Field Commander - Chapter 3

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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 3.

Chapter 3.

Chapter 3.

One week later.

“Hah… it’s cold.”

The street scenery hadn’t changed much, and I took a bus heading to the goshiwon first.

“Room 708? What’s your name?”

“Kim Sang-hyuk.”

The goshiwon manager had changed, so he didn’t recognize who I was.

“Ah, your room was cleared out three months ago due to overdue rent.”

“What about… my belongings?”

“If you pay the overdue rent, I’ll return them to you.”

Since I had received 150 million won as settlement money, I immediately transferred the overdue rent of 450,000 won to his account.

After confirming the payment, the goshiwon manager led me to a shabby storage room.

“They’re here.”

I thought there would be quite a lot of stuff, but there were only two stacks of books tied with rope, a few clothes and a laptop in a paper bag, and old soccer cleats and slippers.

It looked like I could carry everything with both hands.

“Can I come pick them up in a week?”

“Yes, please do that. Um…?”

When I looked at him to see what he wanted to say, he shook his head with a fearful expression.

“It’s nothing.”

“Okay.”

I came back outside the goshiwon and looked up at the sky for a moment.

I’m sure I always used to look up at the sky like this before going to the convenience store.

With resentful eyes.

But now it’s completely different.

‘I can play soccer!’

Thanks to the settlement money, my financial situation has improved tremendously too.

Despite the quite cold weather, the sky felt so warm.

A song naturally flowed from my lips.

‘First, let me find a house where I can rest comfortably.’

* * *

500 deposit, 30 monthly rent.

8 pyeong exclusive area.

The room and living room were separated, and it came fully equipped with appliances including a washing machine and refrigerator.

It was even newly built, and nearby there were elementary, middle, and high schools, a huge park, and a sports complex was close by too.

A perfect place to focus on exercise.

“You’re moving in today, right?”

“Yes.”

After finishing the contract, hunger hit me.

The smell from a nearby chicken restaurant stimulated my nose.

‘Chicken and beer?’

If I had been in a situation where I couldn’t play soccer, I probably wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation.

The warnings from countless books I had read while preparing for the UEFA coaching license came to mind.

‘Things I absolutely must not eat.’

Although I was injured due to an absurd tackle, if I wanted to continue my soccer career for a long time, dietary management was absolutely essential.

Because it could prevent injuries and poor conditioning.

‘What I studied is helping me.’

So I turned my steps and went to a nearby Korean restaurant to fill my dinner with a set meal.

I also replaced my mobile phone, which couldn’t function properly due to a completely shattered screen from the accident, signed up for a gym for 6 months, and went to a nearby shopping mall to buy underwear, athletic wear, soccer cleats and a soccer ball before returning home.

Inside was completely freezing, but when I turned on the boiler, it quickly became warm.

I washed up and lay on the bed, quietly looking up at the ceiling.

“…Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve had a real home.”

At 21 years old.

Then Jang Jin-woo suddenly came to mind.

My teeth ground together involuntarily.

‘That damn bastard.’

And I decided right away.

‘I’m going to Germany too. To crush you.’

* * *

I bolted upright even before my phone alarm went off.

My whole body was covered in cold sweat.

Looking at the clock, it was 3 AM.

When I opened the studio apartment window, the cold air pushed out the stale air.

– What is this, your school days? The difference between you and me is like earth and sky. Are you the only one who works hard? Am I just sitting still? You’re ridiculous.

I had been tormented by nightmares all night, and I think I knew the reason.

‘Just because my leg has recovered doesn’t mean my lagging soccer skills and experience have recovered too.’

I sat on the bed and fell into thought for a moment.

‘A professional soccer player’s daily routine.’

I recalled what I had heard from a senior at the club I was trying to join.

In some ways, it was an extremely tight schedule.

‘Everyone lives like this, so with my body in such poor condition, I shouldn’t train half-heartedly.’

I quietly recalled what I had studied.

