The Weight of Seoul's Strongest
THWACK!!
"Strike out…!!"
THWACK!!
"Strike out…!!"
"Woo-hyoo!!"
Ah, what an incredible pitcher's duel! Both teams' hurlers are putting on a show of force, dominating the opposing lineups!
'Whew, this ain't easy.'
Right now, Seong-muk felt like he was tightrope walking naked. With the batters stepping up for their second time through the order, they were bound to come at his pitches more aggressively.
'If things get dicey, I'll just have to flip the switch or go off-mode whenever.'
He had something to rely on.
It was the lunch Olivia had given him before the game.
Chef: Olivia Ramsey
Grade: 2 star ★★
Effects:
[Stamina rises one grade for the day of consumption.]
[Skill duration increases 30% for the day of consumption.]
[Stamina consumption reduced by 20%.]
Affection toward recipient: 80% (Heart pounding!)
Cooking Skill: S
'The Geumgang High lunch was already insane, but to think she'd leveled up even more…'
There were a whopping two stamina buffs packed in.
Without it, today's matchup against Hancheong High would've been way tougher.
On a separate note, Seong-muk had felt a strange mix of emotions when he received the lunch. He'd unintentionally learned of her feelings for him through the status window.
'…Never saw that coming.'
Their start hadn't been the smoothest, so Seong-muk already considered dragging their relationship to "guy friend" status a massive win.
But Olivia liking him?
It left his head spinning in all sorts of ways.
'I'll think about it after the game.'
Nom nom nom!
He shoveled it down, thinking it was heavenly as always.
CRACK!
Scoreless through five innings.
Hancheong High's batters couldn't touch him. Facing Seoul's strongest, he stood tall with a resounding "Woo-hyoo!", earning applause that no one could hold back.
"Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk! Geum Seong-muk…!!"
Seong-muk returned to the dugout amid the roaring cheers. Sitting among the fans chanting wildly from the stands was none other than Ma Deok-su.
"Tsk tsk, that kid's got some chops."
Ma Deok-su wore a satisfied grin.
He'd given one-point lessons to the entire Munhyeok High pitching staff, then turned down an offer to be a one-day coach.
'No, Gramps, it's just one game!'
'Shut it, you brat! If I say no, it's no…!!'
But Seong-muk clung like a leech.
Worn down by the persistence, Ma Deok-su clicked his tongue and offered a compromise.
'Tch, does this old man have to trail after you punks to the stadium? If you wanna learn, come to me…!!'
He'd coach anytime they showed up. But Ma Deok-su regretted it instantly. Seong-muk flashed a devilish grin like he'd been waiting.
'Heh heh, it's a promise.'
'W-Wait. I must've lost my marbles for a sec…!'
Too late—Seong-muk had bolted the moment he got what he wanted.
Ma Deok-su sighed and visited the ballpark for the first time in ages. Seeing them pitch live would help his coaching more.
'You can watch TV all day, but it's no match for being here in person.'
True to his old-school roots, Ma Deok-su had his own firm philosophy. Seong-muk's pitching intrigued him.
"…Kid's got something fun up his sleeve."
He meant the Solar Divine Vein.
He'd instantly sussed out the secret behind Seong-muk's otherworldly control of pace—from the way his lower body swelled with power.
And he foresaw the crisis looming.
'Tch, defense is a huge gap. No runs yet, so it looks fine, but it's gonna wear on the starter's stamina.'
Poor defense inevitably burdens the starter's endurance. Sure enough, Seong-muk had let a couple runners on due to minor fielding errors.
He'd plugged the leaks somehow, but the pressure was real. Glancing at the scoreboard, Ma Deok-su muttered low.
"Sixth inning, huh. Tsk tsk. This'll be the turning point…"
Was he seeing something?
Sure enough, crisis struck Seong-muk.
Thump!
Hancheong High's leadoff hitter Han-gol laid down a safety bunt. He pushed Seong-muk's fastball with a push bunt, the ball trickling into no-man's-land between first and second.
"Mine…!?"
Do-jin and Tae-kyeong both hesitated.
The ball had rolled to an awkward spot.
