Chapter 36

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Translator: Silver Dragon

Chapter: 36

Chapter Title: La Decimoquinta -10

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Both Real Madrid players and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bayern Munich players looked utterly exhausted.

The moment they realized this was a do-or-die battle with nowhere left to retreat, tension and fatigue crashed over them, leading to more pass errors and little mistakes.

Toni Goretzka's pass toward Karim Müller went a bit too long, and Sergio Pepe intercepted it. The ball then came straight to me as I had dropped back to bolster the midfield battle.

Honestly, game devs, if you've watched this Champions League final, fix my card already.

How the hell is my defensive stat only 7? I'm defending like a beast here.

I took the ball and nutmegged Adam Stone, slipping it right between his legs before brushing past him.

"Heh heh heh..."

I shook my hips teasingly with a mocking chuckle, baiting him to grab my neck, but maybe because he knew about the card, Adam Stone didn't grab it.

Unlike his brother, he had some patience.

Charlie Stone would've gone straight for the neck.

Anyway, after shaking off Adam Stone, I toyed with the Japanese fullback Asahi and breezed past him. Straight shot.

Bam-!

Thud-

"Puta!!!"

Whoa, this madman actually saved that?

The shot rocketed into the corner of the net, but Munich's keeper stretched out his long arm and blocked it.

A corner kick was awarded to Real Madrid. Feeling frustrated, I turned to Luis García beside me and chewed him out.

"Your pass sucked, that's why!"

"Gilipolla, what bullshit! I didn't even give that pass!"

The pass shuttle talking back?

"Madrid, Madrid, Madrid, ¡Hala Madrid!"

"Y nada más, y nada más, ¡Hala Madrid!"

I took Lehmann's punched clearance and shook the net with a bicycle kick.

Anyone could see it was an insane goal, and I got hyped up completely.

I ripped off my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠jersey and sprinted toward the Madrid fans, yelling.

"VAAAAAAAAAAAAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Tears of joy streamed down the faces of the ecstatic Real Madrid fans, and my teammates rushed over with excited expressions.

"Vamos!! Hala Madrid!!!"

And amid it all, a familiar voice boomed from the stands—the old neighbor grandpa.

"Kuhahaha! I brought that kid here for a measly 31 million euros!! From those disgusting bastards!!!"

Extra time, second half, added time.

Bayern Munich pushed forward for their corner, even Lehmann vacating his goal.

Karim Müller's corner kick flew out, hit Ter Stegen's punch, and rolled right to me.

I spun instantly and smashed a shot toward the empty net.

But heartbreakingly, the ball smacked Anthony the ref's head and bounced out over the touchline.

I couldn't help cursing at the ref without thinking.

"Puta!!! You stole my goal!!!"

Luis García couldn't believe his eyes at the scene unfolding.

'Jesus, you crazy bastard!!!'

Jesus had rocketed a shot straight at the ref's face.

"Puta!!! You stole my goal!!!"

And then throwing a tantrum that his goal was stolen.

Luis García recalled the winter transfer window before, when he'd played with Jesus at Barcelona.

'Even back then, he nailed Antoine Dembélé's head and threw the same fit.'

As Luis reminisced, the fallen ref luckily got back up unharmed. Once he recovered, he glared at Jesus, who'd gifted him the headshot.

The ref toyed with the red card in his pocket but couldn't eject the Champions League top scorer from a finished match, so he sighed and blew the full-time whistle.

Tweet-! Tweet-! Tweet!

With the final whistle, Real Madrid's bench stormed the pitch to celebrate.

The merciful Jesus went over to console the Bayern Munich players.

"Hey. You crying?"

"VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"

We received our Champions League medals and lifted the Big Ear one by one, basking in the fans' cheers.

Then came the Champions League top scorer award.

I exchanged smiles and greetings with the dignitaries.

"Oh, Jesus, what a fantastical performance."

"Yes. Thank you."

Flashbulbs popped.

Click-

[UEFA Champions League Top Scorer: Jesus]

The reporters, buzzing over me being the first Asian to win Champions League top scorer, got a few interviews.

"First Asian Champions League top scorer. How does it feel?"

"I'm Korean. Next question."

"...First Korean Champions League top scorer. How does it feel?"

"Great. Next question."

"...Give a longer answer, please."

"Very good."

Off to the locker room.

"Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!"

"Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!"

Champagne corks popped as grotesque muscle masses danced shirtless, flailing their arms up and down.

This must be hell.

The day after the Champions League match, we arrived at Madrid airport and, under police escort, headed to Cibeles Square for the parade.

Madridiístas were already swarming Cibeles Square, chanting our personal anthems and names.

"Jesus!!! Sergio!! Luis!!! Luka!!!"

"Bruno!! Iker!! Ter!! Raphael!! Vladimir!!"

"Alejandro!! Antoni!! Valverde!!"

"They brought us the victory! Oh! Oh! Oh! Hala Madrid!"

We enjoyed the parade and made our way straight to Santiago Bernabéu, where a celebration awaited the European champions.

Madridiístas filed into Santiago Bernabéu one after another. While they settled in, we shared the joy of victory with our families in the locker room.

"Jesus, you worked so hard—and you were so cool!"

I inhaled Yu-na's scent and kissed her forehead.

Santiago Bernabéu, now packed to the brim with Madridiístas.

Players entered one by one to roaring chants, sharing brief thoughts at the mic.

"Vamos!!!!!!"

"Vamos!!!!!!!

Sergio Pepe's "Vamos" chant wrapped up.

I entered last, as assigned the final slot.

The Madridiístas sang my anthem with tears streaming down, the one who'd gifted them the 15th Big Ear.

As I stood at the mic, the Santiago Bernabéu fell silent in an instant, as if the anthem had never been sung.

Every Los Blancos in the stadium fixed their gaze on me. The Madridiístas reacted to my every word and gesture.

I shared my simple thoughts on winning the Champions League before them.

"When I transferred to Madrid, I declared to you all: the Madrid I play for won't lose.

"I've kept that promise in part, and now I stand here. Yesterday, we beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final to become champions.

"This won't be our last Champions League title.

Because defeat won't exist for us going forward.

We'll keep being European champions.

To know no defeat.

That's been Madrid's history so far.

And the history I'll write from here on.

Hala Madrid! Y nada más."

My words ended, and the Madrid anthem echoed through Santiago Bernabéu.