Black Badger

It seemed like I had exited in the opposite direction from the seniors. Even after leaving the auditorium, there weren't many people in the hallway. From afar, I could hear the sound of people rushing out, along with the buzzing murmur of voices.

Was I just going home like this?

If so, I'd have to hitch a ride with Ye-hyeon's car again. I stopped in the hallway and waited for the man who checked his smartphone. The cabin was quite satisfactory, but the problem was the inconvenience without a car or other transportation.

I didn't have a car, and I couldn't even remember if I had ever gotten a license.

I really was a strange guy, even to myself.

As I thought that, Choi Yoon approached.

"Stay put for a bit."

He glanced around the hallway and pointed to a recessed area where unused chairs were stacked.

"Sit there and wait on one of those chairs."

"...Do I really have to go into that corner?"

"There are more than a few people who'll grab you and start yapping."

Choi Yoon explained as he watched me head toward the dusty chairs without complaint.

"It'll be a hassle if they catch you."

"Got it."

Whatever the reason, I planned to follow his instructions.

I slipped into the shadows and sat down. Choi Yoon left without any further explanation. I leaned my head against the wall and let out a long breath.

Could I really do this well?

Was my self-introduction just now okay? I wasn't sure if I'd answered the questions properly. Choi Yoon hadn't given any particular feedback.

Couldn't you at least give me some critique...

I grumbled inwardly at my mentor's impassiveness while pondering tonight's dinner menu on the side.

At that moment, voices drifted over.

"What's this?"

The voice was laced with irritation.

"We didn't recruit any new recruits recently, right?"

That was about me.

My wandering mind snapped back.

I tensed up and instinctively pressed myself against the wall.

Footsteps approached. What if they spotted me? The moment that thought crossed my mind, the footsteps of several people stopped right nearby.

I quietly shifted deeper into the shadows. Then, with my body flush against the wall, I craned my neck out just a bit.

I caught a glimpse of a blond head from behind.

That was the owner of the voice. I was almost certain because I could see his mouth moving and closing.

I couldn't see the people opposite him.

The men stood in the hallway and began talking.

"And what the hell? Calling all the Badgers just to hear some new recruit's self-introduction?"

"But isn't this how it's always been? Though this new recruit does seem a bit off."

"Before, the HR Director would just call us formally without making such a fuss."

True enough. The second voice mumbled in agreement with the blond's point.

The blond, sounding annoyed, continued.

"The Supreme Commander issuing an order to attend something like this? That guy's got no idea of his own position."

"Exactly, it's embarrassing... Is he bored these days? We haven't done any territory reclamation in nearly five years."

"Bored? How long ago was the creature appearance at headquarters?"

"By the way, why is that new recruit's mentor Choi Yoon?"

"That's the weird part from the start."

The blond pointed it out with a voice full of malice. The inflection carried clear hostility toward Ye-hyeon.

What? I held my breath, eavesdropping, and blinked. I thought they had a problem with me. But from the voices, it seemed they disliked Ye-hyeon more than me.

To be precise, it felt like the blond hated Ye-hyeon to the point of trembling.

Why was that? Because Ye-hyeon was the top boss? Or did he dislike Ye-hyeon's methods?

As I tried to guess the reason behind the thick disgust, the blond irritably added more.

"That guy's a parachute planted by Ye-hyeon, isn't he?"

Spot on.

To think it'd be seen through so easily. I looked up at the ceiling, feeling a mix of futility, fear, and resignation.

Of course. No way faking some documents could fool people that easily...

"That doesn't make sense."

The third voice rebutted.

"The Black Badger selection process is so rigorous. Turning someone into a human weapon isn't a joke. If it were really a parachute, the media would catch it in an instant, and heads would roll. No matter how unqualified that guy is, he's not stupid enough to do something like that."

"He was stupid enough to do it."

"I hate the guy too, but isn't he someone who doesn't pursue personal gain?"

"He goes easy on Yoon."

The second voice, who had been chiming in with the blond all along, countered.

Then the third, who had raised the objection, rebutted again.

"Going easy on Yoon's convenience is worlds apart from planting a parachute. There's no reason to shove that new recruit into the Badger unit in the first place."

The low voice continued.

"The reason for the recruitment is just as explained, but there must be issues elsewhere. Didn't they say something about recovery ability problems? We'll have to see what exactly the issue is. And what his skills are like."

"He can't be normal."

The blond, who had started the gossip, snorted.

"If he were normal, there wouldn't be this much fuss."

From my perspective, the blond seemed determined to hate Ye-hyeon and everything he did. But he was backing into the truth with several correct guesses.

Was he actually insightful?

The malicious voice continued.

"Not just skills, but likely problems elsewhere too..."

Footsteps sounded.

The conversation couldn't continue. People's footsteps drew closer. Regular, neat steps mixed with leisurely, lazy ones.

I caught the men, including the blond, falling silent, and the footsteps halting simultaneously.

A familiar voice rang out.

"What."

It was Choi Yoon's dry tone.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Senior~..."

The following drawling voice was Ricardo's.

"Long time no see..."

What was Ricardo up to?

He seemed to have come with Choi Yoon. But that stray thought didn't linger.

The men who had been gossiping turned toward the people I knew and spoke.

"Hey. Who's that?"

It was the blond's voice.

"The new recruit? And you're his mentor?"

"Yeah, he's the new recruit, and I'm his mentor. What else are you curious about?"

Choi Yoon replied indifferently.

