NIS Agent Reincarnated as a Genius Actor - Chapter 172
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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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Episode 172. Attitude in Response to Jealousy
Looking at their impressive pass work, it was clear that the idols from Q9 were friends who originally enjoyed playing futsal.
So they would have prepared countermeasures during halftime for that ridiculously easy first goal they conceded.
Yeon-woo looked at the approaching opposing player, then kicked the ball into empty space and started running at full speed himself.
Since Yeon-woo hadn’t taken a single shot throughout the entire match, the opponent who had been expecting a pass and just closing the distance was startled and chased after him.
However, since it was the opposite direction from where they had been closing in, they couldn’t follow immediately.
And if the other defenders abandoned their assignments to stick to Yeon-woo now, it was obvious as fire that a pass would go into that empty space, so they couldn’t move easily.
‘If they were professional players, real-time communication to prepare for this situation would have been possible.’
While the opponents hesitated, Yeon-woo infiltrated the empty space with the ball and kicked it hard.
Thwack─.
The soccer ball made a sound like it might burst as it impacted hard with his instep, then streaked past before the goalkeeper could even react, splitting the goal.
Tweet─.
Just as the caster and MC were about to comment on that goal, the final whistle blew.
The semifinal ended with a final score of 6-5.
Only after the whistle blew could the venue MC’s voice be heard.
[Goal! A very beautiful goal that once again reminds the opponents that they must be careful of Ryu Yeon-woo.]
[Today we should call him ‘Jay’ from the co-ed group Jay Nari rather than actor Ryu Yeon-woo. The final goal decided the outcome. It was truly an exquisite space breakthrough.]
And as the decisive goal scored in the final moment determined the match’s outcome, the firepower of the comments naturally increased.
– He’s just running forward, why isn’t anyone going to stop him
– They couldn’t go because they were afraid he’d pass if man marking broke down, don’t you know soccer?
– I don’t know if what you just kicked in was the goal or my heart
– I kept hitting my forehead whenever I missed Yeon-woo and my turtle neck was completely cured
Meanwhile, the fans watching at the venue also had eyes, so they could feel how things were going.
Even during sports festivals, most spectators only focus on the person scoring goals.
However, even though Dong-ha scored most of the goals, the fans who watched this match directly couldn’t help but notice that it was Yeon-woo who created all the situations.
“What, it feels like our actor is toying with the opponents…”
“Sigh, how did he know I like men who are good at soccer and prepare for that too.”
They were tired from hurriedly preparing and coming out for attendance check since morning, the day was cold, and the chairs were uncomfortable, but since their eyes were happy, it felt like all the hardships disappeared.
While shaking hands with the opposing team and walking out, the AXIS members excitedly talked to Yeon-woo.
“Hyung! When did you start playing soccer? Why are you so good at it?”
“We really won thanks to Yeon-woo. Who would have thought we’d make it to the finals.”
Hearing the members’ words, Yeon-woo smiled slightly.
“I’m not particularly good at soccer. I just responded calmly.”
No matter how skilled a National Intelligence Service agent was at various things, there was no reason they’d be good at soccer too.
Soccer skills wouldn’t be useful in espionage work.
However, futsal-style mini soccer was a sport that could be played anywhere, anytime with just a few tree branches stuck in the ground, so it was a game he’d played countless times with multinational mercenaries and agents while carrying out various operations.
And actually, Yeon-woo didn’t win because he was good at soccer.
The opposing idol team’s individual skills were actually superior to Yeon-woo’s, but their perspective on viewing the battlefield was different.
‘They were so nervous they could only look right in front of them, so they couldn’t properly display their real skills.’
American writer Scott Adams said that when several abilities that are ‘moderately’ good combine, they can overwhelm one that is ‘exceptionally’ good.
Rather than playing futsal, he had analyzed the battle situation and exploited the opponents’ weaknesses.
And in that field, Yeon-woo was the most outstanding expert.
***
[They’ve taken about a 20-minute break, but in the finals starting right away, the AXIS team that just finished their match will probably be at a disadvantage, right?]
[Since they haven’t managed their stamina properly, they might show signs of being pushed back in the second half.]
Hearing the venue MC’s words, NBOYZ’s Jae-yoon snickered.
‘How ridiculous. Even if they came out in full condition, they’d get crushed. Our team even has someone who played soccer until high school.’
