Black Badger

In fact, they said I didn't have to say much.

Joo handled most of the explanation. After briefly hearing from me, he took the mic and wrapped things up. It wouldn't take long, and they definitely wouldn't make me sing or anything like that. Yoon stood by my side too....

My mind settled a bit.

That didn't untie the knot in my stomach, though.

"Shall we go in?"

Joo looked at me with a gentle smile.

Since I'd officially become a Black Badger (albeit through some backdoor means), he was now my superior as well. Ever since that day, Joo had been calling me casually.

"It's not time yet, but we can watch our kids filing into the auditorium. Let's head in and wait."

"...Should we?"

"Of course! Come on, come on."

Joo pushed my back.

The stage was dimly lit, and the vast seating area stretched out before us. With a heavy heart, I stepped onto the stage.

The auditorium was filled with murmurs. The sounds of chairs being set down, people settling in, and footsteps mingled together.

From behind me, Joo's clear voice rang out.

"Do you know anyone?"

I stood under the shadow of the curtain at the edge of the stage and scanned the seats.

People of all sorts walked into the auditorium. From races to hair colors, eye colors, heights—everything was incredibly diverse. The senior Black Badgers threw glances my way as they took their seats.

I tried my best to pretend I didn't notice the prickling stares.

I swept my gaze across the seats, searching for familiar faces.

There weren't many, but....

"Ricardo."

"Oh, right—Ricardo was your watcher, wasn't he?"

I nodded without taking my eyes off Ricardo as he entered the auditorium.

He wore a pair of stylish glasses that suited him perfectly today as well. A neatly tailored black coat and suit. A smile that seemed habitually stuck to his lips.

He entered while chatting with a man in a purple coat. The man in the purple coat was tall and handsome like Ricardo, but he wasn't someone I recognized.

The next person to enter looked familiar, though.

Ro, with his curly hair, came in with a group of people. He was at the center of them. I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but anyway, he laughed boisterously and headed toward the stage in a noisy bunch.

As I stared blankly at him approaching, our eyes met.

The senior who'd asked me if I had anything to eat when we first met raised one hand high.

"Hey! New recruit!"

All eyes turned toward us.

"Long time no see! How've you been?"

"Ah, yes. Thanks to you...."

"You're right across from Ye-hyeon's place, right?"

Ro chuckled as he looked up at me on the stage.

The Badgers around him widened their eyes. Burly guys who looked like they hadn't shaved in days stared at me with eyes round as buttons.

I couldn't tell exactly what had surprised them, but they all seemed shocked anyway.

Before I could awkwardly respond, Ro cut in.

"Poor guy! How'd your life end up so flashy?"

It wasn't that unfortunate. I was quite satisfied with my cabin, sir.

"Anyway, do a good job with your intro!"

Ro didn't wait for my reply. He wrapped up on his own, waved his hand dismissively, and turned away.

The Badgers surrounding him reluctantly shifted their gazes away from me.

They took seats next to Ro one by one.

They were all strangers to me. I wanted to know their names, but there were too many to ask Joo to introduce them one by one.

There'd be a chance to exchange names later....

A tired voice came from right below the stage.

"New recruit."

I flinched at the low, raspy voice.

"Self-intro today, right?"

It was Iho.

The senior I'd briefly spoken with during the mushroom hunt.

He looked tired today too. The dark circles under his eyes were still there. He wore a navy windbreaker instead of the gray anorak from before.

He always gave off the vibe of an overworked office worker. And yet, he strangely felt comfortable to be around. Even though I'd only seen him once.

I greeted him with a smile.

"Yes. Long time no see, sir."

"Just call me Iho. What's with the 'sir'?"

"Ah, got it. Understood."

"Do well."

Iho drawled.

"It's nothing big, so don't be nervous."

He said what he needed to and shuffled off toward the seats.

People tossed light greetings his way. Iho responded tiredly and plopped down at the edge of the seating area. Even his slouched posture looked exhausted.

I wanted to brew him some tonic.

"You've exchanged names with Iho?"

The HR Director poked his head out.

I met his eyes and nodded.

"Yes. We met briefly during the mushroom hunt. Ricardo introduced us."

"Good. He's a good kid. Came in through open recruitment about ten years ago and's been steady ever since. He always looks tired, but that's just 'cause his energy's a bit lower than most."

Yeah, I could see that. It had been the same last time.

I tore my gaze from Iho, who had his eyes closed, and scanned the auditorium.

The wide seating area was nearly full. I could hear whispers as people glanced my way.

This was overwhelming; I couldn't focus. Good thing I'd skipped lunch.

I tried not to listen to their murmurs among themselves, but it didn't work as planned. Bits of conversation drifted over.

