Episode 183 Imitation
“I will not be participating in this practice match.”
I heard Lee Chang-hyun, the coach of PER, a rising star in the Korean league, speaking.
At those words, I found myself letting out a dumbfounded sound without realizing it.
“……yes?”
“Because you’re a director.”
That was true. But at the same time, it was also absurd.
It didn’t seem like they were playing to get along with new players, nor did they play to win or have a good game.
As the director of RQM, I can’t help but get angry at this ambiguous attitude.
I thought that even though Lee Chang-hyun was young and often the subject of gossip, I respected him enough.
While acknowledging PER’s potential, RQM added only one new player. On the other side, it is said that neither new players nor Lee Chang-hyun will participate.
At some point, I found myself chewing my molars without realizing it.
But at the same time, it was also an issue that didn’t require too much stress.
‘In any case, if coach Lee Chang-hyun does not participate as a player… … the possibility of losing is not high.’
Certainly, Director Lee Chang-hyun is strong. This had to be acknowledged.
But… … at the same time, RQM’s manager also knew that the PER without Lee Chang-hyun was not that strong.
Even though RQM is a 9th place team that fell behind in the competition in the first division, it is still a team that has somehow managed to survive in the first division with its own experience, concept, and strengths.
There have been countless instances of pepper spraying countless other first-division teams.
Now it was time to show the young guy’s team the prowess of the first division.
***
‘Is this right… Lee Chang-hyun.’
The practice match that had just begun already had a slightly busier feel to it.
There was a bit of a hustle and bustle due to Lee Chang-hyun’s absence. And the atmosphere was different than usual due to the absence of a clear order.
I remembered the team meeting before this game where Lee Chang-hyun spoke with a solemn expression.
“I will not participate in the practice match that has been scheduled this time.”
It was the day before the match against RQM. Lee Chang-hyun made the announcement out of the blue.
“Huh? You’re not going to participate? Are you going somewhere else alone that day?”
“No, that’s not it. I’m just saying that I don’t participate in the game.”
The sight of Lee Chang-hyun and Kim Do-jun bickering as if the focus of their conversation is strangely off.
For the team members, it was unfamiliar that PER was playing without Lee Chang-hyun.
‘Chang-Hyeon is not participating… …’
It was a bit surprising. Lee Chang-hyun, the strongest driving force and ace player leading this team so far, did not participate in the practice match.
That’s why I had no choice but to ask Lee Chang-hyun directly what his intentions were.
“… … If I had to say, you probably know that this team itself is a team that relies on you as the ace to lead the game. Why do you insist on not participating in the practice matches?”
Up until now, the tactics have naturally been centered around ace striker Lee Chang-hyun, and the starting players have also been organized in a way to implement Lee Chang-hyun and his order.
However, if the key player, Lee Chang-hyun, suddenly leaves, it would be the same as losing the team’s direction.
The answer to that question was quite unexpected.
“That’s a good question, Jaejun.”
As if he was waiting for my question.
“It’s kind of like a midterm evaluation. Not during the game, but an objective observation from outside. How well did you handle the training in the U.S. and the tasks I’ve given you so far?”
In short, since you can’t look at each player in detail during a match, are you saying that you want to watch the actual test from the outside as an observer?
‘But in the end, what’s important in this team is the chemistry with ace Lee Chang-hyun, so why do we have to watch the game without Lee Chang-hyun himself…?
A little doubt crossed my mind. But at the same time, one thing was certain. Even if there was another intention, it was unlikely that Lee Chang-hyun would tell me.
So I decided to ask something else instead.
“Okay. I understand your intentions. But then who will be in charge of running the game and giving orders…?”
In fact, this question was also another key point. After all, the team had been centered around Lee Chang-hyun, so the way the game was played and the order was centered around Lee Chang-hyun.
But now that Lee Chang-hyun is gone, it’s only natural that someone is needed to take over the order.
Lee Chang-hyun answered as if he had been waiting for those words.
He looked at me, smiled faintly, and made a surprising announcement.
“Jaejun is in charge of the main orders and strategies for this game.”
“Like this all of a sudden? Me?”
“You guys have to follow along well since I’m the new captain for one game.”
And now back to the game again.
Although it was a bit confusing, the game was still in its early stages. As usual, Lee Yeon-joo’s position briefing was continuing.
“Is it because of the nature of this map… … Everyone is generally far apart from the opposing team… … .”
“What should I do…? Changhyun. Oh, no, Jaejun.”
Was Lee Yeon-ju awkward too?
I kept looking for Lee Chang-hyun, who wasn’t even in the game. I guess it’s a habit.
“Don’t panic. Chang-Hyeon is gone, and instead we have the defensive Yu-Hyeon, so we just need to adjust our strategy a little bit for that part.”
“……ah!”
I closed my eyes and focused on the game.
Yes, Lee Chang-hyun’s intentions are not really that important in this game. There is only one thing that is important to a player. It is to win the game.
However, without Lee Chang-hyun, an overall revision of the strategy was necessary.
In a game that supports one absolute striker, it would probably be standard to form an overall defensive formation and tighten the grip on the opponent.
‘It’s not Chang-Hyeon’s preferred tactic, but… … .’
This is probably the correct answer.
“First, let’s all join in following Yeonju’s briefing.”
***
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The game was still early. Nothing much had happened. However, the waiting room where the RQM coach, coach, and I were, along with the PER coach, was quite noisy.
It was unilaterally due to PER.
“That… … Changhyun. So why did you send only the kids out? This has never happened before.”
