Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Powerhouse High School Was Nothing Special
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Munhyeok High's reaction after their practice game against Cheonghyeon High was scheduled was, predictably, "We're playing Cheonghyeon High...!?"
Cheonghyeon High's reaction, on the other hand, was exactly what you'd expect: "Why the hell are we playing those guys?"
The core players on the Cheonghyeon High side reacted like this.
"Ah, this is insane. Now they're making us play a brand-new team?"
"I'm losing my mind. Seriously, why are we even doing this?"
"Our foundation chairman and their school chairman are golf buddies."
"Son of a bitch, they do everything. The starters are all sitting this one out, right?"
"We could fill the lineup with bench guys and still win. Why should we bother?"
"Kya, what a sweet chance for the benchwarmers. Massacre the scrubs and catch the manager's eye!"
The Cheonghyeon High baseball team treated them like ants they could squash without a second thought. The only thing that even slightly caught their attention was Seok Un-gang's presence.
"Whoa, Seok Un-gang went there? Does that mean their pitcher passed the Seok Un-gang challenge?"
One of Cheonghyeon High's pitchers, who had tried and failed that challenge himself, bristled at the comment.
"Bullshit. He must've cheated somehow. Or maybe Seok Un-gang was all hype to begin with."
Right in the middle of that conversation, an eyesore showed up.
"Haha, good morning!"
Ji Su-yong had just finished his morning guidance club duties and returned. Though he was on the baseball team, he was the odd one who passionately did guidance club activities every morning.
Of course, in a country that doesn't look kindly on people who stand out, his baseball teammates saw Ji Su-yong in a bad light.
"Why the hell does that punk do such pointless crap?"
"Let him do whatever. He's just wasting his energy."
"Ugh, being the manager's adopted son makes him so carefree."
Another player pushed back.
"If he was really the favorite, they wouldn't pull him if he sucked, right?"
"Giving a retard like that even a chance is proof of favoritism. The kid has zero baseball IQ."
Ji Su-yong went around greeting his classmates with a big smile, oblivious to the gossip—whether it was behind his back or to his face.
Anyway, Cheonghyeon High's prediction for this practice game was simple.
"Pfft, why even say it? 10-run rule shutout."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thwack!
"Strike three!"
Geum Seong-muk's fastball pierced the low zone.
The Cheonghyeon High batter stood there dumbfounded, unable to even swing, striking out.
Cheonghyeon High sensed something was off.
They had definitely sent out all their bench players.
But Cheonghyeon High was still a powerhouse.
And their opponents were a newborn baseball team.
A brand-new high school team should be pushovers, right?
'That blond punk... how does he keep hitting our weak spots...!'
The velocity was mid-140s km/h—completely average.
The curve and slider weren't unhittable.
But somehow...
He'd shove them right in your face, daring you to swing.
And those pitches always targeted the batters' weaknesses.
Beyond just battling the hitter, his awareness was insane, like he had eyes everywhere.
Just like right now.
Whoosh-!
"Out!"
The runner on first fell for Geum Seong-muk's brilliant pickoff move. Even though he was confident in his speed, he was caught in the blink of an eye.
He had reached base earlier because the third baseman botched a play he should've caught, which might've shaken anyone else—but Geum Seong-muk didn't care. He wasn't the type to get rattled by little things.
"Seong-muk hyung, nice pitching!"
"Whew, ending the inning with a splash of cold water. Feels great."
Geum Seong-muk bumped fists with Do Do-jin and Seok Un-gang before heading back to the dugout with the Munhyeok High defense.
'All that memorizing Do Do-yeon's reports paid off.'
He had committed data on quite a few players to memory while forming a battery with Seok Un-gang. Geum Seong-muk subtly glanced toward the Cheonghyeon High dugout.
"Grrraaah, Cheonghyeon High, fighting...!!!"
Ji Su-yong was the only one jumping around in the quiet Cheonghyeon High dugout, cheering for the team. They wondered if he'd play from the start, but he hadn't come in yet.
'Guess Ji Su-yong's starter-level after all.'
He rotated in and out, but Manager Kim Dae-seop seemed aware of Ji Su-yong's impressive tools. Even in a lineup with all starters benched, they'd included him.
'Whatever, if they get desperate later, they'll throw him in.'
Now it was the top of the 4th—Munhyeok High's turn to bat.
