Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Black Badger (4)
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HR Director Joo didn't arrive right away.
Before he did, Ricardo stepped out to take a call and then returned. The man who came back from the call relayed the conversation to Ami and me, saying he'd gotten word from the aide.
"The Supreme Commander and the aide won't be able to show their faces until tomorrow~. They asked me to pass along their apologies for the delay...."
"Yes."
I replied politely.
Even so, I thought to myself that I didn't particularly want to run into the higher-ups. The people at the top were uncomfortable to be around. After all, I'd suddenly popped up and dumped a problem right in their laps. There was no way they'd look on me favorably.
I couldn't avoid meeting them entirely, of course.
For now, I was satisfied with the fact that I wouldn't have to see them today, and I shoved the rest of the hamburger into my mouth.
The moment Ami confirmed I'd finished my burger, she spoke up.
"Mr. Hilde, why don't you stay and sleep here in the headquarters building!"
Come to think of it, I had nowhere to sleep.
No money. No knowledge of this place. No acquaintances to turn to for help. No memories. I had absolutely nothing. It would be hard to find someone with even less.
What the hell had I done in my past life?
I had no idea if my memories would return or not, but if I ever got them back, I'd make damn sure I never repeated a mistake like this.
Anyway, I was grateful for the offer of a place to sleep.
I bowed my head toward Ami.
"Thank you."
"You don't have any clothes either, right? Sleeping in those would be uncomfortable, so let me buy you some pajamas. What size do you wear?"
I couldn't remember what size I wore.
Thinking deeper, I realized the horrifying fact that I couldn't even remember what I looked like.
My stomach twisted like my organs were dropping.
Could a person really forget their own appearance?
This was seriously upsetting.
Reflexively, I looked down at my body. I'd glanced at it earlier, and fortunately, I was dressed in normal clothes. A white shirt, black suit pants, black dress shoes.
I stared at them blankly before slowly raising my head.
My expression must have looked bad. People were watching me closely, their faces changed.
Just like when I'd first opened my eyes a few hours ago, I could feel the gazes of everyone around me piercing into me.
Even facing those expressions, I couldn't bring myself to say I was fine.
I stared straight ahead, unable to control my face.
"Um...."
They waited patiently for me to continue.
"If it's okay.... uh.... could I see a mirror?"
Realization flickered across their faces.
They quickly brought me a mirror.
I took it slowly, deliberately avoiding checking their reactions, and looked into the reflective surface.
A stranger's face appeared in the mirror. Mid-20s, by the look of it. Tanned skin and white hair. Sharp features accentuated by golden eyes.
Is this what I look like?
The face in the mirror felt unfamiliar.
The fact that my own face felt alien twisted my guts.
At least the fragments of memory popping up were too mundane and boring to piece together a life for someone named Hildebert Talib.
What kind of life had led to this situation? I knew the names of the Earth and countries, food names, but I'd forgotten my own face. No one would call that normal.
I barely suppressed a sigh of lament.
At that moment, the infirmary door opened slowly.
"Kang Ju!"
Ro bounced off the bed like a spring while playing a mobile game.
"Hey! You're really back at work!"
Holy shit, this is insane! Ro let out a straightforward exclamation, grinning as he held up his phone.
Heads turned simultaneously at his shout.
Even I, lost in despair, dumbly turned to look where Ro was staring.
Click-click-click-click. Ro madly snapped photos of the incoming man with his phone. The phone's flash exploded noisily in the white infirmary.
The man entered, calmly ignoring the reaction.
(Probably) HR Director Kang Ju.
...He looked perfectly fine.
I blinked at the East Asian man in a black suit. He ignored Ami's cry of, "Ro! You have to take a picture with the clock too! Got it?" and approached me.
I observed the protagonist of all the weird rumors floating around.
Not short in height. Face that looked at most mid-20s. Black hair and black eyes. Gentle eyes with rounded curves. A smile totally different from Ricardo's.
A dazzling smile that seemed like it would benevolently accept even the ramblings of the ignorant....
The HR Director stopped at an appropriate spot. He looked more like a kindergarten teacher than an HR Director.
He smiled brightly at everyone.
"Hello."
The HR Director opened with a clear, pleasant voice.
"Have you shown Mr. Hilde to a place to sleep yet?"
We haven't even introduced ourselves yet, have we?
His natural question threw me off. Everyone else looked at the HR Director with surprised expressions.
A brief, sinking silence.
Ricardo recovered first.
