Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Kairos (4)
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I was out of commission for a while.
It was even more shocking because it was Kairos of all people crying. He was one of the toughest guys I knew. His mind was as steel-solid as Ska Owen's.
So I wandered around, unable to comfort him, and let out a cough.
Fortunately, that seemed to snap him out of it. He laid me back down on the bed, cleared away the bowl I'd emptied, and nagged me to finish my medicine.
Even this felt strangely disconcerting.
As far as I could remember, this guy had no sense of daily life.
He was the type who got hopped up on adrenaline and monsters, suddenly exploding into action at odd times.
"Sorry to bring it up late, but did you ever get the blue flu?"
"Ah, so it's the blue flu?"
When I stubbornly refused to lie down, Kairos came back with some warm tea and relaxed his face.
He handed me the cup, crossed his arms, and flashed a grin.
"I got it once before! It hit right during tournament season, so I remember suffering through it. You'll have a rough time recovering, Boss."
"I'm glad you got it too."
I sighed in relief and sipped the tea he'd given me.
My throat still hurt, but my stomach felt much better.
I kept my mouth shut until I'd drained the large mug.
I needed time to process the information he'd shared.
An empty, chilly space without any possessions. In there, I thought of my kin blending anonymously among the Center Core residents, and those who couldn't blend in so easily because they'd received saintly blessings.
The shattered Youdo.
The one who cracked bit by bit until my appearance caused him to break completely.
"What about the others?"
I set the empty mug down.
Kairos quickly reached out and took it.
"How are the other kin who received eternal life doing?"
"Ah. About that."
What?
The awkward tone made my body stiffen instantly.
Seeing my reaction, Kairos hurriedly added,
"By principle, I can't contact the kin right now. But if something urgent came up, they'd reach out to me first, so no news is good news—they're probably doing fine. The last contact was relaying Youdo's story."
"What? Why?"
The first sentence didn't compute.
I furrowed my brows, and the red-haired man gave an embarrassed smile.
"Once you become famous, you're forbidden from initiating contact with the kin."
Ah.
"It's an internal rule set a long time ago. To protect the kin living in groups. So before the tournament a few years back, I had to wipe all their contacts."
"Was that rule set by Youdo?"
"Yeah."
Kairos gave a bitter smile.
"He set it."
It was just like him.
Meticulous to a fault. It made sense—no incomprehensible rule. Famous immortals would cause all sorts of problems. As ageless Badgers pretending to be human, they could live without fame, but.
Fame changed everything.
But wait, hadn't this guy gotten way too famous, even changing his identity?
"What are you planning to do?"
I looked up and asked. Kairos stared blankly, as if he didn't get it.
"Hm?"
"Aren't you a bit too famous?"
"Ahh."
Kairos dragged out the sound like he'd finally caught on.
Then he flashed that signature dazzling smile.
"I was going to get to that too."
"What is it?"
"There's a brilliant way to solve that headache while serving you, Boss. I'm in the middle of the rookie Badger recruitment process right now."
What?
I stared blankly at him.
Kairos's bright smile widened.
He stood there, arms crossed, looking proud.
I wished he'd explain more instead of just grinning.
From his expression, he thought he'd said enough.
Some things never changed.
I coughed a couple times and narrowed my eyes.
"Badger? Black Badger?"
"Yeah! They're hiring three this time! I applied at the start of the year, and I'm already past the final background check. Passed the physical, written, and interview."
"Background check?"
I was floored, words failing me.
"Final stage? So if you pass, you'll be my junior?"
"If I pass, yeah! If not, I'll apply again next year."
No....
Sure, becoming a Badger would explain the agelessness.
But like this?
"You'll have to fight your kin if you join."
My voice cracked as I spoke.
"You'll have to take down the monsters you love. You knew that and applied anyway?"
"The moment I saw the article about you becoming a Badger, I thought of it."
Huh.
I had no idea how to process this unexpected revelation. I'd hoped they'd live normal lives.
Speechless, I stroked Milk. He was still pure white and fluffy. When I offered my finger, he lunged to bite it—just like always.
I picked up Milk as he clawed at my shirt and kissed his head before saying,
"I think I need to tell the Supreme Commander about this...."
"Do what you want. Like I said, you don't need my permission."
"If you pass, you'll be my junior."
I was already feeling tired.
Not that I disliked it. Suddenly, memories flooded back of cleaning up this guy's messes in the past. Back when Kairos wasn't my subordinate but the era's top star, loyal to the emperor as a Beast Tamer.
His loyalty shifted to me when we came to Earth.
I offered my index finger to the whining Milk—beep-boop, beep-boop.
With Kairos sticking around like he had no schedule, I pulled out one of my piled-up questions.
"So it's fine for them to contact you first? Can you tell me who the blessed kin were reaching out recently?"
"The most recent was Deltei."
My eyes widened.
I jolted upright, and Milk, dangling from my finger, let out a protesting squeak.
I immediately stroked his head gently and apologized.
"Sorry, sorry."
Milk squeaked back.
Kairos laughed ha-ha and suddenly offered him what looked like a biscuit.
"It was right after your article came out. She said not to approach you on my own since Youdo had vanished. Haven't heard since—that was the last. She was doing great before that. Raking in tons of money on YouTube."
