Duty at Aoji Coal Mine, Congratulations
Whirr!
"…Ball!"
Kim Jung-cheol flinched but held his swing.
The count evened at 1-1 after one ball slipped by.
Then came another sinker in quick succession.
Now, a single thought began creeping into Kim Jung-cheol's mind.
…Does this guy really not fear anything?
After nearly getting crushed in the previous at-bat, Ri Donghyeok threw sinkers back-to-back. Kim Jung-cheol had planned to ditch them, assuming the pitcher would be scared off—but now that was impossible.
Crack!
"Foul…!"
Thwack!
"Ball…!"
The count hit 2-2.
He tried luring with a slider inside, but Kim Jung-cheol didn't bite, filling the full count.
Their eyes met then.
Ri Donghyeok grinned.
"……!"
Kim Jung-cheol startled.
His mind grew tangled.
Grinning here? What the hell is your game…?
No clue what pitch was coming.
Given Ri Donghyeok's obsession, sinker seemed right—but this time, it might be something else.
The options wouldn't narrow.
That was exactly what Ri Donghyeok wanted.
…You bastards are way too suspicious.
Baekdu Bloodline folks stabbed at each other even in families. Give them the slightest opening, and their paranoia multiplied.
"Hup…!"
Ri Donghyeok fired the sixth pitch.
Kim Jung-cheol made his best guess first.
Sinker. It's gotta be the sinker…!
The ball sailed high in the zone.
He unleashed a full swing.
That instant.
…It’s rising!?
The ball shot up in front of the plate.
Ri Donghyeok's hidden ace for the day: the upshoot.
Thwack!!
"Strike three…!!"
[That was an upshoot, right? Kim Jung-cheol got completely fooled by the ball rising into the high zone! Cheers erupt from the stands!]
"Fuck…!!"
Kim Jung-cheol blew the bases-loaded chance with two outs, hurling his helmet in rage. He couldn't shake the sinker from his head and lost to Ri Donghyeok.
Damn, what the hell was that pitch…!
Unfamiliar movement—he couldn't even foul it off.
Ri Donghyeok's upgraded curve, leagues beyond what he'd thrown up north.
Kim Jung-cheol thought he'd mastered every pitch. Now he was losing his mind.
A-At this rate, he'll steal all my Baekdu Bloodline…!
Two direct clashes lost—downgrade confirmed. He had to win the last one to salvage anything.
Ugh, next matchup, I go big…!
Ri Donghyeok headed back to right field from the mound—high chance he'd face him again. Kim Jung-cheol eyed a late comeback.
North Korea's dugout sank as he squandered their golden chance. South Korea's buzzed.
That energy fueled their offense.
Crack!
[Classic power-hitting second baseman Park Taeje! Washes away his slump with a clean solo shot…! Score's now 5-3!]
Park Taeje homered off North Korea's new pitcher, Seong Ryong-pil.
"Nice homer."
"…Thanks."
Clap!
They'd bled together for the Sejong Cup ticket in spring, but now they were national team cleanup mates.
Geum Seong-muk, watching the homer, felt fired up.
Today he'd prioritized team hitting. Time to chase personal feel.
"Switch."
Stat changes from Solar Divine Vein reset!
Power stat upgraded: A+ → S
Contact stat upgraded: B+ → A
Contact stat upgraded: A → A+
Geum Seong-muk pulled the national rulebook combo.
Seong Ryong-pil was a classic lefty fireballer—tough matchup for switch-hitting Seong-muk as a lefty, but no issue.
Crack!
"…There we go."
[Over the center-field fence, slamming the scoreboard! Monster homer! Geum Seong-muk gets his taste of the long ball today too!!]
Seong-muk's homer made it 6-3.
Top of the 8th: nation's top closer Ryu Taekjin shut the door clean, three up three down.
Bottom 8th: Korea blanked. Now top 9th, Ryu Taekjin still on the hill.
Thwack-!!
"Strikeout…!!"
#9 Won Hyok-min whiffed on 167km fastball. Two outs left till game over.
Leadoff Kim Jung-cheol stepped up.
But Ryu Taekjin had no plans for him.
[Ri Donghyeok coming in from right! Third direct matchup with Kim Jung-cheol!! Now Je Jun fills right field! Who laughs last in this showdown!?]
"…Damn, damn!!"
Kim Jung-cheol gripped the bat long.
