Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Martin's Disappearance (3)
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I caught him right away.
It wasn't hard to catch him. Especially since the terrified scientist had wandered into an empty office on his own.
I quietly closed the door to what looked like a conference room.
The scientist realized he was cornered and started trembling violently.
"Calm down. I won't hurt you."
Was that the wrong thing to say?
Judging by how much worse the shaking got, it seemed so.
Useless.
I stood there in front of the scientist, who was shaking pitifully but refusing to set down the bundle the size of a human head.
He didn't move for so long it was starting to get boring, even his fear-induced tremors.
The man, who had half his face covered by the bundle, finally lifted his head after a while.
"...You're not taking it?"
"I'll take it if you give it to me."
I replied breezily to his thin voice.
The man made a strange face. I didn't bother trying to guess what he was thinking. Instead, to emphasize that I meant no harm, I stood there with my arms hanging loosely at my sides.
The scientist observed me intently while clutching the bundle.
A tense silence settled in. I didn't speak first, but I didn't look away either. He couldn't see my face properly, but I was half-convinced I was wearing a perfect blank expression.
In the end, the Martin thief surrendered.
"Th-thank you for listening so well..."
"Pardon?"
I leaned in to catch his faltering voice.
The scientist sniffled.
"Y-you're always so kind and listen so well, so... I wanted to be with you forever..."
"You wanted to be together forever?"
I couldn't help but ask.
"So you stole it because you wanted to be together?"
The man nodded through his tears, then wiped his eyes with his forearm.
I stared in bewilderment at the man who looked to be in his late thirties, tears streaming down his face. He took Martin because of that?
This is insane.
"It's not stealing, exactly... I was just going to take it home..."
"What about Martin's feelings?"
I couldn't hide the edge in my voice. The scientist flinched at the sound.
He looked at me with a face full of fear and mumbled.
"Martin said he enjoys talking to me... He said he'd like to keep talking if possible..."
"You can talk in the lab."
"I've been reassigned to a branch office."
The scientist muttered gloomily.
"Next week."
He looked down sadly at the head-sized bundle. Stooped shoulders. Slightly graying black hair, unshaven beard. Haggard impression. He looked a bit pitiful, like he had no zest for life.
But stealing Martin was unforgivable.
I was about to say I wouldn't tell Yoon and just hand over Martin.
That's when the scientist burst into tears.
He sobbed with such heartbreaking sorrow. The man thrust the bundle forward while shedding tears like chicken droppings.
"M-Martin won't turn on..."
What?
"I-I bought the right code and plugged it in, but it won't... I got scared... So scared, I brought it back..."
"You're saying it won't turn on even with the right code? Why? Did you mess with something?"
"I-I don't know... I handled it so carefully..."
The scientist was crying too hard to even open his eyes.
I quickly took the bundle and untied the opening. As the satin pouch loosened, Martin's round body appeared. Sleek white shell. Massive lens.
A blue light would flash behind the lens as it zipped across the lab's ceiling and walls.
But now, the lens was covered in a heavy black void, no color shining through.
"Martin!"
I grabbed Martin with both hands and cried out.
"Martin! Snap out of it!"
"Martiiin..."
Beside my wails, the scientist wailed too.
"Martin, I'm sorry... It's my fault..."
We called Martin's name for a long time.
Then I snapped out of it first.
No. This isn't the time. Getting emotional like this solves nothing.
With Martin tucked under my arm, I gently coaxed the scientist. Softening my voice as much as possible, I soothed the despairing thief.
Anyway, thanks for bringing Martin back. I'll take him to Yoon and John. If you're scared to face Yoon, just give me your phone number. I'll keep your identity secret, so if I have any questions, please answer honestly...
As he listened, emotion welled up in the scientist's eyes.
He looked at me with teary eyes.
"Thank you."
"No problem."
"I'll go turn myself in."
"Really?"
"Yes."
The scientist nodded firmly, grinding his teeth.
"And apologize to the other scientists in person."
I lit up with joy. Yes. Face your mistakes head-on.
I praised his tough decision and urged him to go see Yoon first.
Saving Martin was the top priority. I was seriously worried our lab mascot might be broken.
But as I flung open the door to head to Yoon, the scientist's face darkened.
He followed me hesitantly, then grabbed my clothes.
"C-could you put in a good word with Yoon for me?"
"Ah."
I understood his terror.
"Of course. I'll cover for you as best I can."
His eyes filled with gratitude and emotion.
Worried he might change his mind, I gripped his arm firmly, tucked Martin under mine, and headed to Yoon.
***
Yoon was dumbfounded.
So dumbfounded he didn't even have the energy to get mad. My master, who had been waiting in front of the hospital room looking ready to gut the culprit alive, just went "Huh" in disbelief after hearing my explanation. After my plea for leniency, he sighed and shook his head.
Face saying it was too absurd for words.
After he expressed his full-body contempt, we headed back to the lab. The scientist, unable to meet Yoon's eyes, stuck close to my side.
I didn't push him away and entered the lab.
The vast, bustling space spread out inside. The familiar scientists, who had been scurrying about, froze in place.
