Lazy Genius Striker [EN]: Chapter 5

< 004. Tryouts >

“I’m a little late, could I get a vest?”

“You’re beyond a little late.”

“Just this once, please.”

“Haa…”

The coach frowned at the unexpected appearance of a participant.

Everyone else came early to warm up and prepare for the tryouts, but here he was, just arriving and asking to participate.

The coach felt a surge of annoyance at his audacity.

“Just grab any vest from the basket over there and get in line.”

“Thank you.”

However, seeing the participant’s somewhat resolute face, the coach, not wanting to argue, reluctantly pointed to the basket of vests.

‘He probably won’t make it anyway, what does he think he’s going to do…?’

Although he had given permission, the coach couldn’t hide his irritated expression.

This tryout was also turning out to be fruitless.

Far from finding any standout participants, they were all below standard.

It would be lucky if one or two were selected.

Meanwhile, there were so many participants that it felt like a waste of time.

So,

the last participant, who was even late, was not likely to be viewed favorably by the coach.

But.

“Get on the starting line. Ready.”

When that last participant started the physical test.

“Beep-!”

The coach’s annoyed expression changed instantly.

He couldn’t help but change.

Tatatatat-!

‘…Oh?’

Lightning-fast agility, bursting out at the sound of the whistle.

Instant acceleration, gaining speed right from the start.

And, agility that didn’t match his large physique, quickly turning around after hitting the flag.

‘…Not bad?’

Watching the participant nimbly move back and forth across the course, the coach involuntarily exclaimed in admiration.

It was a sprint that made the coach’s eyes, tired of the mediocre participants, light up.

Only then did the coach take a closer look at the participant’s entire physique.

‘His physical condition is naturally good?’

He just seemed big at first glance,

but upon closer inspection, his natural build was quite impressive.

A height of around 180 centimeters [approximately 5’11”], with long, straight arms and legs.

His body looked thick, as if he had been working out diligently, and yet his ankles were slender, suggesting athletic ability.

In fact, just looking at his running form, it was clear that he was naturally athletic.

“Beep-! Stop!”

As the participant finished the set number of laps, the coach checked the timer and was surprised once again.

‘If it’s this record…’

It was an amazing record.

The average record for this 10-meter shuttle run was around 8 seconds.

Even a time in the late 7-second range was considered quite fast, and it would be fair to say that they were naturally gifted in speed and agility.

But,

the last participant’s record was 7.52 seconds.

It was the best record so far.

An overwhelmingly superior record.

A monster had appeared at the very end of the lax tryouts.

“Beep!”

The physical test continued.

Explosively sprinting forward, changing direction left and right, and gracefully passing through the flags placed in all directions.

A session to check physical balance and agility.

Before he knew it, onlookers had gathered.
Trainees who had finished the test, and even the coaches, were gathering one by one to watch the test.

And they all wore the same expression.

Their mouths were wide open.

“He’s better than our kids.”

“I agree?”

The sessions prepared for the test were mostly things that the academy players did during training.

Therefore, comparisons were inevitable.

Between the existing academy players and the participants.

Until now, there hadn’t been any participants who seemed better than the existing players.

That was only natural.

It would be strange for unaffiliated amateur trainees, who had to take the tryout, to be better than academy players who received professional training.

But,

this last participant was showing a different level.

A feeling that he was better than the existing players.

No, to be more honest, he was giving off an overwhelming feeling.

As far as natural physicality was concerned.

“Okay! Great! Now, move on to the next one!”

“Hoo, yes.”

The coach’s attitude, which had been full of annoyance just a moment ago, had changed 180 degrees.

From a feeling of ‘Why are you coming now,’

to a feeling of ‘Why are you only coming now.’

Anyway, after quickly passing the physical test.

Standing in line for the next session, the dribbling test.

The last participant, Johan, spat on the ground.

‘Those fucking bastards…’

Thinking about the guys who were talking behind his back, he cursed again.

He was already upset that his brother had been eliminated due to bad luck, and they had to add fuel to the fire.

What? That his brother was a disgrace to the family?

That they weren’t even from a great family to begin with?

What did they know to be saying such things.

‘Those shitty bastards.’

Even Johan couldn’t stand it.

But he couldn’t exactly beat them up with his dad standing right there.

In the end, the only way was to prove it himself.

That our family.

Was not a family that they could look down on.

“Okay. Stand on the starting line. Let me know when you’re ready.”

After the physical test, the dribbling test.

Standing on the starting line of the course where his brother had been eliminated.

“…”

Johan glanced slightly towards the stands.

He could see the guys who had been badmouthing his brother still looking this way.

You sons of bitches.

Watch closely.

“I’m ready.”

“Okay. Ready, beep!”

Filled with anger, Johan started dribbling the ball and charging forward fiercely.

*

Even after tasting the bitterness of his sixth elimination, Rohan’s expression was desperate.

