Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 50

< 049. Money is Good >

Johan’s goal was clear.

To lead West Ham to victory, retire, and spend the rest of his life comfortably.

With such a clear goal, Johan was playing soccer.

However, that was a story for the future.

A future that he hadn’t yet experienced.

Because of that, even though Johan had that goal, it wasn’t like he was going to run like crazy for it or rush his retirement.

That was probably because he hadn’t experienced it yet.

How happy it is to be able to spend money without any worries.

That was what Ban Gil-yoon was saying.

Let him experience it.

Let him taste firsthand how good and comfortable it is to have money.

“But, what should we do first?”

“Well, asking me…”.

Ban Seok-ho and Rohan were troubled about what to start with.

Rohan was a given, and Ban Seok-ho wasn’t much different from Johan when it came to money.

He only knew how to save, not how to spend.

That’s why they were 고민하고 있는데 [pondering what to do],

“What are you two huddled together for?”

“…That’s right. Come to think of it, we have an expert at home.”

“Huh? What expert?”

“Honey. Come sit here.”

Ban Seok-ho brightened up at the appearance of Kim Ra-hee.

That’s right. There was an expert when it came to spending money.

“Hmm. It’s not difficult.”

“As expected.”

“As expected, Mom knows how to spend money well.”

“…Do I feel like you’re 욕하는 것 같다 [insulting me]?”

“No, no. So, what should we do?”

Kim Ra-hee spoke without much 고민 [hesitation].

“Everyone, pack your bags. Let’s go to a hotel first.”

“Hotel?”

A place where you can solve 식과 주 [food and lodging] among 의식주 [clothing, food, and housing; the necessities of life].

Go to a hotel.

***

The 5-star hotel located in the heart of London, Grand State Park, is a famous hotel with almost no vacant rooms throughout the year.

From visitors on business trips or 여행 [travel], to stars who come to perform, and big shots like businessmen or politicians, they all choose this Grand State Park.

Johan and his family arrived here.

“We could just sleep at home…”

“Just follow me. Mom will show you properly.”

“No, this is all for Johan. Why do you seem the most excited?”

“You asked me to help, right? I’m just helping. Now, let’s all go.”

“Actually, I’m excited too. Hehe.”

Grand State Park was 번쩍번쩍 [glittering] from the entrance, no, from the way in.

The entrance door, made of huge glass 통창 [panes], was transparent without a single stain, the cars passing in front of it were all 고급 [luxury] cars, and the staff with friendly smiles also had a different aura.

“…Is this the right way?”

“Is it? I think so?”

Actually, Kim Ra-hee told them to follow her confidently, but she hadn’t been to such a place often either.

Something felt awkward.

Ban Seok-ho had stayed in hotels all over the world during his 선수 시절 [playing days], but that was all provided by the club.

He only slept and came out with the 안내 [guidance] of the staff, so it was awkward for him as well.

Besides, it was like some VIPs had just arrived, and the doormen were all 정신없이 움직이고 있어서 [frantically moving] to greet the people getting out of the 고급 [luxury] cars.

They were 머뭇거리고 있는데 [hesitating] from the entrance,

“Oh!?”

One of the doormen who was 바쁘게 나르고 있던 캐리어를 바라보더니 [busily carrying luggage], 눈을 동그랗게 떴다 [his eyes widened].

Then, he 후다닥 내팽개치듯 싣고는 달려오는 것이 아닌가 [dumped the luggage and ran over].

“B, Barney! Aren’t you 선수 요한 [player Johan]?”

“Ah, yes.”

“What brings you here? Are you here to stay?”

Johan looked at his mom once and nodded.

The doorman 손짓하며 호들갑을 떨었다 [gestured and made a fuss].

“Let’s go in! I’ll escort you!”

“Ah, yes…”

“No, but I didn’t receive any instructions. You weren’t on today’s VIP guest list.”

“VIP? Me…?”

“Of course! You’re the best 선수 [player] in our club! And, of course, your father as well.”

