Episode 267: At the end of the game
The Hunters League itself is a sport that places a lot of pressure on players and is prone to mental stress.
The interval between matches between teams was not that short, so that each team could show off their full potential.
‘If we had played back-to-back games like other sports, we wouldn’t have survived. We wouldn’t have had time to prepare for the game against China like we do now.’
And now. After wrapping my head around it for a long time, I was finally finished with my worries and was preparing for the match against China.
“Are you not even going into the practice room anymore?”
Of course, not by hitting the players directly in the practice room, but by directing and training the players outside.
“Just because you don’t go into the practice room doesn’t mean you’re not preparing for the game.”
“He’s a senior by a long way, but he’s really good at cooking. You’re always slacking off and giving orders outside the practice room, but he listens to you so well.”
Lee Geun-taek said to me, “I was directing practice in a place where coaches and managers would normally be.”
However, even though the content of the words was clearly completely sarcastic, his expression didn’t show it at all.
Rather, he was smiling contentedly.
And then Chairman Lee Geun-taek asked me a question.
“How did you know? When Lee Min-seok appeared on the audition program, did you think about finding his video and analyzing it? Hmm… … You know so many things that I wouldn’t have guessed. Did you do something like stalking me?”
Anyway, the first thing you notice is the first impression.
But that doesn’t mean I can say the absurd truth. I know it because I’ve played against Lee Min-seok many times in the international league.
“You’re playing in the international league, so you can’t be an ordinary hunter to survive there. So I thought you’d be hiding some kind of secret plan.”
“For something like that, there are a lot of detailed stories… … .”
“Ahem! That’s just a guess. Just because each hunter has different abilities, does that mean they’re all different? In the end, they’re all the same. Isn’t that right?”
Lee Geun-taek looked at me as if he found it ridiculous, but there was nothing he could say in response.
Just showing what you can do.
Among the three powers in Asia, Vietnam and Japan also won.
Now all that’s left is China.
***
After practice, Lee Geun-taek and Lee Min-seok were chatting together.
Well, I couldn’t help but be interested.
“Before the match against China, I was going to advise you to ask for advice if you didn’t notice. As soon as the match between China and Japan ended, I had to find you right away. You usually don’t show off your abilities to the outside world, even during matches. Have you shown anything?”
Lee Geun-taek had no choice but to be suspicious.
So far, despite the fact that it has been a pretty dangerous match, Lee Min-seok’s power has only been used in very small parts and roles.
I couldn’t help but think that he didn’t really know about Lee Min-seok’s true power.
“I thought it was Chairman Lee Geun-taek who gave me a heads up… … .”
What I heard from Lee Min-seok was an unexpected answer.
Lee Min-seok is also embarrassed. Although Lee Min-seok is famous for his performance in the international league, he has not been able to easily reveal his abilities.
Because I thought that it was impossible to see Lee Min-seok’s true strength just from the external attacks or match videos.
The two people who were talking said similar things, their lost gazes met in the air. And then, as if they were dumbfounded, the two burst into laughter at the same time.
“That guy is a Taoist.”
“That’s true. Haha.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t expect it at all. Ever since I first met Lee Chang-hyun on the Hunter audition program, I’ve always thought that he could see things that others couldn’t.
But I didn’t know you would know this much.
“It seems like you know more about my abilities than I do. What they are, how they are used, what abilities of other people they like to combine with… … and what the mechanism is.”
“I knew a long time ago that that guy was a ghost.”
“I haven’t even sparred with him, let alone competed with him. He must have thought that this match in China would be difficult, so he’s leading the way and arranging things… It’s as if he’s been thinking about how to best compete with me for a long time. Is that too much thinking?”
“That guy. He even knows the future, right?”
Lee Min-seok also realized that he had said something ridiculous at Lee Geun-taek’s words and burst into laughter.
“That’s right.”
***
The night before the game.
Lee Min-seok was lying in bed with his eyes wide open, unable to sleep.
What is this feeling? Excitement? Curiosity? Passion? Fear?
Lee Min-seok still couldn’t describe what emotions he was feeling.
Originally, in the case of this international exchange competition, I was thinking of staying behind and helping Lee Chang-hyun get the most attention.
That is why, he did not show off his abilities more than Lee Chang-hyun instructed, and he did not come to the forefront. His tactics also followed what Lee Chang-hyun wanted.
Because Lee Min-seok thought he was not qualified because he had already caused Korea to fail once on the international stage.
This team is all about Lee Chang-hyun. I thought it was enough to just shine from behind him.
But what about now?
“We definitely need your help in the match against China.”
After the match against Japan, when we started preparing for the match against China, Lee Chang-hyun came to Lee Min-seok and said.
After failing several times, Lee Min-seok went to another league without looking back. Ironically, his heart raced at those words.
‘under…….’
