Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: David and Goliath - 1
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At the moment Munhyeok High clinched their victory,
their second-round opponents, Geumgang High, had also won their game and were now facing a swarm of reporters. Unlike Munhyeok High, the big difference was the sheer number of journalists covering them—as a national powerhouse team, they naturally drew a massive crowd.
The Geumgang High manager, Yu Jong-hoon, whose prickly personality was etched all over his face, fielded questions from the press.
"Manager, any special reason you held back your ace, Jang Tae-san, against Chungnyong High in the first round?"
"Tch, I think I've mentioned this before... Chungnyong High isn't some pushover, so I did consider starting Tae-san. But he came down with a nasty cold a few days ago, and I didn't want to push him too hard. The kid's got a strong sense of duty—he was dead set on playing—but I wasn't about to force it."
"So, will you start him in the second round?"
"Yes, that's the plan."
Disastrous news for Munhyeok High.
Jang Tae-san—the very pitcher who would skyrocket the challenge of facing Geumgang High, and a youth national team standout—was set to take the mound as their starter against Munhyeok High.
Jang Tae-san had spent the day silently watching his team's game from the stands. Not playing, he tried to slip out unnoticed, but at 207 cm tall, blending into the crowd was impossible. Inevitably, a reporter spotted him and grabbed him.
"Ah, Jang Tae-san! Mind if I ask just one quick question...!"
"Sure, fire away."
"We just got word: Geumgang High's second-round matchup is Munhyeok High School. What's your take on the opposing team, Tae-san?"
"Munhyeok High...?"
Jang Tae-san tilted his head in confusion.
He simply voiced his honest thoughts, blunt as ever.
"Sorry, but I'm not really interested in some obscure school like that. Nothing much to say."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 📰 Breaking News [Geumgang High Ace Jang Tae-san: “Munhyeok High? Not interested in such an insignificant school.”] "Can you believe this rude little punk...!"
Choi Adam ripped the local paper in half and flew into a rage. The Munhyeok High baseball team, still riding the high from their first-round win during group practice, read the article and looked thoroughly sour.
They'd realized the opponents didn't even see them as legitimate rivals.
"...Hmm."
Seong-muk took in the scene before gathering the players.
"Guys, you saw the article, right? That Geumgang High pitcher's comment."
The players nodded.
Seong-muk spoke in a firm tone.
"I get it, but cool your heads. I know their type—they're just trash-talking to rattle us. Don't hand the game over on a silver platter by getting emotional."
".........."
The team, who all looked like they'd studied street toughs inside and out, found themselves oddly convinced. Seeing his teammates settle down, Seong-muk flashed a grin and tossed in one more line.
"Hilarious, right? We hid some firepower to bait their complacency, and now they're actually biting—calling us insignificant nobodies and flapping their gums."
"Oh, yeah, when you put it that way..."
"Let's wrap up today's training strong. Dismissed!!"
"Dismissed...!!"
Munhyeok High was bonding tighter, growing tougher by the day.
At its heart stood their captain, Seong-muk.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Geumgang High players showed zero tension heading into the second round. They cared far more about powerhouse foes like Daegwallyeong High and Hancheong High in later brackets than whatever Munhyeok High was.
"Scouting team wants us?"
"Ugh, like Tae-san said, it's just some nobody school. Do we really gotta?"
The players yawned obnoxiously, dragging their feet. But orders were orders, so the Munhyeok High breakdown PPT kicked off.
As expected, top batter threat: Seok Un-gang.
"Oh, I know that guy. Shaolin Temple catcher, right?"
"What’s he doing at a dump like that? No clue."
Next up: Ji Su-yong, Choi Adam, Do Do-jin. All virtual unknowns, so it felt half-hearted—"if we gotta name some"—with the team barely paying attention.
"Zero talent there."
"New team. What'd you expect?"
Shift to pitchers.
Footage showed Hassan on the mound.
"Whoa! Pakistani hurler? Bailed to Korea during the war?"
"It could be a baseball study-abroad program. Even in poorer countries, wealthy families send their children overseas."
Geumgang High barely blinked at the foreigner—strong schools everywhere already had plenty.
