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"Ugh…."
I woke up with a throbbing headache.
I had sworn off drinking not too long ago, yet here I was, having fallen right back into it.
How did I end up drinking yesterday again?
I was supposed to just take the money and go home, but instead, I didn't even get paid and ended up drinking with the older guys.
Was it because of that drinking bet?
We drank like madmen from lunch, then went to a karaoke bar in the evening and screamed our throats raw, only to drink again for dinner…
It was a wild party.
Honestly, I can't resist free food and booze.
It's like deciding to go on a diet only for your family to bring home fried chicken.
That's just impossible to resist.
"My money…"
That was the first thing that came to mind.
I was supposed to get 50,000 won.
Clutching my head, I got up from the bed.
In the corner of the room, Han Myung-shin, glowing faintly gray, was pressing his left hand against his forehead, eyes closed as if deep in thought.
He looked like he was posing for a model shoot.
"What are you doing, hyung?"
-······.
Han Myung-shin didn't answer.
Was he organizing his thoughts?
-Hrrrmmm…
"?"
Wait, is he seriously sleeping?
"Pfft."
It was so absurd I couldn't help but laugh.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Kang Hyun tried to clear his hangover and sort through his memories.
The bizarre phenomena that had suddenly started happening since yesterday.
The dead Han Myung-shin had appeared and was still sticking around.
And that wasn't all.
Some strange game system had also popped up, throwing his mind into chaos.
No matter how much he asked why or how, there was nothing concrete to grasp.
Maybe it was the prank of a god, or some intricate phenomenon scientists hadn't yet uncovered.
Either way.
This was reality now.
He'd have to get used to a dead Han Myung-shin napping nearby.
"Oh, right. The roulette."
Come to think of it, he had gotten a roulette ticket.
He should try using it again.
"Hyung. Myung-shin hyung."
Kang Hyun carefully tried to wake Han Myung-shin.
Since he couldn't shake him physically, he had to rely on his voice.
But Han Myung-shin didn't open his eyes.
"Han Myung-shin, zero-time Ballon d'Or winner!"
-Don't even bring that up. My Ballon d'Or… How many did Ronaldo steal from me…
"Ohh. You're finally awake."
-I was already awake. I just didn't feel like opening my eyes.
"But do ghosts even sleep?"
-When there's nothing to do, you close your eyes and rest. If you keep your eyes shut and don't think about anything, time flies.
Somehow, he doubted Han Myung-shin had been thinking about nothing.
Well, whatever.
-So, what's up?
"I wanted to spin the roulette. I figured you'd get mad if I did it alone."
-Huh, you've got some sense. You spinning it now?
"Yeah."
-Hold on. Before you do, let's check your stats. We haven't properly looked through that system thing yet. Might as well dissect it now.
"Oh, sure."
Seeing the logic in Han Myung-shin's words, Kang Hyun nodded and summoned the system.
[Kim Kang Hyun]
- Stamina: 45/45
- Endurance: 41/41
- Detailed Stats (Click to Expand)
- Total: 29
- Skills: Silk Road (F)
- Items: None
==
-Hey. Check the detailed stats.
"One sec."
He tapped the detailed stats.
The system window shifted, revealing the breakdown.
[Detailed Stats]
Positioning: 24
Dribbling: 21
Passing: 31
Finishing: 21
Kick Power: 28
Heading: 22
Defensive Sense: 32
Interceptions: 29
Speed: 29
Agility: 26
Balance: 30
Physicality: 27
Weak Foot Accuracy: 1/5
Age: 21
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 87 kg
Preferred Foot: Right
==
"Hmm."
-Seems low, but since we can't compare it to pro players, it's hard to say for sure.
"Yeah, true."
Only he could see his own stats, after all.
-Still, they're definitely low. If this were a real football game's stat screen, I mean.
"Well, yeah."
-But seriously, didn't you win any awards in high school or middle school? Even just praise?
"Not that I remember."
-Then how'd you even make the starting lineup? Did your parents bribe the coaches or something?
"No way. My parents wouldn't do that. More like the coaches pulled some shady stuff on me…"
-Ah. Now I get it. You were in some fourth-rate soccer team, huh?
He didn't deny it.
Though he'd like to think it was at least third-rate…
-Whatever. The past doesn't matter. What's important is the present and future. And you—your height's fine, but… your body's a mess. 87 kg?
Han Myung-shin shook his head and muttered, "Are you a pig or what?"
"Factory work is brutal, okay? You end up stress-eating. You have no idea how exhausting two shifts are."
