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The tall and handsome special coach was none other than Ki Sung-yueng.
A former captain of the South Korean national team, Ki had played in the English Premier League (EPL) before returning to the K-League in the twilight of his career.
Now retired from the national team, he was known to play only for FC Seoul.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Ki Sung-yueng, here today to share some football tips with you."
Thunderous applause erupted once again.
Han Myung-shin also smiled and clapped along.
Ah, it's been a while since I've seen Sung-yueng.
Kang Hyun, trying to ease the awkwardness with Han Myung-shin, initiated a conversation as a peace offering.
Most of the talk revolved around Ki Sung-yueng.
What had happened to him after Han Myung-shin's death?
When Kang Hyun explained that Ki had later become captain and had now retired, Han Myung-shin was visibly shocked.
Time… really has passed, huh? Sung-yuengbecame captain and has even retired now.
Since Ki Sung-yueng was a midfielder, he gathered the players for a passing drill.
Moreover, he had once led the EPL in pass completion rate, albeit briefly.
The training method was simple.
Seven players formed a group, standing in a circle.
Six players surrounded one in the center, who then passed the ball to each outer player in sequence.
The catch? One-touch passes only, and the sequence must never break.
"It may look simple, but this drill requires intense focus. Pass immediately upon receiving the ball. If the sequence breaks, we'll rotate clockwise and continue."
Before anyone realized it, Ki Sung-yueng had dropped formalities and was directing the players.
Four randomly assigned groups of seven spread across the field, forming circles to begin the drill.
And then…
[Quest: A Crane Among a Flock of Chickens]
[Objective: Catch the special coach's eye.]
[Reward: Pass +1]
Ohh.
These sudden quests—Nice.
***
As training began in earnest, Ki Sung-yueng and the other coaches walked around the field, observing the players.
Most struggled—either taking too many touches or passing out of sequence, forcing frequent rotations.
The key to this drill was maintaining the predetermined passing order, which Ki had made deliberately complex.
But… one group stood out, keeping the sequence alive far longer than the rest.
Not just longer—they were dominating.
"That kid… he's holding up well, huh? Even most pros can't keep this up for long," Ki remarked.
Ahn Jung-hoon smirked and watched the player alongside him.
"He's the ace here."
"Must have an impressive background. Where's he from?"
"Not at all. In fact, on paper, he's the weakest participant here."
"Huh?"
Ki Sung-yueng looked baffled.
Then what was this performance?
Drenched in sweat yet flawlessly executing one-touch passes, following the convoluted sequence without a single mistake—even adjusting for errant passes from teammates.
If not for occasional misplaced passes, he might've carried the drill indefinitely. And this kid was supposedly the weakest?
"That's not all. You know what he told the PD?"
"What'd he say?"
"That he'd make the national team."
"Wow. Confident kid."
Sung-yueng chuckled, watching the player still exchanging passes.
"That's why I'm rooting for him. I hope he makes it. These days, it's rare—no, almost impossible—to find players this driven and self-assured."
"The well's run dry lately. Back in our day— Ah, I shouldn't say that in front of a legend like you. Heh."
"Hey, what about my era?"
The coaches reminisced, trading old stories.
As nostalgia filled the air, Lee Yong-jae smirked at Ki Sung-yueng.
"Hey, Sung-yueng. Not doing the kangaroo today?"
"Ah, hyung. Come on. I apologized for that privately."
Then…
Just before training ended, one group was still monopolized by a single player, forcing Ki to intervene.
"Let others have a turn. By the way, your name is…"
"Kim Kang Hyun, sunbaenim!"
Drenched in sweat but shouting energetically, Kim Kang Hyun made Sung-yueng burst into laughter.
This sudden hardworking genius had won him over.
"Make sure you debut as a pro. I like your type of character."
"I'll join FC Seoul, sunbaenim!"
"Keh heh. Sure."
Sung-yueng patted Kang Hyun's shoulder, laughing.
If a junior like this joined, I'd really take care of him.
The thought crossed his mind.
