Chapter 14

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: The Velocity Wall

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As my velocity climbed, opportunities came knocking right behind it.

With my power growing stronger, balls that used to soar over the fence now dropped feebly right in front of it.

Velocity and power.

Over the past few weeks, I'd felt the sheer force these two stats unleashed through every fiber of my being. Before I knew it, I'd claimed the spot as Seomun High's third starter.

But then.

"No way!"

I slammed into a sudden wall.

A warning that I couldn't boost my velocity any further.

It hit right before the Blue Dragon Cup, just when I'd been recognized as a key pitcher for the team.

Like a bolt from the blue.

On top of that, even the points I'd spent on velocity potions came back to me.

Ah... well, at least that was a silver lining. I hadn't wasted those precious points into thin air.

Thanks to that, I had a hefty 1,950P back in my pocket.

But it didn't soothe the ache in my chest. In the end, my feet carried me to Grandma's Soup House.

"Ugh, one mixed sundae soup here!"

If velocity had hit a wall, maybe power growth was blocked too? I had to check.

Thank goodness power wasn't blocked too.

The issue was only with velocity growth.

"...Isn't that the bigger problem?"

Thanks to the velocity potion effects, I'd hit 145 km/h—the benchmark for elite high school pitchers.

Now I was recognized as one of the top 1-2% genius pitchers in high school baseball.

But that was it. The end.

On the Blue Dragon Cup stage, where elite geniuses from across the country ran wild, it was obvious I'd embarrass myself.

"Ugh, if I don't want to get shelled in the Blue Dragon Cup, I should at least pump up my power for now."

I ordered another bowl of sundae soup.

With velocity growth stalled, power was all I had to lean on for the time being.

"Burp."

I stuffed myself with sundae soup and boosted my power once more.

A few days ago, I'd been paranoid about growing too fast and catching the manager's and coach's eyes, but not anymore.

I'd burned 200 points, but with the refunds, I still had a solid 1,750 left.

"Feels like power's gonna hit a wall soon too... What do I do?"

The thought made my throat tighten around the sundae soup broth.

Cautiously, I pulled an Orange Na from my bag and set it on the table.

No new messages popped up.

It used to clearly say "Velocity Enhancement Potion," but now that text was gone.

"Does the 'E' mean rank? So my velocity was E-rank, next is D, then C, B, A?"

The realization actually lifted my spirits.

"If 145 km/h is E-rank... how fast is A-rank velocity? Over 170? That's alien territory, right?"

My lips curled up with hope.

A lefty on the mound firing near-170 km/h fastballs straight into the catcher's mitt. That'd be something special.

"I'll be the second Aroldis Chapman. Wait, Chapman's a reliever. I could grow into a starter and become the one and only Song Hyun-jun, number one."

Hope and excitement swelled inside me.

But it took only seconds for that hope to shatter.

"What if that's not the case?"

Growth ends here.

Not even Park Jin-woong rivalry was guaranteed, let alone Aroldis Chapman.

"...What now?"

Staring at my empty sundae soup bowl, worries flooded in.

Then.

"Huh? Hyun-jun sunbae?"

"Yeah?"

I looked up at the familiar voice.

Familiar faces greeted me.

"Hyun-jun sunbae! Good to see you! You're here."

They rushed over with cheerful greetings.

Lee Deok-gu and Yoo Seung-hwan—juniors from the baseball team.

"What brings you guys here?"

"Sundae soup. We come here a lot, sunbae."

"Yeah?"

"If we'd known you came here, we'd visit more often."

"Why's that?"

"To soak up some of your energy. Heh heh heh."

"You rascals. Sit down."

"Yes, sir!"

We naturally ended up sharing the table.

Not just Deok-gu—they all showed strong fondness and respect toward me.

But right ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now, that respect felt like a burden.

Listening to the juniors' words while eating the sundae soup I'd ordered without my velocity potion anymore—every one weighed heavy.

"I'm convinced you'll be the Blue Dragon Cup's second starter, Hyun-jun sunbae."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Yeah. A lefty hitting 145 km/h is so rare, you might even get more action than Su-ho sunbae."

Me...?

More than Shin Su-ho?

Before I could ask, another junior chimed in.

"Right! If Su-ho sunbae's a natural genius, you're the hardworking genius type. Plus, a lefty."

"If you pitch like you did against Gyeongin High, we could totally win the Blue Dragon Cup this time, right? Haha!"

"If your velocity ticks up just a bit more, you could overtake Su-ho sunbae for ace, no? Hahaha!"

The juniors' praise made my fully digested sundae soup threaten to come back up.

"Ugh."

"What's wrong, sunbae?"

"Nothing. Just eat. I'll cover the bill, so dig in."

"Whoa, thanks!"

"You don't have to, sunbae."

"No, no. Sit and eat. I'm heading out."

I had more than enough for the juniors' sundae soup tabs.

Ever since the Gyeongin High win.

The Creator had massively upped my allowance.

