Showdown [2]
The quest popped up right in front of me.
Arrogant Kim Sihu Needs an Early Lesson!
📍 Objective: In a three-plate-appearance showdown against Kim Sihu, achieve at least one RBI via a home run or better.
🎁 Reward: All stats +1
Current progress: 0/1 Home Run. It was an active quest.
A three-plate-appearance duel. The only acceptable outcome was a home run or better. On paper it sounded simple—just one double and two singles, or two walks and a double—but the reality was far more annoying.
Three at-bats… that’s the problem.
I had to produce extra-base contact every single time, yet there was no way to prove that was my intention. Telling Kim Sihu about the quest would be pointless; he’d never believe me.
The only real option was a home run. A home run was the only way to record an RBI while forcing even that arrogant bastard to acknowledge the result.
“Three plate appearances. If you reach base safely even once, I’ll call it your win.”
“Fine. What are we betting?”
“Your jersey number. You’ll give up that number you picked and wear whatever I tell you to wear.”
?
I’d expected something childish like push-ups, but this was on another level.
“That number you stole by sneaking in as a special admission student—the one I was supposed to pick. So technically, it’s mine.”
Wow. This guy is even crazier than I thought.
“That’s all you want?”
“Yeah. So hurry up and get in the batter’s box. The only reason you reached base every time during the intra-squad game was because my condition wasn’t perfect.”
Kim Sihu was clearly impatient to settle this. He kept yelling at me to step up to the plate. Around him, his little gang started walking toward me slowly.
What is this, some pre-fight beatdown ritual?
“Here. Sihu said he doesn’t want anyone claiming he only won because of better equipment, so he’s lending you gear provided by the group.”
“Uh… thanks?”
It was a wooden bat painted entirely black with elegant gold accents running through it. A beautiful custom piece.
“It’s a custom GL Sports bat. No pathetic excuses about equipment advantage after this.”
Kim Sihu stood on the mound, fiddling with his glove and muttering with smug confidence.
“What do I get if I win?”
“You losing is only natural… but fine. I’ll give you a reward so you at least have something to fight for. Anything within reason, I’ll grant it.”
“Deal.”
As I stepped into the batter’s box, a net-like screen unfolded behind the plate.
“Since there’s no catcher, strikes will be called by the ABS. Any objections?”
“Nope.”
“Good. I look forward to striking you out at that same speed…!”
Before I could even settle into my stance, Kim Sihu kicked off the rubber and fired.
Whoosh!
Velocity: 154 km/h
Result: BALL
“............”
I waited in silence.
I probably shouldn’t call him trash… he is the protagonist’s rival, after all.
I’d expected at least one History-grade skill. Maybe I was asking too much from a mere rival who wasn’t even the main character.
Well, it is a system from the game. There was never a guarantee he’d have everything.
History rank was literally for legends—players who dominated an entire era and set the fans’ hearts on fire. A rookie who hadn’t yet accomplished anything like that probably wouldn’t have one.
“What’s with that face? You look pretty sour.”
“Nah, it’s nothing. Just thinking I might end up watching all twelve pitches and walking three times straight…”
And that nice bat you lent me won’t even get used.
The moment I scratched at his nerves, Kim Sihu’s face flushed bright red with pure provocation.
Whoosh!
Velocity: 129 km/h
Result: STRIKE (Changeup, perfect corner)
He was definitely a top high-school prospect. I was the weird monster here; most high-schoolers would look exactly like that.
Still… if his level was this low, the overall standard felt disappointingly mediocre.
With that slight irritation showing on my face, I settled into my batting stance. Kim Sihu suddenly hesitated and didn’t throw.
“……What are you doing? If there was a pitch clock, that would’ve been a ball.”
“……My apologies. I’ll compose myself and throw properly.”
After he confirmed he was ready, the next three pitches that came my way were all balls.
150 km/h — BALL
152 km/h — BALL
153 km/h — BALL
Result: Walk (Base on Balls)
“Damn it! Damn it all!”
Kim Sihu couldn’t understand what was happening.
He was the genius ace who, ever since his days at Haneul Middle, had been expected to surpass even Kim Byung-hwon and Ryu Hyun-in and fly straight to the major leagues. Yet here he was… losing.
During the intra-squad game to select special admissions students, he had intentionally been pulled early to preserve his arm. But that guy—Lee Seojun—had thrown a perfect game against him.
It was pathetic. Even the second-year starters who were supposed to be Haneul High’s main players had only managed weak contact against that monster. None of them got a hit.
The number 1 jersey symbolized the team’s ace. Everyone at Haneul Middle had insisted it suited him best, so he had worn it with pride.
“I’ll take number 11.”
It was the first time he had ever felt genuine fear that his symbolic number 1 would be taken. He had even considered secretly threatening the student to change numbers.
That was why he had demanded this showdown. Even though the number 1 already sat on his back as a symbol of pride, he wanted to crush and trample that 11 on Lee Seojun’s jersey.
That lucky bastard had somehow thrown a perfect game by coincidence. What infuriated him most was how Yang Uijin—the best high-school catcher in the country—had taken a liking to Seojun while showing no interest in him. He was jealous.
I could have been in that position. If it weren’t for you, the special admission spot would have been mine. The ‘wings’ that symbolize the first-year captain would have been on my shoulders, just like in middle school…!
Whoosh!
“Damn it!”
Another ball.
“……Should we just stop here?”
“Shut up and finish it!”
He knew. With the walk he had just issued, his loss was already confirmed. Even so, he refused to accept defeat.
He wanted to strike the guy out, then claim that since it wasn’t a hit, the contest was a tie. If he could turn this into a ‘draw’ instead of a ‘loss,’ he wouldn’t be inferior to Lee Seojun—he would be an equal.
If he hadn’t been pulled early, he could have thrown a shutout, if not a perfect game. Therefore, losing the ‘wings’ was simply bad luck. It wasn’t because he was inferior to Lee Seojun.
Sihu, your grandfather wants to see the GL Devils win a championship before he dies. You’re our pride and joy. Can you wear the Devils uniform for your grandfather before he passes?
“I will never accept this!!”
Whoosh!
Velocity: 144 km/h
Result: BALL
The velocity had dropped noticeably. Why?
He had clearly thrown with everything he had. So why wouldn’t it work against that guy?
I gave it my all, but what now? I can’t even force a tie…
“Hey!”
“……!”
“Just throw the damn ball.”
The boy in front of him began to smile.
“Or maybe I should just quit and leave with Uijin-hyung. If this is what Haneul High’s ace looks like, I might as well transfer.”
The obnoxious kid in front of him shouted it loud enough for everyone to hear.
“……Fuck.”
For a split second, he had actually considered the idea of Lee Seojun leaving Haneul High. The realization disgusted him.
That’s right. I am Haneul High’s ace pitcher. The man who will lead the GL Devils to a championship, then head to the majors and write his own legend. There is no reason I should lose to a punk like you!
He gripped the baseball again.
Good. The seams felt perfect in his hand. His vision was sharper than usual. A gentle breeze brushed across the field. It felt like he was seeing an entirely new world.
His target: the outer edge of the zone on the inside corner—his best pitch. The slider.
“Hup—!”
He poured every ounce of strength into the throw.
And then he saw it.
CRACK!
“There we go. That’s more like it, you idiot.”
The ball exploded off the bat with a thunderous crack. Lee Seojun tossed the bat aside with a satisfied grin.
“As for my wish… yeah, I’ll just take the gear you lent me. It’s pretty decent. Tell me the seller later. Once my scholarship comes in, I’m buying a ton of equipment from them.”
BOOM!
The ball slammed into the scoreboard with ridiculous ease.