Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Is This Guy S-Rank or Trash?
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Is this bastard S-grade or trash?
"……………!"
I opened my eyes to find myself in a plaza.
A strangely familiar plaza, even amid the unfamiliarity.
Where the hell is this?
Why am I here?
It's too vivid to be a dream. Then, a single hypothesis flashed through my mind.
"Nah, no way…."
I chuckled at my ridiculous idea, when a group of middle schoolers' voices came from behind me.
"Pitching center after this?"
"Cool, let's hit up Coffee Bread. Loser who strikes out the least buys."
"…………!"
A familiar conversation somewhere.
There are no pitching centers like that in reality, and even if there were, middle and high school kids wouldn't treat them like their own homes after school.
As confusion swirled, a female announcer's voice echoed from the plaza's large screen.
[Ma Tae-ju has signed a 1.5 trillion won, 15-year contract with the Gwangju Red Sox. This makes him the fifth trillion-won club member in the league...]
[Hollywood top star Joanna Yang and Cheonan Cardinals star Gang Ho-jun are dating. They reportedly met at a post-game gathering and sparks flew...]
In this world, if you play baseball decently in Korea, you could land a trillion-won FA deal, and even snag a Hollywood actress easily.
A world where top baseball talents don't need to go overseas—they can live like kings right here in Korea. The so-called "Baseball Power Reversal World."
I kept looking around in a daze until a sudden realization hit me.
"Wait, this is Gwanghwamun Square."
Gwanghwamun brings one landmark to mind.
The statue of Joseon's greatest admiral, Yi Sun-sin.
"Yeah, if I just find Sun-sin hyung…!"
For some reason, I felt an instant bond with the Joseon-era general like he was my lifeline. I bolted madly toward the statue.
"Huff, huff…!"
If the Yi Sun-sin statue isn't there, then I'd have to accept it. I ran while screaming internally, 'Please, please!'
"……Oh!"
Far off, the silhouette of Gwanghwamun's landmark, the Yi Sun-sin statue, came into view. Grinning like an idiot, thinking 'Knew it,' as I approached—something was off.
"Hold up, hyung. You're joking, right…?"
Something was different.
The Yi Sun-sin I knew wielded a single sword, commanding the navy to repel Japanese invaders—an invincible admiral.
Three Provinces Naval Commander Fourth Batter Yi Sun-sin
Why the hell was my bro leaning on a thick baseball bat instead of a sword?
Why had Joseon's undefeated admiral become Joseon's cleanup hitter…!
"Ah, fuck, Sun-sin hyung…………!!!"
I had no choice but to accept it now. Undeniably, I had possessed the world of Doki Doki Baseball.
######
"…Here it is."
February's chill bit deep.
I walked to the one-room apartment marked "Home" on the map app, barely finding where the original owner lived.
Inside the rundown place.
I stepped into the bathroom, stared in the mirror, and smacked my forehead.
"Geum Seong-muk, it's really this guy."
Brightly dyed blond hair, tanned bronze skin like he'd baked under the sun with care, a ripped muscular build, and a delinquent vibe oozing from his looks.
This had to be Geum Seong-muk, the scene-stealer Golden Sun from Doki Doki Baseball. Then, a surge of curiosity hit me.
"Whoa."
I pulled down my pants and checked out "it" down there. I couldn't hold back the exclamation.
Okay, I believe it. I'm definitely Geum Seong-muk.
The guy who'd subtly flaunted its extraordinary heft on screen. Both me and the viewers had been shocked. No one else with this face could pack a monster like that.
Swish-swish—
I rotated my left shoulder.
This guy was presumed to have quit baseball due to injury. So, if there were lingering issues, there should be some catch in the motion….
"Feels perfectly fine?"
I've taken plenty of injuries playing ball myself. I'd sense any remnants, but there was zilch.
That's when it hit me, fully aware of my situation.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Welcome to the world of Doki Doki Baseball! As per your request, you've been granted pre-play access to 'Geum Seong-muk'. Please select your play difficulty. 1. Amateur 2. Pro 3. Extreme Suddenly tossed into the game, now picking difficulty? Absurd. I grumbled at the system.
"What's the difference no matter what I pick?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Rewards differ. Amateur grants the right to return to reality. Pro adds substantial monetary rewards. And for clearing Extreme mode... "……?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ We will grant one wish of your choosing, anything at all. "……………!!"
My eyes widened.
No way.
"…Bullshit. How am I supposed to believe that?"
But why?
My heart started pounding like mad.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ If you lack faith, we recommend starting at a lower difficulty. "……."
Chicken out and clear Amateur or Pro to bail, huh.
'What if it's real?'
Pulling someone from the other side of a monitor into this world? No modern science explains that.
If there's even a chance the system can grant my wish, I have to take the risk.
"How tough is Extreme?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The step above Pro, still in planning. Not recommended unless highly skilled. "Hmm…."
I'm a top-tier veteran, proud of it. Pro mode, a wall of tears for most, I can clear half-asleep now.
One step up? Should be doable.
Gulp!
I swallowed hard.
"I'll play Extreme."
I act cool in front of others, but since leaving the field, emptiness has been my life. This might be my last shot to fix it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Confirmed. Shrrk!
A quest book unfolded before me.
This game's signature system helps newbies with the first page quest.
📜 NEW QUEST 📜 # You are Geum Seong-muk, 3rd-year at Munhyeok High School.
With your final year of high school ahead—the last page of your school life—you must achieve one of these goals before graduation!
📍 1. Win the National Championship
⏰ 2. 1st Round Rookie Draft Pick
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ !! Mission failure results in user's death in reality !!
"……Fuck?"
Insane goals.
Achieve that in just one year?
This isn't one step above Pro. At least two or three.
