in shock at the header.
I didn't know the ball would cannon like that either. Hitting headers this hard—gonna get CTE or something.
"More?"
Chaewoo sunbae eyed me pitifully.
"I'd like to keep going."
No way he'd let up. Coach looked pleased, chuckling heartily—he wanted to see more.
"Heh heh. That's it."
Donghan sunbae grinned a bit creepily, but whatever.
Soccer felt fun again after so long. Couldn't wait for the next match against Gyeongnam Twin Towers.
"Yes. Oh, absolutely. We'll bounce back soon. Gimpo hasn't won lately, right? Yes. Yes, exactly."
Haah...
Gyeongnam Twin Towers coach Park Jintaek sighed and slumped into his chair.
Gyeongnam sat at 7th. A bit off promotion playoffs, but only 5 points away.
The few articles on Gyeongnam weren't positive.
This was his 3rd season coaching. Fail playoffs again, and his job was toast.
Next up: Gimpo Green UTD. Just when he needed results, they'd been annoyingly good.
And they'd beaten Gyeongnam in key matches this season. Maddening. Sure, Gimpo's last 4: 1 draw, 3 losses. But still.
Paper tiger's still a tiger—bites hurt. Momentum said win, but that nagging 'what if' lingered.
Seeing Olmunt in the opponent report soured his mood more.
But this time, his weakness was confirmed: rough physicals. Should be fine? He'd watched games and footage. Clear slump.
What if this time too...?
A weird déjà vu hit; he bolted, fleeing his seat.
Think more, and painful memories would surface.
No way a genius grows every matchup. Not a game.
Mid-range skills, maybe. But Olmunt's issue was mental. Heart problems don't fix quick.
That thought brought a faint smile. Laughing at their pain felt guilty, but survival first.
"Sorry. Didn't expect that mid-range growth."
The analyst's flustered apology replayed. Coaches patting the young guy...
Yeah, natural disaster. But not this time.
If so, he'd punish that cheeky analyst again.
Park Jintaek headed home in slightly better spirits. Unaware.
Disasters that come once can strike again.