Weird Defender Joo Ji-Tae

2 – Enlightenment That Hits the Forehead

002

At first, it was just spite.

The desire for revenge against the annoying and insincere buddy who always wore a mask of pretense and thrived.

But,

“Wait, what! When did you get here?”

“Wow. You fell for this? What’s up with Ju Ji-tae.”

“Ah… blocked again this time?”

Little by little, annoyance crept into the usually relaxed expression of the guy.

“Ha! It’s driving me crazy.”

“Hey, block in moderation!”

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“Ah… profanity coming out.”

“Ugh, so frustrating!”

The moment they discovered cracks in the sturdy mask of pretense, revealing their true nature, which they never shed even if they died, in front of others.

Ju Ji-tae realized.

‘Defense… Could it be fun?’

No. It’s certain.

Damn fun.

Without a doubt, there has never been a moment in his soccer career as enjoyable as this.

Not in the Focal Cup final in the Bundesliga, not in the Carling Cup semi-finals in England, not even in the Europa League final stage in Spain.

Of course not. He failed.

Anyway, Ju Ji-tae was that excited.

Seeing Jo Jae-shin, always relaxed, diligent, and wearing a exemplary mask, going crazy and jumping around like this, endorphins were just rushing—

“Yay~ This is awesome!!”

I love it so much I could die!!!

Unintentionally, in the roar that burst out, Jo Jae-shin couldn’t hold back.

“You bastard!!”

Should I apologize…?

As soon as the practice game was over that day, Ju Ji-tae went straight to the coach.

“Coach. I want to play defense.”

“What? Defense?”

Well, as expected, the reaction was as expected.

Smart man Ju Ji-tae anticipated the coach’s resistance.

But there’s no plan.

A man always fights with his heart!

If you’re a man, you can only understand a man’s sincerity.

Because that’s what a man is.

“Yes! I want to change positions!!”

With the shout that contained Ju Ji-tae’s soul, the coach’s eyes widened as if about to burst.

Hmph, as expected. The corners of Ju Ji-tae’s mouth went up.

A stubborn speciality. Weakness to sincerity that touches the heart.

“No. Go back.”

“….”

It didn’t work.

“Why?”

Ju Ji-tae asked.

“Why what?”

“Why do you have to say it out loud like that?”

“Because I don’t know.”

“Well, I’m really not sure about this.”

Kim Seok-du exhaled deeply, as if waiting, and then unleashed a barrage.

“Hey, think about it. Why move a guy who’s good in midfield to defense? Seriously, can’t just anyone see the flow of the game like you do? Your passes, like eating a meal, not everyone can do that, you know? It’s not something you can practice. Some things come with effort, and some don’t. Do you think Messi or Iniesta or Xavi practiced to be able to see the open space and make a pass in the midst of opponent pressure? That’s called talent.”

“But I really want to play defense.”

“Defense? Ha! Are you telling me midfielders don’t defend? Go ahead, defend all you want. Just keep playing like you did before.”

Huh?

Come to think of it, he’s right.

You can’t just ignore defense even if you’re a midfielder.

Until now, Ju Ji-tae had excelled in attack, making him almost untouchable, but originally, even Ju Ji-tae should have actively engaged in defense.

“Do I have to defend like before while playing like I have so far?”

Ju Ji-tae, pondering deeply, realized.

“Isn’t that just what I’ve been doing all along?”

Coordinating attack and defense in midfield, actively participating in both during offensive and defensive plays – wasn’t that the play that caused a sensation during the first season on the pro stage?

Sixteen years of professional experience.

Therefore, Ju Ji-tae knows.

It sounds good, being the ‘playmaker responsible for the team’s build-up,’ but in reality, you have to run like crazy, whether it’s in attack or defense.

“No, damn it. This is not right. I played like that in the first season, and now after regressing, I have to run around like a dog again? Can’t do it. Won’t do it, damn it.”

In modern football, the position that displays the most activity along with the side-back is the midfielder.

Do I have to do that nonsense again? Do I have to run around like crazy again?

“Coach.”

“What?”

Ju Ji-tae stared at Kim Seok-du with sincerity.

“When was your prime, Coach?”

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

“For me, it’s now. When I defend!”

“Oh, what a surprise! Why are you suddenly yelling and acting crazy, this guy?”

Startled, he clenched his buttocks tightly.

Kim Seok-du, who was grumbling, waved his hand dismissively.

“Hey, if you’re annoyed, just leave. You’re making an irritating white noise that’s unbearable.”

“Ah, really!! Coach!! I want to play as a defender!!”

“With your passing skills and pressure tactics, can you be a defender!? You, with that talent, play as a defender! Huh? It’s a loss for South Korea! The more I talk, the more annoyed I get. Trying to be a defender with that playmaking skill? This is insane! No way. Ahh! I should make more sense. Damn it!”

In the escalating rage of Kim Seok-du, Ju Ji-tae immediately proposed an alternative.

“I’ll be the libero. I can defend and pass at the same time, right?”

“You crazy bastard! It’s not allowed!!”

“I can’t do it as a midfielder. What kind of midfielder has this defensive ability? I want to be a defender.”

Facing Kim Seok-du, who grabbed him by the back of the neck, Ju Ji-tae pleaded.

“Coach, I really want to play as a defender!!”

“Sigh… Fine, do as you wish. Defend? Sure, defend, you bastard!! Just defend!! Oh, you stubborn guy.”

* * *

Thud.

Waiting anxiously for the coach’s office door to close, Jo Jae-shin gestured.

