Chapter 71
Translator 8uhl
Chapter 71
Chapter Title The Eldest Son Desperately Wants Soccer
President Talric was a very patient man.
Even with four games resulting in one win, one draw, and two lossesleaving them in 14th placehe was never the type to rashly fire the manager.
He approved of Artellis plans, liked the coaches poached from Real Madrid, and couldnt ignore the fact that theyd overhauled the squad entirely.
Plus, the newly rebuilt players hadnt adapted yet and werent delivering any standout performances, which made it impossible to single out Artelli as the problem.
With the presidents complete trust, Artelli kept a close eye on the team.
The biggest issues were Dida and Arnold, no doubt.
Dida was an unsolvable problem.
The aging curve was something even modern science couldnt fix.
Theyd brought in Yonder Zenus as a replacement for that, but Arnold was a major headache.
What could be wrong with himthe command center of the defensive line, like the captain of the backline?
My father is seriously ill.
When Artelli met with Arnold and cautiously asked if there was some personal issue, Arnold reluctantly explained his situation.
Thats bad. Why didnt you tell the club?
My family problems... to the club?
Tell the president and ask him to take a look at your father.
Artelli reported the matter to the president and asked about ways to help.
President Talric provided the top medical team and hospital right away, as if hed been waiting for it.
Truth be told, Arnold couldve handled this himself. But as a bachelor trying to balance soccer and caring for his dad, the club stepping in let him focus purely on football and gave him some mental relief.
Arnold showed up to training with a brighter face and started regaining his old form bit by bit.
Then the next issue is...
Ilinyu.
The guy whod been Inters top scorer last season, drawing interest from giants like Real Madrid, hadnt scored once since the opener and was posting the worst ratings.
What was his deal?
Boring. Lonely. Is the club ostracizing Ilinyu?
Unlike his massive frame and scary face, Ilinyu was incredibly pure and shy. Fitting in at the club was clearly tough for him.
Artelli scratched his scruffy beard, looking troubled.
Uh... if you study English hard, wont things get better?
English, studying hard. But difficult. Ilinyu bad at difficult things.
Exactly.
Theyd assigned him the best English tutor, but Ilinyu was the type whod built a wall around studying.
No, more than thateven back in his Brazilian youth, his nickname had been bobo idiot.
His parents were so worried about their son fumbling multiplication tables outside of soccer that theyd even gotten him an IQ test.
Artelli sank into thought.
Should I ask Silva?
...No.
Silva was Spanish.
Portuguese and Spanish were similar enough that picking it up was quick and you could get by without formal lessons. But this was Ilinyu.
The issue was that Dida was the clubs only Portuguese speaker, and he was in worse shape than Ilinyu right now.
Ah, rightthere was one more who spoke Portuguese.
Mi Solshould I ask Sol?
My sun.
Yeah, Yoon Taeyang.
No idea where he learned it, but Taeyang was fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.
Fluent enough to pass for a local.
Lately, hanging with Ricella, hed picked up Italian fast tooanother Romance language.
Maybe he could look after Ilinyu?
Ill ask him for now.
Artelli stood, clasped his hands behind his back, and headed for the door.
Thats when it happened.
Manager!
Before he could open it, someone flung the door open from outside.
Alles? Whats wrong?
A ffight broke out!
A fight? Who?!
Ilinyu and Taeyang!
Artelli freaked out.
What grudge does he have against the kid to pick a fight with him! That damn Ilinyu...! Is Taeyang okay?
Huh? Ah, uh...
Whats that mean?
Ilinyu got beat up by Taeyang and passed out.
No way.
Ilinyu? By Yoon Taeyang?
Not the reverse?
In disbelief, Artelli rushed to the training pitch with Alles.
The players were clustered, staring at Alles, while Yoon Taeyang stood with Mateo Silva, looking all smug.
Taeyang looked so innocent, it was hard to believe hed been in a scrap.
Seeing Ilinyu collapsed and out cold, Artelli fixed Yoon Taeyang with a hard stare.
Sol, what happened?
Silva answered his question.
Ilinyu apparently made a racist gesture at Taeyang.
What...?
Racism was getting taken more seriously than ever as time went on.
It still happened, surebut get caught, and it wasnt just backlash. Report it, and it became a crime.
At least here in England.
Racism...
His looks were rough, but Ilinyu was a good soul.
Why would that sweet guy...?
Ilinyu woke up soon after, huffing and puffing.
I no do racism! Ilinyu hate racism!
Taeyang shot back right away.