Coach Lee Jong-gyu continued to ask questions, his body fidgeting as if it was on fire.
“You’ve been here the whole time, so you should know. Why do you keep doing that?”
“That’s the superficial reason, but you’re asking the real reason behind it.”
Oh? I used to think of Coach Lee Jong-gyu as just a mental care expert and a housekeeper. With Lehmann’s support increasing and a cook preparing meals, has his ability to read the situation improved?
I thought that maybe, secretly, Lee Jong-gyu had also grown a little.
Well, there are no kids here, so it shouldn’t be a big problem to just tell Lee Jong-gyu.
“… … I can’t be there for every battle.”
“What? Did you get an offer to join a team somewhere? To transfer teams? Which team is that? 1st Division LTD? Or… … If you’re going, then maybe the last time in America… … ??”
Lee Jong-gyu’s voice grew louder, as if he was momentarily surprised.
That was a remark made with only words that were easy to misunderstand.
But somehow none of them are correct.
“Be quiet. Be quiet.”
So, I covered Lee Jong-gyu’s mouth and whispered again.
“Stop saying stupid things like moving teams. Think about it rationally. Isn’t it normal that I can’t give orders for every battle my teammates engage in?”
“That’s… … That’s right. But up until now, you’ve been giving the kids meticulous orders without any problems.”
“Giving orders means that I have to think about other things besides my battles. So naturally, I can’t focus solely on what I can do.”
“Then, until now… … .”
“Yes. I continued to personally give orders to lead the entire team to victory, but in order to raise the team’s weight class, each person needs to have the ‘ability to think for themselves.’”
If you think about it, it’s an obvious story.
When the space map was released during the promotion from Part 3 to Part 2, there was no way that the battle style of each side defeating the other would not appear again.
Individuals can think and move on their own, devise small detailed strategies, and move. They can move actively.
‘And most of all, understanding my thoughts and moving in the same direction without me having to say anything.’
When it becomes unified without talking, then it becomes a true team.
“This match is about that. Because of my absence from the match, the guys will be able to imagine my intentions and move in line with them for the first time, thinking, ‘What would Chang-Hyeon do?’”
Of course, I don’t know if that’s actually what I think or if it’s the right answer.
There were already some guys moving like that.
‘It’s one-on-one… … Thanks to Han-gyeol, the match… … will be fun.’
***
Not long after the order for Ryu Jae-jun to join was given, a situation arose.
It was because none other than Yoon Han-gyeol, while joining, discovered an opposing team that was left alone.
“Enemy detected ahead. We will attempt to assassinate them first without joining in.”
Even before Ryu Jae-jun’s permission came in, Yoon Han-gyeol started acting on his own.
“Wait a minute… … It’s dangerous to jump in alone without even knowing who you’re dealing with!”
Ryu Jae-jun told them to follow orders quickly, but there was no way the conductor could conduct well when the person holding the baton changed in an instant.
“Sorry… … The other party has already figured this out. Among the RQM players I’ve seen in advance, there’s no one who’s particularly strong in 1v1s, so it’ll be okay.”
It seems that Yoon Han-gyeol bumped into the opponent first.
“And… … If it were Chang-Hyeon, wouldn’t he have done this?”
“… … .”
Yoon Han-gyeol went into battle after saying those words, and there was no new word heard through the earphones.
***
“Merger complete. Now, if only Yeonju Lee could come, it seems like everyone except Hankyul has joined?”
“Um… … okay.”
“What are you going to do, Han-gyeol? Should we move the main force in that direction?”
“… … Jaejun?”
The last words that Yoon Han-gyeol said kept lingering in my ears.
‘If it were Chang-Hyeon, wouldn’t he have done it like this… … ra.’
Yes. Certainly, the choices Lee Chang-hyun made during the game were never wrong.
Sometimes he was bold, and even when it seemed like he was on the verge of defeat, he always ended up winning.
Sometimes it was classic, sometimes it was unconventional.
But things were different then and now. There was no order from Lee Chang-hyun. There was no crack player named Lee Chang-hyun.
‘Without Lee Chang-hyun, our team’s basic concept of centered around one striker would be impossible.’
And that certainly means tactics will have to change.
But why do the last words that Yoon Han-gyeol said keep ringing in my ears?
While I was thinking about it carefully, an odd thought occurred to me.
… … Maybe. I think it has something to do with the reason Lee Chang-hyun was absent from this game.
Lee Chang-hyun did not participate in this game because he had his own thoughts.
Perhaps you want to observe and analyze other team members… … or gain experience.
What do you want to learn in Lee Chang-hyun’s absence?
What is it? How to improvise when the order is unclear and not clear? How to deal with the absence of a main crack player?
No… … It couldn’t have been something so trivial.
If it’s Lee Chang-hyun… … If it’s Lee Chang-hyun.
“… … .”
perhaps.
‘Are you asking me to think about what I would do in this situation?’
My head suddenly felt dizzy and I quickly began to review the situation.
The reason Lee Chang-hyun was absent from this game.
And that’s what we have to do.
What Lee Chang-hyun wants to know from this game. What he wants to realize.
It was to read Lee Chang-hyun’s intentions and move him with one thought, even if he didn’t say it himself.
‘Then… what should I do?’
Yoon Han-gyeol made his own decision and thought about the orders that Lee Chang-hyun would have given and then moved forward.
So, what would Lee Chang-hyun do in this situation?
“Jaejun. It seems like everyone’s joining in now. Are you going to support Han-gyeol? Or to the opposing main force?”
fantasy,
