Black Badger

The presence of my kin faded away.

Kyle and Hekate were retreating. I wasn’t sure how they were moving, but at that speed, we would never catch them.

Supported by Yun, I stood blankly, staring down at Sion’s corpse.

We would give him a proper burial.

Though it would have to be done alone.

“You need treatment.”

Yun glanced at me and muttered,

“If not, you’ll be following him soon.”

“I wouldn’t mind that.”

The words slipped out before I realized it.

Only after saying it did I understand I’d made a mistake. No one liked hearing that sort of thing.

Because when spoken sincerely, it became a heavy burden to whoever heard it.

If Ami were standing before me, her round eyes would have filled with pain and worry. Ricardo would’ve snapped irritably. Carl would have sighed.

Sophia wouldn’t have cared.

But it was Yun who heard me, and he wasn’t surprised.

He didn’t even seem moved.

“Is that so?”

He replied casually, then lifted me up.

The seniors came running from behind, but he didn’t turn around.

“I’ve dealt with humans in your condition too many times to count.”

Could you retrieve Sion’s body for me?

I was about to ask, but Yun’s words froze me.

What?

It was obvious who he meant.

“Yehyeon?”

A chill went down my spine.

“Is he in that bad of a state? Why?”

“Weren’t you about to say something?”

Yun asked flatly.

The seniors stopped behind us.

I couldn’t focus on them, but in my peripheral vision, they all seemed fine. Good. I didn’t have the strength to talk to them anyway.

“Can we recover the body?”

I asked quietly.

“I’ll take care of everything once I’m better...”

“There’s no reason not to.”

Yun neither frowned nor looked puzzled.

At that moment, I was relieved it was Choi Yun who’d answered me. He neither worried about me nor sympathized with my pain. He didn’t feel anger or betrayal at my request.

He simply responded without emotional turbulence, and that was comforting.

Yun turned his head.

“Retrieve that body.”

Only then did I clearly see the faces of the seniors—

Ricardo and Sophia were staring straight at me. I couldn’t read the emotions in their eyes.

Ami and Carl looked at Yun.

Both nodded and rushed toward Sion’s body.

I felt the strength drain out of my body.

“Thank you.”

“Sordi.”

Yun turned to Ricardo.

“Contact Samuel.”

Ricardo nodded silently.

Still supported by Yun, I was moved toward the Portal Zone.

The surroundings had gone abruptly quiet. After Ricardo finished his report, the silence grew deeper. Replacing the noise was the pervasive stench of rot.

No one spoke. Sophia, walking silently behind us, said nothing either.

Thank you for that.

I had no right to burden anyone further.

With that thought, my consciousness faded.

***

“Ten minutes left!”

The sharp shout woke me.

“Just a little longer!”

So I woke up sooner than I thought.

Staring up at the barracks ceiling, I realized it—ten minutes left until the territorial reclamation battle ended.

I’d woken before the three hours were up.

That there were still Creatures around was surprising.

Why waste so much power? I wondered, listening to the battle sounds leaking through the tent walls. The Core must be almost complete by now. The upper sky partially open, the ground completely sealed.

Even if the wall collapsed entirely, our kin couldn’t win.

The result was already decided—so why keep sending in more Creatures?

And what exactly had they succeeded at?

Sequoia’s words lingered in my mind.

I blinked twice and pushed up my heavy torso.

“Where do you think you’re going, kid.”

Samuel’s gruff voice flew over.

Ah, he was here.

“It’s almost over. You don’t need to go.”

“I want to see it end.”

“You’d still go even if I stopped you, wouldn’t you?”

I suppose he’d already figured me out.

He rose lazily from his chair and walked to my bed. I smiled faintly at the weary-faced doctor.

The corner of his tablet smacked my head.

“Ow!”

“Then go.”

His voice was oddly hoarse.

But I didn’t have the energy to wonder why.

“Get treated right after it’s over.”