***
Ki Sung-yueng later conducted a free-kick training session, where Kang Hyun again excelled, completing another quest.
Thus, in this short time, Kang Hyun gained:
- Pass +1
- Kick Power +1
Now, his stats stood at:
- Pass: 32
- Kick Power: 30
Still abysmally low, but every small increase mattered.
That made the progress even more satisfying.
Moreover, Ki Sung-yueng seemed to have taken a genuine liking to Kang Hyun, exchanging contacts and even inviting him for a meal.
After dinner, the results of the post-camp fitness tests were announced. The team doctor called each player individually to deliver theirs.
"Kim Kang Hyun… nothing to criticize here. Far above team average—pro-level fitness. Just keep doing what you're doing."
"Thank you!"
At first, Kang Hyun thought it meaningless, but sometimes, meaning is assigned where none existed.
Because then…
[You achieved the highest fitness score. Reward: Stamina +1.]
The system unexpectedly rewarded him.
Knowing that +1 stat equaled 1,000 points, Kang Hyun realized he'd earned 3,000 points in a single day. The satisfaction was overwhelming.
That night, perhaps motivated by the test results, players flooded the gym, sweating through intense workouts.
Kang Hyun joined them, weight training under Han Myung-shin's guidance while others relied on the team's fitness trainer.
As training wrapped up and bedtime approached, Ahn Jung-hoon visited the dorm to announce a critical schedule.
"In two days, we'll have our final match."
The cheerful chatter died instantly.
"This decides the final roster. Whether you go to Europe or not hinges on this game."
"Ah… so who are we facing?" asked Ahn Tae-hoon, the team's oldest player, cautiously raising his hand.
Ahn Jung-hoon answered nonchalantly.
"Korea University."
The name sent waves of shock through the room.
Now that's intense. But it's fitting.
Only Han Myung-shin nodded approvingly.
Korea University.
Home to the oldest university football program in South Korea, a cradle of legendary players who left indelible marks on the sport.
Nearly every household-name national team alumnus had come from here.
This wasn't just a sparring match—it was the final selection.
Despite their hard work, a poor performance here could mean elimination.
And against Korea University?
This was no ordinary opponent.
They might have to accept defeat from the outset.
"Everyone. Give it your all. Train hard tomorrow too."
"Yes!"
After Ahn Jung-hoon left, the players went to bed with mixed emotions.
Kang Hyun, too, felt uneasy but fell asleep within two minutes of hitting the pillow.
***
The next day was pure repetition.
Fitness drills. Dribbling drills. Passing drills.
Training consumed the entire day.
And then—the day arrived.
The match against Korea University.
Before kickoff, the coaches gathered the team outside the pitch, tactics board in hand, offering final words.
"Just give it your all. Even if today's your last day. No regrets. Okay?"
"Yes!"
This wasn't a three-quarter match.
It was a full 90-minute game—two 45-minute halves.
Unlimited substitutions were allowed, including re-entries.
And today, Kim Kang Hyun was slated to start.
Buzzing with nervous excitement, he prepared as the coaches passionately outlined tactics.
The entire Miseong FC squad stared intently at the tactics board as Coach Lee Yong-jae moved pieces with flair.
"Today, you'll be at a significant disadvantage compared to last game. So…"
But Kang Hyun struggled to focus.
Why?
Because the tactic was nearly identical to the one used against Gasan University.
And more importantly—because Korea University's players had caught his eye.
Not because they were future K-League, overseas, or national team stars…
But because unignorable stats floated above their heads:
[Lee Joong-hyun. 22. CM (Central Midfielder).]
- Stamina: 40/40
- Endurance: 38/38
- Detailed Stats (Click to Expand)
- Total: 35
[Heo Jung-gil. 21. RB (Right Back).]
- Stamina: 42/42
- Endurance: 37/37
- Detailed Stats (Click to Expand)
- Total: 33
[Jo Beom-il. 23. SS (Second Striker).]
- Stamina: 43/43
- Endurance: 40/40
- Detailed Stats (Click to Expand)
- Total: 40