Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 85

All-Star Break, Last Day

※ 85. Training, Again

The last day of the All-Star break. I finally woke up after sleeping in, a habit I’d developed over the past few days.

“Ughhh…”

I sat up slowly, trying to shake off the lingering fog in my head.

I ordered *jajangmyeon* [black bean noodles] and *tangsuyuk* [sweet and sour pork], devoured it, and then turned on the computer. I browsed Mitube (a fictional video platform like YouTube) and read articles.

I could have done all this on my phone, but I wanted to sit down. If I just lay down, I’d probably fall asleep again, and then my days and nights would get reversed.

“Ah, right.”

After watching all the interesting videos and checking out all the clickbait news, the Full Count icon caught my eye.

Should I play for a bit after a long time?

Click, click, rhythmic clicks, and then a quick login. I was quickly matched with an opponent, and ‘Kim Han-wool’ was throwing the ball with all his might.

A battle against myself.

Kim Han-wool pitching for both teams simultaneously—something only possible in a baseball game.

Just when I started feeling bad about hitting singles and home runs against myself,

“They’re having a sale.”

Sparkle, sparkle, I’m having a sale right now!

The training center in the game was working hard to attract customers.

“…Should I do it?”

Last year, when I suffered a minor shoulder injury and was forced to rest for ten days, I ran 18km over two days and raised my stamina stat by one.

I got lucky back then, but there’s no guarantee that I’ll get another quest just because I train now.

It’s completely random.

“Hmm…”

I scratched my chin and stared at the training center. I calculated the cost of training my character.

10,000 won [approximately $7.50 USD] per training session. And the price of an item that increases the probability of raising the desired stat is 8,000 won. That’s 18,000 won in total. I have to do this twice, so that’s 36,000 won.

But they’re having a 20% discount, so let’s apply the discount rate, which brings it down to 28,800 won.

“…Just do it!”

I can just skip chicken twice. That’s what I mumbled, making a promise I wouldn’t keep, and pulled out my card. When I came to my senses, I had already spent 30,000 won on game cash.

“Ah… what have I done?”

It was already too late. 30,000 cash was clearly imprinted, and I received a text message saying that 30,000 won had disappeared.

Since it’s come to this, I’ll make the most of it.

Welcome, are you ready to start training?

A doctor with a bald spot on the top of his head greeted me.

Grow hair, grow hair.

When asked who I wanted to train, I naturally chose ‘Me’.

When asked which stat I wanted to raise, I naturally chose velocity. They won’t give it to me 100% just because I want it, but they sure talk a lot.

When I said I wanted to increase my velocity, they started spouting nonsense about having to adjust the price with the training equipment company.

Alright, alright. Just take more of my money.

Would you like to train Kim Han-wool?

A question I’d seen a year ago. Without a moment’s hesitation, I pressed the ‘Yes’ button.

After about a second of loading, I saw a character throwing a ball from almost pole to pole.

“Yes…!”

Ding-!

[Congratulations, Kim Han-wool’s Vigor has increased by 1 level!]

“…….”

With both hands raised above my head and a broad smile on my face, the only things moving were my blinking eyes.

“Aaaargh!!”

Thud!

My legs, which had lost all their strength, made my butt fall onto the chair.

“Well, at least it’s not control or stamina… it’s okay…”

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (0/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

Oh, please no.

* * *

It’s hard to find a place to play catch while throwing over 100m on a day off, especially on a weekday evening. Even if there was such a place, it would be even harder to find someone to play with.

So, the next day. Once I woke up, once when I got in the car to go to the stadium, once when I arrived at the stadium, and then,

“…Quest.”

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (0/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

One last time after arriving in the locker room.

The anxiety that I had to complete the quest as soon as I received it, and the uncertainty about whether there was a time limit, didn’t disappear.

Vigor.

I grabbed my glove, worried that this opportunity to easily raise an intangible value that was even harder to increase than velocity might disappear.

“…Hey, Gun-yeong.”

“Yes, hyung [older brother or senior]!”

“Let’s play catch.”

“Yes!”

“Um… a little. That…”

Damn it. I feel so sorry.

“I want to throw from a bit far away.”

“Long toss? That’s fine.”

Sorry. You’re probably only thinking about getting to first base [a baseball metaphor for romantic interest].

I’ve found an easy target, so I need to take care of it before he changes his mind. I lightly tossed the ball from a close distance of about 5m, barely using any strength.

Whack!

“But hyung, why are you doing long toss all of a sudden?”

“Huh?”

“You don’t usually do this.”

“Oh… well.”

Whack!

“Just. I wanted to do it for a while.”

With each throw, I took a step back.

The distance that started at 5m passed 10m, 20m, 30m, and reached the distance to second base.

Lightly, looking to the side instead of straight ahead, I lifted my left leg. Pushing my butt out and forward.

Whack!

I continued to move further away, with the target gradually getting smaller.

“Hyung! I’m not going that far!”

From the perspective of someone who had to quit his baseball career due to a critical shoulder injury, even 50m was a very long distance.

But sorry, I’m only halfway there.

“Ju-hooooooo!!!!”

Just then, another easy target was passing behind Gun-yeong. The person in question was flustered by his echoing name and looked around.

He recognized that I was the one who called his name, but he started talking to Gun-yeong, who was much closer, instead of me.

Nod, nod. Flinch. Panic. N…od, nod.

After a series of emotional changes, Ju-ho ran somewhere. About 10 seconds later, Ju-ho reappeared with another catcher’s mitt in his hand.

