Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Happy Halloween! (1)
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I said I’d check my schedule and get back to them.
I checked my backlog of messages and tidied up around me. There were packages and messages from both elders. I didn’t remember giving them my address or contact info.
Of course, asking how they found out would be pointless.
Eric Airhart had sent a box of cigars, just as he’d said.
I could tell they were expensive the moment I smelled them. Naturally.
There was also a note written in elegant handwriting.
[Looking forward to working with you, Prometheus.]
I set the note aside and checked the message from Yekaterina.
It was from a blocked number, but I knew it was her right away.
[Come to think of it, I’ve been remiss in thanking you for training my person so well.]
She meant Lee Seung-hyun.
I let out a sigh and exited the message window. I’d have to talk to him separately sometime. I’d trained not just him but his whole team, so we weren’t particularly close.
But now that things had turned out this way, I’d have to say something eventually.
I had a lot of questions, too.
Sighing again, I checked the other messages.
There was a short one from Ricardo.
[Mission scheduled for late November.]
Longer gap than I expected.
It was surprising to have a firm date. Up until now, this job felt like missions only popped up when problems arose. Was something scheduled to happen late November, or was this about fixing a problem that had already cropped up?
Either way, I’d find out when the time came.
I set up a lunch meetup in the group chat with Tom and Hessy, then paced around the cabin. Once my tasks were done, the heavy realities I’d been trying to ignore came crashing in. I paced the room to suppress the emotions threatening to explode, but eventually gave up.
I burrowed into the bed and started crying.
Ray.
Ray, I’m sorry.
***
Yoon didn’t say much when I showed up for morning training with puffy eyes.
This was the perk of having a master like him. Emotionally detached, making him easy to deal with in weird ways.
No matter my messed-up state of mind, weekday dorm life with scheduled training resumed.
I practiced shooting.
Unlike swordsmanship, the lessons followed standard procedure.
Yoon wasn’t kind, but he wasn’t emotional either, making him a surprisingly good master. He noticed my change right away.
“You’re on edge?”
I nodded at him, wincing at the muffled gunshots through my earplugs.
“Ever since Reen’s injection, my senses have sharpened.”
“I’ve been meaning to try it sometime. When’s good for you?”
“Don’t ask so seriously if you mean it.”
Of course, my master was always serious...
I tried to ignore reality.
Fortunately, he didn’t seem inclined to train me doubly for a while. He mentioned some new research that piqued his interest lately. I didn’t ask what—it probably wouldn’t make sense to me anyway.
I ate lunch and dinner with Tom and Hessy all week.
They’d had their own intense experiences, apparently.
They’d turned a C Zone into a D Zone with Angela, Karl, and other seniors. Word was, Ye-hyeon had marked that area for the next territory expansion.
I recalled the conversation at Choi Je-seok’s mansion about territory expansion being delayed.
“Wish we could’ve gone together.”
“Yeah. Next mission, we’re all splitting up completely.”
“Rookies rarely get assigned to the same mission anyway.”
Tom replied as I bit into my sandwich.
His signature red curly hair and freckles were the same as ever.
“During the first year with a master, you’re too busy rotating through seniors under their supervision.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, but they say you won’t get another chance like the probation year to bond with people.”
Hessy chimed in after gulping down a ham-packed sandwich.
Probably advice from Angela and Karl. Hessy slurped his cola and raised his pinky.
“So let’s make the most of these mission-free training days as a trio. Basketball after dinner?”
“Sounds good... but I’m playing guitar tomorrow.”
“Oh, guitar? Show us tomorrow.”
Tom nodded, a bit shy at my question.
We ate lunch and dinner together whenever there were no missions or plans—weekends excluded. Hessy and Tom usually visited family then.
I’d hole up in the dorm or cabin, playing games. When my eyes got tired, I’d set the console down and chew over memories, drowning in sorrow. If I escaped the heavy self-loathing and loss, I’d scour the internet for worldly knowledge.
Time passed like that, and late October arrived.
The week of my appointment with Shu—and probably Walker.
It was on the last day of October.
***
The sky was high and clear.
On the day of, I planned to hit the game shop in Harlem before evening. I was meeting Shu just before lunch in the headquarters reception room.
It being October 31st, I saw some costumed people on the street.
Not many yet, since it was still daytime. Inside headquarters, even those vanished. Wandering the quiet building, I arrived at the reception room early.
And ran into Ska brewing coffee.
Why was he here?
Ska turned from entering and grinned at my frozen self.
“You look fine.”
“Ah, yes.”
I bowed my head.
“Thanks to you.”
I closed the door and walked in slowly.
Ska watched me approach silently, one hand in his pocket. He was in his usual sharp suit—perfectly pressed fabric, watch that matched like it was made for it.
No tie though. Heading out soon?
“What brings you here on a weekend?”
The aide tossed the question while picking up a paper cup.
He beat me to it. I pocketed my phone in my baseball jacket and answered casually.
“I have an appointment with a Shu Diamond employee.”
“Shu?”
Ska echoed with a faint smile.
“Getting a free meal?”
“Yes. She’s my direct senior, said she’d treat me once. Time finally lined up today.”
I didn’t mention Walker might join for dinner. He probably wouldn’t care.
Ska nodded, smile lingering.
