Chapter 45
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 45
Chapter Title Proud Dad
Wife Did our son play well?
Son Yeah, we won. I got a hattrick.
Wasnt the last opponent Munich? A hattrick against Munich?
Son It was nothing special.
Wife Amazing, my boy Moms got something delicious waiting at home. Come home safe.
Son Okay, Mom.
Too bad Dads not home. What should we get him to bring back from England? Anything you want to eat?
Son The siblings want Korean snacks. Get a ton, please.
Wife Ugh... The eldest always thinks of his siblings. What a son b
Yoon Jiseong gazed at the family group chat with a pleased smile.
He was in Korea on a business trip and, after work, had come to his old favorite gopchang restaurantthe one he used to frequent when he lived hereto catch up with friends for the first time in ages.
At the reunion, instead of downing shots of soju, he was staring at his smartphone, so one of his friends asked,
Hey, whatre you looking at so intently?
Chatting with the family.
What? What time is it there? Isnt it the middle of the night?
Whatre you talking about? Its lunchtime there now. How old are you that you dont know about time zones?
Youve gotta go to Europe to learn that stuff, you punk. Shut up and take a shot.
Man... Gopchang and soju. I have no idea how long its been.
No gopchang places in England? I hear there are tons of Korean spots these days.
Jiseong shook his head at his friends question.
No Korean places where I live. Youve gotta go to big cities like London or Manchester. And even there, they probably dont do gopchang.
Damn... So you barely get Korean food except home cooking? How do you survive? British food is supposed to suck.
Native British food does. But foreign spots run by Brits are okay.
With that, Jiseong knocked back a shot of soju.
Ahh... Hits the spot. How much is soju these days? Like at a convenience store.
Probably around a thousand won.
Dirt cheap. I wanna buy a case and take it back.
Hey, you bought us that Johnny Walker herewhiskey like that is cheap over there, and youre craving soju?
You dont get it. Someone who grew up on soju doesnt just switch to whiskey. Soju calls to you, weirdly.
I cant fathom why this boozesoaked stench makes anyone nostalgic.
Come to think of it, it was baffling how his dad and fatherinlawguys who never craved soju and preferred brown alecould enjoy that stuff.
What a luxury complaint. No idea why whiskeys so damn expensive here. Anyway, your kid did well? The game? Wasnt he facing Munich?
At that, another friend chimed in.
I skimmed a news articlelooks like they won.
Thats the U20 youth team. Our kids team won. He scored a hattrick.
Everyone made impressed Ooh faces.
Seriously jealous. Wish my kid took after me less and was a soccer genius. You pulled it off.
How does a soccer scrub like you produce a prodigy?
What? Hey, you bastardswhy couldnt I play soccer? I was the ace of my morning soccer crew back in the day.
Jiseong protested vehemently, and his friends burst out laughing.
Anyway, jealous as hell. They say Newcastle babies him too? Beyond him being your son, hope he grows up strong and kills it for the national team. Make us proud.
Ill go around bragging that kids my friends son.
I already do.
Jiseong asked,
Has our son gotten famous in Korea?
Hes been all over the news. Soccer YouTube channels and forums like Haetgal are buzzing about him.
Really? Jiseong checked his phone.
What, you havent even searched your own kids name?
Nah... Figured hes just youth level, so not that big here.
Is he famous in Europe?
At least at Newcastle, hes already a star. Everyone recognizes him on sight.
Whoa...!
Jiseong felt great watching his friends awe.
If he keeps this up, hell debut in the Premier League someday and earn those national team caps.
He pictured himself giving a parent interview by then.
What should I say? Play it humbleHes no worldclass, absolutely not?
Jiseong was already fretting over it.
After the Munich match, our national team disbanded right away.
Our U17 squads vibe was even better than when we started.
And why not?
Two wins, one draw, one loss.
Facing pro Bundesliga youth teams and pulling that offwho wouldnt be pumped?
Meanwhile, the older U21 squad was a total mess.
One draw, three losses.
They fought tooth and nail, but their results looked pathetic next to ours.
The players were downcast, and even head coach Lee Junghoowatching his seniors?didnt look great.
With the U23 Olympic team flaming out in the quarterfinals this year, he had to take this generation to next years World Cup and the Asian Games after.
