A Pitch of 163 Kilometers per Hour
I had finally managed to control my strength well enough to pitch. If I had been pressed for time, I would have just lobbed it in a high arc, but having a bit of time allowed me to get used to it.
"That is some seriously brute strength," my sister remarked.
Hearing her, I subtly averted my eyes.
"How are you stronger than me, and I'm a close-combat Hunter?"
"W-well, it's a bit late to be surprised by that."
"No, I mean, I heard the stories... and I even saw you fight, but still..."
I shrugged.
"If I stack my buffs on top of it, I can get incredibly strong. That's how I'm able to fight."
"It really is amazing."
I squeezed the baseball tightly.
"What are you doing?"
"Something like this?"
When I applied a moderate buff, the baseball began to warp. And when I squeezed with all my might...
Pop. The baseball collapsed and burst.
"Whoa, aren't you stronger than a gorilla?"
"My, a gorilla? To say such a thing to this beautiful face is just too cruel."
My sister looked utterly disgusted.
"But that strength is definitely gorilla-like..."
"You can do it too."
"No, I can't."
I tossed her an undamaged ball.
"Here, try it."
"I told you, I can't."
Half-skeptical, my sister gripped the ball. At first, almost nothing happened... but the moment my buff kicked in, the baseball began to crumple.
"Wh-what?"
"See? It's possible with my buff."
It wasn't simply that I was strong. Well, I was strong, but the power of the buff played a massive role.
"So now you're a gorilla too. Admit it?"
"Fine, I admit it. I'm sorry."
Still, calling someone a gorilla? That was just too much.
After bickering and messing around with my sister, it was finally time to change. I put on the uniform, which left my cleavage generously exposed, and threw a glossy satin jacket over it. Since it was summer, the jacket was incredibly uncomfortable, but I endured it since it would only be for a moment. My sister was also dressed in her uniform, and as expected, it suited her much better than me.
"It looks good on you."
"R-really?"
I wondered whose sister she was to have grown up so beautifully. To think such a lovely girl was my sister... It would be wonderful if she met a good partner. Well, there was that blue-chip prospect named Namgung Min, but...
"You look... good too, Sis."
Well, it looked good because it fit well, even if the overall vibe was a bit scandalous... I stood in front of the mirror and struck a pose. My reflection stared back at me. From a man's perspective, it was a highly gratifying sight.
"Hmm, I am pretty."
Aside from the fact that this body was modeled after that damn goddess... it truly was an incredibly beautiful and charming face and figure.
"Fufu..."
Now, shall we go wrap up this tedious chore?
We followed the staff member who came to fetch us and headed toward the field. As we approached the entrance where the stadium came into view... I could sense a massive crowd.
"Looks like there are a lot of people," my sister remarked, having sensed it too.
"Yeah."
"Once you go out, you'll give a brief greeting to the crowd and then throw the ceremonial first pitch."
A greeting, huh...
"Um, if you don't have anything specific to say, you can just wish the team victory like usual."
The staff member's extra advice was actually quite helpful. Anyway, let's go.
Stepping onto the field, a sea of people came into view. It wasn't completely packed, but about two-thirds of the seats were filled.
"That's a lot."
Then, a booming voice echoed from the stadium speakers.
Ugh, 'treasure,' 'ultimate healer'... those extra titles are so embarrassing. My sister gave a sly grin and nudged me with her elbow.
"Pfft!"
I burst out laughing upon hearing her introduction. Hers was even worse than mine.
"The flower of the Murim Alliance," I teased.
My sister hung her head in sheer embarrassment. Neither of us was in any position to mock the other.
We politely waved our hands to acknowledge the roaring welcome. Soon, the microphone was handed to me.
"Thank you to the Geminis for inviting me to such a meaningful event. I don't know if any of you here today were present during the recent incident, but because you cooperated so well back then, we were able to keep everyone safe. If a similar situation ever occurs in the future, please make sure to follow the instructions of the Hunters and safety personnel."
Better not drag this out.
"And I hope the Geminis secure a victory today."
A deafening cheer erupted. I felt a bit embarrassed...
"Sis, you're actually really good at public speaking," Seohui whispered.
"Whatever..."
Now, we stepped onto the field. My sister headed toward the batter's box where the umpire and catcher were waiting, while I walked up to the mound. Standing on the mound, I took a deep breath. A ball was brought over to me. I unzipped my jacket and took it off. The moment I shed the glossy satin jacket, my massive, mountain-like breasts proudly asserted their presence, and for some reason, the cheers grew even louder. Ah, this is so mortifying...
"Ahem!"
Clearing my throat, I carefully caught the ball. I waved to the crowd once more and took my stance. Alright, let's control our strength and throw this... I gripped the ball exactly as the player had taught me and wound up. Control my strength, control my strength... I moved my body as smoothly as possible and let the ball fly.
Whoosh!
The sound of tearing wind... My sister swung her bat half-heartedly, and the ball slammed into the catcher's mitt. Another wave of cheers followed. I wasn't entirely sure why, but I could see the umpire and catcher standing behind her looking utterly dumbfounded. At any rate, I lightly raised my hand in a wave and looked around.
