Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Grace of the Older Woman
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"Gasp...!"
"...Wow."
The men on the street shot her lingering glances.
"What's so pretty about her?"
"Exactly. You can tell at a glance she's all dolled up."
While drawing envy from other women,
Do Do-yeon headed to the meeting spot.
And not just any look—she'd gone all out.
She wore a white knit top with a black skirt.
Of course, Do-yeon usually dressed plainly and wasn't great at dolling up, but today she'd put in real effort.
'I can't look shabby in front of Do-jin's teammate...'
She had her reasons for going all out. Even in her usual simple outfits, guys swarmed her—what would make today any different?
"Whoa, she's totally my type. I'm gonna ask for her number."
"She's way out of your league. You sure?"
"Don't you know fortune favors the bold? Just watch, buddy."
One guy was sneaking up behind her like that.
Then she spotted a familiar face and hurried over with a bright smile.
"Seong-muk!"
"Oh, Do-yeon."
And there appeared Geum Seong-muk.
A massive build with muscles straining his T-shirt, blond hair, tanned skin—he exuded the kind of intimidating power that could rip apart any guy approaching Do Do-yeon.
"Hup...!"
The guy trailing her felt his breath catch, frozen in place.
"This the right café? Let's head in."
The two entered amiably.
Today, too, Seong-muk had unknowingly shown a lot of guys the gap in their strength.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Unexpected..."
Do Do-yeon stared at me with wide eyes, like she never imagined this.
Feeling sheepish, I pulled the straw from my mouth and asked,
"Does it look that weird for me to drink a strawberry smoothie?"
"Hehe, no. I like that it's not your usual tough-guy vibe."
She flashed a grin and sipped her Americano.
The reason I'd called her was simple: to catch up on how the baseball team was doing and get her help where needed.
After a few gulps, we dove into the real talk.
"Did the report go through okay?"
"Yeah, Coach was grinning ear to ear after reading it. Our individual training is basically based on your report now."
"Really...?"
She beamed at hearing her report was such a big help. With her strong drive for achievement, she lit up at words like that.
"I heard you're pushing for practice games. How's that going?"
"Not great. All the candidate schools turned us down."
"Oh no..."
After the Munhyeok High game, we'd poached Ji Su-yong, and Cheonghyeon High's ace went haywire. Furious, Coach Kim Dae-yeop spread all sorts of nasty rumors about Munhyeok High.
'Geum Seong-muk's a steroid junkie, and Munhyeok High throws money around with dirty tricks to steal players!'
Because of that, I'd even undergone an unwanted doping test. Naturally, it came back clean: 'No issues.'
'...Honestly, it was kinda suspicious.'
If a guy's lower body suddenly bulges mid-game and his velocity jumps 10 km/h, even I'd think, 'Is that bastard on something?'
And that was the killer blow for scheduling games.
Stealing players with dirty tricks?
'Tch, straight facts.'
We'd only snagged one player so far, but our scheme was already out. The rumors hit hard—even teams with solid infield prospects we'd targeted for practice games all bailed. What a sigh-worthy mess.
Still, it wasn't all doom.
A few teams were intrigued by our win over Cheonghyeon High. We might not poach anyone, but finding sparring partners for experience was a win.
"Can I ask you to analyze the schools that did agree?"
They're teams we could beat easily without her help. But I wanted to drill it into my teammates early: the value of data in modern baseball.
Her 'win probability predictions' from the last game had proven useful. Her eerie, spot-on predictions by situation would be gold.
In the game, unless the protagonist variable messed things up, her predictions hit 99%.
"Sure, no problem. I'll prep the data."
Do Do-yeon smiled brightly, promising her help.
We chatted about this and that, but she still seemed worried about Do Do-jin.
"...Do-jin got hurt a bit when he was little, so he's shy around people. I'm worried."
"Don't worry, he's settling in fine on his own."
Not that he's buddy-buddy with everyone—that'd be a lie.
But he syncs daily with keystone Choi Adam, chats with him, and talks often with Hassan too.
Above all, he approaches even a thug like me without awkwardness, chatting away. By mid-season, his shyness should fade, and he'll blend right in.
"...That's a relief."
She looked somewhat reassured.
Her anxiety eased, she switched topics.
"As a new team, you must need all sorts of stuff. Got everything you need?"
"Yeah, top-grade team bus, great new pitching coach. Even got a dedicated nutritionist recently."
I didn't care about much else, but no more going hungry thanks to the nutritionist. No need to mooch off Olivia's back anymore.
'Oh yeah, meeting her tomorrow.'
We'd planned to chat briefly the day before practice games.
This time, I'd return her papers and graduate from meal shuttle duty.
"Training gear okay? That's gotta be the priciest burden for a new team."
"That's the issue."
"Issue?"
"We have everything else. Even the latest pitching machines."
"Issue?"
"No budget for pro measurement gear."
"No way..."
"Rapsodo and TrackMan. That's it."
"...!"
Do Do-yeon looked shocked.
Rapsodo, TrackMan.
Words alone couldn't capture their value.
