Black Badger

Ami burst into tears and started pounding on me.

Her tension must have finally snapped.

I, too, pulled her into my arms while tears streamed down my face as she hit me. I embraced her gently as she sobbed and patted her back.

“I am sorry. I frightened you.”

Ami only sniffled instead of answering.

After a long while her crying subsided, so I let her go and took off my upper garment.

My right sleeve had completely vanished, leaving me looking ridiculous.

Soaked in blood and rain, the clothes felt filthy. I tossed them aside and got to my feet.

“No scar at all.”

Yun approached and ran his fingers along my right arm.

He came close, pressing and squeezing at my shoulder and arm. I wrung the water out of my torn clothing and shot him an embarrassed look.

“Yes. I am perfectly fine now.”

Anyway.

Holding the shredded top in my left hand, I grabbed the shoulder of the man dissecting my torso with his eyes.

He looked up in confusion. Our eyes met.

“I will handle the absorption myself from now on. Please stop using that device.”

“Looked like it hurt.”

“I barely remember anything. It hurt too much.”

I did hesitate a little after my arm was torn off.

But I did still have the wits to handle absorption on my own.

Yun gave no response. Ignoring my words entirely, he kept examining me. I left him to it and looked down at the ground soaked in blood. The puddle was drying to a dark crust.

Beside the massive corpse of the dragon.

The parts I had not managed to absorb.

I was not going to leave them behind, but first I needed to check something else.

I scanned the seniors standing before me.

“Are any of you injured?”

Ricardo kicked me.

“Ow.” I accepted the kick without resistance, staggered, then slowly lifted my head.

Ricardo smiled brightly.

...That is even more frightening.

“Not at all~. Totally fine~.”

“If you are injured anywhere, please say so instead of hiding it.”

“Put on some clothes~.”

Is it that unpleasant to look at?

I glanced down at my bare torso.

Ah. The experiment-subject brand must be bothering them.

When I raided Colton’s mansion, I had been shot in the branded side. Forced absorption regenerated the wound and erased part of the brand. Only about a quarter of it remained now.

Hardly pleasant to look at.

But I had no clothes to wear at the moment.

I was debating what to do when a zipper came sliding down.

I turned to Yun, who was holding out his jacket.

“Thank you.”

He pulled a cigarette from the jacket pocket before handing it over. Now in only a black short-sleeved shirt, the man lazily bit the cigarette.

Ami rubbed her eyes, went up to Yun, and demanded he make donut-shaped smoke rings.

They looked perfectly fine.

I turned toward our quiet duo.

“You two are alright as well?”

Sophia did not answer; she only kept staring at me.

Meanwhile, Carl, arms crossed and mask pulled up to his nose, met my eyes and nodded.

“The fledgling is unharmed, and the prisoner is unconscious and tied up in the building behind us.”

Ah.

Another wave of emotion washed over me.

I could not stop myself from blurting out my honest feelings.

“Senior, please keep taking missions with me from now on.”

Everyone looked at me.

A short silence followed.

Carl snorted softly and broke the quiet.

“I will have to think about it. I get that kind of request far too often.”

Damn.

I widened my eyes at him, but I could understand.

Nobody would want to lose someone like him. Even Richard Green probably would not dare nag at Carl Doe.

I nodded seriously.

“Then please put me on the waiting list as well.”

Carl snorted again.

He gave no answer and simply turned away. Arms unfolding, he began personal maintenance. His mask covered the lower half of his face, but from his eyes I felt certain he was faintly smiling.

It was a relief that his injuries had healed. Sophia, too, did not seem to have any trouble moving.

Once again I found myself impressed by Black Badger’s healing ability.

In the end, we had slain the thunder dragon without a single casualty. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

And all within such a short time.

Feeling satisfied and accomplished, I turned my eyes toward the dragon’s corpse.

The parts I had absorbed were hollowed out, but there was still a lot left. We would not be able to use anything near the organs after blasting into them, but claws and intact scales could be quite useful.

I should take at least one claw for maintaining my sword.

Pleased, I examined the dragon’s body, then looked back at my seniors.

“I have never hunted a dragon this quickly. Truly, excellent work.”

I added more while watching them blink and smile faintly.

“We can collect the claws and scales, then cut off some meat for lunch. It is also the first time everyone returned unharmed after a hunt. The weather was terrible too... but your skills made it easy.”

