Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Golden Sun's First Press Conference
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Geum Seong-muk's no-hitter shutout.
Crushing the prestigious Geumgang High.
Two completely unexpected upsets had thrown Sungkyunkwan Field into absolute chaos. Amid it all, one of the happiest people was Manager Myeong Sin-u.
"Kids, you all did an amazing job!"
The manager wore an expression of overwhelming emotion.
He looked at the players surrounding him and spoke.
"We'll go over feedback later, but for today, I just want to say you fought incredibly well."
"Yes, sir, you too...!!"
After exchanging a few more words of encouragement with the players, Manager Myeong handed the baton to Seong-muk.
"Alright, our captain and star of the day—give us a quick word."
"Yes, sir!"
And so Seong-muk stepped forward before everyone.
His teammates wondered what he would say. But...
"Guys, I've got two versions of my thoughts. The polite one and the honest one. Which do you want first?"
"......??"
A sudden two-choice dilemma!
Question marks popped up over his teammates' heads.
In the midst of it, Ryu Ji—looking amused—picked one.
"Eh, start with the polite one, let's hear it~."
"It's because you all had my back so solidly that we got this result today. I mean it—thank you."
"And the honest one?"
Seong-muk's expression changed in an instant.
As if he had a lot to say.
"Guys, you're not planning to get knocked out in the next game, right?"
".........!?"
"I'm saying this because I see some of you already getting cocky, shoulders puffed up like Mount Namsan. We've only won two out of the six games we need to advance to the Sejong Cup. Sad but true—the no-hitter shutout record will only have my name on it."
"........."
"You all have big ambitions and the skills to back them up. You don't want to blow it all on hot air and crash out early, do you? We need to climb higher and show off our stuff properly."
The team members nodded along with Seong-muk's words.
From his extensive baseball experience, he'd seen plenty of teams crumble after a high like this.
Especially inexperienced ones. He had to lay down the law now.
"Since we've got a long way to go, training's gonna get even tougher. Get ready—it's going to be brutal."
"......!"
Gulp!
Even their already intense training was about to ramp up—the team looked seriously tense. With his brief speech, Seong-muk achieved his goal. He smirked.
"Well, that's a tomorrow problem..."
"Let's enjoy today, you bastards."
Seong-muk pointed toward the stands outside the dugout. The Munhyeok High fans who'd come to cheer were still waiting, not leaving.
"Alright, whole team—out front, assemble!"
The players lined up in front of the stands, following Seong-muk. Friends from school and students inspired by the game waited in the bleachers.
"Attention!"
"Thank you...!!"
Under Seong-muk's command, the players bowed deeply to the crowd. Without their cheers, the momentum battle against powerhouse Geumgang High wouldn't have been easy. It was also a plea for them to come back next game.
Amid roaring applause and cheers, the team headed out.
As they packed up in the dugout, some people approached Seong-muk.
"Geum Seong-muk?"
Two burly men in black suits. The kind that made anyone tense just looking at them—they'd zeroed in on Seong-muk.
"Yes. What is it?"
"Come with us for a bit."
"...Ah, sure."
Seong-muk thought to himself.
Here it comes.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Scouts had been busy during the game, but the reporters were in a frenzy.
Before the MVP interview, they buzzed around. Normally just one or two covered these early spring tournament games, but twenty showed up this time.
'Geum Seong-muk—this guy's a goldmine...!'
'Views are guaranteed...!'
Combining his clickbait potential with this performance, Geum Seong-muk's star power was off the charts. For reporters living off sensational stories, his emergence was pure joy.
But Seong-muk didn't show up to the press room for a while.
"What's the holdup? Why isn't he here?"
"Something happen?"
As wild speculation flew...
About thirty minutes later, Seong-muk finally entered.
Click! Click!
Shutter sounds exploded as Seong-muk pulled out a chair and sat. He casually pulled the mic toward his face.
"Sorry I'm late. Fire away—I'll answer sincerely."
He bowed apologetically and opened the floor to questions. A sleazy-looking reporter shot his hand up.