Simply put, in modern baseball embracing tech, they're essential.
For pitchers: spin rate, movement, mechanics tweaks. For hitters: exit velo, launch angle, swing analysis. Crucial stuff.
In the real world, pro teams only, but here? Baseball-crazed world. Even decent Korean high schools have 'em. Schools gunning for nationals? Judged by these two.
"Hmm..."
Her expression darkened as she asked,
"Missing those two isn't good. Isn't the Chairman fully backing you?"
"Too many money pits, apparently. No way on those."
I'd thought the Chairman was exaggerating at first.
Even dusted off some gay-ass videos to test, but...
'Seriously, seriously impossible...!!'
He said maybe one in 3-4 months, but both? No chance.
His desperate face seemed genuine. He'd already shelled out plenty.
"How much are they?"
"Phew, together around 300-400 million won, I hear."
"300-400 million?!?"
For her, still working part-time to cover tuition, it was jaw-dropping. I'd clutched my forehead too at first.
'Why's it several times real-world prices...?'
In reality, 50-100 million tops combined, but baseball-mad world.
Limited supply, hundreds of advanced-baseball fans—prices skyrocketed. Fallout hit us now.
"No teeth? Use gums, I guess."
We can't match geared teams on fine tweaks. I use 'em plenty myself.
But no money? What ya gonna do.
Gotta rely on feel for now.
"Any rental options?"
"Checked—gov support already closed. Should've applied last year."
"Hmm..."
A high schooler and college kid's ideas only go so far. Our chat ended heavy with worries.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Phew."
Do-yeon walked the street after parting with Seong-muk.
Her mind was a whirlwind.
"Equipment, huh..."
She genuinely wanted to help Seong-muk.
Do-jin was on Munhyeok High now, so not someone else's problem. Plus, she felt she owed him.
But procuring pricey gear? Beyond her paygrade.
No way a regular college kid scrapes 300-400 million.
Then, an idea flashed.
'That man...?'
Her bio dad, who ditched her sick mom and little siblings for a baseball chaebol marriage.
At Korea's baseball pinnacle now, two machines? Pocket change. Snap fingers, some no-name club fetches used ones.
But she couldn't contact him.
He'd come crawling to the siblings multiple times.
'Do-yeon, I was wrong. Can you forgive me?'
Her answer was always set.
Have you no shame?
What face do you show up with?
Where were you when Mom suffered?
Do-jin's introversion stemmed big from Dad's abandonment and Mom's death.
Call the guy who scarred her family forever... for money? No face to show deceased Mom. She wanted to avoid that most.
"Still, sigh..."
Clear way to boost Munhyeok High, but ignore for past grudges? Right?
Torn between past and future, her head spun.
Walking worried, an sign caught her eye.
[He who masters probability shall master money.]
[Sports Toto!]
"...!"
Her eyes lit up.
She read the explanation, entranced.
"...Predict all game outcomes right, get the prize?"
Do Do-yeon finished the rules, face grave in thought.
"Just pick wins/losses and margins for this much cash...?"
Her near-perfect prediction record.
No doubt, she filled the Toto sheet.
"Yeah, this should do."
Hit: 20,000x payout.
Insane odds on the finished sheet.
She left the shop beaming brighter than ever.
The birth of a legendary figure, hailed for decades as the 'Toto Goddess.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A few days later,
I found Manager Myeong Sin-u bouncing excitedly at the field.
"Seong-muk! Seong-muk! Jackpot...!!"
"Yeah, yeah. What's up?"
I replied half-heartedly, figuring something trivial.
But soon I was bouncing too.
"Someone donated the gear! Rapsodo and TrackMan, both...!!"
"What, what?!"
I dropped my bag and bolted to the training area.
There they were.
Fresh-outta-box, reeking of new gear goodness.
"Holy crap...!"
"Ahh, heaven helps Munhyeok High...!"
I forgot dignity, jumping with Manager Myeong.
Ready to give up, and they drop in our laps?
Savoring joy, I calmed and asked the source.
"Man, Chairman must've scored 'em somewhere. Guy's got skills."
"Huh? Wasn't it you, Seong-muk? Chairman said he never heard."
"What?"
I blurted like an idiot.
Not Chairman—then who?
"Anonymous donor. Didn't want identity revealed."
"Hmm..."
No leads.
Only Manager Myeong, Chairman, and Do Do-yeon knew.
'No way Do-yeon...?'
Nah.
I shook my head.
Part-timer barely feeding two—how?
One possibility, though.
If 'that method' from my game chat panned out.
'Do-yeon quits front office, uses prediction skills for Toto? Instant chaebol?'
ㄴ LMAOOOO genius?
ㄴ Heroine tiers from 1 to 0 ㄷㄷ
ㄴ UwU Do-yeon mommy, raise me...
'Nah, no way.'
Straight-laced elite like Do-yeon on sports Toto?
As mismatched as me volunteering at a nursing home.
'Anyway, anonymous donor, love ya...!'
If they showed, I'd kowtow.
For a while, Manager Myeong's and my laughter echoed nonstop in the training area.