“Coach.”

While I was lost in my thoughts, Jeong Ga-in, who was sitting on the bench, spoke to me in a hint. As usual, he was calm and expressionless.

“why?”

“it’s okay.”

“… what.”

“It won’t be a big deal. It might get better sooner than you think… Dayeon unnie can go instead of me.”

When coach Kim asked again, she said so in a calm tone as usual. It’s as if he’s trying to comfort himself… It was that kind of voice.

‘It’s not okay at all.’

Song Da-yeon is one of the players who were candidates for the national archery team. The players in the national team right now are just better, but if only the jockey was a little different, they would have enough skills to be named in the national team.

Perhaps, if Ga-in Jeong withdraws due to injury and physical condition, Da-yeon Song will take her place.

However, Ga-in Jeong is a player who showed the most outstanding skills among other players, who is practically no different from the chief. If you ask me if it is possible to replace it calmly, as a coach, I could answer ‘no’.

And regardless of whether it is possible or not… … .

Coach Kim knows how much effort Jeong Ga-in has put in to become a national representative.

It didn’t take long for him to coach her since she was selected for the national team, but even before that, rumors had been circulating in the industry, and in that short period of time, it was enough to know what kind of person she was.

He usually doesn’t show much emotion and always seems calm at first glance, but inside, he’s more competitive than anyone else and overflows with passion… A child with a lot of care and concern.

These words, which I have brought out now, must have been made with the coach and staff in mind. Even though it’s a tougher situation than anyone else on the inside.

“… Of course, when the time comes, I will.”

Coach Kim is the coach of the national Olympic archery team. What he is doing is the role of guiding the players so that they can do their best… Ultimately, it’s his job to help them win medals.

If Jeong Ga-in’s condition continues and does not show any improvement, it would be natural to replace her with a substitute.

It will help the team improve their performance and help them win medals. It was also a fairer choice in the first place.

“But I don’t think there is a need to think about it now.”

However… Coach Kim wanted Jeong Ga-in to compete in the Olympics if possible.

As a person who has watched her from the side, there is such a personal feeling that I want her efforts to be rewarded, but more than that, I am very sorry for her skills and skills.

“Gain, just focus on recovering and regaining your skills. I will help as much as I can.”

“… All right.”

At the coach’s words, Jeong Ga-in nodded slowly and started kneading her legs again.

The corners of his mouth, which had been hardened, loosened slightly, as if he had been anxious inside even after he had said it.

‘… But nothing will work out like this.’

However, anyone can say such hopeful words. And there is nothing in this world that can change only with words. In order for Ga-in Jeong and Coach Kim’s wish to come true, measures were needed to change the current situation.

However, I don’t really see any special measures. As I said earlier, I didn’t come up with any other method besides natural treatment that just takes time.

“I am Coach Kim.”

In the meantime.

Someone poked his head into the practice range and started talking. When I looked at someone, it was an employee working in the management team.

“what happened?”

“That, Team Leader Woo Dae-seok is looking for him.”

“Oh yeah.”

Woo Dae-seok, team leader. As a member of the Olympic national team, he has a good reputation among the players and staff.

Originally, the central management side and the working side do not agree in many ways and get along badly, but Team Leader Woo understands the situation well, perhaps because he was a former athlete.

“You don’t have to worry about it like this… … .”

In particular, while the players were suffering from the aftereffects of an accident not too long ago, they were constantly visiting the athletes’ village to report difficulties or unusual matters and try to take their own measures.

Perhaps this time it will be for a similar purpose.

Of course, I didn’t see any particular effect, and it won’t be another sharp number now… Still, I was very grateful just to hear from the players’ point of view.

“What did you come here for today?”

“I do not know. First of all, you seemed to be in a very good mood.”

“… Yes? Any good news?”

Recently, there were many people who were depressed because of the atmosphere in the athletes’ village, but this is unexpected. Coach Kim took a step forward with some expectations.

* * *

“Are you going to Seoul again tomorrow?”

“okay.”

