Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Center Core (3)
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A week passed by quickly.
It was a time marked by muscle soreness and adjusting to the new house. Aside from the tearing muscle pain and training that brought tears to my eyes, there was nothing special about the week.
The schedule ended precisely at 6 p.m., but by then, I had no energy left for anything. I staggered through dinner, then buried myself in the beanbag chair, scrolling through my phone to kill time.
When using my phone, I searched for and read posts about Black Badger.
I couldn't read for long because sleep came crashing over me like mad. Still, I learned a fair bit about my boss next door and the organization at his feet.
Supreme Commander Lee Ye-hyeon.
Actual age 78. Physical age 25. A war hero who survived two wars. The one who took down a 10th-tier creature that appeared during the First War.
He rose to power through that feat and had held onto that position ever since. He faced criticism for his unprecedented long term in office, branded a dictator, but he was said to lead the organization without any major scandals or incidents. Society viewed him as something like the icon of Black Badger.
Even on the screen, Ye-hyeon looked strikingly pale and handsome. Online, he was called by various nicknames: Hero of Turbulent Times, Pretty Boy, Vampire.
No matter how much I searched, more articles poured out. Columns claiming Badgers stole the right of ordinary people to die peacefully. Criticisms that no matter how capable, Ye-hyeon was just a mere dictator. Urban legends insisting he held the reins of power in Center Core.
Perhaps because he was such a hot-button topic, personal information was hard to come by no matter how much I searched.
My master had said to ask if I had any questions, but it felt too sensitive to bring up casually. More than that, my master seemed personally close to the Supreme Commander, so I couldn't even dream of asking.
'Maybe ask Ricardo later?'
I doubted he'd give a friendly answer either.
[Black Badger Reclaims Land After 5 Years—Rare Earth Supplies Expected to Increase…]
[Ye-hyeon Maintains Supreme Commander Seat Without Incident]
[Immortal Black Badger: Truly Society's Necessary Evil?]
[Rising Illegal Anti-Aging Procedures—Black Badger's Stance?]
[Creature Appears in Zone 3, Subdued Without Casualties]
[Black Badger Saves 3-Year-Old Child at Cost of Life, Passes at 42]
'Must be exhausting.'
That was the conclusion I reached after six days of monotonous routine. The organization called Black Badger drew criticism and condemnation while also commanding people's admiration. It was obvious that life at the top of such a complicated entity would be utterly draining.
Yoon hadn't exaggerated when he said Black Badger wielded immense influence.
My shady employment… parachute hiring was more accurate? Whatever it was, getting hired through irregular channels into Black Badger made me certain it absolutely could not be discovered. If it got out, the fallout would be too much to handle.
'Ye-hyeon would naturally take a media beating. Gotta be really careful.'
That's how I spent my time. Days of training, a bit of phone scrolling, then sleep.
***
It rained.
It had been raining for the past two days straight.
The sound of rain faintly seeped into the house. The air smelled cool and damp.
Anxious about tomorrow's self-introduction—with nothing I could remember—I lay on the beanbag listening to the rain. My master had brushed off my complaints after training today; Yoon showed no intention of helping even a little.
It wouldn't suddenly get postponed or anything… right?
Boom!
A massive thud came from the door.
Something had slammed hard against the wooden door. Startled, I opened it, and wind and rain poured in.
Far off in the distance, I saw Ami standing there.
"Ami!"
I raised my voice, taking a direct hit of rain to the face.
"What are you doing!"
"My umbrella flew away!"
Ami shouted back as she ran toward the cabin.
Her umbrella must have been what flew in and smacked the cabin door. I pulled my body back, and there it was: the umbrella stuck to the open door like a suction cup. The wind had plastered it to the back of the door.
The little Badger dashed toward the green umbrella.
"My umbrella!"
"I got it. Come in! What with this rain…."
"Aaah!"
Ami clutched her head with her hands and leaped inside to the entryway.
Slam! She yanked the umbrella as she shut the cabin door. The rain, wind, and chill receded in a rush. The patter of rain grew faint.
Cool silence returned to the cabin.
Ami looked up at me, gripping her seaweed-like wet hair with both hands.
"Thanks."
"You're soaked. Hold on. I'll get you a towel."
"You really control your strength well."
She said something I couldn't quite follow.
Her round eyes looked straight up at me. Rather than ask questions, I headed to the bathroom and fetched a dry towel. Ami reached out with both arms and took the fluffy towel.
