The Genius Hitter Who Conquered America - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 11
That evening, after finishing training, Soo-ho and Mark left the Rehabilitation Academy.
My body felt as though it might shatter from the intensity, just as Coach John had warned, yet a faint satisfaction lingered across my face.
“Soo-ho! You’ve worked hard today, so we need to eat something hearty! How about a hamburger? It’s the perfect food for protein and carbs, isn’t it?”
Soo-ho chuckled softly at Mark’s suggestion.
It was somewhat unexpected, since he had never considered hamburgers to be healthy food.
Mark seemed to read Soo-ho’s thoughts, furrowing his brow.
“Hey, are you looking down on hamburgers? A proper hamburger has the best nutritional balance! Plus, it’s delicious!”
“Fine. Let’s eat hamburgers.”
In truth, I didn’t care what I ate.
I had simply wanted to treat Mark to whatever he desired, and it turned out to be hamburgers.
Back in Korea, hamburgers were nothing more than fast food.
And for Koreans, rice was the source of strength.
Of course, this was the United States, where rice wasn’t the staple, but I would have preferred something a bit more substantial.
‘Since he seems to really want it, I suppose there’s no helping it.’
The two of them headed toward a Hamburger Restaurant in Downtown.
As I took a bite of the handcrafted hamburger, bursting with juicy patty and fresh vegetables, my expression naturally softened.
Though expensive for a hamburger, this delicious evening meal after training was worth every penny.
After finishing one hamburger and picking up a second, Mark asked a question.
“How was training today? Coach looked absolutely amazed watching your swing.”
“Honestly, I still don’t know.”
Mark’s eyebrows rose.
“Right. That was practically punishment-level intensity, wasn’t it? I was exhausted just watching from the sidelines.”
Soo-ho shook his head.
“I’m not saying the Coach’s methods are wrong. I was simply being corrected today. I never once properly demonstrated the swing the Coach wanted. This is my shortcoming.”
A subtle frustration threaded through Soo-ho’s voice.
It was inevitable, of course.
The swing the Coach taught was far too unfamiliar.
While my mind grasped all his instructions, my body completely ignored every principle behind them.
Decades of ingrained habit rejected the subtle changes he demanded.
‘I’m beginning to understand just how agonizing repetition without comprehension truly is.’
But it was fine.
This was only the first day.
Who in this world excels at something from the very beginning?
‘If I work hard enough, I’ll certainly be able to do it.’
As Soo-ho steeled his resolve,
Mark silently clicked his tongue in admiration.
‘Wow… I really envy him.’
Soo-ho’s mental fortitude, that is.
Because today’s training method from John was something rarely seen in the United States.
Mark was genuinely startled watching Soo-ho train.
‘Of course, such discipline is nothing in the Korean Education System, but….’
If Mark himself had been in Soo-ho’s position, he never would have endured it.
Above all else.
‘He really never blames anyone else.’
Today, Soo-ho spent a total of 8 hours on swing correction alone.
Yet he never once executed the swing Coach John wanted.
Was Soo-ho slacking off, honestly?
No. He was genuinely working hard.
‘So it’s reasonable to at least suspect whether the Coach’s method might be flawed.’
But Soo-ho wasn’t suspecting anything at all.
Instead, he only blamed himself for his own shortcomings.
‘That’s why, for some reason, I want to support him even more.’
Mark didn’t really know Soo-ho well.
It had only been a few days since they’d met.
But this much was certain.
‘This guy is definitely a real person. And I have a good eye for people!’
Mark finished his self-praise and asked.
“Anyway, you should rest now and train again tomorrow. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
“Good. Then follow me. Let’s head to the lodging.”
The two of them headed to the Motel they’d reserved in advance after finishing their meal.
They’d each secured a room not far from the Rehabilitation Academy.
Mark’s home was nearby, but he’d decided to spend the next two weeks with Soo-ho.
He wanted to witness Soo-ho’s grueling training up close and support his challenge as a friend.
“Let’s get some good sleep for tomorrow. And tomorrow your swing will improve even more.”
