The Genius Decided To Live An Ordinary Life [EN]: Chapter 273

The Dictator (3)

Emptying the mind begins with letting go of greed.

The disease of greed born from wishful thinking.

It’s not just athletes who are defeated and consumed by illness, unable to perform at their best.

That’s what the fresh-faced kid, who had been nagging his senior like a dictator throughout training and sometimes giving spiritual lectures with blinking eyes like a Taoist, had said.

‘Such a cocky brat.’

To try and teach Jin Seon-gyu, a true genius who had been praised for his innate talent since childhood.

A sharp glint flashed in Jin Seon-gyu’s eyes.

‘……But he’s cool.’

He’s so awesome for hanging out with those American guys and then finishing first like them.

Hehe-. Though his eyes were hidden behind sunglasses, Jin Seon-gyu’s lips were grinning.

Once a race is over, the track is immediately set up for the next group of athletes.

The race itself only takes about 10-11 seconds.

Even with preparation time, each preliminary heat takes less than 5 minutes.

Sseubal sseubal- Hoo-.

Son Jin-hyeok had asked him.

What exactly he was muttering in the starting blocks.

Jin Seon-gyu brushed it off, saying it was nothing.

“Shibashibashibasbeobeo ppaappappa-shupashupashupa roaring engine sound-.”

Because it really was nothing.

[Sseon-kyu- Jin-.]

Ah, seriously.

Everyone is butchering my name. And they’re doing it on a microphone that’s broadcasting to the whole world.

That’s the name my grandfather gave me, telling me to live a good and exemplary life, you punks!

Sseon-kyu Jin in lane 3 raised his clenched fist with a more confident look than ever before.

The most important thing from the conversation he had with Jin-hyeok before today’s race.

– “I think the preliminary heats will be cut off around the ten-second mark.”

It was a baseless and illogical statement.

Who would believe that the reason he met so many athletes was to feel their energy and gauge their fighting power, a kind of combat power measurement?

‘Is he a Saiyan?’ [A reference to the powerful warrior race from the Dragon Ball manga/anime series.]

Well, whatever Jin-hyeok said, the fact that he had to do his best remained unchanged.

‘He must have been saying that I can pass if I perform at my usual level, right?’

A country that was once ranked 4th overall in the Olympics, a country that controls the world economy, and even rumored to be manipulating it from behind with a huge conglomerate. Yet, in track and field, it’s a country that hasn’t produced any outstanding stars other than in the marathon.

‘Not even a star, let alone an Olympic bronze medal in the sprints. It’s a basic sport.’

Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and so on. How many countries he secretly looked down on. In fact, most of them are countries he doesn’t even know the names of. Are there only virgins in the Virgin Islands? Then who has the babies? Where the heck is Guinea?

Even those countries consistently participate in the Olympics and even win medals.

‘Ah, here I go again.’

All sorts of random thoughts began to plague Jin Seon-gyu.

“Shibashibasbeosbeo shupashupapapapa-.”

If he couldn’t empty his mind, he was told to focus on one thing.

‘My feet! My big feet!’

The pressure on his toes felt different than usual.

For a considerable amount of time, he had put in the effort to unify his feet and spikes.

Blue on the left, red on the right.

‘Today, my feet are different from usual.’

They’re not just big feet.

They’re the holy Taegeuk [Korean flag symbol] big feet.

[On your mark.]

Taegeuk big feet Sseon-kyu Jin decided to focus on his feet.

‘Head, shoulders, knees, and toes, knees and toes-.’

Here we go again, damn it.

Take out the ten, feet, feet, feet.

[Get set.]

Hoo-oop-.

Holding his breath with his hips raised for one second.

He’d stomp on anyone who false starts with his Taegeuk big feet.

Stop it, you crazy bastard!

[Ta-aang-!]

Tikak-!

There are two types of athletes who don’t perform well because they’re conscious of false starts.

Athletes who either jump the gun and get a foul or are slow to start because they’re hesitant.

Athletes who can’t accelerate at the beginning because they’re worried about a false start.

Both cases are side effects of overthinking.

‘Good start!’

At one time, Jin Seon-gyu was an athlete who fell into both categories.

Because he had too many unnecessary thoughts.

‘Feet, feet, feet, feet, feet, feet-.’

But on the Olympic stage, which might be his first and last, Taegeuk big feet Jin Seon-gyu started running like a madman.

Tturururuk-!

