Towards the Ballon d'Or. (2)

After securing a 2:0 victory against Sevilla, during the A-match period. Having just finished the Asian second qualifiers against Sri Lanka and now preparing for the next fixture, the conversation that surfaced while strolling with my mother came completely out of the blue.

“Eh? Rest for this match?”

“Yeah.”

Because I had tallied three goals and two assists in the first half of the Sri Lanka match that ended in a 10:0 rout, my current form was flawless. Yet the suggestion to sit out? My mother must have had her reasons, but with the Ballon d’Or count feeling slightly short, I was eager to play more.

“Why bother…”

“After a meeting among the coaching staff, they concluded that the North Korea match is too dangerous.”

But my mother cut me off with a firm voice.

“Haa, I don’t even want to take you to North Korea, Ha-neul.”

Having never been kidnapped during my football career, my mother’s worry seemed excessive.

“Ha-neul, the North Koreans are more dangerous than you think. Especially since this is the North-South match held in North Korea after nearly thirty years. They’ll come out rougher than usual. Probably just targeting your legs. And since this match won’t even be broadcast on TV, it’ll be even fiercer. The referee will obviously favor North Korea.”

Hearing my mother’s words, I understood her concern. In my past life, when facing North Koreans, players had desperately targeted my legs. And in this world, where men were weaker, caution was necessary.

“What did the coach say?”

My mother wouldn’t do that, but suspecting she might be giving me special treatment, I asked. She smiled.

“Diena coach was the first to speak. The moment he heard what kind of football North Korea plays, he strongly insisted that Ha-neul should be taken out.”

Diena coach had indeed been ambiguous when observed from the sidelines, yet I sensed he cared for me.

“So don’t worry and rest well. It’s not like we’ll be eliminated from the second qualifiers for losing one game.”

I nodded at my mother’s words.

Moreover, at this stage with the Ballon d’Or ceremony only two months away, I worried about injury. I had no idea how ruthlessly the North Korean players in this world would play.

If I played an extra game and suffered a bad tackle or injury, it would be a loss, but no loss at all.

“Yes. I’ll follow your words.”

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“Your expression is gloomy.”

“It’s just… disappointing not to play because of those guys, and I’m worried other players might be in danger too.”

“It probably will be dangerous.”

“But what if only I am excluded?”

“This is a secret Diena coach told only me. He said you are more important than all the other Korean players combined.”

“Diena?”

“And I didn’t strongly disagree with Diena’s assessment. Although I am your mother, if it were only Ha-neul, we would win on the World Cup semi-final stage.”

“…Even without the others, it would be difficult for me too.”

“Haha, so Mom’s heart was bigger than I thought.”

I was grateful that my mother thought of me, but the thought that only I would be left out made my heart ache a little.

In my past life, I had once asked to be taken out first from a dangerous match like China. But the bond built while playing together in the World Cup quarterfinals or Asian Cup must have been deeper.

“Yes. Then I’ll follow Mom’s words.”

“Thank you, Ha-neul.”

After our conversation ended, returning to the lobby, I spotted Yu-ri slightly sweating as if playing table tennis.

“Was he playing table tennis?”

“Yeah. I was supposed to walk with you, but I went with the coach, so I just started playing table tennis.”

“Come with me. You’re pretty close to our mom too.”

“Well… But we don’t have much time to spend with our families anyway.”

Yeah, unnecessarily delicate.

“Imo doesn’t do coaching?”

“Yeah. She said she likes commentary.”

Yu-ri’s mother was also one of the 2002 heroes. If she started coaching, securing a spot in the national team wouldn’t be difficult, but commentary seemed to suit her better.

“Then there’s no choice. Ah, right. And be careful.”

“What? Table tennis?”

“No. About the North Korea match. I heard from Mom it won’t be broadcast on TV. It might be dangerous, so be careful.”

“Ooh, you’re worrying about me?”

