Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Golden Sun Sets a Monumental Record
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Munhyeok High's cleanup hitters all three targeted the curve and smashed home runs. That meant only one thing.
"Damn it, the curve's exposed...! Take out Taesan and bring in Jin-ho!!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Regretting not making the change sooner didn't help—they'd already given up three runs. Munhyeok High kept the momentum going as Ji Su-yong followed up with a double off the wall, but Geum Seong-muk's decisive pitcher swap prevented any more runs.
Now it was the eighth inning, with only six outs left until Seong-muk achieved a no-hitter.
Slurp!
With his pants bulging noticeably below, Seong-muk licked his lips like a predator eyeing prey.
Rather than feeling like he was facing an incredible pitcher, it was more like battling some enigmatic alien lifeform.
A single thought crept into the mind of the sixth batter, Park Cheol-hoon.
'Can I even get a hit off that lunatic...?'
Golden Sun was the type to relentlessly exploit any weakness. Harboring such feeble thoughts in front of him would lead to an obvious outcome.
Bang!!
"Strike three!"
"Ugh...!!"
Park Cheol-hoon's bat whiffed at the sweeper darting away outside. Seong-muk roared after securing his eleventh strikeout.
"Huh...?"
Something felt off.
Wasn't there something that should be playing?
'Wait, why isn't the strikeout theme song playing?'
He'd endured the embarrassment to teach them the beeping sound effects, and now they weren't playing it? Seong-muk wasn't about to let that slide.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Geum Seong-muk, pitcher, sends a signal toward the cheer squad! What could that mean...?] The announcers' confusion was quickly resolved.
The cheer squad members jumped in surprise, then scrambled up to the platform and blasted the strikeout song while dancing.
The broadcast team gaped in shock.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [N-No way..., but it looks like Geum Seong-muk directly ordered the cheer squad to replay the music...!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [They must've held off so as not to disturb his pitching! But worrying about music mid-no-hitter chase? I've never seen a heart like this...!!] 💬 Comments — CrazyBastard Lunatic ㄷㄷ He’s got time to worry about music in this situation? — LolKing ㅋㅋㅋ Records are records—play the music again~ — WooHyooFan wwwwwwwwwwwwwww Woo-hyooo~~~ — FirstTimer First time seeing a psycho character like this for real lol "Whoa, you are something else..."
"Huh...???"
His teammates stared at Seong-muk with wide-eyed disbelief. To those clueless about the situation, it was just baffling.
'I was just letting them know it turned off—why the fuss?'
Upon second thought, pointing out their mistake in front of thousands of fans might've been a bit harsh, Seong-muk realized.
He decided to apologize quietly after the game, then resumed pitching—still overwhelmingly dominant.
Bang!!
"Strike three!!"
Splat!!
"Strike thhhreeee!!"
The seventh and eighth batters headed to the dugout amid the umpire's emphatic calls. Seong-muk shut down the eighth perfectly too.
Descending the mound, Seong-muk sidled up to Manager Myeong Sin-u.
"Manager, isn't it about time to warm up Dong-hyeok?"
"What...!?"
Manager Myeong's pupils dilated wildly.
He asked in a trembling voice.
"S-Seong-muk. You injured or something?"
"Pardon?"
After asking why not prep the closer, the manager suddenly asks if he's hurt? Seong-muk tilted his head.
"What injury? I'm fine."
"Then why... Ah, no way?"
Manager Myeong caught on from Seong-muk's reaction.
Sweat beading on his brow, he clapped a hand on Seong-muk's shoulder.
"Seong-muk, you still got some gas left, right?"
"Yeah, a bit."
"...Let's hold Dong-hyeok back one more inning. What do you say?"
"Hm?"
The manager's suggestion made sense.
Munhyeok High had already showcased their nuclear lineup with three straight homers against Geumgang High, but hiding the Nuclear Submarine too would give them a strategic edge next game.
'Hassan's starting next anyway, so I won't pitch.'
Might as well toss one more inning and snag a complete game, Seong-muk thought, nodding firmly.
"Eh, whatever—let's do it."
"Good call, Seong-muk!"
Manager Myeong gave a thumbs-up. As Seong-muk walked away, he quietly asked Coach Lee Tae-jeong.
"Tae-jeong, that kid Seong-muk... he really has no idea, does he?"
"...Yeah, 100% clueless."
Back on the mound, Seong-muk sensed a shift in the air this inning.
"Whew."
The stadium was dead silent.
Unnaturally so.
'...End of the game nerves?'
Every eye in the stands was locked on Seong-muk's historic bid—not just fans.
"Choi Scout, hurry...!"
"Huff huff, I was watching Hanchung High—what the hell happened?!"
Scouts rushed in after hearing about the lefty fireballer, crowding Seonggyun High Field. Plus countless baseball fans glued to the online stream.
In this crushing pressure cooker, Seong-muk just grinned.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ah, Geum Seong-muk smiles again!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [He smiled in the top of the fourth too, and something huge happened—what's coming now?!] Why the smile? A fun idea had popped into his head. Seong-muk decided to try something totally insane he'd never normally do.
'One batter, one switch—when else would I get to try this?'
Switching Sun God Vein settings for each batter!
It guzzled stamina like crazy, unthinkable normally, but with stamina doping and early-game thrift, he had plenty left.
So Seong-muk boldly declared.
