Chapter 5

5

2. Special Application, Helper (2)

As expected, Sebastian stood out during training. There was no sight of the usual horseplay among players that one might see on the internet. No one even came close to Sebastian.

Standing at the touchline, I was captivated by the training and wanted to observe everything, but I couldn't because I was worried about Sebastian.

"Seb! Get it right!"

The coach and coaching staff seemed unaware that Sebastian was being isolated. They only conveyed training details and tactical movements through me and asked me to relay complaints about why he didn't mesh well with the other players.

I fudged the translation for Sebastian, telling the coaching staff that he would try his best, a lie to protect him. I didn't want him to feel even more depressed when he was already struggling mentally.

After the physical, passing, and tactical training, a team scrimmage was scheduled. Sebastian was the right winger for Team B, which consisted of the reserves.

Just before the scrimmage, I handed Sebastian a drink, worried about him.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Sebastian calmly replied and ran onto the field. Team A, which was mostly made up of the first team, included Liam, who had been giving him a hard time earlier.

As the scrimmage began, it seemed like three jerks were taunting Sebastian every time they faced him. Each time, Sebastian's face would stiffen.

Those three jerks... No, based on their behavior, they definitely deserved to be called jerks. They would initiate rough physical play whenever the coaching staff's attention was elsewhere.

Right now, for example.

"Coach! That's a red card offense! There's no way someone would tackle like that in a team scrimmage!"

I couldn't help but shout, as Kevin McGregor had just attempted a dangerous tackle, aiming just below Sebastian's knees.

I didn't care if people thought I was crazy. I could see that the three jerks' rough behavior had decreased because of my outburst. The coach, who had been watching the referee, seemed to pay more attention as well.

Even though we hadn't known each other long, Sebastian seemed like a decent kid, and I didn't want to see him bullied.

I took out my phone and checked the information I had received earlier. Initially, I only wanted to verify its authenticity, but after seeing the three jerks' behavior, I decided to change my approach.

If everything went according to plan, I had information that could boost Sebastian's mood.

-Current Ability: ★★★★

-Born on January 22, 1994

-Optimal Position: CB (Center Back)

The information about the black player was useless, but Kevin McGregor's was different.

-Eating leftover pizza for breakfast.

-Feeling a slight stomachache, which will become unbearable in about 4 hours.

-Enjoying the idea of bullying Sebastian.

The one who had just attempted the rough tackle was this guy.

I put my phone back in my pocket and thought to myself.

Alright, let's give it a shot. Might as well verify the information's authenticity while I'm at it.

After the first half, a break was given. I translated the coach's encouragement for Sebastian to enjoy physical play and then asked him,

"Are you angry?"

Sebastian, who had looked stunned, narrowed his eyes.

"How did you know?"

Of course he's angry. Who wouldn't be after being treated like that?

"Eastern mystique."

Sebastian seemed to accept this, nodding as if it made sense. His innocent nature made him easy to tease.

"Do you want to get back at them? Even just one of them?"

"..."

"If you want, I can help."

Sebastian glanced at the three jerks.

"Through Eastern mystique, without anyone knowing."

Technically, it would be disguised as a mistake.

After some hesitation, Sebastian finally nodded. His fighting spirit hadn't completely died. I leaned in and whispered the information about Kevin McGregor into Sebastian's ear.

Sebastian's face lit up, his eyes sparkling like a child who had just received a new toy.

It had been about 3 hours and 40 minutes since the last physical confrontation. It was almost 4 hours.

As soon as the second half started, Sebastian eagerly went after Kevin McGregor. The elbow strike he attempted while pretending to engage in physical play was so impressive that it could have been taught by Premier League's Marouane Fellaini. Using his small size to his advantage, he hit Kevin's abdomen without leaving a mark.

"Great! Well done!"

The coach praised Sebastian. I remembered the coach had told him to enjoy physical play.

Despite the language barrier, Sebastian understood that he had made a good play and became even more enthusiastic, subtly targeting Kevin McGregor's abdomen. Kevin, who had been complaining of a stomachache since the break, grimaced in pain.

One hit, two hits, three hits...

Sebastian, who had been quiet and well-behaved during training, became incredibly aggressive once he got into the game. He really was a football player.

After a deliberate collision, Sebastian ignored Kevin McGregor, who was fuming with rage, and returned to Team B's side.

Where is he going?

"Hey! Stop him!"

Unable to control his anger, Kevin McGregor lunged at Sebastian. Fortunately, a coach nearby grabbed Kevin's waist.

Kevin McGregor, with a red face, was shouting at Sebastian to stop playing dirty.

It's ironic that a jerk is telling another jerk to stop playing dirty.

So far, everything has gone according to plan.

I checked the time on my phone. There were about 2 minutes left.

Sebastian, who had been looking scared, bowed his head but smiled at me. He seemed anxious and mouthed,

"Is this okay?"

I nodded and gave him a thumbs up, then subtly moved towards the exit for the next phase of the plan.

Then, the signal came.

"Oof!"

As soon as Kevin McGregor's face returned to its normal color, he let out a loud groan. The stomachache he had been trying to ignore due to his anger had now become unbearable.

I was amazed by the accuracy of the helper's information and pretended to film Sebastian with a camcorder near the exit.

"Restroom... I think the breakfast didn't sit well."

The players and coaches burst into laughter at Kevin McGregor's words.

Sebastian, who had separated from the group, was looking back and forth between me and Kevin McGregor. Kevin McGregor, struggling to hold it in, slowly made his way towards the exit, which was where I was standing.

Ten steps.

Five steps.

Two steps.

Get ready.

