Chapter 2

5 seconds later, the bulletin board appeared! Chapter 2

1. What is this ridiculous... (2)

Characters that made no sense to him, such as [Domestic Baseball Bulletin Board], appeared in front of Lee Kyung-hoon's eyes.

From these characters, which seemed to be floating in the air and forcibly inserted into his field of vision, Lee Kyung-hoon felt an indescribable sense of alienation.

If it had only been that, he might have thought it was a hallucination due to his mental and physical fatigue...

(39.7)]

[6th inning, 12-0 / King Sale Days]

[Missiles, you scumbags, pay and play / oo (58.228)]

"Time!"

"Time!"

In response to Lee Kyung-hoon's urgent cry, the umpire called a ball dead and time.

At the same time, the characters that had appeared in various parts of Lee Kyung-hoon's field of vision disappeared all at once.

"What? What is it?"

To the umpire's questioning look, Lee Kyung-hoon replied with a smile.

"Well... something got in my eye. Haha...

"Is that so? Trainer! Eye drops!"

The umpire signaled to the Buffalo's dugout, calling the training coach over.

Kasuga, the young Japanese training coach for the Buffaloes, ran over to Lee Kyung-hoon.

"Brother Kyung-hoon, are you okay?"

"Ah, yeah. I'm fine. Do you have eye drops? Can you give them to me?"

"Sure."

While putting in the artificial tears he received from Kasuga, Lee Kyung-hoon thought.

'What... What did I just see?'

The characters were like messages or chat entries describing the situation after the batter, Lee Geun-hyung, hit a home run.

'...I was too complacent.'

He had given a sign with a relaxed attitude, prioritizing the maximum number of outs over minimal runs allowed.

Lee Kyung-hoon speculated that the sense of unease he felt in his subconscious had caused this hallucination.

'If not, there's no way to explain this phenomenon...'

Having reached this conclusion, Lee Kyung-hoon wiped the artificial tears from his eyes and said,

"I'm fine now. Kasuga, thank you."

Kasuga, a passionate young man in his second season as the Buffaloes' training coach, replied fluently in Korean.

"Sure, brother. If it stings, let me know right away."

"Got it, got it."

After Kasuga returned to the Buffaloes' dugout, Lee Kyung-hoon made a gesture of apology to the umpire and the batter, Lee Geun-hyung.

The umpire and Lee Geun-hyung nodded as if to say, "It's fine."

'The Missiles would have dragged out the time, not the Buffaloes.'

Reflecting on his complacent approach, which had made him feel uneasy in his subconscious, Lee Kyung-hoon gave a new sign.

'Curveball. Low in the strike zone.'

The pitcher nodded in response to Lee Kyung-hoon's second sign.

And then...

(183.103)]

"Time!"

"Time! ...Why again this time?"

In response to Lee Kyung-hoon's second time request, the umpire grumbled and Lee Geun-hyung fidgeted with his bat, looking embarrassed.

Lee Kyung-hoon made another gesture of apology and pretended to rub his eyes.

This was to buy time to think about the phenomenon again.

'What the hell...!'

Last time it was a home run, and this time it's a two-base hit.

Should he be relieved that it's a two-base hit instead of a home run?

Thinking that something might have really gotten in his eyes, he actually rubbed them, but...

'They disappeared as soon as I called for time again.'

Just like when he saw the characters saying he had given up a home run and called for time.

Feeling a sudden sense of powerlessness, Lee Kyung-hoon let out a heavy sigh.

'Pathetic. I'm a professional baseball player, a catcher, and I can't even have confidence in the signs I give.'

Thinking that this was all due to losing his confidence after being notified of his demotion to the minors, Lee Kyung-hoon made a solemn vow.

'Right. If it comes to this, I'll go down to the minors this time and rebuild myself from scratch, both mentally and physically. Whether I can come back or not is another issue, but it's better than forcing myself to stay in the majors in this state.'

As the first step in putting this resolve into action, he decided to face this situation head-on and overcome it.

'It's okay. Let's hit it. Let's get hit. It's fine to do that now. But, let's not run away. Let's do our best, face it, and accept the results.'

Lee Kyung-hoon gave his third sign.

'Let's go with the four-seam fastball I gave the first time. But, throw it with all your power. Low or high, put all your strength into it.'

The pitcher nodded several times, looking satisfied, as if this third sign was the one he liked the most.

