Chapter 17

Chapter 17

George and William set their stance, solid as stone. Then they started pushing forward, legs reaching out to steal the ball from me.

I pulled the ball back, dodging their attacks with the only thing I knew how to do. The thing I'd practiced yesterday.

Rolling the ball left. Right. Forward. Back. Then diagonal, spinning around.

"As expected from someone of the Three Great Houses! Their defense is so good it makes Assarun look clumsy, like someone who doesn't know how to play football at all."

Hearing that made me want to cry.

Wait... if both of them came rushing at me like this, that meant Shambo was wide open. Nobody marking him at all.

This is what we needed! All I had to do was pass the ball to Shambo.

Wait! Damn it... I had the plan figured out, but I couldn't get the ball out.

That idiot Shambo was standing offside!

"Hey! Shambo, get back to receive the ball! You're offside, you fool!"

"Oh, Assarun is starting to shout for Shambo to come back for the ball."

"Stop talking and get down here!"

Shambo retreated lower, but I still couldn't pass the ball.

Like he could see right through me, George moved to block my passing lane. His movement was so fast and solid I thought a wall had appeared.

Well, of course. After all that trash talk, it'd be crazy if he couldn't see it coming.

Damn! I couldn't dribble past or pass through. If this kept up, I'd definitely lose the ball.

I could pass it back, I thought. But when I turned around, I met a new face running toward me.

Claris Rose.

"Ho ho ho. Did you think I'd let you pass back easily without having any plan?"

"Assarun is now surrounded by all three members of the Great Houses! Turns out Claris was letting Assarun through so she could use this trap."

We're screwed! No way out.

"It's over!"

William stuck out his leg just as I was panicking, making me lose possession. The ball bounced toward Claris.

"Ho ho ho. Now it's just you, rookie, and that fool."

Claris laughed and dribbled forward fast.

"Oh my! The two beauties on the field, Claris and Asuka, are about to clash! Who will come out on top?"

"Hey Shambo! Instead of commentating, get down here and help!"

I shouted and started running down too.

But it looked like help wouldn't be necessary.

Asuka ran straight at Claris, lifted her right leg, and kicked at the ball with brutal force.

The battle of strength lasted only a split second.

Claris Rose was the one who lost in that instant. But what was more shocking was that she got launched into the air, spinning three somersaults before crashing back down to the ground.

"Oh wow! Asuka defended that attack so powerfully! And she didn't even use NEX, folks. Just a kick was enough to send someone flying. What superhuman strength! No wonder Assarun chose her as his life partner."

Asuka showed a faint smile and passed the recovered ball to me.

"Go for it, Assarun!"

Whoa! As expected of a chapter three sub-boss. Just a light tackle and the opponent got launched like she'd been hit by a bazooka.

With Asuka behind me, covering defense, I didn't need to fear anything.

No way we'd lose now.

But to win, I had to score a goal.

"Let's go!"

I shouted and dribbled forward again.

"Assarun brings the ball up with confidence. George and William come to double-team him again, but this time Assarun looks serious! Even though he still looks clumsy like someone who can't play football, this time he's moving his legs much faster!"

Fighting harder didn't really help. What I could do was still just moving the ball around. Left, right, forward, back. That was it.

Huh? Something felt strange.

I looked down at my feet.

What? Where did the ball go?

"Oh, it looks like Assarun lost the ball... no wait, that's not right! The ball bounced and rolled backward, and Asuka is running to receive it! Assarun didn't lose the ball—he wanted to pass it back so his bride could join the play."

Asuka picked up the ball I'd lost and launched it long forward.

"Go, Shambo!" Asuka shouted.

"Oh! Now I understand this masterful plan! Assarun pretended to lose the ball to make his opponents let their guard down, then passed it to Asuka. Then Asuka opened up the ball to me, with nobody marking me at all."

Shambo... do you need some delusion medicine?

"Player Shambo runs to receive the ball beautifully. Since he started behind the halfway line, he's not offside. Now he's broken clear to face the goalkeeper alone!"

I ran up on instinct, thinking maybe I could help somehow.

"Go Shambo! Shoot!"

"Damn it! Curtis, watch out for Assarun! That monkey can't do anything by himself!"

William's shout came from behind, making goalkeeper Curtis look over at me.

Perfect! Shambo, shoot it in now!

"Seeing Assarun running up, Shambo seems hesitant. He's thinking whether to shoot himself or pass to Assarun."

"Why hesitate? And why are you saying it into the mic for them to hear! The goalkeeper is distracted right now! Just shoot!"

"In the middle of this confusion, player Shambo remembers the time before the match started."

Shambo started recounting that conversation in a voice like he was reminiscing about the past.

"Me playing striker?!"

Then when it got to my part, Shambo started doing a cool voice impression.

"Aha, easy. I'll help as much as I can. Aha. Just score a goal. Aha."

"What the hell is with all the 'ahas'? Is that how I sound in your head? Like I say 'aha' all the time?"

The flashback ended. Shambo returned to his normal voice.

"When player Shambo remembered that his big brother trusted him with the striker role in this crucial match, he decided not to let down the big brother he respects and loves."

"Just shoot already, you...!"

"Player Shambo swings his leg and curls the ball toward the far post... Goalkeeper Curtis dives to save... but he's too late! It's in! The ball goes in! Player Shambo did it! He scored! I did it! Since whoever scores first wins this match, that means: one-nil. With Assarun's brilliant tactics, Asuka's perfect long ball, and player Shambo's goal, Team A wins!"

Shambo... he did it! He actually scored!

I exploded with emotion and ran toward the man who brought us victory.

"Oh! Assarun is running toward me now. Any spectators with cameras, please take a picture of this moment. I want to keep this image of our great victory celebration forever."

"Shambo!" I called out.

"Big brother!" Shambo responded.

I jumped up, raised my legs, and kicked him right in the chest.

"Ugh... big brother, what are you doing..."

"What the hell were you doing, having a damn flashback in the middle of the game?!"

Oy... nearly gave me a heart attack...

But I was just complaining. Truth was, I wasn't angry at all right now.

Because I—because we—

"We won!"

While I was shouting, the system's voice rang in my head. But I was too excited to pay much attention.

[Experience increased to 50/100] [Received 500 Dailiez from victory] [Received 4 Skill Points]