Field Commander - Chapter 46

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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 46.

Chapter 46.

Chapter 46.

Germany during the time when the London Olympic games were being held.

– Medical Staff!!!

The match between Freiburg II and Balingen.

Freiburg II, which had been recording consecutive losses after losing key players like Kim Sang-hyuk and Gunter, was aiming for a comeback against the weak team Balingen.

But Smith, who had collided hard with an opposing defender, was lying on the ground screaming while clutching his arm.

Kang Su-yeon crossed the ground with her colleagues, holding a medical pack with a tense expression.

She had been working as an intern at weekend games and had recently been gaining recognition for her skills from her colleagues.

“Tell me your current condition.”

At the team doctor’s words, Smith said while enduring the pain.

“I think my shoulder is dislocated.”

If his shoulder was dislocated, he wouldn’t be able to continue playing.

The head team doctor was about to signal for a substitution, but they had already used all their substitution cards.

“I want to keep playing. Isn’t there any way?”

Smith spoke desperately, but the head team doctor couldn’t think of any particular method.

“Can I try?”

At Kang Su-yeon’s words as she was helping efficiently from the side, the head team doctor shook his head.

“You don’t have enough experience yet, so no.”

At those words, Kang Su-yeon took a step back.

But Smith made a desperate expression.

Right now, several players from the second team were being called up.

According to rumors, there would be a major first team rebuilding under Coach Streich’s system.

They were going to send away all the team’s key players and rebuild from scratch, and Smith desperately wanted to join that.

“Kang, if you can do it, then do it.”

The head team doctor tried to stop him.

“Smith.”

Then Smith shook his head vigorously.

“I’m really desperate right now. If I don’t get called up this time, my contract expires. If I get released, I won’t be able to play as a soccer player anymore.”

Smith looked at Kang Su-yeon and said.

“If there’s a way you can do it, please do it. I’ll take full responsibility.”

At those words, Kang Su-yeon examined his shoulder.

“Relax. You’ll feel something strange.”

Smith followed her instructions.

At that moment, Kang Su-yeon twisted his arm and applied firm pressure, and a cracking sound echoed.

“Ugh.”

Smith gritted his teeth and then showed a comfortable expression.

Kang Su-yeon examined his shoulder and said.

“For now, it’s back in its original position, but absolutely no rough physical battles. You need to see a specialist right after the game.”

Smith nodded vigorously and slightly rotated his shoulder.

“You’re skilled. I think I can play.”

“Go to the sideline for now. Keep checking your shoulder.”

Smith went out with support, looking much more comfortable, and the head team doctor looked at Kang Su-yeon, who was supporting him, with a very interested expression.

‘As expected… her emergency treatment ability is extraordinary.’

She performed bone setting so easily, something even men find difficult.

Also, from having her around for several days, he felt…

‘She’s not someone who should be in the second team.’

The motivated Smith eventually scored the winning goal, and Freiburg II achieved a victory after a long time.

Only then did Kang Su-yeon relax and sit in a rest room chair, picking up her mobile phone.

The match between Korea and Gabon had ended the first half 3-0.

‘I missed the first half…’

As expected, Korea was leading by a large margin, and she decided to watch just the highlight scenes for now.

But the first scene was…

Kim Sang-hyuk’s unsightly figure rolling on the ground, unable to counter the speed of the opposing forward wearing number 11.

“Pfft…”

Kim Sang-hyuk’s expression as he hit the ground with his fist in anger and immediately ran forward was truly terrifying, but she couldn’t help but laugh first.

Fortunately, the quality of Player 11’s pass toward the goal post was poor, so it didn’t lead to a goal.

“Player 11 is going to have a tough time today.”

Kim Sang-hyuk didn’t completely shut down all players from the beginning.

He had been beaten by Jang Jin-woo twice in his first year at Maedong High School, but from then on, he caught Jang Jin-woo like catching a mouse.

Looking at his expression today, it was exactly that kind of expression.

The expression that comes out when his pride is wounded.

Even just watching the highlights, except for Gabon’s Player 11, the other players didn’t seem to have much desire to win.

Around the 21st minute of the first half, a scene appeared where Jang Jin-woo used amazing individual skills to shake off the defender sticking to him and then scored with a mid-range shot.

“Wow… that’s goo…”

She was about to exclaim in admiration but closed her mouth and shook her head.

“Come to think of it, Jang Jin-woo and Kim Sang-hyuk are playing together. Did they make up?”

It probably wouldn’t be easy.

And another highlight that came around the 32nd minute.

This time it was Kim Sang-hyuk rolling on the ground, overwhelmed by Player 11’s speed.

But unlike before, Player 11’s expression didn’t look so relaxed either.

He looked quite tired…

Kim Sang-hyuk must have been physically grinding against him for a while.

His speed was definitely much slower than in the early stages.

The fallen Kim Sang-hyuk ran into the goal area and intercepted Player 11’s pass.

