Black Badger

The situation was wrapped up quickly.

With Erich Erhart showing up in person, that was only natural. He arrived together with Shashinsky and swiftly secured the entire area. All the tedious cleanup was handled by Shashinsky’s subordinates.

As the highest-ranking among them, Shashinsky personally pulled Seunghyun and the rest of us out of the sample zone. I let out a quiet sigh of relief as I stepped outside.

The visiting hall was still intact.

Only the area around it was packed with vehicles.

It felt like it was close to midnight. The air carried the scent of night. I inhaled the noticeably cooler air and exhaled slowly. The gunfire had stopped, but I could still hear Erich’s people murmuring among themselves, and the headlights of the parked cars painted the ground in pale light.

Kairos had apparently come here in Yehyeon’s car.

He’d offered to drive himself, but Yehyeon had politely refused.

“On the way back, I should be the one driving the advisor’s car.”

“No. If anyone’s driving, it’s me.”

I answered while watching the pale man standing beside the Bentley.

Yehyeon was slowly waking up from the Creature’s influence.

He’d also been given the Green Dream antidote, so the wound on his ankle had completely disappeared. I glanced briefly at the dried bloodstains left on his ankle and let out another breath of relief.

Now all he needed was for that dazed look in his eyes to sharpen again. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

It would be easier if he couldn’t remember any of what had happened.

Seunghyun, of course, was nowhere nearby. The moment Erich Erhart entered his field of vision, he’d snapped back to himself. ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) I had no idea what Yehyeon had said to him, but whatever it was, it wasn’t trivial. The man who’d been trembling faintly from the shock had straightened up immediately and reported the situation to his employer.

Not that Erich seemed particularly interested in Seunghyun’s clean, efficient report.

“Apologies for putting you through something like this.”

He still hadn’t left our side, even now.

“Seems like he’s coming around, hm?”

Erich...

Capable as he was, he was still beyond saving.

This entire mess had likely happened because he’d loosened the screws just enough for his own amusement.

Colton tightened things just enough for efficiency. Yekaterina tightened them firmly to prevent future trouble. But Erich Erhart adjusted the pressure based on dopamine—and sometimes, that made him feel even less human than either of them.

Especially when he stood there beside us with that pleasant smile.

I let out another sigh.

“Erich.”

“I’ll make sure to repay you properly for this later.”

“Yeah, sure. Now get lost. You don’t even have anything to say.”

“That’s not quite true. I did call you here for a reason. But that can wait until next time.”

“Then go.”

“I should call Seunghyun over first.”

Erich smiled faintly.

“He won’t come unless I call him.”

What should I do?

I hesitated as I watched Yehyeon’s eyes slowly, steadily regain focus.

What was the right choice?

I couldn’t tell this time either. I opened my mouth, then stopped, rolling my eyes back toward Yehyeon instead of answering.

And met his now-focused black gaze.

“Hilde.”

Yehyeon called my name.

“Black?”

“Advisor.”

“Yehyeon.”

Kairos and I spoke almost at the same time.

Kairos smiled and stepped back.

I grabbed Yehyeon’s shoulder as he looked around, confusion clear in his eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“What about the injured?”

He used honorifics, but his tone was strictly business.

Holding back a sigh of relief, I answered.

“There aren’t any. Your injuries are gone too. Erich brought the Green Dream antidote.”

“Spitfire handled the situation, then.”

“Yeah.”

“And the enemies?”

“They’re under control on Erich’s side. Nothing you need to worry about.”

“Why is there a gap in my memory?”

Yehyeon frowned.

“Did I inhale sleeping gas?”

So he doesn’t remember.

Good. This is better.

Whatever Yehyeon had said to Seunghyun, judging by that reaction, it couldn’t have been anything minor. He must’ve let something slip under the influence—something he would never say under normal circumstances.

He wouldn’t want to remember that.

That was a relief.

“Seems like it.”

I smiled at him.

“Any side effects?”

“No.”

“Good. Let’s head back and get some rest.”

“Yehyeon.”

It wasn’t me who called him.

We turned to look at Erich.

“Long time no see.”

Both Yehyeon and I immediately made identical displeased expressions.

Yehyeon spoke, unable to fully hide his irritation.

“Spitfire. Belated congratulations on your victory.”

“Hahaha.”

Erich burst into genuine laughter.

“Didn’t expect to hear that today.”

“My congratulations are late.”

“It doesn’t matter. Especially coming from you! I know you want to step back from the front lines, but I’d still like to have tea with you. If you’re free, the three of us could go now and catch up.”

“I have people with me, so I’ll be heading back today.”

“People?”

Erich tilted his head.

“Seunghyun is still over there.”

“...Not Seunghyun...”

Wait.

Does this bastard not even register Kairos?

I’d heard Kairos say before that Erich simply had no interest in him.

But was it really that bad? On the same level as Ami being invisible to him?