At Mark’s encouragement, Soo-ho gave a small nod and entered his room.
Similarly entering his room, Mark neither showered nor lay down on the bed immediately.
Though his body was crying out for recovery, he instead sat on a folding chair with a serious expression.
‘Will Soo-ho really improve tomorrow….’
Such doubt had crept into his mind.
‘According to Coach John, Soo-ho needs to complete that swing within a week.’
But today’s 8 hours of training had come to nothing.
‘Ugh, I don’t know. Let me just sleep. Soo-ho will do well on his own.’
After tossing and turning for hours.
Mark had barely drifted off when he awoke from his brief sleep.
Glancing at the clock, it had just past 1 AM.
‘I’ve only slept about 3 hours.’
It’s definitely inconvenient not being at home.
Feeling thirsty, Mark left his room to buy a bottle of water.
In that moment, I doubted my own eyes.
A figure stood like a shadow in front of the Motel building. It was Soo-ho.
‘This… this is insane!’
Mark rubbed his eyes, wondering if he’d lost his mind.
Soo-ho was silently swinging his bat in the darkness.
His swing was still awkward, but his movements carried an intense determination.
Moreover, the Motel Front Asphalt Ground was drenched with Soo-ho’s sweat.
Beads of perspiration that wouldn’t dry even in the pre-dawn breeze pooled like a river.
Seeing this, Mark was shocked.
‘Damn it! How many hours has he been at this?!’
Mark rushed over to Soo-ho.
“Hey! Stop! You trained all day today! You need rest! Your muscles need time to recover!”
Mark tried to forcibly pull the bat from Soo-ho’s hands, but Soo-ho wouldn’t budge.
His eyes remained fixed on a single point in the void.
“It’s fine.”
Soo-ho’s voice was hoarse.
“Even if my muscles tear, even if something goes wrong—I don’t care. I just want to master this swing as soon as possible. No. I have to master it.”
Mark was dumbfounded.
Such recklessness was almost incomprehensible.
But Soo-ho’s eyes showed no wavering.
And he was far from foolish.
Because he knew better than anyone exactly how far his body could endure—its limits.
He had poured everything into baseball and pushed himself relentlessly for years.
If his body were going to break, it would have shattered long ago.
That was the truth.
Soo-ho’s body had been forged through years of brutal effort, possessing a steel-like durability that ordinary players couldn’t even imagine.
Mark felt frustrated.
Or rather, he felt a sudden urgency.
“Hey! Just wait right there!”
He hurriedly grabbed a bat from inside the room and stood beside Soo-ho.
“You think you’re the only one who knows how to work hard? I can do it too!”
Soo-ho let out a small laugh at the sight and swung his bat alongside Mark.
Unfortunately, their training didn’t last very long.
And for good reason…
A siren wailed.
A police car pulled up in front of them and stopped.
A Police Officer stepped out of the car and asked.
“We received a complaint. Why are you two swinging bats so menacingly in the middle of the night?”
“Well, you see. We’re not suspicious people or anything.”
Mark hastily explained the situation.
The Police Officer nodded briefly.
“Wow. So you were major leaguers for the Dodgers? But unfortunately, I think we need to wrap things up here for today. And if you go a bit further from here, there’s a Park nearby. Could you please do your practice there?”
“O-of course….”
After the Police Officer left, Mark handed me an apology.
“I’m sorry. I think the report that came in was probably because of me….”
Though I was small in stature and wouldn’t pose much of a threat.
Mark was large enough that he could easily seem threatening to others.
“It’s fine. I was getting ready to take a break anyway.”
I returned to my room with a meaningful smile.
* * *
The next morning.
Mark dragged his sluggish body out of bed with great difficulty.
Just thirty minutes of swinging a bat beside me in the early hours of yesterday, and every muscle in his body was screaming.
His shoulders ached, and so did his lower back and legs.
‘Damn it, thirty minutes and I’m in this much pain. Then what about Soo-ho?’
Based on the sweat he’d left on the ground, he’d probably been at it for at least three hours.
