<015. If You’re Korean>

‘Does this mean I can improve Du Rim’s skill?’

This meant that if he tried hard enough, he could become better than the original.

‘If that’s the case, then this is a major jackpot.’

Ho Yung, his mood drastically improved, went back to the half line with the ball in his hands after doing the ‘wow’ ceremony.

He was out of breath, but he didn’t want to stop, not even for a moment.

He was happy enough that he could run around in the soccer stadium.

He was nothing short of a fish in water.

But he did not strain himself.

HIs knees were his life, so he aimed to try not too hard, not too little, but just enough.

‘Let’s just score a hat trick.’

[Ah! Ho Yung Wu’s second goal puts Poland’s back against the wall!]

It was just before halftime.

The players on team Poland, who had been slowly drained of their stamina, showed fear everytime Ho Yung got the ball. The spectators, who could plainly see it, allowed for some empathy towards the Polish players.

There was no such thing as mercy to Ho Yung.

Instead, he took this as a blessing and raced around the field like a crazed bull.

Boom!

The way that he shot the ball was closer to a traditional goal-getters rather than a second strikers.

Because of this, Ho Yung’s partner, Hyung Jun became somewhat like wallpaper.

Hyung Jun, who hadn’t had the chance to even shoot once, ran towards Ho Yung.

“Hey, Ho Yung Wu. Why aren’t you passing to me?”

“Mmm.”

After achieving 15 assists, Ho Yung had no reason to give the ball to Hyung Jun anymore.

“Let’s just focus on winning!”

“I guess so…”

“Just wait a little longer! There will be a chance.”

Despite his size, there were many parts of him that were timid, so Hyung Jun went back to his position bowing his head in defeat.

Time flew by, and they were 12 minutes into the second half, with 13 minutes left.

A thick long-range shot came from Ho Yung’s feet with a boom.

It was something called a 45-degree shot, and it was shot from near the corner of the penalty area.

[Player Ho Yung Wu! He’s gotten a hat trick!]

[Ah~ that truly is amazing. Although a player from Germany’s VFB Stuttgart did score 2 goals in the last game, there hasn’t been a player that has recorded a hat trick before in this competition. But, Ho Yung Wu has achieved it!]

[That’s right. This player’s future is exciting to think about. Future star players like him have to be taken care of well, on every level. It’s just a personal thought, but I’m hoping to see him nominated for this competition’s Golden Ball awards.]

It wasn’t over just yet.

It was right before the end of the second half.

As the Poland Representative team formed their defensive line to a pipe back and focused on marking Ho Yung, a low, piercing ground ball from Wan Gyu Park dug itself deeply into the backlines.

WIth his fast feet, Ho Yung broke past the off-side line and advanced into the penalty box.

But, because the pass was too long, the opposition’s goalkeeper was already out.

‘This is a problem.’

He looked to his side.

A young boy screaming desperately with a pleading expression caught his eyes.

‘Catch, here comes the parcel!’

Thock.

Ho Yung sent the ball slightly into the air towards the direction of the player.

Hyung Jun, who was marking the position, brought his head to the ball.

Swish.

It was the fourth goal, which was created thanks to some fantastic teamwork.

“Nice pass!”

As he scored his first goal, he ran towards the stands and raised a fist in celebration.

It was a ceremony directed towards his mother, who was supporting him even in the cold of winter.

Almost tearing up at the thought, Ho Yung quickly rolled his eyes.

He saw his mother, Hi Sun Kim, who had left her second son Ho Il with a relative.

She was making the happiest face on earth.

He gave a thumbs up to his mother and turned back as his mood lightened.

Hyung Jun blocked his path.

“Ho Yung! That was a great pass! Thanks!”

“No need. Soccer is meant to be played together!”

He thought of something that a famous soccer player had said.

Life is spent alone, but soccer is played together….

“Barf.”

It was cringey, but he couldn’t deny that it hit close to home.

And, he felt it once more through today’s match.

Soccer is so fun.

Beep!

The match ended as a 4-0, and Ho Yung, who had scored 3 goals and one assist, was given Man of the Match.

An interview commenced after the match was over.

“We are joined here today by the player who showed the most performance in the 4-0 victory, Ho Yung Wu! Hello, Ho Yung.”

“Yes. Nice to meet you.”

“First, I’d like to congratulate you on being the best player of the match. You were the Man of the Match with 3 goals and 1 assist, how do you feel about that?”

“Yes. First off, I think that this match was easier than I thought.”

“What?”

“Since there was a significant height difference, I thought that this match would be hard, but I think we won because my teammates supported me well.”

“Haha. That’s a wonderful statement. Is there anything else you would like to say?”

“Ahem. Mum and dad, I love you.”

There was no specific reason.

He wanted to do well by his parents because he hadn’t in his past life.

“Oh, and I want to say another thing.”

“Haha! Of course. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Hem Hem. Yes. First off, I would like to thank the viewers who were cheering us on. And, I’m going to become the world’s best soccer player, so keep rooting for me!”

