Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 139

The Villain on the Mound – Episode 139

Having finished the last game of July, Ha-seong returned to Oakland.

“Tomorrow is a day off, so everyone get some rest.”

“Yes!”

A day of rest in midsummer was like welcome rain.

Ha-seong went straight back to the hotel, filled the bathtub with water, and soaked in it to relax his body.

“Ah… this is the life.”

Soaking in the bathtub was one of his main relaxation methods from before.

It might seem a bit childish, but nothing else relaxed his mind and body as much as this.

“It would be perfect if I could listen to music here too.”

It was a shame that Bluetooth speakers weren’t widespread yet, so he listened to the music coming from the speakers in the living room.

“The new song is good.”

The music was Eun-ha’s new song.

She had recently released a new song and was receiving a good response in Korea.

“This is when I fell for her.”

It felt like he had returned to his previous life.

“I used to heal like this while listening to songs back then too.”

It had been quite a long time since he started this healing method.

Ha-seong turned on his smartphone while soaking in the water.

“It’s not waterproof yet, so be careful not to drop it.”

He searched the internet for articles and reactions about himself.

[Jeong Ha-seong Records His 14th Win of the Season, Is 20 Wins Possible?]

[Jeong Ha-seong Starts Racking Up Wins Fiercely in the Second Half!]

[How Far Will Jeong Ha-seong’s Performance, Who Is Breaking the Record for Most Strikeouts by an Asian, Continue?]

[Jeong Ha-seong Writes History in His First Year as a Starter!]

The articles were all favorable.

“It’s true that the reporters quiet down as my popularity rises.”

He had frequent troubles with reporters since his debut.

However, as Ha-seong’s popularity increased, the reporters had no choice but to bow their heads to him.

If they mentioned something wrong, their careers could be on the line.

“If my performance declines, they’ll pounce on me and try to tear me down.”

Reporters are not friends.

They were like hyenas, always ready to attack.

Knowing their true nature well, Ha-seong had no desire to get close to them.

“Well, most relationships are similar. Relationships where you only give don’t last long.”

Ha-seong had felt that deeply while living his life.

He thought they were friends, but when he lost everything, everyone left.

“Except for one guy…”

Suddenly, he remembered the friend who had come to see him.

Ha-seong searched for his name on the internet.

[Jang Tae-soo]

When he searched the name, several articles popped up.

[Seoul Angels’ Super Rookie Jang Tae-soo Records His 5th Win of the Season!]

[Jang Tae-soo, a Promising Future!]

[What Is the Future of Left-Hander Jang Tae-soo, Who Throws a Fastball with a Maximum Speed of 150km [approximately 93 mph]?]

The articles weren’t bad.

Like Ha-seong, Jang Tae-soo was also a super rookie who had been highly anticipated since his rookie days, so it was natural.

“Come to think of it, I died with this guy in the future. Is that going to happen this time too?”

It could be, but there was a high possibility that it wouldn’t.

“Well, it’ll probably change with something like a multiverse, right?”

It wasn’t certain, so he left it as just a question and accessed YouTube.

“Should I start uploading videos now?”

The YouTube platform was not yet the global phenomenon it would become.

The number of users wasn’t small, but it wasn’t the massive platform used by most of the world’s internet population like it would be in the future.

However, it was necessary to upload videos in advance and build a presence.

“Because there’s a first-mover advantage.”

In fact, many YouTubers grew by establishing themselves early on.

Of course, just because you establish yourself early on doesn’t mean that viewers will naturally increase.

You had to upload content that matched it and constantly cater to the needs of viewers.

“With my current name recognition, I’d probably attract a certain number of viewers. But since the market is relatively small, it wouldn’t be a significant number.”

Ha-seong was looking at YouTube from a long-term perspective.

He thought that if he nurtured it well, it would become another source of income and provide for his life after retirement.

“At first, let’s focus on filming and uploading myself. But I’ll need someone to help with editing.”

He thought that he could film the videos himself without much problem.

