SPW 71

It’s because of that great Sarang that the Rhinos have fallen into this state, Sharon. In his debut season, Kim’s performance was incredible. I’ll admit that. But in his second, third, and now this fourth season, how has Kim helped the team? Has he ever shown a noteworthy performance in the league? No, all Kim has shown is himself panting from exhaustion. It started in his second season, to be exact. Kim ended the season without ever resolving his second-half stamina issues. Suppressants? He played the season on nothing but simple suppressants and aspirin? What kind of stupid, irresponsible act is that?

James, the claim that Kim played the season on only simple suppressants and aspirin is just an unconfirmed rumor.

A rumor. Yes, fine. Let’s call it a rumor, Sharon. Then I’ll speak only of the facts. For a professional athlete—oh, I’m not saying that professional athlete is Kim—to play a season with only suppressants and aspirin after coming of age is tantamount to deceiving the club and the team. And what about the fans? Let’s say that athlete doesn’t have the skill to seduce an omega. Isn’t there a system for alphas like that? Yes, I’m talking about the partner service. A professional athlete should maintain perfect condition, even if it means using that service.

James, listening to you, it sounds like tremendous praise for Kim—I mean, for that unspecified professional athlete. A player who survived in the Premier League without an omega’s pheromones. Isn’t that truly amazing? In fact, while he may not have put on a flashy performance, Kim’s stats have always been respectable.<

That’s the core of it! Sharon. If he could maintain stats like that even without an omega’s pheromones, wouldn’t he have been a greater help to the club and the team if he had received help sooner? Wouldn’t he have brought more joy to the fans? For that reason alone, Kim—no, that unspecified professional athlete—is just as guilty as having committed a breach of trust.

Alright, James. Let’s acknowledge that we’re talking about our Kim and continue the conversation. But, let’s make it clear that the statement about suppressants and aspirin is a rumor.

Yes, Sharon. If that rumor were true, it would mean Kim betrayed the trust of the club, the team, and the fans, so it’s certainly a dangerous statement. I’ll be careful. Fortunately, after marrying Lord Dietrich, Kim has clearly changed. He became a reliable goal-scorer for a team that was fluctuating near the relegation zone, single-handedly dragging them up to 5th place. But what about now? Where is Kim when he’s needed most? That’s right! He couldn’t control a fleeting emotion and got a three-match suspension. He received a useless card and blew up the team just as they were gaining momentum.

As a result, their rank has now slipped to 9th place. They’re more than 10 points behind the top-tier teams, and the goal difference is not even worth mentioning.

That’s exactly my point, Adam. The Rhinos should have eliminated the risk factor a long time ago. I’m not making this argument based on this incident alone. Frankly, I have no regrets or fondness for the Rhinos. Though I’m sure it’s different for Adam, sitting in front of me.

Ah, the player Kim got into a fistfight with was Klimko of the Nuthatchers FC. And Adam is a legend from the Nuthatchers.

Sharon, I also have no personal regrets or grudges against the Rhinos and Kim. Thanks to them, we secured 3 points. Hey, I should buy Kim a drink for this! Hahaha!

Unfortunately, they say Kim doesn’t enjoy drinking, Adam.

Who’s to say, Sharon.

James, who had pulled up one corner of his mouth in a sneer, continued to speak.

To express my concern as someone who loves the Premier League, this wasn’t the first time Kim has harmed the team. There was the March A-match day. Kim failed to make an impressive showing in his home country either. He didn’t accompany his partner, despite being married. That means he didn’t receive his partner’s help before the match. For a player representing his country to be unable to play in 100% condition is also a deception of his home country.

James, that wasn’t a statement criticizing Kim’s loyalty to his country, was it?