Jin Seon-gyu’s unique powerful big feet and Taegeuk spikes combined to create a sound effect reminiscent of a combat helicopter’s machine gun fire.

‘Hya-, sounds good.’

He didn’t know what the material was, but after wearing them and running for over ten days, he had fallen in love with the rebound and the sound.

The first day he wore them, he almost peed his pants while doing a 60m shuttle run. It was because he was tired, but anyway.

According to the new generation Son Jin-hyeok, the expression ‘peeing your pants’ means ‘awesome.’ And what ‘awesome’ means is……

‘Awesome!’

Tturururu-.

He ran and ran with a shorter stride than Michael Johnson.

Feeling the power not leaving his knees, which he had corrected with Son Jin-hyeok.

Enjoying his ankles, which were supporting his weight firmly without aching.

And.

‘What is it? Something’s weird?’

Ah, let’s not think about it.

‘Feet, feet, feet, feet-.’

He didn’t want to think about it, but he couldn’t help but think about it.

No, damn it, why is there no one in front of me?

He had a good start and accelerated while looking at the ground until the 30m mark, so he thought it was just the crowd’s cheers he was hearing.

He thought that these wicked and ruthless track and field athletes were saving their energy since it was just the preliminary heats until the 60m mark.

He became anxious when he didn’t see any other athletes in his field of vision even after passing the 70m mark.

Ah, damn it!

Did I run alone like an idiot without hearing the foul signal?

The remaining 20m passed without time to think.

And.

[Ta-aang-!]

Bababak-.

Jin Seon-gyu came to his senses at the sound of the gun signaling the finish and the footsteps of the trailing athletes.

‘Aish, damn it.’

I should have tried to control my pace.

Who knew I’d come in first……

“Aigo, I’m tired-.”

Jin Seon-gyu, who had braked 30m past the curve after the straightaway, touched the ground with his hand.

It was because he had been running while looking straight ahead on the track, which was only 1.25m wide, where he could have seen the situation in the next lane just by moving his eyes. It would be more accurate to say that his eyes were frozen and couldn’t move.

Korean athletes are always criticized for being impatient.

At least until Son Jin-hyeok appeared, it was a nagging that no one could avoid.

The composure that comes from the difference in experience.

The confidence that only those who take standing alone on the podium for granted can enjoy.

‘Cee-, you senior bastards-. You couldn’t do it when you were athletes, but you tell your juniors to be composed.’

Uwee-, I’m tired.

Andre Silva from Brazil and Jisimides from the Republic of Cyprus came over and patted Jin Seon-gyu’s back as he squatted down.

“Gyu, amazing.”

“Great, Gyu.”

Jin Seon-gyu, holding his churning stomach, looked at the scoreboard with wide eyes.

「9.99s」

Oh my god.

……These shoes are so good.

So good that two people could run and one could die without the other knowing.

Linford Christie, a particularly dark-skinned athlete, approached with a smile and sat facing Jin Seon-gyu.

“Haha, we need to monitor the Koreans to make sure they’re doing drug tests properly-.”

What is this old man saying?

“Sure, sure. Of course. Uwee-.”

The best record in the preliminary heats.

His personal best time, breaking into the 9-second range for the first time.

It was the moment Jin Seon-gyu’s name became known to the world.

Not only that.

Uweaek-!

“Aigoo, I’m gonna die-! Uwee!”

“Hey! Oh my god!”

Linford frowned at the strong smell of instant coffee coming from Jin Seon-gyu’s mouth.

Jin Seon-gyu became the first Korean athlete to beat Barcelona Olympic gold medalist Linford Christie and even vomit in his face.

***

After all the preliminary heats were over, he went to find coach Kim Hyung-tak and coach Seo Pil-gu in the stands.

In Jin-hyeok’s case, there was a foundation employee who took care of him separately, but they were still part of the coaching staff. Later, considering the relationship between the foundation, the juniors, and the federation, there was no reason to distance himself from them.

They had interacted often, so there was no awkwardness.

Words of congratulations, encouragement, and gratitude were exchanged.

“Hahaha! I was so out of it that I couldn’t control my pace.”

Jin Seon-gyu, who had been managing his expression the whole time, revealed his unique bright personality when he met the coaching staff.

Suffering from being an unpopular sport?

He might say that, but the top athlete in the country doesn’t have much to suffer.

Isn’t it the same in any field?

The best guy is checked, but he’s also treated well.

At this moment, Jin Seon-gyu was the best in Korea, no, the world.

