Chapter 6
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 6
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Yearns for Soccer
Taeyang, having shaken off one defender, plunged into the space that opened up.
As he swiftly tore through the opponents front line and midfield, racing toward the backline, the senior team players scrambled into action.
Following their systematically trained zonal defense, one senior moved to block Taeyangs path into his zone while maintaining distance.
The others closed in from around him, forming a triangular formation to press Taeyang.
Taeyang didnt slow down.
No, he accelerated even more toward the senior blocking his front.
The senior, having already seen him elegantly nutmeg one player with a Free Flap, kept retreating to maintain distance, but the speed of a player running backward couldnt match that of one charging forward.
Moreover, Taeyang was faster than any player hed ever seen.
In middle school soccer, kids this fast could be counted on one hand.
No, if you factored in ball control, maybe within three fingers.
Around the time this seasoned thirdyear senior was making that assessment.
Taeyang mocked it by ramping up his speed even further.
Huh!
Taeyang slipped through a tiny gap at a speed too quick to react to.
The thirdyear had no choice but to revise his evaluation.
Not three fingersdefinitely none.
Bblock him!
Before the panicked senior could finish, the others were already freaking out and rushing to stop Taeyang.
The first to step up was the captain.
With his small but sturdy build, he was a player in the same style as Gong Sehwan.
In Seoul UTDs longterm plans, Gong Sehwan was the next up for that defensive midfielder role across age groups.
The captains no pushover.
He was shorter than expectedway shorterraising concerns about his future, but he showed exceptional defensive skills backed by stamina and grit.
Thats why not just Jo Bongsu, but the coaches too, thought this would be the end of it.
No matter how fast or skilled, Taeyang lacked experience.
But for some reason, his heart was pounding.
For some reason, this Taeyang kid seemed like he could pull something off.
And Taeyang didnt betray that expectation.
As he dribbled the ball in front of his right foot, Taeyang used the outside of his right foot to push it out to the right.
Going to cut right?
The moment the captain subtly shifted his balance to the left, Taeyang seized the opening, quickly brushing past the ball and pulling it in front with his instep.
Free Flap.
As if hed anticipated it, the captain lunged with his left foot to cut off the ballbut it zipped toward Taeyangs left foot faster than expected.
Urgh!
Determined not to lose the ball to a firstyear freshman in embarrassment, the captain put force into his left and extended his right, spreading his legs wide to steal the ball at Taeyangs left foot.
Taeyang didnt miss the gap, tapping the ball lightly through the captains wideopen legs like a goalpost.
A perfectly timed nutmeg.
As the captains face twisted in humiliation from the embarrassing skill, Taeyang leisurely headed for goal.
The forwards ahead couldnt catch his speed, leaving just two centerbacks.
They needed to hold him off until reinforcements arrived.
The problem was the firstyears chasing Taeyang had pushed up the line, putting them at a disadvantage all around.
At least it was a relief that this cocky newbie didnt seem likely to pass.
The two centerbacks exchanged glances, then one charged at Taeyang.
The faster of the two.
He kept pace with Taeyang, and the moment Taeyang tried to veer sideways, he matched up on his right, shoving him.
This player had bombed out of attack due to poor offensive skills and switched to defensea seemingly unremarkable guy, but he was slated to join Seoul UTD in high school.
All because of one talent speed.
His ball control sucked, so his pace died when dribbling, but without the ball as a defender, he could catch attackers with that speed.
Above all, hed trained for three years on marking opponents and stuck to it rigorously.
Right now, he was glued to Taeyangs right, neutralizing his dominant foot.
Taeyang found the senior nudging his legs annoying but didnt overdo it.
The guy was huffingif he shook him off, hed probably grab the jersey from behind.
Just as he feigned a fierce marking battle, judging that the last defender would come support once he was fully locked down.
Taeyang used the pressure from the right as rebound, cutting sharply left.
The moment the oncoming centerback blocked the right in place of his partner, as if anticipating it.
Taeyang swung his left foot powerfully.
The curling ball evaded the keepers hands and sucked into the top corner.
Both feet, huh.
Hes twofooted.
Damn.
They hadnt noticed since hed used only his right, but a topclass curler with the left confirmed it.
Jo Bongsu felt a shiver.
A firstyear freshman whod just entered, shaking five seniors and scoring.
Hed thought genius, but this was no ordinary genius.
At this age, even a oneyear gap meant huge physical and experience differences.