Grand State Park is a chain affiliated with the hotel group whose 총수 [chairman] is Adam Ginsberg, one of the 구단주 [owners] of West Ham.

Therefore, West Ham players can receive benefits such as reservation priority and discounts on accommodation costs. It’s natural to receive VIP 대우 [treatment].

But the 대우 [treatment] for Johan was bound to be different among them.

If you were to pick the most popular star in West Ham right now, 99 out of 100 people would pick Johan. The other one is a family member of another 선수 [player].

Johan wasn’t a VIP, he was a VVIP.

“Yes, Manager. Yes, I understand. I’ll take 책임지고 정성을 다해 모시겠습니다 [responsibility and serve you with utmost care].”

The doorman reported to the 상부 [higher-ups] via 무전 [radio] that Johan had arrived. Johan and his family received VVIP 대우 [treatment] and headed to the hotel with the doorman’s 에스코트 [escort].

“Our son, was he this 정도 [level]?”

“I know, right.”

Kim Ra-hee laughed, 툭치며 [nudging] Johan’s shoulder, and Johan 머리를 긁적이는 [scratched his head].

I can’t help but feel 뿌듯하다 [proud] that my son is this 정도 [successful].

“Welcome. I’ll check your reservation separately here.”

Unlike the 투숙객 [guests] who generally check in at the hotel lobby, Johan and his family were 안내를 받았다 [guided] to a 프라이빗한 [private] lobby.

“But, you. Did you make a reservation?”

“Huh? Come to think of it, I didn’t make a reservation?”

“You didn’t?”

“I was too 들떠 있었나 봐 [excited]. I came without a reservation. Look at my 정신 [mind; I wasn’t thinking].”

Oh.

Come to think of it, I didn’t make a reservation.

No one comes to this kind of hotel without a reservation.

That’s why I’m 난감해 하고 있는데 [embarrassed], the staff 친절하게 웃었다 [smiled kindly].

“Our hotel has VIP-only rooms available without a reservation. Johan-nim is a VVIP, so of course you can use them, and we also offer 구단 소속 선수 [club-affiliated player] discounts.”

After checking the room information 안내에 따라 직원의 [according to the staff’s guidance], the price was definitely 뜨헉할만 했는데 [shockingly high].

Ban Seok-ho 큰 맘 먹고 카드를 내밀었다 [made up his mind and presented his card].

Today, I came to 제대로 보여주기 위해 요한이에게 돈맛을 [properly show Johan the taste of money].

“I’ll 혼쭐을 내줄테다 [give him a good lesson].”

*

“Then, I hope you have a 즐거운 시간 [pleasant time]. Please call us anytime if you need anything.”

The place where Johan and his family would be staying was the most 고급 객실 [luxurious room] in Grand State Park, the Superior Penthouse, which only allows 숙박 [accommodation] to VIPs.

“Wow… It’s 디게 넓네 [really spacious].”

“This, this. Look at the 뷰 [view]! 어머 [Oh my]!”

“돈이 좋긴 좋구만 [Money is good].”

As soon as they stepped into the 객실 [room], their eyes widened.

The 넓은 개방감 [wide-open feeling], the 화려하면서도 모던하게 꾸며진 인테리어 [luxurious yet modern interior], and the Thames River and 시티뷰 [city view] 펼쳐진 너머로 통창 [beyond the large windows].

Certainly, the 느낌 [feeling] that the VIP penthouse gives was different.

However, Johan didn’t seem to be particularly 감흥이 없어 [impressed].

“Johan-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it good?”

“It’s good.”

“But do you know what’s the best thing about a hotel?”

“What is it?”

“You don’t have to clean up even if you make a mess.”

“You don’t have to 청소 [clean]?”

“Of course. The staff does everything. From 청소 [cleaning] to 빨래 [laundry].”

“Ppa, 빨래까지 [Even laundry]?”

At Ban Seok-ho’s words, Johan’s eyes widened.