They whipped their heads around to stare at us.
Like someone had hit a group pause button.
Stares flying in. Silence like glass.
Me, Yoon, and the Martin thief (Peter, apparently) stopped too.
"Martin."
I lifted Martin up amid the scientists staring holes through us.
"He's back."
The idol of the science division returns!
Woooaaah!
Cheers erupted.
The massive space shook with the roar. I flinched reflexively. Too slow to dodge smoothly like Yoon.
Scientists with eyes blazing like madmen. Half-losing their minds, they shrieked and charged at me like a stampede.
I screamed at the buffalo herd rushing in.
"Calm down!"
"Hilde brought Martin back!"
"Martin! Martin!"
"Hilde! Hilde!"
The humans didn't calm down.
I backpedaled frantically. Damn it. I should've remembered how dead serious these people are about Martin.
"Calm down! Don't run!"
The scientists ignored my desperate cries.
If I weren't a Badger, I'd have tumbled backward and been trampled to death. I withstood the scientists flying at me like magnets, clinging heavy.
Ow. Ow, it hurts. Why are you humans so obsessed with Martin?
Grumbling inwardly, I kept my arms raised above my head no matter what.
"Calm down so we can turn Martin on, please!"
"You're awesome, Hilde! Yoon's pride and joy!"
"VVVIP of the science lab!"
"Escort the awardee! Worth 30 million won!"
"Buy us coffee with that 30 million!"
"Pizza!"
"Chicken!"
"My quest!"
"No! My quest next!"
We need to check if Martin's okay!
But the people ignored me. The pack of scientists dragged me along.
Where the hell are they taking me? The question answered fast—more scientists were hauling a podium from across the way.
Why does the lab even have such a flashy podium?
I really don't want to stand up there.
But I couldn't struggle for fear of hurting them. One wrong move and the civilian scientists would get seriously injured.
So I let them drag me without much resistance. They seemed to know I wouldn't fight back.
My master, naturally, didn't help.
Far from it—he stretched out his long arm and snatched Martin from my hand.
"Good job."
Good job? It's "good job" like an order?
"You earned 30 million."
"I told you, Yoon, I didn't find Martin—Peter brought him back himself... Anyway, help! The humans won't let go!"
"Hang in there to calm them down."
Yoon's face was blank as he spun Martin around, inspecting it.
"They're welcoming you nicely."
My master abandoned me.
I finally got liberated after being dragged onstage, receiving a trophy labeled "30,000,000 won" (3D-printed, they said), draped in a flower necklace (made from lab greenhouse flowers), memorial photos with a near-10-million-won camera, and thunderous applause from the scientists.
The otakus billed as the Center Core's most competent had scale.
As I staggered down from the podium, someone gently placed a laurel wreath on my head. Another scientist shoved a bouquet at me. I accepted them soullessly and stumbled across the lab.
Buried in flowers, I made my way to my master's desk.
Yoon and John were working on Martin.
They were surrounded by scientists too, but at a respectful distance.
Right. Few dare invade Yoon's personal space.
I pushed through the cordon.
And stood beside Yoon.
"Yoon. Martin..."
*Ding-ring*
Power-on sound.
Light entered Martin's lens.
[Reboot complete. Starting up.]
[Hello!]
A bright voice echoed through the lab.
[Yoon! John! Long time no see! Did my battery die? My memory cuts off weirdly.]
"Martin!"
Peter, who had been clasping his hands in the distance, shouted.
"You're back! I'm sorry!"
His heartfelt apology drowned in the ecstatic scientists' voices.
Another eardrum-shattering wave of cheers.
Amid the roar, I heard Yoon asking Martin basic checks.
After Martin's clear responses, Yoon turned to John.
"What do you want to do with the thief?"
A question fit for the co-creator.
But John didn't look at the thief. Instead, he hugged the AI rolling around like it didn't get why everyone was yelling.
Like cradling a beloved child.
The gray-haired genius held Martin for a while before speaking.
"It's back. That's enough."
Tearful reunion.
"Um... that guy's name..."
"You mean me, Senior? I'm Test Subject 0."
"Give 0 the reward money."
John said to me as I quickly introduced myself.
"That's enough."
Yoon snorted softly.
Martin spinning round and round. Scientists cheering at Martin.
And so the Martin theft incident resolved.
Martin reclaimed his lab idol status, Peter got plenty of dirty looks but went unscathed to his branch assignment.
And I got the reward. 30 million won after taxes. Lump sum.
My name went up on the Quest Hall of Fame. Topping senior Badgers for highest single payout ever. 'Hildebert Talib: Total Reward 30 Million Won.'
And from that day, I became the lab's hero. Every time I entered, scientists would yell weird stuff like "The hero arrives!" and cheer wildly.
John Mullen even memorized my name.
As 0.
Thus, the Martin theft case ended with small changes. More than becoming the lab hero or John knowing my name, I was glad to be even closer to Martin. After that, I visited Martin often to hang out. Even kept in touch with Peter at the branch.
Time spent with non-Badgers.
Until the day before the social event, that's how I passed the time.