Ecosystem Destroyer (1)
Wherever I go, one of the biggest worries is always sleep. If I don't feel even a little comfortable, I have a hard time falling asleep. Not that I'm ridiculously picky or anything... but yeah, I'm a bit finicky.
But my first night in Spain was incredibly comfortable. A deep, restful sleep after so long.
"Slept like a baby."
The moment I woke up, my body felt refreshed—no aches, no lingering fatigue, just perfectly recovered. On the morning of my second day in Spain, I got out of bed in a great mood. Even after downing quite a bit of wine last night, there was zero hangover. That was pretty surprising too.
...Was the great sleep because of the wine?
"A bit early, huh."
I hadn't set an alarm, but as usual, my eyes popped open around dawn. Considering the jet lag, I should've been wide awake at night instead, but surprisingly, my body adapted lightning-fast. Who knows if that's thanks to the goblin's power.
"Not up yet?"
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, bathing the world in soft light, and the first floor was dead silent. The master bedroom door was firmly shut, but faint snores leaked out now and then.
"Gotta clean this up."
The living room still bore the scars of last night's wine party. I rolled up my sleeves and quietly started tidying the table. Stealth mode—like a cat burglar.
"Whew."
Once it was somewhat sorted, I headed back upstairs, picked out some running clothes, and slipped them on. Then, tiptoeing down the stairs again, I laced up my sneakers and snuck out of the house.
Chirp chirp! The sparrows' songs felt welcoming. Being on the outskirts of Madrid, mornings had hardly any people around. No need to worry about safety. Rows of neat single-family homes lined the streets—clearly not a cheap neighborhood. Trees thickly shaded both sides of the road, making every jog feel fresh and invigorating. Definitely had that exotic vibe. A world away from Seoul's scenery.
I'm no directionless wanderer, so I stuck to pedestrian paths, jogging not too far from home before looping back. After about an hour of light running, I returned to find Aunt Han Mi-ju and Uncle Adrian just stirring, rubbing sleepy eyes as they greeted me.
"Morning workout?"
"Yeah. Feels great starting the day with a light run."
"Good habit. Get a good look around the neighborhood?"
"Yep. It's a pretty place."
"Isn't it?"
Aunt Mi-ju smiled brightly, then added in a tiny whisper.
"Land here's pretty pricey. Hehe."
Breakfast was simple. No way we could feast like last night's dinner every day. Knowing most chefs prefer not to cook at home, I ate the modest meal without complaint, savoring every bite. It was health-focused too—balanced carbs, protein, and fats. I wondered if they were doing it for me, but Aunt assured me this was their usual morning routine, which eased my mind.
"Language school starts next week, right?"
"Yes."
"No plans today?"
"None. Thinking of heading to the restaurant to learn the ropes."
"Great attitude. Just what I wanted to hear! Hehe. Was gonna take you there today anyway."
Aunt Mi-ju continued right away.
"No need to start work immediately. Just come check things out and go. You could tour Madrid in the afternoon too. Like you saw jogging, no gyms nearby—you'd have to head into the city for that. Watch how we run lunch service, then do your own thing after. Oh, got money?"
I quickly stopped her as she rummaged for her wallet.
"Got plenty! Really flush. No need."
"Alright. If you run short, just say. Auntie's got you—no pressure, it's an advance."
I just smiled in response.
The restaurant was in a bustling area. Just as Aunt said, parking was a nightmare—no spots in sight. Lots of tourists milling about didn't help.
"Everyone, say hi. This is my nephew, Tae-oh Cha. Call him Theo."
With Aunt's introduction, I greeted the staff. All locals—Spaniards. Aside from one female server, the kitchen was all guys.
"Aunt knows a friend's son studying abroad here, but he won't be around for a bit—too busy with school."
"Should I fill in?"
"Kinda. Even when he returns, you'll still work. You've got your own role. Hehe."
Since arriving, Aunt had switched to full boss mode. Over wine last night, I'd learned she effectively ran the place as manager. Uncle was more the head chef. No surprise her strategy to use my looks as bait for female customers burned fiercely in those eyes.
...Yeah, no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
"Oh, you came to Spain for soccer?"
The guys lit up the moment they heard I'd been a pro in Korea. Only one stayed indifferent: the female server fiddling with her phone at a table.
Long straight brown hair, skin like white paper with just a hint of black paint diluted in, big eyes with deep double eyelids, a perky Western nose, full lower lip. Not super tall, but great proportions kept her from looking small. Obvious at a glance—if I'm the signboard for women, she's the one reeling in the men. Stunning looks. A bit more effort in makeup and she'd be even prettier, but she didn't seem to try hard. What really stood out, though, was that overflowing, voluptuous chest. Any straight guy—unless gay—couldn't help stealing a glance. Honestly, the gaze magnetized there before her face; the presence was that commanding.
She knew her appeal, radiating cool, aloof vibes without much talk. Beyond a basic greeting, we hadn't exchanged words. All I knew was her name: Elena Gomez.
"Theo'll play for Coslada for a bit. Until pro club trials."
"Oh! Already trialed?"
"No trials yet. But he was pro until a month ago—why need one?"
Gonzalo, the sous-chef, was a burly macho type—gym rat vibes, thick beard amplifying the masculinity.
"Gonzalo and I go way back. Coslada supporters, and Real Madrid fans too."
Los Blancos. Nickname for Real Madrid, one of La Liga's giants.
"And... hey, Tiago!"
Uncle called out a staffer hauling veggies to the kitchen. Boyish face, about my age. Spot on.
"This is our Coslada midfielder, Santiago Poveda. Call him Tiago. Works here, but dreams of pro soccer. Tiago, Theo starts with Coslada this week."
He wasn't around for intros, so I offered my hand. He grabbed it, looking puzzled.
"Trialed already? First time seeing you."
"Ah, missed the intro. This is Theo, Jane's nephew. Pro in Korea till last month, here for a fresh start."
"Pro?!"
Tiago's eyes widened; he thrust out his hand again.
"That's my dream, and you've done it already. So jealous. Let's be friends. Got tons to ask, learn from you. Pro world sounds amazing."
The first handshake lacked warmth, apparently. No biggie—I gladly re-gripped. A tad overwhelming, but those desperate, earnest eyes were hard to ignore. Actually, kinda grateful. Korea has legends, but to them, our league's still low-tier. Like us viewing Vietnam. Yet they valued "pro" highly—showing how elite it is in Spain, like reaching the stars.
"I'll share everything I know. Let's get along."
"Sweet. Nice to meet you, Theo. Cool name. Haha."
Passport says "TAE OH," but sounds like Theo, so locals including Uncle called me that. Could be an advantage—familiar ring.
"Alright, customers incoming! Back to work!"
With Aunt's shout, the restaurant buzzed into lunch rush. I pitched in where needed, memorizing the menu. Watched servers handle guests, imprinting every detail.
Lunch wrapped; Uncle called Tiago and me over, grinning.
"One more place to introduce you. Know where?"
No need to ask—Tiago's presence said it all. I nodded.
"Training day today, right?"
"Yep. Coslada trains afternoons, 3-4 times weekly. First session this week."
Uncle added,
"No need to train—just greet and head back with me."
I chuckled, shaking my head.
"Nah, greetings are done on the pitch."
Tiago nodded admiringly.
"That's pro mindset. Learned something. Thanks, Theo."
...Somehow ended up with an overeager student.