I nodded and climbed out of bed.

I walked out of the barracks.

The view opened—and what I saw was beyond my expectations.

Defense lines packed tightly together. Several sections of the wall had collapsed. Many Badgers had formed lines before the broken barriers.

The cold wind carried the scent of slaughter.

The smell and the gunfire told me the battle was still ongoing, but the atmosphere was different from before.

I saw smiles on the faces of the Badgers holding the line.

The smiles of soldiers who were about to win.

“Third line, retreat in five minutes!”

Yehyeon’s voice rang out.

The Commander stood at the rear, surrounded by his aides.

I stopped and looked at his face. Unlike the others, Yehyeon’s expression showed no strong emotion.

Still, he seemed a little more at ease than when he’d faced Kyle.

I glanced away from that pale, elegant face and looked around.

The seniors who had fought beside me against our kin were there, fighting alongside the other Badgers. Carl and Yun weren’t visible—perhaps Yun had gone to inspect the Core Device or the Portal’s condition.

I recognized most of the Badgers’ faces: Leeho Chang, Bobby Winter, Asil Fiscer, Jason Trevain, Richard Green, William Walker, Jonathan Kudo, Shu Diamond, Aki, Angela, Hesh, and Tom.

Their expressions were brighter than before.

Those with serious injuries must have already been evacuated.

I stopped and quietly watched the battlefield.

Just as Samuel said, there was no need for me to join in.

Five minutes passed quickly.

“Third line, retreat!”

At Yehyeon’s command, a cluster of Badgers withdrew en masse.

The medics retreated with them. Behind me, Samuel shouted, “Hey! Get back in here!” as he moved toward the Portal Zone.

I smiled at the doctor and nodded.

But didn’t move.

Soon Yehyeon shouted again.

“Second line, retreat!”

Another wave of Badgers withdrew.

The seniors, maintaining discipline, had smiles of quiet relief. I watched the units march toward the Portal Zone, faces bright despite being smeared with blood and dust.

It was finally ending.

“First line, retreat!”

One minute left.

All remaining Badgers began to pull back. The seniors fell back slowly, guarding the rear. A few shots echoed, but not as fierce as before. The mounds of corpses had formed natural trenches, and there weren’t many Creatures left charging in.

Richard Green led the withdrawal from the first line.

I watched them enter the Portal Zone.

Until Yehyeon turned his head.

“Hilde.”

The Portal activated, and the Badgers returned.

Yehyeon stood upon the reddened earth, looking at me. His aides also watched silently.

He didn’t ask why I was standing apart.

The Commander spoke softly.

“Let’s go home.”

The wind stirred my hair.

I walked toward them.

As soon as I reached them, Ska grabbed my arm—he must’ve noticed my unsteady steps.

I smiled faintly, thanking him with a glance.

He stared but said nothing. His uniform was stained with sunset and blood.

The evening breeze rippled through the heavy air.

We began walking toward the Portal Zone.

“There’s something I need to report.”

My voice was hoarse. Yehyeon nodded.

But he didn’t reply until we reached the Portal Zone. Then, after shooting a Creature that leapt toward us, he looked back at me.

“After you’re admitted.”

Ah. So hospitalization is already a given.

“After you go home.”

Home.

I smiled bitterly and nodded.

The command staff ignored the bitterness in my smile.

Tradition dictated that command entered last during a reclamation—so I stepped into the Portal one step before the aides.

The space shifted.

[2]

[1]

[0]

[Core creation complete.]

As soon as I arrived, the artificial voice echoed in my ears.

The moment I regained vision, a cheer erupted.

“Uwaaahhh!”

“We won!”

“It’s over!”

“Rest!”

The uproar of excitement battered my ears.

I blinked wide in surprise.

The underground Portal Zone.

An enormous space filled with countless cheering Badgers. The roar was louder than any year-end celebration.

People shouting, embracing, jumping. Somewhere, camera flashes burst like fireworks.

