Chapter 8
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Chapter 8
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Bad Boy Prophet from the East (2)
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After playing the full 45 minutes of the first half and getting sent off for delivering a Cantona kick to an opposing defender, I was sitting in the stands, blankly watching the pitch.
"Man, they really suck at soccer. Why aren't they passing into that space over there? It's wide open. Oh. What the hell was that trap?
That's supposed to be a La Masia product? Amazing."
My sour expression from their rotten play caught the eye of assistant coach José Sierra, who misunderstood and approached cautiously.
"Jesus, did that guy say something racist to you?"
I shook my head at the coach's concerned words.
"No, I just got too pissed off in the moment and couldn't hold back."
Unable to mask his expression, José Sierra cleared his throat awkwardly, spouted some lame excuse, and tried to slip away.
"Ahem, looks like there's trash being thrown from the stands. I need to go issue a warning."
"There's nothing there?"
"Oh. I can see it. Maybe your eyes are the problem?"
"Maybe it's your old eyes that are the issue?"
"Oh. No way."
Watching the assistant coach overact dramatically as he retreated reminded me of Sergio Pepe, currently playing for Real Madrid.
"Wonder how that guy's doing. As a center back, he'd freak me out by suddenly appearing right next to me whenever I turned my head."
Whatever. I'd be seeing him soon anyway. But he's a die-hard Madridista. Wonder if we can get along when we meet.
"It'll work out somehow."
My mutter caught the attention of Sergio Fàbregas, the La Masia prodigy who'd skipped grades after being recognized for his talent.
The one healthy harvest from La Masia amid an outbreak of mediocrity reacted.
"...What?"
"Nothing. Just talking to myself. Don't mind me."
Slipping away.
I watched Sergio Fàbregas, who'd approached to buddy up, slowly back off.
Why? I was just mumbling in Korean.
Why's he acting scared and avoiding me?
Damn Barcelona. Such an incomprehensible club.
"Tsk tsk. The one guy from La Masia who was supposed to be normal, and he's like that. La Masia's doomed."
No one approached me after Sergio Fàbregas left until the match ended. That's when I sensed something off.
"Am I being ostracized?"
The La Masia players who saw Jesus Joo muttering to himself in the stands whispered among themselves, careful not to let him hear.
"Don't mess with Jesus. He looks possessed by a demon."
"He's still mumbling to himself now?"
"Yeah. And what he said to scary assistant coach José Sierra shocked me even more."
"But why didn't the coach get mad after hearing it?"
"Felt like the coach was the one avoiding Jesus."
That's when they spotted Sergio Fàbregas, who'd been next to Jesus before moving seats.
"Hey, Sergio, what did Jesus say to coach José earlier?"
"...He got mad and kicked him."
"What?"
"The opposing defender. He got pissed and kicked him."
The La Masia clique was speechless at Sergio Fàbregas's words.
Luis García, who'd come to the touchline for an isotonic drink during a stoppage, overheard unintentionally and gave a curt assessment of Jesus Joo.
"What a total lunatic."
[Spanish Royal Football Federation (RFEF) suspends 'bad boy' Jesus for 5 matches.]
[No racist remarks, but can't remember why he flew in with a kick? Deception toward Valencia or early-onset dementia in a young man?]
[Valencia protests RFEF suspension, claims it's too lenient!]
[Jesus Joo's collected quotes from Korea: 'No one plays soccer better than me. Not even Messi or Ronaldo under my feet.' Arrogance of genius or pure confidence?]
[Jesus Joo's most admired figure is Johan Cruyff. Reason: 'Smoking at halftime and playing the second half is so cool. I want to try it someday.']
[Next-gen Spanish national team hopeful and Barcelona's pride of La Masia, Sergio Fàbregas speaks on Jesus: 'He's broken somewhere.']
[Jesus on his own controversy: 'I'm a perfectly normal person.']
[Real Madrid declares interest in Jesus and Luis García.]
[Jesus: 'My heart belongs to Barcelona, but I'll hear out the conditions.']
[Barcelona fans outraged by Jesus's remarks.]
[Jesus: 'People should be free. Freedom to change jobs must be respected too.']
[Enraged Barcelona fans protest, demanding Jesus be demoted to reserves over his comments.]
[Fan meets Jesus at protest, snaps photo, smashes jersey and phone touched by Jesus, goes viral.]
[Barcelona fan: 'I regret ever liking Jesus. He's the worst player.']
[Jesus: 'I don't get why fans are mad at me. Can't Barcelona just offer better terms than Real?']
[Jesus: "To those cursing me, I pray you work hard for peanuts."]
[Sergio Pepe: 'Saw Jesus's interview. He has the makings of a great Madridista. That face suits the white kit perfectly. Can't wait to play with him at Real Madrid ASAP.']
I genuinely couldn't understand during the interview.
"No. Why is moving to better terms betrayal? I just don't get it."
Isn't it natural for people to seek better conditions and environments? I'm not even from La Masia, and I don't owe Barcelona any favors.