Then,

[Missiles 10 runs given up =1 =1 =1 =1 / OO (223.62)]

[They're really getting beaten like dogs / ni-o e (175.223)]

[He's hitting them like golf balls / oo (123.111)]

As expected, the characters appeared in Lee Kyung-hoon's field of vision.

But he ignored them.

'Courage! The courage to ignore my own fear!'

If he could have this courage, there would be nothing to fear in this world.

'With this courage, I will overcome my fear, overcome myself!'

No matter what the result is, Lee Kyung-hoon will take a step forward.

That's how Lee Kyung-hoon overcame himself and his fear.

Snap!

He got hit properly.

"Home! Home!"

"Third! Third! ...That's right!"

A single to right field scored the runner from second base, and the runner from first base advanced to third base.

10-0.

It was the moment the Buffaloes gave up their tenth run of the day.

"Get out! Get out of here! I'll throw it myself!"

"Please! Just disband the team!"

"Hey, you...!"

The Buffaloes' fans started to shout obscenities.

Even the expressions of the Missiles' players were distorted by the commotion.

Swallowing hard, Lee Kyung-hoon thought.

Getting a hit from Lee Geun-hyung, one of the best hitters in the Korean professional baseball league, is something that can happen.

Allowing the tenth run is something that can happen.

Getting hit by a four-seam fastball is something that can happen.

But getting hit by a four-seam fastball for the tenth run against Lee Geun-hyung really happened.

'Can this happen...?'

With this thought, Lee Kyung-hoon shuddered as characters appeared in his field of vision.

The characters that had appeared before the at-bat with Lee Geun-hyung were now moving left and right as if mocking him.

"What is this ridiculous...?"

Lee Kyung-hoon muttered in despair.

The characters kept appearing and kept hitting the mark.

(61.81)]

[That guy is still heroic even with a 10-run lead =1 =1 =1 =1 / OO (58.228)]

[When else would he hit a home run if not against the Buffaloes? / King Sale Days]

[Kim Jin-soo's stuff is good enough to be hit / BF’s]

"Swing, out—!"

Even when he struck out the second out.

[Good swing, but a ground ball / Geun-hyung Missiles]

[This is insane, how do you come back from a 10-run deficit? / OO (103.250)]

[Still a Buffaloes fan? Haha / OO (183.103)]

"Out—!"

Even when he got the third out on a ground ball to the shortstop.

The situation unfolded as Lee Kyung-hoon saw it.

'...Am I possessed?'

"What are you doing? Get in there!"

In response to the umpire's words, Lee Kyung-hoon, who had been dazed, lifted his head.

The top of the sixth inning for the Missiles was over, and the bottom of the sixth inning for the Buffaloes was about to begin.

"Brother... Lee Kyung-hoon."

The Missiles' catcher, who had already come onto the field, was looking at Lee Kyung-hoon with a troubled expression.

It was a signal to clear the catcher's box.

"Ah, sorry. I was thinking about something..."

"Haha... No, you did a good job."

It was an encouragement for finishing the defense after being brought in to replace the starting players.

It was an overly friendly comment to be directed at an opposing player.

Thus, it was a humiliating comment.

'Just talk, kid.'

Chewing on this thought, Lee Kyung-hoon returned to the Buffaloes' dugout.

And he thought.

'What a mess, really...'

The dugout, where he didn't even offer encouragement to his teammates who had finished their defense, was a shameful atmosphere for a team.

The Missiles' catcher, who had offered even a pretense of encouragement, seemed more like a teammate.

While some players tried to improve the atmosphere in such a situation, they were only a minority.

Most players were swept away by the gloomy atmosphere and were only trying to impress Coach Park Chang-hwa, who was almost certain to become the manager next season.

However, Lee Kyung-hoon couldn't blame those players.

'I tried to impress Park Chang-hwa too. But...'

He thought it was too much.

After all, Lee Kyung-hoon had been a backup catcher during the Buffaloes' golden age.

The Buffaloes of that era were a strong and cohesive team that knew how to win.

Although they entered their current dark age due to doping scandals and reduced support from their parent company.

'Who becomes the manager is not important. Unless this negative atmosphere changes, the Buffaloes cannot return to being a strong team. Someone needs to step up...'

While lost in these thoughts, Lee Kyung-hoon was snapped out of them by Coach Park Chang-hwa's shout.

"Lee Kyung-hoon! Aren't you preparing to bat?"

"Huh? ...Ah, yes!"

"You, you bastard. Do you want to be replaced after being brought in? Huh?"

"No!"

Lee Kyung-hoon grabbed his bat, helmet, and other batting equipment and left the dugout.