Even the flashes were drowned beneath the thunder of voices.

Those shouting, those crying, those ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) laughing—

The cheering grew even louder as the command staff appeared.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

“Good job!”

“Territorial! Re! Cla! Ma! Tion!”

“Re! Cla! Ma! Tion! Vic! Tory!”

“Give us leave!”

“Leave! Leave!”

“Freedom! Freedom!”

“Commander! Aides! Take a vacation!”

“You too, aides! You’ve earned it—rest long!”

“It’s over!”

“We’re free!”

“Yeeaaaahhh!”

Had they all gone mad?

I laughed under my breath, watching the seniors lose their composure. Most were drunk on victory, yelling like men possessed—though no one had even had a drink.

Some tossed their helmets, others struck poses for the journalists crowding outside the Portal Zone.

A few teams danced in circles with arms around each other.

The command staff smiled quietly at the sight.

Yehyeon gazed at the exhilarated Badgers for a long moment.

Then, as the noise began to fade, he spoke.

“Well done.”

His husky voice silenced the vast chamber at once.

The raucous Badgers froze, eyes fixed on the Commander.

The sudden stillness swallowed the space. Even the journalists, who’d been pushing microphones and shouting for interviews, fell silent.

I stepped back a few paces and waited for his next words.

“You’ve done wonderfully. Rest now.”

Yehyeon smiled faintly.

“The territorial reclamation battle is over.”

His smile deepened.

“We’ve won again.”

A roar.

A thunderous roar shaking the building.

I stood motionless amid the deafening cheers.

A strange sense of déjà vu. It wasn’t hard to place. I’d shouted like this once. I’d led shouts like this once.

These were the cries of victors.

The triumphant roar of those who had survived.

When this euphoria faded, they would mourn those who’d fallen, plagued by guilt and loss. But before facing that reality, soldiers always let themselves be consumed by victory’s rapture.

I understood why Yehyeon was allowing them that moment.

I was glad.

And yet, a heavy loneliness settled over me.

“Hilde!”

I must’ve been standing still too long.

I came to when someone called my name.

“Hildebert! We did it! We really did it!”

“You’re not hurt, are you? Why are you standing like that?”

Hesh, throwing an arm around my shoulders, and Tom, looking at me with worried eyes.

Their fatigue was clear, but in their eyes shone pure joy.

Seeing that gleam, I smiled softly.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine. You are hurt, aren’t you?”

“Nothing serious. I’ll see Samuel soon, so don’t worry.”

I laughed as Hesh jumped back in alarm.

Tom, ready to drag me to the hospital wing, froze when I stopped him with an arm.

“I really am fine. I’ll head over now—go enjoy yourselves a bit longer.”

“Let’s go together. I’ll help you walk.”

“Want me to carry you? Think he’s light enough to carry?”

“I can really go alone.”

“Ah~...”

That drawn-out voice—

I turned quickly toward it.

Green eyes met mine.

A tall man stood with his hands in his pockets.

Ricardo smirked faintly.

“I’ll take him. You two hatchlings go on and enjoy the moment.”

“Sir.”

Tom looked at Ricardo in surprise.

At the same time, Hesh’s eyes widened as he noticed the senior who’d come with him.

“Carl!”

Hesh’s mentor ignored the call and looked straight at me.

“Hilde. He’s in the medical ward.”

His blue eyes were steady.

“Let’s go together.”

You brought me to him, then.

I stood there for a moment.

Ricardo’s green gaze studied me as he stepped forward to support me. Even when Ami ran up and gripped my hand tightly, I couldn’t respond properly.

I didn’t want to face what was rising inside me.

But I had to stay conscious.

My classmates murmured things behind me; the seniors answered back.

I followed Carl’s lead.

When the cheers of the Portal Zone faded behind us, I finally spoke.

“Thank you.”

Carl looked at me with his clear blue eyes, then gave a silent nod.