Field Commander - Chapter 2

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 2.

Chapter 2.

Chapter 2.

“…Sang-hyuk…”

Something feels really drowsy.

There’s a sensation against my back that feels both hard and soft at the same time.

I’m sure I was just talking with a dokkaebi a moment ago.

“Kim Sang-hyuk…?”

Is someone shining a flashlight in my eyes?

Why is it so bright?

“Ugh…”

I tried to say something, but a groan came out instead.

The flashlight must have been turned off, as images slowly began to form in my vision.

“Kim Sang-hyuk. If you can hear me, try blinking your eyes.”

I quickly blinked my eyes.

“Your consciousness has returned. Thank goodness.”

What are you talking about? I was just talking with a dokkaebi…

Ah, no matter how I think about it, that was an unrealistic situation.

That must have been a dream.

After a while, my vision became sufficiently clear.

A doctor who appeared to be in his thirties, wearing a white coat, kept talking to me.

“Can you see me?”

Well, can I not see what’s visible…

But why do I have no strength in my body?

I opened my mouth to speak, but coughing came out instead of words.

“Cough… cough…”

After coughing for a while, I was finally able to speak.

“What happened?”

“You were in a major car accident. You’ve been lying here for 6 months.”

What, 6 months?

I couldn’t believe it and kept blinking while looking at the doctor’s face.

“…Really?”

“Yes. It’s truly a miracle that you came back to life.”

What…

Did I really almost die and come back to life?

Was what the dokkaebi said in my dream true?

“….”

Why is my life like this…

Lost my parents when I was young, sent to an orphanage, had to quit soccer due to a leg injury…

And now I had to lie unconscious in a hospital for 6 months…

If I was hurt that badly, there probably isn’t a healthy part left on my body.

“Um… are other parts… okay?”

That’s really important.

If I’m in a state where I absolutely need someone’s care…

I don’t have the confidence to live.

* * *

Outside the window of the hospital recovery room was covered with pure white snow.

Since the accident happened in summer…

6 months really have passed.

I have no idea at all…

So even now it just feels unreal.

– You’ll need to undergo detailed examinations, but in your current state, there don’t seem to be any problematic areas.

That was the doctor’s opinion.

When I weighed myself, it was 87kg.

I’ve lost so much weight that I look like a complete stick figure.

Compared to before.

– You should stay about three more days so we can monitor your progress.

– But what about the hospital bills…

– The perpetrator’s insurance company has paid for them.

I was able to breathe a sigh of relief at those words.

And.

‘There’s no leg pain?’

There was always a feeling like being pricked with needles whenever I walked,

and if I swung my right leg too hard, I would feel discomfort and pain like when ligaments are stretched.

But now I couldn’t feel any discomfort at all.

I grabbed the bed again and swung my leg several times.

The other people in the hospital room probably think I’m crazy.

But for someone who plays soccer, leg condition is like life itself.

I swung it hard several times but…

I really couldn’t feel any pain at all.

This was truly amazing.

“Really?”

I shouted without realizing it.

I was so happy that I forgot about being in a major car accident and lying like a vegetable for 6 months.

As expected, people were looking at me like I was crazy.

* * *

The day I received the detailed examination results, I couldn’t fall asleep at all.

Because not only my right leg, but all bones, joints, and ligaments in every part of my body showed no abnormal findings.

Not only my feeling, but there were actually no problems anymore.

So I got a memo pad and pen from the nurse and sat on the bed, lost in thought for a moment.

– 21 years old.

– Military exemption.

– 195cm, 88kg.

Of course, since I’ve been lying down for 6 months, there’s nothing that could be called muscle in my body.

‘If I start playing soccer again…’

How quickly I could build up my body would be the key.

‘At the very least, 6 months.’

Whether it takes 1 year or 2 years…

I can’t know for sure.

However, with my passion, will, and determination to never let this opportunity slip away…

It probably won’t take a long time.

– We received and checked the data from the hospital you mentioned… but I can only say that cases like this are miracles. These are X-ray and CT images that clearly show functional deterioration of the right leg skeletal system… I simply cannot believe it.

According to the doctor, there was no way to explain it with anything.

If anything, I should have been more injured….

The healing could only be seen as a miracle from God.

‘Ah… was what that Dokkaebi said true?’

He said that if I don’t make Korea win within 15 years of regaining consciousness, I would definitely die, right?

15 years would be the winter when I’m between 36 and 37 years old.

That’s when soccer players retire and enjoy life spending their accumulated wealth, or challenge themselves with something new, and if they’re married, their children would have grown up quite a bit….

It means that if I can’t make Korea win the World Cup, whatever I achieve will be meaningless.

‘Come to think of it, that was a really harsh condition.’

Even if I aim to debut as a professional, it would take at least 2 years….

To become a National Team player, I’d need to perform well at a decent club, so that would take at least 4 years too.

‘Just because I become a National Team player, does that mean Korea will have the skill to win?’

Of course, I once had the skill that even overseas scouts coveted at the high school level….

But I’ve never experienced the adult level.

“Ah, damn….”

I irritably scribbled all over the Memo Pad with the Red Pen.

‘What’s there to think about. I just need to do it.’

Just the way I’ve lived…

The way I’ve walked…

I just need to head toward my goal.

“My way.”

* * *

The next day.

“Nice to meet you. I’m lawyer Kang Hae-jun from Kim & Chang.”

Kim & Chang?