And he glared at Yeon-woo and Dong-ha.
Honestly, they hadn’t done anything harmful to him, but he just really disliked them.
Only Jae-yoon didn’t know that emotion was called jealousy.
Meanwhile, Yeon-woo grinned at the gaze he felt from across the field.
‘I don’t know what kind of tricks he’ll pull, but I should give back exactly as much as that kid dishes out.’
No matter how much younger he’d become, his mind hadn’t become childish too, so he had no intention of harming such a youngster.
He just needed to let him reap only as much as he had sown.
Both teams came forward, exchanged greetings, and the finals match began.
And unexpectedly, as a normal match flowed, he didn’t feel any particular dirty tricks being played.
Although their skills were lacking and their stamina had dropped, thanks to Yeon-woo’s presence giving instructions at each moment, they weren’t being pushed back too much.
‘Hmm, well. There are several cameras filming right now, so he wouldn’t do anything that would get him criticized. That guy too.’
The moment he thought that, N-Boys’ Jae-yoon rushed toward Dong-ha who was dribbling the ball.
Jae-yoon executed a sliding tackle, which rarely appeared in amateur games.
Jae-yoon’s body slid across the grass and collided with Dong-ha.
“Argh!”
Tweeet─.
Along with Dong-ha’s scream, the referee blew his whistle.
Looking at Dong-ha’s expression as he lay there, fortunately it didn’t seem like he was injured.
Jae-yoon, who had made the tackle, approached with the most innocent face and a truly apologetic expression.
“Sorry! It wasn’t intentional. Are you okay?”
Seeing that, Yeon-woo chuckled.
‘He said he failed his audition, but his facial expression acting is pretty good?’
So this is how he’s going to play it.
In the end, that guy’s scheme was to make a tackle and then apologize, making the opponent frown.
If it were an actual soccer player, getting angry when fouled wouldn’t be a problem at all, but this was an idol sports festival.
Yeon-woo stepped in front of Jae-yoon and helped Dong-ha up.
“Manage your expression. Be conscious of the cameras.”
As Yeon-woo whispered while dusting off his bottom, Dong-ha nodded.
Then Dong-ha immediately smiled brightly, clasped Jae-yoon’s hand, and said quietly.
“It’s okay, senior. Anyone can make mistakes when their skills are lacking. Whether it’s auditions or futsal.”
Since they weren’t wearing microphones, the conversation wouldn’t be broadcast.
Sure enough, watching that scene, the venue MC’s commentary could be heard.
[Ah, this is what sportsmanship and Olympic spirit means. Very heartwarming and nice to see.]
[Olympics?]
[With this level of competition, wouldn’t this be the Idol Olympics rather than an idol sports festival.]
Applause and cheers from fans poured out for Dong-ha and Jae-yoon, who quickly got up, smiled, and shook hands.
‘So that was your scheme after all.’
And Yeon-woo grinned as he looked at Jae-yoon.
The first half ended and the score was tied 1-1, with both teams scoring one goal each, less explosive than the semifinals.
The problem was that the members were tired from playing consecutive games.
‘Hmm, the stamina consumption must be quite significant.’
In contrast, Yeon-woo was still energetic.
“Let’s change positions for the second half. I still have quite a bit of stamina left, so I’ll move up to the front line. You guys do zone defense from the back. Save your stamina by just defending your own areas as much as possible.”
“Then it’s counter attack football? Should we connect directly to you when we steal the ball?”
Yeon-woo nodded at Kang Jae-won’s words, who properly understood his strategy.
“Right. Since it’ll probably come down to a one-goal game, let’s block as much as possible and attack when the opponent’s stamina drops at the end of the second half.”
“Okay, confirmed.”
“Yes! Captain Ryu.”
Yeon-woo chuckled at Dong-ha’s words.
“Captain, what captain.”
The original title was team leader.
When the second half started after the break and they played with the changed formation, the venue MC’s voice could be heard recognizing it.
[Oh, there seems to be a change in Axis Team’s tactics. Dong-ha, who originally played the front line, has dropped back, and Ryu Yeon-woo, who played the playmaker role in midfield, has moved up to the front line.]
[Well, Caster Jang. That player is ‘Jay’ today, not Ryu Yeon-woo.]
And N-Boys’ Jae-yoon, who noticed the changed tactics, also grinned.
