"Phew…"
After shaking hands with Ronaldo, Ho-young unconsciously took a deep breath.
The Emperor of Football.
Just holding his hand was enough to make him nervous, but having witnessed his talent up close made it even harder to calm down.
In truth, he had already confirmed Ronaldo's talents earlier.
Since talents could be seen through conversation, physical contact, or by locking eyes for a few seconds.
Even so, Ronaldo's talents were awe-inspiring, no matter how many times he saw them.
[Ronaldo]
[Possessed Talents: Emperor of Football (T), Finishing of the Football Emperor (SU), Perfect Composure (SS+), Phenomenal Dribbling (SS), Unrivaled Football Sense (SS), Dynamic Individual Technique (S+2)]
(More...)
(You may acquire one talent by meeting the required condition.)
(If you attempt to acquire a Title (T) level talent, you will obtain a portion of its sensory perception. However, you must be at least 18 years old to acquire it.)
(For talents of S rank or higher, a hidden condition must be met.)
(Condition 1: Maintain a top 6 position in the Spanish Segunda División by January.)
(Condition 2: Receive 3000 minutes of tutoring.)
(Condition 3: Record 2 wins against Barcelona B.)
(Condition 4: Inherit Ronaldo's know-how.)
(Hidden condition: Unlockable after acquiring at least one talent.)
'His prime ended four years ago…'
Three SS-level talents.
Just as expected, he was nearly on par with Zidane.
While his explosiveness and physical strength had declined, his technical skills were still at an elite level.
That meant one thing.
'The talent is still there, but his body can no longer keep up.'
He just lacked the conditions to unleash it. His latent ability hadn't faded.
To Ho-young, such an overwhelming talent was simply incredible.
He couldn't help but wonder.
What kind of talents had Ronaldo possessed at his peak, ten years ago?
A thought struck him.
'Maybe the talent grades are even more diverse than I originally thought.'
At the same time, he realized something.
How those unbelievable plays he'd seen on TV years ago had even been possible.
Ronaldo was a monster in human skin.
A level beyond even typical world-class players.
That's why he had both millions of fans and just as many critics.
There were two extreme camps that surrounded him, even within fan circles.
One was the hardcore Ronaldo supporters, blindly worshipping him.
The other, relentless detractors trying to tear him down.
Even ten years later, those two factions would still be clashing.
Ho-young sat right in the middle.
To him, Ronaldo was this:
A tragic star.
Hypothyroidism was no minor illness.
But the lack of self-discipline was also undeniable.
'Anyway…'
Putting everything aside, purely based on his peak form, there was no one he couldn't compete with.
Ho-young admired Ronaldo.
And now, that very Ronaldo had called him a genius.
It felt like a dream.
"Ah…"
His voice trembled.
As a footballer, nothing could be more moving.
Ho-young, momentarily overcome with emotion, spoke instinctively.
"Il Fenomeno. It's an honor."
A ridiculously sincere, naive statement.
But Ronaldo received it with a smile that showed his gapped front teeth.
A passion only understood by those who had once been completely consumed by something.
"See you again, Il Fenomeno."
It was the moment another phenomenal prodigy, destined to define an era, was born.
After the training match ended.
Ronaldo had a private meeting with Pérez.
Strangely, he had even sent away his agent, who was practically his shadow.
"You were impressive. Even though it was brief, I saw your passion."
"So that's why you called me in today?"
"Hm?"
"Tino. We've known each other for six years now."
Ronaldo used Pérez's nickname, expressing familiarity.
The two had grown close enough to speak casually with each other.
Ronaldo continued.
"I'm no longer the shy young man who used to stand nervously in front of you. I'm now a veteran who speaks his mind."
"You seem to have a lot to say today."
"Tino, you're the one who's been protecting me all this time. Thanks to your support, I must've gotten out of trouble with a thousand cops. I want to say thank you."
"You sound like someone about to say goodbye."
"I'll be leaving for Milano in August. I just decided."
Ronaldo, who had reflected deeply after today's match, was ready to take flight again.
He planned to make a fresh start with AC Milan.
At thirty years old.
For a striker whose game relied on speed, most consider 32 to be the end of their prime.
Meaning Ronaldo still had wings left to fly.
Though tattered and worn, they could still be repaired.
"But before I go, I'll accept your request. Until I leave, I'll spend time with that boy."
"A fine decision."
Ronaldo nodded and leaned forward slightly.
"Tino. Honestly, I never understood why you did that. Investing so much in a youth player who isn't even from your country? That's not like you at all."
"So, you finally understand why now?"
"I wouldn't dare claim I can read your old head. I just want to focus on football now and be done with being a political pawn."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Ronaldo's slump.
And his fiery conflict with manager Capello.
In the end, it all helped lift Pérez's approval rating, which had hit rock bottom.
Whether it was coincidence or not, it worked out in Pérez's favor.
In other words, Pérez had gotten everything he could out of Ronaldo before his transfer.