Wearing his shin guards, foot guards, batting gloves, and helmet securely, he headed to the on-deck circle with his bat.

Muttering to himself in a voice that wouldn't be heard in the dugout.

"Without a replacement catcher, what are you talking about replacing me..."

Not being able to focus on the game was Lee Kyung-hoon's fault, no doubt.

But it wasn't something he deserved to be scolded for in front of other players.

Especially not after receiving a demotion notice just a few hours ago.

'He's completely written me off. If I go down to the minors this time, I might never come back...'

With this negative thought, Lee Kyung-hoon entered the on-deck circle.

The characters appeared again.

[Why am I so nervous / Geun-hyung Missiles]

(175.223)]

[Don't worry, you can't come back from a 10-run deficit / oo (123.111)]

Looking at the characters appearing in various parts of his field of vision, Lee Kyung-hoon suddenly thought.

'...If these characters really show what will happen soon?'

If that were true.

'I can change it. I can make the Buffaloes the Buffaloes of that era. The Buffaloes I used to miss.'

Most importantly, he could change himself as a player.

Lee Kyung-hoon calmly assessed the current situation, even surprising himself.

'The situation is no outs, runner on first. As the characters showed, the runner is on first due to a walk.'

If the batter on deck were to reach base on an error,

'This would confirm that the characters are showing the near future.'

And then.

Crack!

The batter's ordinary hit grazed the glove of the third baseman, who had been substituted in this inning, and rolled toward the left fielder.

Just as the characters had shown.

The characters in his field of vision started moving left and right as if to say, "We were right, weren't we?"

"Number 9 batter, catcher, Lee Kyung-hoon."

Lee Kyung-hoon's name echoed throughout the Buffalo's home field, Buffalo Field.

Spraying bat spray on his bat and calmly heading to the plate, Lee Kyung-hoon thought.

'Even though we're losing 10-0... we have a no outs, runners on first and second opportunity in the bottom of the sixth inning.'

Lee Kyung-hoon, who had replaced the Buffaloes' starting catcher, Moon Chang-joon, was now the ninth batter.

If an unexpected good result came from the ninth batter, the lowest in the batting order, in this situation?

'Even if we can't come back, we can definitely change the atmosphere.'

Of course, Coach Park Chang-hwa's evaluation of Lee Kyung-hoon would also change.

Thus, Lee Kyung-hoon stepped into the batter's box with runners on first and second and no outs.

'If they think I'll swing at the first pitch no matter what...

Then the characters appeared as if they had been waiting for him to think that.

[What a mess =1 =1 =1 =1 / Kim Sat GOD]

[Nice人人人人人人

oo

(223.62)]

[DamnI II 11 DamnII ill DamnI iiii Damnii ill Damn!!!!! Damn!!!!! Damn!!!!! / oi—ob (175.223)]

[As expected, Lee Kyung-hoon's hit goes nowhere =1 =1 =1 =1 / oo (103.250)]

'Lee Kyung-hoon...?'

Anyway, he realized that if he had swung at the first pitch, it would have been a double play.

Then.

'Not swinging.'

Squish] Squeak...

• • • • • Slash

The umpire called a ball without hesitation, a low changeup.

If he had swung at it, it would have been an infield ground ball and a double play.

Satisfied with the result, Lee Kyung-hoon smiled.

(58.231)]

OOOO

[Really, I don't get it, why did he swing at that / m-os (175.223)]

[So sweet—- choke ——- / oo

(223.62)]

[Enjoying the famous Buffalo's strikeout, I'm leaving ~7 / Kim Sat GOD]

"Ball!"

The at-bat, which would have been a flyout to left field, continued to a 2-0 count.

[Three balls, so sweet /。。(103.250)]

[Brothers, will this go over 14 points? / ee (124.49)]

[Three balls against Lee Kyung-hoon; / oo (103.250)]

"Ball!"

Without touching the ball, it continued to a 3-0 count.

He had brought the at-bat to a situation that was absolutely favorable to the batter.

'Now it gets real.'

With runners on first and second and no outs, and the ninth batter facing a 3-0 count.

The pitcher, who didn't want to give up a walk, had few options.

'A four-seam fastball right down the middle. I'll swing with all my might at that. ...So, what will happen?'

There was no reason not to.

Snap!

...Thud!

Lee Kyung-hoon's hit, which had been flying without end, hit the fence beyond the outfield.

10-3.

It was the beginning of a legendary comeback in the Korean professional baseball league.