The lineup had cycled back to leadoff hitter Choi Adam.
The opposing pitcher was Cheonghyeon High's third starter, right-hander Joo Ha-neul.
Seong-muk opened Joo Ha-neul's status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Joo Ha-neul
Nationality: South Korea
Age: 19
Height: 181 cm
Skill: Starter Aptitude (C) - Condition slightly improves when starting.
Potential Keyword: Solid Prospect (B+)
💪 Stamina: B 🎯 Control: B ⚡ Fastball: B+ (*B+) 💥 Velocity: C+ 🌪️ Breaking Balls: C+ (*Potential) / Right-handed Overhand
'Third starter my ass—garbage time pitcher is more like it.'
High school baseball is a sport where you burn out your one good arm. Even powerhouses rarely have more than two viable starters. Joo Ha-neul was the guy they threw into meaningless games like this.
"Damn it, I'm hitting this one for sure."
Choi Adam stepped up to the plate fired up. His first-inning out was just a fluke, and this time he proved his hitting potential.
Crack!
He sliced a ball through the three-six hole and safely reached first.
Thrilled to notch Munhyeok High's first-ever hit in history, he pounded his chest and celebrated toward the dugout.
'Not an official game, so it doesn't count, but if he's happy... whatever.'
Thinking that, Seong-muk swung his bat loosely in the on-deck circle.
"Hyung, I'm heading up."
"Go get 'em—one big swing."
Next up was No. 2 hitter Do Do-jin. With Choi Adam shaking things up from first and Do Do-jin at the plate, it was a dangerous combo.
"Three-leaf!"
Choi Adam took a massive lead, signaling he could steal anytime. He ignored the endless pickoff attempts, leaning way out like he dared them to try.
"Tch, that little runt's being a pain...!"
Pitchers are sensitive creatures.
When a runner keeps wandering, it gets under your skin. Most pitchers let it mess with their mechanics.
That rattled the pitcher's control, and Do Do-jin—who had a great eye—laid off the bad ones.
"Take your base!"
Do Do-jin tossed his bat lightly and walked to first. Now bases loaded, no outs: runners on first and second.
Next batter: No. 3, Geum Seong-muk.
He twirled his bat over his head as he approached the plate. Blessed with the world's top talent, surprisingly he lacked confidence.
'Damn, shoulda practiced hitting more.'
With all his time in pitching training, he hadn't swung much. Even a sack of pearls is worthless without stringing them—even genius needs practice to shine.
And with pitching as his main gig and velocity recovery priority one, he had no time to spare.
⚔ BATTER STATUS ⚔ # Geum Seong-muk
💥 Power: B+ (*S+) 🎯 Contact: C+ (*S) 🏃 Speed: B (*S) 👁️ Eye: C 🛡️ Defense: D 💪 Shoulder: B (*S+) (*Potential) / Left Throw, Left Bat
Dismal stats compared to his potential. At least he had some pop and wasn't a total dud.
'Back in high school, I even won the Lee Young-min hitting award.'
He'd often heard he could've gone pro as a hitter if not for pitching. Even as a pro pitcher, he'd occasionally pinch-hit well. Ancient history now.
'Narrow it to one pitch type.'
Even with his current lagging stats, that focus would let him square it up. Especially against a so-so pitcher.
Thwack-!
"Strike!"
A curve burying low and away.
Seong-muk watched one.
'Last at-bat, he swung at a fastball and whiffed.'
Body not cooperating, so use the head. He whiffed big on the next 145 km/h fastball.
Whoosh!
Timing way off.
Count now 2-1.
At this point, the battery thinks one thing.
'Watched him last at-bat...'
'Fastball's his weakness!'
Throw the same spot, same pitch?
Crack!
A line drive dropping in front of center.
Choi Adam raced around third toward home. The center fielder fired, but S-grade speedster Choi Adam had slid home lightning-fast.
Munhyeok High's first run. Covered in dirt, Choi Adam returned to the dugout like a triumphant general.
"I'm back, you bastards...!"
"Nice play!"
"Adam hyung, nice baserunning!"
Munhyeok High's dugout buzzed with unexpected momentum, while Cheonghyeon High sulked.
"No, seriously. What the hell is Joo Ha-neul doing?"
"That's why he's just a patch starter. Tch."
Busy cursing the pitcher who got shelled.
