Chapter 1

**5 Seconds Later - Chapter 1**

1. What the hell is this... (1)

Lee Kyunghoon, a backup catcher for the Buffaloes, who turned thirty-three this year, doubted his ears. He had just been told by the Buffaloes' head coach, Park Chang-hwa, that he was being sent down to the minor league.

"Coach..."

"That's how it is, Kyunghoon. I'm sorry," Park Chang-hwa said, patting Lee Kyunghoon's shoulder. But the gesture was devoid of any human warmth.

Feeling resentment towards Coach Park Chang-hwa, Lee Kyunghoon thought to himself, 'Being sent down to the minors...?'

Like all professional baseball players, he had joined the team with high expectations. Despite being praised for his hitting ability as a catcher, he was also criticized for his defensive shortcomings. Even as he shuttled between the major and minor leagues in the talent-rich Buffaloes, and even after half of the team's roster was decimated by a doping scandal, Lee Kyunghoon had stubbornly hung on, making the Buffaloes, now the worst team in the history of Korean professional baseball, his home.

'But this season, I really thought it would be different...'

His hitting had been at its peak since the preseason training, and he had been designated as the personal catcher for the new foreign pitcher, Jake Smith. He had also made significant progress in his defensive skills, which had been a weakness since he joined the Buffaloes' predecessor team fourteen years ago.

But then...

'Smith! If only that guy hadn't been released!'

Jake Smith, the foreign pitcher who had designated Lee Kyunghoon as his personal catcher, was released in May. This shook Lee Kyunghoon's position. Not only did his starting opportunities decrease, but he also faced criticism for not helping Jake Smith adapt.

'No! What was I supposed to do? Was it my fault that Smith kept throwing bad pitches?'

As his starting opportunities dwindled, his excellent hitting form also began to fade. Thus, Lee Kyunghoon found himself spending the season as a mediocre backup catcher, just like any other season.

And now, he was being told by Park Chang-hwa, who was almost certain to become the Buffaloes' manager next season, that he was being sent down to the minors.

After a moment of contemplation, Lee Kyunghoon asked Park Chang-hwa, "Is this by the manager's order?"

In response, Park Chang-hwa smirked and said, "Is that important now? The decision has been made, and the front office has approved it. Whether it's an order or an intention, it's already a done deal, you bastard."

"But, the manager has the authority over the roster..."

"Hey, Kyunghoon. You've been around long enough. Don't you understand the situation?"

"Or do you not know who will be the Buffaloes' manager next season?"

Without hiding the fact that he was the designated next manager and was overstepping his bounds, Park Chang-hwa pressured Lee Kyunghoon.

"Kyunghoon. Do your best. Got it? If you want to play next season, you need to. Otherwise, you can go learn record-keeping from the junior staff and assistant managers."

In other words, he was asking if Lee Kyunghoon wanted to work as a power analyst for the Buffaloes' front office. Essentially, Park Chang-hwa was holding Lee Kyunghoon's career hostage.

This was a sufficient threat to stir not only Lee Kyunghoon's pride but also his heightened sense of crisis, which had grown larger than his pride.

The faces of his wife and daughter came to mind.

"...I understand. I will follow your instructions, Coach."

"Should have done that sooner..." Park Chang-hwa nodded in satisfaction and added, "Still, be grateful. We were planning to send Park Seung-joong up instead of you."

"Park Seung-joong?"

Lee Kyunghoon recalled the preseason training a few months ago. He remembered the young, towering rookie who hadn't even graduated high school yet. This player, who had swept all the batting awards in high school and was drafted first overall by the Buffaloes last year, was a remarkable prospect.

"Yeah. But, he choked on his saliva while sleeping on the bus during a road trip. In the old days, we would have beaten him to correct his behavior..."

"Coach, so..."

"Yeah. Go to the minors in three days. Collect your major league registration bonus, pack your bags, and spend some time with your family."

"Understood..."

Thus, Lee Kyunghoon was given a four-day reprieve.

Although he would eventually be sent down to the minors, it was fortunate to have time to prepare.

'Without warning, many players have been sent down to the minors and never seen again.'

Perhaps, Lee Kyunghoon might soon be one of them.

'The Buffaloes are, as always, at the bottom of the league this year.'

For the Buffaloes to even reach the playoffs is, realistically, an unrealistic goal.

Park Chang-hwa, who is very likely to become the Buffaloes' next manager, has decided to send Lee Kyunghoon to the minors and promote Park Seung-joong, last year's top rookie and a catcher like Lee Kyunghoon.

In this situation, it is clear who will become the Buffaloes' backup catcher.

'Damn...'

In the 2020 Korean professional baseball season, the backup catcher for the 9th-place Buffaloes will not be the 33-year-old Lee Kyunghoon but the 20-year-old Park Seung-joong.

Unless Park Seung-joong suffers a serious injury, or...

'I awaken and secure the starting catcher position.'

But Lee Kyunghoon knew better than anyone that such a thing would not happen. He had been given dozens of opportunities and had even seized a few, but ultimately, they had slipped through his fingers.

'I should tell my wife when I get off work today. I won't be able to see her for a while, so maybe I'll take her out to dinner tomorrow...'

He was simply trying to adapt to his situation.

"Damn it! Six straight losses!"

"Are you pros? Huh? Are you pros?"

"Go die! Please!"

The 7th game of the season between the 9th-place Buffaloes and the 7th-place Missiles. After giving up the ninth run in the top of the sixth inning, making the score 9-0, the Buffaloes' home fans began to scream in agony.

The harsh and unspeakable insults, though ugly, were a part of the Buffaloes players' daily lives. Some players even appreciated these insults, as without the few hundred fans, the team would have likely been disbanded long ago.

In a hopeless situation, even the game officials were restraining themselves. The Buffaloes made a significant change, replacing most of their starting players.

Since the game was already lost, it was better to manage the players' stamina.

Even so, there was no guarantee they would win the next game.

Thanks to this, Lee Kyunghoon, who was supposed to be sent down to the minors, found himself wearing the Buffaloes' catcher's mask.

"Hello."

Bowing to the home plate umpire, Lee Kyunghoon took his position in the catcher's box and thought to himself, 'This might be my last major league game of the season.'

He tried to shake off the thought that it might be his last major league game ever and began to assess his situation.

'Top of the sixth, one out. Runners on first and second. 1-2 count. The score is 9-0. Removing all the starters means... they're giving up on this game.'

In that case...

'Giving up a few more runs isn't a problem. I need to create a situation where the probability of getting an out is the highest, even if it means risking more runs. So...'

At that moment...

"..."

Lee Kyunghoon began to "read" things that were impossible to believe.