YouTube itself still had more amateurish aspects than professional ones.

However, the video editing part was different.

He couldn’t use the related programs, so he needed the help of an expert.

At that time, a text message arrived.

It was Isabel.

[The limited edition will be on sale from tomorrow.]

The sale of the limited edition was approaching.

* * *

[Jeong Ha-seong Vigor’s Second Limited Edition Shoes, Sold Out in 1 Minute!]

[Sold-Out Man Jeong Ha-seong!]

[1,000 Limited Editions Sold Out in 1 Minute!]

[Jeong Ha-seong Model Soars to $10,000 on eBay!]

The time it took for Ha-seong’s second limited edition, Pinnis V1, to sell out was only 1 minute.

Since the product was limited to 1,000 pairs in the first place, it boasted an enormous competition rate.

In addition, it was sold worldwide, so its value was bound to be enormous.

The products that were sold were also being resold through eBay.

While fans who couldn’t get the product were disappointed, Vigor released an article.

[Vigor to Sell Pinnis General Version Too!]

The sale of the general version of Pinnis, not the limited edition, was decided.

However, the value of the limited edition did not fall.

The limited edition had a unique number stamped on it, and the pattern was slightly different.

On the other hand, the general version did not include a number, preserving the value of the limited edition.

Fans welcomed the sale of the general version with open arms.

Ha-seong smiled at the reaction.

‘If we sell the general version while preserving the value of the limited edition, the value of the limited edition will increase even more in the future.’

The purpose of purchasing a product differs from person to person.

Some buy it for use, and some buy it for collection.

People who collect have a stronger desire to collect as the value of the product becomes rarer.

There had to be people like that consistently for the value of the product to increase.

Ha-seong accurately caught that part and suggested it to Vigor.

Vigor welcomed it, and this sales strategy was devised.

“It’s successful.”

Ha-seong judged that his sales strategy was successful.

And the fact that this method was the answer was immediately revealed as the general version went on sale.

[Vigor’s Pinnis Model Experiences Shortages All Over the World!]

[Pinnis General Version Is So Popular That It Can’t Be Sold!]

[Pinnis Model Shortages Show Jeong Ha-seong’s Popularity!]

It began to gain popularity to the point where shortages occurred.

* * *

Ha-seong continued to collect wins in August.

[Jeong Ha-seong Takes the Mound with the Requirements to Be a Winning Pitcher in the 7th Inning.]

The batting lineup was helping from the first game.

[Today, the Athletics’ Batting Lineup Explodes, and the Score Is 8 to 1! Jeong Ha-seong Continues to Pitch!]

The score difference was already large.

It wouldn’t be strange to replace him, but manager Tony kept putting Ha-seong up.

The reason was simple.

‘I want to get double-digit strikeouts.’

Ha-seong wanted to get more strikeouts, coveting not only the strikeout title but also the entire Major League record.

Above all, he had plenty of pitches left.

If he threw less than 15 pitches in this inning, the number of pitches would not exceed 110.

[Jeong Ha-seong Throws the First Pitch.]

Boom!

“Strike!”

[A Slider Piercing the Inside! The Angle Is So Sharp That the Batter Flinches!]

In the case of a right-handed hitter, Ha-seong’s slider looks like it’s flying from behind.

The angle is so large that they get that feeling, and it was difficult to hit it properly.

[Throws the 2nd Pitch.]

Clang!!

[Hit! But Right in Front of the Second Baseman, Safely Catches It and Throws to First!]

Thud!

“Out!”

[It’s Out! Jeong Ha-seong Gets the First Out Count in Just 2 Pitches!]

[The Cutter Thrown This Time Was a Very Good Ball That Deviated from the Center of the Bat!]

Ha-seong, who got the first out count, looked at his hand.

‘Hmm… I was going to bend it more.’

Originally, he wanted to get a strike.

However, perhaps because his grip strength decreased as his stamina decreased, the trajectory of the ball was not as sharp as he thought.

