Chapter 8
Chapter 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: The Expert's Recognition
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Angels exist in this world. At least, Choi Seung-taek had decided to believe that for now.
"Just don't let the teachers confiscate it. Our homeroom teacher already talked to the other teachers, so it should be fine."
"If that happens, I'll kneel and beg to get it back. I swear."
"You'd better."
"But it might use a lot of data—is that really okay?"
"It's fine. I have unlimited data. And I don't look at my phone much at school anyway. You're only borrowing it during morning classes until the next tournament."
"Wow... Thank you so much. From now on, whenever I see the word 'angel,' I'll read it as Park Ga-young."
Pfft.
He could feel Kim Min-jae chuckling beside him.
"Whoa! I just got chills. Did hanging out in the liberal arts class for three years teach you to say stuff like that? Why haven't I improved?"
"Shut up. That wasn't for you to hear. I really met an angel."
"Haha, it's fine."
Park Ga-young blushed slightly at Choi Seung-taek's words, looking a bit embarrassed, before turning back to her studies.
Thanks to Park Ga-young lending him her phone, Choi Seung-taek was able to check the parts he hadn't finished yet.
They agreed he'd borrow it only until the President's Cup ended, so earliest by early August, latest by mid-month.
It wasn't a long period, so Park Ga-young generously allowed him to use it during morning classes.
Choi Seung-taek organized the stats up to the Blue Dragon Cup round of 16 and ran a full evaluation.
Then, the text appeared before his eyes again.
'What? C-grade?'
'Then what about C-grade?'
In the past, Choi Seung-taek hadn't disputed the system's assessment of him as C-grade.
'So, based on my current self, what would it be?'
Fortunately, the numbers showed he'd make pro comfortably.
What if he set the baseline to pro baseball players?
Choi Seung-taek asked the system.
'Whoa... I still have a long way to go.'
Choi Seung-taek tested the system on his Suseok High teammates similarly.
Kang Tae-pung, already a first-round pick, came out as A-grade. Second-year ace I San was also A. The rest were mostly C and D, like Choi Seung-taek's past self.
That was the effect of winning. It could turn a college-bound player into one who might go pro, or save one who wouldn't make either.
For his same-grade friends, Choi Seung-taek had to win. Better us take one than Buma High sweep them all.
'What about other teams?'
Choi Seung-taek thought of other teams. But he lacked data to pull up right away, and no team came to mind for the system.
Except one.
'Buma High School. All their lineup players went pro, so I analyzed them all in the past.'
Choi Seung-taek jotted down Buma High School players' info.
'Ah! That's why... the system did the tutorial with Buma High.'
The system reacted to data. From the moment he returned, without new data, Buma High was the only team he could face right away.
Back home, Park Ga-young recalled the school day.
The usually quiet classmate from the baseball team brazenly borrowing notebook, pen, and finally her phone—it was funny.
Park Ga-young checked her phone. Four hours of heavy use had burned through data and nearly drained the battery.
'What did he search? Nothing weird, I hope?'
Park Ga-young scrolled through her phone.
Fortunately, Choi Seung-taek had only looked up himself and Suseok High players. Every search history name led to Suseok High School players.
'He's really desperate.'
She checked the latest article.
- Buma High School crushes Suseok High School in Blue Dragon Cup quarterfinals! 8:0 shutout victory for Go Tae-san!
The article covered Suseok High's defeat, with a photo of sweat-soaked Choi Seung-taek hanging his head.
Seeing that photo, Park Ga-young felt a pang for him. It sparked some curiosity about Choi Seung-taek. She searched his name one last time.
"Huh? This just came out?"
Searching Choi Seung-taek linked to a freshly uploaded YouTube video.
Park Ga-young played it. Not knowing baseball well, she didn't grasp everything, but caught some shocking lines.
"He beat himself up saying he wasn't pro material, but he is? A pro expert praises him like this—why think that? Did falling in the Blue Dragon Cup shake him?"
The next morning arrived.
Park Ga-young waited for Choi Seung-taek as soon as she got to school.
When he entered the class, she turned toward him.
"Seung-taek, why'd you say that yesterday?"
"Yesterday? What'd I say?"
"Right, you didn't say it. But according to your notebook, you think you don't have pro-level skill."
"Oh, that? Yeah, kinda."
It was complicated to explain, so Choi Seung-taek pondered how.
"Didn't you see this? Is this guy a real expert?"
Park Ga-young showed him the video on her phone.
"Oh, he's the expert. Park Wan-gyu, former Incheon Cranes catcher. A legend behind the plate. Guess he was a guest panelist."
"Yeah? He talks about you here."
"Must've misheard. This show's mostly about pros. High schoolers here are Buma's Go Tae-san, or at best Kang Tae-pung from class 4. Not me from class 2."
"No."
Park Ga-young spoke firmly and hit play, skipping to where Choi Seung-taek was mentioned.
The host was startled.
"So both could play pro first team?"
"Choi Seung-taek could right away; Ha Seung-yoon needs at least a year."
The host asked back in surprise.
"Ha Seung-yoon's the top prospect but can't play pro yet?"
"Yes. Pros reteach catching entirely. The amateur-pro gap is huge, needs long training. But Choi Seung-taek in the Blue Dragon quarterfinals was already near-pro. Suseok has no pro battery coach, yet on screen, he looked every bit pro. I was shocked."
"Whoa, fascinating take."
The host sounded genuinely surprised at Park Wan-gyu, Incheon Cranes 2nd team manager.
"Sounds like you rate Choi Seung-taek higher?"
"Not really. Teams need different catchers. If you want immediate impact, consider Choi Seung-taek. But Ha Seung-yoon's amazing too. Power-hitting catchers are rare."
The video ended.
"..."
After watching it all, Choi Seung-taek felt something stir deep inside.
Park Wan-gyu, Incheon Cranes legend. Korea's No.1 catcher, now their 2nd team manager.
Even with his three pro years before returning to high school, earning his recognition wasn't easy.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Just... doesn't feel real."
Choi Seung-taek closed his eyes, calming himself.
"Thanks. He's a really big deal."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. Didn't expect him to say that yesterday."
"So no more writing stuff that tanks your self-esteem. He says you're good."
"Got it. Promise."
Park Ga-young smiled at his words and faced forward.
Seeing Choi Seung-taek genuinely moved made Park Ga-young happy too.