Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 362

#361. Do You Really Want It?

“Hmm, interesting. So, all the content up until now was just a dream, huh?”

“…Interesting? This? Oppa, do you really think so?”

“Why? I find it interesting, so… is that not allowed?”

“It’s not! Seriously, after making us empathize so much, they just drop the ‘it was all a dream’ bomb in the last episode? That’s just mocking the viewers.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Oppa… I think your taste might be… What was the most interesting drama you’ve ever watched?”

“The one I just watched.”

“Pardon?”

“This is the first drama I’ve ever watched all the way through… I don’t really know any others.”

“Oppa…….”

The Seattle Mariners won the American League Championship Series 4-1, and the St. Louis Cardinals swept the National League with 4 straight wins, confirming the World Series teams.

Our team, which held an impromptu car parade after returning to Seattle yesterday, was granted a complete day of rest today.

And as promised to Yerin, I indulged in the luxury of lying on the sofa at home all day, just watching dramas.

It was a bit odd that everything turned out to be a dream in the end, as Yerin said…….

But still, the first drama I ever completed was quite enjoyable.

Or maybe it was because I watched it with Yerin.

“Haa… shall we grab something simple to eat?”

“Yes, I’ll bring the sandwiches I made earlier. Please eat those while I prepare dinner, Oppa.”

“Let’s do it together.”

“No, you have training again starting tomorrow, so please rest completely today. Don’t do anything.”

“I still feel bad…….”

“Eii, since it’s come to this, will you marry me, Oppa? Then I won’t let you lift a finger…….”

“Huh? What was that? I didn’t quite catch that, Yerin-ah?”

“No! It’s nothing. I’ll just warm up the sandwiches, so please wait a moment!”

While Yerin was in the kitchen, I flipped through channels with the remote.

One channel was reporting news about the KBO [Korean Baseball Organization, South Korea’s professional baseball league].

While the Major League postseason was underway, the regular season in Korea had belatedly ended, and the autumn baseball season had begun.

The Warriors were the ultimate winners of this season’s KBO. It was a close race, with only a game and a half separating them from the second-place Magicians, but they still managed to win the regular season once again.

Jo Sung-oh’s stats had declined a lot, but Seo Hyung-joo and Ahn Chi-wook’s skills had peaked, and Jang Deok-soo, who played as a designated hitter for about half the season, and Walter Smith’s long hits were the best in the league.

Yoo In-chul, who filled my spot, also performed well enough to pass, and all the backup members did their part.

Lim Jun-young and Chun Sang-jin’s one-two punch was still going strong, and the middle relief and closer were even more solid than last year.

Therefore, the fact that we couldn’t create a bigger gap with the Magicians this season must be due to the void created by my absence.

Well, that’s something I can’t help, no matter how much money I have as the team owner.

There’s no solution unless they send me a mercenary [a highly skilled player brought in from another team or league] on the level of Ryan Thibodeau or Ty Johnson.

Hmm, when I go back to Korea later, I should really make an offer to that Ryan guy once…….

– Wang Lei, so to summarize what you’re saying now…….

– Yes, how many times do I have to say it? Don’t compare me to Han Su-hyeok. The only thing we have in common is that we’re both Asian. Other than that, I have nothing to boast about, okay?

– That’s a statement that makes us doubt the spirit of the continent. Even so, Wang Lei, you’re also a proud major leaguer…….

– Haa, geez. Yes, that’s right. I’m also a major leaguer. I did get called up once during the September expanded roster. But you know what? That’s why I could feel the difference between me and Han Su-hyeok even more. That guy, he’s… how should I put it, he’s someone who can’t be compared to me or any other player, no, he shouldn’t even be compared.

– Isn’t he just a baseball player from a small country? China is investing a lot in baseball now, so soon there will be someone just as good…….

– No, I’m telling you! It’s not that level!

As I continued to flip through channels, I saw a familiar face arguing with a host on some internet broadcast.

It was Wang Lei.

A pitcher who played for the Chinese national team and whom I met at the WBC [World Baseball Classic], and who made his big league debut this season with the Boston Red Sox.

The first time I met him on the international stage, he looked at me with quite arrogant eyes, but listening to him now, it seems like he’s come to his senses a bit.

As I was rummaging through various countries’ broadcast channels and internet channels, Yerin came to my side with sandwiches.

“I’ll prepare the meal as soon as the soup is warmed up. Let’s share this one in the meantime.”

“Really? Then let’s set the table together.”

“No way! What if you get hurt doing something… Didn’t you hear? A Dodgers player hurt his finger while preparing food at home and missed the entire championship. Absolutely, never, don’t do anything, and for the time being, just focus on baseball, okay?”

“Hmm, there’s no need to make such a fuss… Okay, I got it.”

“Hehe, by the way, Oppa. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure?”

“How does it feel to advance to the World Series? I mean, it’s like a dream stage for baseball players. Most players never get to step on it even once in their lifetime, wow… saying it like this suddenly makes my heart flutter.”

“Hmm, honestly, I don’t really have any thoughts.”

