SPW 78

Even during the season break, the sports media relentlessly poured out new stories.

The news that stirred up the northern part of Canton City, the home of Rhinoceros FC, was the dismissal of the manager. Rhinoceros, who finished the season in 6th place in the league, had been eliminated early in the group stage of the Champions League and had failed to secure a ticket for the next season’s Champions League. The responsibility for this was placed on the manager.

In truth, it couldn’t be called solely placing the blame. There were concerns about the manager, such as his limited tactics, incomprehensible player selections, and old-fashioned training programs unsuited for modern sports, but in the first half of the season, when he had brought the team up to 3rd place in the league, the criticism against him had fizzled out.

The problems that had been roughly covered up began to reveal themselves from the end of the winter break. There were several reasons for the eight-game losing streak starting from the February matches. Injuries, caused by the manager’s old-fashioned mindset of fitting players into tactics and his harsh training, afflicted both starting and non-starting players. Moreover, what disappointed Coneus was the team’s performance, which was worse than that of a second-division team.

Worst of all was the manager. Instead of trying to turn the team’s slump around or taking responsibility, he blamed the players. Every time he appeared at a press conference, his actions of mentioning the underperforming player of the day as a shield or taking the lead in finding a culprit created a rift in the team spirit and the bond with the fans.

Sarang, in particular, was the easiest prey the manager put forward. He criticized Sarang’s attacking ability while not using the forward in his proper position, and after his return from the March A-match, Sarang missed four games as if he had gone into hiding, and even received a red card, leading to a three-game suspension. The manager did not spare his verbal abuse, calling him a moron with no professional consciousness.

Manager Chaverneau, from France, was known as a master tactician who had lifted the cup several times while going through Serie A (the Italian league) and the Bundes (Bundesliga, the German league), but he had a reputation for having a fiery temper and being unskilled at media management. In particular, while working in foreign leagues rather than his home country, that flaw became more and more prominent, and as his career hit rock bottom, it completely burst out like his true nature.

Chaverneau, who was full of a career and ego that bowed to no one, did not hesitate to get into physical fights with opposing managers if things went wrong. To him, a Commonwealth aristocrat, and that aristocrat’s spouse, were less than a pebble on the street. Rather, Chaverneau held firm prejudices. And he didn’t hide them.

A half-baked alpha from Asia. There was only one reason Kim Sarang had survived in a jungle-like league. His status as the spouse of the ducal house’s heir. The upstart who took advantage of that status to miss games as a matter of course and sullied the sacred pitch with his fists.

Sometimes, Chaverneau would openly display his aversion to Sarang in official settings. And then he would repeatedly emphasize that the source of his aversion was not discrimination, but Kim Sarang’s poor skills and the shamelessness of maintaining his professional activities with the ducal house as his backer.

Behind this was a conviction. It was the fact that a large powerhouse like a ducal house, with many eyes watching and many forces keeping it in check, could not carelessly reveal or use its power. Florian, as he had observed so far, was no different. He did not take any special measures or actions for his spouse.

All he did was, after AAC, an entertainment affiliate of the Wellington corporation, acquired a 40% stake in Rhinoceros FC, replace the coaching staff and board members who were problematic at the time. That was the first and last time he exercised his right to participate or vote on club matters. That was proof that Chaverneau’s conviction was correct.

For a huge power like the ducal house or the Wellingtons to move, a justification was needed. A great justification that anyone could understand. In the midst of this neglect, which wasn’t quite neglect, from his spouse, Sarang tried quite hard to keep his balance, and so far, he had been reasonably successful. His relationships with his club teammates were also smooth, and he was even particularly close with the club staff he had seen often since he was young.

Sarang, who had skipped grade after grade to reach the first youth team and scored a debut goal in his first game after being called up to the first-division league, had frequented the club as if it were his own home since he was young. It was also the place where he spent the most time when Colin was away from home for work. The old and worn-out stadium was like a second home to Sarang. Perhaps because of the time they spent together, the support group, including the cafeteria staff, security guards, and groundskeepers, were not easily swayed by the media.

His neighbors, who always welcomed Sarang whenever he occasionally stopped by his old apartment, would even comfort him with light jokes. Mark’s mother, Shannon, also expressed her gratitude to Sarang, saying, ‘Thanks to you, our Mark has come to his senses.’ To Sarang, who asked why, Shannon conveyed Florian’s consideration.

It was Florian’s consideration that had taken Mark to the police station, that had assigned him an expensive lawyer, and that had allowed him to naturally sever ties with the gang by sending him to a vocational school in another city. In that way, Florian looked after Sarang’s surroundings from unseen places and took care of Sarang.