When Jeong Ga-in asked in a questionable voice, Coach Kim nodded and replied. It was a firm response as if it had already been confirmed.

“Chief Wu brought a good story.”

He had just left the practice range and had just returned from talking with team leader Woo Dae-seok.

At least his expression wasn’t dark, so I wondered if there was some good news… I have to go to Seoul again after all. Jeong Ga-in paused for a while before opening her mouth.

“To be honest, I am a little reluctant. After all, I went yesterday and came back today.”

She checked the condition of her bow and replied in a sullen voice. As a result of going to and from the hospital several times to fix the condition of her leg, she got only one answer.

This uncomfortable symptom that he is appealing, that there is no way to solve it right now. Even it is ambiguous to specify what kind of symptoms it is, so isn’t it just lumped together as ‘traffic accident aftereffects’?

I don’t know what kind of disease it is, but it’s natural that I don’t know how to cure it. The only thing left is to vaguely wait for the body and time to solve it.

And to do this, it’s best to just focus on rest so your body can focus on recovery. Training should be done in parallel only to the extent that the sense is not lost.

“Now, I don’t think anything will change even if I go to a few more hospitals.”

In that sense, going up to Seoul again… It was something she didn’t like very much. It is seen as a useless waste of time and energy.

“But this time I’m not going to the hospital.”

“… okay?”

His voice was still cold, but his hand holding the bow stopped as if he was interested. Jeong Ga-in looked at Coach Kim and asked.

“Then what are you going to do?”

“A massage parlor.”

“… A massage therapist?”

Coach Kim nodded and continued the story.

“You know Aram Choi, right?”

“… I know.”

Gold medalist in women’s weightlifting at the last Olympics. There are few people in the Korean sports world who don’t know her.

Winning a gold medal at the Olympics is great enough, but there was a story that made more headlines than that… … . A player who had won a silver medal in the game was subsequently drug tested and the medal was stripped.

In other words, he won the gold medal by winning even the player who had been doped with drugs. The fact was revealed belatedly and became a hot topic nationwide.

“How can you not know?”

Even though he is an archer and his field is different, he was a player he respected very much from a sports standpoint.

“But what about Aram Choi?”

“Have you ever heard of the player suffering from paraplegia and recently successfully rehabilitated?”

“I heard the previous story… … .”

The story of Choi Ah-ram’s lower body paralysis has been talked about for a long time among the players.

It’s unfortunate, but having my career ruined by a sudden illness didn’t feel like someone else’s business as an athlete in the same sport.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard of a successful rehabilitation.”

If so, I’m really glad. Since he was a player he still respects, Jeong Ga-in sincerely thought that way.

“Originally, the Paralympics was a difficult situation because I lost even my senses, but now, even if it’s impossible to run, I heard that walking is possible without difficulty.”

“… But is that possible?”

A fortunate story and an unbelievable story are two different things. When Jung Ga-in asked with a puzzled expression, Coach Kim shrugged lightly.

“I don’t know. But Team Leader Woo said he had met him in person a while ago and saw it clearly. According to Aram Choi, it seems that someone helped her a lot.”

Jeong Ga-in, who was listening to him, opened his mouth.

“… For some reason, he must be a masseuse.”

“right. how did you know?”

“In context, yes.”

At her reaction, Coach Kim burst out laughing.

“Anyway, it seems that Choi A-ram personally told him our story for our Olympic juniors. He was willing to help.”

“… okay.”

“First of all, you, who have the most severe symptoms, will receive it first, and then the other players will visit in turn… What do you want to do? It’s okay to refuse if you’re a little reluctant.”

Jeong Ga-in was lost in thought for a moment. The story made a lot of sense. However, this is not to say that the initial thought has changed.

I don’t know if you haven’t received a massage yet, but this wasn’t really a new attempt.

Jincheon Athletes Village is a place where most of the facilities for sports players are prepared so that national athletes can focus only on training.

Of course, there are places where you can get a massage, and there are also facilities for physical therapy. And the masseuses and physical therapists there are highly skilled personnel who have been carefully selected and selected.