Mark knocked on my door the moment he got out of bed.
“Soo-ho! You okay? You already awake?”
A moment later, the door opened and I appeared.
Mark was startled when he saw my face.
Despite having pushed my body so relentlessly until the early hours of yesterday, my face bore no trace of fatigue—only a clear, refreshed radiance.
I looked like someone who had rested the entire day.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve been up for a while now.”
Mark was left speechless by my response.
“Seriously, is your body made of steel or something? I swung that thing for just thirty more minutes yesterday and I feel like I’m dying, but you’re perfectly fine. Did you sleep properly?”
I laughed awkwardly.
“Well, more or less.”
Mark didn’t press further.
After that, the two of us headed to the Rehabilitation Academy.
As we entered the Training Ground, Coach John greeted us.
“Hmm.”
John examined my face carefully.
He had expected me to show clear signs of fatigue.
Given the intense training he’d put me through yesterday, I should have been severely sore all over.
John spoke with concern.
“Soo-ho, how’s your body? You must be pretty sore. Today, just do some light warm-ups. Don’t overdo it.”
I nodded at John’s worried gaze.
“Yes, Coach. I’m fine.”
I began warming up lightly as Coach John instructed.
I stretched and jogged gently to warm up my body.
Mark also warmed up alongside me.
Throughout the warm-up, Mark kept a careful eye on my condition, but I appeared completely unaffected.
Once I finished warming up, I immediately grabbed the bat.
Then I headed toward the Batter’s Box where John had demonstrated his swing yesterday.
John tilted his head as he watched me.
He’d clearly told me to just do a light warm-up.
Just then, Mark approached Coach John after finishing his warm-up.
“Um, Coach…”
Coach John kept his gaze fixed on me as he questioned Mark.
“What? If it’s pointless, don’t bother saying it.”
Mark hesitated for a moment.
He debated whether to mention what had happened early this morning.
But then it happened.
Whoosh!
A heavy, resonant bat crack filled the Training Ground.
It was the same flawless, unadorned swing sound as when Coach John had demonstrated yesterday.
“What, what?!”
An exclamation burst involuntarily from Mark’s lips.
John’s eyes widened in disbelief as well.
Both their gazes locked onto me.
Crack!
My bat sliced through the air, creating a perfect impact.
My body was unmistakably different from yesterday.
My lower body drove firmly into the ground, my core rotated without hesitation.
The power flowing through my arms and wrists transferred completely into the bat.
The awkward, unnatural swing from yesterday had vanished without a trace.
A swing that flowed like water, graceful yet simultaneously explosive with raw power.
It was unmistakably John’s swing.
John and Mark’s eyes went wide.
“Hey. M-Mark. Does this even make sense? Just yesterday he couldn’t even get the basics down?!”
“Coach…”
“What.”
“I don’t think it’s pointless after all. Actually, I think I really need to tell you.”
“What? Why are you being so evasive about it?”
“Actually, yesterday Soo-ho… no, since it was early morning, today Soo-ho… from last night until this early morning, so yesterday and today Soo-ho…!”
Mark relayed to John what had happened in the early hours of the morning.
John blinked slowly, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“You’re asking me to believe that? Just from yesterday’s training here alone, it should be normal for his body to be completely immobilized?”
Certainty gleamed in Mark’s eyes.
“But look. Isn’t it? Doesn’t he look completely fine?”
“Y-yes. It really does seem that way.”
Even after finishing his words, John’s mouth hung agape, his eyes unable to tear themselves away from Soo-ho.
In merely a single day.
Through nothing but repetitive training devoid of explanation, Soo-ho had etched the swing into his body with absolute perfection.
John could have anticipated Soo-ho’s relentless obsession and genius.
Yet Soo-ho was transcending the limitations of humanity through that very obsession and genius.
More precisely, he had come to realize through Soo-ho just how narrow the boundaries of human limitation he himself had set truly were.
And he had witnessed that breaking through those boundaries was not a matter of logic or talent, but of pure will.

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