Chapter 12
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 12
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Desperately Wants Soccer
Right now, there was no denying that Japan was the most advanced soccer nation in East Asia.
After hitting the milestone of sending 100 players to Europe in 2022, theyd steadily kept shipping them out, and now over 200 players were competing in big and small leagues across the continent.
Their national teams competitiveness was impossible to ignore.
With one manager at the helm for ages, theyd fully ingrained a passcentric style of play, to the point where they were called bullies in Asia.
Even their FIFA ranking sat at a solid 17th.
They proudly claimed to be Asias number one.
The same went for their youth soccer.
What started as KoreaJapan exchanges had ballooned into the East Asia Youth Exchange, and Japan expected a youth team sweep.
Why bother with this nutritionally void Asian exchange? We should be facing European sides to build real experience.
Youth records show they havent lost to China or Korea in 18 years lol
Chinas been on their second soccer rise for 15 years and still no European leaguers lmao
Only Korea our young Samurai Japan needs to watch out for?
Koreas pushing Project 2038 lately, churning out some talented youth.
But Korea cant beat us no matter what.
Koreas calling everything under U17 a generational valley, theyre in a real talent drought.
Predicting our young Samurai Japan wins 30 or more.
This sparked outrage among some Korean soccer fans, who pulled Japanese forum comments to fire back.
Fucking japs thinking we cant win?
But fr, theyre right our youth reps havent beaten Japan in 18 years across all age groups.
Are they really that retarded? Why cant we beat Japan?
Japans like, you cant even lose at rockpaperscissors
Lmao the haters above are too much
Tbh, Japans got more pop and insane infra, so holding our own is the real miracle.
More Euros overall maybe, but our bigleaguer ratio punches above.
1st team vs 1st team would be close.
Japan never fields their 1st team.
Fr.
Wtf they played once before.
You dont know legendary 1st team?
Lmao legendary 1st team lmao
Problem is domestic vs domestic, Japan crushes.
J.League K League, right?
Fr.
But weirdly, we eat more ACL from K League
Lmao Korean soccers so bizarre.
Bizarre enough to not care.
Fr, gaps grown they say, but Amatches always tight.
Yeah, KoreaJapan you never know, lets watch.
But they broadcasting this? Lmao
Natl team or overseas galleries ignoring youth games, they gonna air it? Lol
Paprika TVs got it.
Oh.
Itd been a while since I last came to Paju.
Compared to my final visit before the remodel, it looked insanely rundown now.
Whoa, check out that grass! Real turf!
Lost in nostalgia staring at the soccer center, an excited voice piped up beside me.
It was Gong Sehwan.
And next to him was the beanpoletall Jin Yujun.
Sehwans family driver had dropped us all the way here.
Real grass is the best. So soft and plush!
Artificial cant touch it.
Should I ask Dad to swap our school turf for real grass too?
You think hell do it?
Im the fifthgen heir.
...Chaebol wasnt enough fifthgen heir? Insane background.
Uh, we going in?
Yeah, lets.
Following Jin Yujuns lead, we headed side by side into the Paju Soccer Center.
Collection point was Conference Room 2, right?
Never been here preremodel, so clueless, we wandered inside asking around until we reached Conference Room 2.
Choi Jiwoo?
You guys...!
We figured wed be first since an hour early, but someone beat us.
Choi Jiwoo.
Suwon U15s nextgen ace, whod groveled to Gong Sehwan.
Keekeke, so the northern trash arrive.
Northern trash made Gong Sehwans eyes narrow to triangles.
What? Northern trash? Thats ancient history, you skeleton fuck.
Skeleton was this notorious small soccer fan club thatd beat down rivals, Seoul fans included.
Banned for life after, they still snuck into stadiums pointlessly, pulling all sorts of shit, earning infamy. Eventually, they became our mocking nickname, like Nanji Island Dump or Northern Trash for Seoul.
Keeke, skeleton? Hey, hey, dont provoke me. Wouldnt want the savage beast inside me to awaken.
What the hells this guy saying.
What bullshit you spouting, psycho.
Gong Sehwan shot back in disbelief, and Choi Jiwoo lit up with fire in his eyes.
Another me lives within. Watch out, or he might emerge in this national team callup.
Even if he does, youre bench at best.
Huh? Whatre you on about?
You got wrecked by me. Cant start over me? Bench fodder?
Gong Sehwan grinned, and Choi Jiwoo flushed red.
Kuh, that was me holding back to suppress the other me. At full power, you cant touch me!
Whatever, getting wreckeds a fact.
Kekeke, thingsll be different here in Paju. Kekekeke.
Listening quietly, I got a read on this Choi Jiwoo kid.
This dude... aint right.
Fullblown nutjob.
Terminal chuunibyou with 3,000 dark flame dragons sealed inside for sure.
His deadfish eyes hid it? Didnt turn out like this later, did he?