"We were just about to guide him~."
"Good."
HR Director Joo smiled warmly.
Ricardo's warm smile and Joo's warm smile felt different. Ricardo's had an undeniable slyness and sharpness, while Joo's carried the affection of a kindergarten teacher looking at cute kids.
Maintaining his smile, he turned his gaze to me.
"Wow."
Joo laughed as he looked at me frozen in place.
"You're really handsome. I'm so glad to meet you like this, Mr. Hilde."
"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you too. I'm Hildebert Talib."
The end of my responding voice trailed into the ground.
Not knowing what else to add, I stayed silent.
He must have heard that an Enhanced Body had been implanted in me, because the man smiled brightly as he looked down at me.
Ro and Ami snapping photos of Joo enthusiastically again.
"You're really him, right?"
Ro said, flashing wildly.
The HR Director neatly ignored Ro's words.
"You don't have clothes either, do you?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I'll buy you some pajamas and underwear. Any preferred designs?"
Pardon?
My eyes widened.
Joo... naturally ignored my reaction.
"I know your size. You had a health check. But I don't know personal preferences, so I was asking if you have any favorite designs or styles."
"No.... As long as it fits, it's fine."
Design aside, why ask about style?
"Thank you so much for buying them. Really."
"How about this? It seems like it would suit your eye color, Mr. Hilde."
Joo pulled out his phone and held the screen in front of me.
I stared at the purchase screen for a sleek black silk pajama set.
Just moments ago, Ricardo and I had been talking about serial numbers on unregistered pistols and missiles.... And now the HR Director, who'd rushed here after hearing about a mysterious Enhanced Body possessor, was asking about my pajama preferences. And underwear styles if I had any.
I fell into chaos but worked hard not to show it.
My face stiffened reflexively.
Maintaining a blank state, I nodded.
"Looks great."
"Right?"
"Fucking ugly."
Ro stuck his head in to check the pajamas and said.
"Who wears pajamas anyway? Just tell him to sleep in a T-shirt and shorts. If it were me, I'd chuck that in the trash right away."
"It definitely wouldn't suit you, Ro."
"Hey! It's not about me—the pajamas themselves are ugly!"
"How about these for underwear?"
Just buy anything.... Please.
Of course, I couldn't show my inner thoughts. I gave a mechanical, unnatural smile.
"Perfect."
Joo smiled like a flower blooming.
"Then I'll order these and these. I hope the real thing pleases you more than the photos, Mr. Hilde."
Of course.
"With your good taste, it surely will."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"Hey. You okay? You look kinda off. Though staying normal around this guy is tough."
Ro examined my face from all angles. Ricardo was ducking his head, chuckling. His shoulders shook slightly.
Ami stared at my face with wide eyes.
Joo continued, unconcerned by the reactions around him.
"I'll have them delivered to your room then. Head to the lounge and rest."
"Huh?"
Ami let out a sound.
"We can just end it like this?"
Joo turned to Ami and grinned.
The HR Director, who had bent over to show me his phone, slowly straightened up and explained.
"Of course. At least Mr. Hilde here, with no memories, isn't the type to let things slip or cause trouble, right? He's telling the truth, and if we ask him to keep our secrets, he will. So, Ami, could you guide Mr. Hilde to the Command Staff temporary bedroom?"
"Has this been reported to the Commander~?"
Ricardo asked, legs crossed.
Joo looked at the green-eyed man and smiled brightly.
"Of course. Ye-hyeon gave me full authority."
Amazing.
What was the HR Director seeing to evaluate me so positively? I didn't even know what kind of person I was myself.
We hadn't even had a proper conversation or introduction.
They must have reviewed the CCTV footage of me since I fell from the portal, of course. Even so, it was too short a time to gauge a person.
"Ro, you head home now."
No one voiced any complaints outright.
They didn't seem particularly anxious either. Ro vanished without a greeting the moment he heard the HR Director's order.
"Ricardo, you go home quick too. You never know when a Creature might pop up—better catch some sleep soon."
Ricardo laughed long, then lazily stood, patted my shoulder, and left.
The HR Director, standing beside me as I bowed to Ricardo, turned his gaze to Ami.
"Ami."
Round eyes met her gaze.
"Guide Mr. Hilde to the Command Staff temporary bedroom."
"Yes."
Ami replied clearly, then turned to look into my eyes.
"Mr. Hilde. The bedroom is three floors up. I'll show you the way."
I meekly followed behind Ami.