Reset Life with Infinite Talents - Chapter 57

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Infinite Talent Reset Life Episode 57

 

 

”You guys are really crazy…”

They had turned around a catcher coach who was a Triple-A player just three years ago with only three pitches.

Two fastballs planted right in the Zone and one slider.

What kind of ridiculous courage is this?

Do these kids watch horror movies every day or something?

And what about that slider they didn’t show in the exhibition game against the Alexandro Hawks?

Though he felt betrayed by the two who had hidden such an incredible weapon, he also wondered if they could have hit the slider even if Johann had thrown it in the exhibition game.

‘They couldn’t even attack the fastball, and now they’re combining it with a slider?’

Maybe they would have given up entirely on the three innings when Johann was on the Mound.

Maybe it was arrogance that fastballs alone were enough for you guys.

Maybe it was consideration since it was an exhibition game.

“The two-seam is right, isn’t it?”

“Who knows?”

Flash answers instead of Johann.

“…Crazy.”

Does living in the Wilderness make everyone like this?

He recalls Johann’s words after the exhibition game: ‘If they couldn’t, they would have died.’

Flash, who giggled while watching the confused Julio, looks at Johann who is chewing grilled chicken bones and all.

Johann, expressionless as usual as if conquering the catcher coach just now was nothing. But Flash knows. He already enjoyed it as much as he could earlier.

“…This kid is eating bones again. Hey, you’ll get hurt doing that! Don’t you know how sharp chicken bones get when they break!”

“Calcium intake.”

For proper bone growth, it’s necessary to consume large amounts of calcium.

“Drink milk!”

“I drink 2 liters every day.”

And he’s consuming products with the highest calcium content.

“…You’re doing well with that.”

‘I don’t know anymore.’

Julio becomes fed up with the behavior of the two who act as if nothing happened, when he himself would probably be excited all day about something like this.

“Johann-! Johann! Johann! Johann! I heard you caused trouble this morning?”

Flash points to Jerry Goosby approaching with a food tray and looks at Julio.

“Jerry Goosby. Right Fielder. Same Room as Johann.”

“Hmm?”

“Oh, nice to meet you! I’m Jerry Goosby! My favorite thing in the world is violin, and my least favorite food is kohlrabi! That’s really the worst! What about you?”

“…Flash Thompson. Johann’s best Friend in the world. Position is catcher.”

“Ooh! Nice to meet you! Oh, do you also play violin well?”

“Violin?”

It was the moment he looked at Johann as if asking what this was about.

Swoosh!

White Boys stand at the table where they’re sitting.

Flash, Julio, and Jerry begin to tense up at their serious expressions.

‘They probably came because of Derek.’

No matter how annoying, White is White.

Otherwise, there’s no reason for only White Players to gather like this.

“You’re Johann Jefferson of the Fairmont Little Pumas, right?”

“So what are you going to…”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Del Smith from Pacific Earth. That match earlier was really cool. Let’s be Friends from now on.”

“I’m Ruda Pan from Oceanview Christian Dolphins! You know I almost wet myself earlier?! Or maybe I did!”

The sparkling eyes of the boys.

Flash, who had reacted quickly, closes his mouth in embarrassment, and Johann extends his hand to them after chewing and swallowing all his food.

“Johann Jefferson. Nice to meet you too. These are my Friends Flash Thompson, Julio Rodriguez, um. Jerry Goosby. Positions are catcher, Pitcher, Right Fielder.”

“Oh! Catcher! Since Derek is out, your chances of staying increased, right? Nice to meet you! I’m Del Smith!”

They exchange greetings with each other.

Johann looks at the curiosity in the eyes of the Children who came to visit and opens his mouth.

“If you haven’t eaten yet, let’s eat together.”

“Oh! Is that okay?”

“There are plenty of empty Seats.”

“Great!”

The Children who smiled brightly quickly sat in the empty Seats around Johann and began asking various questions like when did he start baseball, why is the ball so fast, and Johann continued his meal while answering what he could answer.

