Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Didn't Want to Show This Here
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Ah, I didn't want to show it off in a place like this.
Crack!!
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Oh, Geum Seong-muk makes contact!! That's a big hit! A deep one! The excited commentator raised his voice. But Seong-muk himself grimaced as he sprinted toward first base.
'Tch, a bit off the bat...!'
Even when aiming perfectly at a knuckleball, its nature made it impossible to match the swing path exactly. Seong-muk had sensed it this time too.
Thwack!
The ball ricocheted off the outfield wall. The unlucky part for Seong-muk was how cleanly it bounced straight into the right fielder's glove.
"Stop, stop...!!"
"Huh...!?"
Seong-muk hit the brakes hard just as he rounded first and pushed off, reacting to the stop sign. He wondered why they'd called it, but seeing the right fielder already with the ball made him smack his lips in frustration.
💬 Comments — Fan1 Damn, it didn't go over? That was our chance for first blood. — Fan2 He smacks a high-speed knuckler dead-on and it's just a single? LOL — Fan3 Only to first base? Wild... Was Munhyeok's bus a dud after all?
>⤷ Nah, from last games he didn't seem slow.
>⤷ Sure, buddy, next casual fan~ That build with speed too? LMAO
>⤷ Casual fan is you, WBC tourist ^^
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Oh, Geum Seong-muk and the Munhyeok dugout—they all look pretty bummed. That ball could've cleared the wall, so yeah, only a single stings. But next up is cleanup hitter Seok Un-gang, so we've got hope! Stepping up to the plate was the fourth batter, Seok Un-gang. Boosted two ranks in hitting by Demon Monk's effect, he entered the box radiating intense momentum.
💬 Comments — Fan1 Whoa, Seok Un-gang's aura is insane. — Fan2 LOL Shaolin's top talent looks like trash?
>⤷ He's giving off "I'll crush whatever you throw" vibes rn.
>⤷ TBH, since we scouted our guy, focus shifted, but Munhyeok was always a one-tool team around Un-gang.
>⤷ Fr, he was scary as hell vs Hong Kong NT.
His far more menacing aura was something catcher Novik felt more acutely than anyone—his senses tingling sharply.
'First, lure him with an outside knuckler.'
Nod!
The battery exchanged nods.
As Sergei fired the first pitch, an unexpected variable hit Kirin High.
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Whoa, Geum Seong-muk! He's taking off for second...!? Seong-muk suddenly bolted for a steal.
The completely unforeseen steal startled both Sergei and Novik.
Thump!
"Hup...!!"
Novik snatched the catch and fired to second, but before the ump could even call it, Seong-muk was safe.
"Safe, safe...!!"
"Woooaaah...!!"
The stadium erupted in cheers no one saw coming. The chat exploded too.
💬 Comments — Fan1 Fuck, all you Munhyeok dud-bus haters come out!
>⤷ That's me, headbutting the wall rn sorrynotsorry
>⤷ Legs fast AND steal instincts on point? Pro-level polish, not rookie shit.
>⤷ Damn, Geum Seong-muk. I love you...!!
No one on the team expected him to run either. Surprised reactions burst from the dugout.
"Whoa...!! Seong-muk hyung stealing? Is it some special day today...!"
"What the— that guy's fast too!?"
Shocked Ji Su-yong and Choi Adam.
Seong-muk's current speed stat was B+, enough for solo steals. Even against a lax defense, pulling it off so cleanly was huge. In high school baseball where ace battles ruled, Seong-muk's steal carried massive weight.
"Khmm..."
Sergei visibly bristled. The eccentric weirdo shrugged off most things, but eating two hits from a rival like Seong-muk stung deep.
It meaningfully disrupted his hyper-sensitive pitching mechanics.
'Sh, a meatball...!?'
A flat knuckleball drifted into the zone. Catcher Novik prayed Un-gang would let it go, but he was a national-level hitter.
Crack...!!