For Johan, not the 화려한 인테리어 [luxurious interior] or the 멋진 뷰 [great view], but the fact that he didn’t have to 청소 [clean] was much more 와닿았다 [appealing].

He was so 귀찮았는데 [annoyed] to be 잔소리 듣는 [nagged] from his mom because of 방 청소 [room cleaning], you don’t have to 청소 [clean]?

“Jo… It’s a 좋은 곳이네요 [good place].”

“That’s not all. Shall I show you something 신기한 [amazing], Dad?”

Ban Seok-ho took the hotel phone, saying he would show something 신기한 [amazing].

Ban Seok-ho ordered room service.

Then, he 득의만만하게 웃었다 [smiled triumphantly].

“If you make just one phone call, they’ll bring you the 최고급 요리 [finest cuisine]. But do you know what’s important?”

“What is it?”

“You don’t have to 설거지를 [do the dishes].”

At Ban Seok-ho’s words, Johan 머리를 감싸 쥐었다 [held his head].

*

Money was much better than Johan thought.

You could do anything.

Without lifting a finger.

Just lying on a 깨끗하고 푹신한 침대 [clean and fluffy bed] and 바라보다 창밖의 풍경 [looking at the scenery outside], and if you’re 배고프면 [hungry], you eat the 밥 [food] that someone 차려주는 [prepares].

And then 뒹굴 거리고 [rolling around] again.

Besides, when you wake up tomorrow, you don’t have to 갤 이불도 [fold the blanket], and you don’t have to 정리 [tidy up].

Because you paid.

‘It’s better than I thought.’

This is the life Johan dreamed of.

Living like this.

Just 아무것도 안하고 [doing nothing], 유유자적 [leisurely].

This moment was 행복했다 [happy].

However, the fact that this moment was 행복한 [happy] wasn’t just because of that.

If I was 혼자 [alone], of course, that would have been 행복했을거다 [happy]. I won’t 부정하진 않겠다 [deny it].

However, it was also true that it was 배로 행복한 [doubly happy] because there were 가족들 [family].

“Being like this reminds me of our 신혼여행 [honeymoon]. Right?”

“It was good then.”

“It was good then? Past tense?”

“No, it’s good now too, but it was good then too.”

“I like now better. Because we’re all together with our sons and family. What should I say, it makes me think I’ve lived well.”

“Me too. It makes me think I wasn’t a 못난 놈 [failure].”

“You’re saying the obvious. If you were a 못난 놈 [failure], I wouldn’t have 결혼 안했지 [married you].”

“That’s right. I couldn’t 결혼 못하지 [have married] with you unless I was a 웬만큼 잘난 놈 [reasonably successful guy].”

Dad and Mom are sitting on the 소파 [sofa] and 오붓하게 대화를 나누고 계시는 [having a cozy conversation].

“Wow, are they using 백 쓰리를 [a three-back formation]? This looks 괜찮아 보이는데 [pretty good]?”

The 형 [older brother] is here to watch 축구 경기 [soccer game].

Everyone looks 편안하고 [comfortable], 행복해 보인다 [happy].

Without any 고민 [worries] or 걱정 [concerns].

The 따스하게 내리쬐는 햇살이 [warmly shining sunlight] 가족들을 감싸 안는 모습은 마음이 편안하기 짝이 없었다 [embracing the family was incredibly comforting].

It was Johan who 떠오르는 할아버지와 보냈던 여름이 [remembered the summer he spent with his grandfather].

What 할아버지가 해주셨던 말은 [his grandfather had said] 그때 사실이었다 [was true then].

If you have money, you can 살 수 있다는 거 편하게 [live comfortably].

However, today I felt one more thing.

If you have some money, you can 살 수 있고 혼자 편하게 [live comfortably alone], and if you have a lot of money, you can make your 사랑하는 가족들도 편하게 [beloved family comfortable too].

Looking at the 행복해 보이는 가족들 [happy-looking family], Johan thought.