“You will not get anything out of flattering us like that~.”

Ricardo smirked around his cigarette.

I was sincere. There was no exaggeration in my words.

Yet Sophia Kalak and Carl Doe both seemed surprised by my comments. Was it because a junior like me was praising my seniors’ skills?

It might indeed feel a bit awkward.

I rubbed my neck and laughed awkwardly. Without realizing it, the habit of praising subordinates after missions had slipped out.

I should be careful.

Ami’s eyes widened as she came closer.

“Can you eat dragon?”

“Yes. It is a bit tough but tastes fine.”

“Wow!”

Her eyes sparkled and she dashed toward the dragon’s corpse.

“Dragon meat!”

Yun wandered lazily toward me.

Moving very slowly, he stopped beside me and looked me over.

“Are you praising us?”

“...I apologize if it was out of line. I meant it sincerely.”

“So can I take Yehyeon with me now?”

I blinked.

“Were you not giving me permission?”

“Do not cross the line.”

This brat...

I stared at him, but Yun only snickered and turned away.

Exhaling smoke, he made his slow way toward the dragon’s corpse. The acrid smell lingered where he had stood.

With the smoke, he muttered in a low voice:

“Put some proper clothes on. Do not collapse on the way back.”

Well.

I probably had antibodies, so I would be fine.

***

The car was destroyed.

The dragon’s electric cannon blast had wiped out half of it. After eating lunch we searched the surroundings hoping to find a car we could salvage.

Nothing.

We had no choice but to walk back.

Thank goodness no one was injured.

We still had drinking water. We gathered the intact supplies and # Nоvеlight # set out toward Sector B.

If nothing went wrong, we would reach base camp around midnight.

Naturally, I was in charge of the prisoner.

Before we departed, I fed the awakened Frontier Baron some dragon meat. Ignoring the way he glared at me as if he wanted to kill me, I informed him:

“If you grow tired while walking, please tell me. I will carry you.”

“Just kill me and go.”

“No.”

I smiled and added:

“You do not have the right to choose anything right now, Frontier Baron.”

And so we began the march.

Everyone except Ami hated the idea of me carrying him if he got tired. They said we should let him walk until his feet fell apart.

But that would slow us down too much.

And besides, the Frontier Baron was not someone who would admit he was tired.

Indeed, after four hours of walking he suddenly collapsed forward.

The seniors halted.

Smiling bitterly, I approached the fallen clansman.

“I am thinking of walking nonstop until we reach the urban district. Will that be alright? It is too open here to rest.”

I asked while lifting him onto my back.

The seniors voiced no complaints. Ricardo and Yun shot me looks asking why I was carrying that guy, and Sophia looked like she wanted to wring the Frontier Baron’s neck on the spot, but they did not say anything aloud.

Carl and Ami simply nodded quietly.

Thanks to them, I managed to carry him all the way to the devastated urban district.

Not that there were zero problems.

As we searched for a place to rest and have dinner, the Frontier Baron, still on my back, suddenly pulled the gun from my waistband.

“Do not move!”

He pressed the muzzle against my temple.

“If you move, I will shoot!”

The seniors froze on the spot.

The killing intent they released in an instant was unmistakable. It washed over me so suddenly that it nearly crushed my breath.

I looked at them—ready to leap in at any moment—and gave a bitter smile.

“You do not have to be that tense.”

The seniors acted as if they had not heard me. Their eyes were glued only to the Frontier Baron’s hand.

“There are no bullets in this thing.”

I had forgotten to load the magazine...

Their eyes widened.

The seniors, who moments ago glared like wild beasts, now stared at me in pure shock. All five wore the same expression—what are you talking about—as they looked at me.

Even the Frontier Baron, holding the gun, seemed bewildered, stammering slightly.

A stunned silence settled over us.

The one who broke it was Ami.

“Hilde!”

She clutched her face with both hands.

“How could you make a mistake that basic!”

“Pardon? Ah... I apologize. I forgot.”

“You did not even load the magazine before leaving?”

Carl crossed his arms, eyebrows twitching.

The expression of a man who could not believe what he was witnessing. Ricardo scoffed and reverted his melting shape-shifting weapon back into its snake-shaped ring.

“Rookies, honestly~... they make mistakes you would not even imagine~.”