Or maybe he kicked blankets hard.
And Gong Sehwan, youre not my rival. Mine is...
Choi Jiwoo turned, locking eyes on me.
You. Yoon Taeyang...!
Nah, why me?
You crushed my Suwon. Ive decided youre my lifelong rival.
Youre mid, Im striker?
What? You played mid then?
Always striker. Switched up top second half.
Choi Jiwoo blanked out like no way...!, and Gong Sehwan snickered.
What rival talk from a mid worse than striker. Like Gold challenger claiming they beat Gold.
Im not Gold, Im Plat!
Choi Jiwoo boasted, and Gong Sehwan deadpanned.
Im Master. Trash at LoL.
Wait, hows an elementary kid Master? Pro gamer material, no?
Moment I clocked Gong Sehwans hidden talent, reps started trickling in one by one.
Some familiar faces from K League Junior Ateam, kids Id seen in my past life, and total newbies.
Key thing chatting showed they were all firstyears, same age as us.
Whats this?
No seconds or thirds picked?
Makes sense? Nah, with soccer nut Lee Junghoo, totally possible.
Dude does anything for his soccer vision.
Then.
Screeech.
Someone pushed open the creaky conference room door.
Its Lee Sungho.
Thats him?
Hes supposed to be nuts.
Incheon Elementarys Lee Sungho, famous.
Lee Sungho.
Room buzzed hard guyd been hyped since elementary.
Word is hes Europebound soon?
Spain, I heard?
Nah.
Dunno why, but Lee Sungho didnt go Europe till 20.
Where again?
Failed first adapting or whatever, but succeeded eventually.
Guys got it.
Talent plus soccer passion unmatched.
Dudes so into it, they say he cultivates the Way through soccer.
And that guy approached me.
You Yoon Taeyang?
Stocky build like no middle schooler, buzzed sports cut, Lee Sungho stared hoteyed.
Felt like a sports manga protag from somewhere.
Yeah, you Lee Sungho?
Yeah, thats me. Shake on it.
Whats with this dude.
Like Choi Jiwoo but not.
Different flavor chuunibyou.
Sure, handshake wont wear my hand out.
Nice to meet ya.
Yeah, you too.
Damn, ease up on the grip.
And why those burning eyes.
Heavens Lee Sungho sees me as rival?
Old me wouldve yielded.
Back then, I was just quiet distributor from back, feeding balls forward he was ace striker, carrying Koreas legendary striker lineage.
Not now.
Healthybodied me now had talent to compete alongside.
I met his gaze straight, no dodge.
Screeech.
Door opened again.
All eyes turned first non14yearold appeared.
Whoa, really just me as thirdyear? No seconds either?
Kids stirred even louder than for Lee Sungho.
Bae Sanghyun hyung!
Whys hyung in Korea?
His presence is no joke.
Bae Sanghyun.
Early to Germany, on Eintracht Frankfurt youthwhere Coach Cha Bumgeun playedclubs prized defender.
What the hell, all firstyears? Whatre we supposed to do?
Bae Sanghyun strode in grumbling, scanning us.
Oh, Sungho. Only know Sungho here.
Hey, hyung.
Yeah, you not going Europe?
...Dunno yet.
Elites stick to elites, huh?
Others watched their chat enviously.
Only ones who could hang Choi Jiwoo, and...
Genius striker arrives!
Kim Hyojun bursting in, flanked by Ryu Junseo and Parquet Naiel.
Jeonbuk trio.
K Leagues Real Madrid.
K Leagues eternal powerhouse.
Jeonbuk youth unbeatable across ages lately these three, their ace trio, famous.
Theyd been Jeonbuk Trio till Europe calls, carrying Jeonbuk wins preSeoul rise.
Seeing em, yeah, our age golden gen.
Everyone here now?
Familiar faces sizing each other up, then door opened again.
Lee Junghoo and staff.
Lee Junghoo grinned weirdly at us, then spoke.
Glad to see you. Im Lee Junghoo, youth director overseeing you all.
Hello, sir!
We saluted sharp he nodded satisfied.
Youre the national team picked for the East Asia Youth Exchange. Age aside, you represent Korea, our country.
Yes, sir!
Right, so you gotta do well, yeah?
Yes!!
Yeah, gotta crush it. Hate China, Japan, North Korea. Bet most of you do. Worst case, hate at least one.
Lee Junghoos eyes gleamed as he said it. Madness creeping in that gaze kids shut up, eyeing him wary.
But these fucks are starting to see us as easy. Japans rival, fine, but China or North Korea looking down? Selfrespect sting?
Yes, sir!
Yeah, but lose? Theyll laugh, well be humiliated and pissed. Thats why I picked you.
Lee Junghoo turned, scrawled on the whiteboard.
Bam!
Slammed it hard.
Our goals this.
Whiteboard read Overwhelming Victory.