Chapter 274

When Seo Pil-gu’s uncomfortable expression caught Jin-hyuk’s eye, he noticed him whispering something into Jin’s ear.

Jin’s eyes widened, and her cheerful voice filled the dining room of the mansion.

“Aha! Uncle, do you need to poop? The bathroom is over there! There’s one on this floor and another on the third floor, but the stairs are pretty high here. So, if you go up to the third floor, you might poop on the way!”

Before Jin could finish her sentence, Seo Pil-gu disappeared as if running away.

True to his reputation as a Korean sprinting legend, his footwork was impeccable.

“Wow, I was worried for nothing.”

Jin-hyuk, who had been worried that the conversation wouldn’t go well, sighed in relief.

At the same time, he understood Seo Pil-gu’s feelings.

Meeting Yoo Se-ra, who could be quite intimidating, it wouldn’t have been easy for a Korean man, who values face, to ask where the bathroom was. It was unfortunate that the person he asked happened to be Jin.

“Grandpa, are you a coach?”

“Hahaha-, grandpa? I’m an uncle.”

“Uh-huh, uh-huh- but you have a lot of white hair.”

“Hmm… It’s because I took the wrong medicine when I was young.”

Still, Jin didn’t cause too much of a ruckus, and thanks to her bright personality, the atmosphere remained pleasant.

How many athletes realize their talent, train alone, and grow?

After arriving in Atlanta, Jin-hyuk posed this question to Yoo Se-ra during a meeting.

To grow the foundation, the athlete pool needs to be diverse, and to lead them, a leader is necessary. Even now, there are youth coaches, but we need to consider when those athletes grow up. For that, we need someone with connections in the federation to minimize friction due to athlete transfers and someone with excellent conflict resolution skills.

‘Political skills should be used in such areas, and that’s the kind of ability needed for such tasks. A shield.’

The image of Kim Hyeong-tak bowing so low his head almost touched the ground when he saw Yoo Se-ra is vivid. That wasn’t flattery. It was the image of a small gang leader willingly bowing to a higher authority to protect his organization. Others might not see it that way, but at least Jin-hyuk read that political skill in Kim Hyeong-tak’s actions.

‘He’s a gentle person. Just look at how he treats Jin.’

Not only that, but even when the much younger Coach Seo Pil-gu scolded him, he just laughed it off.

Is there anyone more suitable than a former national team coach?

‘No.’

Coach Seo Pil-gu may not have political skills, but he’s someone who can set a good example for the athletes.

After all, he debuted in the track and field world at 17 and reigned at the top for 17 years—a true genius.

– “Please cook it well. If it doesn’t work, just smiling will make it edible.”

If the atmosphere is stiff even when Yoo Se-ra is laughing, it’s safe to say the negotiation has already gone wrong.

Somehow, it seems like the foundation chairman is being used strangely, but Jin-hyuk simply reminded Yoo Se-ra, who has a bizarre negotiation ability that transcends strangeness, of what his greatest weapon is.

‘I heard he threatened Chairman Jeon Gyeong-won.’

She’s a mother with much to teach.

With the meal not yet served and the conversation not flowing smoothly, Jin played the role of an unsolicited mood maker.

“Did you teach Uncle Kkyu?”

“You could say that.”

“Since he was little?”

“Well, not exactly- no.”

Kim Hyeong-tak stumbled over the sharp question from the chubby little kid who looked just like Son Jin-hyuk. As a guest in an uncomfortable position, he couldn’t scold the kid to go away. What a situation.

“My brother trained alone. Would he do better if he learned from you?”

“Jin, don’t make the coach uncomfortable. Sit next to Soo-jung.”

“Okay-, hehe-.”

With Jin-hyuk’s help, Kim Hyeong-tak, now free, began a proper conversation with Yoo Se-ra.

Given the timing, it was a formal conversation related to the Olympics.

“Aside from Seon-kyu, nothing unexpected has happened.”

In the 5th heat where Jin-hyuk competed, a Nigerian athlete took 2nd place, and a Malian athlete who committed a foul took 3rd, advancing to the quarterfinals.

In the 9th heat where Jin Seon-kyu was, Brazil’s Andre Silva, Britain’s Linford, and Cyprus’s Gisimedes advanced directly to the next round.

“There are athletes like Seon-kyu who are fully capable but still give their all in the preliminaries. Davidson Ezinwa from Nigeria, no, from Nigeria, ah, this is-.”

It’s quite a struggle to say words that don’t stick to the tongue as it stiffens with age.

As Kim Hyeong-tak stuttered, Jin-hyuk nodded.

Davidson Ezinwa is the athlete who beat Jin Seon-kyu’s close friend Jonathan Drummond in the 2nd heat to take 1st place. His time was 10.03, placing 3rd in the preliminaries.

Yoo Se-ra’s eyes sharpened.

“Coach, who do you see as the strong contenders for the gold? Excluding our athletes.”

“I’d pick three athletes: Ato Boldon, Frank Fredericks, and Dennis Mitchell.”

Kim Hyeong-tak didn’t hesitate to share his thoughts.