“I am sorry.”

“We are going to have to retrain you on firearms.”

Yun had already holstered the gun he had drawn and grumbled.

“If only to save my reputation.”

...Next time, I would need to check my gun before departure.

I gave them an awkward smile and apologized again. I still had no intention of using the gun in actual combat. I was not used to it, and I feared stray shots or misfires.

In chaos, I could not trust myself not to shoot a senior by accident.

The Frontier Baron let out a heavy sigh from where he hung on my back.

“No wonder it was so easy to steal...”

Well, yes.

Still muttering, he shoved the gun back into my waistband.

Feeling the weapon slip into the holster, I looked over the ruined streets.

We were searching for a place to rest and have dinner when Sophia spoke.

“You were definitely a good leader.”

I lifted my head to look at her.

“Why did you only manage to persuade a third of your people?”

I stared at her for a long moment.

Throughout the march she had barely spoken, yet she occasionally glanced at me with some unknown emotion. Now her dark eyes shone clearly. I could not read what was in them.

Hatred? Accusation?

Either way, it was a painful question.

I gave her a faint smile.

“I simply was not a good leader.”

A leader who ultimately failed to prevent the split.

“I did everything I could, but it did not go as I wished. I lacked the ability.”

Sophia continued to stare at me.

She did not look away for the entire time we prepared dinner. Whatever emotion was in her gaze—hatred or otherwise—I could not tell.

***

We reached base camp safely at midnight.

Everything that followed went smoothly. After sleeping, we used the reserve vehicles to return to Sector C. There we prepared to return through the portal.

Seven people, not six.

We sent a message that we were returning.

Since we were coming back from Sector A, I also reported that only the minimum required personnel should remain in the portal zone. I did not report that we had captured a prisoner, but I did request an urgent meeting with the leadership.

The reply came back without issue.

They told us to wait until preparations were complete.

We rested until the portal was ready, then stepped in the moment the machine activated.

A strange sensation wrapped around my body.

As I stepped forward, artificial light stabbed my eyes.

Pssshh! Pssshhhk-psshh!

“Seven personnel have returned safely!”

“Shut down portal operation!”

“Please complete full sanitation before exiting!”

“Change into clean uniforms before leaving!”

“Return all weapons!”

The AI announced the exact time of arrival for the seven Badgers while the researchers shouted orders in their piercing voices.

White disinfectant rained down from above.

So this is what happens when you come back from Sector A.

Thinking that, I pulled the trembling Frontier Baron along.

Holding him firmly, I followed the researchers’ directions. There was not a single person inside the portal zone. Everyone must have been behind the observation glass.

Instead, instructions—like an airport—were written on the floor: where to walk, what to do. Uniform-changing booths, weapon and sample return stations.

Mechanical arms descended from the ceiling, collecting our discarded clothing.

Do I have to return my sword as well?

“They will give it back right after sanitizing it, do not worry.”

Ami, already changed, laughed at me hesitating in front of the weapon drop-off.

“You will get it back in five minutes.”

Good.

Once we finished, we stepped out of the portal zone.

Still gripping the Frontier Baron’s arm, I entered the waiting lobby and immediately contacted the leadership. I pushed the shaking clansman onto a sofa and waited anxiously for their response.

That was when someone banged violently on the lobby door.

Everyone’s heads turned.

What?

“Hilde!”

When Sophia opened the door, several researchers burst into the lobby.

“Hilde! It is terrible!”

What?

I blinked at the familiar faces.

People from the science wing—Kate, Sean, Hiroshi.

Why were they here?

“What is going on?”

Surprised by the sudden visit, I stood and subtly shielded the Frontier Baron.

Looking at the panting researchers, I asked,

“Did something happen? Martin kidnapped again?”

“They are shutting down!”

Kate practically screamed the words.

“They are closing down!”

“What is?”

“Lexic Noodle!”

Hiroshi shouted.

“Hilde, Lexic Noodle is closing!”

The phone in my hand dropped to the floor.

No...

No.

What?

What is this...

I must have misheard.

“Lexic Noodle is closing starting today! They are gone!”

Thud.

My legs gave out.

I collapsed to the floor, feeling as though the world had ended.

“Hildeeeee!”

Ami ran toward me.

I could not answer. I stared blankly ahead.

How could the world do this to me?