The Goalkeeper's Long Shot
It had been a month since the university semester began. Early April, with midterms just two weeks away. I sat in the lecture hall trying my best to pay attention, but…
I don't understand a single thing.
It had been a full ten years since I last touched anything academic. Even two years of military service had left my memories hazy, so after spending an entire decade in another world, there was no chance I'd remember any of this. General education courses were somewhat manageable, but my business administration major classes were a complete blank. I couldn't even recall the introductory concepts and had to start from zero. My head was throbbing.
Just don't get an F. That's all I ask.
After returning from another world, there was no way I could live an ordinary life—graduate college and become a regular salaryman. If I finished my degree, I'd probably run the cafe with Park Nayoung or find work that let me use the hero's power. Dropping out entirely wouldn't be the worst idea. But my parents would lose their minds, so I decided to at least walk away with the diploma.
"That concludes today's lecture."
The professor's incomprehensible ramblings finally ended. I'd promised to borrow notes from Lee Yujin, last year's top student, and was about to head home when my friend sitting beside me, Park Seonghun, grabbed my arm.
"Hey, Kim Hyunjin. You got time after this?"
"Nothing planned. Why?"
"I set up a soccer game with the computer engineering guys, but we can't get enough people. Must be because exams are right around the corner."
He'd arranged a match against the computer science department but was short on players, so he'd come asking me. Before I was summoned to the other world, I used to kick the ball around with him and the rest of our classmates from time to time. Since coming back, though, I hadn't joined them once. Running the cafe and spending time with the girls had slowly pulled me away from my old friends. If I kept this up, I'd turn into a voluntary loner, so I decided to participate for the first time in ages.
"It's been forever since I played. I'll probably suck."
"Just fill the numbers, man. This hyung will show you how it's done when I score a beauty."
-Hey, hey! What the hell are you doing? Block him!
-Pass it! Pass the ball!
Twenty or so guys were shouting at the top of their lungs, sweating buckets as they ran across the nearby elementary school field. The first half was almost over and the score was 0-2. Not us leading by two—them. Instead of watching anyone score, I'd already seen our net bulge twice.
Soccer's harder than I remembered.
My dribbling was absolute garbage. Running was one thing; running while controlling the ball was something else entirely. With more practice I might improve, but right now it felt impossible. I was reminded all over again that soccer wasn't a game you could win with physical ability alone. No matter how good my conditioning was, without the technical skill to handle the ball, I wasn't making any standout plays.
Our goalkeeper's a disaster, too.
The guy between our posts was basically an automatic door. Whenever the ball came near, he didn't so much save it as politely open the goal for it. The original keeper must have bailed, because they'd stuck some random person back there just to fill the spot.
The whistle for halftime blew. Park Seonghun, who'd been playing up front, kicked at the dirt in frustration at the score.
"Sorry!"
Everyone gathered to rest. The sophomore who'd been forced into goal lowered his head in apology. Since we'd basically volunteered him for the position, no one could really chew him out.
One of my classmates looked around at the others. "Anyone here who actually knows how to play keeper?"
Eyes darted away. If anyone had volunteered earlier, they wouldn't have given the spot to that underclassman.
Goalkeeper, huh…
It was the only position out of the eleven that let you use your hands. You could use your whole body, which meant I could cover for my lack of technique with raw physical ability. My footwork was still clumsy, but I had the Precise Hand Technique skill. When it came to hand control, I was confident.
The more I thought about it, the more it felt like goalkeeper was my true calling on the pitch.
"I'll do it."
"What? You?"
One of my classmates tilted his head skeptically. But with no better options, no one objected.
"Ahem. Please take good care of the goal."
The second half began. With the keepers swapped, the two teams seemed evenly matched in skill. The ball flew back and forth in a fierce battle. One of our players launched a powerful shot toward the opponent's goal, only for it to be blocked right in front. The defending players exchanged quick passes and immediately launched a counterattack. Our forwards who had pushed up scrambled back, but they were too late.
-What are you doing?! Get him!
Someone shouted, but every defender had already been beaten. All that remained was a one-on-one between the attacker and me. After seeing our previous keeper's "automatic door" performance, the opposing player wore a confident grin as he took the shot. It was a fast, sharp strike aimed at the far corner of the goal.
The shooter was already smiling, certain the ball would go in as he watched it fly. But that smile didn't last long.
Something like this is nothing.
With my holy power activated, the ball seemed to move in slow motion. I could see exactly where it was heading. The instant it left the opponent's foot, my body was already launching itself toward the ball's trajectory. I caught the soccer ball cleanly in the air and landed lightly.