If I put in similar amounts of effort and time, I concluded that I ultimately needed to maximize the density and efficiency of my training.

‘Right. Zone2 heart rate.’

There are aerobic and anaerobic exercises, and aerobic exercise is effective for improving endurance and burning fat.

Among them, I knew Zone2 aerobic exercise was the most effective range.

“What was the formula again…”

My head wasn’t too bad, as the memory came back to me.

(200-age) times 0.6~0.7

Roughly 129~138 beats per minute.

If the heart rate goes above this, it becomes anaerobic exercise, lactic acid builds up in the body, you feel fatigue easily, and you can’t continue exercising.

So…

“I need equipment to measure heart rate.”

At 9 AM, I went to a sports store and bought a portable heart rate monitor that straps to the forearm.

Then I headed to the nearby park.

Since it was a weekday, there weren’t many people in the park.

My goal for now is 45-20-45.

This matches professional players’ game time, and I plan to make all aspects of training identical to conditions on the field.

For maximum efficiency.

Run for 45 minutes, rest for 20 minutes, run for 45 minutes.

According to Zone2 heart rate.

‘Nobody proved it for me though.’

It’s my way.

Naturally, since it was a body that had been lying down for 6 months, I was out of breath in less than 3 minutes, and my heart rate instantly exceeded 140.

“Huff huff….”

I slowly reduced my speed and continued running to adjust my heart rate.

After 15 minutes….

I was so exhausted that I wanted to give up like crazy.

Rather than running, I had to maintain a fast walking pace to keep my heart rate stable.

I wondered if I could even make a professional debut with this kind of body.

But I immediately deleted that doubt from my mind.

I had realized since childhood that worrying about it was meaningless.

* * *

My body-building schedule was like this.

Wake up at 5 AM for 45-20-45 running.

After breakfast, Physical Training at the gym.

After lunch, Basic Skills Training at the park, mainly Ball Touch Training (Ball Lifting).

Since I had no leg muscles, I decided to start training like Shooting after building up my body first.

After dinner, 45-20-45 running.

Then shower, read soccer-related books, and sleep at 10 PM.

Training, Physical Training, and Ball Touch Training were things I had done my whole life until I injured my leg, so I quickly got used to them, but just one thing…. eating was troublesome.

Most store-bought food contains numerous seasonings making it salty, sweet, and spicy.

Because people won’t eat it if it’s not made that way.

The problem is that sugar in food is very fatal to a player’s condition.

Of course, liquid fructose is a great help when there’s tremendous stamina consumption during games.

But if you eat a lot of sweet things normally, nutrient delivery to cells becomes delayed, and liver problems occur, giving a terrible negative effect on condition recovery.

Eventually, no matter how talented you are, you can’t have a long playing career.

Perhaps lying in the Hospital for 6 months was a great help in terms of eating habits.

‘It would be nice to have someone nearby to help.’

From my position, I couldn’t hope for such things.

Eventually, I decided to prepare even my meals myself.

A certain amount of carbohydrates is essential.

Protein from boiled eggs and boiled pork.

Fat intake prohibited as much as possible.

And sufficient vegetable intake.

Alcohol and carbonated drinks prohibited.

All snacks including cookies prohibited.

* * *

Two months passed like that, and the effects of exercise appeared faster than I imagined.

195cm, 89kg.

My weight was almost maintained, but muscles gradually began to settle in what had been a body of only fat.

Now even when running at a fairly fast speed, my heart rate didn’t increase much, and I didn’t get tired easily.

Since the effects appeared clearly, the boring and arduous body-building became nothing but enjoyable.

Especially the time spent preparing food was really precious, but even that became familiar, so now I could prepare all meals within 20 minutes.

‘Do I have talent in cooking?’

I thought so, but it might be an illusion since the food itself is too simple.

And there was something different compared to the past.

‘There’s no fatigue.’

I was doing 4 sessions a day, 7 days a week without rest, but I didn’t feel fatigue accumulating.