It was a quite famous law firm that even someone like me had heard of.

“A lawyer?”

I thought he might be a lawyer sent by the perpetrator’s side because of the traffic accident.

“Yes. I’m truly sorry about what happened. I was the person driving the vehicle that day.”

“Ah….”

Running a red light and hitting someone crossing the Crosswalk would be quite a serious crime.

I think I heard something like that somewhere.

“Were you drinking then?”

“No. I was too tired and ended up drowsy driving. I’m truly sorry.”

“What’s the reason for coming to see me like this?”

“Due to a personal injury accident caused by running a red light and violating the duty to protect pedestrians at crosswalks, I’m going to serve a prison sentence. However, if we reach a settlement, I can avoid severe punishment, so I came after hearing that you had regained consciousness.”

I was a bit confused about what position I should take.

If it hadn’t been for the traffic accident, my leg probably wouldn’t have recovered either.

When you think about it that way, it was a good thing for him.

After he finished speaking, a young woman and two children appeared behind him.

“Please forgive our father.”

The older of the two children said.

“I told you not to come in….”

The man scolded, and the woman said with a tearful expression.

“But… we should at least ask for forgiveness…”

They seemed to be family.

I’m…

Not really the type to desperately suck other people’s blood.

I was full of thoughts about getting discharged and playing soccer quickly, so I didn’t want to pay much attention to things like this.

“What do you want to settle with?”

“First, I’ll cover all Hospital bills and medical expenses for aftereffects.”

“And?”

“I’d appreciate it if you could settle for 150 million won.”

Wow…

150 million?

Ah, I had seen that kind of amount before.

When contract talks with a Professional Club came up before graduating high school.

That was a 300 million won signing bonus with an 80 million won annual salary, wasn’t it?

And with that much settlement money…

I wouldn’t need to earn money until I get my body in shape, right?

‘Ah, thank you then!’

I had the greed to ask for more, but I decided to settle for that amount and leave a debt of gratitude to the lawyer.

Who knows?

I might need a lawyer someday.

He’s from Kim & Chang after all.

“Yes, let’s do that. Since you say it wasn’t intentional and you weren’t drunk.”

* * *

After being discharged, I temporarily settled in a Motel.

Since 6 months had passed, my Goshiwon room had definitely been vacated.

Being in a spacious Motel room instead of a Goshiwon room that was uncomfortable even to lie down this big body, the world looked different.

No, since a tremendous amount of money had entered my bank account, the world had already changed.

Despite the doctor’s advice to rest and stabilize, I kept wanting to walk.

Because I wanted to keep feeling this damn leg working properly.

I went outside the Motel and walked aimlessly.

It felt like only 6 months had passed, but the world seemed to have changed dramatically.

When I worked part-time at the Convenience Store, there weren’t many people on the streets due to the recession, but now there are many people wherever I go.

Maybe because I’m very tall, every person passing by glances at me, then quickly looks away when our eyes meet.

Having a fierce-looking face since birth is something I can’t help.

“Uncomfortable.”

I looked down at my shoes.

I had always limped with my right leg, and since a lot of force went into my left foot, the left shoe wore out quickly.

I couldn’t feel it when I was limping with one leg, but now it felt very unnatural.

So I went to a store on Cheongju Rodeo Street and bought a Coat and Sneakers that fit my body and put them on.

‘Nice.’

Who knew that being able to walk with left-right balance would feel this good…

There were so many young couples my age on the street, but I wasn’t envious at all.

Because my leg had returned to normal.

I briefly satisfied my hunger at a nearby street vendor, escaped the busy street, walked along the road, and when I stopped, I was in front of a School.

“Pass! Pass!!”

It was because of a familiar shout, and when I turned my eyes, I saw children playing soccer.

I went into the School and sat on a bench to watch them.

They weren’t playing with a full 11 players, but seeing them running frantically reminded me briefly of my childhood.

– Thud… thud thud thud thud…

The Soccer Ball rolled toward where I was, and I stopped the Soccer Ball with my right foot.

My right foot moved according to my will, and a thrilling feeling ran up my spine.

“Mister, please give us the Ball!!”

A little kid came running from afar and said that.

I looked at my right foot for a moment.

I had definitely heard that it was normal, but could I really kick a ball with this foot?

I stood up.

A cold wind briefly brushed against my cheek.

Cold and strong wind.

I lightly kicked the ball with my right foot.

A heavy impact felt in my ankle and knee.

But there was no pain whatsoever.

The ball flew in the direction I intended and landed in front of the shouting child.

“Thank you!”

“Ah, would it be okay if I used one of the balls here?”

The child hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes!”

The children started playing soccer again, and I picked up a soccer ball that was next to the bench.

It was a bit deflated and not well-maintained, but it was still fine.

– Thud, thud…

I started doing ball lifting with the ball.

Despite the gap of over two years… my touch felt incredibly good.

– Thud, thud…

I was so focused on ball lifting for so long that I didn’t even notice the children gathering around me.

“Whoa…”

They all had that kind of expression on their faces.

“Are you a soccer player?”

One child asked, and I stopped ball lifting and caught the ball with my hands.

“No.”

But when I was around their age, I think I could do ball lifting for about an hour without dropping the ball.

That was my only form of play, hobby, and something I could do.

“Thanks for letting me play.”

I handed the ball back to the children and walked out of the playground with heavy steps.

‘My touch isn’t bad. If I build up my body just a little, I think I could play soccer right away.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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