Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Self-Introduction (1)
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Actually, they said I didn't have to say much.
Joo would handle most of the explanation. I'd just give a brief introduction, then he'd take the mic again and wrap things up. It wouldn't take long, and they definitely wouldn't make me sing or anything. Yoon would be standing right beside me, too....
My mind settled a bit.
That didn't unknot my stomach, though.
"Shall we go in?"
Joo smiled faintly as he looked at me.
Since I'd officially become a Black Badger (through some backdoor means), he was my superior now, too. Ever since that day, he'd been calling me casually.
"It's not time yet, but we can watch our kids coming into the auditorium. Let's head in and wait."
"...Should we?"
"Of course! Come on, come on."
Joo pushed my back.
The stage was dimly lit, with vast rows of seats stretching out. I stepped onto it with a heavy heart.
Murmurs filled the auditorium. The sounds of chairs being set down, people settling in, footsteps—all mixed together.
Joo spoke from behind me in a clear voice.
"Know anyone?"
I stood in the shadow of the curtain at the edge of the stage and scanned the seats.
People of all sorts streamed in—every race, hair color, eye color, height, incredibly diverse. The senior Black Badgers glanced my way as they took their seats.
I tried my best to pretend I didn't notice the piercing stares.
I swept my gaze over the seats, searching for familiar faces.
There weren't many....
"Ricardo."
"Oh, right—Ricardo was your watcher, wasn't he?"
I nodded without taking my eyes off Ricardo as he entered the auditorium.
He was wearing another impeccably stylish pair of glasses today. A sleek black coat and suit. That habitual smile tugging at his lips.
He was chatting with a man in a purple coat as they walked in. The purple-coated man was as tall as Ricardo, but I didn't recognize him.
The next person to enter looked familiar, though.
Curly-haired Lo was coming in with a group of people. He was right in the middle of them. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but he was laughing loudly and boisterously as they headed toward the stage.
I stared blankly as he approached, and our eyes met.
The senior who'd asked if I had anything to eat when we first met raised one hand high.
"Hey! Rookie!"
All eyes turned to us.
"Long time no see! You doing okay?"
"Ah, yes. Thanks to you...."
"You're right across from Ye-hyeon's place, right?"
Lo grinned at me from below the stage.
The Badgers around him widened their eyes. Big, burly guys who looked like they hadn't shaved in days stared at me with eyes round as buttons.
I had no idea what exactly shocked them, but they all seemed surprised.
Before I could give an awkward reply, Lo cut in.
"Poor bastard! How'd your life end up so wild?"
It's not that unfortunate. I'm quite satisfied with my little cabin, sir.
"Anyway, do your intro well!"
Lo didn't wait for my response. He wrapped up on his own, waved his hand dismissively, and turned away.
The Badgers surrounding him reluctantly looked away from me.
They all took seats next to Lo one by one.
They were all strangers to me. I wanted to know their names, but there were too many to ask Joo to introduce them one by one.
There'd be a chance to exchange names later....
A tired voice came from right below the stage.
"Rookie."
The low voice startled me into flinching.
"Self-intro today, right?"
It was Lee Ho-chang.
The senior I'd briefly spoken to while catching that mushroom.
He looked tired today, too. The dark circles under his eyes were still there. Instead of the gray anorak, he wore a navy windbreaker.
He always gave off the vibe of an overworked office worker. And yet, he felt oddly comfortable somehow. Even though I'd only seen him that one day.
I greeted him with a smile.
"Yes. Long time no see, sir."
"Just call me Ho-chang. 'Sir' is too much."
"Ah, got it. Understood."
"Do good."
Lee Ho-chang drawled.
"It's no big deal, so don't be nervous."
He said his piece and shuffled off toward the seats.
People tossed light greetings his way. He returned them tiredly and plopped down at the edge of the seats. Even his slouch screamed exhaustion.
I want to brew him some tonic.
"You exchange names with Ho-chang?"
The HR Director poked his head out.
I met his eyes and nodded.
"Yes. We crossed paths briefly while catching mushrooms. Ricardo introduced us."
"Good. He's a good kid. Came in through open recruitment about ten years ago and's been solid ever since. Always tired, but that's just 'cause his energy's lower than most."
Sure seems that way. It was like that last time, too.
I looked away from Ho-chang, who had his eyes closed, and scanned the auditorium.
The vast seats were nearly full. I could hear whispers as people glanced my way.
This is overwhelming. Good thing I skipped lunch.
I tried not to listen to their murmurs, but it didn't work. Snippets drifted over.
