Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: No Takebacks
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The match ended in a one-sided beatdown, with Almería doing all the scoring.
When the final whistle blew, the score was an astonishing 5-1.
Lee Si-eon, who made his debut as a substitute that day, racked up an incredible stat line: 1 goal and 2 assists.
It was a shame he couldn't bag more goals, but he'd started out at fullback anyway.
Plus, even as the Almería players were losing their minds after getting hammered by that mid-range rocket, no way were they letting him line up another one.
As a result, they started double-teaming him every time he touched the ball.
There was zero reason to get greedy in a spot like that.
Soccer's an 11-vs-11 game—perfectly fair.
But if two guys are tied up marking one player, what happens?
The player one of those two should've been covering ends up wide open.
And that led to four goals in the remaining 30 minutes of the second half. Unreal.
MOM for the match? No surprise—it was Lee Si-eon.
There was a striker with two goals, sure, but Si-eon was the one who flipped the script with his strike, added two assists, and dominated the game beyond just attack points.
"Thank you for putting on such a great show."
"Yes, thank you. I'm Lee Si-eon."
"We have to start with you. How does it feel to score in your debut sub appearance and get named Player of the Match?"
"Feels good. But I'm more disappointed. I never planned to settle for just one goal, and I feel like I didn't show everything I've got."
"Haha, that's some serious confidence. Makes sense, given the skills you displayed. What about before kickoff—were you nervous at all? It couldn't have been the smoothest debut."
The interviewer skirted the direct mention.
How could she bring up the racism from her own club's fans?
But it was on everyone's mind, so she circled around, trying to draw out my response anyway.
"It was fucking bullshit."
"Pardon...?"
"The shitty, painful seasons you all sent them through have nothing to do with me. Don't project your failures onto me and flip out."
...
"Haha, yes... Looks like Lee Si-eon's still riding the high from that epic debut. We'll wrap the interview here. Thank you."
She cut it short in a panic, but it was too late.
Tons of people watched the game, and plenty stuck around for the post-match vibes, catching the interview too.
Latecomers tuning in just to see who the hell put on that show grabbed it as well.
The interview blew up almost as big as the match itself, sparking massive reactions.
💬 Comments — Crazy bastard... Is this kid allowed to say that? — Agreed, what a dick Tsk... Kid plays one game, scores a goal, and he's already full of himself. — Needs to learn interview etiquette... Great performance, but humility goes a long way. Not everyone piled on—plenty defended me too.
— So he gets racially abused and just smiles it off? Felt good. Hope the club punishes those racists quick and protects Si-eon. ⭐ Top Comment — Insane star power from debut Skills on point, and that personality... Drives fans and haters wild. Pretty much every soccer fan worldwide knows Si-eon now after a second-division game? Spain's league, Espanyol fans hurling racist abuse at one of their own club's new signing.
That alone was huge news, but the guy carries his team to victory and drops bombs in the interview?
Prime rival fodder.
One group squirming in silence? All Espanyol fans, including those who watched live.
Even absent, they felt the shame and guilt. Yet thrilled at the emergence of a superstar to lead the club's future.
The worry? This might make Si-eon sour on the team and bail quick.
One Espanyol fan who'd been there posted an apology on SNS.
📰 Fan Apology [I'm sorry. Really sorry. And thank you.] A single photo attached: Si-eon after his mid-range screamer, Espanyol fans invading the pitch, staring at his back. Some dazed, some crying, a few on their knees. — What is this? AI? — Agreed, what a dick No way lol At first, folks thought it was an edited pic to vent guilt.
Then multi-angle videos and photos from the scene flooded SNS. The clincher? The club's official Instagram video.
[Jesus Christ!] Hit play: deafening roars.
Overlapping shouts at first, then coalescing into one chant:
"Jesus Christ!"
The surreal scene had soccer fans worldwide losing it: What the hell happened that day?
Eventually, a broadcaster snagged that original poster—a regular fan—for a prime-time interview.
"So much to ask, but start from the top. Walk us through it with all the on-site feels."
"First, apologies to soccer fans worldwide. I'm here to own my mistake and support the club with my head high. Me... no, some of us Espanyol fans that day racially abused Lee Si-eon before kickoff."
...
The fan pauses, catching his breath. The interviewer nudges.
"Any reason to do that to a fresh signing?"
"No. We just needed an outlet for our anger. Espanyol was crashing harder than ever, and boom—perfect target."
"Plus, he came over to our side pre-game. We thought it was a taunt. Gestured at his jersey back like, check this out."
...
Emotions surging, he pushes on.
"But it wasn't. After scoring, he came back, locked eyes with each of us one by one. No clue how to react. We all froze."
"Then Si-eon just strolls back like nothing happened."
"That moment... seeing his back... I just knew I had to follow."
"Pardon?"
"Yeah, and I wasn't alone. Everyone hopped the fence, trailed him. Felt like sticking to that back would fix everything."
"Haha... Hard to believe."
"I know, sounds insane. But that's how it hit me, and proof's in everyone else doing it too."
"Couldn't chase further, so we dropped to our knees. Had to express the sorry, the thanks, the mess of it all."
"Ah! So that's the scene..."
"Yeah... Embarrassing as a fan, but honestly, getting prouder by the minute."
...
"Join Espanyol now. Late, but you can still hop on."
Forums and broadcasts hammered the story for days.
Everyone awaited Si-eon's personal take.
After that MOM bomb, folks—even non-Espanyol fans—were hyped for his next move.
His private Insta, dug up by fans from the official, had blown up to 2.8 million followers. Zero posts.
Party central—the man himself—knew damn well.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Si-eon! You absolutely cannot react at all!!"
"I got it..."
"Seriously... The club's in meetings on how to respond, so please just hold off..."
Camila unloading warnings while I chilled at home.
Guess having her as my handler had her stressed out.
"Heh... Check these reactions."
Lounging on the bed, cycling through community sites, devouring every new post.
One linked post piqued curiosity—clicked in.
Top thread on Espanyol's official fan board.
— Hope Si-eon doesn't leave the club? Racists ruin every group. Agreed... Really worried... I'm so concerned for Si-eon! That delicate boy must be hurting bad alone.. Yeah... We're sorry..ㅠㅠ "Ugh..."
We won, everything turned out fine.
My heart was already cleared by the ceremony reactions.
Was happily skimming fun posts when I hit this.
Like a trance, I screenshotted the post and comments, uploaded to Insta.
📱 Instagram Post Don't freak out. Just come to the next game. Oh, and no rotten cheese at the stadium.