Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: A Prospect Like This in Our School!?
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"Alright, so the baseball team's establishment is confirmed..."
With the chairman's gay porn video in hand, I'd secured a promise for the team's founding and full support.
They'd quickly set up a baseball field and training facilities through an agreement with nearby school amenities.
Now the key was the players.
Given the short-term tournament format of the high school league, a few standout players could carry the team on their backs, but Seok Un-gang and I couldn't shoulder everything alone. We absolutely needed players who could play core roles alongside me.
"We need decent guys at shortstop, center field, and third base."
The rest of the spots could be filled with guys who just did the bare minimum, but the key positions required well-rounded players good on both offense and defense. Once the spring tournament started, we wouldn't be able to poach players from other schools anymore. We had to hurry a bit.
"First, let's scout the hidden gems right here in our school."
So my initial plan was to look within Munhyeok High School.
The school had poured money into other sports instead of baseball, but they'd sprinkled decent investments around. It wasn't a lie that they had nationally ranked athletes in various sports.
Why scout athletes excelling in other sports? As I said, in this world, baseball was the undisputed king of sports.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say no promising athlete in any sport hadn't dreamed of playing baseball at least once.
But with only 20 pro teams and high barriers to entry for aspiring high school baseball clubs, even great talents often went unnoticed by scouts and got buried.
That's why I was searching.
For outstanding prospects still harboring a love for baseball deep in their hearts!
"Let's start with the basketball team."
I stepped into the auditorium where a basketball game was in full swing.
Even right before the semester started, plenty of spectators had shown up to watch.
After just five minutes of watching, I could spot the standouts. The problem was I couldn't scan them without knowing their names. The solution was surprisingly simple.
"Whoa, that last play was insane. Do you know that guy's name by any chance?"
Pretend to be a casual fan who'd come to watch and ask the people around me! Those who react strongly to a specific player are usually acquaintances.
"Oh, you were curious about him? That's my friend Kyung-su, Seo Kyung-su!"
"Ah, got it."
I tuned out the talk about pro scouts eyeing him and such, and opened his status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Seo Kyung-su Age: 18 Height: 187 cm Skills: Quick Throw (B) Shortens the time for throws after fielding. Potential Keywords: Prodigy (B+) Batter Stats (*Potential) / Left Throw, Left Hit Power: D Contact: C+ (*B+) Speed: B (*B+) Eye: C Defense: C (*B) Shoulder: B (*B+) Recommended Positions: LF, RF, 1B 'Pretty solid.'
Four B-grade potentials consolidated under 'Prodigy (B)'. Not bad at all. As a professionally trained athlete in another sport, his stats were well-developed.
Poaching the basketball team's ace might prick my conscience a bit, but our situation was dire right now.
With that, I scouted around the soccer team, track team, swim team, and more, hunting for talent.
My takeaway was simple.
'Most of them are strictly bench material.'
Seo Kyung-su from basketball was like a fairy compared to the A-grade potentials I wanted—no such prospects in sight.
I'd thought we'd snag at least one, but maybe I was asking too much.
"Guess this is the last stop."
I wondered if I even needed to bother, but with zero yields so far, I made the courtesy visit.
It was the only club at Munhyeok High with any baseball activity.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Hit & Run]
A shabby wooden sign hung above the door, but no sounds came from inside.
As I stood there, a passing middle-aged teacher called out from behind.
"Looking for the baseball club kids?"
"Ah, yes."
"They're at the municipal baseball field nearby for a game."
I'd have skipped if he hadn't mentioned it, but they were playing after all.
About five minutes' walk away, I spotted the municipal field the teacher mentioned. My impression of their play was straightforward.
"They're terrible."
Pitchers with no control walking everyone, errors galore on in-play balls, catchers with girl's shoulders who couldn't stop steals.
Mostly hobbyist level.
Baseball has the biggest gap between amateurs and pros. No surprise the club level was low.
Still, seeing their genuine enjoyment sparked a twinge of envy.
"Time to head back."
That was when it happened.
Thwack---!
A powerful swing sending the ball flying, followed by lightning-quick feet dashing straight to second base.
"Oh ho."
His height made him look like a middle schooler, but his skills were no joke.
"Nice one, as expected from Choi Adam! Hit & Run's pride!"
"You're the only one, Adam!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You can view Choi Adam's status. View? [Yes / No] "Yes."
Choi Adam's stats popped up, and my eyes went wide.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Choi Adam Age: 19 Height: 160 cm Skills: Bad Ball Hitter (A) Increases hit probability on balls. Potential Keywords: Gale (*S+), Hitting Prodigy (*A+), Defense Prodigy (*A+) Batter Stats (*Potential) / Right Throw, Left Hit Power: D Contact: B+ (*A+) Speed: S (*S+) Eye: D+ Defense: B+ (*A+) Shoulder: B Recommended Positions: SS, 2B "Found him."
Munhyeok High's baseball club leadoff hitter.
The vanguard who would torment the opposing team and kick off our offense.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After touring every sports club at Munhyeok High, I left quite satisfied.
"Choi Adam's the biggest catch, as expected."
The kid was 160 cm tall—a whopping 32 cm shorter than me.
His overwhelmingly small stature, rough swing, and poor eye made him unfit for any high school team.
'Thanks, scouts. Your beady eyes saved him for me.'
