"I'm so busy with part-time jobs that I don't have time to learn swimming…"
In truth, I'm extremely free!
So free I might get evicted for not paying rent.
"What's the purpose of your part-time jobs?"
"Living expenses."
"Then how about this? I'll provide room and board. It's the university dormitory and cafeteria, but still. What do you think?"
"Hm…"
'Jackpot!'
I pretended to hesitate while inwardly shouting in triumph.
No salary was a bummer, but I couldn't expect that too. I can't demand payment while learning to swim.
However,
'The duration's a bit tricky.'
My aptitude isn't "swimmer." I got lucky this time, but if my skills don't improve after a year, I'll likely get kicked out.
Still, I bought time.
One year.
I feel bad for the coach who hired me, but I plan to find a decent job within that time.
'I bet the coach is thinking something similar.'
Otherwise, he wouldn't have set a one-year limit.
He'll observe my abilities for a year before carefully deciding whether to extend the contract.
"Moon-soo Bro."
"Wait."
"Okay."
Just in case Kang-hoon says something weird, I hushed him, though it's unlikely.
'No room for variables.'
This is a critical moment tied to my livelihood, so mistakes aren't allowed.
"Coach."
"Have you decided?"
"…Yes. I'll do it. But I have a condition."
"What's that?"
"This wasn't an easy decision for you, and it's the same for me. I'd need to quit my part-time jobs and move out of my rental."
"Oh…"
"I'd like a contract guaranteeing that one year you mentioned, no matter what."
"Don't worry about that. I was planning to write one up if you agreed."
"Thank you."
"We can't sign it here, so shall we move to an office?"
"Yes."
With mutual understanding, we left the pool for the office.
***
"Hm…"
I carefully reviewed the contract.
It was a standard, verified form with an added clause: "Room and board guaranteed for one year."
"All good?"
"…Coach, what does this mean?"
- Point.
I indicated a part I didn't understand.
"Double contract. It means you can't compete in unapproved matches or join another team."
"Oh!"
"Any other questions?"
"Yes, this one."
"It means I have priority for re-signing when the contract expires. It's to prevent the bad practice of poaching athletes."
"Oh!"
If I had any doubts, I boldly asked, not pretending to know.
'No way.'
My father ruined himself by pretending to be an expert in a field that wasn't his aptitude.
The price of arrogance.
That's why I meticulously reviewed the contract and asked questions. Ignorance won't be an excuse later.
"Ask anything."
"…I think that's all."
"Then shall we proceed with the contract?"
"Yes."
Scribble-
Satisfied, I signed the contract.
Scribble-
The coach signed next.
"Here's to one year at the shortest, five years at the longest, Mr. Kang Moon-soo."
Five years at the longest.
A very meaningful phrase.
'Song Sun-young said it.'
Young prodigies rise every year, so an athlete's prime is short.
An inevitable fate.
"I look forward to working with you too. And please speak casually, Coach."
"Haha! If we're still together after a year, I will."
"Alright."
If my skills don't cut it, he'll end the contract decisively, without being swayed by sentiment.
That's easier for me too.
"The dormitory is that blue building outside the window. The cafeteria isn't visible from here, but…"
"I'll find it."
I can handle that much on my own.
"Your dorm room is 323. It's a double, so someone might move in when the semester starts."
"…Okay."
I wasn't thrilled about sharing a space, but I wasn't in a position to be picky.
Rumble.
The coach opened a desk drawer and handed me a card.
"It's a meal voucher. You can use it once for lunch and once for dinner, but only at the designated cafeteria. And you can only choose from the daily menu posted at the entrance."
"Understood."
'Wow, there are choices!'
I was pleased it wasn't a fixed menu like high school lunches.
And it's free!
I love it.
"Oh, and since you're not a student, you can't use facilities like the library or computer lab."
"That's fine."
When I'm not training, I'll rest in the dorm or look for jobs.
"You can use the shuttle bus, but they might check for a student ID, so don't rely on it."
"Okay."
No complaints, since I'm not paying tuition.
The places I can use: the dorm, the pool, and the cafeteria.
Got it.
"I've got things to prepare, so I'd like you to move your stuff today and tomorrow, and start training the day after. How's that?"
"I can do that."
I'm extremely free!
I could start tomorrow if needed.
"Then come to this office at 8 a.m. on Wednesday."
"Yes."
We wrapped up the contract in a smooth atmosphere.
On the way back,
Choi Kang-hoon, who'd quietly followed at my request, finally spoke.
"Moon-soo Bro, can I talk now?"
"Yeah, go ahead."
"You should've told me you were aiming to be a swimmer."
He sounded really hurt.
"Sorry."
I had to keep it spontaneous, like a coincidence, not a scripted plan. There's a saying: to keep a secret, even deceive your allies, right?
"I'm just disappointed."
"About what?"
"If you'd told me, I could've introduced you to the national team coach who trained me…"
"What?"
What's he talking about?
"My dad sponsors him. If I asked, he'd probably agree. Your skills aren't lacking either."