Ami rubbed her hair while standing at the entryway door.
"Come inside."
"Nah, I'm all wet."
"That's why you should come in. I'll lend you some clothes."
"My house is right there, so it's fine."
That was true enough.
The house across from the cabin housed Ye-hyeon, Choi Yoon, and Choi Ami. While I'd been holed up here, Ami had stopped by now and then to check if I needed anything.
She was truly a kind person.
I brought Ami a jacket.
Ami flashed a grin up at me. She looked so cheeky when she smiled.
She rubbed the ends of her hair with the towel.
"They say a typhoon's coming."
"Yeah. It's been raining nonstop, and it feels like it's getting worse…."
"It's not a natural typhoon."
Huh?
Ami saw my blank face and laughed brightly, like a child.
"It's a climate-altering creature. I had my suspicions from when the typhoon formed, but HQ scientists confirmed it this time. It's heading this way."
"…There are creatures like that?"
And why here of all places?
The small kitchen window rattled in the wind. The sound of rain and the shaking window filled the dim cabin.
"Yeah. Creatures come in all shapes and sizes. We lump everything pouring out of portals under the term 'creature,' so they're inconsistent. Remember those ones we ran into last time? Some look weird like that, and others, like the butterfly at the eye of this typhoon."
"Butterfly?"
"Yeah. It looks like a massive butterfly."
"…How do you catch that?"
"Usually we don't. It's tricky to catch, and the damage isn't huge."
I should search up creatures next week. I thought to myself while listening to Ami. I'd planned to look into the First and Second Wars originally, but studying creatures seemed more urgent.
Ami folded the towel in half.
"But this time, I think we have to catch it."
"It's coming here?"
"Yeah."
Well, yeah. With the Supreme Commander living right across the street, they couldn't just let a creature head this way.
I snatched the folded towel from Ami. I refused her offer to wash it and return it.
Ami stared as I placed the wet towel atop the shoe cabinet.
"Have you ever accidentally broken stuff inside the house?"
What kind of question was that?
I looked down at my senior in confusion.
"Uh… no."
"Impressive. Controlling your strength isn't easy."
Ami pointed at the door I'd just slammed shut with a bang!
"Especially actions like that—moving hastily like that—most people fail to control their strength. Not just rookies; even fifth-year Badgers slip up sometimes. It takes ten years after getting the Enhanced Body implant to mostly avoid mistakes."
"Is that so? I haven't really thought about it…."
"Yeah. Oppa said so."
Yoon?
I felt my eyes widen. It was inevitable—Yoon hadn't given me any other feedback all week.
Just a ton of nagging about shooting.
Ami grinned slyly.
"He said you're definitely handling a pristine Enhanced Body without any strength control slips. Like you've lived with it for twenty years, no trouble at all."
"Thanks. That's praise, right?"
"Good words! Though Yoon Oppa was just stating objective facts."
Yeah, he wasn't the type to praise anyway.
As I reflected on the week with my master, Ami's voice came from below.
"Isn't it amazing?"
What? Me?
Rattle rattle rattle! A huge noise stole our attention. The window shook violently. And amid the fierce rain, the faint sound of an engine mixed in.
Color bloomed on Ami's face.
"Ye-hyeon Oppa!"
Supreme Commander?
"Back from the trip, I guess! Well, he did say he'd attend your introduction if possible, Hilde."
Please, no.
Why would the highest-ranking person in the organization want to watch the lowest newbie's self-introduction? In this world, someone this famous? As Ami said, someone so busy even housemates rarely saw his face?
Ami grabbed the entryway doorknob and looked up at me.
"Thanks for grabbing the umbrella and giving me the towel. I'm heading out now."
"Ah, sure! Take care. It's raining…."
"It's right here? If you open the door, the rain'll pour in again. Stay inside."
"No, I want to greet the Commander too."
I stretched my arm past Ami's shoulder and grabbed the knob.
Ami thanked me and took hold of the green umbrella. I opened the door the moment my senior unfurled it.
Outside air rushed in. Rain lashed into the entryway. Wind scent, pouring rain limiting visibility in front of the house.
Across the street, in front of their house, stood a sleek black luxury car.
"Ye-hyeon Oppa!"
Ami ran toward the man in the black suit stepping out of the car.
"Trip over?"
Ye-hyeon opened a black umbrella.