"Switch."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Sun God Vein stat changes reset!] [Circle Changeup enhanced: A → A+]
[Circle Changeup enhanced: A+ → S]
[Pitch Power stat enhanced: A → A+]
The ninth batter trembled in the box, sensing he was about to become the no-hitter's sacrificial lamb.
Already weak at hitting, with his spirit crushed, touching Seong-muk's S-grade Circle Changeup was impossible.
Splat!!
"Strike thhhree...!!"
"Woo-hyoo...!!"
Three pitches, three strikes.
The batter flailed wildly at the changeup dancing in and out of the zone before striking out. Scouts gawked at the filthy movement.
"What the hell is that Circle Changeup...!!"
"A high schooler with that level of polish on a Circle Changeup?!"
Pro-ready upper-tier stuff. But the shocks weren't over.
"Switch."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Sun God Vein stat changes reset!] [Sweeper enhanced: B+ → A]
[Sweeper enhanced: A → A+]
[Pitch Power stat enhanced: A → A+]
Next up: the sweeper.
Already excellent before, the Sun God Vein-boosted version traced a whole new path.
Batters swung guessing the early-game break, but whiffed every time.
Splat!!
"Strike three!!"
"Woo-hyoooot...!!"
Scouts lost it again.
"W-What...! That sweeper wasn't like that!"
"No, it suddenly got nasty in the ninth!"
"That make any sense?!"
The junior scout swallowed his "That guy's whole existence doesn't make sense..." This was the consensus among all watching pros.
'He's been hiding his pitch power...!'
Sandbagging pro-level stuff, flashing it only when needed. Pacing like that was a hallmark of veteran pros— this kid had reached mastery. Scouts frantically dialed their phones.
One out left until game over.
Everyone held their breath, watching for the historic no-hitter and Munhyeok High slaying the Geumgang giant.
Seong-muk murmured softly.
"Switch."
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ [Sun God Vein stat changes reset!] [Velocity stat enhanced: B+ → A]
[Velocity stat enhanced: A → A+]
[Pitch Power stat enhanced: A → A+]
'Last one's the fastball.'
For the finale: the pitcher's alpha and omega, the straight heat. Fully loaded, Seong-muk unleashed terrifying fire.
Splat!!
"Strike...!!"
Smoke right down the middle.
The batter flinched under the velocity. Announcers gasped at the radar.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ah, 156 km/h!! After 108 pitches, Geum Seong-muk's velocity hasn't dropped!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [How is this possible? He's shocking everyone today!!] Seong-muk had shown so much today: insane skill, and the hefty lower-body swagger that came with it.
Obviously polarizing, but overwhelming talent could sway the masses.
Audience members who'd first thought "grotesque" or "terrifying" now associated him with "awe" and "mystery."
Splat!!
"Strike...!!"
"...Guh!!"
The batter whiffed at chest-high heat.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Two fast ones for strikes. Count 0-2!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [One strike left! Seonggyun Field quieter than a library on the cusp of history!!] Fans forgot to breathe, riveted. One pitch to end it.
The batter's mind raced.
Every pitch in the ninth had been filthy—hard to pick one.
'Another fastball? Nah, with count leeway, Circle Changeup's likely. Or sweeper?'
Unlike the batter, Seong-muk was crystal clear.
Only one thought.
'Fastball.'
Seong-muk's right leg kicked high.
His left arm whipped like a lash.
"Hup...!!"
The ball rocketed toward the mitt, shuddering violently, sucked in without resistance.
Splat!!!
"Strike thhhree...!!"
The ump's booming call unleashed the announcers.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Strikeout...!! Strikeout!! 158 km/h! Geum Seong-muk K's six straight to demolish Geumgang High!!] ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [No-hitter in spring debut! Etches 'Geum Seong-muk' into fans' minds from pitch one!] Game set.
Munhyeok High wins.
"Wooo-hyoooooot...!!!"
The final woo-hyoo of the day.
Fist clenched, Seong-muk roared skyward.
Teammates mobbed the mound, faces beaming with emotion.
"Waaah, Geum Seong-muk...!!"
"Hyung Seong-muk...!!"
"Abbot Geum Seong-muk, incredible!!"
"W-What?"
Seong-muk blinked in confusion.
The joy felt... off-target.
'Beating a powerhouse is great, but why's everyone yelling my name?'
He realized they were celebrating him.
But he hadn't done anything special today, had he?
So he asked straight-up.
"What're you all hyped about? It's just a shutout."
"Sh-Shutout? What're you...?"
"The hell...? Wait, you don't mean...?"
Teammates collectively blue-screened.
Then it hit them.
Seong-muk was oblivious.
"........."
"........."
Awkward glances.
Someone had to tell him. Seok Un-gang, who'd synced with him all game, nodded and stepped up.
"...Abbot Geum Seong-muk."
"Yeah?"
"Care to glance at the scoreboard?"
"Huh, suddenly?"
He looked anyway.
Inning-by-inning scores: zeros across the board until Munhyeok's three in the bottom seventh, final 3-0.
"Saw it. So?"
"Check the side too."
"Side?"
Hits column jumped out: Munhyeok High 4, Geumgang High 0.
"Oh, whoa. Why do Geumgang's hits look so...?"
"...Huh?"
Finally, it clicked for Seong-muk.
Zero hits meant one thing, crystal clear.
"No freaking way, for real...?!?"
Geum Seong-muk.
First official start post-possession.
110 pitches, 16 K's, 1 BB, 0 hits, 0 runs.
No-hitter.