Discord
“Manager! Does this even make sense?!”
Chief Coach Kwak Min-su stormed into Manager Han Seung-chan's office, demanding answers.
Behind him clustered most of the first-team coaches—the pitching coach, hitting coach, and the rest.
“Ah. What. Don't come barging in yelling like that. Speak properly.”
The manager's tone turned irritated as the coaches shouted at him.
“It's Lee Jin-ho! What the hell do you mean he's a roaming coach!”
“Ah... that...? I just tossed him into some spot. What's the problem?”
“Didn't you know a roaming coach is third in the coaching hierarchy? Can't you see Cheol-min and Jong-hyun fuming right next to you?”
The coaches were livid that some unheard-of guy like Lee Jin-ho had suddenly jumped into the roaming coach role above them.
Only then did Manager Han Seung-chan sense something was off. He'd appointed him casually, never expecting this level of backlash.
Truth be told, their position wasn't incomprehensible. Most coaches had been star players, climbing the elite path to get here. For a former bullpen catcher to leapfrog them into a higher rank? Of course they'd be pissed.
“Ha... hold on a sec.”
Manager Han Seung-chan picked up the phone and dialed the operations team.
“Yeah, this is Manager Han Seung-chan. Connect me to the operations chief.”
A moment later, he was through.
“Operations chief here. What's up?”
“Ah... um... about that Lee Jin-ho guy.”
“Yes, the one appointed roaming coach today?”
“Yeah... there was a mix-up. Can we change him to a regular coach?”
“Pardon? What are you saying? The contract's already drawn up. How could we?”
The operations chief sounded exasperated at Han Seung-chan's request.
“My mistake...”
“Absolutely not. Canceling now means we pay the penalty fee—and that's no small change. No way.”
The chief flatly refused.
With nothing gained, Han Seung-chan hung up and had to calm the raging coaches.
“Ha... my bad. Total screw-up on my part. But it's barely a one-year deal, so next time we'll do it right. Whether he's roaming or regular, what can he do about it? I just won't treat him like one.”
He even went so far as to outright dismiss Lee Jin-ho's status.
With the manager backing down like that, the coaches grumbled but couldn't push further.
“We'll let it slide for now, but you better normalize it next year, Manager.”
“Yeah, yeah, got it. Let's grab drinks Sunday after the game.”
Han Seung-chan snapped his fingers playfully, placating them.
And so, Lee Jin-ho's roaming coach position survived—rocky, but intact.
But as the coaches filed out, they huddled and agreed.
“Don't treat that Lee Jin-ho like a real coach. If you do, he'll think he is one and get cocky.”
Chief Coach Kwak Min-su laid down the law.
The others, harboring their own grudges, nodded in agreement.
“Got it. Obviously.”
Having reined them in, Kwak Min-su went straight to find Lee Jin-ho.
...
After the player intros wrapped up, I started coaching in earnest. Approaching the seniors who outranked me still felt awkward, so I decided to focus on the rookies first.
Whether player or coach, my philosophy was to give your all in your role. No point moping over not making it as a player—find your potential here instead.
Who should I teach first?
That's when Kang Hyun-jun caught my eye. Massive potential, but not shining yet.
He seemed tight with Kim Jae-nam, sticking together even here. As I approached, Kang spotted me and bowed politely.
Hmm... yeah, this kid's got a solid personality.
Kim Jae-nam, who'd taken a punch from me before, just fidgeted, glancing nervously.
This guy's outta here soon anyway—no need to bother.
“Hyun-jun. What training you up to?”
“Ah... Coach Ji Dong-su said my contact's off, so swing practice. That's what I was gonna do.”
Huh? What nonsense? Contact's his biggest strength right now.
My coaching experience was thin, so maybe I was missing something. But I had the status window—and it rarely lied. I was puzzled.
“Hmmm...”
“What's... wrong? Something up?”
Kang looked worried as I rubbed my chin.
“Nah... not really. You doing shoulder strengthening?”
“Shoulders??”
He blinked, confused.
“Yeah. Your contact's fine—it's power that's lacking, so you're not squaring up clean. Defense is decent too, but throws are weak.”
“Whoa... awesome... You've been watching me! I've felt that weakness forever, and you nail it spot-on...”
Kang gaped, stunned I'd pinpointed his flaws so precisely.
“Yeah... so how about shoulder work?”
“How do I do it?”
Swing practice was already forgotten in his head.
I knew shoulder routines well—I'd done them religiously as a catcher with weak throws. Didn't boost my skills much, but the knowledge stuck.
“Start with stretches: resistance band, elbow tucked to side, rotate outward. Once strength builds, light dumbbells amp it up. Then scapular pull-ups—just shoulders, no full pull-up. Finish with dumbbell shoulder presses. I'll write up the routine.”
“Thank you, Coach!”
He bowed deeply, then grabbed a band and started the moves right away.
I watched over him when—bam—the chief coach and others entered the training field.
I bowed in greeting.
“What're you doing?”
Kwak Min-su snapped at me out of nowhere.
“Pardon?”
Just a hello, and he was hostile. I was caught off-guard.
“What the hell are you doing in the training area?”
“Telling Hyun-jun about shoulder strengthening.”
“Hey, you think you're some real coach now? Talentless hack teaching anyone? Don't get cocky—scram.”
Kwak was seething, hurling insults.
He'd ignored me as bullpen catcher before, but now? Pure venom.
“I'm an official coach now. I have every right to guide players.”
I pushed back. Damn right it was. Operations signed the contract—what gave him authority to stop me?
“This punk... talking back to the chief coach? And kid, I told Hyun-jun contact drills. Who the hell are you to switch it to shoulders? What do you even know?”
Hitting Coach Ji Dong-su jumped in, furious I'd overridden his orders.
“Punk? I'm the roaming coach. You watch your mouth.”
“What...? What? This fucking punk's gonna die.”
Ji Dong-su had been a solid player once—a catcher with great hitting, now the hitting coach. A nobody bullpen like me defying him? He charged, fist raised.
My legs shook. I wasn't short, but his bulk was intimidating.
“Whoa, whoa, Ji Coach. Easy. No violence.”
Other coaches held him back—thank god. But they weren't on my side, piling on about my attitude, my lack of skill.
Chaos everywhere. Seniors intimidating me.
Kang stood awkwardly; Kim Jae-nam smirked when our eyes met.
Ha... that bastard's gonna pay.
As the field grew noisy, more players and coaches gathered.
Then Shin Hyun-kyung stepped in to help.
“What the hell's this? Picking on the new guy fresh on the job.”
Kwak turned on him too.
“Listen to this punk. No respect. I told him to beat it, and he pulls the 'coaching' card?”
“Pardon? Chief, Lee Jin-ho's official. Contract's signed.”
“Contract makes you a coach?!!!”
“What else does? If not a contract, then what!!”
Shin blocked me, yelling back.
“Ha... this guy's nuts too? You sane? You wanna coach here or not?!!”
I was new, but Shin had years here—and still defended me with straight talk. Grateful didn't cover it.
But burdening him more? No way. I stepped forward, bowed to the chief.
“Chief Coach, I'm sorry. I was too arrogant. Forgive me.”
I said it loud. He couldn't escalate now—too many coaches and players watching.
My roaming status was set; throwing a tantrum just hurt him.
“Ahem. Anyway, you two watch yourselves.”
With that, he grabbed his cronies and stormed off.