He really was consistently obnoxious. He was equally rude not just to me, but to everyone. Except maybe Ami and the Supreme Commander.

"You, a mentor now? When did you even recruit that new recruit?"

"It's the HR Director's decision."

Choi Yoon shot back in a bored voice.

"I'm more curious than you, so go ask him yourself. Do I look like the type who micromanages new recruit recruitment schedules?"

"You don't even know when your own junior was hired? The process seemed suspicious too."

"Not interested."

Choi Yoon lied as easily as breathing.

But no one seemed to doubt him. His response was as natural as air. Even the men who had been gossiping diligently seemed to believe he was telling the truth and didn't press further.

Instead, the second voice, who had sided with the blond, asked.

"But why are you in combat gear?"

"Going to hunt a creature."

Choi Yoon's voice remained indifferent.

"If you're done, get out of my way."

"A creature? What creature? You only handle ones near headquarters. There's nothing right now."

"He's probably off to catch butterflies."

The blond interjected cynically.

"Since Typhoon's esteemed commander is heading home. So he has to hunt even creatures he wouldn't normally touch. Even if there's no real damage, using emergency personnel or whatever. Our commander might be in danger, after all."

"You really like Ye-hyeon, huh."

Choi Yoon replied in a voice devoid of emotion.

My mentor truly... had a natural talent for being rude.

"No other Badger obsesses over Ye-hyeon like you do every day."

Thud!

It sounded like the blond stomped the marble floor with his boot.

The noise resonated off the wall. No one reacted.

A brief silence fell. Just as the echo of the boot and marble faded completely, the sounds of the three grumbling men leaving reached my ears.

I took in the receding footsteps and the blond's final words, gritted through clenched teeth.

"Let's see what kind of guy your junior is."

Why was the backlash hitting me?

"If he's as obnoxious as you, just try it."

Why were you coming at me?

I couldn't possibly be as rude as him. Didn't you see my polite self-introduction?

The protest forming in my head didn't become sound.

I just listened quietly to the fading footsteps. Until smooth silence returned to the hallway and the faint patter of rain outside the window could be heard.

They're gone.

Even after confirming the men had left, I couldn't bring myself to emerge from the shadowed crevice. It felt like I'd unintentionally overheard something I shouldn't have.

I should just crouch here until they come find me.

Ricardo's head poked out suddenly.

"Ugh, what!"

"What do you mean, what..."

I startled at his vivid green eyes and jumped back, causing Ricardo to narrow his eyes.

He wore his characteristic drawling smile.

"What are you doing there~?"

"I told him to stay put."

Choi Yoon walked over.

He crooked his index finger at me with an inscrutable cold gaze.

"Come out."

"Got it."

"You heard everything, huh?"

Ricardo laughed as I quickly emerged.

I gave an awkward smile and rubbed my neck. The hallway was empty again, just like before. Only the two tall men were looking at me.

Ricardo, dressed in the same pitch-black special suit as when we first met. And Choi Yoon in the same outfit.

Black suited Choi Yoon remarkably well.

"Let's go."

My mentor ignored my wide-eyed reaction and said what he needed to.

"Before Typhoon reaches the center of the house."

"Yes. Uh... But why is Ricardo here?"

"Why... Should I just leave?"

This guy was no pushover either.

I flashed a gentle smile—Smile, Hildebert, smile—and defused the situation brightly.

"It's been so long since I've seen you, senior. I've been suffering without your face."

"Your words flow like clear spring water today too."

"Hey. If we don't hurry, it'll be late. Let's just go."

Choi Yoon turned and started walking.

As always, he strode ahead without explanation. I hurriedly followed behind him. Ricardo drawled a lazy "Yes, senior" and trailed after Choi Yoon.

We headed quickly to the underground parking lot in silence. Without running into any familiar faces, we reached the spot where the car I'd ridden in that morning was parked.

The black Lamborghini was still sleek and beautiful.

The car took off as soon as I closed the back door.

*

I couldn't see ahead.

Torrential rain engulfed the car. I stared out the window with my mouth half-open at the chaos. The destination wasn't far now. But I was starting to doubt if we'd make it there at all.

Was this okay?

The windshield... It was basically zero visibility? The wind battering the car sounded ominous too.

Were we going to get swept away?

But my anxiety, gripping the seatbelt tightly, proved unfounded as the car sped along the road. Even as the wheels began to spin and the speed gradually slowed, it didn't stop progressing.

Pressing on like that, I sensed we had entered a familiar road.

For someone whose memories had all flown away, the very sensation of familiarity felt strange, but even without clear sight, the surroundings oddly felt known.

"Is that your cabin~?"

Ricardo, who had been sitting in the passenger seat with his eyes closed until now, broke the silence.

His green eyes were slightly open. I quietly followed his gaze.

In the pouring rain, a small silhouette was visible. It stood adorably opposite a massive one.

My sweet home.

The moment I saw the house, an unfamiliar emotion surged up. Was this longing? I sank into the feeling of returning home after a long day.

I let out a joyful voice.

"Yes! That's exactly..."

KABOOM!

With a deafening roar, something flew through the sky.

A black silhouette vanished into the storm with a thunderous boom.

I widened my eyes and watched the shadow soar on the whirlwind.

What was that?

"Your roof just flew off."

Choi Yoon, gripping the wheel, said.

"I warned you."

"...Huh?"

"Oh dear~."

Huh?

"Poor thing..."

"...Hm?"

"Get out first. Don't pass out from debris on the way down."

What?

What did you mean, get out?

...And what flew off?

That was the cabin roof?