Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Surprisingly Capable Young Lady
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I first encountered Takahina Noah around the mid-to-late stages of the game.
Noah shows up in a mission to recruit a player with Japanese yakuza roots. The group he belongs to is the Muyoung Society, where she's the number two.
That mission is brutally tough—enough to make you spit blood. Most players fail it, and that's when they get to see Takahina Noah. Her one and only appearance in the game has her stepping out to confront a subordinate who's failed to escape the organization and is trussed up tight with ropes.
"Did you enjoy your sweet dreams?"
"I get it—you want to leave the organization and start fresh. But you can't just do whatever you want in life, right?"
"You chose this group even when you had other paths. Now you're waffling and undermining the organization's discipline. Guess you'll have to pay the price."
"...Mmph! Mmmph! Mmph!"
The game doesn't spell out exactly what happens to that Japanese gangster later, but he probably ended up taking a permanent swim in a drum barrel.
And that's Takahina Noah—a one-off character who leaves a massive impression with just that single scene. But with her cute looks clashing against that jaded, world-weary decadent charm, she racked up no small number of fans. And yet...
"Kyaa, what do I do...!!"
"I've wanted to meet you so bad! Sunbae Seong-muk...!!"
Who the hell is this pure, bubbly high school girl right in front of me?
They say ten years can change mountains and rivers, but isn't this a bit much...?
This hopping-around joy looks completely genuine—no way it's an act. She might fake some forced energy, but her voice, her movements, her sparkling eyes... every bit screams this is the real her right now.
Looks like her personality back then and now are worlds apart—heaven and earth.
'Well, if she's an innocent high school girl, that's good for me.'
My top priority right now is recruiting Takahina Ryuji.
If she's this sweet and compliant, she'll help me find her brother without a fuss. Win-win for me.
"So why'd you want to meet me?"
I started with the basics. We're strangers with business together—a rare setup. I figured her interest in me might tie to Ryuji somehow, but nope.
"Your announcement that day—it stuck with me!"
"Announcement? You mean the baseball club founding speech?"
"Yeah! A special admittee who wowed the legendary Seok Un-gang. As a high school baseball fan, I just had to know what kind of player you are!"
Her eyes sparkling like stars. No ulterior motives—just pure curiosity about me as a player.
"I've loved baseball forever! I wanted to join the cheer squad, but Dad was against it, so I came to Munhyeok High. Never dreamed they'd start a baseball club here...!"
"Uh, yeah... cool."
Noah chattering away excitedly. Keeping up with a high school girl's hyper energy is no joke. Mid-ramble, she seems to catch herself and starts sweating bullets.
"Ah, sorry! I just kept talking about myself. So, sunbae, why'd you come looking for me...!?"
Finally asking my business.
I cut straight to it.
"Can you get in touch with your brother, Takahina Ryuji?"
"...!"
Takahina Noah flinches in surprise.
Her sunny smile fades to a wry one.
"Ah, you're looking for my brother... But what to do."
"Hm?"
"I can't reach him either. Lately, he hasn't even been showing up to school much."
This is the worst-case scenario.
Not even talking to his own sister.
Can't pitch recruitment if I can't even meet the guy.
Then, a ray of hope shines down.
"But I know a place where he might show up!"
"Where's that?"
She picks up on the urgency in my voice and flashes a cheeky little devil grin.
"Hehe, I'll tell you... but I have a condition!"
"Condition?"
"Let me join the baseball club too!"
"What...?"
Her counteroffer catches me off guard.
Girls in a baseball club mostly handle behind-the-scenes stuff for the players.
No telling what the future holds, but right now, it's clear she didn't grow up seeing the ugly side of life, even in a rough yakuza crew. Treated like a princess in there—can she really hack player support?
"You weren't thinking something like, 'She grew up all sheltered— what good's she to a sports club,' were you?"
"...Ahem."
"Just hear me out! How I can contribute to the baseball club!"
If she's just here to play queen bee, better to pass. But I decide to give her a shot at her pitch.
"Lay it out."
"First up: cheering! I'm a dance major—dancing's my thing. I'll do cheerleading myself at tournaments!"
Eyes shining like this is her ultimate dream. I voice a small concern.
"Dance and cheer routines are pretty different, though?"
"No worries! I'm all over trendy dances too. I've done Reels with friends!"
".....Oh-ho."
I figured her dark underworld future meant a different type altogether. Who knew she had cheerleader heroine vibes?
'Cheering's surprisingly huge.'
No need to belabor how much rival-level cheers boost the players. And the cheer squad leads that fire.
Having an ace cheerleader? Makes a world of difference in the male fans' hype. With her looks and dance skills? Munhyeok guys might not sleep after watching her cheer live.
"But not every situation needs cheer squad, right? Then I'll contribute as manager!"
Noah offers to help as manager during regular training or scrimmages with no crowd. Says she's used to caring for her brother and organization guys training in the family yard—no big deal.
But it doesn't stop there.
"It's the SNS era now, yeah? If you start a YouTube or Instagram for Munhyeok baseball promo, I'll manage it...!"
She flashes her Instagram account.
30K followers. She's got talent there too.
She's right—self-promo rules today.
In this tough visibility game, any promo helps get my name to scouts.
'What the—why is she this capable...?'
I take a fresh look at her.
She can handle three roles solo.
With this level of enthusiasm from someone this competent, no brainer to bring her on.
'She's just a normal high school girl right now anyway.'
Even if her future as an underworld boss worries me, that's ten years off—mountains change. No immediate red flags.
Plus, having her in the club might make recruiting her brother that much easier.
"Alright, you're in the baseball club..."
"......?"
I trail off, and she tilts her head.
'Almost slipped.'
Publicly, I'm just a player—no one can know I call the shots on who joins.
"...but I can't decide that solo. I'll talk to Manager, but he'll say yes if it's my rec."
"Hehe, really? Didn't know."
She gives a sly smile.
Something's off. Of course the manager decides membership. How'd she not know that?
"Didn't know what?"
"Ah! Nothing big."
"?"
"I thought you had final say on the baseball club's direction."
"!!"
"Ah, was I way off...? Sorry...!"
She looks flustered.
Honestly, I'm a bit thrown.
'Word get out?'
She has guards, eyes everywhere, but figuring my weird dynamic with the Chairman and Manager shouldn't be easy. How'd she pick up on it? I'm genuinely curious.
"Why'd you think that?"
After a beat, she smiles and explains.
"Hmm, just a hunch. Felt like the Chairman and Manager were watching your cues. Like they were handling a boss..."
'Picked that up on instinct?'
Growing up around her dad's power plays in the organization sharpened her eye for real hierarchies beyond titles.
No point denying it now. I chuckle dryly and greenlight her.
"Yeah, join the baseball club. I'll handle the talk."
"Kyaha~! Thank you!"
Noah bounces in delight.
Once her excitement settles, she shares the promised info.
"Promise kept! My brother... he's been hanging out at..."
"What?"
She whispers the spot, and it's surprisingly unexpected.