Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: vs FC Carl Zeiss Jena
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***
"My child..."
Yannick Foite, who was set to become a father.
He sorted through his thoughts while avoiding eye contact with Park Chan-hyuk.
Up until now, Yannick Foite had never even imagined something like 'marriage.'
From the start, he'd resolved to live alone, so he could even afford to pass on the weekly wages the club offered him to his teammates.
"Well... I did think that if I ever got married someday, it'd be nice if it was with my current girlfriend. But I never expected a kid first."
After breaking up with his ex-girlfriend over various troubles, Yannick had spent a while single.
Then, he'd spotted his current girlfriend working part-time at a café, fallen for her at first sight, confessed, and they'd started dating.
She didn't even know who he was. She had no interest in soccer.
"...What's this?"
"Data Structures and Algorithms."
To Yannick Foite, his girlfriend focusing on her studies looked good.
As their relationship lengthened, it naturally led to them living together.
'And then she got pregnant.'
They say a child is the greatest gift from heaven.
But since it came at a completely unexpected time, it was only natural for all sorts of thoughts to arise.
"Marriage... I'm not sure yet, but I've got to raise the kid right."
In reality, plenty of soccer players skipped the wedding and lived in common-law relationships. It minimized legal burdens and kept things flexible.
Swoosh.
"...What's this?"
"A new contract?"
While he was lost in thought, Park Chan-hyuk had pulled out a fresh contract.
It eliminated the appearance bonus and instead quadrupled the goal bonus.
"...This feels off somehow."
"Just sign it. Score goals, and it'll be fine."
Park Chan-hyuk's next words awakened the soul lurking within Yannick Foite.
"You've got to earn that baby formula money, Yannick."
Park Chan-hyuk's voice was like the temptation of the devil itself, but he had no choice but to sign the contract.
***
Yannick Foite signed the contract I handed him.
Replacing appearance bonuses with higher goal bonuses wasn't common, but it happened often enough. It was to motivate the player.
'Hell, some players even bet on themselves for motivation—what's this compared to that.'
Of course, it wasn't everyday stuff. It ramped up the pressure on the player.
'If it doesn't work out, we can just revert the contract.'
Anyway, this deal with Yannick Foite seemed like it would go off without a hitch.
Up to now, he wasn't the type to crumble under pressure.
'Pregnancy... that's a bit of a different case.'
The fact that his mentality hadn't shattered to the point of requesting leave meant he had some steel nerves, at least.
'While we're on the topic, maybe give him a short break.'
I decided to give Yannick Foite one game off.
- I'll rest you for the next match. Go blow off some steam by the sea with your girlfriend.
- I'm really fine.
- Just go.
The intent was for him to have a serious talk with his girlfriend about their future.
Personal opinion, but it wasn't a bad thing for a soccer player to build a stable family early.
Being responsible as captain felt different from being responsible as a breadwinner.
'Well... easy for me to say since it's not my situation.'
I figured this incident would help Yannick Foite mature even more, especially as Union Berlin's captain.
'At least it's not a physical issue.'
Since it was just psychological strain from his girlfriend's pregnancy, I could ease up on the worrying a bit.
'Next match is FC Carl Zeiss Jena, the bottom of the league. Should be fine without Yannick.'
Anyway, I checked Union Berlin's schedule.
'So, the first game after Yannick gets back from leave will be the Pokal.'
The DFB-Pokal second round was against Paderborn, from the same league as Union Berlin.
'Perfect for a performance check.'
I could test the new contract's effects then.
***
The next day, Yannick Foite headed straight out on leave.
"Manager! We're requesting leave too!"
"You wanna knock up your girlfriend too?"
"...I'll stick to training, Manager!"
"Yeah, let's get to it."
The other players asked me for leave too, but after hearing why Yannick got it, they quietly filed out.
"Boss, I'm off!"
"Yeah, have a good one."
Watching Yannick Foite head off happily with his girlfriend stirred up an odd loneliness in me.
Not marriage, but I suddenly wanted a girlfriend.
'At my age, that's natural.'
Before regressing, I was in my late thirties, but now I was twenty—twenty-two in Korean age, license still valid.
The age where a spark could ignite from the slightest brush.
'Prime time like this, and I'm rotting away in the manager's office.'
Humans are living creatures, after all. No matter how strong your mental fortitude, you can't beat hormones.
- Park Chan-hyuk: Hey, Park Jung-ah. Hook me up with a girl.
Unable to hold back the loneliness, I messaged my one and only sister to introduce me to someone. Ideally, one of her company's coworkers.
- Park Jung-ah: (Park Chan-hyuk arranged marriage list.jpg)
- Park Jung-ah: Let me know if any catch your eye.
Not long after sending the text, a reply came from Park Jung-ah.
'...What the hell is this.'
I couldn't hide my bewilderment at her message.
It listed personal details, and every single one was from elite upper-class families.
'...Isn't this straight-up arranged marriage?'
I'd asked for a casual hookup, not a grave plot.
***
Park Jung-ah's family had worked hard to assimilate into German culture, but others still saw them mostly as immigrants.
Still, their efforts had shed the 'nouveau riche from the East' label, though they weren't fully accepted into upper-class circles.
They'd built some shield with investments from the German government and firms, but couldn't fully trust them. For stable operations, tying into the upper class through marriage was necessary.
In any country, naturally joining the upper crust meant blood ties.
Objectively, Park Chan-hyuk wasn't a bad marriage prospect.
His specs were pretty solid all around.
'Ex-soccer player, so good build and frame.'
Plus, he held half the shares in the investment firm and was currently Union Berlin's manager, backed fervently by the fans.
No exact count, but official members alone topped thirty thousand.
For reference, Park Chan-hyuk being Union Berlin's manager was a huge boon for the company's operations.
'Oddly, oppa's got great support from Union Berlin fans.'
If the German government wronged him, they'd rise up in an instant.
'Union Berlin's always been the rebellious club historically.'
Right now, East Berlin was seeing rising far-right sentiment and all sorts of racist incidents.
But in the Köpenick area where Union Berlin was, racism didn't exist.
That was why the family was preparing to move to Köpenick.
The one snag in the arranged marriage plan?
'Feel bad for whatever future sister-in-law ends up with that jerk...'
[Union Berlin Manager Park Chan-hyuk on Recent Celebration Controversy... "If You Don't Like My Celebrations, Just Don't Concede."]
It was the risk that came with being Park Chan-hyuk.
***
I turned down Park Jung-ah's proposal.
At twenty-two, I had no desire to enter the grave.
'No, this can't be real arranged marriage... We're not some chaebol.'
...Are we chaebol?
Thinking about it, maybe we were.
'Sigh. I'll think about it later. Matches come first.'
Union Berlin's opponent was league-bottom FC Carl Zeiss Jena.
The game was a one-sided domination by Union Berlin.
Not just tactics—the squad quality gap was overwhelming.
Roberto Lewandowski started up top in place of Yannick Foite on leave.
Roberto Lewandowski dropped into attacking midfield to link up aggressively.
He still needed a bit more tempering, but his playstyle was starting to take shape.
Lewandowski's pass went to Timo Breitner infiltrating the space behind.
Timo Breitner calmly slotted it home.
'Classic wingers aren't total zeros at scoring.'
At Timo Breitner's goal, I raised my left hand above my head from the bench.
"Nice one!!!"
For the record, this wasn't favoritism toward Yannick or Hong Min.
My right hand was cuffed to the bench post.
"Daniel, can you uncuff this?"
"No."