Flash and Julio, who had been dazed for a moment, chuckled and joined the conversation, creating a warm and friendly dining atmosphere.

 

* * *

 

‘Quiet.’

Early in the morning, Johann comes out to the Corridor and breathes in the deep silence.

The Dormitory became quiet as nearly two-thirds of the players were eliminated through the three-day test and subsequent four days of training.

Thinking of the first day when hundreds of energetic boys created such a commotion that it was pure noise, it’s now eerily quiet as if ghosts might appear.

Crack! Crunch!

Johann arrives at the Main Field, finishes stretching, and begins running slowly.

Thud! Thud!

The elasticity felt through his soles pushing against the ground and the muscles throughout his body moving in sync. The air he breathes deeply pounds his heart and spreads hot blood throughout his body, and the cells that had been asleep all night wake up and begin to sharpen his senses.

Johann smiles at the wind felt through his hair.

“Good.”

Finally, his physical condition, which had gradually dulled after coming down to the City through various surprising experiences, returned to normal.

Back to when he was hunting with his family in the Forest.

‘No, at this level, I think I could beat one of the Brothers even without absorbing Johann Jaeger, the hunter, or Wolf Who Howls at the Moon.’

The Brothers he couldn’t handle with his bare hands while in the Forest.

If it were two or more, he would definitely lose, but if it’s just one, he feels he could subdue it sufficiently.

Of course, he’d have to fight to know for sure.

“Johann!”

Flash catches up beside him, followed by Julio and Jerry, and the Children who survived until yesterday begin joining in droves.

Johann, who has the smallest height among the group but always places 1st or 2nd.

The morning running that started from wondering how he could do that and what his secret was has now become a morning routine.

“How long have you been running?”

“20 minutes?”

His body that had stiffened overnight was completely loosened.

“Going ahead.”

Johann kicked off the ground, and Flash and the Children stared blankly at Johann shooting forward in an instant.

Johann quickly caught up to the rear group like that.

“Right side. Passing through.”

“…That bastard again!”

“Today I’m definitely catching up! I’m going first!”

“Me too!”

Even if he places 1st or 2nd, they can’t stand being ignored like this.

The Children gritted their teeth and began chasing after Johann, and George Huntington, Bill Claymer, and the coaching staff watching from afar burst into hollow laughter.

A scene they had never seen once in all the years of running Spring Camp. Of course, it wasn’t that there were no players who did morning running, but this was the first time they saw almost all players running together with one heart.

Because they were gathered from various parts of western California, didn’t know each other well, and were even competing through tests, making it difficult for them to unite.

“The only Asian Students became the leader.”

It’s not particularly about controlling the players.

Rather, he’s the type who silently and steadily accomplishes what he’s told to do.

Even so, the players are influenced by Johann’s actions and try to follow him.

‘Thanks to that, even the lazy geniuses woke up early.’

Geniuses with such high natural talent that they could make the roster even while slacking off.

Because of Johann, who continues to receive attention, they’ve been giving their all from early on.

They’re trying to draw attention to themselves.

From the coaching staff’s perspective, it was a good phenomenon.

If they had their way, they’d want to extend the Spring Camp schedule by about ten more days so those kids could reach even higher places.

“Today’s that day, right?”

“Yes. They’ll probably be shocked out of their minds.”

A gift and despair for the young players who had worked so hard.

They burst into laughter at the screams they would hear shortly.

 

* * *

 

‘Huff! Gasp!’

‘That stamina monster bastard!’

On the fourth day, in the opened Public Shower Room, the players who had once again over-paced themselves due to their competitive spirit of not wanting to lose looked at Johann with flushed red faces before turning their heads away.

It was because of the scars that made their hearts tremble just by looking at them.

Thanks to that, they learned that Johann was the Wolf Boy.

“I wonder if they’ll start the competition matches soon?”

“Competition matches?”

“All the kids worth picking have been sorted out by now.”

All the remaining players possess talent and physical abilities that wouldn’t be strange to call genius or prodigy.