“He’s reading it. Player 11’s movements.”

After Kim Sang-hyuk intercepted the pass, he immediately kicked it long to the right side, and Korea’s right fullback received the ball. After he penetrated to the penalty area, he connected to Jang Jin-woo who was following behind. The second goal was scored.

“Isn’t that too much? Not defending but scoring 2 goals.”

Kang Su-yeon felt a strange animosity toward Jang Jin-woo.

Everyone was making a fuss about how great Jang Jin-woo was, but she couldn’t understand what was so good about that slimy person.

After that, Player 11’s speed gradually decreased, and Gabon’s counter attacks couldn’t be executed properly.

Korea was completely trapping Gabon and beating them, and eventually scored one more point with Kim Sang-hyuk’s header goal from a set piece situation just before the end of the first half.

“Yeah!!! That’s right!!”

She was also very excited at the scene of Kim Sang-hyuk jumping up and down while beating his chest.

“Is Kim doing well?”

Kang Su-yeon quickly turned around at the voice she heard from behind.

It was Kevin, the head team doctor of the Freiburg II team.

“Yes. Very well.”

“You seem to like him?”

A slight blush appeared on her face.

“Of course. He’s our team player. And he’s a fellow Korean.”

“…Is that so?”

Kang Su-yeon spoke first, worried he might ask an awkward question.

“But what’s the matter?”

“You don’t need to come here from the next game onwards.”

Kang Su-yeon’s expression hardened at Kevin’s words.

“Is it because of what happened today?”

“Yes.”

“But Smith really wanted it…”

Kang Su-yeon made what seemed like an aggrieved excuse, and Kevin listened to the end while holding back laughter.

“That’s not what I meant. Starting next week, you’ll be working with the first team.”

“What?”

“I’ve already spoken to the head team doctor.”

Kevin looked at his watch.

“Go to the office in 30 minutes. You need to rewrite your contract.”

“Uh…”

Flustered, Kang Su-yeon opened her mouth slightly.

“You have good skills, so you’ll do well enough there too. I guarantee it.”

* * *

“Haa… haa…”

Aubameyang draped a towel over his face and cooled his knees with ice treatment while breathing heavily.

It was only halftime, but it felt like he had played a full 90 minutes.

‘Why is this so exhausting… ah, it’s because of that bastard.’

That number 18 who had been clinging to him throughout the game – his face was so annoying he really wanted to avoid him.

It was the first time he’d encountered such a persistent player in soccer.

Physical battles seemed to be his strength, and he should have just knocked him down with those physical battles…

But he kept clinging and using his body to resist just enough to hold on, and since it seemed like he could shake him off if he ran just a little faster, he seemed to have forced too many dribble breakthroughs throughout the game.

Eventually, even before halftime ended, he was too exhausted to sprint, and couldn’t properly run out during counter attack situations.

‘Did I get played?’

Seeing how he bounced off Stevy N’Zambo, who was the best at physical battles on the team, and scored a header goal…

He must have deliberately used tactics to drain his stamina.

“Damn it…”

Not realizing that… he felt so regretful for dribbling happily.

The manager approached him.

“Can you keep playing?”

At those words, Aubameyang couldn’t easily answer.

“You sprinted 11 times in just the first half. The team doctor also says there’s a risk of injury if you play more. So we’re going to substitute you before the second half. The World Cup is important too.”

Being substituted at halftime felt bad…

But it also seemed good to be able to escape from this ant hell-like situation…

The manager mentioning the World Cup made it seem like he was being treated as an important person, so that was okay too…

“Understood.”

Only then did Aubameyang relax and close his eyes.

‘How comfortable. Sorry to the guy who’ll go in instead of me. But what was his name again?’

Seriously…

Never again…

Absolutely never…

He was a player he never wanted to face as an opponent again.

* * *

Watching the substitute players before the second half, I couldn’t help but make a disappointed expression.

‘Even after rolling around on the ground so disgracefully…’

I had drained his stamina…

A substitution?

A player who becomes below average when speed and stamina drop…

I was going to push him into a pit of despair in the second half.

It felt like all my efforts had gone to waste.

But when he first broke away, I was really flustered.

If not for his clumsy ball handling ability, we almost conceded a goal.

The mocking expression Jang Jin-woo gave me…

But except for number 11, the opposing team players today seemed to have no will to win at all.

If they had fought desperately, they could have at least stopped Jang Jin-woo’s first goal.

‘Is this bastard going to get another hat-trick?’

I thought, and in the end, Korea crushed Gabon 5-0.

I was substituted out around the 25th minute of the second half, and had to watch Jang Jin-woo complete his hat-trick from the bench.

‘This feels a bit shitty.’

Jung Joo-young, who was sitting next to me, also had an unpleasant expression.

‘You’re number 10, hyung.’

As if reading my mind, Jung Joo-young shook his head.

“Number 9.”

