Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Supreme Commander (2)
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The Supreme Commander looked at me, sitting there tensely, and asked.
“There must be a lot you’re curious about. Feel free to ask.”
His unexpected opening line made me blink once.
Perhaps sensing my dumbfounded expression, the Supreme Commander, whose face had been blank with fatigue, let a faint smile play on his lips.
I stared at the lightly smiling man.
“…Uh, in that case….”
“Yes.”
“What should I do now?”
Ye-hyeon blinked.
Had he not anticipated this question? But it was what I was most curious about right now. What should I do now? I was someone with no money, no memories, no connections—literally possessing nothing.
On top of that, I seemed to be a potential bomb for this organization.
The Supreme Commander replied slowly.
“This meeting will ultimately be about that.”
“Ah. Good. That’s what I was most curious about.”
“Before I give the conclusion, I’ll explain the background that led to it. That way, it’ll be easier for you to understand.”
If you’re offering, I’m endlessly grateful.
I nodded obediently.
The explanation began.
“There have been two wars.”
Ricardo had mentioned it on the first day I arrived here.
“Portals opened, and what we call Creatures poured in. Hilde, you faced them directly a week ago…. The two wars that occurred were fights between humanity and the Creatures. During the first war, humanity developed a barrier called the Core and escaped the crisis. At that time, borders disappeared, and living areas were divided by the Core barriers. The largest among them is the Center Core, where you are now.”
It was more or less what I had expected.
I nodded as I listened to the commander’s businesslike voice. I didn’t know why the portals had suddenly opened, but that was why borders had vanished.
The businesslike explanation continued.
“The second war broke out when the Core barriers, which were defenses, became unstable. It wasn’t as devastating as the first. The Black Badgers were well-organized, and there were many brilliant scientists. The second war ended quickly. Afterward, the world adapted to the new environment and reached the present.”
I vaguely recalled the explanations from Ricardo and Ami. Ami had participated in both wars. Ricardo had survived the second.
However, even with Enhanced Bodies, there weren’t many surviving war heroes….
“Now that I’ve briefly explained the era, shall we move on to this organization?”
Ye-hyeon briskly moved the story along.
“We are called the Black Badgers.”
Black badger?
“You can think of us as a special force created to combat Creatures. All of us have halted aging and possess extremely strong regenerative abilities. Those conditions are prerequisites for safely transplanting an Enhanced Body. During the first war, Enhanced Bodies were transplanted into everyone going to the front lines. In the second war, they were given to volunteers participating in the war. After the wars ended, we began selecting Black Badgers separately for Enhanced Body transplants.”
Aha.
This was also more or less what I had expected. Those with Enhanced Bodies are closely managed by the state, so I figured they were selected separately.
“Right now, the Badgers are eliminating Creatures that occasionally slip through the gaps in the Cores and expanding the Cores. I’ve given a brief explanation—do you have any questions?”
The question came from an unexpected direction. I straightened my back, having planned to just listen.
My questions aren’t organized.
I tried to refine the swirling doubts in my mind. I tried to summarize the questions. I needed to ask briefly for clear answers.
After much deliberation, I finally asked.
“Can the Enhanced Body be removed?”
Feeling Ye-hyeon’s steady gaze on me, I added an explanation.
“Well…. I’m aware that I, who appeared out of nowhere, am an extremely problematic existence. I’ve heard that if my existence is exposed to the media, it’ll cause an uproar. So I thought you might want to remove my Enhanced Body. That would solve the problem.”
“Good reasoning, but the aftereffects of removing an Enhanced Body are too severe.”
Ye-hyeon gave a bitter smile.
He interlaced his long, white fingers and placed them on the desk.
“Unless someone causes a truly massive incident, we don’t remove a Badger’s Enhanced Body. It takes an excessively long time to return to a normal life after removal. And there’s no guarantee of returning to normal at all.”
“But it’s possible, right? So, if you take the risk and remove my Enhanced Body….”
No matter how I thought about it, this seemed the most reasonable solution.
I rolled my head this way and that, then bluntly spat out my unrefined thoughts.
“Compared to having my existence erased, removing the Enhanced Body from my body is better for me.”
A sinking silence.
The atmosphere shifted.
The Supreme Commander’s already large eyes grew even wider. I met his pitch-black pupils. He was clearly shocked by my words, but I couldn’t read any other emotions.
The sound of the clock’s second hand wrapped around my body.
I was aware I had been overly frank. But I didn’t think I was wrong. Most power-wielding organizations would surely try to eliminate me.
