Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: A Piece of Affection (2)
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“Then I’m first?”
Ami asked.
I nodded without a word.
A smile bloomed on Ami’s face. It was the kind of smile she showed after eating something satisfying. Her eyes curved into lines like mountains, and the corners of her mouth stretched to her cheeks.
Yoon let out a hollow chuckle.
“You that happy about it?”
“Yeah.”
Ami nodded.
But that wasn’t the point I was trying to make.
What I wanted to convey was to be careful. I wasn’t sure if my intent had gotten through to Ricardo properly.
I glanced at Ricardo, but I couldn’t read his thoughts.
He wore a cryptic expression, and the others didn’t seem to take my concern all that seriously.
The green-eyed senior smirked and gave this kind of response.
“This is the first warning like this I’ve heard since living in Italy~…. Well, it’s not a big deal, so I’ll watch out on the night roads~.”
I wanted them to take it seriously.
In fact, they didn’t seem to fully believe my speculation either.
But the practical, busy people didn’t linger in the hospital room long. They’d already spent a lot of time sitting there waiting for us.
“Commander.”
As everyone prepared to leave, I cautiously broached the subject.
“Do you have a moment? There’s something I need to tell you.”
Ye-hyeon’s eyes widened.
I looked troubled at his large eyes.
The moment Ye-hyeon caught my gaze, he quickly replied.
“Of course. What’s up?”
We decided to talk on the way back to the cabin in the car.
It was Yoon’s suggestion. He planned to stay longer in Ami’s room. So, somewhat unexpectedly, I ended up driving Ye-hyeon’s car.
We immediately got daily insurance and headed to the underground parking lot.
Ye-hyeon narrowed his eyes and watched me closely.
“What did Yoon do to you?”
I gave an awkward smile as I climbed into the driver’s seat.
“I’ll tell you everything, including that.”
I started the car.
There were hardly any vehicles on the early morning roads. As soon as the Bentley hit the highway, it smoothly began autonomous driving. The moment I confirmed we had a good space for conversation, I let out a long breath.
Better to just get it over with quickly.
Aware of his piercing gaze, I finally spoke with difficulty.
After I finished, Ye-hyeon stayed silent for a while.
Then he spoke in a voice full of astonishment.
“You buried the entire mansion?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah….”
“Yoon threw a grenade in, and you got hit by the shrapnel?”
“Yes. Of course, most of the shrapnel was blocked….”
But that wasn’t what I was trying to say.
Why did it feel like no one was picking up on my point today?
Was my way of communicating off? As I pondered that, Ye-hyeon said,
“You think you missed the key point.”
“Huh? Well…. Yeah, actually.”
“It’s fine.”
Ye-hyeon looked at the road stretching out beyond the windshield.
“You don’t need to feel that guilty. What’s done is done. You didn’t mean to see it.”
His voice was subdued.
I bit my lip. I still didn’t know what more to say.
I’d accidentally glimpsed others’ pasts a few times before. Like with Kudo, or through creature abilities or magic revealing someone’s history. Even then, I’d trembled with guilt and regret.
But not as heavily as now.
Back then….
“I should’ve shown interest in Lee Seung-hyun at least once.”
Did he have the baby okay?
Was it growing up well? Wasn’t it uncomfortable having me hold it like that? I should’ve at least asked something polite like that. Even one word might have changed everything.
At the very least, he wouldn’t have suffered abuse from those criminals.
He could distinguish between good squad members and bad ones, after all.
“You’re not feeling guilty about that, are you?”
I turned at Ye-hyeon’s incredulous voice.
His pale face, lit by the streetlights, came into view.
“You don’t think talking to Father would’ve prevented everything, do you?”
“It might actually have.”
“No way Father would’ve answered honestly, no matter what you asked.”
The firm reply came back.
“He’d have just given some formal ‘We’re raising him well’ answer.”
Yeah, probably.
If I’d asked formally, I would’ve been satisfied with that and moved on.
But if I’d shown real interest, things would’ve been different. That much was certain.
Even a tiny bit of attention would’ve sufficed. No one would’ve dared abuse a kid I cared about. Those types had a sixth sense for spotting neglected children.
He’d read my mind.
“Then play the parent role now.”
I nearly slammed on the brakes.
I barely regained my composure and eased off the pressure on the pedal.
When I widened my eyes and turned, Ye-hyeon gave a faint smile.
“Don’t want to?”
“No….”
“Then do it.”
He let a strange smile grow.
His gaze drifted out the window. Maintaining the smile, he muttered as if to himself.
“I can’t leave in peace with Daeja here.”
I blinked.
I couldn’t grasp exactly what his mutter meant.
The atmosphere was completely different, but for some reason, it reminded me of the prince I’d once served.
I felt like I’d heard something similar from him. It was too long ago to remember precisely.
I didn’t respond to Ye-hyeon’s mutter. I silently watched the night view as he dozed off against the headrest.
Regretting the missed opportunity.
After parking, I spotted the familiar pills in the car’s console box, doubling my self-reproach.
I buried my face in the cabin’s beanbag and didn’t move for a long time.
***
When I woke up, a delivery had arrived.