I intentionally stepped on my left heel with my right heel, a typical way to make clumsy people fall.

And right in front of me was Kevin McGregor.

"Ugh!"

Kevin McGregor let out a strange scream as he fell with me. The attention of those who were about to return to the practice game shifted to us.

I jumped up and shouted,

"Oh no! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

Look, look more. Look this way!

Kevin McGregor, who had fallen on his butt, glared at me and then suddenly clutched his stomach.

He must have thought he could hold it in and get up immediately. But it seems the shock and time were not enough. The strength of a professional footballer's sphincter is truly impressive.

Kevin McGregor, unable to curse, tried to get up slowly.

I couldn't let that happen. I grabbed his shoulder to prevent him from moving and asked,

"Are you okay?"

"..."

"Is it so painful that you can't even speak? Oh dear."

"Get... off..."

"What did you say? Doctor! Doctor! Kevin is hurt!"

"Get off!"

People gathered when they heard Kevin McGregor was hurt. The team doctors were running over. And then, Kevin McGregor collapsed.

It worked.

"Phew, what's that smell?"

I said, moving to the edge of the circle formed by the people.

Kevin McGregor, who had soiled himself, briefly, very briefly, looked satisfied, probably due to instinct. He must have felt relieved to release what he had been holding in.

Naturally, his face soon turned pale.

I added,

"Oh, how much pain must he have been in to soil himself..."

*

"Ahahaha."

So, he can laugh like this.

Sebastian was driving me back from the training ground in his car.

He was still talking about how satisfying it was to see Kevin McGregor sobbing in the shower room.

"I was going to buy a car anyway, but now I'll get a more expensive one."

Sebastian smiled and turned the steering wheel.

This smooth feeling. It's good, this is why I like nice cars.

I'm not a car expert, but I recognize the Audi logo. This car must be very expensive.

I opened the window and let the sea breeze, mixed with a hint of salt, cool me down.

Thinking about buying something expensive made my mouth water... Suddenly, I remembered the fish and chips I had for breakfast.

I sighed in relief, looking at the Latin-looking profile of the person next to me.

He's Spanish. His taste buds can't be numb.

The Spanish food I've had in Korea, and what I've heard from classmates in cultural studies, is quite salty but still enjoyable for Koreans.

Right?

*

Harry, who had visited the player with the problem, turned the steering wheel and drove back to the agency. Harry, who was furious, called Katie into the VIP lounge.

And he shouted.

"There was nothing wrong with Leon! Are you messing with me?"

"Of course not."

Katie's blatant response left Harry a bit flustered.

Despite working at the agency for over ten years, Harry still couldn't get used to Katie's dry, matter-of-fact way of speaking.

"Why did you lie...?"

"You would have dragged it out. You're too nice to people."

Katie immediately understood why. Harry's anger boiled over, but he held back the words that were about to spill out, speaking each word carefully.

"No... Even so, basic handover is necessary, right? How can you assign a player to a rookie in the industry without any explanation? Is that the agency's policy?"

Katie nodded without hesitation. Harry's voice grew louder, but he couldn't control it.

"Are you kidding me! EW Agency is supposed to take care of players so well that they don't need to worry about anything outside of football. If you treat players like this, who would sign with our agency?"

"It was an unavoidable choice. Sebastian broke the contract first."

"Mr. President?"

"I'm here for a drink."

The agency's president, William Boyle, had returned and interjected. The president immediately started the coffee pot, and Katie, who briefly made eye contact with the president, spoke.

"The Spanish clubs' reaction to Sebastian's return is lukewarm. They know we and Brighton are in a hurry. When Sebastian said he wanted to challenge himself in England, we saw his potential and even lowered the commission. But what did Sebastian give us in return? How are we supposed to cover this loss? Harry, you?"

"But... "

"We will take care of him, to a minimum."

"No... Ah! I see."

Harry sighed deeply.

The agency would only take care of Sebastian to the extent that it wouldn't cause legal issues.

It was also a message.

'If you don't perform as a player, we will reduce our support accordingly.'

It was a purely business approach, but Harry found it revolting every time the agency acted this way.

Harry shouted,

"If Sebastian is facing racial discrimination? That's why his performance is poor, and he doesn't want to adapt, and he keeps chasing away the interpreters assigned by the agency... and he sings the same song every day about going back to Spain..."

"What?"

Katie interrupted Harry. William Boyle also raised his eyebrows, saying nothing.

"Are you just throwing out random words, or is it true?"

Katie asked, and Harry nodded.

"There's no evidence, but... Sebastian said the same. I don't know what Hyunseok did, but he asked if Sebastian was facing racial discrimination, and Sebastian turned pale and asked how he knew... Anyway, don't we need to take immediate action?"

Katie, who had been speaking firmly, fell silent. The room was filled with silence. Then, the president spoke.

"Any evidence?"

"That's... "

"It's a sensitive issue."

The president calmly sipped his tea.

"Do we have any proof that taking care of him will improve his performance? He's probably already lost his affection for England, and he's going to return to Spain anyway, right?"

Harry was speechless, staring at the president.

"Most importantly, he hasn't asked us for help. It seems inefficient."

The president took another sip of tea and said firmly.

"Step back from Sebastian, and handle the handover appropriately."

"Understood."

Harry hesitated for a moment, then slumped his shoulders and left.

Even after the large Harry left, the lounge still felt crowded. The president spoke to Katie.

"Hyunseok is the new recruit, right?"

"Yes."

"Can you bring me his file?"

A moment later, Katie brought Taehyunseok's file.

The president read the file, muttering.

"Taehyunseok... "