Chapter 91 – Slump (1)

091

Camp Nou, home of Barcelona and famous for being the world’s largest soccer-specific stadium.
The press room, which had been flying for a while after the recruitment was completed early, was crowded with reporters today.

“Leonardo from Sport. Minjun Hong, congratulations on joining the great club Barcelona.”
“Thank you.”
“How was your first impression of Camp Nou, Barcelona’s home stadium that stands for Més que un club, more than a club?”

In case someone is not pro-Barça media, they demand so-called ‘Gukppong’ from the beginning.

“I felt the overwhelming majesty of the world’s largest soccer-specific stadium. Maybe it’s a stadium that any soccer player would want to play in.”

Pro-Barça media reporters applaud as if they were satisfied with the moderate lip service.
On the other hand, the reporters from the pro-Real media just stare blankly, knowing exactly which is pro-Barça and which is pro-Real.

“This is Joseph of Marka. Hong Min-jun turned down Madrid’s offer and chose Barcelona. What’s the reason?”

As a typical pro-Real media reporter, I ask why he voted against Real Madrid.
It is natural to give a prepared answer to the question you have been waiting for.

“It is an honor as a player to be interested in two clubs with such great histories. Both teams are dream clubs for every player. But I chose Barcelona because I have Jorge at Real Madrid.”
“Does that mean the feud with Jorge?”
“Not at all. Personally, I like Jorge.”

For some reason, the reporters murmured here for a while.

“However, I realized the joy of playing against Jorge in a head-to-head match at the Olympics. So this time, I look forward to facing Jorge, who wears a red and blue striped uniform and a white uniform.”

Aggro planned with Oh Harin and Yoon Daye.
Reporters knock on their laptops all at once in preparation for forming a rivalry with Jorge, Spain’s top prospect.

Unexpectedly, there are a lot of things to do, and this season, Real and Barça, respectively, have transferred to rival teams, so it won’t be awkward even if a rivalry is formed.

The rivalry with Jorge, the top prospect that the whole world is paying attention to, is the best move to soar up my brand, which is still lacking in name value… Said Yoon Daye.

Why, is this the case with Samsung, which formed a rivalry with Apple in the early days of smartphones and gained an image as a rival?

Apple, which still has the image of the number one smartphone player, boasted a tremendous name value by adding the image of a pioneer in the early days.

We decided to benchmark this.
First of all, by forming a rivalry with Jorge, he creates an image as a player who can aim for the top prospect.

Although he has rapidly raised his awareness through the Olympics, the evaluation is lower than that of the existing players who have steadily made their names known, perhaps as a reaction. Not only Jorge, who is said to be the world’s best prospect, but also many of the number two prospects aiming for that position are evaluated as inferior.

In order to overturn this in a short time, the way we thought was to establish a rival position for Jorge and create an image of a second person to challenge him.

What if you achieve that second-factor image?
You can gather fans who support Underdog. Strangely, people tend to be crazy about underdogs.

The concept of being the second person challenging the number one person and the disadvantage of being an Asian (at least in the eyes of Europeans) is combined to enjoy the underdog effect, and then eat Jorge.

By then, you’ll have the skills to overwhelm Jorge.

The sound of the reporters typing on their laptops was light, perhaps because Jorge’s name was worth it.

“As it is known, Min-Jun Hong’s contract is only for 3 years. What do you think of some of the claims that Min-Jun Hong is using Barcelona as a springboard?”
“Not at all. If you use Barcelona as a springboard, you need a club to step up to, where is that club?”

I paused for a moment and waited for the translation to finish.

“Does anyone know? Does anyone? Yes, they don’t! As you can see, Barcelona is not a springboard, but a destination. So it’s a dream club.”

Before the pro-Real reporter raised his hand, even before the interpreter could translate it, they shot at each other.
While the pro-Barça reporters cheered and clapped their hands in unison, the pro-Real reporters stared blankly at me. Oh man, look at the bloody atmosphere.

Then, at the press conference for joining Barcelona, ​​should we say that Real Madrid is the bigger club?

“Then, is there a reason why the contract period was shortened to 3 years? I heard that Hong Min-joon gave up a huge salary to shorten his contract period.”
“Because he is confident.”
“You?”
“Confidence in my skills. After proving my skills, I will re-sign and receive a higher salary.”

Ran out
Now, if I’m sluggish, I’ll get scolded several times over… What, are you okay?

