Rural Ace

Episode 5: Minus (2)

After going back in time, I focused only on training.

I was no longer the 19-year-old with many dreams and things I wanted to do. Now, the only thing I wanted was baseball.

Training wasn’t hard for me.

But relationships were still difficult, just like when I was 19.

“Hey, our team’s coach resigned!”

Byung-joo often speaks without subjects or objects in his sentences.

Since we were in the baseball club room, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at us.

“You mean the coach of Gangwon Minus resigned?”

“Yeah.”

If you say “our team’s coach,” of course, people will think you mean the baseball club coach.

Some people reacted with surprise, and there were even a few curses. But Byung-joo didn’t seem to care at all.

“Yea seong.”

“What?”

When I was younger, I found Byung-joo annoying.

But when I got seriously injured during my career, he kept visiting me.

I didn’t understand why. It’s not like he had anything to gain from me.

Even now, I still don’t understand his reason.

But maybe the reason doesn’t matter.

At least, I never felt jealous of Byung-joo’s success. That’s a relief.

Lowering his voice, Byung-joo asked me,

“I heard your dad is getting a job as a coach for Minus. Is that true?”

“What?”

“I won’t tell anyone. But is it true?”

My dad becoming a KBO team’s pitching coach?

He mentioned it once, but I thought he was joking.

And for someone who promises to keep a secret, Byung-joo’s voice is pretty loud.

“I don’t think so.”

“Really?”

Byung-joo muttered, “That source was pretty reliable, though…”

But a rumor is just a rumor.

I stood up and said, “Let’s train.”

“You seem different lately.”

“I got older.”

“You sound crazy.”

“Hey, didn’t you say you’d take down Yoon Bong-wan and become the main catcher? Then you need to train.”

Hearing that, Byung-joo jumped up.

“Down with Yoon Bong-wan!”

Somewhere in the room, someone muttered, “Crazy dude.”

Yoon Bong-wan, Gangwon Minus’s main catcher, was almost 40 but still hit over 20 home runs a season. He was a legendary KBO catcher, great at both offense and defense.

“Just watch. After I finish military service, I’ll take his spot.”

Other baseball club members laughed.

By then, Yoon Bong-wan would probably be retired.

When Byung-joo finished his service, Yoon Bong-wan had already retired. Byung-joo became the starting catcher by beating another player.

“Sure, do whatever you want, you crazy guys.”

Someone’s voice came from behind.

I grabbed Byung-joo’s shoulder and ignored it, leading him outside.

There’s no need to pick a fight with someone upset about not getting drafted.

“Wow, are you feeling okay? You didn’t even respond to that?”

Thinking about how I used to be, I answered,

“I’m at the age where I get easily annoyed.”

“Hey, but seriously, is your dad really not joining Minus?”

“No.”

“He went to talk to them today, didn’t he?”

“I don’t think so.”

—

Meanwhile, Seo Tae-seong was having an unexpected day.

He had called the Gangwon Minus front office and got an immediate meeting.

At the meeting, even the team’s owner was present.

He had been confident in front of his wife, but even he didn’t expect things to go this smoothly.

“You can start as the pitching coach and become the next manager. We’ll offer any conditions you want.”

The owner had talked about baseball for a while before making this offer in a strong voice.

Seo Tae-seong smiled and replied,

“Sounds good. But will the new manager accept me?”

The owner laughed and said not to worry.

Then, Jo Woo-jin, the front office director, added seriously,

“Manager Song told us himself. He said he could retire anytime, so it’s fine to bring in a strong candidate for the next manager.”

Song Moon-jung was that kind of person. Still, this wasn’t an easy situation.

Not many managers would want a strong replacement sitting next to them.

“The owner really insisted on bringing you in, so I think there’s nothing to worry about.”

Jo Woo-jin was good at handling business. Later, he called again and said,

“I mentioned it to Manager Song, and he likes the idea. Should I set up a meeting?”

Seo Tae-seong said he would call himself.

Everything had gone too easily.

It was good, but also a little suspicious.

When he called Manager Song, the conversation flowed smoothly.

“Coach, this is Seo Tae-seong. Have you been well?”

“Hey, you punk. You’re becoming a coach?”

