Transfer (1)
Quite a few teams had requested meetings through the team front office, but I'd only agreed to four.
The top four teams in the men's Division 1 league who had approached me directly from the start: Fanatics, Centurion, Nostalgia, and BlackWings.
I'd met with the coaches of the first three one after another, morning into afternoon.
And sure enough, they all wanted the same thing.
To scout me.
They all remembered me. It had only been a little over six months, but the skills and performance I'd shown during their open tests had far surpassed amateur level. No way they could forget that.
Every meeting, they'd keep staring at me and asking why I'd done the open test but skipped their internal ones. It was a bit awkward.
Ah, hell, what am I supposed to say? 'This damn status window keeps beeping and freaking out, saying no?'
After wrapping up with those three teams, next up was my old squad... well, my pre-regression team, BlackWings.
BlackWings coach Kim Seungmok showed up right on time at the café we'd agreed on. We exchanged light greetings and sipped our coffees.
"You came to our team's open test about six months ago, right?"
"Haha... You remember."
Just like the previous three.
"It's not like it was years ago—just half a year. How could we forget that performance? Word is you tested for other teams but skipped the internals."
Tell me about it. If only you could peel this cursed thing off my head.
I couldn't say that, so I recited my prepared line.
"Haha... I was prepping to be a pro gamer, coach, whatever, but coaching seems to suit me better."
Pure bullshit, of course.
But my words seemed to fire up Coach Kim Seungmok instead.
"Coach Yuseong, if I may be so bold, I still vividly remember the skill you showed at that test. For someone with that level not to play? That's a massive loss to the Eternal Combat scene."
That's exactly what I'm saying! Coaching's fun and rewarding, but it doesn't hit like playing pro!
"Coach Yuseong, when this season ends, why not come take our internal test seriously? With your skills, you'd make it as a player, no question. I guarantee it. Letting that talent go to waste as a coach is such a shame."
"If you want, we can request you from Shining Star and pay the transfer fee gladly. No pro career yet? We'll give you top-tier treatment, better than any rookie gets."
"Here's our team intro packet—take a look."
With that, Coach Kim Seungmok slid his tablet over. A PPT was open on it.
The scenes inside were all too familiar. The dorm where we'd eat together, the practice room for gaming, the gym for conditioning, the lounge with the killer view, the cafeteria with the bomb food, the coach's office where we'd get reamed for bad practices, the meeting room for strategy sessions...
As I slowly flipped through the slides, Coach Kim kept pitching the team from across the table.
"That Level 1 Rosie Fit bait strat this time—that was you, right?"
"Yeah, spot on. How'd you know?"
"Shining Star's players are great, no doubt, but from their past games, they weren't fully polished pros yet."
"But that Rosie Fit bait? The tactical depth, the mind games, the follow-ups, the execution—it was on another level, not like the same team."
"Weirdly, after it worked, they went back to their usual Shining Star style. Saw your name pop up in the coach credits and knew it. Had to be your idea."
Sharp eye as always, Coach.
No matter how talented the BlackWings players were, racking up wins took serious coaching chops.
Leading me and the squad to all those championships meant the staff were elite, and Kim Seungmok had clocked it from one game.
"That's not an on-the-spot play. You must've cooked it up ahead and proven it works, so you dropped it with confidence."
"With that brain, you could captain in men's Division 1 right now and own it. Teams would line up for your strategy alone—but add that test performance? As a player, Coach Yuseong, you'd be the world's best."
Would be? I was the world's best. You just don't know it yet.
"So you want me to play?"
"Do I have to spell it out? Here's my card. Finish this season strong, think it over through summer, then hit up the front office. Best deal you'll get."
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The second I took the card, this damn status window lost its shit again.
The business card in my hand was flashing blood-red. It did this last time too—why does it freak out every time I link up with a Division 1 team?
At least it was invisible to others; Coach Kim didn't bat an eye.
"Thanks. I'll think it over, talk to the team, and get back to you."
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
###
Back at the practice room, I stretched out on the living room couch, flipping the "BlackWings Coach Kim Seungmok" business card front and back. Still flashing red like crazy.
This bastard's stubborn as hell.
Honestly, playing pro fits me better and pays more...
I fiddled with the innocent card, mumbling to myself.
Truth was, I didn't hate coaching.
Raising players from scratch was a fresh thrill, turning clueless amateurs into pros gave real satisfaction.
But did it match the catharsis of dominating on pro stage, victory cheers raining down? Not quite yet.
Crushing foes before tens of thousands, clinching the win—that rush, the endorphin high was pure addiction. Nothing else came close.
Come to think of it, I didn't even choose coaching. This cursed status window kept beeping and dinging, forcing my hand. After summer, maybe negotiate with the team and jump back to pro?
Even with my base skills, better decide before I age out...
"Coach?"
I was ignoring the endless red beeps, steeling my resolve—when a voice cut in. Young, almost girlish.
A bit lower and calmer than the others' tones.
Still sprawled, I just lifted my head toward the voice. By my head stood a girl in a deep-brimmed cap, long black hair spilling out.
Sera.
"Sera? Two days left on vacation—why're you here?"
"Nothing to do at home, so I came to game."
Sera grabbed a cola from the fridge, chugged it, then headed my way.
"Why're you here, Coach?"
"Had to meet someone today."
"......"
I felt her eyes scanning me up and down.
Then, like she'd made up her mind, she spoke.
"Coach, I have a wish."
"What, am I a genie?"
"You said first in Round 1, you'd grant it."
"Oh, right. You wanted to buy your aunt samgyetang. Changed your mind?"
"I bought her samgyetang with my paycheck. So you grant my wish."
"Fine, shoot. I'll pass it to the team."
I draped my arm over my eyes again. Sera's piercing stare was getting heavy.
But she grabbed my hand, pulled it aside.
"No need to pass it. Coach, buy me dinner. Tonight."