It’s at a level where it’s difficult to single out anyone to drop.

Even so, the remaining number is about 100 players.

That’s about 40 more than the 60-person roster.

For both the coaching staff and individual players to acknowledge it, there was only survival and elimination through competition matches.

At Julio’s words, the eyes of the players showering in the Public Shower Room changed.

‘Finally…!’

They were going to start games, real competition.

Excitement began to fill the players’ eyes.

 

“Everyone move to the Main Stadium!”

Spring Camp with a total of three stadiums.

‘It’s really happening!’

Who would they be teamed with?

Having come this far with difficulty, they felt it would be extremely unfair if they were eliminated due to bad team luck.

‘Please, please, please.’

‘I hope I’m on the same team as Johann, Flash, and Julio!’

Praying to their respective gods as they headed to the Main Stadium, their eyes widened.

“Huh?”

There were adults standing in the Main Stadium.

People wearing LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres uniforms.

But their faces looked very familiar.

“Huh huh huh?”

“Oh, hello?”

A bearded player smiling brightly.

“Ca, Camp?”

Matthew Ryan Camp, the current star representing the LA Dodgers.

It wasn’t just the Buffalo, Matt Camp.

Stars from the LA Dodgers and San Diego Padres, the dreams, hopes, and objects of admiration for young players, were smiling and waving their hands.

“…Wooooooooah!”

The children shed tears and threw themselves forward.

 

* * *

 

“To hit properly, you need to swing more compactly.”

“Li, like this?”

“If you start after seeing the ball coming, you’ll be late. You have to react the moment the batter hits it. Come on, try it once.”

This was precious coaching from Major Leaguers, the pinnacle of all baseball players in America. The children opened their eyes and ears wide to learn even one more thing, even though they felt like they might die from ecstasy.

“Ah, hello? Do you know who I am by any chance?”

“I know!”

“Clayton Kershaw!”

A rookie from Texas who debuted last year in a game against the Saint Louis Cardinals, pitching 6 innings with 5 hits allowed, 2 runs, 7 strikeouts in his debut, finishing the season with 5 wins, 5 losses, and a 4.26 ERA.

The Dodgers’ treasure, ranked 7th in Baseball America’s top prospects last year.

A left-handed fireballler they’d bring back even from hell.

‘Wow, wow.’

Clayton Kershaw’s shoulders straightened at the sight of young boys who seemed to know him better than he knew himself.

After being drafted right after graduating high school and dominating the Minor Leagues, he had felt discouraged after being called up to the Major League full of monsters and hitting a big wall.

‘That’s right! I’m a Major Leaguer too!’

Just like when he was young, he had become the dream, hope, and object of admiration for these young players.

“Is there an overhand style pitcher by any chance?”

The pitcher position players’ gazes all turned to Julio.

 

Pop! Thwack!

“Hmm…”

‘There’s nothing to teach this kid?’

San Diego Padres catcher Nick Hundley looked at Flash with puzzlement. His stance, throwing, and ability to handle bounces were all so stable it was hard to think of him as a young child.

Even his batting form was perfect.

“Is your school manager a former catcher by any chance?”

“Not really, but I’m learning every week from someone named Andy Clark, who used to be a Dodgers catcher.”

“…So you’re that kid?”

He had also been deeply moved by the beautiful story with the washed-up catcher who had fallen into alcoholism.

“If you have such an excellent coach, there’s nothing more I can teach you.”

“Understood! Can I take a picture instead?”

Although he was a player from a team that dared to call itself the Dodgers’ rival, he was still a Major Leaguer. Flash, having received photos and autographs, headed toward Johann with glee.

“Aren’t you getting coaching? Or did you already get it all?”

“It’s not my turn yet.”

While his turn was pushed back because there weren’t many Major Leaguers visiting California West, he also didn’t particularly want to receive coaching and had yielded his spot.

If they were Major Leaguers, then he was a Major Leaguer too.