“Yes, it turned out that way…”

“If your son gets hated, it’s on you!”

“Wait, why is that the first thing you say…?”

“Anyway, how have you been?”

Before Seo Tae-seong returned to the past, he had good memories with Song Moon-jung.

Even after returning, they worked well together on the national team.

Seo Tae-seung smiled, and Song Moon-jung laughed too.

“I’ve been well. How about you, Coach?”

“Ugh, not great…”

“You’re not feeling well?”

“I stopped drinking makgeolli… Sigh.”

So, they made plans to have a drink soon.

Everything felt too easy.

He called his wife, but she didn’t answer. She was probably busy.

So, he sent a message to his son.

[Should I pick you up?]

No reply. He was probably training.

“Hmm.”

How long had it been since he sat on the sofa doing nothing?

Seo Tae-seong looked around and spoke loudly to himself.

“Is this some kind of hidden camera prank? Why is everything going so well? I’m Seo Tae-seong! I won’t be fooled!”

Nothing happened.

He smacked his lips and lay on the sofa.

“Maybe I should get a dog…”

—

When I got home, my dad was sitting alone at the dining table.

“Why are you sitting in the dark?”

He clasped his hands, looking like he had something to say. Then, he looked straight at me.

So, I said casually, “Did you get picked as the next Minus manager or something?”

My dad flinched, then asked, “Did you see the future?”

“Huh?”

“How did you know?”

How could I?

Wait… Is it true?

“Are you really becoming the manager?”

“No.”

“Huh?”

“I got hired as the pitching coach.”

“What?”

“They said they’d make me the next manager, too.”

“…”

“It’s true.”

This was a bit overwhelming.

I asked multiple times if it was real, and my dad kept saying yes.

“Did you sign the contract?”

“Not yet.”

“See?”

Looking frustrated, my dad patted his chest.

“I’m waiting for your mom to check it before signing!”

He showed me a selfie with the owner and messages with the front office director.

“Wow…”

“See? Your dad is amazing! Just one call, and they gave me the job!”

“If you become the coach, won’t people say I’m getting special treatment?”

That kind of talk is common in baseball. Even if there’s no connection, a player who keeps getting chances is called a “coach’s son.”

And I really am his son.

“If you play well, no one will say anything.”

That’s true.

In baseball, if you perform well, most problems go away.

“But baseball is unpredictable…”

“You were a 20-win pitcher, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, but wins aren’t just about the pitcher…”

“You’ll see. Things are different when you go back in time.”

“I’ve never had a long career like you.”

“So, are you scared?”

“What?”

My dad smirked.

Maybe this was the confidence of a baseball genius who had never truly failed.

And why was he provoking me?

“Will you be able to use me despite all the criticism?”

My dad tilted his head and said,

“Criticism?”

“Yeah.”

“Towards me?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m Seo Tae-seong. Do you know how powerful that name is in Korean baseball?”

“…”

“Dad.”

“Yeah?”

“If I don’t want you to get criticized, I have to work hard, right?”

My dad nodded toward the door.

“Let’s fix your weak lower body.”

“It’s not that weak…”

“When I was your age—”

“Okay, okay…”

In other words, he was about to push me to my limits.

—

After the head coach resigned voluntarily, the Gangwon Miners were led by the acting coach.

But the acting coach didn’t look happy.

Sometimes, an acting coach can become the official head coach, but he already knew that the Miners had chosen someone else for the job.

[Next year looks more promising for the Jeonju Rangers.]
[Jeonju Rangers, despite finishing last in the West League, show signs of hope.]

While there were a few hopeful and positive articles about the Jeonju Rangers, who were also a bottom-ranked team, the Miners were in a completely different situation.

[Gangwon Miners fail again.]
[Will the Gangwon Miners look different next season?]
[Gangwon Miners: A retirement home for washed-up star players, not a real FA powerhouse.]

“Yea seong, you really have to work hard.”

“Isn’t it too much pressure to put on a rookie who hasn’t even debuted yet?”

Yea seong lightly protested as he worked out, but his father didn’t budge.

“You’re in your second life, right?”

“…”

“When I was in my second life, you know what happened, right?”