Thump thump thump!

He pummeled his chest three times with a determined expression.

The reporter, who was watching right beside him, struggled to contain his laughter.

“Just you wait!”

Whether it would become the best statement of the 21st century, or become the cringiest thing he ever did, nobody knew.

“EEEEUUUUGGGHHH! Why did I do that?”

That night, Ho Yung kicked the blanket that had been lying next to him while watching the broadcast.

The interview footage looked like a kid who had Eighth Grade Syndrome spewing bluff.

‘Whatever! I just need to be the best in the world like I said, right? Then the footage of legends will be born!’

On that day, Ho Yung was crowned as a hot potato on the internet once more.

[Writer: Power brother]

I am the guy that said that I would bet my balls. I said that I would.. remove it if Ho Yung scored even one goal against a foreign team, but I’m actually a third generation only son.

Since I could not keep my promise due to absurd circumstances, I pledge to instead become a life-long supporter of Ho Yung.

Go Ho Yung Wu!

There were many other provocative articles that kept streaming out.

And when he finally found an article that stated that there was finally going to be a worldwide star born in Korea, there were also rumours that the Sao Paulo Under 13s director approached Ho Yung’s parents. A lot of attention was bound to be overwhelming, but since there were some seeds of interest, Ho Yung was enjoying the current situation.

And Ho Yung dedicated himself to preparing for the next match.

There was a match the next day.

It was against Sweden’s Djurgårdens IF, and since both teams came out aggressively, they bombarded a formidable offence.

Both teams took it in turns to punish the other, and the result was a 3:2.

The winner was FC Chabum.

With 2 goals and 1 assist, Ho Yung received Man of the Match once again.

And the next day, the 20th.

Portugal’s prestigious FC Porto was difficult to face, as expected from a winning candidate, but Ho Yung’s multiple goals resulted in a draw.

If anything, the match in the quarter-finals with Paraguay was much easier.

They conceded in the first half, but the dream duo Hyung Jun and Ho Yung scored two goals later in the match, creating a comeback drama.

The real important match was the next one, the semi-finals on the 22nd.

[A lot of fans have been waiting for this moment. In a few moments, they are set to battle Japan’s Under 13s Representative team. Japan finished the A division in second place?]

[Yes. Something unusual happened. As A division’s Sao Paulo FC defeated Mexico’s Representative team by a large margin, Japan ended up competing in the tournament. But, this isn’t an opponent to look down on. There is currently a player in Japan’s team that is raising the stock price.]

From the professional’s judgement, the A division was the division of death itself.

Even if you exclude Sao Paulo, which was carried by Douglas and Casemiro, in Mexico’s team, there was the star player Carlos Vela, and in Japan’s team, there was also a player with extraordinary skill.

‘To think that I would see him here.’

It was in FC Chabum’s locker room, before the start of the match.

Ho Yung couldn’t contain his excitement.

It was because Coach Sang Un had warned him prior to this match.

To watch out for the Japanese team’s key player.

So, FC Chabum had formed a strategy to stop ‘that kid’.

There was only one way to find out if this strategy would work.

‘Anyway, we gotta at least beat Japan’s team.’

As Sang Un left the room, Ho Yung rose from his seat and started clapping.

“Brothers!”

For the youngest in the team to motivate an entire team, there needed to be that kind of strength present, but Ho Yung had exactly that. The thing called skill.

Calling the players older than him, Ho Yung shouted.

“Let’s win!”

“Let’s win!!”

The team’s unity was better than ever today.

He didn’t have anything against Japan, all he had was the thought of needing to win.

It was an instinct that you were born with if you’re Korean. The locker room burnt with passion.

The winning team would go to the Seoul Sang Am World Cup stadium.

Carrying their determination, the players walked onto the pitch.

Paju NFC New Seed stadium.

The wide, green grass was mixed with waves of red and blue.

The blue uniforms of Japan’s Representative team and the red uniforms of FC Chabum.

Ho Yung rolled his eyes slightly and looked at a corner.

At the very end was a young boy with the face of a troublemaker.

Japan’s key player.

[Kazawa Shinji]

Skills Possessed

Soccer genius (B)

A delicate sense of ball touch (C+)

Off the ball movement that utilises space (C)

(As long as you fulfil the criteria, you may choose from one of the skills.)

(Criteria 1: Win the match.)

(Criteria 2: Tackle the ball from an opposition 5 times.)

Ball cutting 5 times.

‘Damn it. I’m not a defender, I’m an attacker.’

There was only one answer to the situation.

‘I’m going as a free role.’

Ho Yung tightly closed his hands into a fist.

For seemingly no reason at all, a patriotic side of Ho Yung arose that usually didn’t exist.

And when he gets a chance like this, there was one thing that he always wanted to do.

Ho Yung looked at Kazawa.

“Shinji-san.”

“Mmm?”

“You die.”

“….?”

Who is this crazy bastard?

While Kazawa didn’t take much notice, Ho Yung was firing up his fighting spirit by himself.