The other players on the bench looked at Jung Joo-young wondering what he was talking about, and I smiled while turning my head toward the field.

* * *

That evening.

Jung Joo-young came outside with his phone.

– That team is currently in last place with 6 losses. The team atmosphere is a mess, and from what I hear, they seem to be considering relegation while planning a rebuild. They’re in the Bundesliga, but whether it’s a team worth you moving to…

The agent’s voice came through the phone, but it didn’t reach Jung Joo-young’s ears.

‘Kim Sang-hyuk.’

During the time Kim Sang-hyuk played in the Mexico, Switzerland, and Gabon matches, Korea kept clean sheets.

And during the time Kim Sang-hyuk played, Korea scored 10 goals.

Could this just be a coincidence?

Sitting on the bench watching Kim Sang-hyuk’s play, he even wondered if such things were possible.

After the Olympic games end, Kim Sang-hyuk will probably move up to the first team.

If not, Freiburg’s board would all be made up of idiots.

If he was going to play overseas anyway, a desire to play together with that guy began rising in his chest.

Their hearts connected, they could communicate, and their coordination seemed to match.

“Look into it.”

– Hey, the salary and all…

“Right now I just… want to play soccer for fun.”

* * *

– Senior. Please help me out. How long are you going to stay holed up in the mountains?

Kang Du-seok, who had been living in an old house at Manhang Pass on Hambaek Mountain in Jeongseon for two years, woke up at dawn and turned on the TV.

– Dad. You know player Kim Sang-hyuk, right? That player has been revived.

His wife had passed away long ago, and after selling his house to support his daughter’s study abroad, he came here alone.

He was barely getting by, borrowing an empty house and field for free while managing them and farming, when he heard quite shocking news from his daughter.

– Right now player Sang-hyuk is tearing the opposing teams to pieces.

He had led the new team Maedong High School for 3 years, but quit his coaching position along with Kim Sang-hyuk’s injury.

Maedong High School was now the best prestigious soccer club in Gangwon Province, but that was now past history…

Kim Sang-hyuk had been a tremendous troublemaker during his middle school days.

It was because he had grown up in an orphanage with many rough older brothers and sisters from the moment he was born.

He was taller and bigger than his peers, incredibly strong, and had exceptional athletic ability, but I heard he caused many difficult incidents by losing control of his excitement and throwing punches.

After bringing him into the football club at the recommendation of an orphanage director I was acquainted with, I focused more on helping him control his mind than teaching him football.

Three or four times a week, I would bring him home to eat together and talk while watching football matches.

I talked to him a lot as a football senior and life mentor, and surprisingly, he was a child with very high intelligence who learned quickly.

‘His football skills were already complete. He was a child who only had the problem of applying them in matches.’

After Kim Sang-hyuk became accustomed to controlling his emotions, he was truly a monster in every sense.

Fighting spirit, competitive spirit…

He was incomparably stronger than children his age.

Even when everyone else was exhausted and gasping, he ran across the field like a true phoenix… he flew.

His prediction ability and positioning ability were incomprehensible, and his body was very solid, knowing how to use various parts like a martial arts fighter.

When I placed him as the final defender, he was doing the work of more than three people by himself.

As he proved his skills on the field himself, the inferiority complex that had tormented Kim Sang-hyuk since childhood disappeared, and he began to take control of the player squad.

‘That was inevitable.’

Kim Sang-hyuk’s charisma was truly remarkable.

He had completely dominated Jang Jin-woo, who was supposed to continue South Korea’s striker lineage through all youth national teams.

If it was Kim Sang-hyuk’s word, his teammate players would do their best to follow even unreasonable demands.

And that was the beginning of the legend.

The lowest goals conceded record in high school tournament history.

Winning all high school tournaments for two years.

It wasn’t my tactics, but clearly something Kim Sang-hyuk achieved with his own power.

And when Kim Sang-hyuk got injured, it felt like losing a son.

I sold my house in Seoul to support his surgery costs, but the hospital said rehabilitation was impossible.

I think it was around that time when my daughter, who had entered medical school, suddenly brought up studying abroad.

– I don’t want to be a burden anymore. Manager, I’m an adult now too. I’ll manage to live on my own somehow. I’ll never forget how you took care of me.

Kim Sang-hyuk left, and I came to this place.

‘That guy who only knew football…’

The Korea vs Gabon match was being broadcast on TV, and I could see Kim Sang-hyuk in the starting lineup.

Tears trickled down from his eyes.

‘He’s really like a phoenix.’

Kang Du-seok had been certain for a long time.

That Kim Sang-hyuk would cause tremendous waves in world football.

Seeing that name, he felt as if the stone that had been weighing down his heart disappeared.

It was truly.

Perfect…

Relief.

If only I hadn’t been greedy back then and had substituted Kim Sang-hyuk…

‘That guy will definitely come looking for me.’

If he was in this state, he would surely get a big earful from that guy who doesn’t know how to speak indirectly.

—————
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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