Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Master (4)
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There was no way getting pummeled by mushroom tentacles for three straight hours could be normal.
I watched with weary eyes as Ami started shaking Yoon's body vigorously. Yoon looked down at his sister without changing expression.
"She's fine. Just tired."
Ami snapped at his flat tone.
"What if she gets PTSD or something! I'm telling Ye-hyeon oppa and Mr. Joo!"
As expected, Ami was the only one I could count on.
Just as I was getting emotional, Riccardo approached.
"You okay~?"
"Ah. Yes, I'm fine."
I took in the man standing beside me and the strangers who looked thoroughly shocked.
Riccardo scanned me up and down without losing his smile.
"You look like a mess...."
"I was even messier a few minutes ago. She went berserk all by herself just to take down that one."
"Scary~?"
"More like annoying."
"Really? Looks like you've got talent~."
Riccardo grinned widely.
On second thought, this guy was inscrutable in a different way from my master. I couldn't tell if compliments like that were sarcastic or sincere.
Not wanting to overthink it, I nodded curtly.
"Thanks for the praise."
"Sure~. So, what do you think? You've got a lifetime of this ahead.... Think you can handle it~?"
Riccardo's question rang clear.
I felt everyone's eyes on me. There was weight behind it. My first impression of him as an asshole wasn't off-base.
I met his gaze and answered slowly.
"Not sure."
Riccardo watched me without dropping his smile.
"No point guessing now anyway. Besides, I didn't have many options, so I don't think I'll regret this choice."
I realized the stares pouring in as I replied seriously.
Crap. I should've just said, 'Yes, I'm good! I'll work hard, senior!'
As I tried to smooth it over with an awkward smile, the wide-eyed man who'd been staring jumped in.
"This the famous rookie?"
Word had already spread?
"Yeah! Hildebert Talib!"
"But didn't she just get officially assigned today?"
"Yep!"
"And she's already living here without any issues?"
I didn't follow what the man was saying.
I observed the stranger with wide eyes. He looked tired somehow. His skin was tanned like he'd spent time in the sun, with a light mustache under his nose. Black pants that looked comfy like hiking gear and a gray anorak. He seemed early to mid-thirties at a glance.
He let out his shock in his voice.
"It should take at least three months to adjust to the body, right?"
"Fair point. She's a special case...."
"And she took down this thing? A real creature? Less than a day after starting official duties? Don't rookies usually not face creatures until six months in?"
"That's entirely Yoon oppa's fault."
Ami pointed out.
The stranger's gaze shifted to Yoon. His face held undisguised bewilderment. But Yoon just met it without blinking.
"No harm done, so quit making a fuss. She handled it fine without my help, and her head's on straight."
"No, Senior Yoon."
The man called out to Yoon in confusion.
Yoon ignored him. Instead, Riccardo placed a hand on the man's shoulder and looked at me.
"You two haven't introduced yourselves yet, right~?"
I nodded awkwardly.
"Yes."
"Lee Ho-chang. Your senior~. Ho-chang, this is the famous rookie Hildebert Talib."
"Nice to meet you. Looking forward to working with you."
"Uh? Oh."
Lee Ho-chang, who'd been staring at Yoon, turned to me and replied.
He stared right through me before speaking.
"But seriously, how did you...."
"Oh! Hilde's doing her intro next week!"
That's when she'll explain her quirks! Ami's bright voice echoed through the training hall.
As the male seniors turned their heads, I panicked.
What the hell is this now?
"But HR Director's handling most of the explanation. So no need for those faces."
"But don't I have to say a few words too?"
"Yeah."
Ugh.
As I despaired, Riccardo tilted his head.
"When? I haven't heard anything official."
"Probably next Friday!"
Crazy. One week left.
"It's official? HR Director's call?"
"Supreme Commander's orders. All available Badgers are supposed to attend if they can."
"The Supreme Commander?"
Lee Ho-chang freaked out. So did I. This could get bad. My memories were gone, but some weird gut feeling lingered. The higher-ups getting involved never ended well. I must've had some office experience in my past life. That's why I was trembling in fear like this.
Maybe I should just fight another mushroom.
"Do I have to go?"
Yoon asked dryly.
"Of course! You're Hilde's master."
"Yoon's her master?!"
Lee Ho-chang was shocked again.
Ami nodded with wide eyes. Riccardo watched the man's jaw drop with delight.
Lee Ho-chang looked back and forth between dryly standing Yoon and me before asking.
In a dazed voice.
"You okay?"
I had to answer this right.
I mustered all my strength for a bright smile.
"Yes! He's treating me great."
"Wrong. She's already watching oppa's mood."
"Ah~.... How's she this attached after just a few hours...."
"What was HR Director thinking?"