If I could 지킬 수 있다면 this 행복을 오랫동안 with my own 힘으로 [protect this happiness for a long time with my own strength], I would want to do that.

To do that, 축구를 역시 [soccer, after all]…

“Johan-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t it good?”

“Yes.”

Looking at Johan, who was 즐기고 있는 호캉스를 누구보다 제대로 [enjoying the staycation more than anyone], Ban Seok-ho and Rohan 서로 눈을 마주치곤 고개를 끄덕였다 [exchanged glances and nodded].

I thought it 통했다 [clicked].

Then, I guess your body will be 근질근질할 법도 하겠지 [itching to play], Shall we 떠볼까 한 번 슬쩍 at this point [casually bring it up]?

“Don’t you want to live like this 평생 앞으로도 [forever in the future]?”

“It’s good.”

“Then, don’t you want to go to 훈련하러 [training] even tomorrow? Don’t you feel like you have to do better quickly?”

“To 훈련하러 [training]?”

At Rohan’s 물음에 [question], Johan 씨익 미소를 짓는 [smirks].

The moment Rohan and Ban Seok-ho’s faces brightened at Johan’s 미소 [smile].

“No.”

“…Huh?”

잊지 말 것 [Don’t forget].

상대는 요한이다 [The opponent is Johan].

다만 [However].

“I just think I should do better in the next 경기 [game].”

“Ooh…!”

It was 발휘하고 있었다 정도 어느 [showing some level of].

Money was 좋긴 좋았다 [good after all].

***

From October, the Premier League 본격적으로 바빠지기 시작한다 [starts to get busy in earnest].

Because it’s the time when there are many 경기가 [games] with 리그 경기 [league games] and 유럽 대항전 경기 [European competition games], and the 리그 컵 [League Cup] also starts. Of course, the 피크 [peak] is the December 박싱 데이 [Boxing Day].

West Ham doesn’t have many 참가하는 대회가 그나마 [many participating competitions]. Because they don’t go to 유럽 대항전 [European competitions].

What they have to 소화해야 할 [digest] is 리그 [League], 리그컵 [League Cup], FA컵 [FA Cup], these three 대회 [tournaments].

Among them, the one with the lowest importance is 리그컵 아무래도 [League Cup, after all].

The 리그컵 [League Cup], which 92개 팀 참가하는 총 [a total of 92 teams participate], gives the 우승 팀 [winning team] a 유로파 컨퍼런스 리그 출전권 [Europa Conference League qualification], which can be seen as a 하위 단계 [lower stage] of the 유로파 리그 [Europa League].

It wasn’t a particularly 매력적인 우승 특권 [attractive winning privilege] to see.

Because it doesn’t have a lot of 상금 [prize money] either.

However, it may be a more important 대회 [tournament] for teams like West Ham who have to 들고 봐야할 트로피라도 어떤 [to hold up any trophy].

However, 슈미트 감독 [Coach Schmidt] was thinking of 선택과 집중 [selective focus].

The current 스쿼드는 [squad] 확실히 베스트 일레븐이 확고한 상태 [definitely has a solid best eleven]. The 선수단의 뎁스 [squad depth] is not that 두터운 편이 also [thick either]. Furthermore, the 전술 상 주전 선수들의 체력 is also 소모되는 많이 편이라 [tactics consume a lot of stamina of the starting players], 컨디션 관리에 무엇보다 공을 들여야 하는 상태 was [condition management was the most important thing].

Also, the fact that the 리그 성적 [league performance] is 이어나가고 있다는 흐름 상당히 좋은 was important [continuing with a very good flow].

No matter how 초반 [early] it is, they’ve already 치른 상태까지 9라운드 벌써 [played up to 9 rounds already]. 1/4 of the 전체 일정 is on 셈 [the entire schedule is on].

In that situation, the 성적 [record] of 7승 1무 1패 [7 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss] made me have no choice but to 걸어볼 수밖에 기대 [place expectations].