Next slide: Seong-muk.
"Limited data, but he's from Busan's powerhouse Bujeon High. Spotted freshman action, nothing as a sophomore. Hassan's first-round starter, so odds are this guy's opening against us."
"Pitching arsenal?"
"Freshman clips: low-150s fastballs mixed with curves and sliders now and then. But ERA pushing late 4s? Safe bet he's not overwhelming."
"Pfft, scrub."
Geumgang players slouched deeper, pegging it for a blowout.
"Still, no slacking. That's why we've got the 'worst-case scenario' prepped. Here's the rundown..."
"Ah, here we go again?"
"Sick of this crap."
Players grimaced, over it. Geumgang had flamed out unexpectedly in past Sejong Cups, drawing heat from the brass.
Scouting team's fix: drill the 'worst-case' into heads. Players? Just fearmongering hypotheticals.
Undeterred analyst.
Spotted legit red flags in Munhyeok footage, queued the next slide...
♪ ♫ ♬♪ ♫ ♬~
"Whoa, what the—...?!"
Wrong file—his secret cheerleader clip fired up. Noah dancing across the screen.
Frantic remote-mashing, but no dice. Players whistled and hooted through it.
"Whew, thought you were a stiff, analyst-man. Real one's-man army, huh?"
"Hit us with more gems like this. Way better than charts."
"Skills? Who knows. But cheer squad crushes ours."
"Can't argue there."
Post-analysis—and Noah's routine—the verdict?
'Those clowns are here on vacation.'
Dime-a-dozen teams: all-in on cheers, bow out grinning by round two. Laughable to ballers, but tournament candy—easy prey in bloodbaths.
"Tch, that's plenty. Dismissed."
Manager fumed at cheerleading hijacking prime analysis time, nixing the 'worst-case' entirely.
"W-wait, Coach! Still got material...!"
Analyst froze under the death glare. Shoulders slumped.
"This one's got me legit worried..."
A massive shadow loomed over him.
"Analyst."
"Gah, Jang Tae-san...?!"
The lone holdout: Geumgang's ace himself.
"Mind showing me that skipped data?"
".........!"
Requesting the 'worst-case scenario.'
Munhyeok's one curse: the guy not sleeping on them was the enemy ace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Seong-muk, need a lunchbox for the first round?] Olivia had texted Seong-muk ahead of the opener, convinced he'd need it. She'd been practicing like mad...
[Nah, we're good] Clang!
The reply? No thanks.
Olivia dropped her ladle in shock.
Sure, he'd skipped it since the weakling cosplay gig covered meals—but she took it hard.
"Why..."
Hadn't they agreed to friendship? Help each other out? This one-sided shutdown stung.
"...Guess my cooking's obsolete now."
A weird fury bubbled up toward Seong-muk. Ditched class for the diamond? Nah—pissed, she bailed. Even tried tuning out the score.
".........."
Couldn't quite. Snuck peeks via stream app in class. Spotted the weirdness.
'Seong-muk's not starting? And batting ninth...?'
His norm: ace and cleanup slugger. Sudden demotion? Something off?
Worry fizzled fast. One glaring distraction.
'Sophomore Takahina?'
Munhyeok housed about ten exchange kids. No chats, but crossed paths on admin stuff.
Now cheer captain? Cute enough for viral clips, views spiking daily.
"...Hmph."
Oddly irked.
Screw lunchboxes—French cuisine grind. Then, phone buzzed.
Sender: Seong-muk.
[Olivia, second round's make-or-break. Mind whipping up a lunchbox?] ".........!"
Eyes popped wide; her scowl melted. Feet pivoted kitchen-ward, pronto.
"Big game..."
Outdo past efforts. Brain blank. Then—forgotten gem hit.
Ingredients and sauces, prepped and aged for round one.
"Ah...!!"
Rushed to check for spoilage...
"...Why's it even better?"
Not ruined—perfected by accidental neglect. Flavor deepened beautifully.
"This... I can work with...!"
Olivia reignited.
This time? She'd nail it.
The best dish yet for Seong-muk. Bar none.