Chapter 19

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: Rising Fame

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What the heck?

The team vibe had totally shifted.

"Oh, Hyun-jun senior! Good morning... Kekeke, what's your deal! I'm greeting senior here."

"Get out here, you punk. Hyun-jun senior, good morning, sir!"

"Have you eaten yet?"

The baseball team juniors were swarming me with greetings, one-upping each other.

In just a few days, they'd become way more deferential toward me.

Even after I switched up my pitching form and survived the cutthroat roster battle, the treatment had improved a bit.

But this? This was on another level entirely.

"Senior, you were awesome in yesterday's game!"

"Yesterday's game? Come on, that was all Shin Su-ho and Shim Chae-geun. I just threw one inning—what's the big deal?"

I wasn't just saying that. I hadn't done much in yesterday's game.

I'd messed with Park Jin-woong a bit from the bullpen, and then in the basically-won-by-cold-game seventh after Su-ho came out, I'd shut it down for one inning. That was it.

The post-game reward seemed to back that up, too.

"Ooh..."

"Huh? 50 points...? Damn, the reward's stingy as hell."

I thought I'd misread it at first.

In Game 1, I'd gotten 1,750 points plus a scout bonus, but this Game 2? A measly 50.

And this was an official Blue Dragon Cup game—even less than the practice game against Deokyang High where I'd pitched.

"Back then I threw 2.1 innings and helped with the comeback win, so higher score? This time it was already in the bag, so low score? Hmm... Even bullpen appearances vary a ton based on the game situation, huh."

So it wasn't all honey.

"Means games like this won't even buy a bowl of soup."

50 points couldn't even cover a bowl of Grandma's Soup House that boosted power by +1.

E-grade potions cost 100 points each.

"No matter how I slice it, I gotta start."

The game only made my thirst for a starting spot worse.

As I pondered how to impress the manager enough for a start, the juniors' attitudes shifted big time.

"Even without yesterday's game, your Game 1 pitching was insane, senior. We won easy thanks to you."

"Eh, whatever. Thanks for the kind words."

"Hyun-jun senior, have some of this. Figured it's your usual since you drink it a lot, so I got some ready."

"Orange Na?"

"Yeah, and Sol's Eye too."

The juniors had bought drinks for me, they said.

Orange Na, Sol's Eye.

They must've thought I chugged these because I liked them, since I'd been living off them to boost velocity.

Truth be told... I'd grown pretty fond of them now.

Even without the velocity boost, I bought them sometimes.

"Ooh, thanks. I'll enjoy 'em."

"Sure thing!"

I accepted their goodwill with a smile for now.

While at it, I scanned their faces.

Pitcher Yoo Seung-hwan, pitcher Jeong Hyun-se, pitcher Im Seong-rak.

All second-years.

A few first- and second-year fielders mixed in too.

Why the sudden change ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with these guys?

I was wondering when Deok-gu showed up and spilled the beans.

"After you headed home yesterday, senior, the Devils organization stopped by."

"Again?"

I nodded at Deok-gu's words.

After yesterday's game, I'd already met scout Seo Ji-hoon and the Devils' chief scout.

Cha Seong-won, was it?

Chief Cha had come to the Blue Dragon Cup Game 2 to check me out and even paid respects to my creator—er, my dad.

"Devils chief scout...? Whoa, what brings such an esteemed guest?"

Dad could barely contain his excitement after getting a business card.

Our old man had been a diehard Devils fan since I was a kid.

For him, a visit from the Devils' chief scout was one of the most thrilling moments of his life.

"Hyun-jun's dad, Hyun-jun's a fine pitcher."

"Oh, no, he's still got a long way to go."

The chief filled up our creator good with some light lip service.

"At the high school level, complete pitchers like Hyun-jun—lefties especially—are rare enough to count on one hand. You should be plenty proud, sir."

"Ahh..."

"With that in mind, the Devils plan to nominate Hyun-jun high in this year's rookie draft."

"Ahh!"

"This was just a courtesy visit, but next time, I'd love to discuss Hyun-jun's future in more detail."

Pure ecstasy.

Dad, the true-blue Devils fan, shed hot tears right then.

And that day, Dad...

"Hahaha! Hyun-jun, my boy! My eldest son, need some pocket money? Here, Dad's got you."

"Again? Oh, thanks. But you just gave me some the other day."

"Hahaha! Take it. Dad's in a good mood."

Why turn down free cash?

If the creator was happy and handing out allowance, it was my filial duty to accept with joy...

Though, it was quite the stack.

"Ooh... this much?"

"Take it, take it. Hahaha!"

Dad laughed for a good while like that.

Then suddenly, he gazed at me fondly.

"Why the stare?"

"My son... when did you grow up so well?"

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Just keep doing what you're doing. Just like now. Hahaha, these days I'm living thanks to you, Hyun-jun."

Guess I'd unknowingly done some filial piety.

Made me feel good as a son to see Dad so pleased.