Of course not, Sharon. As you know, teams cannot refuse to release players for FIFA-sanctioned A-match days. If they refuse, both the club and the player cannot avoid penalties. It may be disappointing for the fans and the club while the league is in full swing, but A-match day is a necessary mechanism for the development of soccer. While the leagues are limited, international matches are not limited to a single country. I think it’s a decent mechanism that allows far more people to encounter and get into soccer. Of course, the World Cup qualifiers are also held during that period. That’s why Kim’s actions are all the more disappointing.

The friendly matches held in Kim’s home country did end with a rather disappointing record of 1 draw and 1 loss.

We should also point out that the opponents in the friendlies were ranked more than 50 places below Kim’s home country, which is 25th in the FIFA rankings, Sharon.

James, however, I don’t think we’re in a position to judge Kim’s patriotism.

I’m not suggesting we judge Kim’s patriotism, Sharon. It’s a disappointing matter for league fans, but the mindset of a league teammate and the mindset of a national team member representing his country are bound to be different. In fact, who can logically explain the patriotism of athletes? The point I want to make is the suspicion of whether Kim, who doesn’t even approach a national team match in 100% condition, will do his best in the league.

Hmm, it’s a bit of a dangerous statement, but it has a point.

I understand that he receives his partner’s help in league matches, James. The records show it.

Oh, dear. If that’s true, the fans in his home country will be very disappointed. Adam.

Come to think of it, was it when Kim was 15? 16? That he first set foot in his home country on his own accord? That was when he was selected for the age-group national team.

He was 16, Adam. It was the first match where the club, which had been protectively hiding the genius youth who had appeared after a long time, finally sent him out into the world. Kim showed a very splendid performance and led the team to victory. Just 2, 3 weeks? It would be difficult for a strong sense of patriotism to manifest in just that period, wouldn’t it? Sharon.

They say there was controversy in his home country because of that, right?

Ah, the dual nationality controversy.

Yes, Kim chose his home country without a hint of hesitation. Adam.

That was also much talked about. For the Rhinos club fans who had cherished and supported Kim since he was young, it must have been a very disappointing choice. There were actually fans who were hurt. Kim’s home country is still in a state of truce, isn’t it? There’s a military service obligation. Though there is a military exemption system, winning championships and medals is so difficult people say it’s up to God to decide. Naturally, they were bound to be disappointed by the decision made by a player who had so much to offer the team. Sharon.

That’s right. From the club’s or the fans’ perspective, it was a decision that could be upsetting. But no one can say anything about his patriotism toward his home country. In reality, while Kim’s choice was disappointing, there was also a lot of public opinion that understood it.

Was that choice really a manifestation of patriotism? Sharon?

Sharon, who had caught the intention behind James’s question, suddenly showed a look of fatigue and smiled faintly.

It seems you have a different opinion, James.

It’s likely that the chances of being selected for the national team in the Commonwealth are significantly lower than in Kim’s current home country. Kim is Asian, and an alpha whose parents are betas. It’s a miracle he even survived in the league. Ah, this isn’t a discriminatory remark, but an opinion based on statistics and records. In reality, there are quite a few players with dual nationality who give up one citizenship because of national team selection.

Ah, James. You’re really making things difficult for me today. The conversation has gotten sidetracked, so let’s reorganize. You stated that the Rhinos should have eliminated the risk factor a long time ago.

Yes, Sharon. Kim is bound to be a very big risk factor for the Rhinos. Before his marriage, he played his athletic career using only suppressants, going on about the sponsor system and suppressants, and he showed no signs of improvement even after getting married. Can we guarantee that he is truly receiving 100% of his partner’s help in the league? I don’t think so. Above all, it’s been confirmed that after the March A-match day, Kim was absent from club training for about two weeks even after the league resumed. He was naturally absent for the 4 games played during those two weeks as well. On top of that, this fistfight on the pitch? The Rhinos should have eliminated the risk factor a long time ago. The right time was when Kim was embroiled in the dual nationality issue.

Sharon, I agree with James as well. Kim is subpar as a professional athlete. His loyalty to his country, as well as his club, is questionable; he has become lax with unauthorized absences after his marriage, and thanks to that, his only virtue, his diligence, has also come into question. Ah, I’m not disparaging Kim’s talent. But don’t we have a great many players of his caliber in our Premier League?