Do-jin dashed toward the first-base-side grounder fearing a collision, while Tae-kyeong froze, worried about vacating first and missing the force out.
A split-second hesitation—but fatal against Han-gol, whose base-running was S-grade.
"Safe, safe…!!"
"Woooaaah…!!"
Han-gol reached on a heads-up play.
He was infamous as a killer runner on base. Hancheong fans knew it, their section erupting like lava.
"Han-gol! Han-gol! Han-gol! Han-gol…!!"
'Heh, that's me.'
Han-gol, still smarting from his first-inning strikeout and "Woo-hyoo!", burned with revenge.
He widened his lead.
Like he could bolt any second.
'I'll harass him to death, then steal second. Juggled me and now facing Woo-jin, Hyeok-su, Tae-je? He'll be dying…'
Whoosh!
"Whoa…!!"
In a blink, Seong-muk fired to first. A crisp, lightning-quick pickoff from a high schooler?
Han-gol dove back frantically.
Then sneaked a peek at the ump.
"Safe…!"
"Huff, huff…!!"
Han-gol paled.
He thanked the ump inwardly.
He'd felt it.
That was out.
Isn't that out? Yeah, looks out to me…
Too bad— no video review in the spring tourney! Munhyeok High must be regretting that pickoff big time!
"No way, that was out…!?"
"This ump's blind, open your damn eyes!!"
A few furious fans protested, but rules were rules.
Myeong Sin-u, the coach, stepped out for a token argument with the home plate ump, getting a token explanation—WWE-level theater at best.
'What, are your eyes decorative?'
Seong-muk swallowed a curse inwardly. No way to show it without drawing heat.
Still, he'd rattled Han-gol on first. The lead shrank, body leaned toward the bag—steal lust gone.
CRACK!
"Out…!!"
With Han-gol pinned, No. 2 Jung Woo-jin flied to left. Next, Seong-muk faced No. 3 Choi Hyeok-su.
THWACK!!
"Strike…!"
Seong-muk took a curve in the zone to start. Choi Hyeok-su set up seriously.
"Hup…!!"
Inside fastball diving in.
Tough spot to hit, but Choi Hyeok-su lifted his front foot, whipping the bat technically.
CRACK!!
Lee Dong-hyeok throws! But Han-gol slides in safe! Choi Hyeok-su crafts a 1st-and-3rd threat with technical hitting!!
"Choi Hyeok-su! Choi Hyeok-su! Choi Hyeok-su…!!"
Choi Hyeok-su raised a fist to the crowd, basking. Seong-muk clicked his tongue.
'No wonder he's Hancheong's cleanup.'
Singles happen.
Seong-muk never planned a total shutdown.
But this spot sucked. The next batter was dangerous.
Yes, and here he comes—the batter stepping up! Runners-in-scoring-position average over .600! Hancheong High's cleanup, Park Tae-je!!
Clap clap clap!!
"Park Tae-je homerun…!!"
Clap clap clap clap clap!!
"Park Tae-je homerun…!!"
Cheers that'd overwhelm most pitchers. Hancheong's squad exuded total faith in Park Tae-je.
Ding!
Name: Park Tae-je
Nationality: South Korea
Age: 19 (Sr.)
Height: 189cm
Weight: 93kg
Affiliation: Hancheong High School
Skill / Iron Heart (S): Increases probability of hard contact in clutch situations.
Potential Keywords: Heavenly Batter Body (EX), Defensive Prodigy (A+)
Power: S (*S+)
Contact: A+ (*S)
Speed: C
Eye: A (*A+)
Defense: A+ (*A+)
Arm: B+
Recommended Position: 2B
'Whew…'
Even with his experience, Seong-muk couldn't help tensing here.
'Stamina's starting to bite, and now Park Tae-je.'
In games, Park Tae-je was a demonic clutch hitter—no one wanted to face him.
'First pitch, what to throw?'
Seong-muk pondered, wiping sweat. He glanced at the stands—and locked eyes.
'Noah…?'
Right palm spread wide, left index poking it repeatedly.
Like sending him a message, over and over.
'Ah…!'
Seong-muk remembered.
Something Noah had told him right before the game!