“Good. Bonding with other Badgers is smart. You’ll end up on missions together eventually. On that note, how about a meal with me?”
“Huh?”
His sudden offer left me dumbfounded.
“A meal?”
“Yeah. Before your mission with Ricardo, if possible. I remember... late November, right?”
“Yes. Correct. Before late November...?”
“Next Friday evening works for me.”
Why this all of a sudden?
No courage to ask. A bit pale, I said next Friday evening was fine.
If not for my low energy from resurfaced memories, I’d have quipped, “I can always make time for a meal with you, Aide.”
Just like that, I had a dinner with my superior.
Ska chuckled lowly as he watched me, looking worn, input the schedule.
“No need to look so uncomfortable. Technically, you’re older.”
Oh, come on.
Such concise comfort and “I’ve heard your story.”
I blinked several times and forced a smile.
“Still adjusting to that fact.”
“Just get used to it in front of the three command staff and Yoon.”
Message received: Keep it between the four of us.
I nodded obediently.
I was about to ask why he was here on a weekend when the door opened, cutting me off.
Shu Sunbanga?
“Shu...”
No?
The newcomer was a bit taller than Shu.
About Ami’s height.
A massive pumpkin sat atop her shoulders.
“Pumpkin?”
Orange giant pumpkin with eyes and mouth carved in a familiar shape.
“Pumpkin head?”
“It’s a Jack-o’-lantern.”
Ami’s voice leaked from the holes in the pumpkin.
I let out a small laugh at the still pumpkin. Ska chuckled lowly and pulled his hand from his pocket.
The aide gave his verdict first.
“Adorable.”
Look at this guy.
“Halloween already, huh. Come here, candy for you.”
Gonna be popular with everyone, this one.
But before pumpkin-head Ami could move, the door burst open.
Finally, Shu entered. Not alone—Ro came in first. Her senior in his usual comfy striped tee and faded jeans.
The curly-haired guy strode in, froze at Ami.
“What’s that?”
He raised thick brows, staring at the pumpkin head.
The pumpkin neither moved nor spoke.
Ro, equally still and silent, raised a fist and tapped the pumpkin.
“Peanut? That you, Peanut?”
“Ah.”
Ami’s voice leaked out.
“Don’t.”
Ro kept going.
“Don’t,” Ami said each time. But Ro ignored her. Tap. He lightly smacked the pumpkin head, grinning, “Hello? Hello?”
Ami got annoyed.
Warnings fell on deaf ears.
Curly tapped again.
“Where’d you get a pumpkin your size?”
“Don’t.”
“Peanut in a pumpkin doesn’t make you a peanut.”
“Don’t.”
“Nope.”
Tap.
Should I stop them?
As I pondered, Ami exploded.
“Don’t do iiiiiit!”
Hilarious.
I watched happily as Ami went berserk, pummeling Ro.
Thud thud smack thud thud thud. The reception room filled with massive sounds. Ro desperately leaned back, defending.
“Ow, that hurts! It hurts!”
The senior blocked her fists with his forearm, yelling.
But Ami didn’t stop. The Jack-o’-lantern Badger hammered Ro with both fists. Thud smack thud thud thud thud.
Rhythmic punches.
Minutes later, Ro snapped.
“Dammit!” He yanked the pumpkin off, hurling it to the corner.
“Argh! My pumpkin!”
Luckily, Ska caught it safely.
Now Ami and Ro were truly throwing punches. Badger brawl meant thunderous echoes in the reception room.
Clear, ringing sounds reverberating in the bright space.
No one startled.
Happens often, huh.
Shu curved around them to me. Ska sauntered over to break it up.
I smiled faintly down at the senior who stopped before me.
“Senior.”
“Just call me Shu.”
Born blonde dyed pink underneath, my direct senior Shu Diamond wore a light purple cardigan.
“Age gap’s not that big anyway.”
Doubt it.
But I nodded agreeably. Shu stared up at my nod, then turned her head silently. I’d noticed since we met—she had few expressions. Different from Yoon’s dryness, though.
Shu just seemed incredibly calm. Introverted, but not shy.
“Let’s bus it. Don’t like driving.”
“Ah, yes. Whatever works for me.”
“Mind swinging by my place first?”
Hm?
Ska and I both startled at the unexpected words, but Shu headed to the entrance with her usual sleepy expression.
She glanced back when I didn’t follow.
“Forgot something.”
If so.
I greeted the remaining seniors and left the reception room.
I followed the two-tone senior to the bus stop.
***
Shu’s place was in the heart of Center Core’s bustling district.
A tiny studio on the second floor. End of rickety metal stairs that’d snap a Badger’s neck on a fall. Building didn’t look built for living, but there was a studio.
Door opened to pastels and neons flooding my vision.
Posters wallpapering. Decor atop three monitors. Five or six hoverboards by the narrow entry. Inline skates. Colorful shoes. Dolls on a sky-blue blanket.
Console in the corner.
I nearly knelt at the glowing game console.
“That one.”
My voice barely came out.
“Senior, that’s...”
“Ah.”
Shu glanced at what I pointed to, responding flatly.
She eyed the brightly glowing console in her cramped room, then nodded.
“Yeah. I love retro games.”
Retro games?
Those were the ones Ray and I used to play.