Though close friends, their relationship was also a calculated one based on mutual interest.
Still, Ronaldo harbored genuine gratitude toward Pérez.
"You've done a lot for me."
"Until we meet again."
Pérez wished for a reunion with Ronaldo.
Though probably not as a player.
Whether as an ambassador or a coach, he believed there would come a time when Ronaldo would be needed again.
Ronaldo was a brand too valuable to let go.
Pérez smiled warmly.
His mouth smiled, but his eyes didn't budge an inch.
Tutoring began the very next day.
Two hours a day.
Sometimes even four to six hours, training side-by-side.
Ronaldo became Ho-young's tutor.
It was a first in Ronaldo's life.
Of course, he had occasionally helped promising players during training at the club's request.
But one-on-one tutoring? Ho-young was the first.
And he didn't mind it.
What Ronaldo liked most was how it brought back memories of his younger self.
Watching Ho-young felt like watching a younger version of himself.
Unknowingly infected by that passion, Ronaldo found himself training harder than ever.
Though officially called tutoring, it was essentially Ronaldo's own comeback training.
It was a meaningful time.
Given his poor physical condition, he couldn't expect huge improvements, but at the very least, he had regained his will to stand back up.
Soon, Ronaldo's life began to change.
He cut out high-calorie foods, adjusted his diet based on his doctor's advice, and gradually reduced alcohol and cigarettes.
Even his notorious womanizing came to a halt, as he made the difficult decision to give up nightclubs.
His passion to play football properly once more had been reignited.
And for that, Ho-young was serving as a pacemaker.
A positive synergy.
It was helping them both grow.
Precious time passed quickly.
Before they knew it, Ronaldo's move to Milan was just around the corner.
July, filled with tutoring and training, had flipped by like pages in a book.
Only one month.
A short time, but more meaningful than any other.
If someone asked what he had learned, Ho-young could confidently answer:
He had learned things that money couldn't buy.
He learned various football techniques from Ronaldo.
Of course, he couldn't replicate the jaw-dropping dribbles or plays from Ronaldo's prime, but it was enough.
Ronaldo mostly taught him his goal-scoring know-how in the box. Things like foot angle, how to shoot based on the goalkeeper's positioning, and psychological warfare.
Ronaldo emphasized that the foundation of everything was composure and focus.
"You have to stay calm no matter what. Be as relaxed as if you were playing in your neighborhood alley."
Ronaldo's shooting, as natural as breathing.
That was where his incredible finishing came from.
Ho-young began to understand, little by little.
Beyond technique, Ronaldo also taught him about mentality and shared his experiences.
Especially advice about physical conditioning.
"It was during a match against Lazio. I was doing a step-over when it suddenly felt like someone stabbed my knee. The sky went dark. Next thing I knew, I was in the hospital. I wanted to keep playing, but my body gave up the fight."
The pain was beyond words.
After several knee surgeries, Ronaldo's game inevitably declined.
"So you're saying I shouldn't push too hard when dribbling?"
"That depends on your condition. What's nothing for one person could be too much for another. If your thigh and knee balance is off, like mine was, it's especially risky. If I had a good personal doctor when I first started, I wouldn't have ended up like this."
His message was clear.
"I thought my body would last forever, but it didn't. No matter what others say, you have to take care of your own body."
Even if the mind is clear, once the body gives up the will to fight, it's all over.
A valuable reminder of how important physical care truly is.
That summer's transfer window was hectic.
Real Madrid brought in Dutch stars Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder, forming a Dutch connection with Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Barcelona responded by signing Thierry Henry, building a formidable attacking lineup to reclaim the throne.
Amid all this, Ho-young and Ronaldo's tutoring continued.
Then came the final day.
Ronaldo left him with one last meaningful message.
"The moment you surpass who I was ten years ago, you'll be the best. But I won't stop here either."
With that, he left Spain, giving Real Madrid a transfer fee of 13 million euros.
And a few days later.
Unexpected news came to Ho-young.
It was the moment he became eligible to acquire Zidane's talent.
[Your inherent capacity is too small to fully contain Artistic Ball Control (SS+). However, the talent Football Prodigy (S) makes it possible.]
"…"
He may not have been born with enough capacity to handle it, but his exceptional football talent was compensating for it.
'Even with Ballack's versatility added, it's barely enough. Just how small was my original potential...?'
He had managed to get through it this time, but unless he nurtured Ballack's versatility quickly, he could run into trouble again.
He had limited space, yet more and more had to be added.
'I need to raise Football Prodigy quickly too.'
There could be problems when trying to acquire even higher-grade talents in the future.
That's why he had to level up Football Prodigy (S) as soon as possible.
'It's almost time.'
Ho-young prepared for that day.
That day arrived about three weeks after the tutoring ended.
The date was August 25.
The opening day of the Spanish Segunda División.
It could also be the day Ho-young made his professional debut.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)