Chapter 20
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Angels Scout's Offer
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The affable-looking Angels chief scout.
Choi Seong-pil.
His visit to my usual eatery had boosted my reputation among the juniors quite a bit.
"Someone of Senior Hyun-jun's caliber gets a personal visit from an Angels chief scout..."
"Let's work hard too. If we follow in Senior Hyun-jun's footsteps, we might get that kind of VIP treatment someday."
"Yeah! Special training with Senior Hyun-jun starting today!"
Bathed in the juniors' envy, a satisfied smile crept across my face.
Is this what they mean by position making the man?
Cute bunch.
Before getting up from the table, I pulled out my debit card to cover the juniors' meals and handed it to Deok-gu.
"Deok-gu."
"Yes, Senior."
"Pay for the guys with this. I gotta step out with the scout for a bit."
"You're... giving your card to me?"
Deok-gu's eyes widened in surprise as I handed him the card.
What was there to be shocked about?
Sure, it held all the pocket money the Creator had given me, so there was a decent amount in there.
Still, trusting him, I passed over the card containing my entire fortune.
"What? It's just a debit card. Give it a shot."
"B-but..."
"I've already eaten, so I'll probably just grab coffee with the scout—he'll cover that. Take care of it, Deok-gu."
Deok-gu's face lit up with unexpected emotion at my casual handover of the card.
"...Got it. Leave it to me!"
He nodded firmly, his expression resolute, steeling his resolve.
He looked more determined than he had calling pitches behind the plate in our first Blue Dragon Cup game against Bucheon High... or was that my imagination?
"Alright, see you later, Deok-gu."
With that, I left the cleanup to Deok-gu and followed Choi Seong-pil out of the restaurant.
Behind me, I heard the juniors whispering.
"Whoa... so cool..."
"Senior Hyun-jun's the ultimate manly man."
"Ugh... if we could just be half as awesome as him!"
Those kids. The pure, untainted innocence of promising young prospects with bright futures ahead.
Feels good.
Next time, maybe treat them to some Korean BBQ.
"Song Hyun-jun."
Once alone with the Angels chief scout, Choi Seong-pil, he smiled and got straight to the point.
"Our Angels scouting team thinks highly of you."
"Thank you."
The opener was promising.
But everything after that was a problem.
"Of course. Among left-handed pitchers from capital region high schools, you're right behind Sa Seung-jun, aren't you?"
"Pardon? Sa Seung-jun?"
"Exactly. If you join the Angels and fix your weaknesses, surpassing him is totally doable."
...What was with this angelic bastard?
Might be imagining it, so I listened a bit more.
"The Angels plan to nominate you in the upper rounds—third round looks likely. Signing bonus over 100 million won."
100 million. That's big money, no doubt.
Enough to treat juniors like Deok-gu to all the meals they want, and I wouldn't need to beg the Creator anymore.
Yet, strangely, it didn't appeal at all.
What's wrong? Oh, right—this guy's the problem.
"The Angels are famous for pitcher development, aren't we? I guarantee, join us and you'll be on the pro stage within three years."
"Sure."
"Assuming no other team picks you first, of course. Even with your thin high school resume, third round is pretty generous for you, honestly."
Third round.
Still, a huge jump in evaluation.
A month ago, I was getting nothing but criticism, no pro interest at all. Now upper rounds?
But that line—"generous for your level"—kept echoing in my ears.
"With that in mind, the Angels..."
His words droned on, but I tuned them out.
Let's see... Get the card back from Deok-gu, ramp up cardio for starting pitcher duty.
D-grade velocity potion's hit its limit, so time to hunt for C-grade.
Maybe grab an extra bowl of Grandma's Soup for power enhancement?
"Haha, if you keep performing like you did in the Blue Dragon Cup, President's Cup, or Phoenix Cup, upper-round nomination is practically guaranteed..."
No time to waste on this Angels chief scout yammering without substance.
All talk of third round, bonuses, terms—numbers and calculations, no sincerity.
And above all...
It paled in comparison to what Seo Ji-hoon had told me a few days ago.
Words from the heart, not numbers.
"That's enough."
"Pardon?"
A few days back, I'd asked Seo Ji-hoon, who visited the ballpark.
What to fix to become a better pitcher, to make the pros.
The system rated him top-class domestically, so he had to know.
But Seo Ji-hoon said:
"You already more than qualify for the pros."
"...Really?"
"Yes. You've got everything to survive in pro ball. Just lacked velocity and power, but you fixed even that by overhauling your delivery."
He smiled warmly.
"You've got tons of strengths."