‘Oh ho, I was wondering how to mess with you since you were holed up inside, but you’re crawling out on your own? I’ll expose the true face of your dirty personality.’
The second half game unfolded tensely as Yeon-woo had predicted.
N-Boys also continued to knock on the goal, but they couldn’t easily score, blocked by Axis Team’s solid defense that had dropped back to almost full defense.
“Yeon-woo hyung!”
Dong-ha, who had stolen the ball, connected it to Yeon-woo.
Following Yeon-woo’s instruction to focus on defense near the half line without raising the line too much even when attacking, only Yeon-woo dribbled up.
No matter how good his physicals were and how well he played futsal, Yeon-woo, who wasn’t a professional player, couldn’t break through the opponent’s entire defense by himself.
Seeing Yeon-woo dribbling up alone again, N-Boys team began to pressure him leisurely.
‘Now’s the time.’
Jae-yoon grinned wickedly and charged toward Yeon-woo.
Seeing this, Yeon-woo deliberately dribbled longer to create a situation where he would need to make a sliding tackle.
Sure enough, just like what Jae-yoon had done to Dong-ha in the first half, he slid into a sliding tackle and Yeon-woo got caught and fell.
“Agh!”
“Ahhhhh!”
Tweeet─.
The whistle blew again and Yeon-woo flew far and rolled around.
“Yeon-woo hyung!”
The fans in the spectator seats were also startled and jumped to their feet.
[Oh, what’s happening here. I hope it’s not a serious injury.]
[That seemed like too hasty of a tackle.]
Yeon-woo’s expression as he rolled around looked painful to anyone watching, but actually the corners of his mouth were turned up.
In sports, using false acting to draw a foul is called Hollywood Action.
Actually, in mainland America it’s called a Simulated Foul, and Hollywood Action was Konglish, but anyway, Hollywood Action in this stadium was originally Ryu Yeon-woo’s specialty.
‘I was in Hollywood until last month, and I’m pretty good at action too.’
And what Yeon-woo had prepared wasn’t just Hollywood Action.
Compared to Yeon-woo who flew away with a cry of pain, Jae-yoon was letting out death throes.
Yeon-woo, who had been watching the sliding tackle, wasn’t interested in touching the ball from the start.
While falling, he lightly tapped Jae-yoon’s vital area with the top of his foot.
‘Well, you need to have descendants later too, so I didn’t hit that hard, but tears will well up.’
Since Yeon-woo was the one who flew far outwardly, people rushed to Yeon-woo first, but Yeon-woo raised his hand to show he was okay and approached Jae-yoon with a slight limp.
“Are you okay? Where does it hurt?”
“Urgh.”
With countless fans watching and cameras filming, how could he grab that place?
With a heavily grimaced face, he couldn’t say anything and just glared at Yeon-woo.
“Oh no, don’t tell me?”
Yeon-woo approached the prostrate Jae-yoon with an innocent expression.
And began urgently tapping his tailbone.
“D-don’t do that!”
“It’s okay. This is ancestral wisdom passed down for ages. Doing this will quickly relieve the pain.”
Only then did the spectator seats, the MCs, the players on the field, and even the countless viewers watching the NeTube live stream understand why Jae-yoon couldn’t get up and kept lying down.
“Pfft!”
Dong-ha burst into laughter and some fans in the spectator seats covered their eyes with their hands while slightly opening their fingers to watch.
[Ah… Sometimes these things happen when playing sports.]
[Hmm, that’s truly indescribable pain. I hope he shakes it off and gets up quickly.]
And the live viewers also began comforting Jae-yoon in their own ways.
– Ahhh… Jae-yoon unnie, get up.
– Why suddenly unnie lololol
– That’s why amateurs shouldn’t keep doing sliding tackles…
– You’re all too mean, you’ll be punished for teasing about this
– It’s what he deserves
– What he deserves, do you use the character for ‘son’? Now isn’t it ‘no work, no gain’?
– I have Chinese character level 1 certification. ‘No work, no gain’ is correct
Meanwhile, if he had seen the chat reactions, the pain might have gotten worse, but Jae-yoon was still breathing heavily.
Tap tap tap─.
And Yeon-woo kept continuously tapping Jae-yoon’s tailbone.
“S-stop it!”
“Come on, doing this makes it hurt less.”
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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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