Believe me!
Or at least pretend to, you guys. Can't you see I'm trying to impress this emotionless master?
But contrary to expectations, Yoon didn't seem offended.
He stood there with arms crossed, sullenly. When our eyes met, he jerked his chin.
"Go shower over there. Grab fresh workout clothes from that basket."
"Ah, yes."
"Oppa. You're buying Hilde dinner, right?"
"She'd probably rather eat alone."
"Hilde has no money!"
Harsh.
But where was "over there"? I turned to find the clothes, and Riccardo and Lee Ho-chang both pointed to the same spot. I spotted the basket at the end of their fingers. It was by the left side of the firmly shut training hall door. I hadn't noticed.
I bowed in thanks, then hesitated briefly.
Ami, who'd been grabbing her brother's collar, turned her head and smiled sweetly.
"Out the shower room, right side! You'll see it right away. Hurry up and shower."
"Yes. Excuse me for a bit."
"Good work~."
Riccardo wiggled his fingers.
Lee Ho-chang nodded and scanned me over.
"You look pretty okay for someone who went through that. No need for the hospital?"
"Ah. I'm fine. All good now."
I smiled awkwardly, bowed, and turned. Dragging my heavy, sore legs, I headed for the door.
From behind came Ami's scolding of her brother. Didn't you bring a normal creature? Oppa! That thing's poisonous! Neutralizing it doesn't make it okay!
Thud thud thud.
Pretending not to hear the heavy punches, I grabbed the largest size clothes from the basket and fled the training hall without looking back.
The sun had set, giving the pale hallway a dusky evening glow leaking in.
Hungry. Hurry up, shower, dinner. Thinking that, I headed to the showers.
***
I had dinner with my master.
Unable to recall what food I liked, I scored some pricey beef that anyone would enjoy. We took his car to the high-end steakhouse. Following his brisk stride, I saw the black car and gaped slightly at the spotless luxury brand.
This is a super expensive brand.
"The car's.... impressive."
"Remember the brand?"
Yoon asked as he got in the driver's seat.
"Lamborghini."
"Guess you are human after all."
"....Didn't I look human?"
"Not sure if you're a normal human."
He said flatly and started the car.
The pitch-black car glided smoothly away. Even without him touching the wheel, it drove cleanly out of the underground lot.
"Your recovery's weak, but adapting to the Enhanced Body unharmed is freaky."
"....Freaky, huh."
"Guess we'll have to check it out later."
Yoon said something very odd.
....Check what out?
What? How? Questions bubbled up, but I held them back. Didn't want confirmation on what I suspected.
Instead, I forced a smile.
"As you can see, I'm harmless enough to get beaten by a mushroom."
"We'll see."
Yoon didn't look away.
"You don't even know what you were."
"....Yes."
"You're adapting well."
His low voice pointed it out, devoid of emotion.
"Good attitude."
Over dinner at the restaurant, he gave a brief rundown. Tomorrow's schedule, Black Badger rookie training, etc. Normal rookies get six months to adjust to the Enhanced Body. But weirdly, I was already adapted, so no need to worry. They'd proceed assuming adaptation complete.
"Tons to teach, but not everyone has the stamina to charge like that for three hours straight. A few reactions while charging didn't look rookie-level either."
"My reactions?"
"Couple of physical ones."
What reactions had I shown?
No point dwelling; no answers there. All I remembered was the wriggling tentacles, the massive mushroom base, and its weird smell.
But master didn't elaborate and changed topics.
"Just wing the intro. No precedent, so nothing special from me."
"Isn't it standard for rookies?"
"HR Director does rent the auditorium for seniors to meet them. But calling every available Badger on Supreme Commander's orders? First time."
My stomach twisted at that.
Yoon added something more troubling.
"Seems Ye-hyeon is dead set on it."
Ugh.
It sounded worse the more I heard, but unavoidable. Couldn't prepare right now anyway, so I shoved the upcoming intro to the back of my mind.
After dinner, we took his car back to HQ.
At his order to grab my stuff, I dashed up to the break room, shoved everything into the bag I'd left, and came down.
Didn't forget the medicine packet from the shower before the creature dragged me off.
In the smooth Lamborghini, to fend off sleep, I showed it to master.
"Someone left this medicine packet in the shower. Know whose it is?"
First time seeing master's surprised face.
He turned, glanced indifferently at the packet I held out, and his eyes widened slightly.
Not dramatic like others, but definitely faint surprise.
The surprise shifted to a weary, annoyed expression.
He let out a long sigh and took it from my hand.
"I'll pass it on."
To who?
No guts to ask.
Silence settled in the car again.
We sat in quiet until we arrived.
My sweet home.
I gaped at the cabin master gave me for free.