A Rookie In The Baseball Team Is Too Good [EN]: Chapter 256

65. Someday, Here Again (4)

4 a.m.

A time before sunrise.

The streets were deserted, making the cold winter wind feel even more desolate.

At that early hour, the person who came to Ji-seop’s main residence in Seoul was none other than ‘Sakhalin Park,’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju.

“Good morning, Vice Chairman.”

“Hmm, have you been well?”

The acting owner of the KH Cannons, sitting in the back seat of a luxury sedan driven by a chauffeur, nodded with an arrogant expression.

It was actually a familiar pattern.

Perhaps due to his age, Sakhalin Park always preferred to move early in the morning.

Looking back, even when Ji-seop first became his personal baseball coach, the intensive training always started at 4 a.m.

Therefore, Ji-seop didn’t ask rudimentary questions like, ‘What brings you here so early?’

“I heard you went on a business trip to Japan… When did you return?”

“Last night.”

Sakhalin Park replied briefly.

“But I’m leaving again tomorrow morning. I only came in briefly today for a headquarters meeting.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Although he often bickered with Sakhalin Park, Ji-seop couldn’t help but worry about his age.

“Then wouldn’t it be better to rest at home today? I heard you haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

“Sleep? In about 10 years, I’ll be able to sleep forever. Is there really a need to worry about it now?”

“…Excuse me?”

‘Is he making a joke right now?’

As Ji-seop blinked, dumbfounded at the early hour, Secretary Yang, sitting in the passenger seat, spoke.

“Please get in, Special Assistant Kim.”

A bitter smile was plastered on his face.

“It seems the Vice Chairman wants to get some light exercise with you this morning.”

“Exercise?”

Ji-seop shrugged slightly.

“It’s December. Not exactly a great season for baseball… I’m fine with it, but will the Vice Chairman be okay?”

“That’s the problem with baseball players.”

Sakhalin Park retorted gruffly.

“Hey, you! Is baseball the only exercise in the world? All you have in your head is baseball.”

“So, it’s not baseball? Then what are we doing today…?”

“Hiking!”

Sakhalin Park said, holding up a wide-brimmed hiking hat.

“Let’s go for a light hike today.”

“H, hiking?”

‘That’s a bit,

troublesome.’

* * *

Ji-seop generally liked moving his body, but he honestly wanted to decline hiking.

It was definitely good exercise. It helped with lower body balance, and there was no better activity for increasing lung capacity.

But was it because of these proven effects? Ji-seop’s coaches in his school days made him go hiking whenever they had the chance.

-Finished training? Then go to the mountain behind the school and eat.

-Oh, you finished eating? Then go to the mountain behind the school to digest.

Hiking before training.

Hiking before dinner.

Hiking again before bed.

He did this almost every day for six years in middle and high school, so how could he possibly like hiking?

Therefore, after entering university, Ji-seop avoided even gentle hills whenever possible-

“…Damn it.”

Today, he was cornered.

If he was told to do it, he had to do it.

“Of course, if you really don’t want to, you can wait here. Secretary Yang and I will go alone.”

Of course, Sakhalin Park said this without meaning it, but after hearing those words, Ji-seop had no choice but to follow.

Sakhalin Park, who had passed seventy a long time ago, and Secretary Yang, who was approaching sixty.

He couldn’t just leave those two alone on the mountain and wait below; his conscience wouldn’t allow it.

‘Looking at it now, it seems like I didn’t need to worry…’

Even though time had passed, the toughness he had shown when he frequented the cold Russian lands like his own home hadn’t disappeared.

Sakhalin Park moved as vigorously as the current players of the KH Cannons, or perhaps even more so.

Ji-seop, shaking his head at his vigorous energy, said a word to Secretary Yang, who was following behind.

“Does he eat wild ginseng or something?”

Ji-seop pointed to Sakhalin Park, who had gone ahead in a short time.

“I’ve never heard anyone say I lack stamina, but the Vice Chairman’s stamina always surprises me.”

In fact, it wasn’t just about today’s hike.

It also included an assessment of Sakhalin Park’s actions since the KH Cannons’ Korean Series victory was decided.

Celebratory events, award ceremonies, commemorative banquets held in various places, negotiations with foreign clubs, on-site inspections, and even occasional headquarters meetings in between.

The septuagenarian [someone in their seventies] veteran, who had been moving without a moment to catch his breath since the very day he lifted the championship trophy.

What was the secret to his incredible stamina and energy?

“Well, I don’t know either. He doesn’t usually take any special tonics…”

Secretary Yang smiled gently.

“However, I have a vague idea why his steps are so light today.”

“Really? What is it?”

“Did you know, Special Assistant Kim? This used to be the mountain behind Youngsan High School.”

Youngsan High School.

Sakhalin Park’s alma mater.

“It moved to Cheolsan-dong when the new city plan was announced, but before that, Youngsan High School was on the intersection overlooking down there.”

“Ah, I see.”

“As you know, the Vice Chairman is from the Youngsan High School baseball team, right? I heard he often came to this mountain for physical training during his baseball days…”

A place he frequented during his school days.

A place he visited like his own home.

“Even though time has passed, wouldn’t this be a path the Vice Chairman could walk with his eyes closed? Perhaps that’s why his steps seem so light today.”

“That’s true, that could be it.”

Secretary Yang said that as the last word and hurriedly started following Sakhalin Park, but Ji-seop stood still for a while, looking around.

‘Ah, really? This was the mountain behind Youngsan High School?’

As soon as he learned that fact, one name naturally came to mind.

Sakhalin Park’s Youngsan High School alumnus.

A colleague who played on the baseball team together.

And the very person who later had the greatest influence on Sakhalin Park’s life.