Didn't we not have new recruit selections this time? one mutter.

This is a special case; the Supreme Commander called us all in himself, came the reply.

He's handsome, a whisper. Is that white hair dyed? another whisper.

The Badgers pretended not to stare but kept eyeing me. Plenty just gawked openly without a care.

"Hilde!"

At the clear voice, I turned and immediately brightened.

"Ami!"

She waved her hand vigorously as she headed to the front row.

I was really glad to see her.

I smiled widely at the beaming senior.

"You came!"

"Of course!"

Ami stopped in front of the stage and grinned.

"It's really nothing, so don't stress!"

After the encouragement, the senior looked around for her seat.

People called out to Ami as she turned her head this way and that.

She responded to their greetings and casually found an empty spot. Insisting she wanted the front, she plopped down in the first row.

Even after sitting, people kept greeting her nonstop.

She was popular.

It made sense.

As I thought that, Joo spoke up.

"Starts in five minutes."

My stomach knotted tighter.

"You know Shu too, right?"

Shu?

I turned my head in confusion, and Joo chuckled, nodding toward her with his chin. Following his gaze, I spotted a familiar face. A woman with short yellow hair dyed pink at the tips.

She'd been in the spot where our eyes first met, but we hadn't exchanged a single word.

She entered with what looked like a skateboard tucked under her arm.

I nodded, and Joo explained matter-of-factly.

"Shu Diamond. She's basically your immediate senior."

Oh.... They said the one right above you in the cohort was the scariest.

"Introduce yourselves later. Oh, there's Ye-hyeon."

He came after all.

What could someone as busy as him possibly have wanted to see here?

Ye-hyeon entered the auditorium with Ska.

Seeing Ska's neatly braided hair brought back the memory of him rushing out barefoot to save me.

The dazzling backlight that had enveloped him.

All eyes snapped to them and then scattered. The chattering Badgers suddenly fell silent.

Ye-hyeon sat in the very back row with Ska and another man.

The blonde woman in the row right in front of him visibly tensed. She must have regretted her seat choice.

Meanwhile, Ricardo, lounging in the front row with his legs crossed, draped an arm over the backrest and glanced at the high command. He tossed some cheeky remark their way, met with Ye-hyeon's gentle reply and what seemed like Ska's gruff retort.

The man next to Ricardo subtly turned his head and gave a silent nod toward the high command.

I could see Ye-hyeon giving a faint smile and a slight nod in return.

"You came a day early?"

I heard Joo asking Yoon.

"Shortened your business trip by a day. Did you ask him to, Yoon?"

Yoon, who had been leaning against the wall with arms crossed, narrowed his eyes.

He stared at the HR Director with dry eyes. Yoon was the person I'd spent the most time with since coming here, but I still couldn't read what he was thinking.

A window rattling in the wind.

Yoon replied in a parched voice.

"You think he'd listen just because I asked?"

"Well, you always lose to Ye-hyeon anyway."

"He's uncompromising on official matters from the start. Except in exceptional cases like yours."

"Me?"

Joo asked back in a pure voice.

"Why me?"

His eyes were innocent.

But I strongly sensed he understood what Yoon meant yet was pretending not to—the ultimate act of feigned innocence.

Yoon seemed to think the same, staring at the HR Director with an exasperated look.

"It's time."

He uncrossed his arms and stepped forward.

"Let's start."

"Guess so."

Joo turned his head with a bright smile.

My heart, which had been calming, started racing again. Joo looked at me, smiled warmly, and patted my shoulder as if to say not to worry. Then he turned and walked to the center of the stage.

There was a microphone set up there.

A podium and a mic on top of it.

"Ah."

Joo's voice echoed through the auditorium.

People straightened up and turned their attention to him.

"Ah, ah. Can you hear me? Thanks for coming all the way here in this lousy weather."

The HR Director smiled refreshingly, like flower petals fluttering.

Silence fell over the auditorium. Only the patter of rain through the small windows and the sounds of people adjusting in their chairs filled the space.

The house lights had dimmed. Spotlights shone on the stage.

On the three of us who stood there. The HR Director, Yoon. And me.

The quiet anticipation waited for the start.

The expectant silence broke with Joo's clear voice.

"Alright, let's introduce the new recruit. Hildebert Talev. Come to the podium."

I let out a deep breath and stepped forward to the front of the stage.

"Let's just do a simple name exchange and greeting for now?"

Joo handed me the mic.

All eyes turned to me.

I tried to stay composed. According to what the HR Director had told me before entering, other new recruits did self-intros too. This was the first time people had been assembled on Ye-hyeon's orders for one, though....

I turned my gaze to the audience.

And bowed politely.

"Hello, I'm Hildebert Talev."