The strikingly pale man smiled at the running Ami. He spoke softly to her. I missed my chance to greet and just stared at them.
Just like on the screen.
I'd learned a lot about him, but knowing more only made me more uncomfortable….
Ye-hyeon met my eyes.
He smiled faintly at me too. Long, large eyes crinkling. I bobbed my head in a hasty bow. The rain was so loud anyway, he probably couldn't hear.
Ye-hyeon gestured for me to close the door.
As I nodded and shut it, I lip-read what Ye-hyeon mouthed.
'See you tomorrow.'
Wow. My dinner's coming back up from the pressure.
***
Having watched Hilde enter the cabin, Ye-hyeon and Ami turned away.
The rain grew distant as the entryway door closed.
Ye-hyeon folded his umbrella and leaned it against the shoe cabinet, then took off his shoes. Ami folded her green umbrella and removed her sopping-wet shoes.
As the two dawdled in the entryway, Yoon walked out from inside.
"You're back."
"Yeah."
Ye-hyeon answered readily, smiling at Yoon.
Then he placed a light hand on Ami's shoulder.
"Ami, go wash up first."
"I'm using the upstairs bathroom, so it's fine!"
"Why are you so soaked?"
"Umbrella flew off in the typhoon."
Yoon snorted dismissively at Ami's nonchalant reply.
Ami breezily ignored her blood brother's gruff attitude. She peeled off her rain-soaked socks and stepped barefoot into the living room. She frowned at the wet socks, groaning.
Ye-hyeon, standing beside her, brushed raindrops from his shoulders.
Yoon's gaze shifted to Ye-hyeon.
"Wasn't it supposed to be tomorrow?"
"Yeah. But Hilde's official introduction is tomorrow, so I came back a day early."
"For that?"
Yoon raised one eyebrow.
Ye-hyeon slipped off his black jacket with a faint smile.
"Killing two birds with one stone. The trip wrapped up early too…. How's Hilde? Your first deputy handler."
"The human who fell out of the portal first."
Yoon's retort was cold.
Ami looked up at Yoon, clutching her wet socks. Her round, dark eyes followed her blood kin's dry ones.
Ye-hyeon regarded Yoon with an inscrutable expression before speaking.
"Not wrong. But first, I'd like your objective assessment."
"He's got the makings to exceed average Badger if properly trained. Definitely talented in athletics. Decent focus, no fear to speak of. Persistent too."
"All praise."
Ami, who had been watching her brother blankly, broke into a grin.
Her face lit up as if she'd received the praise herself.
"Good! I was worried he might not adapt since he's such a good kid!"
"How do you know if he's good or not. How much have you even seen."
"He's a good kid."
When Yoon pointed it out dryly, Ye-hyeon declared softly but firmly.
He tugged at his navy tie with his pale, long hand.
"Yoon. Hilde's a naturally kind kid, so even if he doesn't click with you, treat him well. You do like good people, after all."
"You gotta know what kind of guy he is. Just look at this typhoon."
Yoon rolled his eyes, one hand jammed in his pocket. His dry gaze flicked to the window for a moment, then back.
In the natural silence that settled, Yoon spoke.
"That guy's the one drawing in the creature."
The man's low voice echoed in the calm, spacious house.
"And you're acting like it's nothing even though you know all this."
Ye-hyeon met Yoon's eyes wordlessly.
Rain battered the windows. The downpour showed no sign of letting up. Eerie air permeated the sleek house as silence fell. A silence born of waiting for the superior's reply.
Ye-hyeon, staring at Yoon with an inscrutable face, lowered his eyelids.
The Supreme Commander broke the silence with his husky voice.
"I might regret my choice later."
The siblings kept silent at the near-mumble.
Ye-hyeon, lost in thought and staring at the floor, lifted his head after a moment.
The man closed his eyes with a gentler expression than when seated in office.
"I'm sleepy. Only got three hours last night."
"Go wash up and sleep. Give me your clothes and tie. Ami, you too—go wash."
"Yep."
The three dispersed. The two from outside headed to the bathrooms, and Yoon went to his room with Ye-hyeon's clothes draped over his arm.
Having spent long years with Ye-hyeon, they knew sometimes ignorance was bliss. That when Ye-hyeon didn't explain, he had his reasons. That pressing for answers wouldn't yield what they wanted—and knowing the truth could drag them into headaches.
The siblings swallowed their surging doubts.
***
D-Day.
I headed to the auditorium for my self-introduction.