At the convenience store counter.
I did my best to keep a straight face. But it wasn't easy.
Right now, text was floating above the drink bottle in my hand, following me around.
[Velocity +1]
I was certain my expression looked completely different from usual in this situation.
Still, I tried to stay calm.
"Don't you have any more of these?!"
Was my voice a bit too loud...?
But I had no choice. There was only one bottle.
On the surface of that drink bottle, where [Velocity +1] text bobbed around, there was just that single bottle of crimson liquid—unlike the other drinks with stacks of stock.
So I had to ask.
"...Pardon?"
"Could you check if you have any more in stock?"
The clerk's face took on a strange look at my urgent question.
His bangs were so long I couldn't see his features clearly, but he nodded right away.
"Just a moment."
"Thanks."
The tall clerk sauntered off toward the storeroom.
He soon returned, cradling several crimson glass bottles.
"Looks like we've got about six more."
"I'll take them all!"
In my haste, I reached out. All six bottles displayed the familiar text.
[Velocity +1]
It wasn't a hallucination or illusion.
That was why my hands were trembling as I headed to the counter.
Beep beep beep—
The clerk's scanning felt agonizingly slow.
"You must really like Orange Na."
"Huh?"
"This one. Orange-flavored drink. Name's Orange Na."
"Oh...!"
Orange Na. So that was its name.
But to my eyes, a different name shone clearly.
[Velocity Enhancement Potion (E)]
Velocity Enhancement Potion. No doubt about it.
This was straight out of a game or movie—happening to me for real.
Euphoria.
As that feeling swelled inside me, filling every inch of my body, the clerk scanned the remaining potions and spoke in a puzzled tone.
"Song Hyun-jun sunbae... right?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm Kim Ji-won. I saw you pitch a few times back at Deokyang Middle."
"Oh..."
A junior from middle school, huh.
His casual speech, his tracksuit—nothing special, but it was nice to see a familiar face.
Though why was this guy hiding his whole face behind that hairstyle?
To me, an athlete, the answer for guys' hair was always sports.
I couldn't nag a junior who'd greeted me warmly first, so I hurried with the checkout.
"How much?"
"11,200 won."
I paid quickly and left the store.
Pop.
I twisted open a bottle and chugged the Orange Na—[Velocity Enhancement Potion (E)]—in one go.
The change hit immediately.
[Your velocity has permanently increased by +1.]
This message appeared even clearer in front of my eyes.
Along with it, I felt changes in my left shoulder, elbow, and grip.
Crunch.
Power surged through my left hand.
My shoulder felt lighter, and my core, lower body—my whole body felt different everywhere.
Sensations of getting stronger.
I pushed through the heartburn from downing the carbonated drink and popped the cap on the second [Velocity Enhancement Potion (E)].
Pop!
Chugged it right down.
[Your velocity has permanently increased by +1.]
Crunch!
No question now. After two in a row, I was sure.
This wasn't imagination or a prank.
This was real! I could feel my velocity rising for real.
Ding-a-ling.
I headed back into the store. Kim Ji-won looked up, as if he'd been watching.
"Ji-won. Ugh, sorry."
"No problem. Chugging two sodas like that, bound to happen."
"You saw, huh."
"Yeah."
I gave an awkward smile and got to the point.
"This Orange Na—any more besides these seven?"
"Not right now... but I can reorder some."
"Thanks. Mind putting in an order for me?"
I hoped so.
I still had five velocity potions left, but I needed more.
Shin Su-ho.
To surpass that insurmountable wall, seven bottles wouldn't cut it.
"I'll place the order."
"Thanks! Text me when they come in?"
"Hand over your phone. I'll put my number in."
I handed him my phone, and he entered his number.
As he checked the screen, he added casually.
"I go to Seomun High too."
"What? For real?"
"I've seen you around school sometimes. Always throwing balls—that stuck with me."
"Oh... yeah?"
Too focused on baseball to notice much around me.
Only the manager, coach, teammates' evaluations mattered.
That's how much I loved the game.
A chuckle escaped me.
"Anyway, thanks. Just one text when they're in."
"Sure."
I grabbed the bag and left the store.
"Not home—school."
I'd been heading home but turned toward school instead.
Popping open another Orange Na from the black bag as I went.
"Urk. Even I like soda, but three in a row is pushing it."
But the effects were undeniable.
[Your velocity has permanently increased by +1].
Crunch!
Power overflowing in my grip again.