‘I can’t help it.’

If he throws a cutter, there is a high probability that it will be a ground ball.

If so, it’s excluded.

‘I have to get ten strikeouts.’

To achieve the record, he had to catch it when he could.

You never know what variables may arise.

[Jeong Ha-seong, Who Got One Out, Faces the Second Batter.]

Clang!

“Foul!!”

[Hit the First Pitch, but It’s a Foul. The Speed Is 97 Miles, and the Pitch Is a Fastball! The Speed Is Definitely Decreasing as the Number of Pitches Increases.]

[It Seems Like the Swing Was a Little Too Fast This Time Too.]

[Throws the 2nd Pitch!]

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

[2 Consecutive Foul Balls! Completely Missed the Timing on the Changeup!]

[Even If the Number of Pitches Increases, Jeong Ha-seong’s Competitive Spirit Continues!]

Ha-seong, who had a favorable ball count with two strikes, sent a sign directly to Trevor.

[Jeong Ha-seong Sends a Sign Directly, the Ball He Threw the Most in This Case Was His Main Weapon, the Fastball.]

[That Could Be the Case, but He Throws So Many Different Balls That I Don’t Know What Ball Will Come.]

[That’s True Too. Jeong Ha-seong, Who Exchanged Signs, Throws the 3rd Pitch!]

“Hmph!!”

Whoosh-!!

The ball that left Ha-seong’s hand flew at a fierce speed.

The batter, who checked the trajectory, swung the bat with all his might.

The moment when the trajectory of the ball and the bat were about to become one.

‘It disappeared?!’

The ball disappeared from the batter’s eyes.

Whoong-!!

Thud!

“Swing! Strike, Out!!”

[Three-Pitch Strikeout! Jeong Ha-seong Gets His Tenth Strikeout of the Game with a Three-Pitch Strikeout!]

[Ah~ The Decisive Ball Was the Splitter He Showed in the Previous Game!]

[He Turns the Batter Away by Taking Out a Hidden Weapon at a Critical Moment!]

It was a splitter that he had shown once, but he hadn’t thrown it even 5 times in today’s game.

From the batter’s point of view, it was close to impossible to hit.

[Jeong Ha-seong, Who Got Two Out Counts, Faces the Third Batter.]

The game was already proceeding according to Ha-seong’s pace.

It wasn’t difficult to get the third out count either.

Clang!!

[A High Fly Ball! Runs Out in Front of the Left Fielder and Catches It Lightly! He Creates a Three-Up, Three-Down Inning in the 7th Inning and Records 7 Innings, 1 Run, and 10 Strikeouts!]

Ha-seong, who went down the mound with the requirements to be a winning pitcher, recorded his 15th win of the season that day.

* * *

The Next day.

Ha-seong was resting at home.

It was time to rest while listening to music as usual, but today he was waiting for someone.

Ding-dong-!

“They’re here!”

When he heard the bell, Ha-seong got up from his seat and opened the door.

Isabel was standing there.

“It’s been a while.”

“You came in person?”

“Because it’s a place to introduce someone. Say hello, this is Tommy, the IT expert you asked for.”

“Ah… Hello.”

The young man called Tommy had a youthful face.

He had a look that suited the expression ‘nerd,’ but he was rather confident.

‘You shouldn’t have prejudice against appearance, but that type is more trustworthy.’

Ha-seong greeted them and brought them inside.

“But suddenly asking me to find an IT expert. What are you planning again?”

Isabel asked a question, but Ha-seong looked at Tommy instead of her.

“I want to upload videos to YouTube. Can I get some help with that?”

“YouTube?”

Tommy’s eyes widened.

“Yeah. I have videos that I filmed myself. You edit them and upload them. How about it?”

At Ha-seong’s question, Tommy pondered for a moment and then nodded.

“I can do it.”

“Okay. Then let’s check the video first.”

The two soon checked the video using a laptop.

Isabel’s eyes narrowed as she watched the scene.

‘He’s ignoring me again!’