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Oh, Seok Un-gang connects...!! Deep!! Seok Un-gang smashes the fence! Back-to-back fence-rattlers! Geum Seong-muk rounds third for home! Un-gang to second standing up...!! Munhyeok draws first blood! Score is 1-0...! "Seok Un-gang, Seok Un-gang...!!!"
The crowd roared.
Catcher Novik gave a bitter smile.
"Tch, should've walked him..."
Pitcher Sergei, the cocky type who lived by "No one's beating me," hated intentional walks.
He'd oblige Novik occasionally, but you couldn't waste those chances.
Anyway, Kirin's battery figured they'd shut down the rest. Luckily, they escaped the inning quick.
Crack!!
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Takahina connects!! Solid contact...! Oh! Right into the shortstop's glove! Runner at second Seok Un-gang tagged out—inning-ending double play...! A liner that could've snuck through infield dove into the shortstop's glove. Un-gang, holding good lead, couldn't dive back and was out. Ryu Ji couldn't hide his regret.
"Argh! This is driving me nuts."
With just one run scored, Munhyeok's offense ended, and the game hit bottom of the fourth.
Thwack!
"Okay, first out...!"
Seong-muk induced a grounder from the leadoff hitter to third. Ryu Ji's clean throw made it one out.
Then, thunderous Chinese chants echoed through Sungkyunkwan Stadium again.
"Jia yo...!!"
"Chen Zifeng, jia yo...!"
Grinding his teeth, Chen Zifeng stepped up, vowing to meet his people's expectations.
But...
Crack!!
The result was brutal. The ball popped high to left field.
"Damn...!!"
Chen Zifeng jogged to first, conceding it.
But left fielder Seo Kyung-su felt utter confusion.
"Wha, what...!?"
The sky-high fly perfectly backlit by the sun blinded him—he couldn't track it.
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Seo Kyung-su, something wrong...? Oh! He missed it! Dropped the ball...! Chen Zifeng hustles to second while lefty's flailing! Throw's late—safe...! Munhyeok surrendered second on an absurd left field error. Chat ignited instantly.
💬 Comments — Fan1 WTF, scarecrow in left field?
>⤷ Fr, I'd catch that.
>⤷ Can't snag a routine fly and he's in nationals?
— Fan2 Chen Zifeng got a horseshoe up his ass LOL
>⤷ Errors him on base then acts like a hitting guru FFS
>⤷ Seo Kyung-su? Bribed by commies to drop it smh
>⤷ Nah, "Seo Kongshu" (Xu Gongzhu, 19, Chinese citizen)
"Pfft, these Koreans can't snag a basic fly ball...!"
Munhyeok yielded second on the baffling error. Cameras replayed Kyung-su's blunder, and broadcasters got it instantly.
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Sun's brutal today...! Kyung-su lost the ball in it—couldn't pick the drop point! Day games happen, but that was catchable. It's a hit now...! 'Tch, get the outfielders some shades maybe.'
Headache from the flub play. Vets might've muscled it, but not from a crash-course outfielder.
Unlike infield errors, outfield muffs rarely count as such. If Chen Zifeng scored, Seong-muk's sub-1.00 ERA streak died.
One out, runner on third.
A bunt or sac fly scores easy—high-expectation spot.
Seong-muk and Un-gang chose: skip third batter Seong Gyu-jin, face Novik next.
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Walking Seong Gyu-jin here...! Gunning for the DP outright! Smart? Facing Russia's Dmitri Novik! No clue! This choice could decide the game...! Novik stepped up, seething.
"...Alright, let's do this."
Power hitters are ego-fueled beasts. Skipping the guy ahead to face him head-on? Direct pride poke. Team context irrelevant—panic button smashed.
💬 Comments — Fan1 Skip ahead and Bear's pissed AF.
>⤷ Chill guy usually, but raging? Sees red 100%.
>⤷ Peak Russian dudebro LOL
>⤷ Scary like Un-gang earlier.
'Pissed off good, Dmitri Novik.'
