Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Identity of the Veiled Girl...?!
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Defense specialist infielder Lee Tae-kyung has joined Munhyeok High.
He must have realized how tough it is to go far with the current team, because the moment I gave him a little nudge, he swiftly decided to transfer.
"Hello! I'm Lee Tae-kyung, a first-year transfer from Bomun High. I'll guard the infield like a fortress. Please take care of me...!"
The guy bowed deeply to the team in greeting. The players clapped in welcome. Ri Dong-hyeok, the groundball pitcher, seemed especially thrilled and clapped the hardest. On the flip side, the reserve members who'd seen Lee Tae-kyung's rock-solid defense looked a bit tense. They were probably anxious about fewer opportunities now that a sure-handed defender had joined.
'Tough luck—should've stepped up then.'
This early stage after the team's formation is the most chaotic but also full of chances. Guys who can't shine now are likely just destined to warm the bench forever.
"Alright, welcome aboard. Have Hassan look after you since you're the same age."
"Yes, Manager!"
Hassan replied briskly.
Truth be told, pairing him with a foreigner like Hassan for his first adjustment period felt a bit off, but there aren't many starting-caliber first-years. In a sports team with strict hierarchies, the manager figured a foreign peer would be easier than a senior.
And the new faces didn't end there.
To everyone's surprise, a female manager had joined.
"I'm Shin Hye-ji. Nice to meet you all!"
The players clapped warmly, giving her a enthusiastic welcome.
Tall with a bob haircut and a plain look, she's Choi Adam's childhood friend. Apparently, they'd gone to church together since they were kids.
She'd been in the volleyball club until an injury forced her out, and now she wanted to support the baseball team. A manager used to physical work should be quick on her feet—we had high hopes.
But Choi Adam, her actual childhood friend, didn't seem thrilled, jutting out his lips in a pout.
"Tch, do I really have to see that busted mug here too?"
"What'd you say, you little brat?"
"This crazy bitch...!!"
The two started bickering out of nowhere. Shin Hye-ji was in the mid-170s cm range, while Choi Adam barely scraped early 160s. The stark contrast left us all in solemn silence.
"Do-jin, that's what they call the thrilling height difference."
"Yeah... somehow it feels kinda sad."
With the new faces introduced, the mood had brightened considerably—especially with a girl in the mix—and the team seemed satisfied.
Honestly, forget the manager; we'd have preferred snagging another solid hitter. But external recruits are done. We'll finalize the roster at the send-off ceremony and run with this squad for the spring tournament.
'...What if some star prospect suddenly pops up from school?'
It was a pipe dream, so I let out a deep sigh. We needed a power hitter for lineup depth, but we'd make do without one.
Before training started, I headed to the bathroom and overheard voices nearby. A woman's voice mixed in—probably Shin Hye-ji and Choi Adam.
"Hey, Choi Adam. Aren't you glad I came? Huh? Admit it."
"Ugh, quit shoving that wrecked face in mine. It's annoying."
"Tch, can't you just say you're happy once? You little punk."
The two kept chatting like that.
Suddenly, Shin Hye-ji seemed to remember something and tossed out a question.
"Oh, right. Speaking of which, where's that guy?"
"Huh? Who?"
"He was in your baseball club. Red long hair, pretty-boy third baseman."
"...Oh."
Choi Adam's face lit up like he'd just remembered something forgotten.
He soon wore a bitter expression and said,
"He played one or two games then quit the club. Still attends Munhyeok High, though."
"For real...? With that skill, I figured he'd join the baseball team for sure—or transfer somewhere else."
"Hmph, who cares about a guy like that."
'Oh ho...'
My ears perked up, and I listened closely. Sounded like someone seriously talented had been in the baseball club. A third baseman, no less? I couldn't ignore that.
As they wrapped up and went their ways, I tailed Choi Adam and asked,
"Hey, Choi Adam."
"Gah, you scared me!"
Choi Adam jumped in surprise.
Seeing it was me, he tilted his head.
"What's up, calling me out like that?"
"That player you mentioned earlier—who is he?"
"...You heard that, huh."
Choi Adam scratched his head furiously, looking annoyed. He didn't seem eager but thought it over and spoke.
"Takahina Ryuji. The best hitter I've ever seen—like, to the point he makes you hit a wall."
".........!"
My heart sank in shock.
That name here...?
"Why'd this Ryuji guy quit the club?"
"First impressions were perfect. Great personality, always smiling, skills so good you wonder why he's even here. But..."
On the day he played his second game as a club member,
Takahina Ryuji reportedly said this to the team afterward:
'Sorry, guys. Let's end the childhood playtime here.'
With a wry smile, he dropped that cold line and never showed up again. He barely attends school these days either.
"I figured he had some circumstances, but I don't know the details."
"............"
My heart started racing.
I'd had no idea treasure was buried right under my nose. To boost our shot at the high school league title, that guy was essential. I grabbed Choi Adam's shoulders urgently.
"Which class is he in...?!"
