Chapter 24
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 24
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Craves Soccer
Oppa! Look at this!
I was getting up in the morning to head to training when Gaeul called out to me.
What is it?
Do you know what this is?
Whats that?
It smelled like food, so was it something to eat?
When I turned my gaze, Gaeul was holding something that looked like a cup ramen container.
They say this is British cup ramen!
British cup ramen?
Did Britain make something like that?
Somehow, it made me uneasy.
British food was infamous for being the worst.
Is it so bad you brought it here?
Was she planning to use me as a guinea pig?
Gaeul shook her head at my question.
No, its actually good! Its curry flavor!
Curry flavor?
Ah, right.
The British thought of curryone of Indias signature dishesas their own national food.
Not entirely wrong, though.
The curry we know came from India to Britain, got refined, passed through Japan, and made its way to our country.
Why did I know so much?
Because back in the day, I was obsessed with curryate it nonstop, even traveled to Britain and India to explore it.
Of course, after retirement.
Really? Glad its good, then.
Heres yours, Oppa.
Ah, this is breakfast?
Yeah, Mom said she wants to cook, but theres no Korean mart around here, so its tough.
Even if there was a Korean mart, it wouldnt be much better
Huh? Whatd you say?
Nothing. Ill dig in.
Moms cooking skills were on par with British food.
She was hopeless at homestyle dishes but weirdly great at foreign cuisine.
Britain was the same.
No matter how well you made their native food, it was mostly awful, but they nailed other countries dishes like pros.
Plenty of famous chefs in Britain, too.
Anyway, she couldve at least made pasta.
This stuffs pretty good, though.
I scarfed down the cup ramen for breakfast, changed clothes, and came downstairs.
In the dining room were Mom, both grandfathers, Yeoreum, and Gyeoul.
Mom, wheres Dad?
He already left for work.
Already?
Yeah, he said he has to go early to call buyers in Korea.
Oh.
Dad had landed a job at a company Newcastle had hooked him up with.
Luckily, it traded with Korea, so it wasnt hard to get in.
Our eldest grandson, that placeNew Darsley, right? Hows it there?
Its great. Really great.
I heard theyre pouring a ton of money into it, huh?
Yeah, thats right.
Inlaw, they say Taeyangs club is the richest in the world?
Eeyup, so I hear.
Cup ramen didnt fill me up, so I grabbed an apple from the table, wiped clean.
One bitepretty decent.
Son, better hop in the car quick. Youll be late.
Moms words came as I finished getting ready in a rush. I stood up, apple in hand.
Mom, I can walk.
No wandering alone!
Mom saw Britain as a dangerous place.
Not entirely wrong.
Compared to Korea, the public safety wasnt something you could call good.
Even now, racism was rampant at soccer fields, and hooligans caused chaos.
She worried someone racist or a hooligan might hassle me near the training ground.
Kids might be offlimits, but if it eased Moms mind
No arguingId go along.
Even if it was just a threeminute walk from the garage.
Dont get hurt today, and do your best, okay?
Yeah, dont worry.
A week since joining the U16s at Darsley Park.
Still unfamiliar, but I made it to the U16 club house without getting lost.
Surprisingly, this team had its own club house starting from U16.
In my past life, teams either shared or had none at all.
Showed how much they invested in youth.
Hey, Amigo!
Youre here?
Hey!
Stepping inside, marveling again at the club house, kids greeted me.
Yeah, in this world, show your skills, and friends come knocking like this.
And
Piss off.
Kid shows up late.
Annoying prick.
On the flip side, haters popped up too.
Funny thingit split along factions.
Newcastle focused on youth development, so kids from all over.
Factions were inevitable.
Even the senior team had themkids were bound to.
Anyway, it divided into the British factionEnglish speakers, Europeanswith Brits at the core, and the Spanish factionSouth Americans, Blackswith Spanish speakers leading.
I was the only Asian, but fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, so the Spanish faction was friendly.
The British faction hated my guts.
At its center that guy.
Iel Harts.
Newcastles most touted homegrown English prospect.
Position striker.
Whatre you staring at?
As you can see, a total jerk.
Was he really that promising, or overhyped with English premium? Hard to tell now, but one things surehe wasnt in my memories.
Promising now, but hed vanish like a lie later.
For whatever reason.
Cant I look?
