Chapter 5
Epinel guided me around the various facilities at Haneul High, allowing me to understand the school’s structure in detail.
‘When I read about it in the novel, the descriptions were only in text, so I didn’t realize… but this place is an amazing school.’
What kind of high school baseball team has a gym that rivals a professional team’s, complete with all kinds of scientific equipment and specialized analysis rooms?
“Haneul High is different from other schools. It’s not one of those places that talks about toughness all the time while pushing students too hard!”
All the students live in single rooms in a dormitory. And thanks to the GL Group chairman’s support, students who join the baseball team don’t face financial burdens and receive full scholarships. Plus, those who achieve good results can earn additional scholarships.
“So, why did you decide to apply to Haneul High?”
While we were touring the cafeteria and training facilities, Epinel suddenly asked me.
“I want to go pro. Haneul High is the strongest in the Seoul region.”
“Not just Seoul, Haneul High is the best in the entire country!”
‘…She’s got a lot of school pride.’
With her hands on her hips and her head slightly forward like a character straight out of an anime, Epinel declared that Haneul High was the best.
<Information>
<Name: Epinel> (Coach)
<Age: 17>
<Skills>
<Intimidation (E)>,
<Strategic Baseball (E)>
<Intimidation (E)>
<Increases the reaction time of opposing fielders by 1% when there are no runners on base.>
<Strategic Baseball (E)>
<Increases bunt success rate by 10%, and the chance of putting the ball in play with runners in scoring position.>
‘…Top-tier.’
Even though she isn’t a professional coach yet, she already has skills like this.
‘Not that I’m one to talk.’
“There are… four divisions in the Seoul region, right?”
“That’s right, Seoul A, Seoul B, Seoul C, and Seoul D. And for tournaments like the Blue Dragon Trophy or Phoenix Trophy, four teams from each division advance, you know?”
Sixteen teams are selected from Seoul through the weekend league, twelve from Gyeonggi, eight each from Chungcheong, North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and Jeolla, and four from Busan, making up the 64 teams that compete in major tournaments like the Blue Dragon Trophy and the Phoenix Trophy.
Busan has four teams, which is doable, but since it’s grouped with Gyeongsang Province, other Gyeongsang teams might not make it, so Busan uniquely competes in its own weekend league, similar to Seoul and Gyeonggi.
‘As expected of Choi Dong-il’s city.’
The protagonist, Lee Tae-hyun, will face numerous tough opponents in the future, like Yang Hyun-jun from South Jeolla, Koo Ja-woon from North Gyeongsang, and Lee Byung-gyun and Lee Sang-hwi from Seoul.
And the school he’ll repeatedly face in the finals, defeating all those strong opponents, will be Kim Si-hoo’s Haneul High… so Epinel definitely has a reason to be proud.
“By the way, you’re the first person who hasn’t asked about my hair colour. Have you ever met a mixed-race person from Russia?”
“Oh, I know someone.”
Of course, I knew about Epinel from the original story. She was born to a Russian mother and a Korean father. Plus, her dad is a huge baseball fan, so Epinel also supports the NHK Heroes, just like her dad. Later, she ends up working as a coach for the NHK Heroes.
As I walked around the school with Epinel, the time neared lunch, and I suddenly wondered why she was being so kind to someone she had just met.
“Oh, that?”
And surprisingly, her answer was simple.
“I saw you play during your middle school days. Your hitting wasn’t great… but I couldn’t forget how you turned would-be home runs and hits into outs while playing centre field. When I saw your name on the application, I watched your defense videos again, and I think I became a fan.”
“…I wasn’t even a starter.”
“Hey, I can help you with your batting, and you’ll improve quickly! There are plenty of players like that from Haneul Middle School too, especially in batting. Just look at Park Byung-hwi, who went from the Devils to the Heroes and became a power hitter…”
Seeing Epinel’s high opinion of me, I felt something stir within.
For someone like me, who had missed out on a future due to a gap of one or two years and couldn’t make it to the pro league… having someone who believed in me, cheered me on, or even criticized me… felt like having a fan.
“Thanks. To get your coaching, I’ll definitely have to pass the Haneul High test.”
“Of course! Haneul High always needs good defenders…”
-Smash!
“Ah!”
“Hey, you can’t catch like that as a catcher!”
As we chatted, the sound of baseball echoed from the field. I quickly turned my head and saw a student struggling to catch pitches while wearing a catcher’s mask. He seemed to be facing a senior who was throwing fastballs at him.
