Chapter 31: The Best Output of the Olympics

After Yoo Hee-seong scored, the coach immediately ordered a tactical change.

“Drop the formation!!
Plan number two!”

We quickly rearranged our defensive line.

The midfielders dropped back to strengthen the defense, and the forwards ran tirelessly to stop France’s attacks.

For the remaining time, we threw our entire bodies into defending the goal.

Tae-yang’s tackle, Hee-seong’s heading clear, and my punching save.

We all became one to block France’s onslaught.

Whistle!

“Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah!!!”

‘Do you know?’

‘When you’re really tired, you can’t think of anything and just go blank?’

‘I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been this tired while playing a game…’

“Tae-woo!!!!”

Tae-yang called my name and ran towards me, jumping into my arms.

“Hey, I get it, so get off.
You’re sweaty.”

“We did it!!!”

Hee-seong joined in, and soon all the players gathered one by one, hugging each other and jumping around, sharing the joy of victory.

“I get it, so please get off!”

The coaching staff also rushed out from the bench and ran around the field like madmen with the players, and even the strict coach was shouting and throwing uppercuts.

I was crushed under Lee Tae-yang’s body, but…

‘S-save me.’

“Hey, hey Tae-yang, Tae-woo’s going to die at this rate!”

“What?”

At Seo-jun hyung’s words, Lee Tae-yang finally looked at me and was surprised by my dying expression.

“Hey, are you okay?”

‘Do I look okay right now…’

“Tae-yang, I’m so tired I can’t get up.
Help me up.”

“Uh, uh…
Hey, I’m sorry.
I was just so excited…”

The moment Tae-yang reached out his hand, I tripped him.

“Ack!
What the!”

“You get a taste of it too.”

“Aack, save me.”

Just as I was climbing on top of Lee Tae-yang and teaching him a lesson by pressing his side with my elbow, Seo-jun hyung’s eyes, who was watching us, suddenly glinted suspiciously.

‘Seo-jun hyung’s expression right now is exactly like mine before I play a prank.’

“Seo-jun-“

“Hey guys, Tae-woo and Tae-yang want to do a human hamburger by age.”

“What?”

“What, was that it?
Hey guys, pile on!”

The situation was instantly reversed.

Tae-yang and I were on the bottom, and on top of us were Hee-seong, and Seo-jun hyung?

“Hey, hey, wait a minute!
If it’s by age, I should be last!”

“Guys, lay down our hardworking captain!”

“Wait, wait, calm down, ugh!”

The other players who had laid Seo-jun hyung down piled on one by one.

“Ugh!
It’s heavy!”

“Hey, who’s stepping on me!”

“Hey, you bastards!

Want me to call a team meeting?

Get off quickly!!”

Our screams and laughter mixed and echoed throughout the stadium.

Drunk on the joy of victory, we rolled around and played like little children.

Of course, for Tae-yang, me, and Yoo Hee-seong at the bottom, it was hell, but thankfully, we were saved by the medal ceremony announcement in the stadium.

“Ha…
I always end up like this when I get involved with Lee Tae-yang.”

“I agree.”

“Hey, honestly, this time…
I admit it.”

[“Ladies and gentlemen, spectators, and football fans around the world.

The 2036 Madrid Olympics men’s football final has concluded with a 2-1 victory for South Korea.

The medal ceremony will begin shortly, so please prepare.”]

Soon, fireworks went off and the medal ceremony began.

[“Thank you for your enthusiastic support.
We will now begin the medal ceremony for the 2036 Madrid Olympics men’s football final.”]

[“The bronze medal is awarded to the German national team.”]

The German players stepped onto the podium and had the bronze medals placed around their necks.

[“The silver medal goes to the French national team in today’s final.”]

The French players stood on the podium, but a deep sense of disappointment was visible on their faces.

‘If there’s a first place, there’s a second place.’

‘The world doesn’t recognize second place, only the first-place protagonist.

It’s a lonely reality, but this is the essence of sports, and the result of the sweat and effort we shed to get here.’

[“And finally, the winner of the 2036 Madrid Olympics men’s football gold medal is…
the South Korean national team!”]

As I stepped onto the podium and bowed my head, I felt the weight of the gold medal being placed around my neck.

‘To win an Olympic gold medal as a goalkeeper, something I never did even as a striker.’

‘Even as Kim Chan-ki, the best I got was a silver medal, and in the World Cup, the round of 16 was my best result.’

‘And now, the feeling I had when the gold medal was placed around my neck was indescribably moving.’

‘Honestly, with this team now, winning the World Cup…
is that a bit too much?’

‘Still, it seems like we’ll go further than the round of 16.’

[“The South Korean national anthem will now be played.
Please rise.”]

In the stadium where the national anthem was playing, Lee Tae-yang was crying with a runny nose, and all the other players had tears in their eyes.

Even Seo-jun hyung, who had always led us, was so moved that tears streamed down his cheeks.

‘Maybe it’s because I was talking about the World Cup, but I’m not crying.
Will we be able to win in 10 years?’

‘Ah, seriously, thinking about the World Cup is making my head complicated.’

‘I just want to see Damin quickly.’

The moment I admitted my feelings for Damin, I never wanted to go back.

‘I’m not Kim Chan-ki anymore, I’m Jeong Tae-woo.’

As the national anthem ended and our team descended from the podium, I made a decision.