What is the basis for the claim that he has become lax with unauthorized absences after marriage? Adam.

I can point to his absence from 4 matches due to his non-participation in training after the March A-match that James just mentioned, Sharon. Usually, a sudden absence has a high probability of being due to pheromone issues. However, who is Kim’s spouse? Isn’t it Lord Dietrich, the most perfect omega in existence? It’s impossible for Lord Dietrich to have pheromone problems, and even if Kim had a pheromone problem, with Lord Dietrich, he would have resolved it immediately upon marriage and then some. In other words, the 4-match absence can only be explained as Kim’s laziness. His marriage to the next duke has extinguished his interest in soccer.

That’s right, Adam. But can’t we all understand that well enough? He became Cinderella overnight; what’s the big deal about passion and interest in some silly soccer? He can live comfortably without doing anything. It’s the person who doesn’t become lazy and stays centered even in that situation who is special.

There is also the view that the fistfight on the pitch was a show to get Lord Dietrich’s attention, isn’t there, Adam.

It’s a low-quality view, but it does exist, James.

Even though you two aren’t from the Rhinos, you seem to be very concerned about the current situation.

They may be a competitor, but they are a team active in the same league. We cannot tolerate anything that tarnishes the honor of the league, for any reason, Sharon.

You two are quite firm. I’ve ended up in the position of defending Kim unintentionally, but I also agree with your thoughts to some extent. It was a true honor having you both here today…

Seated cross-legged on the sofa, Sarang’s dark eyes quietly received the light blasting from the TV screen. Florian, who had entered the drawing room at some point, stood leaning against the wall, watching Sarang’s back.

Suddenly, the bright TV screen went black in an instant. Sarang, who spotted Florian reflected on the black screen, tilted his head back. A handsome chin came into view. Florian, who had tossed the remote to one side, walked around the sofa and sat down beside Sarang.

“It’s almost 9 o’clock, Sarang.”

“Ah, I was going to watch the match review and ended up….

“I’m not scolding you, Sarang. It’s just that,”

Florian, who had been gazing at Sarang’s reflection on the black screen, turned to the side and said,

“I realized that I don’t know much about Sarang.”

“…”

“Things that can’t be found out through a background check alone.”

At Florian’s all-too-honest confession, Sarang felt 괜sre embarrassed and scratched the nape of his neck.

“Aren’t background checks supposed to be done in secret?”

“They are, normally.”

“…Rian, you’re strange.”

“What’s so strange?”

“You seem honest, but it feels like you’re not entirely honest.”

“It’s just my disposition. It’s not as if my disposition is anything special.”

Florian, who had draped one arm over the back of the sofa Sarang was leaning against, added nonchalantly,

“Sarang, there is always a purpose to what the media spouts.”

“But I… I don’t know what these people’s purpose is.”

Florian’s answer was simple.

“To drive a wedge.”

At the unexpected answer, Sarang’s dark pupils widened.

“They’re trying to drive a wedge between the Rhinos club, the fans, and Sarang.”

“Why?”

“The panelists were from the Rhinos’ rival clubs. If Sarang gets worked up and upset over their bullshit, his performance on the field will drop, and then the club and fans will start to harbor doubts about Sarang. They’ve only planted a seed of doubt.”

“…”

“So there’s no need to listen to that kind of talk, or to get your feelings hurt.”

“…Rian, you just said bullshit.”

“Haha, I can use even worse curses if you’d like.”

Florian, who had laughed out loud, stood up first and looked down at Sarang.

“Let’s sleep together in the central room today. It seems I’ve been found out for not being faithful to my spousal duties.”

“There’s no match tomorrow.”

“I know, Sarang.”

Sarang, who knew this, looked down at the white palm held out to him, then hesitated before taking the hand. It felt as if Florian’s warmth was warming his own palm.