Losing like this? No more "great leader's son."
Not a homer guy—he couldn't just swing big out of nowhere. Couldn't connect anyway.
Whirr!
Thwack-!!
"Strike…!"
Whirr!
Thwack!
"Strike…!"
Back-to-back whiffs.
His timing was off on Ri Donghyeok's sinker. North Korean cheers barely registered now.
No, no way…! My Baekdu Bloodline…!!
Half-mad, Kim Jung-cheol.
Pitch three dove in.
Pop!
Over the pitcher's head.
Cute infield fly.
Ri Donghyeok raised his glove.
"N-No…!"
Kim Jung-cheol's heart dropped.
But Ri Donghyeok grinned and did the unexpected.
The ball ticked off his glove and plopped forward. Ri Donghyeok mouthed to Kim Jung-cheol.
"Run like the dog you are, bro."
"Ri Donghyeok, you bastard…!!"
Furious to his core, but then he noticed: himself sprinting for first like a mad dog.
"Arrrghhh…!!"
Kim Jung-cheol bolted insanely.
Ignoring the ball, he slid into first.
"Oh…."
Too late—the ball arrived first.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
"Safe…!"
"What…!?"
Kim Jung-cheol's eyes flew open.
He saw it.
First baseman Choi Seok-ho bobbling the throw.
[Big error! Runner to first! Anything can happen now!]
"Choi Seok-ho, you crazy pig bastard…!"
"Get your head straight!!"
"Get back to Asan already…!"
Hecklers from the stands.
Choi Seok-ho approached the mound apologetically. But their chat was all smiles.
"How was it, Donghyeok?"
"…Flawless acting—even I'd have bought it."
Youngest of a house with four sisters, Choi Seok-ho read cues fast. Ri Donghyeok's frantic blinks? Caught and dropped on purpose.
"You asked for help, so I did—but he's quick."
"About that… something you should know first, Seok-ho."
"………?"
Ri Donghyeok whispered.
Choi Seok-ho nodded, back to first.
[Yep, long windup from Ri Donghyeok, and after today's mind games? Steal city!]
Kim Jung-cheol widened his lead slyly.
His head was all steal.
Second easy, third too, home steal? Turn it around…!
Rosy visions.
Game outcome? Screw it.
Just personal stats. Meaningful result vs. Ri Donghyeok to defend his Baekdu Bloodline.
Thwack!
"Strike…!"
Straight fastball glanced at Kim Jung-cheol—strike. He'd crunched the math: even set position fastball couldn't nab him.
Go on this one…!
Peeked at first, Ri Donghyeok went into motion. Kim Jung-cheol bolted—
Smack!
"Wha—!?"
Glove catch from behind.
Ri Donghyeok anticipated, threw pickoff.
"You fucking…!!"
Curses flew.
Kim Jung-cheol became hamster on wheel, scurrying between first and second as Korean infielders toyed.
[North Korean fans squeeze eyes shut! Can't bear watching the leader's bloodline get played…!]
"Hey, lemme chase him once."
"Me too…!"
Infielders piled on the fun. Kim Jung-cheol couldn't stomach being toyed by these lowlifes.
"I'm Kim Jung-cheol, second son of the DPRK leader…!!"
"And?"
Smack!
"Gahk…!"
Hard glove tag sprawled him on the bag. Final out: Ri Donghyeok.
…You know me that well? I know you even better. Teeth-grinding well.
Ri Donghyeok clocked his pre-steal tells: right index rubbing belt, left shoulder dip.
Saved it for peak humiliation. Nailed it.
Zombie-shuffle back amid Korean infield laughs.
North Korea's fire? Snuffed.
The rest? Obvious.
Whirr!
"Strikeout…!!"
Ri Donghyeok K'd the final batter.
2 RBI as hitter, scoreless relief—no hits.
Taeguk on chest, he stabbed his abandoning homeland deep.
[Next: USA…! Can Korea hold the throne? See you next game!]
"Wooo…!!"
"We won!!"
Players burst from dugout post-North win. Biggest rivalry—big pressure.
Now pure joy.
Victory sealed, Korea lit up with baseball talk—even antipodes away.
High school baseball gallery—rice-only diet—exploded with this game.
High school baseball gallery in North Korea meme renaissance.
They thanked the national team—especially Seong-muk.
Gallery united in galju praise.
They were happy today too.