The destination of the ball I was throwing didn’t change from Gun-yeong. It just passed through Ju-ho on the way back.

Thump!

The long toss, which had been paused at 50m, passed 60m, 70m, 80m, 90m, and reached around 100m.

I’m starting to reach my limit. I’m supposed to pitch today, so let’s finish this quickly.

The high humidity and temperature in the middle of summer were causing sweat to pour out of every part of my body.

The stickiness I felt on my forearms, the water dripping from my hat.

“Ugh!”

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (1/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

I threw with all my might towards Gun-yeong, who now looked like a dot. With a light sound effect, I heard the notification that it was recognized as one 100m long toss, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

At least I’m not screwing up like before.

The memory of running 3km three times, and then running three more times because of the warning to run properly, was almost traumatic.

“Argh!”

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (2/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

When Gun-yeong catches the ball, that ball is caught by Ju-ho, who is 50m away. Then Ju-ho throws it back to me, who is 50m away. Then I catch this ball, and,

“Ugh…!”

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (3/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

Throw it back to Gun-yeong.

As I kept doing it, I could feel why people liked long toss. If you just use your physicality to hit the ball with all your might without worrying about anything, it felt like you were relieving unnecessary stress.

I lightly checked the destination with my eyes, and then took a deep breath. I ran lightly, right foot, right foot, left foot step, and bang!

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (4/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

Oh, my back.

Long toss is definitely not just arm or shoulder training. From the stance of throwing the ball strongly and accurately, it’s impossible without using your whole body.

You have to balance yourself by stepping. A strong core strength is required in the motion of releasing the twist created with the steps.

The scapula is loaded as much as possible to throw strongly. The shoulders, elbows, and wrists to overcome the intense movements.

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (5/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

Finally, a solid lower body that has to endure all these movements.

“Oh, my.”

My back is starting to ache. Let’s finish this quickly.

“Ugh!”

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (6/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

* * *

“Hoo… hoo… eugh… done!”

Ding-!

[Pitchers are Vigor! Vigor is Long Toss!]

– Do 20 long tosses of 100m or more (20/20)

– Reward – Vigor +1

Control – Top

Vigor – Mid+1=High

Stamina – Mid

Four-seam – 67

Curve – 55

Slider – 47

Splitter – 47

Changeup – 51

Sinker – 51

Traits

Detachment – I accept any batted ball or situation.

Uncomfortable – Makes the opposing batter feel uncomfortable when they see the pitcher on the mound.

Comfortable – People who see me feel comfortable.

As soon as I heard the notification that I had completed the quest, I collapsed. I rested my hands and knees on the ground and breathed heavily, then flopped down.

I, I feel like I’m going to die…….

The muscles in my body screamed and twitched. I’m sorry. It was my fault. Please.

“Sunbae [senior colleague or mentor], what are you doing?”

“What do you mean, I’m resting because it’s over.”

“Aren’t you cooling down?”

“Ah.”

That damn cooldown. Who made it?

I got up from my seat, trembling at Ju-ho’s urging. I got closer again twice as fast as when I moved away from Gun-yeong. It’s really over.

“Aren’t you pitching today?”

“I don’t know. I might…”

“Didn’t you overdo it?”

“Overdo….”

The word overdo wasn’t wrong.

“I have to do it quickly.”

I returned to the bench, threw my glove down, and leaned all my weight against the backrest. In the inverted view, I saw Hyuk-joon preparing to pitch.

Was it my soul that I threw, not the baseball?

The spirit that I couldn’t pull together didn’t return even after the game started, even after scoring the first point in the 3rd inning, even after Hyuk-joon cleanly blocked 6 innings.

“Han-wool. You’re going out in the 8th.”

“…Ah.”

I came to my senses at the end of the top of the 7th inning. 3 to 1.

“Oh, my back… Gun-yeonga.”

“Yes!”

I gathered my glove and called Gun-yeong. He must have received the situation report because he was wearing all his catcher’s gear and standing behind home plate.

“Ugh… ugh!”

I haven’t recovered yet!

I ignored the resisting muscles by stretching them this way and that. Let’s get it together. Let’s start lightly, starting with catch.

Wham!

Oh?

“Nice ball!”

I think I have to use the word surprised again after throwing it. The sound of the catch, which was a step above usual, urgently charged my discharged body.

“Alright, fastball!”

Whack!

The velocity seems to be slightly lower than usual. About 3km? 5km? But more important than velocity, the vigor stat that is not easy to obtain.

Thwack-!

“Alright, good ball, good ball!”

Admiration flowing out not to boost the pitcher’s morale, but because the ball was really good. Gun-yeong was pouring it out without holding back.

“Let’s go up.”

“Yay!”

The state of the two legs trudging towards the mound was somehow similar to when I pitched after doing a lot of weight training with Sunbae Eun-gu a while ago.

I suppressed the trembling sensation with excitement. The first pitch of the practice throw was naturally a fastball.

Thud-

Ah, I remember, I remember.

‘That day’.

The day I first completed the quest and felt the power of the +1 four-seam. It was like that day.

Seeing his eyes widen as he watched the ball hit the top lip of the mitt and fall, I now felt like that eye shape was Gyu-hak’s default eye shape.

Ding-!

[I’ll show you, a changed me.]

– Finish all innings with strikeouts (0/1)

– Reward – All pitches +2

A quest that I would have cursed at and said was impossible if it were the old me. But it felt like it could be done.

Play!

With a smile full of joy, my left leg stepped back.