Chapter 72: Break (2)

“I like it… I like you, and I like being in your room.”

Would the fans ever know?

That the woman who is more powerful and confident than anyone on stage is now sitting here like a shy little girl.

“Hehehe.”

“What’s that, you sound like an old man.”

Damin said, pouting her lips.

“The fans wouldn’t know how cute our Damin is.”

We talked for a long time, catching up on all the things we couldn’t because we were so busy.

Our daily lives, our worries, and even our longing for each other.

It was a more precious time than any other.

“Damin-unni!”

I heard Mina calling for Damin from outside the room.

“Ah, time already…”

Damin got up from my bed, where she had been almost lying down, looking disappointed.

“I have to go. Mina must be done with her shower.”

Damin headed for the door, then stopped and turned her head to me.

“Good night, Damin.”

“You too.”

The door closed quietly, and silence returned to the room.

“Ah, this is what it feels like to be alive.”

Someone once told me back when I was single my whole life.

What’s so important about dating a woman?

If it were them, they would rather be as good at soccer as I am, even without a woman.

At the time, I thought, ‘Yeah, I guess some people would want that more.’

‘Bullshit. Just being with Damin makes me happier than scoring a goal in the Champions League.’

It was just a humble-brag from someone who had it all.

Lying on the bed, I stared at the ceiling and thought.

I had things I wanted to protect now.

For the first time, I felt the warmth of a real family.

For the first time, I knew what true love was.

The longer these moments lasted, the more determined I became in my heart.

I would win the World Cup, no matter what.

When I first became Jeong Taewoo, I gave up on winning, thinking it was absolutely ridiculous.

I only thought about collecting God’s points and escaping…

But looking at the situation calmly now, the current South Korean national team had a higher chance of winning than at any other time I had experienced.

There was the world-class striker Yoo Heesung, the target-man striker Lee Taeyang, the world-class midfielder Seo-joon hyung who was recognized even in Europe, and me, a goalkeeper who rarely conceded goals.

‘And we have our cute Seungmin too.’

A genius boy whose fate changed after meeting him on the ‘Star Mission Grand Operation’.

He was originally destined to go to Argentina this year, but now, with Gayoung-noona’s support, he was blossoming his talent at Pungwol Elementary.

A genius player who received the Golden Ball at the U-20 tournament at the age of 16 and transferred to Real Madrid.

Despite his young age, he would be a powerful force for our team in the World Cup.

‘It might not be a coincidence that these players have gathered…’

It was then.

The letter from the God of Football on my desk began to glow faintly.

‘Is this because of the reward he said he would give me after the Chelsea match?’

I got up from the bed and opened the letter.

[Hello! Jeong Taewoo~! 

I cried today when I learned what you were thinking… 

You recognized my efforts…!

Hehe~ Do you think I would only take care of you, Jeong Taewoo? 

Making Seungmin appear on Star Mission Grand Operation, raising Lee Taeyang’s talent… 
You noticed! You really have a good eye~!]

The God of Football made Seungmin appear on Star Mission Grand Operation and raised Lee Taeyang’s talent?

Unlike the original story I had read, Lee Taeyang’s skills were much better, and I had thought Seungmin’s appearance was somewhat unnatural…

“But why would you go to such lengths?”

No, honestly, it’s strange.

He is a god.

The gods we usually think of are omniscient and omnipotent, capable of doing anything…

Even if he is the God of Football, why would he help a mere human like this?

Other gods in web novels were not this kind, even when they accidentally made a human possess or transmigrate.

Most of them would just abandon them, saying something like, ‘You’re an expert, so figure it out yourself.’

The word ‘suspicion’ that I had been thinking about little by little began to grow larger.

[Hehe~ I’m not just any god, I’m the God of Football! 
I’m always serious when it comes to soccer!]

“No, that doesn’t explain it. If those God’s points you’re talking about are so important, you wouldn’t have to use them on me, right?”

What if God’s points are like our money to them?

Why would he use them on me…

As if he were lavishly showering me with expensive gifts.

He had been like that from the beginning.

He gave me memories so I wouldn’t be uncomfortable, and he even gifted me with fraudulent skills by combining Kim Chan-ki’s and Jeong Taewoo’s abilities.

[Aww~ why are you being like this! 
It’s because I made a mistake with you, Jeong Taewoo…!]

