Chapter 3

Home Plate's Villain - Chapter 4 (4/363)

# 4

Hong Bin, you are a moral book… (3)

1

I returned to my room and loaded the status window.

Even though my skills are all gone, I still need to check.

In middle and high school, I could play almost every position, so how can I stand out?

Name: Hong Bin

Position: Catcher, Pitcher, First Baseman, Shortstop, Third Baseman, Right Fielder, Left Fielder.

Team: Woosam High School.

Height: 187cm

Weight: 78kg

Condition: Average.

Stamina: 77/100.

Skills: Indestructible (Level 1, S)

Items: Random Skill Card (1)

The positions are no joke. A versatile multi-player… huh?

……?

What?

Indestructible level… 1?

Come on, you little brat.

pfp: What.

pfp: Why.

pfp: What.

8s8: Are you dissatisfied, you little brat?

Where did you sell my max-level Indestructible and make it level 1?

Where are you messing around?

8s8: When you regress, you go back to level 1. That's how it is.

You should have told me that beforehand.

Are you messing with me now?

-s-s: You didn't ask, did you?

-s-s: Are you complaining? What? What do you want?

Anyway, this…

I could tear it up.

pfp: Tear it up.

pfp: Tear it up. Try it.

pfp: Who do you think will be scared?

pfp: If you can, try it.

8s8: Dare to tear the gift from your father? You ungrateful brat. You will receive divine punishment.

2

Before regressing, there was a reason I got angry and swore when they said growth rate +10% and base stats +20%.

Basically, the status window doesn't show stats.

So even if that guy says he'll give additional growth rate or stats, I can't believe it right away. I can check it later, but the numbers can vary widely, and baseball isn't just about numbers.

Anyway, when I regressed, I chose the S-grade skill Indestructible.

First, my body condition isn't perfect at this point, and using Indestructible efficiently can help me train very effectively. The incredible performance of level 10 Indestructible was the reason.

But Indestructible is now level 1.

I should have confirmed it before coming back. Damn, I feel cheated, but what can I do? No matter how much I complain, I have to level it up myself.

Anyway, the ability of level 1 Indestructible is to reduce the probability of injury, increase recovery, and slightly improve condition.

Of course, this is a very good ability. It was one of the five S-grade skills I had.

oSo: Hmm.

oSo: Got it.

oSo: Arrogant brat.

oSo: If you treat the fairy rudely, you will receive divine punishment.

oSo: Tsk.

Tsk. You're already getting cocky.

Anyway, I didn't bring any other baseball-related skills because I trusted my 20-year pro career.

I was the undisputed best player in the KBO. No doubt about it.

Players who were inferior to me also got posting or FA qualifications and went to the major leagues, and some succeeded, though more failed.

Even if I had a bit of skill luck, I think I can survive 20 years in the major leagues.

And I remember the information on how to get skills, so I need to get them as quickly as possible.

And if I get a good one from the random skill, that would be even better.

hSh: For that, I need my strength.

hSh: Kneel and beg.

What?

Say it again, piece of paper.

-s-s: Just open the random skill. Don't act tough.

-s-s: For a mere human.

Alright, open it.

Let's open it and talk again.

When I said I would open the random skill card, an image appeared before my eyes.

A holographic plastic bag tearing effect.

And a card squeezing out through the tear…

Please.

Please.

S, S, S. At least A.

If D or C comes out, I'll put you in my underwear and sleep with you. Think about it.

You have obtained the skill 'Rub with the Left Hand (Level 1, B).'

Are you saying that you'll put me in your underwear if D or C comes out, so you got B?

oSo: No.

oSo: I didn't know what would come out either.

oSo: Really.

oSo: Really.

When facing a left-handed pitcher, slightly increased BABIP (Level 1)

3

Things progressed quickly.

My father met the coach and announced that I would challenge the major leagues. The coach, after some concern and minor opposition, accepted my decision. What could he do? I was going.