Didn't we skip rookie selection this time?
Nah, this is a special case—Supreme Commander's orders to assemble us.
He's handsome, right?
Is that white hair dyed?
The Badgers pretended not to stare while eyeing me up. Plenty just gawked openly.
"Hilde!"
I turned at the bright voice and immediately lit up.
"Ami!"
She waved wildly as she headed to the front row.
I'm really glad to see her.
I beamed at the smiling senior.
"You came!"
"Of course!"
Ami stopped right in front of the stage and grinned.
"It's really no big deal—don't stress!"
The encouraging senior glanced around for a seat.
People called out to her as she turned her head this way and that.
She replied to their greetings and ambled off to an empty spot. Insisting she wanted the front, she claimed a seat in the first row.
Even after sitting, people kept greeting her nonstop.
She's popular.
Makes sense.
As I thought that, Joo spoke up.
"Five minutes till start."
My stomach knotted tighter.
"You know Shu, right?"
Shu?
I turned questioningly, and Joo chuckled, nodding toward her. Following his gaze, I spotted a familiar face. A woman with yellow bobbed hair dyed pink at the tips.
She'd been there when I first arrived, but we'd never spoken.
She had something like a skateboard tucked under her arm as she walked in.
I nodded, and Joo explained readily.
"Shu Diamond. She's basically your immediate senior."
Oh.... They say the one right above you is the scariest.
"Introduce yourselves later. Here comes Ye-hyeon."
He showed up after all.
What could someone as busy as him possibly want with a nobody like me?
Ye-hyeon was entering the auditorium with Sca.
Seeing Sca's neat braids reminded me of him bursting out barefoot to save me.
The dazzling backlight that had enveloped him.
Everyone's eyes snapped to them, then scattered. The rowdy Badgers shut up instantly.
Ye-hyeon sat in the very back row with Sca and another man.
I could see the blonde woman in the row right in front of him tense up. Probably regretting her seat choice.
Meanwhile, Ricardo—legs crossed in the front row—draped an arm over the backrest and grinned at the command staff. Ye-hyeon replied softly to whatever cheeky remark he made. Sca seemed to gruffly snap back.
The guy next to Ricardo turned slightly and gave a silent nod to the command staff.
I saw Ye-hyeon smile faintly and nod back.
"You came a day early?"
I heard Joo ask Yoon.
"Cut your business trip short by a day. Did you ask him to, Yoon?"
Yoon, arms crossed and leaning against the wall, narrowed his eyes.
He stared at the HR Director with dry eyes. Yoon was the person I'd spent the most time with since arriving, but I still couldn't read his thoughts.
Like a window rattling in the wind.
Yoon replied in a parched voice.
"You think he'd listen just 'cause I asked?"
"True. You always lose to Ye-hyeon anyway."
"He's got no give when it's official business. Except in exceptional cases like yours."
"Me?"
Joo asked innocently.
"Why me?"
His eyes were pure.
But I strongly sensed he understood Yoon perfectly and was just pretending not to. A gut feeling that I was witnessing peak two-facedness.
Yoon seemed to think the same; he stared at the HR Director with exasperated eyes.
"Time's up."
He uncrossed his arms and stepped forward.
"Let's start."
"Guess so."
Joo smiled brightly, then turned.
My heart, which had calmed, started racing again. Joo looked at me with a friendly smile and patted my shoulder. Like, don't worry. Then he turned and walked to center stage.
A mic was set up there.
A podium and a mic on it.
"Ah."
Joo's voice echoed through the auditorium.
People straightened up and turned to him.
"Ah, ah. Can you hear me? Thanks for coming out in this lousy weather."
The HR Director smiled refreshingly, like petals fluttering in the breeze.
Silence fell over the auditorium. Only the patter of rain through tiny windows and the creak of chairs as people adjusted filled the space.
The house lights dimmed. Spotlights hit the stage.
On the three of us standing there. HR Director, Yoon. And me.
A hush of anticipation.
The expectant silence broke with Joo's clear voice.
"Alright, time to introduce the rookie. Hildebert Talib. Come to the podium."
I let out a deep breath and walked forward.
"For now, let's just do names and a quick greeting?"
Joo handed me the mic.
All eyes turned to me.
I tried to stay calm. According to the HR Director before we entered, the other rookies had done self-intros too. First time anyone's assembled everyone on Supreme Commander's orders for one like me, though....
I turned my gaze to the audience.
And bowed politely.
"Hello. I'm Hildebert Talib."