My eyes widened as I looked back and forth between Kairos and Erich.

Yehyeon did the same.

The man with red hair simply watched us with that usual curved smile.

The moment I realized it was true, I grabbed Kairos by the shoulders.

“Kai. I’m proud of you.”

“...? Thank you.”

Kairos answered easily, even though he clearly didn’t understand.

“That’s a relief.”

Yehyeon sounded genuinely moved.

“I expected it, but I was still worried. You really are Ami’s assistant.”

Kairos gave an awkward smile and tilted his head at Yehyeon.

Neither of us bothered to explain.

Instead, we both turned to look at the elegant Elder standing beside us.

Hands clasped behind his back, wearing the same puzzled expression as Kairos.

Behind him, I could hear Shashinsky sigh.

I smiled.

“Sorry, but I’m tired too.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

Erich returned to the conversation as if nothing had happened.

After answering politely, he glanced over the subordinates cleaning up the research facility and raised his chin.

“Seunghyun!”

“No.”

I looked at him irritably.

“Why are you calling him?”

“You said you were leaving.”

Erich smiled again.

“Shouldn’t you say your goodbyes?”

His crooked smile widened.

Those pale gray eyes slid toward Yehyeon.

“A reunion between father and son, after all.”

I almost punched him.

I didn’t raise my fist, but I must’ve let something show, because Yehyeon immediately grabbed my shoulder.

With a dry laugh, he spoke sharply.

“I can really feel the change in position. You never would’ve used the word ‘father’ in front of me before.”

“We’re not in an official relationship anymore.”

Erich replied smoothly, then winked at him.

I was about to snap at that disgusting sight—

“Did you call me?”

Seunghyun approached.

“Good work.”

Erich beamed at him.

He looked downright delighted.

“Hilde’s heading back now. I called you to see him off.”

“Seunghyun.”

I spoke to my disciple.

“You did well today. We got out safely thanks to you. Thank you.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Kairos added his thanks.

Seunghyun gave a small nod, silently acknowledging us.

His sharp black eyes looked no different from usual. It was hard to believe he’d been trembling earlier.

Then he turned his head—

Yehyeon flinched.

“...What is it?”

Yehyeon answered coldly.

“Were you expecting to hear that you did well?”

Seunghyun didn’t reply.

He simply stared at Yehyeon, scanning him from head to toe.

I was thrown off by the unreadable look in my disciple’s eyes.

Should I step in?

“...Stop staring and say something.”

Yehyeon’s voice sharpened again.

There was unease beneath it.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll be leaving.”

“I don’t plan on living longer than you.”

...What?

I stared at Seunghyun, dumbfounded.

Everyone else reacted the same way.

Kairos and Shashinsky blinked in confusion.

Erich, meanwhile, watched the scene with rapt fascination.

Yehyeon looked completely taken aback.

“...What did you say?”

“And stay out of other people’s irrational baggage.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Yehyeon stepped closer.

“What is it?”

Seunghyun simply turned his head away.

That seemed to irritate Yehyeon even more.

“What?”

Fair enough.

“No, explain yourself!”

Yehyeon snapped.

“Don’t just throw out weird nonsense without context!”

“Seunghyun.”

I called after him.

“You should at least answer—”

He looked back at me.

But that was it.

With a silent refusal in his gaze, he ignored Yehyeon completely and walked away.

Leaving us behind.

With Yehyeon practically fuming.

“Hilde.”

Still staring at Seunghyun’s back, Yehyeon suddenly turned to me.

I blinked at the intensity.

“Yeah?”

“Do you have any idea what’s wrong with him?”

“No.”

That was the truth.

“There wasn’t any life-threatening situation when we got out...”

“Black?”

“I don’t know either.”

“What?”

Yehyeon muttered to himself.

“Has he finally lost his mind?”

We drove back home in Yehyeon’s car.

I drove.

There was no way Yehyeon was in any state to handle it.

Of course, he insisted he was fine. Said he could drive.

But neither Kairos nor I believed him.

Yehyeon had already crushed the Bentley’s door handle.

And then just stared at the broken piece in his hand.

While he was distracted, I slid straight into the driver’s seat. Kairos politely guided Yehyeon to the passenger side.

The Bentley started smoothly.

We made it home without incident.

On the way back, Yehyeon gradually came back to himself. He apologized to Kairos, thanked me, and told me that there had been an increase in unidentified Creatures outside.

The leadership suspected something with near-human intelligence had slipped in.

So I should take care of myself.

With that, Yehyeon headed home.

Watching him stagger off without even saying goodbye, it was obvious he still wasn’t fully recovered.

“He’ll probably be better after some sleep...”

I muttered.

Kairos gave a bitter smile.

“He’s had a rough time too.”

“Anyway, Kai. If you’re not too tired, stop by the cabin for a bit.”

I need to remove the presence suppression as soon as possible.

As if he understood exactly what I meant, Kairos smiled and nodded.