Anyway.

Pushing aside the fond memory with Dad, Deok-gu continued.

"And... after the Devils left, the Angels stopped by too."

"Angels? Why?"

"Said they wanted to check your training logs, had a long talk with the manager before leaving."

"For real?"

"Yeah. Then Unicorns and Fighters came by too."

"No way... They checked my training logs too?"

"Yep."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Ahh...!

Was my flower path finally opening up?

Going from winning pitcher in the Blue Dragon Cup first round to this.

In that game, I'd thrown 7 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts, leading the team to a blowout.

And yesterday, even in a short stint, I'd hit a personal-best 148.1 km/h, making an impact.

The results were paying off big.

"Word around the team is you're a lock for a high draft pick this year."

"I see."

"Yeah. You're basically pro-bound soon, walking the flower path, so the juniors want to get on your good side early. Makes sense."

"Flower path, huh. Still gotta compete in the pros."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"But with your high pick basically set, we'll see your face on TV next season after pro debut, right?"

Hmm, so that's it.

Well, baseball's all about connections!

Networking issues aside, if the juniors wanted to impress me, fine by me.

Felt pretty nice.

"Plus, when you're on the mound, us fielders have it easy."

"What?"

"You wrap it up in five pitches max, so no lapses in focus, and the balls come predictable enough that we don't botch fielding."

Oh, so that's why the fielders had been extra nice lately.

I recalled a bunch of fielders among the guys handing me Sol's Eye earlier.

Deok-gu drove it home.

"Juniors need a good role model."

"Me...? A role model?"

"Yep."

This Deok-gu kid.

Gotta spend some of yesterday's allowance on him.

Why's he pick the sweetest words?

"Ahem."

Still, role model status meant I had to at least act humble for the juniors.

"Shin Su-ho's a way better role model than me, no? He's the superior pitcher."

"Su-ho senior... kinda hard to approach."

"So I'm easier than Su-ho, huh."

"No bad vibes. Sure, Su-ho senior's the idol everyone admires, but you're the popular one."

"Popular? Me? Nah, what about me. Haha."

Pretend all I want, it felt damn good.

Popular with the industry juniors? Puhat!

Ah, can't let it show.

"Plus, seems like you're already pretty famous, senior?"

"What's that mean?"

Deok-gu pulled out his phone and showed me.

The video playing featured not me, but Shin Su-ho.

And the comments were all praise for him.

Hundreds of comments already.

A high schooler with this kind of fandom.

Feeling a twinge of envy, I grumbled dully.

"What, that's Shin Su-ho."

"Your clip comes up after."

"Really?"

I waited as Deok-gu said.

Sure enough, after Su-ho, my appearance popped up.

Thwack!!

"Ooh, looks pretty solid on screen?"

The new form really packed a punch visually.

More dynamic on video than throwing it myself.

Hurling 148 km/h fastballs with that form shifted the comments from Su-ho hype to curiosity about me.

Then one comment dropped my name.

I clicked the link too.

It was me dominating the Game 1 against Bucheon High.

All positive reactions.

But... the ID that dropped my name and shared the link.

Familiar somehow?

【2joon】

Yi-joon?

That's my little bro's name...?

Come to think of it, yesterday I was in a good mood from Dad's cash, so I gave Yi-joon like 200,000 won.

"Here."

"What's this?"

"Allowance from your bro, duh."

"From you?"

"Take it before I change my mind."

"Uh, thanks. I'll pay you back."

"Do what you want."

No way, Yi-joon punk. This your payback from yesterday?

Kid's got game.

Thanks to his sneaky positive comments, the reactions to me were getting friendlier.

That last one hit hard.

"Get to the pros..."

Hell yeah, pros.

Two months to jack up my value, then step on that pro mound on my own terms.

For that, I needed faster velocity, harder power.

"Deok-gu. Soup house for dinner tonight."

"Huh?"

"My treat. Round everyone up. Seung-hwan, Hyun-se, Seong-rak, fielders too. Let's all get a hearty bowl."

"Sweet."

After practice, we hit Grandma's Soup House with the juniors.

"Huuu~"

We slurped down the steaming bowls together, blowing on the hot soup till they were clean.

Nice.

Just seeing the message made me feel full.

As we laughed and chatted happily with the juniors, that's when it happened.

"Song Hyun-jun?"

"Yes?"

I turned at the unfamiliar voice. A plump-looking guy in his 30s approached with a smile.

"Ah, they said you come here often, and sure enough. First time meeting. Angels chief scout, Choi Seong-pil."

Ahh... Angels.

A pro scout tracking me to my dinner spot. The dedication.

The juniors around me gasped in awe.

"Ooh...!"

"Whoa...! A pro chief scout in person!"

"As expected of Hyun-jun senior..."

My popularity ticked up another +1 among them.

Before I could bask, smiling Choi Seong-pil spoke first.

"Song Hyun-jun, got a minute to talk?"