"First I want to thank my family for their unwavering support, then my coach and the team for always putting their trust in me. Thank you." Kang Chi bowed down with the plaque in his hand, applauds followed as he walked back to his seat.
The presenter then returned to the stage once again with another envelope in her hand, "put your hands together once more for the best player in all of Asia!" People started to clap once again after her words. After the clapper died down, she continued, "Next, we are going to announce the best football club in Asia,"
She opened the envelope, took out a card and read out the name on it, "Seoul City Fc!" Applaud engulfed the room as the camera panned to Son Dayeun, Assistant chairman and the sporting director of Seoul City Fc, next to him was his fiancé, Go Na-ri. He turned around and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"Bro isn't that your girlfriend?" Kang Ta asked and everyone turned to look at Sung Min, quiet, expecting an answer from him.
"We kind of broke up recently." Sung Min replied
"You broke up recently and she already has a ring on her finger?" Horata pointed out.
"That brutal!" Yo jin Ho exclaimed.
"He got replaced by a better guy, tasting his own medicine right now," Kang Ta added, trying to rub salt on the wound.
"Seoul Fc won the South Korea's d1 league, also winning the Asian champions league." The presenter handed the award to Dayeun and he started to give his speech.
Sung Min walked outside to get some air, looking out that balcony brought back memories from that night.
'This is where it all began,' the gentle breeze pressed gently on his face, 'I wonder what my peak will look like.'
"I hope you are not trying to jump off that balcony again." Sung Min turned around, and it was Tae Hyun speaking, he was from inside looking out.
"You all have to stop saying that, I did not try to kill myself." Sung Min replied
"Then how did you go from here to down there?" Tae Hyun replied pointing to the floor off the balcony.
"There was a ball here and while I was playing it, it fell off the balcony, while trying to catch it, I slipped and fell."
"Nice excuse, but there is no ball in this house. I have two daughters and they hate football, so I never bought one for them."
Sung Min looked at him perplexed, "I am hundred percent sure I saw a football right here."
"That's just your head making up reasons." Tae Hyun starts to walk back in, "what I want to say is this, if you do want to jump, wait till my daughters are asleep this time."
"Oh..." Sung Min at that moment realised that his accident didn't only affect him. "I apologise, Tae Hyun."
"Just value your life more bro," Tae Hyun entered the sitting room. Sung Min spent some minute digesting the conversation, then he turned around to look at the spot the ball had been in.
'If there was no ball here, then did the one I played come from... was it the system?"
He looked down from the balcony, 'and how did I survive this fall?!'
The screen popped out in front of him, showing all his stats.
"What exactly is the system, and what is its goal?"
Right at the bottom of the screen there was a [Quest] button.
Sung Min clicked on it;
[Quest: The shadow keeper's dungeon.]
'If I get into this, I don't know when I'll return. It took me two weeks last time, the team needs me right now.' He closed the tab.
"Hey man, the show is over and everyone has started leaving." Yoo Jin popped out his head to give the announcement.
Sung Min walked back into the sitting room, said his goodbyes to Tae Hyun, his wife and children. Then he went straight home and crashed in for the night. Cho-Yung went back to school the next day, and sudden calmness return to his apartment again. On Tuesday, he arrived to the training ground early before everyone and started to do some basic exercises like squats and pushup. His teamates joined him few hours later and they began the training drills.
Training drills
Fitness Conditioning: The players start with a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) circuit. They sprint from one end of the field to the other, perform burpees, and complete agility drills. Kim Na-na and her assistant coaches monitor their form and push them to maintain high standards throughout.
Technical Skills: Next, they move on to ball control and passing drills. The players form small groups and work on quick, precise passes under pressure. Kim Na-na emphasizes the importance of accuracy and speed, correcting techniques and offering advice as they go.
Tactical Training: The team splits into two groups for a tactical exercise. They work on positioning, pressing, and counter-attacks. Kim Na-na demonstrates different formations and strategies, and the players practice implementing them in various scenarios.
Set Pieces: Finally, the team focuses on set pieces. They practice free kicks, corner kicks, and defensive setups. Kim Na-na insists on precision and timing, making sure every player understands their role and responsibilities during set pieces.
With the training session over, they all walked to the locker room for a team talk with the coach.
"You've become a completely different player, Lee Sung Min." Horata said to Sung Min as they walked towards the tunnel.
"I guess you could say that..." Sung Min replied.
"Few months ago, you had no play time. Now you are starting every game.." Horata pats him on the shoulder, "You should be playing in the left wing, you'll be more deadlier there."
"I can't play there, its Min Ho's wing."
"We'll see." The two entered the locker room and sat down. Kim Na Na walked in few minutes later, she dragged out a white board, just as she was about to say her first words, Horata interrupted.
"There is something I want to suggest," Horata stood up to his feet.
"Okay, what is that?" She replied
"After watching our last game, and also by watching Sung Min in training today, I think he should be playing on the wing."
"That is already Min Ho's position."
"Min Ho, is slow, has no skills, all he does he drag the team down. I think the only reason you play his is because you are afraid of hurting him with the truth; he is not a good winger!"
Horata's words stirred up mixed reactions with his teamates with most nodding in agreement to his statement.
"Min Ho is a very important member of the team, I will not take you disrespecting him or me." Kim Na Na replied sternly, the she turned to Min Ho, "what do you have to say to what he said?" She asked him.
"I.... think he is right..." Min Ho replied in a low tune while trying to avoid eye contact with everyone.
"Yes, Horata raised some good points," Choi Kang Ta added, "he's more of a bench player."
"Most wingers are fast, he's not. Play Sung Min there, he'll be more lethal." Seo Joon said with conviction.
Kim Na Na stood speechlessly for some minutes, after everyone has aired their views on the matter, she said;
"I will look into this and get back to you all on Thursday, for now, we will work with the formation and line up we have been using."
After saying a few more words, she dismissed the player and went back home exhausted.
She spent the rest of the day stuck on Min Ho's reply, 'doesn't he want to play in the wing? Am I using his skills wrongly... that's where dad played him.' Witb no solutio to her dilemma in sight, she seemed out someone more experienced than her.
The door to the study was open and she walked right in, she saw her father seated by the corner while silently reading a book.
"Dad, I need an advice from you."
"Advice on what?" He replied as he turned to the next page.
"Advice on the team."
"You finally want to quit?" He closed the book and dropped it on the table in front of him, "I'm proud of you my daughter, go back to school and become a doctor." He said with a victorious smile on his face.
"Umm... dad, I don't want to quit."
The smile morphed into a frown instantly, "then what do you want?" The man picked the book up, opened it and continued reading.
She slowly narrated the events of the day to him, leaving no detail out. Her father then dropped the book and turned completely to her.
"Anyone can say whatever they want, the only advice I can give is-