‘The late Chairman Joo Tae-san.’

Sakhalin Park, who is over seventy years old, where does his overflowing energy come from?

Even after achieving the Korean Series victory he had so desired, why can’t he just sit still and enjoy the joy?

Regarding the various questions surrounding Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju, Ji-seop felt like he had found the answer.

* * *

As far as Ji-seop knew,

Sakhalin Park was like a Chollima (千里馬) [a mythical, incredibly fast horse], a thousand-mile horse.

Didn’t the old stories say? Like Red Hare, Ferghana horse, or Ochu horse.

Like a famous horse that could run a thousand miles a day, he was a person who enjoyed running madly toward his goal.

‘Oh, it’s no joke.’

That ‘human Chollima,’ Vice Chairman Park Hong-ju, had clearly set his sights on winning the KH Cannons’ Korean Series.

The last wish of his irreplaceable friend, the late Chairman Joo Tae-san, and the only goal of Vice Chairman Park, who was now stepping down from the management front.

‘But now, even that goal has been achieved…’

In Ji-seop’s view, Sakhalin Park seemed to be feeling like a Chollima who had reached the end of the world.

He still had energy left, and if he wanted to, he felt like he could go not only a thousand miles but even ten thousand miles.

Now, he was a Chollima wandering around, unable to find a place to go.

‘He seems to be feeling empty.’

Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t taken a break since the end of the Korean Series.

Was he diligently traveling around on business trips and local inspections to forget the fact that his ultimate goal had been achieved?

Was he afraid that the thought of having nothing more to aim for would come crashing down on him the moment he sat down and took a moment to relax?

“…”

Reaching this point in his thoughts, Ji-seop quietly closed his mouth and started walking behind Sakhalin Park.

Ji-seop was able to see through the hearts of others, and therefore had many opportunities to glimpse various emotions.

But at this moment, it was difficult to decide what to say to Sakhalin Park.

‘Seriously…’

Should I comfort him?

Should I encourage him?

If I comfort him, how should I comfort him, and if I encourage him, what words can I use to encourage him?

Chairman Joo Tae-san only spoke of winning the Korean Series, and all other goals had already been passed on to Chairman Joo Young-eun.

“Um… Vice Chairman?”

Ji-seop, who had been pondering for quite some time, carefully opened his mouth around the time the climax of the day’s hike was approaching.

The point when the summit marker with the large inscription [Geumhwasan] came into view in the distance.

“What?”

Even the mighty Sakhalin Park seemed a little tired when he reached the summit.

To Sakhalin Park, who was looking at him, panting for breath, Ji-seop was offering his own ‘alternative.’

“Would it be okay if I called you occasionally, Vice Chairman?”

“Call?”

“Yes, after I go to America.”

Ji-seop made a deliberate groaning sound.

“It’s not like I haven’t lived in America before, but back then I was a player, right? But now I’m going as a student or a club employee…”

“So what?”

“I was wondering if the Vice Chairman could give me advice from time to time; it would be a great help in living in America.”

It was an alternative he had thought hard about.

Give Sakhalin Park a new job.

Call him often to ask for advice, and ask for necessary information if needed.

If he seems so bored that he doesn’t know what to do, I should also tell him to come to America for a visit.

It might be something that Sakhalin Park would scoff at, but wouldn’t it be enough as a side job?

“Ah, give advice? So you want me to be your teacher?”

“Yes, Vice Chairman.”

“Yes, haha, teacher…”

The next moment, what came back to Ji-seop was a blazing back slap that made him see stars before his eyes.

“You damn bastard!”

“Ugh!”

Ji-seop jumped in place, patting his back, but Sakhalin Park didn’t even blink.

“You have to pioneer your own path! It wouldn’t be enough to cross over with the spirit of chewing iron bars, but what are you going to do if you’re already asking for my advice and whining?”

“N, no, that’s not…”

Ji-seop tried to make some excuses, but Sakhalin Park’s nagging didn’t stop.

“And do I look so free to you? Didn’t Secretary Yang tell you? I haven’t rested properly for a single day since the victory!”

“No, I mean.”

After being hit for no reason, Ji-seop’s voice also changed a bit gruffly.

“You won the championship and the season is over, so what’s so busy? There’s a time for being busy, and if you’re so restless like this, the people next to you can’t help but worry.”

“…Worry?”

Sakhalin Park is quick-witted.

With that level of expression, he seemed to have grasped what was going on.

“Haha, that guy…”

Muttering his trademark monologue, Sakhalin Park showed a faint smile.

“Hey, Qingdao!”

“…Yes.”

A large palm, reminiscent of a pot lid, came up on Ji-seop’s shoulder with a ‘thud.’

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

“There’s… still work left?”

“Look.”

Sakhalin Park pointed to the cityscape spread out below the mountain peak.

The city, just beginning to awaken little by little, receiving the newly rising sunlight.

“See that? The Bukyeongsan New City, which was announced 10 years ago! It just broke ground a while ago. All the projects are just beginning now.”

“I know that because I saw it on the news, but…”

Ji-seop tilted his head.

“What does that have to do with the Vice Chairman? Are you perhaps going to KH Construction?”

“No, it’s not that…”

Over there, over there.

In the place where Youngsan High School used to be.

Sakhalin Park, drawing a circle with his finger, turned his gaze to Ji-seop.

“A baseball stadium is coming.”

“Excuse me?! A, a baseball stadium, you mean…”

“Yes.”

Sakhalin Park nodded.

“Our Cannons’ new home stadium… It’s finally becoming a reality, so how can I be your teacher?”

Yeah, isn’t that right?

Sakhalin Park, showing a bright smile towards Ji-seop.

The KH Cannons’ ‘Chollima’ seemed to have already found a new path to run on.