MTL NOVEL Chapter 35: 35.
The school team players quickly assembled in front of Coach Carter.
—Except for Rust.
Carter pointed at Gu Ran and announced, "From today onwards, this guy, Gu Ran, is officially a member of the Steelhorn Bucks! Everyone, welcome him!"
The players showed nothing but indifference—the applause was sparse and half-hearted at best.
No one openly objected, though.
After all, Gu Ran's impossible curved shot was still fresh in their minds.
Carter's gaze turned cold and sharp as he scanned the team.
"I don't care what grudges you kids have with Gu Ran. I don't care what you think of him. But listen up—a teammate is a brother! Anyone who dares to target him, you're a traitor to this team!"
"My name is Lamar Carter, and if there's one thing I despise the most—it's internal division!"
"I want a team that's as strong as steel! Now tell me—are you scattered sand, or are you steel?"
"Steel!" The players responded immediately, though their voices lacked conviction.
Carter stepped forward, his eyes blazing. "TOO DAMN QUIET! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! SAND OR STEEL?!"
"STEEL! WE ARE STEEL! WE ARE STEEL! WE ARE STEEL!"
The players, faces red and veins bulging, roared in unison.
…So dramatic.
Gu Ran, standing behind Carter, couldn't help but chuckle.
But the more he thought about it, the more he realized—soon, he'd have to shout like that too… and suddenly, it wasn't so funny anymore.
"Good," Carter nodded in satisfaction. "Now get back to training. We'll focus on group coordination drills today. I need to submit the 22-man roster—Bread, you'll introduce Gu Ran to his teammates."
"Yes, sir!" A player nicknamed "Bread" answered immediately.
Carter then grabbed Gu Ran's medical report and hurried off the field.
The moment Carter left, the team relaxed.
Laughter and chatter broke out as they walked off to grab water.
As for Bread?
He merely glanced at Gu Ran before walking away, completely ignoring Carter's instructions to introduce him to the team.
The other players weren't any better.
Not a single one of them approached him.
No one greeted him.
No one acknowledged his presence.
…They were isolating him.
Gu Ran didn't need to think twice—he saw Watergate's smug face from a distance and instantly understood.
This little bastard…
If this had happened before his rebirth, Gu Ran would've been nervous and frustrated, unsure how to handle being excluded.
But now?
After all he had been through, a little social cold-shouldering meant nothing.
In fact, it made perfect sense.
He had past conflicts with some of these guys. He was "parachuted" into the team, breaking tradition. He was the first player in years to be accepted into the official 22-man roster in just half a day. Most importantly—Coach Carter liked him.
And that pissed everyone off.
Carter was notorious for yelling at everyone. No one on the team had ever escaped his wrath.
Except Gu Ran.
Even though he had only been here for half a day, it was obvious to everyone that Carter favored him.
Of course, these guys would be jealous.
It's fine… they'll get used to it.
Gu Ran smirked confidently.
He didn't bother with the petty clique.
Instead, he walked over to Drummer, who was sitting by the sideline cleaning footballs.
"Hey, Drummer."
Drummer looked up with genuine admiration. "Gu! Man, you're incredible! I seriously thought you wouldn't pass the medical exam today. But wow, your skills are insane! Even Professor Maria—the toughest examiner—got impressed by you!"
Don't even bring that up… I almost got "impressed" BY her instead…
Gu Ran almost spaced out, remembering Maria's soft gaze.
Drummer sighed, "I wish I had your social skills…"
First, you need a handsome face like mine…
Gu Ran chuckled and casually sat down, crossing his legs.
"Drummer, thanks for your help earlier."
Drummer adjusted his glasses with a goofy grin. "Don't mention it! Helping the official players is part of my job as an assistant. If you ever need anything, just ask!"
Gu Ran nodded. "Great—tell me about the players on the field. I need to learn their names and positions."
Regardless of personal grudges, he had to understand his teammates.
If he got a chance to play tomorrow, but couldn't even recognize who played where, that would be a disaster.
Drummer put down his work and happily began.
"Alright, let's start with the goalkeeper."
He pointed at a tall, silent player stretching by the goal.
"That guy—192 cm tall, serious-looking, never talks much? That's our starting keeper, Adelibake Canning, aka T-Rex."
T-Rex?
Gu Ran squinted.
Yeah, this guy definitely had a mean look—like someone you wouldn't mess with.
Even Rust, who was already huge at 188 cm, looked small standing next to T-Rex.
Gu Ran memorized his features and then asked, "Why does everyone have nicknames? And who came up with them?"
Drummer pushed up his glasses and grinned mischievously.
"Coach Carter gave them all."
Gu Ran's eyes widened. "Wait—you mean Carter insulted them into these names?"
"Yup. Most of them were random insults he threw during practice. The names just stuck."
"…Damn."
Gu Ran had thought T-Rex was a cool, badass nickname.
But now…
A goalkeeper named T-Rex?
…Wait.
Could it be…
Because his arms are short?!
Gu Ran almost burst out laughing.
Holy crap—Carter was ruthless!
Drummer chuckled. "I see you figured it out. Yeah, Carter has a "special talent" for naming people. Every starter has a nickname."
"Gu, I'm sure you'll get one soon too."
"The moment Coach Carter yells at you, your nickname will be decided."
Drummer smirked. "Word of advice—make sure you play well. You don't want a nickname like "T-Rex the Short-Armed Keeper.""
Gu Ran sighed, half amused, half horrified.
With my high emotional intelligence, there's no way Carter will yell at me… right?
…
Still, having a nickname might be fun.
I wonder… what mine will be?
…
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