And the tiny line below made me lose it.
"Crazy, you're kidding…!?"
I yelled, but the system stayed silent. Dizziness hit hard.
"Ha, gonna lose my mind."
Lured with the wish bait, then slammed with death on failure. Guess that's why they say read the fine print.
What's my real shot at success?
'…Transfer to a contender and ride the bus?'
Impossible, no matter how I sliced it.
High school rules: Transfer to a school with 25+ players, sit out official games for 6 months.
No school would waste a roster spot on a nobody they couldn't use right away.
So no transfers—win with Munhyeok High School.
'Do they even have a baseball team?'
Even weak schools have competed officially if I wouldn't feel this alienated. Googling desperately, my hand froze.
"…Munhyeok High, no official baseball team. Just a casual club? For real?"
Turn a hobby club into national champs in a year? Over 5,000 high schools compete.
Second option: 1st round draft.
Worse, actually. Ball's round—underdogs can upset giants in short tournaments.
Snowball right, maybe good tournament run. But drafts? Pure talent wins.
Someone might say, "Why fuss over 1st round in Korean baseball?"
This is peak nationalism game. Korea's the world's baseball hub.
Equivalent to MLB 1st rounder. Even I, a vet, only got it twice—needs insane effort and luck.
'One year left? No joke.'
Freshman? Doable. Sophomore? Grindable.
Junior? In a body that's likely missed a year? Top 20 of millions of prospects?
Anyone who knows baseball would say impossible, bullet to the head. Even with my game knowledge, this crosses the line.
Then—
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You may freely view characters' 'Stats' and 'Keywords'. "…………!"
My eyes lit up.
Big complaint from players: Can't scout other players' stats/keywords.
Just rumors like "this guy's good, OP."
'With this, I can snag undervalued gems for the team.'
Even if my skills lag, stack cheaty teammates, bus to survival?
No sitting idle anyway. Self-analysis first. Deep breath, I shouted into the air.
"Status window."
⚔ STATUS ⚔ ⚡ Name: Geum Seong-muk 🏳️ Nationality: Republic of Korea 📅 Age: 18 (Grade 3) 📏 Height: 192cm 🏫 Affiliation: Munhyeok High School "………Gulp."
Basic info I knew-ish.
Not playable, so no detailed stats before. First gauge: skills.
Every player has at least one. Not OP like fire-breathing bats or demon balls.
But meaningful gaps—S to F rank, pulls matter.
'Please, stat-boost skill…! S-grade if possible…!'
Best are straightforward "stat up in ~ situations." Crisis fighters? Trash.
"Please!"
I squeezed my eyes shut, opened, read the skill. Doubted my eyes.
Pulled utter garbage.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Tingly Sensor (F) Born with exceptional equipment, sense opponent's weaknesses via your lower region's intuition. Unavailable during games.
"What the fuck is this shit."
Worst type I didn't want. F-grade too.
"Fucked…."
Weakness sense is rare, A-grade valuable. But F? Useless trash.
'So that wasn't a skill…?'
In-game, Geum Seong-muk had awakening moments that wrecked players.
But can't use in games? Worst skill ever.
"Snap out of it…!"
Not over. Key stats left.
Skills are toppings on the stats cake. Nice, but base matters most.
"Here we go…!"
I hit pitcher stats.
Jaw dropped at the results.
⚔ PITCHER POTENTIAL ⚔ Geum Seong-muk / Left-handed, Three-Quarter Arm
💪 Stamina: A+ (*S) 🎯 Control: C+ ⚡ Fastball: — (*S+) 💥 Velocity: B (*S+) 🔄 Breaking Balls: C Potential Keywords: Heavenly Pitching Body (EX), Heavenly Hitting Body (EX)
"………………!!!"
Jackpot.
Super jackpot.
Potential keywords hint max stat growth.
B: Solid pro. A: Prodigy. S: Genius.
Genius rare. One S fully bloomed? Starter easy.
Three+? Heaven-sent, EX keyword.
Heavenly Pitching Body for pitchers, Heavenly Hitting Body for hitters.
Both? Top three rarest in game.
"Who knew Geum Seong-muk had this much…."
I flicked to hitter stats.
⚔ HITTER POTENTIAL ⚔ Geum Seong-muk / Left-handed Batter
💥 Power: B+ (*S+) 🎯 Contact: C+ (*S) 🏃 Speed: B (*S) 👁️ Eye: C 🛡️ Defense: D 💪 Shoulder: — (*S+) Hitter side: Four S+ talents. Power, contact, speed—all core S potentials.
Underdeveloped like pitcher side.
With this, freshman hype as two-way talent makes sense—got cocky. I get it as a player.
Time to reevaluate that "hyped freshman" performance.
"…This cheat talent, and that's all he did?"
Busan top-five pitcher nationally ~100th. Hitter? "Decent power fan."
Should be top-three material.
"How much did he slack relying on talent…."
Switching girls daily? No focus.
Good for me now.
Life-on-line game? Cheat character possession is win.
One oddity. Missed amid S-hype.
Fastball: — (*S+)
Shoulder: — (*S+)
"…Why no fastball or shoulder stats?"
Shoulder felt fine, but no. Minor injuries show minus; blank is rare.
Serious.
Blank potential means one thing:
'Fatal flaw making pro career impossible.'
Shoulder fatal flaws: three possibilities.
"Elbow, dead arm…."
Both take time to fix. Headache for newbies, but clear treatments.
Worst case even vets shake heads: Turns cheat potentials to trash.
"No, no…!"
Grabbed glove off floor, threw on windbreaker, rushed out.
Had to check this body now.
Right now!
"Argh, fuck—!! You goddamn body…!!"
I ran like a dog.
Cursing this Golden Sun body teetering between trash and god.