Three bottles total. Velocity up by +3 permanently.
I wanted to test it myself.
"Any catchers still at school this late?"
I walked briskly, making calls.
"Young-sik, you still at school? Ah... already home? Yeah, good work today."
"Jun-seop. At school? Oh... yeah? See you tomorrow. Good work today."
As expected.
No catcher teammates sticking around late.
"Wait... maybe Deok-gu's still there?"
Lee Deok-gu.
Second-year catcher prospect. His hitting was lacking for a prospect, but he knew his limits and always worked harder than others—a real grinder.
Maybe he'd still be training alone.
"Deok-gu, it's Hyun-jun sunbae. You still at school?"
I asked over the phone.
After calling around, I was already at the school gate.
Please, let Deok-gu be at the field. He didn't let me down.
-Yeah, personal training ran late. Heading home now.
"Perfect!"
-Huh?
"Don't go home yet—wait a bit!"
-Stay at the field?
"Yeah, Deok-gu. I really need to do this with you, so hang tight!"
-...Okay.
"Just a minute! I'll buy you food later—five minutes tops!"
I begged the slightly annoyed Deok-gu and ran to the field.
We weren't that close. Right now, even that thin connection was vital.
At the field, I grinned wide seeing Deok-gu still geared up.
"Deok-gu, catch a few for me."
"Huh?"
"Gonna check my fastball velocity—just catch a few."
"That all?"
Deok-gu looked awkward.
But right now, checking my +3 velocity mattered more than his feelings.
"Just ten. Please."
"Okay."
As I asked him, I powered up the pitching radar and gear.
Meanwhile, he walked to the wall and crouched.
"Ready."
At his signal, I stepped onto the mound and took a slow breath.
My personal best was 139.9 km/h, throwing with a tweaked form.
Just 0.1 km/h shy of breaking 140.
Now, after three velocity potions fizzing with power...
Could I break that 140 wall?
I shook off the thought and eyed Deok-gu's mitt.
"Fastball."
Sign for the catcher given, I went into my windup.
I'm shaking.
Did my velocity really go up? I hope so. Desperately.
Not to beat rivals—for surviving as a baseball player.
I want this pitch to top 140.
Thwack!
The ball left my fingers and smacked Deok-gu's mitt.
My eyes were already on the velocity readout.
[136.4 km/h]
"Ah..."
Didn't break it.
Slower than when pitching in front of the manager, even.
Maybe I rushed and didn't follow through.
Control wobbled too.
Clack.
Got the ball back from Deok-gu and slowly rotated my left shoulder.
I'd warmed up plenty walking from the store.
Not a body issue.
Just lost focus for a sec.
"Alright."
Deep breath again.
Told him ten pitches—nine left.
Focus on those nine.
Ball. Left hand. Mitt. Four-seam grip. Body tensed in form. Then throw.
Thwang!
Louder this time.
Come to think of it, last one I skipped follow-through, eyes stolen by the gun.
How's this?
[138.9 km/h]
Up 2.5 km/h.
Still 1 km/h shy of my PR.
Thwang!
Threw with everything again.
Focused solely on the ball in my left hand until all ten were done.
And before finishing those ten...
Thwang!!
Deok-gu flinched as he caught it.
"...Huh?"
He felt something different.
I kept my finish and glanced at the readout.
Then I saw it.
[140.6 km/h]
A chill ran through me at the crisp number on the screen.
Grip.
I clenched my fist tight.
Silent scream.
Velocity... over 140 km/h for the first time in my life!
"Yes...!"
One day before summer arrived, alone on the empty training mound.
I savored the moment I'd cherish forever.
Bzzz—
But my phone's vibration yanked me back to reality.
[Jo Jong-hoon Pitching Coach: Practice game vs. Deokyang High tomorrow. Pitchers, prepare.]
"Deokyang High?"
With the Blue Dragon Cup looming—our last high school tournament—text from the pitching coach.
This... was my chance!
A chance to show off my 140 km/h velocity.
And with four potions left, I could boost it even more and dazzle everyone!
Bzzz—
As if in reply, another text from the pitching coach.
[Jo Jong-hoon Pitching Coach: Planning to evaluate as many pitchers as possible. Take good care of yourselves.]
I clenched my fist at the pitching coach's text.
No time to breathe. The competition had already begun.
Read More Chapter on Our Website:
- NovelsHub.org
New chapters released daily —don't miss out!