Face beet-red, Joo Ha-neul. He planned to walk the next hitter Seok Un-gang, but now he couldn't. Facing a power bat like that with shaken nerves?
Crack--!
The ball soared deep to the outfield. It looked gone, but smacked the top of the fence and kicked back in.
The outfielder hustled, but by then second-runner Do Do-jin and first-runner Geum Seong-muk had both scored.
Seok Un-gang's RBI double made it 3-0.
Munhyeok High leading powerhouse Cheonghyeon High by three.
"Uwoooah...! As expected of Shaolin Temple's pillar!"
"Knew you'd deliver, Seok Un-god!"
Manager Kim Dae-seop couldn't let Munhyeok High's momentum build. He pulled his ace card early—one not even planned for today: Im Tae-yul.
"Tae-yul, you warmed up at all?"
The languid blond hunk pitcher stretched lazily in the bullpen and sauntered out.
"Nah, didn't think that idiot would get shelled by a newborn high school team."
"Tch, suffer a bit. Can't keep leading to scrubs like this—embarrassing. Reverse it and you're out."
"Yessir~."
Im Tae-yul yawned hugely as he took the mound. He tossed three half-hearted pitches, spun his right arm, and signaled ready to the ump.
"Already...?"
"He warmed up like that?"
Next up: No. 5, Seo Kyung-su.
But he was soon flustered.
Pop-
-97 km/h
"Strike!"
An absurd lollipop pitch. And the guy yawned casually after.
"W-what the hell is this guy?"
He expected monster heat from Cheonghyeon High's ace, not this garbage.
Nothing like what he planned for.
"Hmm, handed you one to hit and you don't?"
Im Tae-yul tilted his head. Then grinned brightly and threw again.
"Here, try this one!"
Another lazy lollipop. This time Seo Kyung-su swung.
Crack-!
His ball flew left. Looked caught by right field, but dropped short.
Unsure if hit or fly, Seok Un-gang held at third.
Runners on first and third, no outs.
Clear crisis.
But Im Tae-yul just smiled.
"Aw, didn't come home?"
Acting disappointed they didn't score.
His grin vanished as he muttered low.
"Okay, playtime's over."
Thwack--!!
Im Tae-yul's fastball slammed into the mitt with a vicious pop.
-151 km/h
"...!"
No. 6 froze solid.
Velocity was one thing, but the heaviness was murderous—like a rock coming at you. Once doubt crept in about hitting it, the outcome was sealed.
Thwack-!!
"Strike three!"
152 km/h fastball K.
Munhyeok dugout panicked but cheered loud.
"It's fine, still one out!"
"Get it next time!"
Reality was harsher.
Thwack--!!
-152 km/h
-153 km/h
-154 km/h
Like mocking their false hope, Im Tae-yul ramped up. Munhyeok's bottom order couldn't touch it.
"Strike three!"
The no-out, runners-on-first-and-third chance fizzled. Score still 3-0 Munhyeok lead, but Im Tae-yul's dominance shifted the vibe strangely.
"Ah, too easy. Kids, score some runs quick? Wanna get pulled."
"Y-yeah, got it Tae-yul!"
Cheonghyeon High regained confidence with their ace in. Bad sign for Munhyeok.
"...Hmm."
Geum Seong-muk groaned.
Im Tae-yul appeared way earlier than expected.
Then the system chimed.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Im Tae-yul's status can now be viewed. View it? [Yes / No] "Yes."
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Im Tae-yul
Nationality: South Korea
Age: 19
Height: 185 cm
Skill: Warm-up (A) - Time to loosen up is extremely short.
Potential Keywords: Fireballer (S), Hard Fastball (A+), Trick Ball (A+), Precision Aim (A)
💪 Stamina: B+ 🎯 Control: A (*A) ⚡ Fastball: A+ (*S) 💥 Velocity: B 🌪️ Breaking Balls: A (*A+) (*Potential) / Right-handed Three-Quarter
Insane stats unbelievable for a high schooler.
This was the guy Do Do-yeon flagged as the top threat if they went full starters.
Even at current levels, Im Tae-yul qualified as a national-class high school pitcher.
"This won't be easy..."
Seong-muk broke a cold sweat.
He caught the weird flow in the stadium.
And instinctively knew:
If he didn't do something, winning this game wouldn't be easy at all.