"To think you're my son, Hyun-jun! Hahaha! Whatever you need, just tell your old man. My firstborn!"

Dad was thrilled, boasting about having a star in the family.

Then he glanced at me slyly.

"But..."

"Yeah?"

"Any other contact from the Devils...?"

As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠expected from a diehard Devils fan, the Creator wanted me to join them.

"Seo Ji-hoon scout actually reached out."

"What?!"

"Said to prep well for the Blue Dragon Cup."

"Oh!"

"Sent a list of key rival teams too."

"Ooh!"

"Tons of those guys have hitters who feast on fastballs. Might be tough for me there..."

I'd just voiced my worries offhand.

"Nonsense! Don't get down, son! Here!"

"Huh?"

"Take it!"

Dad shoved a wad of cash into my hands—the biggest allowance I'd ever seen—to keep his firstborn's spirits up.

"Eat up, tasty stuff."

Thanks to that, I paid for the juniors and left Grandma's Soup House.

"Sigh..."

Letting out a long sigh at the entrance, I heard Deok-gu's voice from behind.

"Sunbae, got something weighing on you?"

"Deok-gu, not eating?"

"Not hungry. And... sunbae, you look like you have shadows under your eyes."

"What? The others noticed too?"

"They're too busy with their soup."

I nodded at Deok-gu's reply.

This quiet kid.

Spotting my worries, skipping his meal to follow me out.

Yeah, Deok-gu's someone I can trust.

"Wondering if there's any way to boost velocity more."

"Huh? Your velocity's plenty fast already."

"145 km/h's not enough. Su-ho hits 158. Blue Dragon Cup's full of monsters who smash pitches like that for homers."

"Blue Dragon Cup's... no joke, huh."

"Oh, right, Deok-gu. You don't have experience there either."

"No."

I'd said too much to a junior who rarely got travel chances.

"Go eat, Deok-gu."

"I'm good. But sunbae."

"Yeah?"

"Blue Dragon Cup worries?"

"Pretty much."

"Won't you spot improvements or fixes while pitching?"

"What?"

"I train instead of brooding. Answers come eventually."

For a moment, I saw Deok-gu in a new light.

"Right. Back to the training field, like you said."

"I'll come too."

"You? What about food?"

"No appetite. Want to catch for you and sweat it out."

Was Deok-gu this loyal?

More stand-up than I thought.

"Alright, let's go."

With that, Deok-gu and I headed to the school training field.

Thwack!!

The sound echoed through the indoor facility.

Immediately, the pitching tracker displayed data on my ball.

Two bowls of sundae soup had nudged my power up a bit.

Feeling lighter, I wound up for the next pitch.

"Ball feels light."

While checking velocity and power, another voice cut in.

"How'd Gyeongin High's hitters get shut down by power like this?"

Leaning against the training field wall, tossing shade.

The team captain and starting catcher, Shim Chae-geun.

"What's with the attitude? Shim Chae-geun, why're you still here instead of home?"

He just snorted in response.

"Eh, just watching. Heard Gyeongin kids were cut masters, but all hype? Can't even touch a ball like this."

"If you're gonna talk crap, go home."

"Sorry, sorry. I'll just watch."

His words were twisted, but he was the team's best hitter and the one who caught my pitches.

Painful, but his take could help.

"Chae-geun."

"Yeah."

"How's my power... compared to Park Jin-woong?"

"Park's way better."

Shouldn't have asked.

But since I started, let's hear more from the captain.

"...Compared to Su-ho, then?"

"What? Su-ho? This light stuff comparable to his cannon fastball?"

"Haha..."

"No need to drag in Su-ho or Park. Yours gets sorted at Jeong Hyun-se level."

Jeong Hyun-se. Our second-year underhand pitcher.

Averaged 1,700-1,900 rpm on his four-seam.

Me... at Hyun-se's level?

I knew it deep down, but Chae-geun's words scraped without mercy.

"This light stuff'll be dangerous in the Blue Dragon Cup."

"..."

"Monsters there'll drool and say 'thanks' while smashing it."

"...Come up."

"Huh?"

Chae-geun furrowed his brow ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at my words.

Didn't matter. I wasn't alone.

Junior Deok-gu was watching.

Couldn't back down in front of a fan who respected me, especially as a projected Blue Dragon Cup starter.

"Chae-geun."

"Shoot."

"Know why Gyeongin High struck out against me?"

"Beats me."

I nodded. Perfect.

Frustrated from the velocity refund mess—time to blow off steam with some live pitching.

"Needed live at-bats anyway. Fill the box, Captain."

"What?"

"Get in the batter's box."

"Haha, why me?"

Still arms crossed, just spectating. I grinned.

"Three strikeouts? Piece of cake. I can do it to you too."

"What?"

"I'll show you. Get up. Three strikes on the line—loser buys pizza for the whole team. Deal?"

"..."

"Chicken out if you can't handle it."

My sly smile wiped the grin off Shim Chae-geun's face in an instant.