Yu-ri looked at me with a mischievous smile. The concern was correct, but seeing that expression… it was a bit annoying.

“Ya!”

I lightly tapped her forearm. Yu-ri, who got hit, rubbed the spot. Not really painful, yet she acted spoiled, which annoyed me. I tried to hit again, but Yu-ri stepped back.

“Hey. You know my punch strength is completely girly, right?”

“Girly? Don’t act spoiled.”

“Enough, let’s play table tennis. Since I might not be able to play tomorrow if I go to North Korea, let’s do it now.”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

“But have you ever been to North Korea?”

“Yeah… no. Never.”

Other seniors say you have to be careful in North Korea. If you wander around wrongly, you get shot.

In my experience, there was no chance of wandering around wrongly. When I went, the place controlled everything from the start. But in this world’s North Korea, it might be different, so I filed Yu-ri’s words away in my mind.

“Ha-neul, don’t be too scared. I’ll protect you.”

“Protect? Who protects whom.”

The arrogance… probably Yu-ri, going to North Korea for the first time, would be too scared to go anywhere.

…And that was the same for me too.

As soon as entering North Korea, all luggage was inspected. Electronic devices like phones and even books were confiscated, and I was forcibly locked in the room.

Either 28 or 29 years ago, I had gone on a North Korea expedition once. At that time, after winning the Ballon d’Or several times, the soldiers came secretly to get autographs, making it slightly friendly. But this time, the atmosphere of the North Korea expedition was merciless.

After not being able to train much in North Korea, the match result was 0:0.

Looking at the result, it was a normal match. But Kim Seul-gi, who led the team’s attack in my absence, received several bad tackles and nearly fought with the North Korean players. Yu-ri rolled on the ground several times.

“Huu, Ha-neul, you did well to rest.”

“…Sorry, I should have gone too.”

“No. Really, it’s good that you didn’t come out.”

Yu-ri, who had been boasting before departure, after tasting the North Korean flavor severely, stuck out her tongue on the return flight.

“If you had come out, I would have really tried to kill you? The North Koreans asked. Are you not coming out?”

“Th-that much?”

Hearing Yu-ri’s words, I thought maybe this match wasn’t a big obstacle on the way to the Ballon d’Or. If I had gone, injury would have been almost certain.

It was a bit sorry for the players who rolled on the ground during the match, but inwardly, it was fortunate.

Anyway, after ending the North Korea match and returning to Barcelona. We continued winning by beating Eibar 4:1 away and Slavia Prague ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠5:0 away. I scored one more goal in the Eibar away match.

Well, although Albarea recorded a hat-trick in the Slavia Prague away match, after the match and checking, there was no sign of the Ballon d’Or ballot changing. Still maintaining first place?

And the following home match against Valladolid.

I scored two goals against Valladolid, and we won 2:0. But Marisol also recorded a hat-trick against Leganes, moving up to 15 goals and narrowing the gap with second-place Alberta by a slim margin.

Marisol seemed to have found her direction after wandering last year, fully focusing on what she does best. She appeared to be utilizing her scoring ability at 100%, which had started recovering from the end of last season.

The media began fanning the rivalry between me and her by highlighting such Marisol.

As October ended, finally the news I had been waiting for arrived.

The Ballon d’Or award ceremony is one day before my birthday, December 4. Whether they wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to give the award before I became an adult or it was coincidental, since underage winners are historic, the award ceremony schedule was smiling at me.

The slightly disappointing point is that my name is not in the male Ballon d’Or candidates? I was aiming for the unprecedented Ballon d’Or 3-crown, but it seemed unfortunately impossible.

‘Anyway, if it’s 2-crown, it’s fine, it’s satisfying.’

Now, there is one month left until the Ballon d’Or award ceremony. And since voting closes before the next A-match match, about three matches until voting ends.

Looking at the situation going around with favorable public opinion towards me, it doesn’t seem like there will be any upset where the odds are reversed.