Chapter 13

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 13

Chapter Title: First Win

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My first win.

It wasn't from a practice game—this was my debut victory in the high school regular league.

Which meant it was my first official win since joining the varsity team.

"Waaaaah!!"

That overwhelming cheer after the game ended was one reason, but I had another cause for shouting in joy.

I got my rewards.

Even 100 points would've bumped my velocity stat by 1.

How much would it be?

Thankfully, the reward for my first regular league win was pretty generous.

A whopping regular league winning pitcher reward exceeding 500 points.

→ Comeback win winning pitcher bonus

→ Bullpen long reliever appearance bonus

→ Two consecutive three-pitch strikeouts bonus

→ Seven consecutive strikeouts bonus

The system didn't miss a single detail, converting every stat into rewards.

My rock-bottom points had ballooned tenfold as a result.

And that wasn't all.

"Huh?"

Bonus points rolled in.

I glanced up at the stands on instinct, locking eyes with a familiar gaze from afar.

A grin.

Seo Ji-hoon, the Devils scout in the first-base stands, was beaming.

Last time it was just 50 points, but now a full 200.

That smile said it all—I'd earned real recognition this time.

I couldn't help but smile back.

Seo nodded several times with a satisfied look before leaving the stadium.

...At this rate, am I seriously getting first-round draft picks from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Devils?

Plus, those extra 200 points were a nice haul.

"Heh heh heh. That's enough for +8 velocity stats. At this rate, I'll hit 150 km/h and become the national ace, right?"

My expectations for myself were soaring.

And apparently, I wasn't the only one.

Even in the post-game handshake between the managers of both teams, it came through loud and clear.

"You've been hiding a real gem of a pitcher."

Gyeongin High's Coach Kang gripped our Manager Lee Min-han's hand firmly as he spoke first.

"Seomun High's roster is enviable."

Our manager's lip twitched upward for a split second.

A dramatic comeback win, topped with high praise from the opposing coach.

It had to be a manager's dream moment.

"Hahaha. Gyeongin High has stars like Sa Seung-jun, Park Hyun-woo, and Seong Jin-sik too, doesn't it?"

Our Manager Lee Min-han responded humbly.

At that, Gyeongin High's Coach Kang Seong-geun briefly looked away.

For exactly a few seconds—his gaze fixed on me.

All eyes from both managers, the pitching coach, and players from both teams turned to me in that instant.

As those gazes swept over me and back to Coach Kang, he declared firmly.

"Song Hyun-jun is going to make it big."

"...?"

"He's beyond high school level."

The rival coach's voice rang with conviction.

Our manager paused in surprise, and every player's eyes shifted to me.

My classmates' stares were filled with question marks and exclamation points.

I flashed them a grin.

Being the center of attention felt better than expected.

Shin Su-ho gets this every day? Lucky guy.

I wondered what Shin Su-ho's face looked like right then, but I turned at our manager's reply.

"I know."

"Pardon? You knew? But Song Hyun-jun has no second-year record to speak of."

"That's why I'm planning to develop him big from here on out."

With that, our manager squeezed Coach Kang's hand harder.

When our eyes met, he smiled softly and winked.

Ahem, winking in front of the kids, Manager?

That reminded me of what he'd said before my eighth-inning appearance, and my lip curled up involuntarily.

"I'll give you more opportunities from now on, Hyun-jun. That's a promise as your manager."

He'd gripped my left hand with both of his when he said it.

And added one more thing.

"So just hold them off for one inning."

I'd followed through without a hitch.

Seven straight strikeouts against seven batters, flipping the team's sunken morale and the lopsided score for the win—and becoming the winning pitcher.

A wink back.

So his wink was a silent signal that he'd keep his promise.

I had to respond, but as a player, I couldn't wink like the manager.

Instead, I subtly raised my left thumb for his eyes only.

Perfect.

Game over.

A flawless first win of the season.

Treatment had changed.

All from becoming the winning pitcher in just one game.

Following the practice win against Deokyang High, another victory.

I could understand my teammates' shifted attitudes.

But even the players' families were reacting differently.

"Great game, pitcher Song Hyun-jun."

"Congrats on the winning pitcher!"

From the moment the Gyeongin High game ended that day, something felt off—different.

Just days before, I was a no-name pitcher with zero presence at Seomun High.

Naturally, no parents knew my name.

But after that day, things shifted dramatically.

"Hyun-jun, have a drink and recharge."

Cool beverages handed over proactively.

"Pitcher Song Hyun-jun, you were amazing out there."

Faces who wouldn't have even greeted me before now smiled brightly and chatted.

And the clincher.

"Hyun-jun, if it's not too much... please look after my son."