Jin-hyeok, massaging Jin Seon-gyu’s trapezius muscles, which looked uncomfortable, casually suggested.

“Get some shoes made as soon as you get back to Korea. Dad-, I’ll talk to my father.”

“Is that okay?”

Big feet Sseon-kyu Jin, who had realized the power of the Taegeuk spikes, was delighted.

“You have to run in the Asian Games too.”

Jin Seon-gyu’s eyes widened.

Because of Jin-hyeok’s eyes, which seemed to be burning.

That thought immediately turned into conviction when Jin-hyeok spoke.

“The 400-meter relay. We have to win the gold medal. We just need to train two more people. I think the seniors from Jeonnam Provincial Office and Chuncheon City Hall would be good for the second and third spots, right?”

Jin Seon-gyu blinked and turned his head.

Coach Kim Hyung-tak and coach Seo Pil-gu, with their earnest expressions, nodded at the same time.

‘Asian Games gold medal.’

……Damn it, the military.

If the two athletes who had experienced the Olympic stage ran in the first and fourth spots, it seemed like winning against China, Japan, Iran, and Bahrain was no longer a dream.

The words that brought that dream one step closer to reality came from Jin-hyeok’s mouth.

“These shoes……, they’re an unfinished product.”

Oh my god.

***

While traveling in the black van sent by Yoo Se-ra, Seo Pil-gu still felt like he was dreaming.

Two people had passed the preliminary heats.

And with the 1st and 2nd place records.

‘How great would it be if the competition ended like this.’

Just give out the medals based on the preliminary results and be done with it……

Isn’t that probably the honest wish of all Koreans?

‘Seon-gyu caused an accident.’

He was a lazy genius.

He also lacked courage.

But today, from the way he looked in the starting blocks, he was completely different from usual. It was like the guy who used to look like an African warrior facing a lion even when he just went to the Asian Games had finally awakened as Tarzan.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen him grinning like he’s high before a race.’

Grandpa Sprinter, Monster Christie.

It’s a nickname that anyone in track and field knows.

It was so cool to see Jin Seon-gyu, who finished first against him, roaring at Linford as if to claim that he was the real monster.

Though his squatting posture, like he was taking a dump, was a bit weird.

‘Seon-gyu probably roared, ‘Hey, you punk, I’m the best! Woohoo!”

As a senior and a coach, it was a satisfying scene.

He asked what he had shouted, but Jin Seon-gyu wouldn’t tell him, so he just assumed that was it.

Squeak-.

The van entered the mansion and began to slow down.

Director Kim Hyung-tak, sitting in the second row, tapped the back of the passenger seat.

“We-.”

“You’ve come all the way here, so let’s have a meal together. The chairman specifically asked me to bring you.”

“Heo-.”

At the suggestion of the Sein Foundation employee in the passenger seat, Kim Hyung-tak glanced at Seo Pil-gu. He had intended to just say hello and leave, but this was something else.

“Old man. Don’t overthink it, let’s just eat since we’re here.”

Seo Pil-gu’s words brushed past his ear.

It was just the preliminary heats, but he was caught up in an unusual emotion.

After coming to the United States, he had observed the athletes’ training several times and given his opinions. The only things that could be called guidance were the advice he gave to strengthen their mental fortitude and maintain their condition. Other than those two things, it was the athletes’ domain.

Still, the media would probably say this: that the best results were achieved through the combination of leadership and the athletes’ abilities. This is great, so great.

‘Ah! The spikes!’

The variables of technology and capital cannot be left out either. Who would have thought that he would be impressed by the shoes of a Korean athlete, not an American one?

“Ah, this old man! Aren’t you going to eat!”

“Wait a minute-. Let me think. Why are you yelling and being a jerk-.”

He couldn’t help but nod at Seo Pil-gu, who was yelling at him.

Jin Seon-gyu, who used to run 10.20 with the help of a tailwind, had suddenly entered the 9-second range.

He had gone through training that felt like his heart was going to explode, but he wondered what more effort that genius could have put in. He was a guy who had always remained the top athlete in the country, even with less training than other athletes because of his innate talent.

“If you’ve decided, you should get out, why aren’t you getting out?”

Seo Pil-gu, annoyed, turned his body away.

The one who greeted Seo Pil-gu, who had opened the door and got out first, was the very small Son Jin-hyeok.

“Helloo-?”

“Huh? Ah, right. You’re-.”

That’s Son Jin-hyeok’s younger sibling who was all over the newspapers.