Expecting loyalty? Barcelona fans are too greedy.
For the record, my loyalty always comes from money.
Don't trust people. Trust their money. That's the life truth I've learned over 234 years.
By the way, why'd Sergio Pepe ask me to hit him up? Annoying. Should I just ghost him?
Hey. Fine Madridista.
?
Me?
Heard about you from president Nuñez today. Brilliant move.
That's a contract breach?
Contract breach? Nothing can stop Hala Madrid. That's life's truth.
Don't cry if things get rough in El Clásico.
You better not cry after I strip you clean.
Me cry? This macho man Sergio Pepe? That'll never happen in this world. Like Culés beating the Blancos.
Hey, fine Madridista, why no reply?
Oh. Got it. You're already in battle mode.
When you come to Santiago Bernabéu, better wear a diaper, rookie.
What a madman.
During my five-match suspension, Barcelona managed 2 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. Even Europa League qualification was starting to feel shaky.
And the next match? El Clásico against Real Madrid, the one Barcelona fans had to win or die trying. In the end, they started seeking me out again, unsealing their sealed-away player.
"Jesus! Jesus! We support you!"
"He is the prophet from the East. Prophesying defeat for those Madrid bastards!"
"Jesus! Jesus! Oh! Our Lord! Jesus!"
"He is the bad boy from Korea. Gonna beat those Madrid bastards black and blue!"
"Jesus! Jesus! Oh! Our Lord! Jesus!"
"Our prophet to smash Madrid to pieces!"
Life really is swallow when sweet, spit when bitter.
Club can't even make Europa, and looks like they'll lose El Clásico too, so now they want me.
On the bus to Madrid, I waved lazily with one hand as I heard their cheers.
"I'll win the game for you anyway."
"He's muttering to himself again?"
"Yeah. Been doing it since earlier."
"First thought he was possessed, but I'm kinda used to it now."
"Yeah, world's full of all kinds."
The La Masia rejects grumbled about me, but I ignored them.
"Why should I care what soccer scrubs think?"
Entering Santiago Bernabéu for matchday of league round 13 and warming up lightly, the home Real Madrid fans started cheering for Barcelona player Jesus Joo.
"Jesus! Jesus! We support you!"
"He is the prophet from Barcelona. Prophesied defeat for those Barcelona bastards!"
"Jesus! Jesus! Oh! Our Lord! Jesus!"
"He is the bad boy from Korea. Made those weak Barcelona bastards cry!"
"Jesus! Jesus! Oh! Our Lord! Jesus!"
"Come to our embrace, our prophet to smash Barcelona to pieces!"
Watching that scene, Koreans overflowed with national pride and hit up the streams.
mo!
Insane. Real fans singing his chant?
They're just mocking Barca fans, but why am I so pumped lol
It's cause the chanters are royalty Real.
Key here is what celebration Jesus pulls off? lol
Fr dying to know lol hope Jesus scores.
He'll score.
Why?
I bet on it with toto.
Fuck off toto bug
The match kicked off, and the Madrid fans who'd chanted vanished. Every time I got the ball, boos rained down.
[Booooooo!!]
[Jesus! Ditch that disgusting striped kit and wear the white that symbolizes Europe's kings!]
Sergio Pepe sidled up, trying to get under my skin.
"Hey, fine Madridista, shouldn't you go home and suck more mommy milk first?"
I corrected him on his trash talk about a mother I didn't have.
"I'm an orphan. No mom."
Sergio Pepe's eyes shook like there was an earthquake. His rough mouth hid a soft heart, and his focus shattered instantly.
If you're gonna crumble like that, why trash talk family? Whatever. Right now, he's a prime opening for the opponent.
I nutmegged Sergio Pepe and burst through. Spotting Luis García running into space, I chipped the ball over Alexander Mayer pressing me, landing a perfect lobbed through pass into the space ahead of Luis García.
Real Madrid players scrambled to cover the collapsed offside line, but...
Luis García unselfishly nudged it toward me infiltrating the penalty area.
The pass from the heir to Xavi rolled in at the perfect speed for a non-stop shot.
"If I miss this, I shouldn't even call myself a soccer player!"
Thwack-
I smashed a low, fast shot through goalkeeper Pablo Gayà's legs. His face drained white spotting me.
Gayà desperately clamped his thighs, but the ball ignored his prayers and rippled the net.
Swish-
After scoring, I immediately mimicked Raúl González's ring celebration, the one Madridistas loved most.
Luis García shook his head side to side like a headache watching. Real Madrid fans saw my celebration and improvised a new chant on the spot.
"Jesus! Jesus! Our long-lost El Ángel del Madrid!"
"People call him the bad boy from Korea, but we know."
"He did it to come home!"
"El Ángel del Madrid with Real's glory!"
"His Real history ahead is endless!"
Listening to the Madridistas' cheers, I thought...
......I'm still a Barcelona player, you know.
Their overflowing love before any transfer was overwhelmingly burdensome.