I realized that I had failed and thought that I would give up on the international competition. I thought that I could forget everything and move forward as an individual.
So, even if you don’t win as a member of the Korean national team, if you advance to the international league alone and show a strong and great performance, that alone is enough.
I thought I got it off without any regrets.
I guess that wasn’t true.
Was Lee Min-seok himself caught up in it without even realizing it?
The moment I heard Lee Chang-hyun’s words, countless thoughts crossed my mind.
A long time ago when he was leading the Korean national team.
An international victory with your teammates, something you’ve always wanted but never achieved.
A stage where I did not give up despite all the criticism and insults, but kept challenging and gave up. In the end, I got down on my knees and turned around.
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So in the end, I ended up escaping to the stage alone.
Because I started to wonder if I could stand again? If I was worthy of standing?
A complicated mind.
In a bed where it is difficult to fall asleep.
The thoughts continued.
The excitement of unleashing abilities that have been suppressed and kept from coming to the forefront until now.
The joy of growing further and being able to show a much better side of myself on the international stage than before.
And I feel sorry for the team members I was with at the time.
The sense of entitlement that there is no place for someone who has once escaped and left to return and show off their strength.
All the emotions that arose from Lee Chang-hyun’s one word shaking Lee Min-seok.
But even though those emotions shake Lee Min-seok, as time goes by.
As my worries continued, one thing became clearer and clearer.
‘Just one more time… … Let’s do it one more time.’
Was he also a natural athlete?
What player would want to leave the history of a player who was not recognized in his own country and was sent off with a dishonorable discharge?
“If you, senior, put in just a little more effort, we will end this international exchange competition with a victory.”
The words that Lee Chang-hyun had said to convince me pierced my heart.
Among countless distracting thoughts, clearly. Those words still echo in my ears.
I’ve revealed myself completely, but I’m afraid of losing again in an international match.
I don’t want to take away what Lee Chang-hyun and his accomplishments have achieved.
… … I started to think that feeling was okay now.
With complicated feelings, what remained in the end due to Lee Chang-hyun’s persuasion was the sole victory in the international match.
The only question is whether Lee Chang-hyun can lead the Korean team to victory.
I longed for it, but I couldn’t achieve it. So I ran away to get something similar to it. Something I couldn’t even get in an international league game.
I just wonder if Lee Chang-hyun can give it to me.
‘Then I need to come to my senses first.’
If Lee Chang-hyun holds the key, it is Lee Min-seok who personally squeezes both of his hands. Because it is him.
Of course, this match won’t be easy even if Lee Min-seok gives it his all.
The Chinese team isn’t that easy though.
That we are closer to what we want than ever before. That is for sure.
‘Haha… … .’
From being a contestant on an audition program, when did I end up here?
A small talent donation that started out of guilt for turning my back on the Korean league.
It felt strange to think that Lee Chang-hyun, who had broken out of his shell, was now standing in front of me and leading me.
But I didn’t hate it.
Because I thought that wherever he walked, there would also be a place that Lee Min-seok wanted to go.
Just watch and cheer.
‘I just hope I can handle it successfully… … .’
***
There is no process for selecting the best winner through a tournament in the international exchange competition.
It’s just a matter of having all the teams play in a league, awarding points to the teams with the most wins overall, so they can get more seeding rights.
That’s why this match, the match between China and Korea, was the last match of the international exchange tournament and the most notable match.
Especially in the case of China, even though the stadium was located in Japan, the number of fans there was so huge that they were overflowing with people wanting to cheer on their team.
Was that something that cheered you on?
Usually, the Chinese team doesn’t do any interviews before the game, but this game was a little different.
“I plan to destroy it.”
“I just never let my guard down.”
“There are some players that I’m personally interested in, and overall it’s a fun team. Since China has a long history of Hunters, I think it would be good to teach them a lesson.”
Interviews with various Chinese players could be heard throughout the stadium.
Starting with Haiyan, who did not hide her hostility and showed her intention to destroy everything.
Even Way, who was openly evaluating the power as several levels below from the beginning.
Because it was something the Korean team heard while heading to the waiting room.
After hearing that, Kim Do-jun asked in a nagging tone.
“You said you’d teach me a trick?”
“Then you must be taught.”
Chairman Lee Geun-taek, Lee Min-seok, and Kang Jun-hyeok looked at me, seemingly surprised by my answer.
Perhaps it was because he thought he would be beaten rather than taught.
Of course, being truly taught did not mean that one would truly receive it.
I don’t know about other people, but as someone who has been to the top before the regression.
As someone who has beaten Wei, what can I learn from it?
In my life, true education has been my motto when dealing with such arrogant guys.
“If you have the time to teach me while dealing with me.”
At those words, he burst out laughing like any other Korean player, as if he knew it.
fantasy,