The Giants organization came several times to try to change my mind. They tried to persuade me, but I was firm. When they couldn't persuade me, they targeted my father.

"Mr. Hong, our team is determined to bring Hong Bin. We can offer a little more signing bonus than we previously mentioned…"

"Hong Bin can become a franchise star for the Busan Giants. I will definitely…"

"Going directly to the major leagues after high school graduation is less likely to succeed than gaining sufficient experience in the KBO League and then going…"

"Mr. Hong, if you consider Hong Bin's future, sending him to our team is the right choice. If you trust us for just one year, I will definitely bring him to the first team."

"Have you already contacted any major league teams?"

…They said all sorts of things and then gave up.

The team manager, who came every day, even felt a bit pitiful.

But I know very well that he's not a good person. I should have beaten him up after retiring and regressed, but I forgot. That annoying guy. Sigh.

Anyway, to improve my condition, I repeated team training and personal training. While team training wasn't very helpful, there were some things I couldn't do alone, so it wasn't entirely bad for maintaining my sense.

Although it's only level 1, I used the Indestructible skill to repeat hard training and rest appropriately, and during that time, we won the Cheongryong Cup.

Of course, I was the MVP. In the final, I was intentionally walked five times, but I still hit five home runs with this weak body. Timing is everything in a swing. Although my body condition isn't very satisfying, it will improve gradually. And this tournament confirmed that I can't gain skills against high school players.

By the way, originally, we didn't win this tournament.

I slightly injured my left ankle in the quarterfinals.

I didn't manage this injury properly, thinking it was nothing, and it caused me a lot of trouble in the pros.

The chronic left ankle injury plagued me until I acquired the Indestructible skill in my ninth year as a pro.

Without that injury, I might have hit 3,000 hits a little faster.

Such minor injuries subtly affect balance. That's why I brought Indestructible, thinking that physical condition is the most important.

Anyway, in two months, I increased my muscle mass and raised my weight to 87kg.

I didn't build unnecessary muscles but only the necessary ones.

I didn't waste my 20-year pro career, damn it.

Since long hits are also important in the major leagues.

Isn't it cool? A 50-home run catcher. My value will probably skyrocket.

oSo: That's a good resolution.

oSo: The goal for the second time is to hit 50 home runs per season as a catcher.

oSo: Hehe. If you aim for 1,000 home runs over 20 years, that would be great.

pfp: Hey, hey, time! Why are you taking off your pants.

pfp: What are you putting me in!

pfp: Wait, wait! What is this grotesque….

8s8: …….

8s8: I will kill you someday.

8s8: Definitely. I swear by my honor.

4

My father is a proactive person. He sometimes seems to be forceful, but he doesn't handle things carelessly.

I don't know where he met him, but he brought a Korean-American agent… I don't know him. Arnold Park? He looks like a slightly squished sponge cake and is a bit sleazy. A strange feeling.

But he seems to handle things neatly and communicates well, so I have no complaints.

"Excluding teams that only expressed interest, five teams have made concrete offers."

Five.

Not as many as I thought.

"Actually, I excluded a few teams that made unreasonable offers. Some teams were excluded not because of the contract but because the team situation wasn't good for Hong Bin. I have the data of the excluded teams, and I can provide more information if needed."

"Good. Which teams made offers to my son?"

Well, that's not bad.

I'm curious too.

Which teams want me?

And whether those five teams are on my preference list.

Mr. Arnold shrugged and pulled out documents from his 007 bag, laying them out one by one.

"First, the San Francisco Giants. It's not a bad place to live. It's a big city, and there are quite a few Asians, though no Koreatown."

I'll pass on the Giants.

Not because I lack confidence… I just need to find a team where I can shine faster.

"The next ones are the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers… and the Philadelphia Phillies. These five teams made good offers."

Giants, Rockies, Athletics, Tigers, Phillies?

Good grief.