Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Geum Seong-muk? Isn't That Guy a Total Scrub?
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Geum Seong-muk? Isn't that guy a total scrub?
Musang High School, the opponents in the third game of Munhyeok High's spring tournament, had gathered in their dugout for a meeting.
Ranked in the mid-to-upper tier among Seoul-region seeds, they were confident they could smash most teams. A fledgling program like Munhyeok High's baseball team should have been an easy win, but things had gone sideways.
"Sure, thanks for crushing Geumgang High, but doesn't that mean these guys are just as strong?"
As worries mounted, Musang High's ace, a pitcher with a somewhat cold demeanor, clicked his tongue loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Tch, this is pathetic. Cringing like this over some no-name team."
"Shunsuke, got any bright ideas?"
The manager, who looked like your typical neighborhood uncle, wiped his sweat and asked.
Iwasaki Shunsuke.
A mainstay on Japan's youth national team and the elite offspring of parents who'd both graduated from Tokyo University's medical school.
He'd been a straight-A student from a young age, and his family wanted him to become a doctor, but he chose to study abroad in Korea because he loved baseball.
As one of Japan's top youth pitchers, he could've gone to a powerhouse high school back home, but he wanted a team where he was the undisputed kingpin. That's why he picked Musang High.
And just as he'd hoped, Musang High had become a one-man show, relying entirely on his skills and smarts.
"...Heh, of course. What do you take me for?"
Shunsuke pushed up his glasses and slammed a stack of papers onto the desk. He began listing Munhyeok High's weaknesses one by one.
"They've got some pop, sure, but their plate discipline and precision are abysmal. They look good because they mash a ton of homers, but teams like that get shut down by art pitchers like me. They won't even touch the ball."
"Ooh...!!"
His teammates let out gasps of admiration.
Then one classmate piped up.
"Hey, Shunsuke. Munhyeok's got a Japanese hitter, right? Takahina Ryuji or something? You know him?"
"Kono bakayarou...!!"
"...???"
Shunsuke bellowed. He shoved his glasses up with a scowl.
"Hey, you messing with me?"
"Me? What're you talking about...?"
"Even among Japanese players, there's a hierarchy. Comparing me—a proud member of Samurai Japan—with some nobody? There's a limit to jokes, you idiot...!!"
"S-sorry..."
"Hmph. Watch yourself."
His arrogant attitude wasn't exactly endearing, but without Shunsuke, Musang High was just mediocre. The classmate bowed his head and apologized.
"Shunsuke, what do you think of this Geum Seong-muk kid?"
When the manager asked about Munhyeok High's ace—the guy who'd sunk Geumgang High in the previous game—Shunsuke went quiet for a moment. Then he dropped an unexpected bombshell.
"A shameless pervert who pops a boner in the sacred baseball field, but damn if he doesn't have some serious heat."
"...!"
Shunsuke rarely acknowledged anyone, so his teammates were stunned when he straight-up admitted the guy's talent. Truth be told, he hadn't planned to either...
'Tch, a no-hit no-run against Geumgang High? Give me a break...!'
Even he, with his pride in his own pitching, knew a no-no against Geumgang High was impossible. A quality start would've been impressive enough—no shutout in sight.
But Geum Seong-muk had hit his pitch count limit, so he wouldn't pitch against Musang High. Their real matchup was against the first-year, Hassan.
Face the batter Geum Seong-muk instead of the scary pitcher version.
"As a hitter, the guy's a scrub. He's got power, but that's it. Against my pinpoint control and location? He'll flail like a fool. Heh."
Shunsuke declared it with total confidence.
He had a foolproof plan.
Until Geum Seong-muk wrecked it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Crack!!
⚙ BROADCAST ⚙ "Oh, Geum Seong-muk! He got it! It's deep! Way deep!!" "It's carrying... How far will it go? Over the wall!! No. 3 hitter Geum Seong-muk crushes a leadoff two-run shot to seize control!" "N-no way...!!"
Shunsuke stared at the plate in disbelief. But the ball had long since sailed over the fence.
Seong-muk tossed his bat aside and trotted around the bases. The sweet tingle in his hands brought a grin to his face.
'I can really feel that plate discipline stat kicking in.'
Before facing the tiger, he might've struggled, but now the opposing pitcher's stuff was crystal clear.
Plus, no pitching today, so no need to switch—just run the Solar Meridian as a pure hitter. Standing in with his mid-game power boosted two levels.
Once he read it, the rest was easy. Mid-140s km/h fastballs. Swing away.
Crack!
Not quite gone, but Seok Un-gang and Ryuji followed with extra-base hits. No more runs after that, but the bottom of the first ended 3-0.
Solid run support, and now Hassan took the mound. As he climbed it, he vowed to Seong-muk.
"Hyung Seong-muk, I think I can do this now. Watch me!!"
"You got it. Leave any right-field pulls to me, kid."
They headed to their positions. Seong-muk smirked, thinking Hassan was finally turning into a reliable arm.
But that smile didn't last.
'Hassan, you tricked me...?'
Hassan started nibbling from the leadoff hitter. The announcers sighed.
⚙ BROADCAST ⚙ "No. 1 hitter Mo Seong-min draws a walk. Not a good start." "As I mentioned before, whether Hassan finds his command early will decide this game." "Even with run support, no outs means it's all for naught...!!" The second hitter got the same treatment.