And since the aftereffects appeared, Jeong Ga-in has been constantly attending not only hospitals but also massage parlors. The result is the current state.

It’s hard to say that it didn’t have any effect. If I hadn’t received a massage, I might have suffered more by now. On the other hand, I was just guessing that it would have been helpful to some degree.

‘still… It’s something different, so he’s recommending it.’

However, Aram Choi must have guessed all of these things. Even if he hadn’t guessed, Team Leader Woo, who knew the situation well, would have told us.

Even so, the story came out like this… Maybe there is something special Even if it didn’t come to expectations, it was a story that was enough to arouse curiosity.

“… As I said before, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to go.”

“no. You’ve taken care of me, so there’s no need to refuse. It wouldn’t be polite.”

When coach Kim, who was looking at her reaction, made a hint, Jeong Ga-in, who finally organized her thoughts, raised her head and said,

“Let’s go one more time, to Seoul.”

* * *

“What do you think.”

Cheonma Massage’s office.

There, Kang Tae-han was sitting across the table from Seong-hyeon Choi, watching him.

“Can you feel something?”

“… no.”

Seonghyeon Choi, cross-legged with her eyes closed, had been repeating her slow and long breathing from before.

“I’m just breathing normally.”

However, there was a slight hint of annoyance in his voice. However, the annoyance was not directed at Kang Tae-han, but rather stemmed from frustration toward himself. Sensing the annoyance, Kang Tae-han let out a small smile.

“Stop opening your eyes and sit comfortably.”

“… Whoa.”

At Kang Tae-han’s words, Choi Seong-hyeon relaxed and leaned his back on the sofa. I just crossed my legs and took a few deep breaths, but for some reason I felt like my energy was draining out of my body.

“Oh, I lost my stamina after taking a break from exercising for a few days. I was just breathing, so why is it so hard?”

“It’s just hard.”

Kang Tae-han answered while holding out a cup of kudzu tea.

There is no reason why ordinary people have a hard time just focusing on their breathing. However, what Sunghyun Choi is doing now is a little different.

It was because I was in the process of unfolding the basic stage of deep gong, not just breathing, but trying to expand my senses and recognize the qi in the air.

“Anyway, since it’s just starting, it’s only natural that it’s awkward.”

On top of that, the amount of ki around them is far less than enough.

Compared to modern times, even in Moorim, which is full of energy, it takes time to learn Deep Gong for the first time, which is needless to say here.

‘… Should I straighten it up a bit?’

Anyway, since I have to learn how to feel in this environment, I left it alone for now, but it seems like it will take a long time.

Kang Tae-han, who came to a conclusion, opened his hands and began to spread his energy around him. It wasn’t a huge amount, but this alone would have multiplied the amount of energy in the room.

“… Well?”

Immediately after that, Sunghyun Choi’s reaction appeared. A sensation he hadn’t felt before suddenly stirred him up.

“… Hey, it looks like something will suddenly happen?”

“okay?”

“Wait a minute.”

As if he had no time to talk, he crossed his legs again and quietly closed his eyes. It seemed that the sense of humor had reacted to the release of air into the atmosphere.

‘Certainly he has talent.’

A small smile formed on Kang Tae-han’s lips as he watched. I had a hunch that the plan was going smoothly… It just makes me feel happy.

“I am, Director.”

“Shhh.”

At that time, Kang Tae-han raised a finger to his mouth and told the employee to be quiet as he opened the office door and entered. In a situation where the senses were just expanding, even a small sound could be a big hindrance.

Kang Tae-han ordered the staff to be quiet, got up slowly, went outside, and quietly closed the door.

“Oh, sorry. I should have knocked first.”

“it’s okay.”

However, it is not something to blame the staff for. Kang Tae-han smiled and shook his head.

“So, what happened?”

“It’s nothing else, the guest you said came.”

“Ah, it’s time for that.”

Kang Tae-han turned his head to check the time and nodded.

It was no different, it was the time when one of the national archery players whom Aram Choi had talked about last time decided to visit.