‘From now on, let’s only look forward.
Kim Chan-ki’s experience is valuable, but it’s now in the past.’

‘Let’s not be tied down anymore.’

‘I will write a new history as Jeong Tae-woo and win the World Cup.’

‘And I wanted to share all those moments with Damin.’

‘I hoped she would be with me through the joy of victory and the journey of challenge.’

‘As I move towards the huge dream of winning the World Cup, I desperately hoped Damin would be by my side.’

‘I should ask Seo-jun hyung how to confess.’

***

[“Ladies and gentlemen, we will be arriving at Incheon International Airport shortly.
Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for landing.”]

Lee Tae-yang, in the seat next to me, nudged my shoulder.

“Hey, Tae-woo.

There are going to be a ton of reporters when we land.

They’ll treat us like heroes, right?

I’m a little nervous.”

I smiled and replied.

“What are you nervous about?
You were so energetic when you were getting cursed at.”

“I agree.
The Lee Tae-yang is nervous?”

“No, Yoo Hee-seong.
Aren’t you nervous?”

“Me…
I just want to see my parents quickly.”

‘As expected of the protagonist’s default passive skill, a strong heart.’

The plane gradually descended and entered the skies above Incheon.

As the Korean landscape became clearer outside the window, Coach Cheon Mu-seok stood up from his seat and spoke to the players.

“Alright, guys.

When we get out, there will be fans and a lot of reporters.

Don’t be nervous, smile, and let’s do well until the end.

We’re returning as heroes now.”

“Yes!”

It was a time that passed in a blur.

As soon as we got off the plane, we were engulfed in the heat of the welcoming crowd.

As we walked along the airport’s VIP passage, we shook hands with various high-ranking officials in turn.

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the President of the Korea Football Association, and various other government officials welcomed us warmly.

“Congratulations.
We are truly proud of you.”

‘Geez, they never miss an opportunity like this.’

Next, bouquets were placed around our necks, and we finally faced the fans.

Countless people were waiting for us, holding the Taegeukgi and cheering banners.

Their cheers and applause filled the airport.

“Tae-woo, I love you!”

“Kyaaak, Hee-seong oppa is so cute!”

“Tae-yang hyung is so cool!!!”

“Tae-woo oppa, marry meeeeee!!”

‘Haha, I’m 17, am I really an oppa?’

‘Since I have memories of my past life, in terms of mental age, am I an oppa?’

‘Wait, I feel like I should say something here.’

‘Even though my body has shrunk, my mind is still the same…
a football player who knows no impossibility.’

‘Ahem!’

‘The fact is, my body has grown bigger too…’

We did our best to smile and wave to the fans.

We knew well that without fans, football is just a game of ball, so we felt truly grateful for their passionate support.

‘Still, marriage is a no-go…’

“Why do I only hear ‘hyung’ and not ‘oppa’?”

“But he said you were cool.
What’s the problem?”

“They said I was cute, but they said you were cool.
I’m jealous, hyung.”

“No, why…
why don’t I have any female fans?”

I learned later that reporters had captured this scene of the three of us joking around and published an article with the title, “Two Handsome Oppas and One Cool Hyung.”

As we exited the airport amidst the enthusiastic cheers of the fans, we saw our families waiting for us.

“Tae-woo!”

My mom ran towards me with tears in her eyes.

“You did well, my son.
Was it hard?”

My mom hugged me tightly.

In her warm embrace, I felt all my tension melt away.

“I’m your son, after all.
They all did well, so it was fun.”

I could see Lee Tae-yang, Yoo Hee-seong, and several other hyungs reuniting with their respective families.

We all left behind the glory of being gold medalists and were now just ordinary sons returning to the embrace of our families.

‘Dad, I’ll take good care of Mom.’

I promised my father in my heart.

“Mom, let’s go home now.
I want to rest.”

“Let’s do that.
My son must be tired.”

***

“Ugh, that was refreshing.
Home is the best.”

I finished showering and lay down on my bed in my room.

I looked at the familiar ceiling and took a deep breath.

As the tension and excitement of the Olympics slowly subsided, it finally felt like I was truly home.

‘Come to think of it, I won the championship, but the God of Football has been quiet lately.’

‘There have been no messages for a while after he gave me the gift of stamina.’

‘I just thought I couldn’t accumulate achievements just by winning games anymore, so I didn’t pay much attention, but it’s strange that he’s quiet even after winning the Olympics.’

Before my thought could even finish, a light started to shine from my bag again.

“Well, of course.
Let’s see what achievements I’ve accomplished.”

[Congratulations on Jeong Tae-woo’s gold medal victory]

My gift was a big help, right?

Right?

Right?

Right?

You don’t have to thank me too much~

I’m just doing it because I have extra.

First of all, you’ve achieved 3 achievements with this Olympic victory.

‘Olympic Gold Medal’, ‘Best Olympic Output’, ‘Ceremony King’

The ceremony you showed in the Spain match was super cute.

Ah, and you were sad because I haven’t been writing letters lately?

Aww~

You’re making me blush!

I had a reason for it.

A good person will come to you soon.

Make sure to catch them!

You won an event 

What event, you ask?
That’s a secret.

“A good person is coming?
What does that mean?”

‘And an event?
Do gods have events too?’

‘Questions kept popping up, but I soon shook my head.’

“Well, I’ll find out if I wait.

For now, let’s just sleep.”