North Korea Needs a Proper Schooling
“……”
“……”
Ri Dong-hyuk versus Kim Jung-cheol.
Kim Jung-cheol versus Ri Dong-hyuk.
The first pitch was thrown.
Paang!!
“Strike!”
A slider that perfectly clipped the outside corner.
Kim Jung-cheol let the first one go by.
More sliders and high fastballs followed, but Kim Jung-cheol didn't swing. The count was 1-2.
'Time for the fastball.'
Ri Dong-hyuk nodded at Hwang Tae-gang's sign.
The fourth pitch left his fingertips.
Thwack!
“Foul...!”
A ball smacked into the back screen.
Now the count was 2-2.
For the pitcher, it was time to go for the win.
'Good, finish it with an upshoot here.'
But Ri Dong-hyuk shook his head.
He had only one thing in mind.
'The people's sinker—my best pitch to finish off Kim Jung-cheol.'
The pitch itself was devastating, but the real weight came from using a secret technique passed down from a fallen clan to crush the leader's bloodline.
Hwang Tae-gang, who usually respected his pitcher's wishes, switched to the sinker sign as requested—but a vague unease gnawed at him.
'Dong-hyuk's sinker is incredible, no doubt about that... but...'
Screw it! Hwang Tae-gang dropped into his catching stance.
Ri Dong-hyuk's fifth pitch—a sinker—flew in.
And Kim Jung-cheol reacted instantly.
As if he'd known it was coming.
“Too predictable, Ri Dong-hyuk...!”
He knew it too.
Ri Dong-hyuk's bizarre obsession with the sinker.
Kim Jung-cheol smashed the sinker diving in on his hands.
A chill ran down Ri Dong-hyuk's spine.
Thwack!
A liner screaming toward the right-field line.
Everyone watching knew it.
This ball was going to hook fair down the line for extra bases.
But then, the unexpected happened.
Thud!
Choi Seok-ho leaped toward first base.
His massive frame, well over 100kg, took flight.
[That huge body soaring up to snag the rope-like hit!]
The runner extending his lead on first froze, not expecting the catch. Choi Seok-ho, already crashing to the dirt, slammed his glove onto the base.
“Out...!”
[Geum Seong-muk too—South Korea's fielding has been stellar today! The pitchers can breathe easy. That one would've been two more runs, but Choi Seok-ho bails out Ri Dong-hyuk!]
“Tch, lucky bastard, Ri Dong-hyuk...!”
Ri Dong-hyuk easily fanned the next hitter with a sinker.
“Hoo...”
He wiped his sweat and stepped off the mound.
As he sat in the dugout, Seong-muk slid in beside him, fresh from center field.
“Dong-hyuk, that was close. If not for Seok-ho, disaster.”
“...I know. Got a bit heated there.”
“Thought you were the coolest head out there.”
“......Ahem.”
Seong-muk ribbed him on his own words.
Dong-hyuk had nothing to say.
“Ri Dong-hyuk, don't get emotional. Key count against a big hitter, and you go sinker? I get it, you wanna. Not judging.”
“..............”
“But think about it—they can catch you on that. Kim Jung-cheol that prick? He knew you'd throw sinker in a big spot. Kid's seen your stuff since you were throwing batting practice in the North.”
“......Right.”
Ri Dong-hyuk had often tossed BP to Kim Jung-cheol back in North Korea.
His sinker was way sharper now, sure—but letting emotions make him predictable? Had to rein it in.
“Hoo, next time, I'll be more careful.”
“Yeah, I trust you next at-bat.”
Seong-muk clapped his shoulder and stood. South Korea's hitters had gone down quietly against Mu Jin-hyuk; now it was top of the 4th.
Ma Cho-won, who'd come off the mound earlier, climbed back up. Question marks exploded in the real-time chat.
The announcers chimed in.
[Ri Dong-hyuk shifts back to right field! Let's break it down.]
[Right—Dong-hyuk came in to pitch, bumping Cho-won to right, but he wasn't out of the game. Rules allow re-entry as pitcher!]
[One out minimum per stint, rare stuff...]
[Coach Shin's call to match Kim Jung-cheol with Dong-hyuk. That surprise outfield stint earlier? All leading here!]
“Hoo, first time for this kinda thing!”
Ma Cho-won, back on the mound, challenged cleanup hitter Ri Kang-san straight up with a runner on first.
Bad choice.
Thwack!
[Over the wall! Two-run homer! Tied game now 3-1 North Korea...!]
“Tch, damn it...!”
Ma Cho-won berated himself.
In the dugout, manager Shin Cheol-hyung stroked his chin and asked the pitching coach.
“Coach Bae, Cho-won off today?”
“...No, his stuff's sharp. North Korea's big bats are just handling it too well.”
“Hm. Watch a bit longer then.”
Manager Shin held off on a change.
Getting homered by Ri Kang-san was kinda unlucky. Seong-muk smacked his lips watching it sail just over his head.
'Can't be helped—guy lied about his age by three years to play youth ball...'
Same for Mu Jin-hyuk on the mound.
Seong-muk felt these cheaters needed swift justice.
[Sneaky bunt stunned their infield last at-bat for first. Stole second off 80% gunner Ri Kang-san, scored on Dong-hyuk's hit. First run? Heavy on Seong-muk!]
[Infield's playing in tighter now?]
[Yeah, that bunt stung bad!]
Not pulled back like before. They'd clearly marked Seong-muk's wheels.
'No bunt, assholes.'
These guys were elite up North—no way they'd bite twice.
And as Korea's cleanup? No cheap plays.