Among the world’s top athletes, Boldon and Fredericks have maintained a steady rivalry recently. Since Fredericks has always been at the top, Kim Hyeong-tak cautiously suggested that Boldon might be sharpening his knives.

Dennis Mitchell, an ace among American sprinters, has formidable skills and is expected to leverage the home ground advantage.

Kim Hyeong-tak didn’t mention Donovan Bailey, who has won five recent competitions, or Linford Christie, the last Olympic champion.

“Donovan Bailey is similar to Seon-kyu. He’s inconsistent and doesn’t perform well in calm situations. He’s the type of athlete who shows monstrous strength in chaotic situations. From what I’ve observed recently, he seems to have declined a lot. Linford is an athlete whose strength is acceleration, but he can’t overcome the weight of time…”

Seeing Kim Hyeong-tak’s somewhat sad eyes, it was clear he empathized with aging, not that he was dismissing Christie.

“I still hope all our athletes shine in the finals.”

Looking at the preliminary records, it’s not impossible.

Coincidentally, two of the four athletes who placed 4th in the 5th and 9th heats were saved by their records, meaning Jin-hyuk and Jin Seon-kyu survived as 1st place in highly competitive heats. Thus, the 40 quarterfinalists were decided.

“Seon-kyu will face Japan’s Asahara, who was the strongest in Asia until early this year, in the quarterfinals. We have to hope he doesn’t get intimidated.”

“What about the Chinese athlete Jin-hyuk brushed off?”

Yoo Se-ra also asked about an athlete she had been interested in.

“Not that far, right? Bullet Fredericks is in that heat.”

“Hmm…”

It seemed she didn’t immediately understand what he meant, as Yoo Se-ra trailed off.

“Chen is, strictly speaking, second-tier. In that heat, besides Fredericks, there are three other top-tier athletes.”

“Ah.”

“We can expect record improvements, but surpassing them is a different matter.”

“Thank you for your insight.”

A sharp evaluation from an active coach, something you wouldn’t hear from a broadcast commentator.

If Fredericks leads, the other three top-class athletes will stick close, and lower-tier athletes will have to chase them to aim for record improvements.

Those at the stadium could see it on the scoreboard, and those watching on TV could grasp the obvious information right after the race. But to ease the awkward atmosphere and build rapport, common topics are better than difficult ones. Especially when the topic is the Olympics, which captures public interest. Office workers, students, even housewives talk about the Olympics when they gather.

“Indeed, a professional coach is different. You’ve already sorted it out so well. Ohoho-.”

“Hahaha-. It’s what a coach should do.”

If a serious person were to ruin the mood, they might say, ‘That’s all common knowledge,’ but a businessperson’s language should be different. Especially someone who sets up and leads meetings.

Jin-hyuk thought Yoo Se-ra’s straightforward rhetoric had become much more diplomatic.

“Where is ‘should’? No one appreciates it, yet you work so hard. Ohoho-. Our athletes will strive harder so the whole nation will know.”

“Hahaha-. Thank you, Chairman.”

Just then, Seo Pil-gu returned from the bathroom.

As he sat down, Yoo Se-ra straightened her back. Her eyes gleamed like guns, her face still wore a smile, and her voice was full of energy.

“Let me be direct. After the Olympics, I’d like you to take on the role of General Sports Director at our foundation. Coach Seo Pil-gu, I propose you take on the role of Track and Field Director.”

“Oh, thank you- hic!”

Kim Hyeong-tak’s body bent sideways as he was about to accept Yoo Se-ra’s offer.

Seo Pil-gu had jabbed him in the side.

“Please give us time to think. Right now, we need to focus on the Olympics.”

Yoo Se-ra smiled and nodded.

It was clear why Son Jin-hyuk thought highly of Seo Pil-gu.

“I won’t demand an immediate answer. But let me make one thing clear. We will offer you treatment that no other coach in the world receives.”

Seo Pil-gu and Kim Hyeong-tak’s eyes lit up with doubt at the same time.

That won’t be easy, right? Do you know the salaries of American track and field coaches?

“Isn’t it the athletes who determine a coach’s treatment? If an athlete becomes the best, the coach should receive the best treatment. Don’t worry about recruiting athletes. If the money is right, talent will gather. We have a good model here, don’t we?”

As Yoo Se-ra pointed at Jin-hyuk and elaborated, the coach and assistant coach relaxed their shoulders.

An athlete’s performance determines the coach’s salary.

That means no burden of being a salary thief, and it’s a motivating condition.

“We’ll need to hear the details later, but it seems like a good offer.”

At Seo Pil-gu’s response, Jin-hyuk smiled contentedly.

Just the fact that he promised to consider it later made today’s meeting between Yoo Se-ra and the coaching staff positive.

As the conversation flowed in a warm atmosphere, a cart loaded with a full Korean feast arrived from the kitchen.

‘What is this-.’

In contrast, the athletes’ diet.

For a moment, Jin-hyuk and Jin Seon-kyu’s eyes widened, then grew dim.

‘Ah…, the diet changes during the competition.’

During training, they ate until they were stuffed, but during the competition, it changed drastically.