-I don't care. You need to get in shape first. This game system might be cheat-level powerful, but if your body can't handle it, you won't see real results. Train hard for half a year, and you'll be in top shape. Just follow my lead.
"Huh? What?"
-Just follow me.
"No, I mean… I have a job, you know?"
-So?
Han Myung-shin tilted his head.
Kang Hyun mirrored the gesture.
"Then what about my job?"
-What about it? Quit. You're only doing it for the money, right?
"Well, yeah, but…"
-'Yeah, but' what? You're not gonna play football? With this ability? And with me here?
Han Myung-shin crossed his arms and glared.
Under the ghost's intense stare, Kang Hyun shrank back, struggling to respond. Still, he forced out an excuse.
"It's not like I can just quit on the spot. I have a contract, and I need to honor it…"
-Oh please. People ditch that company after a single day, don't they?
"Well, some even leave after just eating the free meal."
-That's just sad. Anyway!
Han Myung-shin paused for emphasis.
-Your dream's right in front of you. Don't hesitate over something trivial. That indecisiveness is what's been ruining your life.
"..."
-Too harsh? Well, that's reality. People fail at life even when they give it their all. You should be grateful for the chance you've got. This is a blessing from the gods.
All he wanted was to honor his contract, and now he was getting a lecture.
Han Myung-shin was such a boomer.
No doubt about it.
A young boomer.
Wait, no.
Born in the 80s—just a regular boomer.
Still…
"Hyung. No, Han Myung-shin."
-What.
"Do you think… I'd have lived a miserable life without this ability?"
Han Myung-shin nodded with absolute certainty.
-I guarantee it. You'd have been a nobody.
"Tch."
Even with this hangover, he suddenly craved a drink.
It wasn't a wrong assessment.
Maybe that's why.
Something stirred deep inside him.
Without this ability, I'd have just been another ordinary guy… No, not even that.
"Fine. I'll quit. I'll trust you, hyung, and give football another shot."
-Good. I'm counting on you.
"But if I tell my boss tomorrow that I can't come in after laughing and playing football with him yesterday, he's gonna be pissed…"
-That's your problem.
"This damn—sigh."
He almost cursed out loud.
"I'll call the supervisor later and sort it out. For now, there's something more important."
He used the roulette ticket.
A massive casino wheel materialized before his eyes.
-You religious?
"No, why?"
-Doesn't matter. Pray anyway. Just in case. What if it lands on red again?
"Wouldn't praying now just piss off whatever higher power exists? Like, 'Oh, you never believed, but now you're begging?'"
-Fair point.
Han Myung-shin chuckled and shrugged.
-Spin it.
"Okay. Here goes!"
With a shout, he spun the wheel.
The roulette whirred loudly, spinning with force.
And then…
-Damn, you're lucky.
"Heh heh heh."
Laughter kept bubbling out.
The roulette had landed squarely on the red slot.
*
*[Mysterious Pebble]*
- Grade: Stone
- Description: A mystical pebble that enhances a player's stats.
- Effect: Select one stat and raise it to *40*.
==
"Wow."
It was an item so ridiculous it made him laugh.
If he were a pro with already high stats, it'd be useless. But for Kang Hyun?
A miracle stone.
-This is insane. Boosting a stat straight to 40? This isn't some game editor cheat…
"Whew! Hyung, which stat should I raise?"
-No question.
"Huh?"
-Finishing.
"Wait, why? I'm a midfielder."
Han Myung-shin clicked his tongue.
-Did you forget who I am? Who am I?
"Uh… the legendary Real Madrid player who never won a Ballon d'Or?"
-Hey. Stop bringing that up. That was straight-up racism. Damn racists.
Seemed like Han Myung-shin had some unresolved issues in Europe. Kang Hyun didn't know the details.
"So, hyung. You're saying I should switch to forward because that was your position?"
-Exactly.
"But then my skill's wasted. Silk Road is clearly best for midfielders, right?"
-Play center-forward then. Or attacking mid. Modern footballisn't about forwards just staying up front. For you—
"Yeah."
-You should be a hybrid. A player who bridges midfield and attack. It's ambitious, but with this ability, you could play anywhere except goalkeeper.
Han Myung-shin stared straight at him and nodded.
-Trust me. Boost finishing. It's not something you can easily train up.
Kang Hyun eventually nodded too.
Finishing was his lowest stat, after all.
As a midfielder, he was tempted to raise his equally low dribbling… but in the end, he took the legend's advice.
*
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