The first 1-inning closer, the 1-inning magician ‘Rack, Dennis Eckersley’ and the master manager ‘Angels’ number 11, James Lewis Fregosi’ were still complementing each other, and ‘Ines de Fresang, The Speaking Mannequin’ was also exerting a bit of influence on his pitching form.

Receiving coaching from others would just be a waste of time.

“…Johann, you’re not interested, are you?”

“I’m almost in a completed state.”

Even if he got faster from here, it would only be about 1 or 2 miles at most.

“Well…”

Johann was perfect from his beautiful pitching form to his ball quality, speed, and variety of pitches. It wasn’t easy to imagine someone teaching him and making improvements.

“Then what are you watching?”

“That person.”

“Kershaw?”

Clayton Kershaw, wearing only a thin short-sleeved shirt, perhaps heated from teaching the children.

“Yeah. His ankle and back muscles are weak.”

Boom!

The practice target explodes with a roar as if it’s about to be torn to shreds rather than just burst. Clayton Kershaw, who threw at the practice target since there was no catcher to receive it, looks at the pitcher standing beside him as if asking if he understands.

“Um, Johann. You know who that Kershaw is, right?”

“I watched game footage with Larry last year. That’s how I know.”

A left-handed fireballer and a two-pitch pitcher with four-seam fastball and curve.

Seeing him directly today, I can tell for sure.

The reason for his poor ball quality and shaky control.

Johann suddenly takes off his shirt after saying that.

“If you compare my muscles with those muscles, which do you think is better?”

“…Johann Jefferson, you are…”

Flash, startled by the voice that suddenly interrupted, turns around.

George Huntington and a White Middle-aged Man in his 40s standing behind them.

Flash is shocked.

“Do, Don Mattingly!”

Don Mattingly, the Dodgers’ batting coach.

“Oh, you’re a big fan of the Dodgers.”

A true fan who even knows the coach’s name.

He looks at Johann with an interested expression.

“Do your parents work in sports medicine by any chance?”

“No. But I know muscles well.”

How could he say it’s because of the coaching ability of ‘Angels’ number 11, James Lewis Fregosi’.

Instead, if he uses life in the forest as an example, you must grasp the opponent’s gaze, posture, muscle movements, and all of that at an unconscious level quickly to survive completely and succeed in hunting.

“Fo, forest?”

“Have you heard of the Wolf Boy?”

“Ah… Then you are…”

Johann nods and points to Clayton Kershaw.

“His ankle and core are weak. Compared to his velocity and ball quality.”

And after watching a few times, I can tell.

“I think I know what he’s going to throw too.”

There were problems with his pitching form as well.

“My goodness…”

Both George Huntington and Don Mattingly couldn’t help but be shocked.

 

* * *

 

“Haah…”

It feels like dreaming.

‘To receive teaching from Major Leaguers!’

They even ate meals together.

Have other Major League teams in Little League ever experienced such dreamlike events?

The children with flushed red faces gazed wistfully at the Major Leaguers who would soon leave, while the Major Leaguers, George Huntington, and the coaching staff smiled sinisterly inside as they watched such players.

“Now we’ll start the competition!”

“Aah!”

The children’s faces naturally crumpled at the despair that came after happiness.

“The teams are all of California West versus the Major Leaguers!”

“…Huh?”

“Any player who doesn’t reach the standard will be eliminated entirely.”

Not even the bottom 10 percent, but possibly everyone eliminated.

The young players widened their eyes at those absurd words.

 

“Su, surely you’ll keep 60 on the roster, right?”

“Didn’t you hear what Coach Claymer just said? He said everyone could be eliminated!”

Coach Bill Claymer, who hadn’t said a single nonsensical thing in the past few days.

“Crazy! Crazy! Why all of a sudden!”

“Right! How are we supposed to beat Major Leaguers!”

Those who fell into confusion and couldn’t even put on their shoes properly.

Johann watches while chewing a chocolate bar.

“Jo, Johann? Do, does that go down right now?”

When Jerry Goosby turns pale with shock, Johann offers his chocolate bar.