“…You said you would give me a gift after the Chelsea match. I don’t need anything else, just tell me the truth.”

[…………….]

It was the first time.

He, who always replied instantly, did not send a reply to my words right away.

[…Are you really curious?]

It was a serious tone, not the usual playful emoticons and speech.

Now I was sure.

He was hiding something.

“Yes, I’m curious. Why did you make me possess this body, and why are you taking such good care of me after doing so?”

[Sigh… 

No matter how much of a gift it is, a human cannot know, nor should they be told, what a god has done.

But I will tell you a little about what you… no, what Kim Chan-ki is suspicious about right now. 

First of all, this world is not a world in a novel.

It is a world that actually existed in many world lines…

And I wrote about it as a novel in Kim Chan-ki’s world. ]

“Then why did you make me possess this novel… no, this world? In the body of Jeong Taewoo?”

He had said at first that he had made me possess it by mistake…

But judging by his reaction now, he clearly knew it was me.

He was just making an excuse, ‘I didn’t know’…

[As I said before, I can’t tell you much… 

But one thing is certain, Kim Chan-ki becoming Jeong Taewoo is not possession at all.

You don’t need to feel like you’ve taken Jeong Taewoo’s life.]

“No, what does that mean? I definitely…”

I was reading a novel and suddenly became Jeong Taewoo.

But this isn’t possession?

How much I…

After being possessed, a part of my heart was always uncomfortable with each passing day.

Not the son my mother raised and loved, but someone with the memories of her son.

Not the childhood friend Damin loved and grew up with, but someone with his memories.

How much that word ‘someone’ had torn my heart apart.

On the other hand, I was envious.

Of Jeong Taewoo, who had such warm parents, a sister, and friends.

Sometimes, even when I tried to comfort myself by saying I should just accept that I am Jeong Taewoo and live, a part of my heart was always empty.

Every night before I fell asleep, I was tormented by the feeling that I was acting as their son in front of my loving family.

And every time I met Damin’s clear eyes, guilt squeezed my lungs.

The thought that I, who was not the real Jeong Taewoo, was living in his place, stealing his life, made me break out in a cold sweat every night…

And now you’re telling me this isn’t possession?

“Then… then what is it, if it’s not possession!”

My voice trembled.

A feeling I couldn’t identify as either anger or relief enveloped my entire body.

[I can’t tell you right now. But one thing is certain… this is absolutely not possession.]

At some point, the emoticons that the God of Football always used also disappeared.

A heavier silence than ever before fell.

“Am I… Jeong Taewoo? Kim Chan-ki? Or am I Jeong Taewoo with Kim Chan-ki’s memories?”

My voice trembled.

[I’m sorry. I can’t tell you right now.]

“Sigh~ Then just tell me this, it’s really not possession, right?”

[Yes… I will answer that one thing for sure. 
It is absolutely not possession.]

“Hahaha…”

Drip-drip-

The guilt and remorse I had been holding back flowed out as tears.

“Thank you… for telling me… God of Football.”

I wanted to resent him for hiding it, but the relief I felt now was too great.

I was able to fall asleep more peacefully than ever before.

And the moment I fell asleep, the letter from the God of Football changed once more.

[All of this is what you wished for and wanted…

But I was a little clumsy…

I want you to be happy.

Whether you are a goalkeeper or a striker… I am your fan…! ]

***

Fly higher (Fly high)

Run towards my dream (Run now)

Like a star lighting up the stage, I’ll shine forever

Put the First Crown on me

I’m opening a new era

The dazzling Spotlight is my stage

First Crown, First Crown

I’ll become a name everyone remembers

“Ah, Oppa! That’s not how you do it~ You have to fold your hand more, like you’re putting on a crown!”

I heard Mina’s annoyed voice.

Just yesterday, I had received the letter from the God of Football and washed away all my uncomfortable feelings…

What in the world am I doing now?

Fly higher (Fly high)

Run towards my dream (Run now)

Like a star lighting up the stage, I’ll shine forever

Put the First Crown on me

I’m opening a new era

The dazzling Spotlight is my stage

First Crown, First Crown

I’ll become a name everyone remembers

“Ah, this is driving me crazy. Why is an athlete so stiff!”

I heard Mina’s frustrated sigh.

Why am I suddenly dancing with Jeong Mina and Damin without even having washed up after waking up?