Youre not worth my look. Im
Tch, didnt seem that level, though?
What? Ha, talking big after one game, you brat?
Coming to Britain, I noticed they were way more oldschool than Spain or Portugal.
In some ways, worse than Korea.
Made me wonder if oldman culture didnt come from Confucianism but brewed in hateengland, spread via Japan to us.
You might get hurt bad and never play again.
The oldman incarnate glared down at me, closing in.
Staring down at my head like that, you might be the one crawling on the floor.
Think Id flinch cause youre taller?
Listen, punkin my past life, Id been throwing punches at older guys since peach fuzz hit my balls.
Fists clenched, we faced off. The tense vibe spread, ready to erupt anytime.
Factions split, glaring.
One punch, and itd be the powder keg.
Whatre you all doing? Not getting ready?
But it wouldnt happen.
Coach always showed up at the perfect timing.
Watch yourself.
You watch it.
You little
I didnt back down, and Iel stormed off fuming.
As he left, his face crumpled more.
Most coaching staff eyesincluding some thatd been on himnow locked on me.
Youll play false nine today.
Aiden, the coach, said to me.
False nine.
Yeah, wanna try?
Sure, sounds good.
Since officially joining yesterday, theyd tested me every way.
Yesterday hanging striker in bigandsmall combo, Englands hallmark.
Next wing forward.
Then attacking midfielder.
Three tasks each timeI gave my all.
Theyd decide if I moved up, so I followed faithfully.
False nine today, huh?
Thisll be fun.
Aiden and the staff were in a bind over Taeyang.
Hows a kid pull that off?
Technically, tacticallyhes already complete.
Just needs to grow into it.
Just a week.
The coaches were now diehard Taeyang fans.
Teach three tasks, he delivered more in every role. How not to love it?
Problem started there.
What type of player to develop him into?
His speed, linebreakingadvanced forward.
That wont last longterm. Poacher instead?
Waste of his skills if its just goals. Wing forward?
Counterarguments on counterarguments.
But it didnt stop.
Surprisingly, beyond attacking, he excels elsewhere. He wants striker, but switch to midfielder?
Defender material?
His visions scary good.
Vision? His passing could start in the first team.
Didnt you see the test match? Interceptions sparking counters. He could play defense.
The head coach sighed after hearing it all.
Man first kid this wellrounded. What now, Aiden?
Rubbing his big nose deep in thought, Aiden spoke.
Doesnt lack in anything
He scanned the staff.
Looked like each pitched their old position or favorite.
Someone said defender midway, right?
One coach slunk back.
Shaking his head at him, Aiden said,
Soccer talks through goals. Finishings elite with both feet. He belongs up top.
No counters.
In this team, no one denied soccer speaks through goals.
But no need to lock him into a role yet.
Really?
Yeah.
Pigeonholing now felt like wasting him.
But
In my team now, I want him as false nine.
Friedel Mayers wordsNewcastles Messiechoed.
He fit the role Messi owned.
Look at him now.
Dropped to midfield, overloading to press B team. Gets ball, simple dribble shakes one.
13yearold play? No way.
And thats not all.
He envisioned beyond what others imagined.
Outfront pass to an unthinkable spot.
Winger reacted halfbeat late, but spot was so perfectno defender tailed.
Winger sprinted fulltilt to goal.
Too bad it didnt connect.
That guys got speed, nothing else.
No topclass potential.
Staff coldly assessed the winger, eyes back on Taeyang.
Eyes that shouldve been on English prospect Iel Harts.
Glancing others occasionally.
But now, couldnt peel away from Taeyangs play.
Taeyangs team cut a counter from deepball back at his feet.
He built up as pivot, then surged halfspace up top.
Hugeheaded opposing centerback grabbed him, but Taeyang didnt fall or lose ball.
Oh! Rainbow flick!
Unlike Messi, flashy skills too.
Whoa
Wow!
Unbelievable move drops two, thenin a ridiculous core displayshakes off jerseytugging opponent who nearly trips him, and buries it.
Seeing it, Aiden stood, instructing head coach.
Put that kid in next match.
In just a week, U16 league debut locked.
Ah, next one? Tough opponent.
If he plays like that, the tough games theirs, not
U16 league.
Newcastle Uniteds foe
Man City.
Premier Leagues absolute youth powerhouse, Manchester City.