“Want some?”

“No, how can you…”

“Right.”

Julio and Jerry Goosby look at Flash.

Flash, who had been restless like them just moments ago, suddenly became calm.

“Don’t make a fuss and just show your real skills, right Johann?”

“Yeah. If you’re nervous, you can’t win even what you could win.”

“What?”

All the players in the locker room look at Johann and doubt their hearing.

“Wi, win? We, we beat Ma, Major Leaguers?”

Johann looks puzzled at their confusion.

“Don’t you all play baseball to win?”

Win.

The players lose their words at the huge wave that strikes their hearts.

“It’s not like you die if you lose.”

There’s no need to be scared.

And if not now, when else could they bite at the strong?

“Eighteen of them, over a hundred of us.”

Even if they’re adults, if ten people each cling to them, it’s not impossible to win.

“…You’re crazy. You’re really crazy.”

How can he be so bold?

Is it because he’s the Wolf Boy who hunted beasts?

The eyes of the players shaking their heads as if fed up begin to burn.

Johann drives the point home seeing that.

“And Major Leaguers’ bodies are their assets.”

In other words, they’re cowards who can’t overdo it.

“Do we have anything to lose?”

Even if they’re eliminated, they just won’t experience Major League.

“…Nothing!”

“Fifth graders, sorry! We have next year!”

“Right! You guys sacrifice yourselves!”

“Hey, you bastards!”

Johann nodded as he watched them become noisy in an instant.

‘It seems like they’re pushing the mental state to the extreme to see the limits…’

Only then could they see proper skills.

No matter how genius they are, they’re young children who are at most 12 years old.

They’re at an age where even encouragement wouldn’t be enough.

‘Well… they probably expected someone like me to show up.’

Whether there are or aren’t, it doesn’t matter.

Whether they’re nervous or not, it’s all the same.

It would be meaningful to check which players can show their true skills on this impossible stage. That was the significance of this game.

Besides, at most only the bottom 10 percent would be cut anyway.

‘If I said that much, they’d completely relax, so it’s better not to.’

“Johann! You say something!”

“Huh?”

About a hundred young players looking at him with eyes full of trust and expectation.

Johann thought for a moment and held out his hand.

“Anyone want a chocolate bar?”

“…Me!”

 

* * *

 

“Munch munch munch!”

George Huntington and the coaches watched in disbelief as the young players ate and drank while glaring at the dugout where the Major Leaguers were, then looked at Johann.

‘Johann Jefferson.’

They had planned to slip in and say something similar to Johann if the children fell into panic beyond nervousness.

‘He really has the qualities of a leader.’

It was unfortunate, but it didn’t matter.

Even if cornered, players who could perform would perform anyway.

“I’ll announce the order.”

The hundred or so players were given just one chance.

For batters, they would be evaluated through just one at-bat, just three pitches. Exactly three, even if the count wasn’t full.

At those words, the children began to tense up.

“First up, Jerry Goosby, Del Smith…”

Everyone who had survived so far would step into the batter’s box.

“For pitchers, first is Johann Jefferson, second is Ruda Pan…”

‘First again here too.’

Why was that? What was Director George Huntington’s intention?

Caught up in such thoughts, Johann pulled his shoelaces tight and looked at the dugout across from them. The Major Leaguers chatting and laughing with each other.

‘I can’t be fooled by that appearance.’

They were monsters who could afford to act like that.

Monsters who could smash home runs even with wooden sticks.

‘Major Leaguers…’

This was his first time competing against Major Leaguers.

Though he had faced off against a coach who was a former Minor Leaguer recently, that person had been retired for several years and it was just a brief showdown, so Johann felt it was somewhat lacking.

‘I can’t lose.’

Sure, there were differences in physique and age, but what did that matter?

If he was going to have this experience, it was better to have a winning experience.

His determination carried over into the game.

Whoooosh!

“Strike!”

‘Come at me.’

Johann stepped back and glared at the Major Leaguer who was whistling.

 

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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