So how can I not love Rian.

Sarang, who was looking down at a proposal that he wasn’t even seeing, slowly blinked his eyes. The kindness of people became a comfort to Sarang, and Florian’s care became a solid ground for him. Sarang didn’t want to lose a single thing. He was a greedy person.

“…”

The reputation of an overseas leaguer usually followed the tone of the local press. Every time the Commonwealth media poured out negative news and evaluations, his reputation in Korea was naturally on a downward trend. The few commercials he did get were clearly intended to ride on Florian’s image. That’s why Sarang had only signed contracts with the toothpaste company and clothing company that had sponsored him since he was a child, and no others. He had intended to do the same this time.

‘I recommend that Sarang accepts it.’

But Florian’s favorable response moved Sarang’s heart. For some reason, it felt like permission to do so. The proposal was meticulously and neatly written. The 30-second-cut video commercial was about a young man’s growth, perseverance, and boldness. It was unique for a cosmetics ad.

Growth, perseverance, boldness.

Sarang wondered if those three things suited him. Everyone grows, and perseverance and boldness were virtues a player should have.

A moron with no professional consciousness.

A very big risk factor for Rhinoceros.

A player who turned his back on the team when they needed him most.

Currently, Sarang was represented by an image of being lazy, irresponsible, and selfish. Or a Cinderella. The ducal house’s troublemaker. Sarang, who was accurately aware of the image of himself that was being dealt with and created by the media, had no choice but to be passive about commercials.

‘It’s a campaign that suits Sarang very well.’

Does Rian lie too? He probably does. Most of them would be white lies. Like this time.

‘It’s your break, do you have any vacation plans, Sarang.’

‘No, not yet.’

In fact, for Sarang, being by Florian’s side was a vacation spot. Sarang, who blushed for no reason, lifted his head. Allen, who had come over with a plate full of steak, was standing there with a displeased look on his face.

“What is it, Allen.”

“I was just contemplating what to think of a grown man sitting alone and blushing.”

“Why are you thinking about that? The steak is going to get cold.”

“So you’re telling me to just shut up and eat the steak instead of thinking useless thoughts, is that it?”

“Allen, I never said that.”

Sarang, who had clearly stated his position, curved his eyes. With one of those eye-smiles, any omega would melt.

Tsk. There was one person right in front of me who wouldn’t.

Allen, who grumbled while thinking of Florian, sat down opposite Sarang. 3 P.M. Even though it was broad daylight, the interior, which had been dark due to the gloomy weather, was brightly lit with lights.

“At this rate, I’m just going to get a potbelly.”

“Allen, you have an eight-pack. I bet a needle wouldn’t even go in.”

“Do you purposely not build up your upper body?”

“I’ve already built it up a lot.”

“It’s nothing compared to your thighs.”

Alex, who was munching down on his steak, suddenly reached out his hand.

“How do these soft muscles turn into horse-like muscles whenever you play a game?”

Sarang, who was wearing the club kit shorts, let the hand that was casually kneading his thigh be. After being a professional player for a while, this level of touching didn’t even count as being touched.

“You’re an iron man in the league, right? I heard you’ve never had a hammy (hamstring, back of the thigh muscle) injury. Is it the innate quality of your muscles, or do you manage them well? Both, I guess? My legs are like rocks. This means I lack flexibility, so I get a lot of minor injuries.”

Allen, who put down his steak plate, began a discussion in earnest, kneading Sarang’s thigh and calf muscles.

“You know your thighs are bigger than your face, right? Look at your calves. Your ankles are innate too, aren’t they? Even without pheromones, your recovery ability would have been pretty good, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes. Actually, even the club doctors find it amazing.”

Sarang, who laughed like a child, tilted his head back. He felt a shadow cast over his head, and more than anything, he felt a presence behind his back. And the scent of pheromones that lightly brushed the tip of his nose.

“Boss, what are you doing?”

Allen, who had been exploring Sarang’s muscles with pure academic passion, leaned his upper body back and scowled.

“What’s with this aggressive pheromone.”

“Getting rid of the pervert sexually harassing our Sarang.”

“Hah. What’s the big deal about touching some muscles.”

Florian, who didn’t even pretend to listen to Allen, looked down at Sarang with both hands leaning on the back of the sofa. His clear eyes were full of welcome, and he blushed at the words ‘our Sarang.’ Thanks to Sarang, who reacted to his trivial words and actions every time and welcomed him like this whenever he came home, his daily life and his way home from work had become a little more enjoyable.

Enjoyable, you say. This is going to become a habit.

Florian, who smirked, withdrew the pheromones he had faintly released and sat down next to Sarang.