ASR 5

Chapter 005

“Son, today you looked exactly like Hazard!”

Mom, a Chelsea fan, spoke excitedly.

“Dad said I looked like Agüero, though?”

Dad was a Manchester City fan.

“Agüero?! No way!! You were Hazard, Hazard!”

Mom immediately began telling me about how incredible Eden Hazard had been.

The truth was, I knew Eden Hazard better than Mom did.

After all, in my previous life, he and I had joined the club at the same time.

We played together for two seasons, and later, when I was briefly sent out on loan, we played together again. There was no way I wouldn’t know him.

Were we close?

I didn’t have any close friends.

I thought we worked well together, but looking back, I had basically been nothing more than a chess piece for that monstrous bastard.

Whenever I drew all the attention and defenders toward me, Eden would go absolutely wild in the space that opened up.

Even in this timeline, where I didn’t exist, he had become one of the Premier League’s best players and, just like in my previous life, transferred to Real Madrid.

I died shortly after hearing the news of his transfer in my previous life, so I didn’t know whether he had done well at Real Madrid.

But in this life?

He crashed and burned spectacularly after the transfer.

He ended up with the humiliating reputation of being a guy who did nothing but eat cheeseburgers.

That was also why, now that it was 2032, he wasn’t talked about nearly as much as one might expect.

But to Mom, a true-blue Chelsea fan, he still seemed to be the greatest player in the world.

“I don’t think I was quite on Hazard’s level…”

“That’s how you looked to your mom.”

“I couldn’t get past them even once after the first time.”

“That’s because it was your first time! Your dad and grandpa are both former players. How amazing do you think it is for a kid who just entered middle school to score against them even once?”

That was true.

For a kid who had only played casual neighborhood football and had just entered middle school, getting past two former players—one of them a former professional and the other a former university player—was ridiculous.

But I had been a former player too.

[Your soul may be that of a former player, but your body isn’t.]

The angel comforted me.

Still, I hadn’t expected to lose to two men who had already been retired from active football for so long.

[You simply need time to adapt.]

Yeah. That was true.

Once I started playing seriously, my mind naturally assumed I still had Jang Ik-deok’s body.

That created a sense of disconnect.

Unlike the rough and clumsy Jang Ik-deok, this body was unbelievably delicate.

How should I explain it?

It felt like someone who had driven nothing but dump trucks his entire life suddenly getting behind the wheel of a Lamborghini.

That was exactly how it felt.

At the same time, it was exciting.

What would happen once I fully adapted to this body and started playing football?

There would no longer be a Jang Ik-deok who played football like a brute.

Maybe I could finally hear something I’d always wanted to hear.

Instead of people telling me I kicked the ball like a caveman, maybe they’d say I played beautifully.

There was one disappointing issue, though.

My stamina.

I had barely exercised in this life, so my physical endurance was terrible.

I needed training.

[What about strength training?]

‘I’m still young. I need to take my time and build up gradually. Otherwise, I’ll ruin my body.’

[You know quite a lot. Excellent.]

‘Hey, I was trained properly, you know.’

Well, that was after I made it to the Premier League.

Anyway, playing football for the first time since recovering the memories of my previous life had helped me identify the problems I needed to solve.

Now I just needed to attend Grandpa’s academy, fix those problems one by one, and keep growing.

[Have you considered joining a professional youth academy?]

‘I don’t know. I’d have to transfer schools to join a pro youth team. That won’t be easy.’

[Why not just transfer?]

Was it because he was an angel that he had absolutely no understanding of how the real world worked?

Did he think moving to Yeongdeungpo District was easy? Did he know how expensive housing was?

[You could live at your grandfather’s house.]

Grandpa lived alone in a one-room apartment. He said he didn’t need a big place.

Even if we all decided to live together, housing prices had gone completely insane these days. It wouldn’t be easy.

[There are far too many obstacles if you intend to live in this country and only play football. Why not go abroad instead?]

If things were difficult enough domestically, how was going overseas supposed to be any easier? I was a minor, so I couldn’t go alone, and I didn’t want to live apart from my family right now either.

[Then perhaps you won’t be able to become the best.]

No.

If I did well here, I could always go abroad later.

Jang Ik-deok had already proven that, hadn’t he?

[That’s true.]

I’d already done it once.

With who I was now, I could definitely do it again.