Japan steadily producing Europebound stars, Middle Eastern powerhouses like Iran and Saudi Arabia backed by massive funds and now scaring Europe, Australias physical beasts, Chinas noholdsbarred tacticsthey all loomed large.
No wonder it felt bleak.
Fail here, and the whole youth development project for World Cup glory could tank.
Still, he couldnt show that to the players, so Lee Junghoo hid his frown and rallied the U21s.
Must be a lot on his mind.
Whateverunless I hit Ainternationals, our paths wont cross.
Anyway, after consoling the older squad and disbanding them first, the coach approached us with a bright smilea far cry from earlier.
Alright, great job, everyone!
You too, sir!
Yeah, yeah. You guys were fantastic throughout the exchange. You all know the World Cups next year, right? Watch for injuries, and if you suddenly shoot up in height or pack on weight, call me ASAP. If your club slacks, Ill handle it somehow. Got it?
He drilled it into us with a worried look.
Makes senseour age group changes the most.
Skill jumps are great, but suddenly sprouting tall, bulking up, shifting bone structure, mental issues, bad habits...
It all hits fast and furious.
Botch the care now, and the players ruined.
Whys the coach stepping in when the club should?
Few Korean clubs have the setup for that scientific TLC.
Europes differentthey invest, and if you dont fit their mold, they bench and bin you.
A coach with goals wants to nurture his key talents.
Cooler than I thought.
Our De Guall should take notes.
Our coach obsesses over tactics, not individual players.
Fuck, even FM doesnt play like that.
Huh? Whatd you say, Taeyang?
Gong Sehwanstuck to me like gummustve caught my mutter.
I brushed it off and eyed him.
Will this rich kid really fly back with the national team?
Youth squads get economy at best.
Can the young master stomach that?
Nah. You heading back with the team?
He answered,
Huh? No, Uncle Kim the secretarys coming. First class with him. Mom says economy wrecks your body.
Called it.
Korean real estates booming dailywho knows how loaded he is.
And how OP hell get splashing cash.
Work hard over there.
Yeah, got a goal now. Gotta grind.
What?
Europe.
Nice. Where?
Newcastle United.
Why them? Because of me?
Sehwan grinned.
Playing with you looks fun.
Not fun yet.
Gotta grow up first.
Whatever. Grind. Be cool to play together.
Think I can?
Dunno.
Fullbacks are rare, always have been. Not impossible.
Yeah, Ill push. Gotta go now! Uncle Kims due.
Yeah, see ya.
After Sehwan left, the national team started moving under the coach.
Newcastle was picking me up, so I just waited...
Why arent you going? And whyd you come to the airport anyway?
I glanced at Lee Sungho beside me.
Wasnt this guy taking the train?
He stared back seriously.
Taeyang.
Yeah?
Be straight with me.
...About what?
Why so intense?
Is England... really an island?
Is his smartphone just for show?
You dont use your phone?
I do.
Then search it, dumbass.
Dont know how.
Jesus.
Did this guy timeslip from the 80s? Or reincarnate?
Waitcould be. I regressed reincarnations possible too.
You... reincarnated or...? Nah. Go ask someone else.
I shoved the rooted Lee Sungho away and waited for my flightmate.
Long time no see, Taeyang.
Yeah. Howve you been?
Very well.
My ride Friedel Mayer, the guy who scouted me.
I watched your Bayern duel from afar. Impressive.
Oh, you saw?
Yep. Saw Bayerns monster eat turf too.
Rightthis guys exBayern Munich scout.
Personally, your shine stung a bit.
Bayern fan?
My whole family cheers Munich. Know what? They all cussed me out when I joined Newcastle. Haha.
Guess Bayern was dream job central for them.
Why switch to Newcastle?
To see more kids in more spots than current Bayern allows.
Fair.
Newcastle Uniteds building a global network to forge their foundation.
Of course, cant ignore the money.
He winked, then led me to departures.
Found any gems?
Chalot, Sobiola, Jake Lindeman. Best ones you.
Ah, he brought all those guys.
Legit talent spotter.
By the way, the Newcastle youth teams dying for your return.
Huh? Why?
Its dire. Youre their only savior.
No, Coach De Guall.
What the hell have you done with Sobiola, Chalot, Lindeman?