As expected, Seong-muk pulled up his stat screen.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Name: Dmitri Novik Nationality: Russia Age: 19 Height: 192cm Team: Kirin High Skills: Siberian Bear (A) - Power +1 rank when enraged (Active!) Potential Keywords: Champion of the World (S), Defense Prodigy (*A+), Iron Jaw (A+) Hitter Stats (*Potential) / R/R
>Power: A+ → S (*S) | Contact: C
>Speed: D+ | Eye: C+
>Defense: A (*A+) | Arm: A+ (*A+)
>Recommended Position: Catcher 'Power matches Un-gang or Ryu Ji's. With skill active, even higher.'
Enraged Novik at S power. One slip and it's a three-run bomb.
"Ah, I didn't want to show it off in a place like this."
Seong-muk had planned to save it for next inning. But no more waiting.
Time to unleash Solar Divine Vein.
Thrum-!
Entering full-throttle mode, Seong-muk activated it. The camera director shooting the game spotted the change first.
"Gasp...!!"
The man who'd earned him massive broadcast cred with his footage.
Seong-muk awakened again.
The director hopped excitedly.
"Kiyaaahoo...!!"
He geeked out, tweaking cams to spotlight Seong-muk like the star.
Viewers caught on, and forums like Goya Gal exploded.
💬 Comments ⭐ Top Comment — Fan1 Fuck, Galju's awakening form dropped LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO — Fan2 Sungkyunkwan has a god descending—the god named 'Mukshin'. — Fan3 Aaah, yes. That hulking stance, the cool heavy vibe. That's my YasMuk... — Fan4 LOL Novik? Russian rep? Who gives af — Fan5 Yeah yeah, just die already, chant it Kirin!
>⤷ We get he's good, but sucking too hard?
>⤷ Bro explains: Fast pitchers and sluggers everywhere. But one who stiffens up and levels baseball godmode? World's only. How not to simp??
>⤷ Nailed my mood fr
Meanwhile, the swing cam spun a 360 overhead of Seong-muk rubbing rosin—director magic from hauling extra cams from storage. Rare cinematic flair in sports.
Movie-level shots centering Seong-muk wowed chat.
💬 Comments — Fan1 Holy shit so cool? — Fan2 No cap, thought it was a movie for a sec fr — Fan3 Cam guy's bias exploded LOL — Fan4 Cam man knows: Nail Galju shots = views galore. Viewers gripped screens, sweat in palms, wondering who'd win out. Seong-muk picked his three boosted stats and grinned.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Solar Divine Vein boosts user's stats! Circle Changeup stat upgraded: A → A+! Circle Changeup stat upgraded: A+ → S! Fastball stat upgraded: A → A+! '...Too bad, fastball S next time.'
Normally he'd max fastball, but needed DP from Novik now.
Seong-muk lifted his leg high and whipped toward Novik's body side viciously.
Thwack!!
"Striiike!!"
".........!!"
158 km/h heater nailed the inner corner.
Novik, used to Seong-muk's early-game 140s, found it absurdly nasty.
'But manly Novik won't eat this humiliation barehanded.'
Gripping for a sac fly at least, he glared for pitch two.
'Inner fastball...!'
Swinging like he sat on it. But the ball veered outside—at a grotesque angle he'd never seen.
'Wha, what kinda pitch is this...!?'
Circle Changeup.
He'd heard it was Seong-muk's bread-and-butter, seen vids from pre-Ganggang match.
Studied up, thought he had it. Wrong. No video captured this pitch fully.
Too late when he realized.
It clipped the bat's bottom and rolled dead to second.
Thud!
⚙ Live Commentary ⚙ Oh!! Novik's grounder right at second...! To short, then to first...!! Double play! 4-6-3—Geum Seong-muk and Munhyeok escape!! Commentators hyped.
Crisis averted per plan for Seong-muk.
Chat went berserk.
💬 Comments ⭐ Top Comment — Fans Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! (x100) ⤷ He's a god...!! ⤷ Level difference slapped down~ Munhyeok steadied the wobble with Seong-muk's awakening. Everyone watching knew:
This game's fate rested solely on Geum Seong-muk!