I was confident I could turn Choi Adam into the high school league's top leadoff hitter.
I wanted to recruit him on the spot but held off on approaching.
With S-grade speed that could've thrived in track, he was still playing baseball in a club. That meant his passion for the game ran deep.
He'd surely show up once we held official tryouts anyway.
"Now for the manager."
I'd already gotten the chairman's approval to hire whoever I wanted as manager.
My number one requirement for the manager was simple.
'Someone who'll listen to me.'
I knew how to maximize this game's efficiency. No matter what crazy thing I did, they had to trust and back me.
There were a few legendary managers in the game whose recruitment conditions I knew by heart.
But they had one big flaw.
"Their egos are too damn huge."
Competent managers all had ironclad convictions.
If they nitpicked every move I made, team chemistry would shatter instantly.
"Someone desperate enough for the manager gig that they'll have no choice but to obey. But not incompetent."
Numerous in-game coaches flashed through my mind.
"Just one's perfect."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ An elementary little league field.
A sharp-looking coach in his early 40s was arguing with a white-haired older man.
"Sorry, you don't need to come in starting next month."
"Boss...! You can't just spring this on me like that."
"I know you're a solid coach. But the moms are worried. Your rep from your Padres coaching days isn't great."
"That's..."
"Some other team will snap you up for sure. Good luck."
Fired again.
Myeong Sin-u, the coach, was booted from yet another team.
"Haa..."
He'd survived over 15 years in the world's top league, Korea, as a pro defensive specialist, earning the moniker "Survival King."
Post-retirement, he'd aced coaching certification and risen fast as a coach for the Sejong Padres. But fate turned in an instant.
📰 Breaking News Sejong Padres coaching staff faction war escalates, innocent players caught in the crossfire. 📰 Breaking News Sejong fans express deep betrayal: "This isn't why we cheer for the Padres." The coaches' power struggles hit a peak, exploding into the media overnight.
With the manager and staff divided, favoritism rampant, team chemistry tanked.
Results plummeted, fan rage boiled over, and they hunted for scapegoats.
Myeong Sin-u felt safe. Both factions had courted him, but he'd stayed neutral, striving to befriend everyone without bias.
But that irked both sides. Gray men are never welcome anywhere.
Someone wearing an insider mask leaked on a workplace forum.
— Anonymous Insider Factions exist, sure, but Myeong Sin-u's the real snake. He's the one pitting them against each other. Plays buddy with A faction, leaks intel to B to stir the pot. The post's impact was massive.
Both factions pinned blame on him, wrapping up as victims without losses. Players felt deeply betrayed by Myeong Sin-u.
His impartial kindness to all morphed into scheming in their eyes.
— Sejong Dome Placard [Cancer Coach Myeong Sin-u, Get Out of the Team!] Placards like that soon adorned Sejong Dome.
He couldn't hold out and resigned. He was exhausted, and the organization wouldn't back him.
He bounced between schools as a coach, but parental concerns never let him last over six months.
Even kids eyed his advice skeptically: 'Is this really right?'
He considered quitting baseball, but with a lifetime in the game and a loving wife and daughter at home, surrender wasn't an option.
"Haa, pro coach, high school coach, middle school coach, little league coach... sliding down the ladder. What's next? Overseas? Haa..."
As he pondered, someone approached.
"Myeong Sin-u, right?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Let's talk for a sec."
The man was Geum Seong-muk, towering frame, tanned skin, blond hair standing out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "So, Munhyeok High is starting a new baseball team, and you're asking if I'm interested in the manager spot?"
"Yes, exactly."
'Manager...!'
The top dog commanding a team.
Every coach's dream perch.
This felt like a dream.
High school baseball manager gigs in Korea's world-class scene drew crowds of applicants, but few qualified without top skills and connections.
But this wasn't a cakewalk.
"There are conditions, though."
"Conditions...?"
"Truth is, I'm deeply involved in founding this team. Coming to you as a candidate was my call alone."
"........?"
"The condition is simple. Handle manager duties however you want—show off your skills with training programs, player usage, whatever. I leave it all to you. But."
"But?"
"There'll be times I ask you to do something for the team. You have to trust and support me unconditionally then."
"Wha...?"
"Do you understand?"
"............"
Geum Seong-muk's point was clear: he needed a compliant puppet.
Who the hell was this kid to wield such authority?
The chairman's grandson?
The passionate Myeong Sin-u of years past would've scoffed and refused.
'Don't take baseball lightly, punk!'
'Go play house somewhere else, young master!'
But life had beaten that out of him.
One thought filled his head.
'Jackpot. Easy money!'
"Looking forward to working with you, Geum Seong-muk."
A flawless toothy grin and handshake, no hesitation.
Taking student orders occasionally for a high school manager spot? Only an idiot would say no. He buzzed thinking of treating his daughter to chicken after ages.
"Same here. Pleasure working with you, Manager Myeong Sin-u."
"Manager, huh? Haha, sounds good."
Thus, the dice-roll manager—later hailed as "Brilliant Myeong" in wins, cursed as "Idiot-u," "Myeong Moron," etc., in losses—was appointed Munhyeok High's inaugural manager.
'That day is almost here.'
I'd done everything possible over break.
The chairman would set the stage at opening ceremony.
That day, he'd announce the baseball team's founding before the whole school. We were ready to hurl a massive boulder into Munhyeok High's stagnant pond.