"Pardon? Seung-hwan? He's a better pitcher than me."

No joke.

Yoo Seung-hwan, the team's ace closer, was a second-year prodigy topping out at 149 km/h.

Asking me to look after a genius like that...

"Hahaha, our Song Hyun-jun pitcher is so humble. Please guide our Seung-hwan well—he could become a great pitcher like you, Hyun-jun sunbae."

A request from Seung-hwan's parents.

Interest and greetings from the players' families.

For a moment, I felt like some big shot.

...No. Gotta stay grounded when the spotlight's on.

How desperately these parents wanted their sons to succeed.

I couldn't use their sincerity to stroke my ego.

"Seung-hwan, everything going smooth lately?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sunbae."

"New pitching glove—try it in practice. Feels great."

"Whoa, this is a Rawlings? Must've cost a fortune... you sure I can have it?"

"Yeah, a friend hooked me up. Got extras, so take it no worries."

I started looking after the underclassmen.

I had plenty of gloves.

Days ago, Devils scout Seo Ji-hoon had stopped by school and left enough gear to last me forever.

"Use these, Hyun-jun."

"Whoa, Scout—what's all this?"

Pitching gloves, fielding gloves, catcher's gear, batter's bats.

Seo Ji-hoon arrived with Devils staff, hauling boxes of equipment.

Amazed by the support, I had to ask.

"I'm a pitcher, though?"

I got the pitching gloves.

But when I questioned the other position gear, Seo grinned.

"Share the extras with your teammates."

"Huh?"

"Baseball's a team sport."

"Y-Yeah."

"Reputation matters in team sports."

That nailed it.

Seo was dead serious about me.

Word was, he'd pushed hard for me at the Devils' organization.

Briefly, in the Devils' scouting meeting room.

"We need to invest in him now!"

Seo Ji-hoon's firm voice had the team sweating bullets.

"Song Hyun-jun out of nowhere...?"

"Judging a player off one hot game is risky."

"We respect your eye, Seo, but this is a stretch."

Objections piled up, but Seo held firm.

"Song Hyun-jun will grow into the top lefty pitcher by draft time.

Start cultivating him now. We have to make him a Devils pitcher!"

Seo fought tooth and nail for me.

The result? All this baseball gear in front of me now.

"Isn't this overkill for someone with barely a career?"

"We'll build the career going forward. What matters is talent, not record sheets."

"Hmm... really?"

"Yes. I'm convinced Song Hyun-jun will become the ace lefty leading Korean baseball."

"That's, uh, a heavy statement."

Seo Ji-hoon let out a hearty laugh.

"I believe Hyun-jun has the mental strength to handle that pressure easily."

What about me makes him say all this?

Still, it felt great.

Anyway, the gear from Seo and the Devils.

I put it to good use.

"Deok-gu, your catcher's mitt's beat up. Use this."

"...Huh?"

"Mask and gear look old too? Time for new ones."

"N-No way, sunbae...?"

"Hey, baseball's a team sport. Got it?"

"W-Well, yeah, but..."

I quoted Seo and gifted Deok-gu fresh gear.

Felt good.

"Baseball means nothing if we don't all improve together. Try it on. Looking sharp!"

"Ah...!"

"Now Chae-geun gets the rest. Only guy big enough for it. Heh."

I shared out Seo's gifts like that.

Afterward, my reputation in the team skyrocketed.

"Hyun-jun sunbae is the real deal..."

Deok-gu and others who'd ignored me before.

They were coming around to my side.

If someone badmouthed me behind my back,

"Hey, watch it!"

Deok-gu and the underclassmen jumped in first.

"That's not Hyun-jun sunbae!"

"Where else you gonna find a sunbae like him?"

Nice.

So this is the joy of sharing and giving back.

Having solid allies in the team felt so reassuring.

In that shifting atmosphere, time flew by.

"Blue Dragon Cup schedule is set."

The flower of high school baseball, the Blue Dragon Cup, had its dates locked.

At the manager's announcement, everyone perked up like meerkats.

He locked eyes with three players and nailed it down.

"For this Blue Dragon Cup rotation: Shin Su-ho, Park Jin-woong, and... Song Hyun-jun as starters."

"Whoa...!"

"Everyone, get ready."

All eyes turned to me in that instant.

Starting pitcher.

My spot was secured.

No more no-name or practice fodder.

A solid starter card.

Feeling my status change in weeks brought tears to my eyes.

But just for a moment.

"Blue Dragon Cup's a big deal."

"All the national geniuses gather there."

"Nail it, and scouts will love you."

My teammates' whispers snapped me back.

"Need faster velocity! Stronger power!"

With sweet rewards from my first win tucked away,

Time to fill the cart with velocity and power upgrades again.