"Dude, even for an athlete, don't you pay zero attention to anything around you?"
"What?"
"He's in your class, idiot."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ugh, Ryuji? He hasn't come to school in ages."
"......!"
"At this rate, he might get expelled. Can't reach him at all."
I asked his homeroom teacher, Seong Ji-young, in the staff room, and got the bad news. Desperate, I pressed,
"Anyone we can contact?"
"Hmm... Oh! He has a younger sister in second year. Noah, I think?"
"........!"
I bolted without a proper thank-you.
I'd completely forgotten. Takahina Ryuji had a little sister!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A bustling second-year classroom, mostly dance majors, echoed with the usual giggles of pretty girls.
"Aeri, that lid shot you recommended? Amazing before the cream—"
"Right? Told you you'd regret skipping it~."
The fresh high school girls burst into laughter. Then, a hulking intruder arrived.
"Excuse me."
"………!!"
The air froze instantly.
The startled girls exchanged glances in silence. One finally mustered the courage.
"Um, looking for someone...?"
"Takahina Noah, right class?"
"........!"
I'd half-expected it, but sure enough.
Another guy had fallen for Noah's charm.
'D-dangerous...!'
'...We have to protect her!'
The girls nodded determinedly at each other.
But it wasn't Noah they meant to protect.
'That blond thug's in danger...!'
Their worry was for none other than Geum Seong-muk.
This all traced back about a year.
"Noah, wanna hit the snack bar for bread with me...?!"
A classmate boy, smitten by her bubbly charm, worked up the nerve. Soon after, mysterious burly guys dragged him off after school—scary-looking ones.
"Tsk......"
The men eyed the boy slumped against the wall, cigarette dangling. He felt his life was in peril.
"P-please spare me."
"Haha, funny guy. Why would I kill you?"
Tap tap!
One prodded the terrified boy's cheek.
Meant to be reassuring, but it only amplified the fear.
"Th-then why...!"
"Hey, kid, you love bread that much?"
Crash!
A box tipped, spilling bread everywhere. They ground out their smokes with their shoes and left a warning.
"Eat it all yourself, got it? We know everything."
"Y-yes, sir...!!"
The mysterious men warned the boy never to try again and vanished. Oddly, they were kinder than anyone to Noah's female friends—even slipped them pocket money for snacks. But any boy approaching romantically got shut down hard.
To protect Geum Seong-muk, one girl hurriedly texted somewhere.
[Man approaching Noah! Stall till class starts!!]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Noah, time to head back."
"Sure thing!"
Noah followed her friend with a bright smile.
Soon, her friend's phone buzzed.
Vrrr!
Her face hardened at the message. Then she plastered on a grin.
"Noah, got a new friend I wanna introduce—cool?"
"Eee, love it~!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I tried tracking down Takahina Noah a few more times after that. But after I kept showing up in the second-year hallway, someone felt threatened. Eventually, the guidance committee showed. And this guy looked familiar...?
"Ahem, you disrupting Munhyeok High's morals—who are you...!"
"It's me, punk."
"Gaaah, Brother Seong-muk...?!?!"
Ji Su-yong freaked like he'd seen a ghost. Of all people, he was on duty. Guess he still did guidance committee work here when free.
"Ahem, I'll be going then...!"
He vanished in a flash.
True to his five-tool form, his sprint was a work of art.
"Tch, still no dice."
I never caught her, even after classes ended. No matter when I checked, she was out with friends. At this point, I got it. She was deliberately avoiding me!
'Sigh, tomorrow won't be different.'
It even made me think there was a reason she wouldn't meet. But with no clues, that was the real issue.
'Black Orchid, Takahina Noah.'
She only flashes briefly in the sub-quest, but about ten years from now, she makes a huge impact.
As the number two in the yakuza group Shadowless Society, she plays a key role in dominating Japan's underworld. She dotes on her subordinates but turns brutally ruthless when they err—faceted as they come.
Approaching these siblings could be a massive gamble. But first, I needed to put out the fire on my feet.
To do that, I had to recruit Takahina Ryuji by any means.
"Gotta find Takahina Noah first, though..."
"...Looking for me?"
"Yeah. Been searching—"
Wait, for real?
I blinked in stupefaction, staring at the girl before me. She tilted her head.
Skin white as snow.
Pink hair in twin tails.
A tiny mole on her left cheek.
Sapphire-blue eyes.
And an adorable face to top it off—definitely Takahina Noah.
"............"
She'd evaded me like death, then popped up out of nowhere. Underestimate her at your peril. This was the future underworld boss of Japan—probably harbored a nest of vipers.
"Eek, what do I do...!!"
"......??"
She suddenly flushed and stomped her feet. I couldn't reconcile this with the future her dunking goons in oil drums.
She approached, eyes sparkling, grabbed both my hands, and said earnestly,
"I've wanted to meet you so bad, Senior Seong-muk...!!"
This was the girl dominating Japan's underworld?
She looked every bit the innocent high schooler...
"...Good grief."
Our first meeting was intense, in more ways than one.