He wasnt just overcoming ithe was toying with them.
So, what do you think seeing it live?
Coach Jo Bongsu asked his assistants.
I nearly shit myself, Coach.
Me too. If Id been that good at his age, Id be on the national team now.
Gods unfair.
Jo Bongsu nodded.
He didnt know about other gods, but soccers god had never been fair.
It gave some talents that let them climb effortlessly to heights others could never reach no matter how hard they tried.
Thats why guys like me exist.
Huh?
Wanting to raise kids like that to the top for vicarious thrills.
Couldnt be the best player, but maybe the best coach.
Thats the appeal of youth development.
Anyway, call Taeyang over for now. Put a secondyear not playing in his spot.
Got it.
When the coach called, Taeyang trotted off the field and ran to the coach.
You called?
Why no passes?
To Jo Bongsus question, Taeyang answered without hesitation.
No need.
Cheeky kid.
No need, huh.
Hed earned the right with results.
But no modern coach liked that selfish play.
Right now it worked due to his overwhelming talent gap, but in pros? Questionable.
Even that legendary Lionel Messi didnt always drop to midfield, receive, beat a few, and score.
Still, dont you think passes are necessary?
To Jo Bongsus question, Taeyang answered without hesitation again.
No one to pass to.
Hm?
Didnt that mean hed scanned around while dribbling?
When I run, someone needs to run with me, but no one did.
Spot on.
As Taeyang said, when intercepting and breaking, at least one teammate needed to overlap on the same line for the counterbut no one had.
Sure, Taeyangs speed was insane, but the kid wasnt wrong.
Right, so thats why no passes.
Jo Bongsu said, patting Taeyangs head.
You didnt just watch individual skills in games?
Yeah. Watched match reviews too.
Not hard?
Kinda, but fun.
Good kid.
He wasnt just into solo runs, goals, and showboating.
He loved soccer itself, trying to understand it.
How could you not admire a kid that young thinking like that?
Jo Bongsu looked at him fondly and said.
Weve seen enough of your play. Stretch and wrap up for today.
Okay.
Taeyang glanced longingly at the field before retreating to stretch with the coach.
Jo Bongsu wanted more, but worried the humiliated seniors might get heated and injure him, so he couldnt risk it.
Cant ruin a treasure from the start.
Thinking of polishing this raw gem into the worlds greatest treasure, Coach Jo Bongsu already felt excited.
Meanwhile, behind him, U12 coach Jeong Hanyul watched Taeyang.
Hed come under pretense of checking promoted Dream of Seoul kids, observing from behind with a complicated expression before making a call and leaving.
After I left, the seniors dominated, ending 31.
Watching without me revealed Seoul UTDs strengths and weaknesses at a glance.
Thick defensive layers and protective defensive midfield line solid.
But front line and midfield resources too thin.
Especially the forwardsway too weak.
At that level, I could probably start as a firstyear?
Alright, good work! Newbies, shower and head home. While you do, second and thirdyears to the AV room. Got it?
Yes!
Thanks to my snitching, they might get chewed out. Or maybe wishgranting?
Following the coach to the showers, I locked eyes with the captain.
Ignoring his death glare, I strippedthen Gong Sehwan sidled up.
Hey, youre fucking good.
Told you I was decent.
Not decentfucking amazing. How do you do Phantom Dribble? Teach me.
If its not from the coach, youll just get yelled at for learning that crap.
Think so?
Probably.
At least the coach at my old middle school was like that.
Told us to practice passes instead of this shit, beat our asses, and benched us.
But where you live? Dorming?
Schools a bit far, so probably dorms.
Whoa, me too.
Where do you Oh, never mind.
Ah forgot something.
This guys loaded.
Hannamdong, right?
Were dorming togetherlets get tight.
I switched to a bright smile, offering my hand to Sehwan.
Huh? Yyeah, sure.
Money vibes from his sunny grin.
Hang with rich kidscant go wrong.
Chatted with Sehwan, rushed shower, and headed out.
See ya!
Yeah! Tomorrow!
Waved to coach, trudged toward the gate.
Huh?
Familiar face.
Jeong Hanyul coach, right?
Hi.
Yeah, doing well? You were great.
You watched?
Jeong Hanyul nodded.
Whats with this vibe?
Why so heavy?
Um whats up?
Taeyang.
He hemmed and hawed, bit his lip, then called me seriously.
Yes, Coach?
Any thoughts on going abroad?
What?