"Anjeong Ilbo, Jang Min-su. First question I have to ask: there's suspicion that Geum Seong-muk used drugs to fuel this performance."
"...Drugs?"
"Yes. Your groin swelled excessively at a key moment, and right after, your velocity jumped nearly 10 km/h. How could anyone not suspect that?"
"I didn't."
Seong-muk stared the reporter straight in the eye, firm and unwavering. But the guy just smirked sleazily.
"Anyone can say that."
The smirking Jang Min-su.
He'd been put up to it by Geumgang High's manager, Yu Jong-hun.
'That insolent pitcher's definitely doping. Make him squirm.'
Fuming, Yu had slipped him cash and begged him to corner Geum Seong-muk. As a journalist, he'd dig in hard.
Drugs were clickbait gold—if he couldn't prove clean here, the rumors would stick.
"......"
But Seong-muk stayed calm.
As if he'd seen it coming.
'These doping-obsessed bastards never surprise me.'
He'd been tested after Cheonghyeon High due to similar suspicions. He figured it'd happen again. Time to nip it for good.
The suited guys from the dugout? He'd called in agency officials for a doping test himself. And today, an unexpected big shot showed.
"Doping Sniper No Jin-seung...!?"
"The world-class drug-buster—why's he here...!?"
Intrigued by the madman demanding his own inspection, No Jin-seung had come to Sungkyunkwan Field personally. He sat beside Seong-muk and spoke.
"I'll address the doping allegations against Geum Seong-muk."
"......!"
"Bottom line: zero percent chance he's using drugs."
"Wha...!"
"So it's legit!?"
The top expert in the field declared zero possibility. That settled it.
To drive it home, No Jin-seung gave an example.
"Know Choi Hong-min, the famous fighter?"
"Ah, Choi Hong-min. Insane short-burst power, but..."
Choi Hong-min, Korea's 2m20cm giant known for nuclear chestnuts. Despite lacking technique, he crushed most fighters thanks to pituitary hormones pumping at multiples of normal—natural doping.
"Geum Seong-muk's similar. Difference is, his hormones come from above or below. Erection triggers male hormone release. At peak, it's top 0.01% even among adult males."
"Gasp...!!"
Reporters murmured.
Geum Seong-muk wasn't doping—he was just freakishly built!
"Choi Hong-min couldn't last long due to excess hormones. No issues for Geum Seong-muk?"
"Doesn't seem so. Unlike Choi, it's not endless overproduction—only in specific states. It balances out after, like a half-life. With proper nutrition and rest, no problems."
Reporters nodded at No's clean explanation.
Jang Min-su shut up like he'd eaten honey. With suspicions cleared, questions poured in.
"Yu Won Sports, Choi Seong-yong. Congrats on the huge record. You shut down Geumgang High's lineup perfectly—what was your focus?"
"Thanks. Just went head-to-head with raw power against a powerhouse. Worked out."
"Ah, got it. Thanks."
In truth, his strategy was genius, but Seong-muk tossed a casual excuse for future games.
'No need advertising the powerhouse analyst behind me.'
Image-building too.
A brainless, momentum-fueled hard-thrower? Perfect. Biases make opponents sloppy.
"Records show massive improvement from your Bujeon High freshman and sophomore years. Any secrets?"
"Back then, I was immature and didn't manage myself well—major injury. After transferring to Munhyeok High, got full support unfit for a new team, plus manager and coaches' care. That's why."
He wanted to say 100% my doing!, but no one'd buy it—just arrogant. Another question followed.
"Any team you're eyeing?"
"Not picky. Will give my all wherever drafted."
A reporter with dark skin raised his hand—foreigner vibe.
"Thoughts on Hassan Iqbal?"
'Oh ho.'
Seong-muk clocked him instantly.
Nationalist reporter collecting praise for overseas compatriots. Probably Pakistani like Hassan.
'Time for some service.'
Seong-muk laced praise to make Pakistanis swoon.
Golden words flowed.
