Geum Seong-muk Doesn't Fall -1
Jongmyo Stadium was packed to the brim with spectators.
Half were Munhyeok High students, 30% Cheonghyeon High kids, and the rest filled out by general fans.
"Hello, everyone! Today, we're bringing you Game 2 of the Sejong Tournament: Munhyeok High versus Cheonghyeon High!"
"Yeah, there are a ton of pro team scouts in the table seats today, huh?"
The camera panned to the scouts at the announcer's mention.
The reason they'd shown up was obvious—no need to spell it out.
"They're probably checking out other players too, but it looks like they're here mainly to scout Geum Seong-muk, whose stock has been skyrocketing lately!"
"With rumors he might even overtake Seo Hui-geon for the overall number one pick, the scouts' interest is through the roof!"
The camera lit up Seong-muk loosening up in the bullpen.
He was undeniably a national sensation now.
"And next to him, there's an old guy in sunglasses watching Geum Seong-muk's pitching pretty intently!"
"Who could he be? Doesn't seem like he wants his identity revealed, but we'll see the results of that coaching today!"
After the national anthem, the umpire raised his hand.
"Play ball!!"
The curtain rose on the Munhyeok High vs. Cheonghyeon High matchup.
Most baseball fans had already predicted an overwhelming victory for one side.
Such reactions were pouring in nonstop—reactions no one could've imagined when the two schools first clashed. Naturally, everyone expected Munhyeok High to pound Cheonghyeon from the jump.
The fans' shock stemmed from one thing.
The game was already in the top of the 5th.
Yet the score was still 0-0.
Seong-muk shutting out Cheonghyeon High? Not weird at all.
But Im Tae-yul holding Munhyeok High scoreless? That was downright eerie.
Blazing fastballs!
Waterfall changeups!
Microscope control!
...Nah, none of that.
He was just lucky.
Ridiculously so.
Crack!
"Oh, Choi Adam's screamer right into the second baseman's glove!"
"Seok Un-gang's big rip flies deep... center fielder! Jumping catch—he snags it!!"
Already 5-6 hits snagged like that.
No clean 1-2-3 innings from the 1st through 4th—runners on every time, but no runs.
"Huff... huff...!"
Im Tae-yul clutched his chest like he'd collapsed, shuttling between heaven and hell each inning.
↳ ImTae-yul whoa whoa whoa
↳ Skill gap's huge but lolololol
He'd wanted to dominate Munhyeok High with pure skill, but his talent fell short against their powerhouse lineup.
Yet his godlike luck filled the gaps perfectly.
Except for one guy it didn't work on.
"Alright, take care!!"
"...Uh, yeah. Sure."
Ji Suyong entered the box, bowing to his old teammate.
Crack!
"Foul...!"
Crack!
"Foul!"
He'd already crafted a hit with technical batting last at-bat, and now he battled on stubbornly.
Figuring an apology might rattle him given his kind heart? Big mistake.
Could Ji Suyong swing freely at pitches from his sky-like senior? Hell no.
"That's one thing—this is another!!"
Crack!
"......!!"
"Oh, Ji Suyong's rip flies deep!"
The ball soared, slamming the wall and bouncing back. Seong-muk, who'd walked and reached first, blazed home at insane speed.
Score: 1-0.
The deadlock finally broke in the top of the 5th.
"Ji Suyong! Ji Suyong! Ji Suyong...!!"
Munhyeok High fans, constipated from all the robbery, chanted his name.
"Tch, that punk Ji Suyong..."
It stung extra coming from a junior he'd once dismissed.
But Im Tae-yul slapped his cheeks to refocus.
'Well, I did screw up a bit to begin with.'
He felt some remorse, at least.
His luck hadn't run out yet—Ri Dong-hyeok behind him was somehow fanned, sending it to the bottom of the 5th.
And up to the mound stepped Seong-muk.
Munhyeok fans eyed him with concern.
"...Geum Seong-muk's pitch count."
"It's way too high...?"
Only the 5th inning, yet already at 84 pitches.
Just one runner allowed so far, but given Seong-muk's power pitching and elite control, this was odd.
Cheonghyeon High was forcing it deliberately.
'We're pulling Geum Seong-muk early.'
'Pad the pitch count, then battle the relievers!'
'Getting him yanked early in his start? That's a win over him too!'
'Don't feel ashamed—victory's all that matters in the end!'
Score off Seong-muk himself?
After watching U.S. teams get soul-crushed head-on, Cheonghyeon had given up clean.
No plans to square up his pitches for solid contact this game.