They looked so alike that he wouldn’t believe it even if they put a knife to his throat and insisted they weren’t siblings.

Though he didn’t have the ET-like bulging belly.

‘Why is this girl’s belly so protruding?’

Meanwhile, in the car, the foundation employee was appeasing Kim Hyung-tak, who had a displeased expression.

“The chairman said that she wanted to thank and encourage the two of you as a citizen for your hard work.”

“Ahem-.”

The training schedule, supplies, and health management were handled by the federation, foundation employees, and the team doctor, so it was no exaggeration to say that they were the most comfortable coaching staff in history. They only had to focus on the job of coaching.

But he never imagined that he would receive a dinner invitation from Yoo Se-ra.

Moreover, to use the expression ‘encouragement’ to an elder.

‘What a cocky woman. A young woman is too cocky. Do you think I don’t know your intentions?’

While the Olympic Games, a festival of harmony, were taking place, diplomatic alliances and separations that encompassed the human world, such as politics, economy, and society, were taking place behind the scenes. Although he was a naive sports person, Kim Hyung-tak was a veteran in this field. He could clearly see Yoo Se-ra’s dark intentions to expand her influence in the sports world.

‘The federation president, Jeon Kyung-won, may have succumbed to power, but I won’t.’

Would a noble Korean sports leader bow his head to a foundation established by a chaebol’s daughter with money? A Korean sports leader would bend but not break.

Kim Hyung-tak, clenching his jaw and nodding as if making a resolution, was about to pull the door handle.

Before Kim Hyung-tak could open the door, someone opened it from the outside.

‘Is it Seon-gyu?’

That rascal, trying to save face for the coach!

This is great, I raised him well after all.

Kim Hyung-tak, who had one foot on the ground, looked around with a bent posture to find the doorman.

“Welcomeee-.”

Yoo Se-ra, with Jin Seon-gyu and Son Jin-hyeok on either side like bodyguards, was smiling so brightly that her eyes were barely visible. With her hand on the door handle.

“Aigoo-! My dear chairwomannn-!”

Kim Hyung-tak’s back was very flexible.

Erai-.

Seo Pil-gu, who had watched that scene from the opposite side, turned his head as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have. Covering Son Yu-jin’s eyes.

***

Even though he had made a call on his latest model phone right after the race, as if it were an advertisement, Jin-hyeok called his parents again after returning to the mansion. It was because he couldn’t hear his parents’ voices properly when he called from the stadium. He could only hear sobbing, and at first, he thought Jung-won was hurt or that there had been a death in someone’s family.

Since he had seen his parents sobbing at his first competition in the junior division, he was able to quickly grasp the situation.

“It’s just the preliminary heats, why are you crying? I heard that the broadcasting station is coming tomorrow.”

– No, Dad was crying next to me, so Jung-won started crying too. Mom didn’t make a sound.

She was just sobbing.

“Yes, I’ll eat lunch, have another meal in between, and then go back to the stadium. I’ll run again in the evening. It’ll probably be around eight in the morning Korean time.”

– Chairman Yoo told me to come to the training center.

“Ah, the training center? Is it open all night?”

Famous athlete Yoo Myung-sun, who had watched the preliminary heats, had called late at night.

The village hall would be small, so he said he would open the training center auditorium so that the residents could gather and watch on a large screen.

When he told Jo Il-heon about it, he said it was like they were going to have a party all night at the training center.

‘Anyway, I have to give it to Grandpa for being so generous.’

That’s why he gave him the gym, because he’s so generous.

The achievements of Hong Ki-jun cannot be ignored either.

「OHPs are not efficient. To use them, you have to make a reversed film, and they have severe mechanical defects, so the power consumption and heat generation are severe. That’s why we quickly discontinued them and released high-performance beam projectors. You know the usefulness better than I do, so I don’t need to explain it.」

‘I don’t know though.’

He had never had a reason to use a beam projector other than for company presentations.

Anyway, thanks to Yoo Myung-sun and Hong Ki-jun, the villagers were able to watch the Olympic broadcast on a large screen in the comfortable training center auditorium.

He finished showering and moved to the mansion’s dining room.

‘You invited me on a perfect day.’

In order for many athletes to trust the foundation and knock on its door, there are other personnel to secure besides star players.

Experienced and renowned leaders.

‘The atmosphere is a bit……’

Compared to Kim Hyung-tak, who was constantly smiling, Seo Pil-gu’s expression was not good.