"He's got incredible talent."
"Always hardworking, greets brightly—whole team loves him."
"Ooh...?"
"A blessing to have him."
"Confident he'll be huge in the future."
"Ooh...!!!"
The Pakistani reporter scribbled furiously, eyes sparkling. Teammate Qs done, back to Seong-muk.
"You do a ceremony per strikeout—'Uhyo.' Special meaning?"
"........."
He'd hoped to dodge this.
No such luck.
Answer was simple.
'Because I'm Golden Sun...'
Blond tanned pretty boy minus "Uhyo"? Impossible. Pre-possession fave, post-possession self—same.
But reporters wouldn't buy that.
'Time to sell some feels?'
His "Uhyo roar" leaned polarizing—mostly hate.
Spin a backstory for "it makes sense!"
"......Hoo."
Seong-muk closed his eyes briefly, then opened with a serious face.
"Both my parents are gone."
"......!?!?"
Orphan bomb out of nowhere!
The asker's pupils shook.
"They abandoned me and left when I was little. I went through a rough rebellious phase."
Smelling clicks, reporters typed faster.
'Tch, no sob story cash.'
Still, play sad—Seong-muk covered his eye with his left hand.
"Uhyo was my fetal name."
"...Fetal name!"
"Shouting it is my way of saying goodbye to that short happy family time—a self-healing ritual. Like, 'See? I grew up fine without you, and I'll keep thriving.'"
Total BS start to finish, but a female reporter teared up. At least one convert.
Even No Jin-seung—a doctor—nodded approvingly at the "self-healing." Pretty convincing for improv.
'Parents shield—rock solid.'
Seong-muk felt invincible with his new lie generator.
"...That's it. Next question."
Silence lingered.
Dark backstory hit hard. Thought it might end there, but a reporter raised his hand.
"Daeseon Ilbo, Kim Byeong-il. Any goals for the year?"
"Ah, great question."
No thinking needed.
Seong-muk tossed dynamite for high school fans.
"Sejong Cup championship."
".........!!"
Reporters doubted their ears.
Huge record or not, too bold for a new team's player. The asker double-checked.
"Just confirming—you didn't mean 'advance to Sejong Cup'?"
"No, championship."
".........!!"
In Korea, baseball powerhouse with centuries-old elites—new high school champ? Unprecedented. No one thought possible.
But Seong-muk was unshaken.
Cunning plan here.
'You're all accomplices now, suckers.'
With "Sejong Cup win!" blasted publicly, Munhyeok players were strapped in—willing or not.
Guys who'd laughed it off? Panic mode.
"Geum Seong-muk, you're in a hell group historically."
"Yes."
"Even spring prelims pit you against last year's Sejong advancers like Girin High, Daegwanryeong High, Hancheong High. Plans?"
Question implying prelim hell bars Sejong hopes. Seong-muk heard teammates' phantom pleas: 'Stop, dude...!'
He was firm.
"We'll charge in and see."
"Ch-charge?"
"No fear of powerhouses. Munhyeok High's heading nationwide."
".........!!"
Seong-muk's fierce declaration.
Typing frenzy resumed.
His bold words branded Munhyeok as "the gutsy school declaring nationals"—huge in fan circles.
Their name would buzz online awhile.
"No more questions? Thanks."
Seong-muk exited, ending the conference. Most reporters left, but one lingered.
"Hm, need a killer headline..."
Twirling his pen, pondering. Seong-muk's last lines stuck.
'We'll charge in and see.'
"Charge... charge in. Charge, and thrust...?"
Replaying, Seong-muk's "Solar Vein Form" flashed.
"Oh, yes...! That's it!"
The reporter grinned.
Mashing Seong-muk's gravitas with the phrasing birthed a gem.
[Munhyeok High's Geum Seong-muk: "Powerhouses? We'll 'Deulbak' 'Em All and Head to Sejong"]
AI's advanced, but can't match human madness yet.
Unbeknownst to him, Seong-muk's irreplaceable character was taking root.