"YouTube?"
Another curveball.
Milk's crunching on the biscuit tickled my ears. Kairos, scratching Milk's chin, saw my dumbfounded face and grinned.
"Covering hit songs."
"Hit song covers?"
"No face in the videos, so no need to cut kin contact. Oh, a few years ago she was thinking of starting an ASMR channel since covers got stale. Not sure if she did."
"...What ASMR...."
"She even got debut offers but turned them down."
"...Debut...."
She's thriving.
Adapting better than me.
Kairos gave me Deltei's channel too. I blankly played her videos.
That familiar seductive voice. Videos always showed just below her jaw, but that was enough to know who it was.
Something lightened inside me.
Whatever had been weighing on my gut....
"Igor contacted around the same time too, but true to form, he didn't say where he was."
I looked up at the familiar name.
And remembered the game I was playing. From I. Incredibly, it contained Igor’s messages. I was more shocked at Igor's name than Kairos's.
He'd been under me since my Knight Commander days, but letter-writing wasn't his style.
I turned off the video and leaned my upper body against the bed's headboard.
Ignoring Kairos's beaming face crumpling for a moment, I muttered,
"What do you think he's doing? Private bodyguard? Detective? Something like that, or he'd never adjust."
"Who knows. Not the type to share."
True.
"I'll ask next time he contacts."
I nodded with eyes closed.
The nagging poured in immediately. Lie down and sleep, please. I'm not going anywhere, so rest easy.
I chuckled at the barrage. Never imagined I'd hear nagging from him. I was always the one dishing it out.
But I loved the nostalgic voice, so I let him ramble.
After listening with eyes shut for what felt like too long, I opened them.
"Time to go."
I said softly, and Kairos stared.
"Go? Where?"
"Home."
"In this state? Now?"
"I'm just not great, but I can walk fine. It's the blue flu, not fatal."
"Why not sleep first?"
"Nah. All my clothes are at the cabin...."
"Does it have to be now?"
"I'd prefer it."
"Then hold on."
Kairos suddenly vanished to the first floor.
Noises erupted below, then he reappeared quickly.
He held car keys in one hand.
"I'll drive you."
I didn't refuse.
Knew it wouldn't work anyway. So I said bye to Milk and promised to visit, got out of bed, and followed my kin.
Mindful of me, Kairos walked very slowly.
He glanced back now and then.
His unfamiliar attentiveness made me chuckle softly.
"Why so many trophies?"
The penthouse—lifeless in one corner, cluttered in another—was funny too.
"And why's the house so huge? All blinds down?"
"Ah. Too many paparazzi outside."
The car was underground.
We descended slowly, and the dark garage appeared. Kairos flicked on the lights.
Click. Bright light revealed the sports cars.
My eyes widened.
The lineup of sleek sports cars gleamed.
Rows of luxury rides. I let out a hollow laugh, inspecting them. Totally unlike Yoon's taste. He liked pitch black, matte, simple.
But Kairos's were glossy black or customized, red, yellow, blue.
Coughing lightly as I browsed, Kairos flung open the passenger door of a red sports car.
"Get in, Boss."
"No tamer ride?"
"Had one, but it's in the shop."
I climbed into the red sports car.
Didn't even check the brand. Dragged my weary body in, sat shotgun, and closed my eyes.
Need to reply to the seniors who'd contacted me.
Once home.
Wherever this is, it's Center Core.
Won't take long....
The car lurched forward explosively.
I yelped.
"Slow down! Slow!"
"It's fine."
Kairos replied calmly.
Face unchanged, he blasted out of the garage at insane speed.
No time to spot paparazzi or even the house gate.
I gripped something in terror at the breakneck pace.
"Too fast!"
"Don't worry. I barely brake, so no motion sickness."
Don't say that with those clear orange eyes wide open.
And brake.
Brake, damn it!
If I had the energy, I'd nag him to slow down.
But drained, I sat queasy as we rocketed on.
Until we screeched up to the cabin in record time. Soaked in cold sweat.
***
The group smoking in front of the cabin stared at the sports car skidding to a halt, leaving tire marks.
Dark road in the quiet upscale neighborhood. Streetlights illuminated the red sports car.
They watched intently.
Even as the hood of the precisely parked car began to lift.
Yoon, Ricardo, and Ska—who'd been ripping into the reckless veteran rookie's antics—fell silent. They puffed cigarettes, just taking in the scene.
The celebrity stepping out of the open car door.
And the gossip subject sprawled sweat-drenched in the passenger seat.
Jack Black spotted the Badgers amid the smoke and beamed.
"Hello."
He greeted politely, then circled to the passenger side and yanked the door open.
His hand grabbed the stumbling Hilde urgently.
"Careful. It's dark. You look rough—sweating buckets."
"Ever think it's your fault?"
The white-haired rookie grumbled.
"Ever think it's not the blue flu?"
The driver eyed Hilde puzzled.
Hilde gave a hollow laugh back.
Clearly old acquaintances.
The Badgers, knowing his identity, hesitated to approach. They just watched.
Until Hilde noticed them, jolted, and rushed over.
"Sorry to worry you," he said, but smiled brighter than before—clear and open.
A smile they'd never seen.