To enter 리그 6위권 안에 [within the top 6 of the league], not the 컨퍼런스 리그 [Conference League], but the 진짜 유로파 리그 [real Europa League].

No, honestly, I’m greedy for 챔스권 안에 드는 것도 that 넘어서 [getting into the Champions League spots beyond that].

Therefore, West Ham 치른 리그 컵 경기를 [played the League Cup game] 선수들과 유스 선수들로 후보 [with reserve players and youth players] on October 20.

The 관중들 [spectators] who 경기장을 찾은 to see Johan were very 아쉬워 했지만 [disappointed], they took comfort in the fact that they 잡아낸 블랙번 로버스를 상대로 2대1로 그래도 [caught Blackburn Rovers 2-1 anyway].

In particular, it was good that 아카데미 선수, 조슈아 베일리의 활약이 꽤 대단했다는 게 [academy player Joshua Bailey’s performance was quite great] the first 1군 데뷔를 한 in this 경기 [made his first team debut in this game].

In fact, before Johan 등장하기 뜬금포로 [suddenly appeared], 베일리는 팬들이 웨스트 햄 가장 기대를 걸었던 유망주였다 [Bailey was the prospect that fans were most expecting from West Ham].

Not only that, but he was 정도 꼽힐 탑으로 11년생 [considered top-tier] the 유망주들 중 잉글랜드 전역의 [prospects throughout England] 11년생.

It was natural that many 팬들 환호를 보낸 his 활약에 [fans cheered for his performance].

However, 베일리는 운이 나쁜 케이스였다 [Bailey was an unlucky case].

No matter how 일시적인 콜업이라 해도 리그 컵 경기에 [temporary call-up to the League Cup game], it’s normal to receive 굉장한 주목 and that 주목이 가야 하는 게 적어도 일주일은 if you 데뷔해 1군에 나이에 16살의 빼어난 활약을 펼쳤으면 [receive great attention and that attention should last at least a week if you debut in the first team at the age of 16 and perform outstandingly].

Because the 관심 of West Ham 팬들의 향했기 선수에게 온통 다른 [attention of West Ham fans was entirely on another player], 지나지도 않아서 며칠 불과 [not even a few days passed].

같은 11년 생 [Same 2011 birth year].

However, a 선수 who has already 데뷔해 1군에 5개월 전에 and has become the 핵심 of the 팀 넘어 주전을 [player who has already debuted in the first team 5 months ago and has become the core of the team beyond the starting lineup].

Johan showed 컨디션을 가벼운 어느 때보다 in the 주말 리그 경기 [lighter condition than ever in the weekend league game], 브렌트포드와의 경기에서 [in the game against Brentford], leading the 팀’s 3연승 and 독차지해 버렸다 스포트라이트를 모든 2골 2어시스트 [the team’s 3-game winning streak and monopolized all the spotlight with 2 goals and 2 assists].

Well, it’s 아쉬운 일 for 베일리에겐 [unfortunate for Bailey], but there was no choice but to 그러려니 [accept it].

The 센세이션한 활약 is 보여주고 있는 요한이 지금까지 [sensational performance Johan has been showing so far], not only the 같은 11년생들 [same 2011 birth year players].

10년생, 09년생, 아니 나이를 불문하고 [2010, 2009, no matter the age].

수준이었으니까 힘든 빼앗아가기 스포트라이트를 향하는 요한에게 어떠한 선수도 the [it was difficult for any player to take away the spotlight from Johan].

The important thing was that 앞으로가 더 문제라는 [the future was more of a problem].

The 팀들은 만나게 될 웨스트 햄과 이후 긴장해야 했다 상당히 [teams that will meet West Ham afterwards had to be quite nervous].

자연재해라는 ‘반요한의 휴식 풀’ 그들이 마주해야 하는 건, 으니까 [What they have to face is ‘Ban Johan’s rest 풀 (pool/recovery)’, which is a natural disaster].