Chapter 30
30. Invincible Baseball Team
First-base dugout at Mokdong Baseball Stadium.
Across the field, legends from Invincible Baseball Team warmed up.
A hitter with two thousand career hits.
A former home run king.
Big names every baseball fan knew.
The atmosphere in the U18 national team bullpen was strange.
“…Look over there. That’s Kim Gil-hyun.”
“Look at Seo Yoon-dong’s build. He’s really right there.”
The national team players watched their seniors warm up under the television cameras.
Every member had once been famous in the KBO.
Even though they were retired, their presence overwhelmed the U18 players.
This was how most young players reacted when meeting legends.
“Can we even win?”
“They’re retired, but they reached the KBO.”
They became intimidated.
They admired the seniors.
“Someday, we’ll reach the KBO too.”
Everyone watched the legends with shining eyes.
They reacted to every movement with admiration.
Then someone ruined the mood.
“Why are you staring, seniors? We’re supposed to beat them.”
“Hey, Seo Ji-tae. They’re seniors.”
“Aren’t they our opponents today?”
Seo Ji-tae looked confused and began bullpen work with Lee Jin-woo.
“Still, they’re successful seniors.”
Today’s game was against former KBO legends and reserve-level professionals.
A normal high school student would naturally feel nervous around such great seniors.
Most of the team did.
Only Seo Ji-tae and Lee Jin-woo ignored it and focused on their work.
“All right, players. We’ll start interviews.”
“Wow, we get interviewed because this is television.”
Naturally, the entertainment program included interviews.
The players became excited.
“Will all of us appear?”
“Idiot, you’ll get edited out.”
“I want to say something cool, but what should I say? I’m nervous.”
It was different from a normal practice game.
Television.
Entertainment.
The interviews moved through the players.
Finally, the microphone reached Seo Ji-tae.
“Seo Ji-tae! You’re scheduled to pitch today. We’ve heard a lot about you. Since you said you were worried about Korean baseball, the great seniors of Korean baseball have come today. How do you feel?”
The reporter’s voice carried a sharp edge.
Between personal impression and instructions from above, the treatment of Seo Ji-tae had already been decided.
“Today we’ll split into two teams. Another fireballer your age, Kim Geon-seok, who throws 155 km/h, will pitch against Team B. There was some controversy between you two. Honestly, are you conscious of him?”
The reporter’s eyes shined with expectation.
Seo Ji-tae’s gaze moved from the air to the microphone, then to the reporter.
His expression became confused.
“Who?”
The reporter blinked.
“What? I mean Kim Geon-seok from Cheongsol High School. He previously made a comment about this national team situation, so today…”
“So.”
Seo Ji-tae frowned slightly.
“Who is he?”
Pure confusion.
His eyes really looked curious.
“You don’t know Kim Geon-seok?”
“…No.”
There was no clear mockery in his tone.
He simply looked puzzled.
Then Kim Geon-seok himself suddenly appeared.
“You don’t know me? Stop acting childish. After today, you’re getting removed from the national team. You and that parachute friend of yours.”
“…”
Kim Geon-seok crossed his arms proudly.
Seo Ji-tae opened his mouth.
“Who?”
“What? Are you joking?”
“This evaluation game is happening because of that? Why waste everyone’s time?”
Seo Ji-tae did not even look amused.
He was serious.
Kim Geon-seok stared in disbelief.
Lee Jin-woo laughed beside Seo Ji-tae.
“Ji-tae is serious. Even I knew Kim Geon-seok’s name. You didn’t even think of him as a rival?”
“Why would I memorize someone who isn’t competition? Obviously I’m the center.”
Seo Ji-tae gave a simple evaluation.
“What? Who are you insulting? Enough!”
“If you were famous, I’d remember you. I don’t. That means we’re done.”
“!”
Kim Geon-seok’s face turned red.
Lee Jin-woo struggled not to laugh.
The reporter pushed the microphone forward again.
“You’re certainly bold. Then what do you think about the KBO legends you’ll face today? It’s your first real appearance after returning, so there should be a lot of pressure.”
“Ah, the old seniors?”
Seo Ji-tae turned.
He looked toward the Invincible Baseball Team members.
They had once dominated an era.
Seo Ji-tae did not feel intimidated at all.
“Pressure?”
He shrugged.
“If I feel pressure against retired old guys far past their prime…”
A smile entered his voice.
“Why would I go to America?”
“What? Seo Ji-tae, your confidence is… incredible!”
The reporter almost stuttered.
The boy who had dropped nuclear bombs during interviews since Cheongryong High had not changed.
“People sometimes call you arrogant. Don’t you think too much confidence can…”
“Then do you lose on purpose because they’re seniors? I don’t.”
Seo Ji-tae answered calmly.
The reporter lost his words.
Then he delivered the entire interview to the Invincible Baseball Team.
“What? Our junior is pretty arrogant.”
“He dominated high school baseball? We dominated the KBO.”
“We should teach him something.”
“Kids like that usually calm down after giving up one or two home runs. Should we teach him manners?”
This was entertainment television.
Of course the program would never ignore material like this.
The seniors became excited.
Mokdong Baseball Stadium heated up.
Team A’s game began.