“Eeh? Even so, this is Oppa’s first World Series, right? I’d be so nervous if I were you.”

Actually, the words ‘I’ve done it a few times before’ almost came out, but I just held them back.

The entire city of Seattle is still burning brightly with the excitement of its first-ever World Series appearance.

Even baseball fans like Yerin, who don’t have any special connection to Seattle, are influenced by the atmosphere.

But for me, the World Series is…….

Hmm, just another game.

Of course, it would be nice to win, but spending time with Yerin, sharing delicious food, and watching fun things together is much more precious.

“Yerin-ah, should we just forget about the World Series and go somewhere to play?”

“Huh? Ehe, don’t even joke about that. And we have to win since we’ve come this far. I really want to see Oppa become a World Series champion.”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

“Do you really want it? A World Series championship?”

“Of course!”

“Okay, I gave you a Korean Series championship ring last time, so I’ll bring you a World Series ring this time too. Just wait a little longer.”

“Wow…….”

A pleasant fragrance emanates from Yerin, who hugs me with a bright smile.

A fragrance that resembles the refreshing scent of grass, which made me feel comfortable when I was very young.

I feel like I can do anything if it means keeping the smile on this girl’s face.

* * *

“Alright, everyone’s had a good rest for a day, right? Derek, you seem to have rested a little too well? Why are your eyes so swollen? Did you take a shower in alcohol or something?”

“Huh? Boss, how can you say such a disappointing thing! I was just replaying the Cardinals’ game videos so much…….”

“Alright, yesterday was literally a day off, so you were free to do whatever you wanted. But today is different. We don’t have many days left. Our first-ever World Series, that is.”

The word ‘World Series’ filled the faces of the Seattle players with determination.

There are transfers including Han Su-hyeok and Ty Johnson, but the core of this team is undoubtedly the young players who grew up in Seattle’s own farm system.

For them, being a member of the first World Series appearance in franchise history was a great honor beyond comparison.

“We crushed those damn Yankees 4-1, but the Cardinals also swept the Dodgers 4-0. In other words, they’re just as strong as we are in terms of momentum. Besides, they have something we don’t have: a wealth of World Series experience. Isn’t that right, Ty?”

“Hmm, it’s a little difficult to answer that question, Boss.”

“Hehe, I wasn’t really expecting an answer. I’m not trying to put pressure on you guys either. I just want to say this. We’ve worked really hard to get here, and let’s leave the rest to the heavens and do our best, we’ve come too far to say something like that. Don’t you all agree?”

“That’s right! Boss!”

“Despite the many achievements we’ve built up so far, many people are predicting the Cardinals will win. Just because they have more experience. But!”

Benjamin stopped speaking for a moment and pointed at Han Su-hyeok with his finger.

“Look at that guy over there. He’s living proof of how meaningless experience is, and that if you have the skill, you can beat even the most experienced veterans.”

“That’s right!”

“Okay, of course, even without experience, the St. Louis Cardinals are a strong team. From the pitching staff to the lineup, they’re a respectable team with no obvious weaknesses. But!”

Benjamin’s finger was still fixed on Han Su-hyeok.

“That team doesn’t have that guy. I can’t help it if someone criticizes me, or us, for being too dependent. Or even if they call it favoritism. But I’m sure of it. Because that guy is here, we’ll write a new chapter in history once again. Does anyone have any complaints about what I said?”

“No! We’re going to stick to that guy until we get our rings!”

When Ryan, representing Seattle’s young players, answered like that, the other players burst into laughter as if it was funny.

That was the atmosphere Benjamin wanted.

The young players, weighed down by the pressure of their first-ever World Series appearance, needed a place to lean on. They needed something to inspire courage.

Fortunately, Seattle had such an existence.

Han Su-hyeok, who broke all the records in Major League history on his own, and had a season that would go down in history.

“I don’t think I need to ramble on any longer. Alright, let’s get down to business. Hans, prepare the screen.”

A screen lit up behind the manager. And data on St. Louis’s key players filled the screen.

“The Cardinals’ ace Andrew Davis will be pitching in the first game. 239 innings pitched, 21 wins, 6 losses, ERA 2.01, WHIP 1.02, WAR 8.01, damn, terrible stats. But it doesn’t matter. Right now, they’re probably looking at Han Su-hyeok’s stats and saying something even worse.”

“Hahaha.”

“Not just Andrew Davis. Jordan East will be next, 201 innings, ERA 3.01, 20 wins, 9 losses, Charles Washington 15 wins, 7 losses, Victor Harlow 12 wins, 9 losses… impressive, right? But do you guys know what? Our team’s 2nd, 3rd, and 4th starters are Ryan Thibodeau, Mike Warren, and Hayashi Rentaro.”

“That’s right! We’re stronger!”

“Good, that’s the answer I was waiting for. Alright, let’s get started in earnest. Hans, come forward. It’s your turn to explain everything you’ve analyzed about Andrew Davis to the players.”

The first game of the World Series is three days away.

The Seattle players’ eyes sparkled as they focused on the screen.