‘The important thing is to focus on what’s right in front of me.’

Maybe I’d start running every morning from tomorrow.

A few days later.

At Grandpa’s suggestion, I had decided to join his Iron FC, and today was my first day.

Since it was the weekend, we were going to play a practice match at a nearby football field that the academy had contracted.

I arrived at Grandpa’s house early, and the two of us headed to the field together.

But Grandpa’s expression was different from usual.

Normally, whenever we were together privately, he wore the gentlest, most affectionate expression imaginable.

Today, however, he looked serious.

“Grandpa, you look troubled. Is something wrong?”

“My expression looks troubled?”

“Yes.”

“Hehe. I suppose I can’t fool our Johan.”

Grandpa smiled slightly, his expression relaxing.

Then he continued.

“Today’s practice match is called a practice match, but it’s actually quite important.”

“Why?”

“Our opponent is a place called Singil World Academy. You could say they’re our rivals.”

According to Grandpa, Iron FC and Singil World Academy were the two best football academies in Yeongdeungpo District, essentially dividing the area between them.

There were several other academies, but those two were considered the best.

[Then today’s match is a derby?]

I guess so.

They’re rivals, so it definitely counts as a derby.

No wonder Grandpa was taking it so seriously.

At this point, winning the practice match could determine whether Iron FC attracted even one more new student.

Even if both academies were well-known in Yeongdeungpo, children and parents would naturally find the team that had won most recently more appealing.

“I just don’t want the kids to lose confidence if we get beaten…”

Grandpa sounded worried.

It didn’t seem like he was concerned about attracting new students.

He was worried about his current players’ morale.

“Then don’t lose.”

“It’s not that easy. We only have around thirty middle-school players, while they have about a hundred.”

“That many?”

Iron FC evaluated both skill and character when accepting students.

Singil World Academy, on the other hand, apparently accepted anyone and everyone.

In other words, they cared more about the academy’s revenue than the development of their players.

The problem was that, with so many students, people began assuming it was the biggest and best academy. Kids even came from other districts to join.

And among those hundred players, one or two were bound to be genuinely talented.

“What’s the point of recruiting talented kids if you don’t develop them? That place only cares about results. They don’t give a damn about the children’s growth. They don’t even care about injuries. Tsk.”

Grandpa clearly didn’t approve of Singil World Academy’s methods.

“Then why did you arrange a match with them?”

Grandpa answered my question.

“We have to knock them down a peg so they know where they stand. That way, innocent kids won’t end up going there.”

Ah.

So that was what he was thinking.

Still, judging by his expression, I could sense a bit of competitive spirit too.

Apparently, he didn’t want to hear that his academy was inferior to a place he considered so poorly run.

As we talked, we eventually arrived at the field.

“Anyway, it’s your first day, and you haven’t learned football properly yet. Think of today as a chance to watch. Even if you play, it’ll probably only be for around ten minutes.”

After saying that, Grandpa gathered the equipment, put on a stern expression, and took the lead.

As we approached the field, two men came running over, took the equipment from him, and greeted us.

“Huh? Isn’t that Johan?”

“Yeah. Wow, it feels like we saw him only a few months ago, but he’s grown a lot since then.”

“Hello, uncles.”

The two men were coaches named Park Seong-hwan and Nam Ho-jin, both of whom had worked under Grandpa for more than ten years.

They had been together for so long that they were practically family.

They called my father their older brother, and I called both of them Uncle.

“You’re really going to play football?”

“Yes.”

“Tsk. It’s going to be tough.”

The two uncles looked at me worriedly.

Naturally, they’d never actually seen me play football.

And considering the modern youth football system, starting in middle school was quite late.

“You two brats, just wait and see. Once you watch him, you’ll be singing a different tune.”

“A hedgehog… what was that saying again? Anyway, you’re not being a doting grandfather, right? A hedgehog?”

“You think I’m that kind of person?!”

Grandpa started walking ahead.

Uncle Nam Ho-jin watched him go, then said to me,

“Well, our coach is strict about keeping things professional and personal separate, right?”

“He really does keep things fair. If he brought our Johan in, it’s because the boy has talent.”

I simply smiled at their words.

The players of Iron FC were already sitting in the stands, dressed in their orange uniforms and waiting for Grandpa.

Then one of the boys shouted.

“Coach is here!”