"…"
"Since he trains the national team, he's treated better than other coaches. His athletes get special treatment too. I bet the conditions would be better than what you got."
"…"
My head was spinning.
"Anyway, it worked out! This place is close to my school! I can visit after classes. Hehe."
"Yeah, it really worked out. Ha, ha, ha…"
I wanted to go back in time.
***
The coach stared at the contract Kang Moon-soo had signed, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
'Thank goodness.'
Coaches compete just as fiercely as athletes.
To recruit top talent?
You need to secure information on aptitude-tested candidates faster than other coaches! If possible, monopolize it.
"This might be a chance…"
There was a candidate coveted by famous swim coaches he couldn't even dream of competing with.
Song Sun-young.
A prodigy said to have inherited her national-team mother's blood—perhaps even surpassing her potential.
But that girl firmly refused to swim.
No matter how much they persuaded, what could they do if she didn't want to? Even her parents respected her choice!
So, they had to give up.
'And this might be my last chance.'
You can't go to war without weapons.
Likewise, a coach without athletes to train isn't a coach.
But there were no athletes around, even as he played lifeguard and scouted.
The decent candidates, though not as good as Song Sun-young, were all taken by famous coaches!
"Damn pigs."
There are countless rookies with "swimmer" aptitudes from P's test nationwide.
But to become a national team member, you need to be among the top five. Without genius-level talent to outshine others and the grit to endure intense training, it's impossible.
No matter how well you coach, if the athlete's ability doesn't match, forget Olympic medals—you won't even make the national team.
Swish-
He pulled the stopwatch from his pocket.
「01:54:28」
"1 minute 54 seconds."
He hadn't misread it.
Though he approached with expectations, he was shocked again after checking the race result and kept the time without resetting.
Only 20 seconds off the 200m freestyle world record.
'20 seconds isn't small, but with that scrawny body?'
Unbelievable.
Truly!
"How does a shaman post such a time… To catch water ghosts, you need to swim well?"
Swish-
Tucking away the contract, he grinned widely.
'As long as you swim well…'
Aptitude didn't matter.
***
"Goodbye, miserable one-room shack!"
I couldn't afford movers or a truck, but I didn't have much to pack, so it was fine.
Plus,
"Wow! Bro! Moon-soo Bro!"
I had an idle younger friend whining to help with the move.
Advice like "time is money" wouldn't work on this rich kid.
"Just carry this."
"I was so curious where you moved to since you never told me!"
"Well…"
I didn't want to show Kang-hoon or my friends this place—a literal storage room.
My poverty and misfortune.
Thanks to always dressing neatly at school, I'd kept it hidden so far.
"I was shocked."
"Were you."
He must've been stunned by how tough my life was.
"No wonder you're a shaman! It's like a ghost might pop out!"
"…"
"You're amazing, Bro! So manly! I'd be too scared to live here even a day…!"
"…Let's go."
"Yeah!"
Was it dust in my eyes while packing?
My eyes suddenly reddened.
To avoid being seen, I turned my back and called out.
"Kang-hoon."
"Yeah!"
"If you're ever in trouble, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll help with anything except money problems."
"Wow! Really?"
"A man doesn't go back on his word."
"Man! Yeah!"
We packed up and headed to the sports university dorm.
Clunk, clunk.
Thanks to a small cart borrowed from a merchant I'd gotten to know while living in this rundown commercial building, it wasn't too hard.
We struggled a bit in the dorm's narrow hallways and elevator where the cart couldn't go,
"Ugh…!"
"Kang-hoon, don't overdo it. Just carry that."
"Okay."
Thanks to Kang-hoon's help, we moved everything quickly.
'Thank you.'
I meant it. My promise to help with anything except money was sincere too.
"Bro, there are two beds."
"It's a double room, so it's meant for two. Pretty spacious."
It's a shame I'll have to share private space with a stranger, but the room had its own bathroom.
Compared to the shared bathroom in the commercial building, this was practically a hotel.
I liked it.
"Ugh… my shoulders are stiff."
Plop~
Kang-hoon sat on the empty bed, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Wait. There's a vending machine at the entrance on the first floor. Want something? Cola, soda, iced coffee…"
"Bro, I need to tell you something first."
He hesitated, gauging my reaction.
"Speak freely."
"You said you'd help with anything."
"I did. Except money."
I doubt a rich kid would ask for a loan.
"Can I ask now?"
"Of course."
"You remember my big brother? We didn't hang out much, but…"
"I do."
There's only one person Kang-hoon calls "big brother."
His half-brother, Choi Kang-min.
But as the formal title suggests, they weren't close.
"What about Kang-min?"
"Dad said he called shamans to cure him."
"Right."
"But they were all fakes."
"Exactly!"
Because of people posing as shamans without the aptitude, I've been indirectly harmed!
"But you're the real deal."
"Well—huh?"
"Your aptitude is shaman, right? It was written on your test results. I saw it."
"Yeah… that's true."
"Cure my brother."
"But I don't even know how to read fortunes, let alone deal with ghosts—"
"You promised!"
"…Alright."
He'll be disappointed, but I'll just think of it as a hospital visit.