“Hey, Juji. Over here, this way. So, what did the coach say? It’s not allowed, right? Isn’t it?”

Joo Ji-tae’s expressionless face lifted at the corner as he approached.

“…Really? No way. It can’t be, right?”

In his desperate denial of reality, Ju Ji-tae seemed to be building a new world like a god of some alternate universe.

“As planned.”

“…For real? Seriously playing as a center-back?”

“Heh. Negotiation. Successful.”

“Ah, insane! Are you really going to be a center-back? You??”

“Yeah, really, I’m going to play as a center-back.”

“Why on earth?”

Why.

Well, for the most significant reason—

“Midfielders have to run like crazy, you know. It’s tough.”

A soccer player runs an average of 10-11 km per game based on a full-time standard.

Especially the full-backs and midfielders, renowned for their high activity levels, often record distances of 13 to 14 kilometers.

It’s 10 to 14 kilometers in 90 minutes.

Sounds easy, right? 10 to 14 kilometers. But after a single game, you could lose around 3 to 4 kilograms due to the intense physical activity. The Brazilian Hulk, for instance, shed about 6 kilograms right after a match. Even with intermittent fluid intake and consuming high-calorie food during halftime, that’s the extent of it.

Having done this for 16 years, do I have to do it again?

In my past life, I thought it was natural, so I just went with the flow. But now, thinking about it, other positions seem a bit better.

“Why run around like crazy? I’d rather stand solidly and focus on defense.”

“Why? If that’s the case, why not be a goalkeeper? Being a goalkeeper would suit you perfectly.”

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“This guy’s insane. What goalkeeper?”

No way. Absolutely not.

Sure, goalkeepers have less physical activity, but being too static for someone like Joo Ji-tae is just not fun.

“This guy is so annoying. So, you’re becoming a center back because you don’t want to run a lot?”

Joo Ji-tae nodded.

Let’s take it easy for the second round.

They say you live by what you’ve learned, and even though I’ve lived my life playing soccer, maybe there’s something else I can do.

Even if you live extravagantly, it’s fun only when you have money. Extravagance without money is not only dull but also tough.

Of course, there are other ways to go about it after regressing.

For example, stocks. Stocks. Something like stocks.

No matter how disinterested Joo Ji-tae claims to be in the workings of the world, he’s bound to come across news in life. Even if he doesn’t understand the micro details, he knows which companies will do well roughly 20 years from now.

“There were some stocks that were famous from time to time… Putting some money in them should multiply.”

But you need money for stocks too. How can you invest money when you don’t have seed money?

Yet, the mere high school first-year student, Joo Ji-tae, doesn’t have any other means to make money.

Studying?

…Some things don’t change even for someone who has regressed.

Regardless of intelligence, you’re either a salaryman or a professional, once you’ve studied. If you’re going to start stocks after being a salaryman, why study? Just stick to playing soccer, something you’re good at.

Above all, when do you study when you’re busy having fun?

There’s no time to enjoy life.

And besides, the best way for Joo Ji-tae to make money is undoubtedly soccer.

He must have memories from his past life. This time, even if he enjoys soccer more, he could earn a higher salary.

But still, he’s just a high school first-year student…

Joo Ji-tae suddenly realized he had truly regressed.

‘First year of high school. What was I doing back then?’

Upon careful reflection, various memories come to mind.

Training with Jo Jaeshin, competing with Jo Jaeshin, training with Jo Jaeshin, competing with Jo Jaeshin…

‘What the hell is this? Why are memories only about training and competitions?’

Moreover, why is it giving me chills that Jo Jaeshin is everywhere?

Ju Jitae was astonished.

‘Oh my god…! I was… I was this dedicated!!’

Talented, exemplary, and diligent youth soccer player. Surprisingly, in Ju Jitae’s teenage years on the field, ‘fundamentals’ seemed to overflow.

‘Back then, I too put in effort. Well, I was someone who did things if I set my mind to it.’

He doesn’t like effort.

He doesn’t regret the past where he didn’t put in effort.

…Well, maybe a little, a very little, but he doesn’t want to make the effort.

However, confronting his past self, who worked hard to achieve his dream of becoming a pro, brought about a strange sensation.

‘If I had worked as hard as I do now, there wouldn’t have been such a future. They say it’s the talent that God gave and the mentality that God abandoned, or the ultimate fate of the genius who doesn’t make an effort. I might have become one of the great soccer players.’

The remaining soccer life is roughly 20 years.

Living diligently for 20 years, abstaining from alcohol and greasy food, reluctantly eating a tasteless diet, and managing training and condition instead of entertainment and indulgence.

Such an exemplary life—

‘Just thinking about it sucks. It really won’t work.’

Ju Jitae quickly gave up.

Indeed, it won’t work. How can you live that kind of life?

The way to live is to enjoy life while living it once.

Moreover, Ju Jitae has experienced enjoying his first time just like Jo Jaeshin during his first round. It’s harder for someone who already knows about entertainment to endure.

Then, a sudden realization struck him.

People have inherent nature, and his first self knew how to live exemplary like Jo Jaeshin during his school days.

‘Right! Back then, I didn’t know about entertainment!’

He didn’t know, so he lived diligently!

If he had known, he wouldn’t have lived so diligently.

Ju Jitae made up his mind.

‘Why didn’t I know about that good thing? I’ve wasted half of my life. Starting from today, I’m hitting the clubs!!’

It was truly a forehead-slapping conclusion.