His dad and brother had even come to cheer him on, but he couldn’t bear to face them, so he returned to the stands with his head bowed.

But, when he heard from his dad that his brother had gone out onto the field.

“Huh? Is that true?”

“Yeah, look over there.”

Rohan couldn’t believe it.

His brother had gone out to take the test?

The brother who had said he would never play soccer again?

“That’s the best, my brother!”

When Johan started to crush the tests one by one.

Rohan felt a jolt of electricity throughout his body.

He felt incredibly thrilled and incredibly happy.

If he had participated because he was angry that his brother had been eliminated, he almost thought it was good that he had been eliminated.

He had wanted Johan to play soccer again as much as his dad did, and he knew that unlike himself, Johan could fulfill everyone’s expectations.

So, as if he had forgotten that he had failed the test that he had so desperately wanted just a few minutes ago, Rohan started cheering for his brother in a loud voice.

“That’s right!”

Ban Seok-ho didn’t even need to say anything.

Could it be that he was provoked by the sound of the immature kids chattering in the back?

Johan, stomping out onto the field.

Was this the sight he had been hoping for for years?

He had tried so hard to get Johan to stand on the field, scolding him and persuading him, but he had failed.

But now he was out on the field on his own two feet.

It was like a dream, and he was almost grateful to the kids who had said those insulting things.

“Nice!”

“Wow, he’s really fast!”

Johan, who had crushed the physical test, was quickly passing the dribbling, passing, and kicking tests as well.

To the point where the coaches in charge of the test were passing him without even watching him until the end.

And for good reason.

It was clear at a glance that he was naturally talented.

Ban Seok-ho felt an indescribable joy as he watched the coaches, who had been expressionless throughout, show admiration on their faces because of Johan.

“How can he be so good? The last time he kicked a ball was two years ago.”

Rohan said in amazement.

It was truly amazing.

It had been two years since Johan quit soccer.

No matter how long the body remembers, anyone’s senses would dull after two years.

Even professional players who had only played soccer their whole lives would take a long time to regain their original senses if they had a two-year hiatus.

But,

Johan was showing such outstanding senses that you couldn’t find any trace of the two-year gap.

Besides, how important was that age? It was at that age that skills would improve rapidly with even one more game.

And yet, Johan was flying around, so it was no wonder that it was amazing.

But Ban Seok-ho knew the reason.

‘It’s not something he learned, it’s something he was born with…’

Everything was not a sense that he had learned and awakened through repeated training, but something he was born with.

Simply,

he was born with an understanding of soccer from birth, so he couldn’t forget it even if he wanted to.

In other words, Johan was a guy who was born with the destiny to become a soccer player.

“Wow… who is that black-haired guy?”

“I’ve never seen him before. Was there someone like that?”

“He’s fucking good…?”

“He’s on a different level from the other guys. Isn’t he a player from another team? Why is someone like that coming to the tryouts?”

The reactions of the people around him who were watching the test were also full of surprise and admiration.

Even those guys who had been making fun of Rohan couldn’t help but admire him.

Watching that, Ban Seok-ho couldn’t help but feel relieved, even though he knew it was childish.

They were just young kids, so they could say things without thinking, but Ban Seok-ho felt like his blood was running backwards just now.

It was only because he was older and had two sons that he was able to hold back.

If he had been in his youthful prime, he might have called the kids over and given them each a knuckle sandwich [a punch in the face].

Because Ban Seok-ho was known as a tough guy even in the PL [Premier League] during his playing days.

But he couldn’t do that now that he had a reputation to uphold.

He seemed to have no choice but to pretend he didn’t hear and hold back his anger.

But Johan was showing it, he was proving it, so he couldn’t help but feel relieved.

It felt like he was pouring cider down his throat [a metaphor for feeling refreshed and satisfied].

“Okay. That’s it. Good job, and check your team on that board over there.”

Before he knew it, Johan’s test was over.

Johan finished the test faster than anyone else.

The score seemed obvious without even looking.

If the coaches who watched the test weren’t mistaken, it would all be perfect scores.

It wasn’t just because he was his son or his brother.

Both Ban Seok-ho and Rohan, as soccer fans who truly loved soccer.

No matter how coldly they looked at it, the talent that Johan showed was 100 out of 100.

That was,

the real talent of the Ban family.

“Now, this is the last one.”

“Everyone’s surprised, but it’s too early to be surprised.”

Now all that was left,

was the final hurdle of the test.

A full 11-on-11 practice game.

Everyone was already admiring Johan, but Rohan and Ban Seok-ho thought it was still too early to be surprised.

The difference in true talent would be even more evident on the field, not in partial tests.

“Everyone gather around! The game will begin soon.”

The practice game was about to start soon.

“Okay, show them what you’ve got, Johan!”

“Show them! Show them!”

Rohan and Ban Seok-ho began to watch the game with great anticipation.