Crack!
"Foul!"
Crack!
"Foul!!"
Similar pitches got nudged foul endlessly.
Fouls piling up like crazy.
Even a nationally strong lineup like Cheonghyeon's abandoning hits to just foul off—any ace's count climbs.
Thwack!
"Out...!"
3-hole batter out after a 5-pitch battle.
Up next: Cleanup Choi Seok-ho.
"........."
"........"
National team slugger Choi Seok-ho with S-level power.
Worthy of his Asan Black Tiger moniker, but he followed the team plan too.
Actually, he was the most gung-ho.
Crack!
"Foul...!"
Crack!
"Foul!!"
Pitch count at 8 now.
Defensive stance too embarrassing for a man-to-man duel. This was why Seong-muk had to play lukewarm.
"Tch."
Seong-muk clicked his tongue in distaste.
Choi Seok-ho was quite satisfied with that reaction.
'...Geum Seong-muk won't call it cowardly.'
The strategy's inspiration? Seong-muk himself.
He'd ignored cleanup duties, infinite pitch-padding to wear down Woo Mu-jin and force him out.
Korea eked a win over North Korea.
Impressed, Choi Seok-ho naturally thought next steps.
'What if the whole Cheonghyeon High team used that...?'
Even the strongest ace could be pulled early. And it was working big-time.
Tick!
"Out!"
Foul fly to the catcher—Choi Seok-ho out.
He glanced at the board with a smug grin.
'Perfect...!'
End of the 5th: Seong-muk at 99 pitches.
Normal stamina? Straight to the pen. Cheonghyeon figured maybe one more inning max.
Seong-muk trudged off the mound.
A faint smile played under his cap.
'Right on script. Not a deviation.'
Cheonghyeon High's bold "Anti-Geum Seong-muk Strategy."
Seong-muk had seen it coming.
All of it.
Two days before the game.
"..........."
"..........."
A heavy silence hung in the room.
Face-to-face with Doyeon in her private office, Seong-muk found the vibe super awkward.
"......"
Doyeon especially—face flushed, eyes averted. Obviously because of "that incident" at her place recently.
'Sis has no dating experience either, so...'
It bugged him too, sure.
But now wasn't the time.
Seong-muk cleared his throat.
"Ahem, sis. Mind filling me in on Cheonghyeon High?"
"Ah, y-yeah! Right!"
She jolted, nodding furiously, and handed over the analysis packet.
"Pretty thin?"
"Compared to U.S. teams or Hancheong High, lots of spots where it's like, eh, not necessary."
Stronger teams meant more data, naturally.
This packet was even slimmer than the first Cheonghyeon one.
Plastered atop it: projected win probability.
94%
"Whoa, first time in months it's flipped like this."
Back then, Munhyeok's odds were 1%. Now nearly reversed.
Seong-muk felt just how much stronger they'd gotten.
But Doyeon had a caveat, stressing it hard.
"Munhyeok High wins for sure, but watch out."
"Huh? For what?"
"Cheonghyeon might come at you with some unconventional strategy. Their coach, Kim Dae-yeop, has pulled that off against powerhouses before."
Shuffle!
She handed over another stack.
Twenty-odd scenarios likely for Game 2.
Especially flagged: five key situations.
Seong-muk read, eyes widening.
'...Damn, would've bled without this.'
That 6% loss chance? Probably from getting screwed here. He beamed at her.
"Thanks, sis."
"No biggie—it's what I do."
Blushing, she glanced away, twirling her long hair.
She hesitated, then squeezed her eyes shut.
"Seong-muk, you really mean the thanks?"
"Huh? Yeah, super grateful."
"Then... um."
"...?"
She fidgeted with her fingers, then mustered courage.
"...Next time, you have to come inside my place. Got it?"
".........!!"
Seong-muk's eyes flashed.
Not "hang out" casual.
Pick up that interrupted vibe from last time.
His face heated up.
"Phew..."
Palm to forehead, he murmured.
"When?"
"...After the tournament?"
No distractions during Sejong—no risk there.
A reward setup? Only fueled Seong-muk more.
"Deal. Your place."
"...For real?!"
"You ever seen me lie to you? Anyway, thanks for the data today—catch ya later!!"
Grateful exit for final practice.
Doyeon sat frozen after he left.
"Haa, haa..."
Face crimson.
Replaying it, breaths ragged.
"......"
Soon, she rose quietly.
Walked to the door...
Click!
Locked her private office.
No staff in for a while. Good thing the building was soundproofed solid.