Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Rift
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Crack.
***
I tried to rush out for the celebration, but got held back by the butcher shop owner's daughter, so all I could do was watch Yannick Feit's ceremony from the bench.
The players who'd dashed out for the ceremony started trickling back to the bench one by one.
I turned my head once more and glared at the giant.
[Name: Hans Meyer]
Current Ability: ★
Potential: ★★☆
One-liner: Overwhelming power.
The Scouter awkwardly displayed the giant's info, who was grinning sheepishly.
Well. Even without the Scouter, I knew plenty about this guy.
'Hans's butcher shop has insane meat quality.'
I'd heard a pro player from the club ran a butcher shop, went to check it out, bought some meat, and became a regular after that.
Being a regular at his meat shop was one thing, but we weren't close.
No fights or arguments, just personalities that didn't quite mesh.
Sometimes people with different personalities hit it off anyway.
But Hans Meyer was introverted and lacked the killer instinct essential for a pro soccer player.
And despite his rough looks, his hobbies were supposedly tea ceremonies and flower arranging.
'...Not sticking knives into people and calling it flower arranging, I hope?'
Anyway.
I never bothered trying to convince him to focus on soccer.
Even if he had talent, it would've been the same.
Everyone has their own priorities in life.
Anyway.
Hans prioritized inheriting the family business over his aging parents' wishes.
He said his dream was taking over his parents' shop so they could enjoy a comfortable retirement.
'I only realized after my parents passed in my past life that I should've treated them better. He's got his shit together more than me.'
Lately, I'd been thinking only about the things I couldn't do for them in my previous life.
'Still, thank God for my little sister.'
Even when I got busy with work, she took good care of our parents, so I worried less.
'She's a huge help in all sorts of ways.'
And my sister wasn't just helpful with our parents.
- ATM: Here's this month's revenue report, partner.
She was delivering top efficiency through auto-farming.
'As expected, sis-mode performance is rock-solid.'
***
The second half resumed shortly after, and before long, halftime was called.
The opponents crumbled the moment they conceded, and if we'd had three more minutes, we would've added another goal.
It was a bit regrettable that the ref cut off our attacking chance so sharply at the end of stoppage time.
But... what can you do.
'Can't expect too much from a fourth-division ref.'
Anyway.
"Dem Morgengrauen entgegen, ziehn wir gegen den Wind. (We march toward dawn, against the wind.)"
"Wir werden alles zerlegen, bis wir Deutscher Meister sind. (We'll smash everything until we're German champions.)"
Union Berlin's chant echoed through the stadium.
I slowly scanned the stands and nodded.
'At least no one's storming the pitch yet.'
By the way, Chairman Dirk Zingler and I had already set aside fines for potential fan pitch invasions after the game.
'Chairman, fans will storm the pitch once we clinch the next win, right?'
'100%.'
The funny part was that Union Berlin fans, anticipating their own pitch invasion, had upped their donation amounts.
'Beautiful how the club—from top to bottom—moves as one for the team.'
Anyway.
The players entered the locker room, suppressing their excitement as best they could. We were ahead, but the game wasn't over yet.
Still, their faces couldn't hide the joy of impending victory.
"I get that you're all thrilled, but the game's not done. Bring those smiles down."
I worked hard to calm the players, who looked like they'd already won. If they stayed this pumped, Thomas Tuchel would lose it when he walked in.
"Ja!"
And shortly after.
"Good work in the first half, everyone."
Thomas Tuchel entered the locker room, scanned the players' faces, nodded, and slowly spoke.
"I'm not planning to sit back and defend. Keep hammering them."
The Union Berlin players focused intently on Tuchel's words.
***
The second half between Union Berlin and SV Babelsberg kicked off.
It was a one-sided affair for Union Berlin—unavoidable, really.
SV Babelsberg, mid-table and out of contention, lacked motivation.
If they'd been rivals, things might've been different, but the clubs actually got along decently.
SV Babelsberg was one of the rare left-leaning clubs in East Germany, where neo-Nazis dominated—making them enemies of right-wing teams.
But Union Berlin's diverse fanbase kept its identity neutral, so no bad blood.
'They didn't overlap much to begin with.'
Even so, SV Babelsberg fought hard for an equalizer till the end.
Motivation aside, fans had paid to cheer them on.
But at the 80th minute.
Union Berlin's second goal sealed it, and SV Babelsberg players started giving up one by one.
Facing this season's dominant fourth-division force, eating two goals was no easy feat.
***
The moment the ref's whistle blew, the pitch was flooded with fans.
Players and supporters merged into one, sharing the victory joy.
In that chaos, my first move was.
"What the hell are you all doing?! The season's not over yet...!"
"Keep your... keep your voice down, Thomas."
Silencing the oblivious Thomas Tuchel.
***
We clinched the league title with the win, announcing our return to the third division. Local papers covered Union Berlin's triumph.
[Union Berlin Promoted—Will They Go Undefeated All the Way?]
['Tactical Genius' Thomas Tuchel Saves Union Berlin.]
[Experts on Union Berlin's Undefeated Run: 'This Is the Real Test.']
But clinching the title didn't end our season.
We still had the unbeaten record to chase.
"You've all done great so far. But save the celebrations for after the season's done."
Tuchel demanded full effort in every remaining game.
Even without the unbeaten streak on the line, he would've pushed for max intensity.
He hated losing at this point in his career.
'Well, same here.'
My own competitive fire let me understand. Losing felt like utter shit—beyond words.
The players nodded at Tuchel's words, and I felt optimistic about Union Berlin's future.
'If we keep this momentum, maybe direct promotion from the third division after an unbeaten run?'
But in the next game after clinching.
Slack from secured glory led to a shock.
[Union Berlin Stunned—Undefeated Dream Shattered!]
We put in a lifeless showing and lost to a lower-table side.
'Well... with barely any time for the manager and players to gel, staying unbeaten this long was already a miracle.'
Unlike my bitter inner consolation, some players sighed in relief post-loss, freed from unbeaten pressure.
Tuchel snapped when those who'd mailed it didn't rage at the defeat.
"Losing and smiling? You worthless shits! No pride as soccer players?!"
I had to bust my ass calming furious Thomas Tuchel.
'Seriously, maybe I need to tranq-dart this guy?'
Honestly, some players' attitudes pissed me off too, but I got their side.
'Can't expect pro-level drive from amateurs.'
They were amateurs, not pros.
Maintaining peak condition every game was already above and beyond.
Anyway.
With Tuchel and the squad's vibe in ruins, Union Berlin lost the next one too, hitting a two-game skid.
After the final whistle, Tuchel glanced at the players, said nothing, and walked away.
Even with games left, he'd mentally cut some loose.
'Haa...'
Despite my desperate efforts, the rift between Tuchel and the squad was widening.