* * *

Just before the transfer window closed, he joined Barcelona with just three days left.
The team has already finished their vacation and started pre-season training.

I also had to join training as soon as possible, but there were still paperwork left and, above all, the club gave me a few days off given the tight Olympic schedule.

It doesn’t mean to just spread out and rest, but it means to use this time to find a house to live in and adapt to the neighborhood.

But today I decided to take a good rest.
Even if the press conference doesn’t seem like a big deal, speaking in front of dozens of reporters was more exhausting than I thought.

I returned to the hotel the club arranged and headed straight to Oh Harin’s room.
Barcelona seemed to care a lot about it, so they found a good room in a luxury hotel, but it’s not as good as O’Harin’s room, which is a deluxe room.

“I’m gone.”
“What’s wrong with your expression? Where does it hurt?”

As I entered while rubbing my stiff body, the quick-witted Yoon Daye immediately asked me.

“It hurts. It’s not like that… It’s just that my body feels a little stiff.”
“I’ll schedule physical therapy tomorrow.”
“No, it’s okay. Massage won’t solve it.”

Because these are growing pains.
Of course, I didn’t tell the two women who were looking at me worriedly. Even if I tell you, you won’t believe me.

If you grow taller, you will naturally find out.
She smiled to herself and brought up her status window.

【Height 175cm ▶ ?Cm｜63kg ▶ ?Kg】
【Retained points ▶ 0P】

『Applying… 』
『Point use is restricted during application.』

She literally upgraded her body with 112 points.
She tried to set it to 180 and leave points, but a warning appeared saying that there could be a problem with her balance, and she took 112 points saying that she would use the points to adjust the balance.

Shit. My precious point.

“Huh? What are you doing?”

She is massaging her throbbing limbs while Daye Yoon packs her suitcase.

“I have to go back.”
“Where?”
“At home.”
“I haven’t found a house yet. I have to save you from now on.”
“That is your house.”

Yoon Daye glanced at Oh Harin at the dumbfounded question.

“You and that woman should live here. I will go back to Korea.”
“It is too sudden. And what do you mean?”

Yoon Daye’s hand stopped for a moment as she was organizing her luggage.

“… I don’t need you anymore.”
“What?”
“Somehow, I followed you all this way, but I thought you lived alone and I was just trying to help you with the housework. Then, I had to transfer right away, but that woman, the head of the agency, didn’t seem to know anything, so she was only hired temporarily. … Well, even without me, the experts would have done a good job.”

Then immediately open your mouth again.

“Ah. He didn’t even need my help with housework in the first place. Because that woman did it all.”

Then she looks up at O’Harin.
Oh Ha-rin, who was standing with her back against the wall and looked down at Yoon Daye as she sorted her things with her arms crossed, snorted.

“Hey. What do you mean I don’t need anything.”
“It is true.”

It was a calm voice, but I could tell that I had been with him for a long time.
That he’s not okay at all.

“Hey. Daye Yoon. Look at me What did I do to make you sad?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it? You know what to say!”

When I scream out in nervousness, only then does he look this way.

“I just realized the reality. Now for you… You don’t need my help So it means going back.”
“What are you saying… “
“I am also 20 years old. School will start soon, and I have to study. I can’t waste my time pointlessly here.”
“You mean nothing? Are you saying there’s no point in being with me right now?”

I was shocked because I didn’t know he was thinking that way.
Time with me is meaningless What a waste of time.

After filming a variety show, was the story we shared at that time, the strange atmosphere, and the exchange of emotions that we secretly exchanged, was I alone mistaken?
If not… Are you going to give it that much space and then turn around?

“Because just because I’m here doesn’t change anything. … It’s already a game over.”
“… Okay. Good if you think I won’t catch you.”
“…….”

Even though I obviously did what I wanted, at those words, Yoon Daye looked at me with her wounded eyes.
What the hell I’ll do whatever you want. Did you want me to hold you now?

… That’s it.
I’m tired.
There is a woman who looks out for me, but she is too tired to care about such a selfish woman.

“Huh. Are you done?”

She says triumphantly as Harin Oh, who has been watching, unfolds her arms.

“I told the front desk. I have a car waiting below, so if you get on it, it will take you to the airport.”
“… Thank you.”
“It was nothing. But even for a moment, he was my subordinate, so I have to do this.”
“…….”

Yoon Daye, who had been staring at Oh Harin, heads to her door.

That day, she felt strangely heavy in her chest.