'National rule combo: power twice, contact once...'
Mu Jin-hyuk still had gas.
Seong-muk decided.
Torture the pitcher.
'Team's got homer guys. Set the table first.'
“...Switch.”
Solar Divine Vein stat changes reset!
Contact stat boosted: B+ → A
Contact stat boosted: A → A+
Eye stat boosted: A → A+
NAME: Geum Seong-muk
NATIONALITY: Republic of Korea
AGE: 19 (High School Senior)
HEIGHT: 192cm
AFFILIATION: Munhyeok High School
SKILL / Solar Divine Vein (EX)
: Surging solar yang energy from the lower body amplifies total power. On intense excitement, stats rise up to 3 levels based on hype. Caster selects boosted stats.
Latent Keywords: Heavenly Pitcher Body (EX+), Heavenly Hitter Body (EX)
# Hitter Stats (*Potential)
/LHP LHB
Power: A (*S+)
Contact: B+ → A+ (*S)
Speed: A (*S)
Eye: A → A+
Defense: B+
Arm: S (*S+)
Seong-muk boosted contact and eye.
Clear target.
Thwack!
“Foul...!”
Paang!
“Ball...!”
Thwack!
“Foul...!”
Spoil the similar ones, lay off the obvious take. No point fouling into the infield.
Thwack!
“Foul...!”
Full count, another foul. Mu Jin-hyuk sweated bullets, dying inside.
'Fuckin' punk, why so stubborn...?'
Twelve pitches already.
Stuff still in the zone, but limits loomed.
“Take your base...!!”
Ump called the walk.
Seong-muk cheekily flipped his bat and trotted to first.
'Guy's gassed this at-bat.'
Even sharp stuff hits B+ stamina walls. No more bombs now.
Choi Seok-ho flied to infield for one out, runner on first. Ri Dong-hyuk up. Seong-muk dug in, itching to run.
'Saw it coming—no twice...!'
Catcher Ri Kang-san poised to snag and gun. He'd called fastball expecting the steal. But he didn't catch it.
Thwack!
“………!!”
[Perfect hit-and-run by Ri Dong-hyuk!!]
Ball sailed over the first baseman.
Early jump—Seong-muk hit third, homing in.
“You bastard...!”
Ri Kang-san snagged and tagged hard.
But Seong-muk's hand beat it to the plate.
“Safe!!”
[True five-tool player! Redefining the do-it-all cleanup...!!]
“Ri Dong-hyuk, Ri Dong-hyuk...!!”
“Geum Seong-muk, Geum Seong-muk, Geum Seong-muk...!!”
Cheers erupted for the Munhyeok duo—Dong-hyuk's hit, Seong-muk's wheels.
'Damn, Dong-hyuk's bat's lit today?'
North opponent fueled the grit, but familiarity with Mu Jin-hyuk from youth exchanges helped.
“Tch, damn it!!”
Mu Jin-hyuk crumbled, gassed and broken.
Thwack!
[Over the left wall! Two-run shot! 4-3, Korea flips it back!]
Hwang Tae-gang circled slowly.
Seong-muk waited at home.
“Took ya long enough.”
“What? Forgot I carried your ass fanning out in high school?”
“Yeah, forgot.”
“Right, amnesia boy.”
“Anyway, nice bomb.”
Smack!
The game flowed to top of the 6th.
Ma Cho-won down, Im Tae-yul on the mound.
His looks drew screams from female fans, but...
Thwack!
Paang!
“Tch, thought bullpen form was hot...”
Manager Shin yanked Im Tae-yul.
Next card: Geumgang High's towering curve man, Jang Tae-san.
Paang!
“Strike out...!”
[Whoa, circle change!? Jang Tae-san's got new stuff!]
[Heard he traded changeups with Geum Seong-muk...!]
[Perfect synergy! Future reps growing together—beautiful!]
Paang!
“Strike out...!”
Jang Tae-san mixed curves and circle changes for the out. Luck soured next.
Thwack!
[Deep into short! Je Yun-chan bodies it but can't throw! Infield single!]
[Weird hop—tough even for top SS Je Yun-chan...!]
Bases loaded, two out.
And this guy steps up.
“Shrinking Earth Step, Shrinking Earth Step...!!”
North Korean cheering squad bellowed.
Kim Jung-cheol sauntered to the plate.
Korea dugout stirred.
[Yanking Jang Tae-san! In comes...!]
[Ri Dong-hyuk! Back from right to pitch!]
Ri Dong-hyuk strode to the mound.
Right field vacancy—Ma Cho-won out, sub outfielder fills.
“Yeah, gotta bring you out again or it's no fun...!”
Kim Jung-cheol flicked his tongue.
That double play? Not a loss to Ri Dong-hyuk.
But not a win either.
This at-bat: grand slam to execute the traitor.
'He'll be shook—no rash sinker.'
Last time, he'd crushed the sinker blatant.
Dong-hyuk's sinker tic exposed.
Wouldn't dare now—or so he thought.
Whir!
Paang!!
“Strike...!”
“...!!”
Sinker jammed perfect on the hands.
Ri Dong-hyuk grinned.
“...Think a cheap hit scares me? Big mistake, 'brother'.”
“All talk, you gutless runner...!”
Kim Jung-cheol gnashed teeth, gripped tight.
Bases loaded, two out—game on the line.
“Shrinking Earth Step, Shrinking Earth Step...!!”
“Ri Dong-hyuk, Ri Dong-hyuk...!!”
Fans roared from both sides as Ri Dong-hyuk wound...
Whir!