"Strengths? Do I have any pro-level ones?"
I was curious.
A top-class scout's view.
How did the discerning Seo Ji-hoon rate me?
With a neighborly smile and sincere tone, he replied:
"I'm convinced you could debut in the pros tomorrow and win ten-plus games as a starter."
"Whoa...!"
"Your fighter's instinct to beat opponents—that's not trained; it's innate talent."
"Fighter?"
"Yes. Just one of your many strengths as a pitcher: grit, control, breaking ball command, unique delivery, flawless pickoff moves. Maximizing four-seam and breaking stuff like a classic overhand. Inning-eating stamina, strikeout prowess, contact management, mental edge over hitters."
Wow...
Me, loaded with strengths?
Seo Ji-hoon listed ones I hadn't even noticed, his eyes gleaming.
"I love your pitching."
"...Pardon?"
"Sure, Shin Su-ho's overwhelming genius is great too. But pitchers need to fight like you, Song Hyun-jun."
In that moment, he spoke as both scout and pure baseball fan, from the heart.
"That's what pitching is. You embody every strength I love about the position."
"Ahh...!"
"So come to the Devils."
His earnest invitation made my heart race.
"The baseball you and the Devils create—that'll thrill every fan."
Ahh...
I nearly said, "Yes, I'm in."
That's how persuasion works.
Pure sincerity hitting harder.
But why persuade? Draft rules favor early picks—no choice for players, right?
"Haha, getting late. Here's my card, Song Hyun-jun."
"Huh?"
"Keep it. You'll need me someday. Call then."
While lost in thought, the Angels scout finished, thankfully.
I stared silently at the confidently offered card.
【Angels Chief Scout Choi Seong-pil】
Second business card received.
But after Seo Ji-hoon's impactful words and card, this felt ordinary.
"We'll be watching, Song Hyun-jun."
Thus ended my first meeting with the Angels scout.
But this card... problem?
My die-hard Devils fan dad—my biggest backer—might cut my allowance if he saw it.
No more treating juniors to meals pre-pros.
And if Seo Ji-hoon learned I took an Angels card? Nothing good.
Loyalty matters in team sports like baseball.
Devils and Angels were bitter rivals.
"Hmm..."
I eyed the bus stop trash can briefly.
Trash can and Angels scout's card.
Perfect match.
Glancing between them, I soon headed to the training field.
School, baseball team.
"Senior Hyun-jun!"
Word of my contact with the Angels chief scout had already spread.
"He came all the way to the soup house?!"
"Whoa... did you get his card?"
Pro debut—every high school baseball player's dream.
The juniors swarmed me, now closer to it.
I rummaged in my pockets vaguely as I replied.
"Yeah, but where'd I put it? Eh, somewhere."
"Whoaaa... You're amazing, Senior Hyun-jun."
"No biggie. You'll hear good news soon too."
Placating them, one junior dropped an intriguing tidbit.
"Come to think of it, Senior Su-ho seems kinda distant from pro scouts lately."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Not sure, but... he's been keeping pro team folks at arm's length."
"Really?"
"Yeah. But I've seen him chatting fluently in English with MLB foreign scouts often."
Hmm...
Perks of treating juniors to meals—they bring the hot gossip.
Even sitting idle, ears perk up with intel.
About my top rival, Shin Su-ho!
A high schooler distancing from pro scouts?
Why?
"You sure?"
"Yeah. He draws lines with domestic pro scouts and GMs too."
"What? Team directors visited Shin Su-ho?"
"Yep."
His league's different.
Pro GMs I'd never met visiting him—worlds apart.
"Even the Angels manager stopped by."
"Angels manager? Manager Jang Sung-hwan? He came personally for Shin Su-ho?"
"Yup."
Even sitting managers, busy with standings races.
Sneaking in for him? Shin Su-ho's stock was insane.
Yet drawing lines with them?
"Ah, could it be?"
Seo Ji-hoon, Angels scout—both aggressive lately.
With Shin Su-ho around, chasing me too.
His moves matter hugely to me.
His choice sways treatment and pay for pitchers like Park Jin-woong or me.
"Shin Su-ho!"
That's why I headed straight to him mid-pitching practice.
Face to face.
"Hoo—!"
Overwhelming physique.
Scorching heat radiating from his body.
Fierce eyes.
And,
Taaaang!!!
A whopping 159.7 km/h.
Once more shattering his limits—the nation's top beyond-high-school pitcher.
Shin Su-ho.
"What?"
Right after unleashing that fiery fastball,
his sharp gaze turned to me.
"What is it, Song Hyun-jun."