Usually my body should feel heavy or my leg condition should be poor, but I hadn’t felt anything like that for a month.

Even in high school, after training ended, my body would slump to the point where I’d think ‘ah, I’m tired, it’s hard.’

‘Is it because of the diet therapy?’

Until high school, I used to stuff everything edible into my mouth.

I didn’t know about Zone2 training methods, and the coach never taught me either.

Since most of what I studied after the injury was through books published in Germany.

Well, anyway…

Not feeling fatigue even after excessive exercise is really a good thing.

I turned my head to look at the clock.

After showering following evening exercise, it would be around 9 o’clock.

Today, instead of reading books, I opened the old Laptop I brought from the Goshiwon.

“Now I need to find my game sense too.”

I was thinking of looking for an Early Morning Soccer Club I could join nearby.

I was thinking of playing games about once a week and practicing Shooting there too.

Because practicing Shooting alone would be too inefficient.

– Click. Click.

When I searched, there were quite a few Early Morning Soccer Clubs even in this provincial city.

Most were organized starting from the 2002 World Cup.

‘That was really shocking.’

World Cup semi-finals.

An event that solidified my dreams about soccer when I was an elementary student.

Then one place caught my eye.

– The foundation of Cheongju’s first professional K3 League Cheongju FC! Cheongju Beige Morning Soccer Club.

The band homepage phrase was impressive.

Looking at the group photo, most were men in their 40s and above.

– Cheongju Beige Soccer Team Exercise Notice (Naesu Life Sports Park)

– Date: Sunday, February 18, 2012, 07:30 (Game time 08:30~10:30)

– This is the first exercise of the year! Everyone please attend, and wear the shared uniform!

A notice was posted that there would be a game in three days, and comments were posted below it.

– Sorry^^; It’s injury and filial piety week.

– Sob, I have to work.

– I can’t go out due to an ankle injury ㅜㅜ Please always stay healthy and exercise safely.

…

– Oh no, we’ll be short 5 people, what do we do?

– Let’s bring guests!

I read up to there and immediately signed up for membership.

And I commented on the notice.

– Hello. I signed up for membership today, can I possibly come to exercise?

Soon after, a comment was posted like a bullet.

– Welcome to membership, Kim Sang-hyuk. Of course. Just come at the scheduled time. There’s an initial membership fee of 30,000 won. If you give us your size, we’ll provide Athletic Wear on the day. Please bring your Soccer Cleats.

– Understood. I’ll see you then.

* * *

‘Whew…’

Finally, I’m playing soccer.

Just thinking about it makes the back of my neck tingle.

Even though it’s an Early Morning Soccer Club, I’m so happy just to be able to play soccer that I feel like I’m going crazy.

The amazing thing is that my high school skills haven’t deteriorated at all.

My ball-handling sense was still alive.

– Thud!!

Inside kick, outside kick, front kick.

I hate to say this, but it feels even better?

Since I played as a center back, I mainly used physical play rather than passes.

Back then, I definitely didn’t feel this kind of sensation where the ball sticks to my feet.

Of course, I can’t kick the ball exactly where I want, but I think it’ll get better with practice.

– Bang!

With a satisfying sound, the goal net at the elementary school shook violently.

– Bang!!

I kicked the ball until I was sweating, then lay down on the artificial turf with a satisfied feeling.

And I thought about that bastard Jang Jin-woo who provoked me and left.

“Just wait and see. Better wash your neck clean.”

* * *

On Sunday dawn, I took a taxi to Naesu Life Sports Park.

A barren field came into view.

It was a place where you could see stones scattered here and there, but there were also soccer goal posts.

I wondered if they really played soccer there.

“Is that the soccer field?”

“No. If you go a bit further that way, you’ll see it. This is a place they started building but never finished.”

“Ah, I see.”

After getting out of the taxi and walking a bit, I saw an artificial turf soccer field where several cars were parked.

People of all kinds were already there, lightly warming up.

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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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