"Nice save!"
One of our defenders shouted as I stopped the shot. The opposing players, who had been expecting a goal, were visibly shaken. I spotted my friend's face beyond the halfway line. I threw the ball in his direction. What looked like a casual toss flew over the halfway line and landed with perfect speed and accuracy right at the striker's feet.
"What the—how is that even possible?!"
Even though it was just an elementary school field, the distance to the halfway line had to be at least thirty or forty meters. I'd made the pass without any wind-up. While everyone stood stunned, Park Seonghun took off with the ball.
"Stop that guy!"
Most of their players had committed to the counterattack, leaving few defenders back. On top of that, they'd been so sure they'd score that the remaining defenders were easily beaten. The keeper dove desperately but couldn't stop it. The ball flew into the net.
"Uwooooooh!"
Park Seonghun roared like a wild animal as our first goal finally went in. Knowing exactly who to thank, he came running toward me.
"Hyunjin!"
"Stay back, you idiot!"
The game wasn't over yet. I stopped the fool who was about to waste all his stamina celebrating like we'd already won.
The match resumed. Several more shots flew toward our goal after that, but every single one ended up in my hands. I guarded the net like an iron fortress and tried a few more long-range throws like before, but they weren't about to fall for the same trick twice. The ball went back and forth between both goals as the second half wound down.
Realizing my goalkeeping was on another level, the opponents changed their strategy. Deciding it would be too hard to score and win from a 2-1 deficit, they focused entirely on defense. The game turned into a slow, grinding stalemate.
This isn't good.
No matter how well a keeper performed, if the strikers couldn't score, the gap wouldn't close. With little time left, we pushed forward aggressively and ended up leaving ourselves open to a counter. In a completely empty defense, their attacker took another shot on goal. But just like before, it was stopped by my hands.
"Wow, you're actually good."
The opposing striker looked at me with a mocking smirk. There was less than a minute left. His expression seemed to say, No matter how well you save them, what can you possibly do now? Convinced of their victory, he slowly jogged back toward the halfway line.
I took a quick look around the field. Their players had our attackers completely surrounded. Even passing looked difficult. Everyone seemed half-defeated, their energy drained.
Passing looks impossible. Might as well try a shot.
I'd gotten a feel for shooting while guarding the goal. Since it was an elementary school field, the distance didn't seem that far. Thirty seconds remained. With the mindset that I had nothing to lose, I blasted a powerful shot toward the goal.
No one had expected a long-range strike on goal instead of a pass. Every eye on the field—our players and theirs—followed the soccer ball as it soared high into the air, spinning rapidly. The opposing players looked at my shot with the same mocking expression as before. But it didn't take long for that mockery to turn into pure shock.
"Huh? Wha—?!"
The ball drew a perfect arc over the halfway line, sailed past the defenders, and dropped right behind the keeper, who had already relaxed thinking the game was over. The ball bounced once, then rolled straight into the net, rattling the goal.
Even after the net shook, the entire field fell silent. About five full seconds passed.
"Waaaaah!"
Every player from the business department erupted in cheers. The computer engineering players, on the other hand, stared at the ball in the net with completely hollow expressions, unable to believe what they'd just seen.
"Kya, that feels good."
"Did you see the looks on their faces at the end?"
"Yeah. They looked like their souls had left their bodies."
My goal marked the end of regular time. We then won the penalty shootout 3-0, securing victory for the business department. The computer engineering students, who had thought the game was already won, left in a daze after the incomprehensible defeat.
After the match, I went to a pub with Park Seonghun and the rest of my classmates for some beer. I'd been worried that staying away so long would make me a total outcast, but becoming the hero of the soccer game let me naturally fit in again.
"Hey Kim Hyunjin. When the hell did you get so good at soccer?"
"Seriously. Weren't you just average last year?"
"The saves were impressive, but a goalkeeper scoring? I seriously thought I was seeing things."
Hearing them praise me, I smiled with satisfaction.
"I just worked out hard over the break. That last goal was honestly just luck."
"Luck alone couldn't pull that off. It only comes to those with real skill."
We passed drinks around, accepting the compliments at a comfortable pace. Everyone was in high spirits after turning a losing game around, and the atmosphere quickly became warm and lively as glasses emptied.
One of my classmates, picking at some snacks, looked at us and asked, "So who do you guys think is the prettiest girl in our department?"
When guys got together and the alcohol started flowing, the conversation naturally shifted from my performance to talking about women.