It was only after we went back inside that I learned the reason for the crowd's reaction.
"Sis, the electronic scoreboard behind you showed a pitch speed of 163."
Apparently, everyone had cheered out of sheer shock at the velocity. Even though I had tried so hard to hold back, it still clocked in at 163 km/h... I must have gotten a bit too excited in front of the crowd. Well, whatever. The first pitch was done!
When Yu Jin opened his eyes, he was in the middle of a forest.
"Where on earth am I...?"
Where was this? It felt like Earth, but he couldn't pinpoint his exact location.
"Did that goddess drop me in some weird place...?"
He desperately hoped he was at least in Korea. A sudden wave of anxiety washed over him. After scanning his surroundings and confirming he was safe, he immediately checked his physical condition.
"I feel light..."
His body felt incredibly light. It seemed he had crossed over to Earth with the exact same physical body he had trained and strengthened during his time as the Hero. Was this a stroke of good fortune? Playing baseball again with this body would practically be cheating, but if he became a Hunter...?
"Ha, well, that's only if this place really is Earth."
Yu Jin gently touched the Rosario hanging around his neck. Aside from his clothes, it was the only item he had brought back from the other world... a holy relic the Saintess had crafted specifically for him.
"Well, let's get moving."
Though he didn't know where he was, he decided to head down the mountain first. And to his immense relief, he soon confirmed that this was indeed Earth, and specifically, South Korea. He had truly returned home...!
The first thing he did was head home. To his absolute relief, his parents were there to welcome him.
"Yu Jin! Where on earth have you been?"
He wanted to tell them the truth—that he had been summoned to another world—but he knew they would never believe him. In the end, the excuse he offered was that he had been trapped inside a Gate.
"Y-you must have gone through so much..."
Since it was a plausible occurrence in this day and age, his parents readily believed him.
Afterward, he had to withdraw his missing person report and undergo questioning by the authorities. It was only later that he realized... he had become an Awakened. He had been slow to realize it because it hadn't even crossed his mind to open his status window. His skills consisted of the various spells he had used during his days as the Hero, along with mysterious skills like Hero and Divinity.
Hero
Divinity
"I guess I can't play baseball anymore..."
Once you became an Awakened, you had no choice but to retire as an athlete. Besides, having been missing for seven—no, eight years, his contract would have been canceled anyway... When he reached out to the club just in case, they confirmed he had indeed been placed on waivers. There was a mention that he could take a tryout if he wanted to sign again, but unfortunately, as an Awakened, Yu Jin was legally barred from being a professional athlete.
The twenty-five-year-old youth had suddenly become a thirty-three-year-old man. With his previous career completely severed, he was essentially a jobless loafer living off his parents...
What should I do with my life?
Now that he was back, the worry consumed him. He had agonized over his future path even while living as the Hero, and nothing had changed now that he was back on Earth.
His life as a jobless loafer didn't last long. It took some time to adapt to a society that had transformed during his eight-year absence, and his parents patiently watched over him during that period. However, they weren't about to let Yu Jin idle away his days forever.
"I hear there's plenty of work at the logistics warehouses these days."
While manual labor carried a certain stigma, Yu Jin was in no position to be picky. For a high school graduate with absolutely no proper career history, there were no other options.
The warehouse work wasn't particularly difficult. Perhaps it would have been in the past, but his body, forged and tempered as a Hero in another world, didn't tire or struggle under such light labor. He began to earn money, though it wasn't a fortune. Yet, he had no use for it. In a way, Yu Jin was in a state of hollow emptiness. Lacking any purpose or sense of direction, he simply earned money and let time slip away. Reunited with his loved ones... His parents were undoubtedly precious to him, yet Yu Jin's heart still felt completely vacant. Why was that...?
"Is it because you can't play baseball anymore?"
His parents grew so worried that they eventually asked him.
"No, it's not that."
He couldn't bring himself to explain the real reason. How could he tell them that he had lost the person he loved... that he couldn't see her... that he was suffering from a broken heart? It was only natural for his parents to misunderstand. After all, a boy who used to live and breathe baseball wasn't even watching the games anymore.
So, on a day he returned home from work, he decided to watch a baseball game in front of his parents. He had heard people could even watch baseball on their phones now... Technology had truly advanced leaps and bounds in those eight years. When he turned on the cable sports channel, various baseball games were preparing for broadcast. Back when Yu Jin was still a player, broadcasting every single game was an unimaginable dream; radio was the default, and only major events like the Korean Series would get televised. He couldn't help but think how much better the world had become.
"Huh?"
What surprised him even more... was how detailed the pre-game coverage was. The players warming up, the national anthem, and even... the ceremonial first pitch. Though he had never made it to the first-tier league, he knew the first pitch ceremony was a special event. It was usually a show put on by politicians...
They even broadcast the first pitch now?
Yu Jin chuckled softly. It was clear proof of how much the world had changed.
But the moment the woman appeared on the screen, Yu Jin's jaw dropped. How...?!
"The Saintess...?"
The Saintess, who had sacrificed her life in the final battle against the Demon King to save the other world... Why was she here???