“Se-senior, I’m not even applying to be a catcher…”
-Smash!
Another fastball struck the catcher’s mask. Though it prevented a serious injury, the student seemed to be in considerable pain.
“Ouch…!”
“I’ll be the starting shortstop, so you better survive in another position. Or… are you saying I should switch positions? Me, Kim Tae-kyung of Haneul High?!”
If that pitch had been slightly off, it could have hit the student’s face directly.
‘…!’
Seeing Kim Tae-kyung’s fist aiming not at the fallen student’s head but at his knee, a spot that could cause serious injury…
‘That jerk…!’
I couldn’t control myself.
“Hey! Wait! If you go over there…”
I ran quickly. I could hear Epinel calling my name from behind, but I couldn’t afford to listen.
‘No, I can’t let this lead to an injury that ruins a shot at a pro draft…’
-Bam!
In my rush and confusion, I burst into the baseball field’s entrance, uncertain about the student’s condition, whether his leg was safe, or what happened to that jerk…
And what I saw was…
“Oh, judging by your uniform, you must be a new student? Showing up even before the test… you seem diligent, even if this isn’t the right time for compliments.”
It was a boy who had perfectly blocked Kim Tae-kyung’s punch, aimed at the fallen student, with a catcher’s glove.
…
…
…
The boy, who had perfectly blocked Kim Tae-kyung’s punch with a catcher’s glove, spoke with a disgusted expression as if he had just witnessed something revolting.
“Tae-kyung, even if your starting position is at risk… isn’t picking on a freshman a bit too much? As a fellow senior, that’s pretty pathetic.”
“Shut up… You’re just cruising in your position without any backing!”
‘Cruising? That’s such nonsense.’
***
<Player Info>
<Name: Yang Eui-ji>
<Age: 18>
<Skills>
<Block (R)>,
<Home Guardian (E)>
<Block (R): Slightly increases defense. As a catcher, it slightly reduces the chance of wild pitches.>
<Home Guardian (E): The higher the trust with the pitcher, the more accurate the lead and the higher the strikeout rate.>
<Stats>
<Power: 78>
<Speed: 61>
<Stamina: 70>
<Accuracy: 74>
<Defense: 81>
***
***
<Name: Kim Tae-kyung>
<Age: 18>
<Skills>
<Jealousy (R)>
<Jealousy (R): When a backup player is included in the same position, slightly increases stats.>
<Stats>
<Power: 68>
<Speed: 61>
<Stamina: 64>
<Accuracy: 54>
<Defense: 41>
***
It wasn’t that he was cruising without competition; he was so dominant that there was no need for a backup.
‘He’s just dominant.’
Yang Eui-ji clearly had the upper hand, both in stats and skills.
‘Still, I didn’t expect to see him here.’
Yang Eui-ji.
Known as the best catcher in the history of Haneul High and the top catcher in Seoul, even holding the title of the number one catcher in the entire country.
He’s the basis of Kim Si-hoo’s dislike for weak players—extremely kind to talented players and cold and harsh toward those lacking skills.
‘If someone puts in effort, he might begrudgingly help them…’
It looked like the student who had just been hit had been learning baseball from Yang Eui-ji.
For someone like Kim Tae-kyung, who bullies others out of a sense of inferiority…
“Newbie, can you pitch?”
Wait, why is he suddenly asking me?
‘If I make a good impression here, it might give me an advantage during the test.’
“Yes, I can.”
“Great! Grab a glove and get up on the mound right now.”
Yang Eui-ji, seemingly satisfied with my response, picked up the catcher’s mask from the fallen student and put it on.
“A three-at-bat challenge—if you can get a hit in just one at-bat, you can do whatever you want. I won’t interfere anymore.”
Kim Tae-kyung’s gaze sharpened as he glared at Yang Eui-ji.
“And if I fail?”
“Well… then you should quit the baseball team. After all, Haneul High has no use for a hitter who can’t manage a single hit against a freshman.”
‘…Don’t use me for your little bet.’
***
<Quest Activated!>
<Kim Tae-kyung, driven by jealousy, will be a major obstacle to your life in the baseball team! Deal with him now for a smoother high school life!>
<Make Kim Tae-kyung record three consecutive outs (0/3)>
<Reward: Epic-grade Skill Random Ticket>
<Quest in progress>
‘Of course, I’ll do it.’
If I can turn this senior bet into an opportunity for my growth, I’ll take it.
—
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