The manager dispatched by the foundation had specially prepared the diet for the athletes, so they couldn’t complain.

‘Isn’t this torture? At least set up a separate table.’

Compared to the menu, Jin-hyuk and Jin Seon-kyu’s eyes were filled with deep sorrow.

A grassland spread before their eyes, refreshing their vision.

Is the concept to eat grass like wild horses and run?

Our table, green and green.

They insisted the main characters, the athletes, couldn’t be left out, forcing them to join, yet the athletes’ meals were incredibly healthy. Not that they’re complaining. They have another race in seven hours.

Lunch was light: fruit, vegetables, a bit of rice, and tough meat.

Even though Han Yu-young’s hearty doenjang stew was served in the middle of America, Jin-hyuk found it a hardship to only eat half a bowl of rice.

But no matter how good their digestion is, they can’t eat too much before an evening race.

“Jin, eat a lot. Soo-jung, you too.”

They just chewed on grass while watching their younger siblings eat.

*

After lunch, Jin Seon-kyu and Jeong-won stretched barefoot in the garden. It’s a process to release gas caused by the meal. Some might wonder what this is about, but athletes fear gas more than hunger or fullness. The silent assassin.

Pfft-.

“Ooh-, I’m alive.”

Jin Seon-kyu, who had vigorously released gas, brushed his warm buttocks with his hand. With a blissful expression.

The gas in the stomach travels up the esophagus through the trachea and nasal cavity to the head. Headaches from constipation occur because of this. For athletes, even minor external factors can act as stress, affecting their performance. Imagine a throbbing headache.

‘There was a guy jumping around in the waiting room this morning. Trying to release gas.’

A behind-the-scenes story only seen in athlete waiting rooms.

An athlete about to compete jumping like a kangaroo?

It’s safe to assume one of them is trying to release gas.

Pfft-.

Jin-hyuk waved his hand, spreading the colorless, odorless assassin across Atlanta.

Let anyone who breathes it in faint!

‘Did Soo-jung see?’

Fortunately, Hong Soo-jung was playing with Jin on the second floor, and only their giggles were heard.

Doing knee raises at a slow pace, circling the garden in that position, doing mountain climbing and burpees for bare-handed exercises.

They stimulated the muscles surprised by the morning race and evenly distributed nutrition.

“This should be enough, right?”

Ugh-.

Jin Seon-kyu answered with a dry heave.

When their body temperature rose and they were drenched in sweat, the next step was to shower and move to the sauna.

Thanks to the foundation’s support, they could use a training sauna even in America, a convenience other national team athletes couldn’t even dream of.

Now accustomed to Jin-hyuk’s methods and feeling their effectiveness, Jin Seon-kyu asked again.

“Do you always do this?”

“Yes. That way, the muscles don’t get shocked and become firmer.”

How much firmer do they need to get? Jin Seon-kyu flicked his tongue like an anteater.

Training, shower, sauna, cold bath, sauna, cold bath, sauna, cold bath.

“Not just anyone can do this training. It must cost a lot.”

“It’s thanks to my dad.”

He didn’t need to say it was thanks to the sponsorship of Honorary Chairman Yoo Myung-sun.

“My dad is generous.”

“Tall and generous…”

Jin Seon-kyu trailed off.

Jin Seon-kyu’s gaze, which had been glancing over Jin-hyuk’s naked body from head to toe, stopped somewhere. Then he muttered like a mouse.

“You’ve grown up…”

Jin-hyuk, enjoying the sauna’s heat, looked at his body and tilted his head.

“Am I dark?”

Hmm-, strange, my skin is on the lighter side.

Ah, does it mean the vibe is gloomy?

Even though I tried hard to lighten the mood with bad jokes.

***

They kept lunch light to maintain their condition, but they needed to replenish energy for the evening race.

Brown rice, gochujang stew with plenty of pumpkin and tofu, unseasoned beef sirloin, and kimchi. Along with a hearty ginseng-flavored black chicken soup. Now, even a junior whose age is unknown has flown to America. Plucked.

“The whole family is putting in effort. In our country, only baseball players receive such treatment.”

Jin Seon-kyu’s reaction upon hearing that most of the ingredients were prepared and delivered by Han Yu-young.

‘That’s right. All for me.’

Not just family.

The village, the company, and now the country.

They rolled up their sleeves to fulfill one person’s dream.

Support and affection I never felt in any past life.

‘I must repay them with results.’

If I’m human.

*

On the van heading to the quarterfinal race in the evening, Jin Seon-kyu asked.

“How far do you want to go? As a human, the goal is the same, but…”

Before answering, Jin-hyuk felt Jin Seon-kyu had become unusually calm.

The morning’s over-pacing, meals, rest, exercise, and rest. It seemed he had returned to his usual self after following his daily routine. That’s not bad. Staying overly excited can lead to mental exhaustion. But now, before the race, we need the half-crazy genius Jin Seon-kyu, not the calm and kind one.

‘What a high-maintenance senior.’

The longer the answer was delayed, the more Jin Seon-kyu’s expression tensed.

Jin-hyuk smiled like Jin’s clown doll.

“My goal is-.”