Bullshit. You slant your eyes in front of me and say no? Need another thrashing to wise up?
...Yoon Taeyang wasnt just fluent in Portuguesehe swore like a native too.
Artelli eyed Ilinyu.
Did you really?
Ilinyu went pale.
Didnt know. Didnt know that racist gesture. Thought way befriend East Asian. Sorry, Taeyang!
With that, Ilinyu shuffled over to Taeyang and dropped to his knees.
That did itTaeyang quit fuming and asked.
You really didnt know? Then whyd you do it?
Friend taught. Say you soccer amazing, wanna friend. Teach do this get close. Prproof here. Texts on phone!
Taeyang let out a sigh and asked.
That guy a player?
No, Brazil friend.
Guys no good. Probably pranking you. Cut him off.
That so?! Him? Why?
Ilinyu looked floored.
A buddy hed trusted tried to screw him over?
You succeeding mustve stung.
...How could he.
Taeyang tsked at Ilinyu, who was turning tearyeyed from the shock.
Hey, its fine. Tons of folksll friend you without him. Right, Matty?
Huh? What? Friend? Oh, Ilinyu? Obviously.
See? Mattys in too. Ditch the trash. Got it?
Yyeah. Listen Taeyang. Thanks, forgive me.
Sure.
Taeyang patted Ilinyus shoulder, then turned to Artelli.
Let this one slideguy got duped by a shitty friend.
Artelli let out a laugh. The sly kid had buried his own roughhousing without a trace. How could he not grin?
Fine. But you went overboard with the fists, so payback look after Ilinyu proper. Deal?
...Deal.
Taeyang look after me? Awesome. Taeyang soccer great, fight great. Qualify.
In this cutthroat world, dont trust folks so quick.
Huh? Why? Mom say trust live. Trust world beautiful.
...Your moms a gem.
Artelli, whod watched it all, nodded with a satisfied smile.
Yoon Taeyang acted like everything was a hassle, but he had natural leadership baked in.
Maybe thats why Mateo Silva rushed to hand him the number 7?
Ow, my back. Knees bad enough, now back creaks. Old geezers oughta die off.
...Whining about age right in front of the old man. Or maybe he was just too lazy for everything.
Nickname ties to dogs, so he acts the partand now a bears tailing me too.
Taeyang, tomorrow!
The sunny dog grins and heads home to family posttraining. Problems the bear.
Taeyang, visit your house okay?
This ones gunning for my place.
Beat him dogpack style once felt bad, fed him dinner and played. Big mistake.
Now he shows daily.
Dont always invite, but rejection leaves him slumped like a drenched bear. Kinda sad.
Yeah, dinner today. My house.
Yay! Thanks, Taeyang!
Bearman beams and trails me.
Son!
Mom waiting like always.
Mom!
Oh, Ilinyu too?
Uh, um... hell...o?
Hello. You moron. Memorize a greeting.
Ssorry, Taeyang.
Mom chuckled at Ilinyu, then feigned sternness at me.
Dont bully him. Poor guys lost.
Trueoverdo it, he shrinks.
Wouldnt snap if hed nailed hello after four hundred tries.
Hows this doofus ace soccer?
Soccers got its mentality swings too.
But Taeyang, dinner tonight?
Dunno. Mom, whats for dinner?
Ilinyus herepork belly?
Oh! Pork belly!
Cant greet, but nails pork belly.
Doenjang jjigae!
Doenjang stew too.
Pure instinct machine.
Whoa! Ilinyu!
Home from school, Yeoreum spots him, grins huge, charges.
Ilinyu scoops up Yeoreum easy.
Ilinyu, play with me?
Little rascal, miss you!
Ilinyu, my toys?
Cookies play?
Ilinyu, get me?
Yakgwa yummy before!
Nonsequitur champ.
They get along fine.
Matching mental ages, maybe.
Wild.
Brazil slums kidfriends who even coached pranks on me, all gang typesyet this pure?
Ilinyu, soccer good?
Taeyang, brother say what?
Asking if good soccer?
Yes. Uh, yes?
Better than bro?
...he ask.
Ilinyu points me, thumbsup Yeoreum.
Straight shooter.
I smirk.
Ilinyu, next gamegoal with bro!
He say.
Got it. No lonely. Ilinyu do good.
Ilinyu nods firm to Yeoreum.
Next foe? Burnley.
No pushover.
Burnley easy?
Were 14th, theyre 15th.
Real fight.
Stay sharp, win.
Or drop to 15th.