Hassan couldn't even get close to the zone with his fastballs, zero strikes.
Count: 0-2 balls, no strikes? Wait, 0 strikes, 3 balls.
"Hoo, hoo..."
Un-gang's advice—use the rattled hitter's face for confidence after a heater—fell flat now. Musang High batters weren't green enough to show fear.
In this batter's paradise count, Hassan recalled yesterday's chat with Seong-muk.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hassan, you're too soft. Way too nice."
Seong-muk's out-of-nowhere critique.
No guy likes hearing that. Hassan bristled.
"Hyung, soft? I'm a total tough guy!!"
"...Alright, Hassan. Close your eyes for a sec?"
"...?"
He shut them obediently. Seong-muk spoke calmly, like guiding a visualization.
"Picture your hometown in your head. Pakistan."
"Eh, not homesick or anything..."
"Tsk!"
"Got it, hyung! My hometown..."
"Remember those rough older bros you hung with as a kid? Imagine them."
"Yeah, Kasim hyung and Tariq hyung. They're on a truck right now."
"What're they doing on the truck?"
"Hmm, balaclavas, AK-47s on their hips, RPG-7s on their shoulders. Looks like they're off to tangle with enemy faction guys."
'Wait, seriously...?'
Seong-muk was floored by another slice of peaceful Pakistani life. He'd meant a tame example.
"Hassan, could you do that? Got the guts to risk it all against another gang?"
"Ah..."
Hassan got it instantly.
Then he deflated.
"Hyung, what do I do? This is just who I am!"
"Hmm..."
I pondered.
In the game I knew, future Hassan wasn't much different from those terrorists in action.
'No wonder they call him Allah's Magic Wand.'
Stuff heat, plunk 'em if they crowd the plate, eat a homer? "Era, fuck it," and keep firing. But right now, he was too tender-hearted; motivation reset every game.
He needed that kamikaze pitcher mentality. A true ace drills grandma at the plate without blinking.
I came up with the perfect fix for him.
"Hassan, I've got the solution."
"Ooh...!"
"If tomorrow you lose command again—three straight balls? Then..."
"...?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Just drill the bastard. Walk or HBP—either way, they're on first.'
Whip!!
"Gah...!!"
The fastball screamed at the batter's head. He flailed back in terror. Barely dodged, but it was close enough to feel mortal dread.
"Take your base on balls...!!"
The ump called the walk. The batter lingered, haunted by the near-miss.
"Urk..."
"W-what have I done...!"
Hassan had thrown to actually hit him, per Seong-muk's orders, but nearly caused real harm. He yanked off his cap to apologize...
"Eh...!?"
Something unfamiliar surged.
The source: the batter's fear.
Facing that terrified face from his own pitch... his heart pounded wildly.
Thump! Thump!
"W-what is this...?"
Even a softie like him was Allah's descendant. Deep down, that hot blood simmered—he just hadn't known.
Boiling blood surged in his chest. A fierce thirst hit. Only way to quench it: crush the batters.
Splat!!
"Strike three!!"
⚙ BROADCAST ⚙ "Back-to-back strikeouts!! Hassan Iqbal fans 'em with 156 km/h heat!" "What the hell?! Do Munhyeok pitchers all have awakening switches or something?!" Hassan was grinning.
Pounding the heart of the zone like, "Hit it if you can."
'That's it, Hassan...!!'
Seong-muk was thrilled—finally, this felt like the Hassan he knew. The twin aces to carry the rotation this season: Seong-muk and Hassan. Everyone had to step up to climb high.
Musang High went down 1-2-3 strikeouts, inning over. Their ace Shunsuke climbed the mound again. He'd given up the homer but settled in nicely.
In that flow, the two locked eyes again.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Iwasaki Shunsuke Nationality: Japan Age: 19 Height: 183cm ⚡ Skill: Art Pitching (S) - Control rises on starting appearances. 💫 Potential Keywords: Steel Stamina (A+), Control Master (*S+), Adaptable (*A+) Pitching Stats (*Potential) / Right-handed Three-Quarter
> Stamina: A+ (*A+) Control: S (*S+) Velocity: B+ Fastball: B Breaking: A+ (*A+) ↳ Curve: A
> ↳ Slider: A
> ↳ Forkball: A+ 'Hmm, pretty solid.'
Seong-muk was impressed by stats that played to his strengths. Ace material anywhere.
"No more lucky breaks like before, you rotten Yankee...!!"
Thwack!!
"Strike...!!"
Slider diving in for a count. More tempting pitches followed, knotting it at 2-2.
'Finish with the fork.'
Shunsuke nodded at the catcher's sign.
His ace forkball—a special pitch learned from Japan's fork masters.
A+ movement, dropping sharp out of the zone. But...
"Yeah, figured you'd go fork."
Crack!!
Seong-muk uppercutted it, sending it deep to right. Over the wall.
"...H-how!!"
Shunsuke couldn't process being read like a book. But his genius plans had patterns, cracked by Do-yeon's analysts.
First time allowing two homers to the same guy—Geum Seong-muk, the "scrub" hitter he'd dismissed.
Enraged, he flung his glove.
"Kuso...!!!"
Score now 4-0.
Geum Seong-muk's two jacks had flipped the game to Munhyeok High.