“Hello, sir!”

The boy who had shouted first was wearing an armband.

He seemed to be the captain.

“That’s the captain, Kim Jin-sol.”

“He was born in the same year as you, but he started school early, so he’s one grade above you.”

The uncles introduced the captain, Kim Jin-sol.

I studied him carefully.

At this age, the best player among the older children was usually made captain.

But he was the same age as me and merely one school year ahead?

“Are there no third-years?”

“By the third year, they try to get into professional youth academies somehow. If they can’t, they go to school teams and aim for university admission or another path.”

That was one reason ordinary middle-school football academies often struggled to produce results.

Parents believed it was difficult to become a professional through an academy, so they tried to get their children into professional youth systems before they reached their final year.

I was also planning to play here before eventually moving to a professional youth academy, so it wasn’t exactly strange.

Anyway, that explained why this Jin-sol guy, a second-year, was captain.

“Is he good?”

“Very good. He’s one of Seoul’s promising forwards. He’s already confirmed to attend Yongsan High School.”

Yongsan High School operated the U-18 youth team of Seoul United, one of the powerhouses of the K League.

In other words, this kid was already set to join Seoul’s youth system.

So he was definitely good.

[That child is a forward?]

The angel suddenly spoke.

‘What? Why?’

[He doesn’t have the talent to be a forward.]

Could he actually see something like that?

[Of course. I’m the Angel of Football.]

Ah.

Right.

He was the Football God’s angel, so perhaps that was possible.

‘Does he have no talent at all?’

[No. He does have talent. It simply doesn’t seem to be as a forward. He appears to be better suited to playing as a holding midfielder.]

‘Can you actually see that, or are you just guessing?’

[I can’t see everything with complete certainty. Since I have manifested on Earth, I can’t use all my power. If I could, I would be able to determine exactly what potential he possesses, what areas he is talented in, and to what extent.]

‘That’s… a bit disappointing.’

If he really had talent, I would have helped him.

Why?

Because the stronger the team was, the better I could perform too. It was obviously beneficial if even one more player on my team improved.

[If you spread awareness of our God’s existence and demonstrate continuous faith, my power on Earth will grow stronger. Then I’ll be able to see more clearly.]

…I hadn’t really spread the word about the Football God yet, but I prayed every day, didn’t I?

[That’s nowhere near enough. You’re still nothing more than an unknown youth player. Let’s use God as an example. Who do you think would have more impact—the prayers of Jesus, God’s own son, or the prayers of a believer who has only just begun to worship?]

Well, obviously Jesus’s prayers would be more effective.

I see.

So that was how it worked.

Damn it.

I’d thought this might be a useful ability I could take advantage of, but apparently not.

[There is a more effective method under the current circumstances.]

What is it?

[Dedicate your goals to our God.]

Dedicate them?

My goals?

[After scoring, pray to our God. That will count as an offering. At the moment, it will be more effective than ordinary prayers.]

I knew what an offering was.

There were plenty of people who made offerings at the church that ran the orphanage where Jang Ik-deok had lived.

‘My goal won’t disappear from the records or anything if I dedicate it, right?’

[Of course not. Our God will only receive the feelings contained within that goal.]

If that was all, I could do it a hundred or a thousand times.

Anyway…

His real talent was as a holding midfielder?

[That much is certain.]

‘What?’

[That boy doesn’t have the scent of a goal. His finishing is terrible. He should never play as a forward.]

So he was a three-legged striker?

A forward with no finishing ability.

But then why was he playing up front?

Grandpa wasn’t the type to put just anyone in the striker’s position.

“Alright, everyone. This boy is new to the academy starting today. He is my grandson, but you all know that our team is based on ability. He won’t receive special treatment just because he’s my grandson, so don’t worry about that. Just show me what you can do. Johan, introduce yourself.”

At Grandpa’s words, I gave a simple introduction.

“My name is Choi Johan. Please take care of me.”

I bowed my head, then raised it again.

The moment I did, my eyes met Kim Jin-sol’s.

What?

Was he glaring at me?

Was he already trying to establish dominance?

“Johan, go sit over there.”

I answered, “Okay,” and immediately walked toward Kim Jin-sol.

There was nobody sitting around him.

Looking at him closely, he was taller than the other kids his age and had a solid, intimidating build.

He looked like the kind of guy who could fight.