[The games. Sorry I couldn’t deliver them myself.]
This guy still has some business ethics.
Satisfied, I opened the package. The games were securely packed.
I still hadn’t found the Easter egg in K.
I’d scoured the game like a madman, so maybe external factors were the hint now. Like the game’s release year or the cartridge name. I’d check later.
I’d been too fixated on one game, stifling fresh ideas.
Better try something else first.
I picked up one game from the box.
From I.
Who’s I?
I headed to the TV to play it.
The mission outside the Core was scheduled for three days later.
It was my first mission with TF. We’d go beyond B Zone into A Zone, they said. Stepping foot in a Black Badger untouched area for the first time.
Kyle and Sequoia’s words lingered, but staying in the Core longer wouldn’t make things better.
I’d have Yoon look into I’s name too.
As I sat in front of the TV, my phone rang.
“Tom?”
[Hilde.]
Strange voice.
[You at home?]
I stared blankly at the floor for a moment.
To pick up sounds from the receiver. He wasn’t alone. Voices carried over.
Murmuring conversations among themselves.
The seniors’ rowdy voices from behind Tom caught my sharp hearing.
[Why ask his schedule? Just tell him to come out!]
Suppressing the urge to sigh, I set the game cartridge on the table.
“I’m home. Someone calling me?”
[If you’re busy, you can say so.]
“Aren’t the seniors calling me?”
I smiled faintly and looked for clothes to wear out.
“Not busy. Where to?”
The recruit on the other end seemed to hold back a sigh. I sensed his annoyance in the silence and chuckled softly.
This guy’s got some guts.
[Old dorm annex gym.]
Good choice of empty spot.
I’d been under really good seniors so far. I’d dealt with Dawson, but Yoon shielded me from real trouble. Jason Tvein picked fights, but he wasn’t truly interested in us.
This was my first time with seniors so earnestly hazing a newbie.
Or was that senior Dawson?
“But no people is good for me too.”
Muttering to myself, I stepped out of the cabin.
***
But is Hesse there?
If Hesse was, he’d have grabbed the collar already.
Thinking that, I descended to the basement of the old dorm annex and frowned at the scene awaiting me.
The musty gym. In the green-floored training area, four or five unfamiliar seniors were gathered.
And in front of them, two recruits stood side by side in penalty stance.
Suppressing a leaking chuckle, I closed the gym door.
Outside noise vanished.
With the outside and gym sealed off, I brightly greeted them.
“Sorry I’m late, seniors. Rookie Hildebert Talib.”
“Why greet like you don’t get it.”
Someone said.
“Go stand next to them and plant your head.”
Better play along for now.
Grinning, I walked to the recruits’ side. They’d perfectly timed when all three of us were in the Core.
Seriously dedicated to pointless hazing.
I went next to Tom and dropped into push-up position.
Tom muttered lowly.
“Sorry.”
I nudged his arm with my elbow to signal it was fine.
With my years in the military, this didn’t even annoy me anymore. But if they dragged my recruits into it over some grudge against me, that’d piss me off.
“Newbie.”
Anyone could tell it was calling me.
“Yes.”
“What’s his name.”
Big trouble.
I didn’t know all these seniors’ names here.
All first-timers, no way to know. Of course, excuses wouldn’t fly, so I politely replied.
“Sorry.”
Smack!
My legs buckled.
I quickly corrected my crumbling posture. Heavy pain pooling in the hit spot.
Brings back memories.
“His name.”
“Sorry.”
Smack!
That many times, one per person.
I saw Hesse clenching his fist. Lazily fixing my posture, I checked the recruits’ states.
They were visibly swallowing their anger.
How long would they take this?
Honestly, still tolerable so far. I was surprised it wasn’t worse than expected. Was I desensitized to human rights, judging by society’s class standards?
Still manageable though?
“Up.”
“Up.”
I rose.
“Push-ups.”
After dozens of repetitions, the seniors lined us up side by side.
We at ease and stared forward.
The one in the middle pointed at me with his chin.
“What were you doing during the reclamation battle.”
“Fighting.”
“Where.”
“Don’t remember the exact location.”
“Look at this answer.”
Someone scoffed and jumped in.
“Don’t even know your own assignment? Did you even do the mission? Why’s no one remembering where you were?”
“Ask Ami, Ricardo, or Sword Senior. They’ll tell you.”
I explained calmly.
Though they wouldn’t buy it.
“And midway, I was in the medical tent injured. Sorry.”
A couple seniors made odd noises.
Strange mix of scorn and acceptance.
Someone snickered and said,
“Forgot he’s half-baked.”
“Why accept a liability like this as official Badger.”
“Hey. Think others don’t get hurt, so he knows two days of hell?”
The middle one walked up and patted my cheek.
Do it harder. I kept a blank face, muttering inwardly. Slap it full force for a handprint.
I don’t bruise easy, so a handprint’s solid evidence.
But disappointingly, the senior didn’t slap my cheek.
Instead, he grabbed my jaw and yanked me toward him.
“Looking like a mutant.”
Eyes are unusual, yeah.
“Didn’t your parents abandon you over this?”
Smack!
No!
Hesse slapped the senior’s face.