Even if my memories were all gone, I hadn’t lost my judgment. An unregistered missile with a serial number no one even knew existed had appeared? And that information hadn’t leaked out yet? Naturally, they’d dismantle and bury it quietly.
So….
“Hilde.”
My name was called heavily, and I looked at Ye-hyeon.
Now, an unidentifiable emotion had taken root in the Supreme Commander’s eyes instead of surprise.
“What do you think about yourself?”
“Huh?”
Why ask something like that?
I stared blankly at his face.
“Uh…. I don’t think much about it. Aside from my name, I don’t remember anything, so there’s nothing to think about regarding myself.”
“Then wouldn’t most people become more obsessed with themselves?”
“Is that so? Thanks to that, I’ve lived comfortably for the past week. Since it’s been so easy, I didn’t have reason to think about myself.”
“Aren’t you curious about what kind of person you were before?”
Why is the conversation rolling this way?
Even as I thought that, I carefully considered my answer. Of course I was curious. No more fragments of past memories had surfaced, but I was still curious about what kind of life I had lived.
But I wasn’t desperate enough to obsess over my past every day.
I slowly rubbed my neck.
“I am curious, and I am trying to recall the past, but not to the point of obsession. Curiosity doesn’t solve anything.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
The Supreme Commander fell deep into thought.
In the returning silence, I scanned the man across from me. He had undone his interlaced fingers and was lowering his gaze to the documents on the desk. His half-lowered eyes slowly moved sideways.
His pitch-black pupils rolled sideways.
The man quietly read, then slowly closed the documents.
“Well, forgetfulness can be a blessing.”
A mutter that sounded like a soliloquy.
While I blinked, he raised his head.
Ye-hyeon met my eyes with an inscrutable expression.
“You probably won’t need to remember everything.”
Why say something like that?
If only he’d explain more to someone as dense as me….
Perhaps my thoughts showed, as a small smile appeared on Ye-hyeon’s previously expressionless face.
“Hilde.”
“Yes.”
“We won’t discard your Enhanced Body, nor will we eliminate you without a trace.”
Huh.
Then what do you plan to do? Keep me locked up forever?
“We won’t keep you confined to a hotel room either. No need to worry.”
My thoughts were read again.
I gave an awkward smile, and Ye-hyeon’s eyes curved softly.
“We’ve prepared a solution that’s not so extreme. I explained about the Badgers earlier, remember?”
“Huh? Yes.”
“Do you remember?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“I’d like you to become a new rookie Badger.”
What?
I stupidly opened my mouth.
Ye-hyeon let out a small laugh.
“If you become a proper Black Badger, possessing an Enhanced Body won’t be a problem. We were just about to select a new Badger. Perfect timing.”
“Uh…. Um…. Thank you for the offer. But am I the right person for that? I only barely escaped death from Creatures….”
“That’s a perfectly normal reaction. It’s one of the key qualifications for a Black Badger: being a normal person.”
“But….”
“I’m not forcing you. Badgers gain youth but can’t die a natural death in return.”
My open mouth refused to close.
Ye-hyeon erased his smile and observed my reaction with businesslike eyes.
His following voice held no emotion.
“A Badger’s end can only be miserable. For a Black Badger, a happy end is either the euthanasia they choose themselves or instant death on a mission without pain. One of the two. It’s a high-risk job, so even without aging, their average lifespan is similar to a normal person’s. And while those around them age, they stay young, causing significant mental anguish. Objectively, it can’t be called a happy life.”
Ye-hyeon spoke coldly, as if it were someone else’s business.
I sat frozen in silence. Until he said something like, ‘So if you don’t want to become a Badger, we’ll look into other options. You’ll have to stay in the room longer, though.’
An office that didn’t suit the described job, comfortably furnished. A faint scent of old books. Transparent glass walls on one side and a brilliant blue sky visible beyond.
Thinking again. How on earth did I end up in this situation?
The moment Ye-hyeon lowered his eyes, telling me to think it over, I found my answer.
“I’m fine with it. If it solves the problem, I’ll gladly become a Badger.”
Ye-hyeon raised his head to look at me.
I met his large eyes and replied.
“I don’t have anything particular to lose.”
An unidentifiable emotion flitted through the man’s eyes again.
I never learned what it was. I didn’t dare ask, and he had no intention of explaining.
The expected silence enveloped the office. The man was quiet for a long time.
Only when the light diagonally crossed the desk did he break the silence.
“Understood.”
It might have been an illusion, but his voice seemed tinged with affection and pity.
And so, Ye-hyeon and my relationship turned into that of boss and subordinate.
***
I wondered if the people who brought me here were waiting outside.
The answer came quickly. As soon as Ye-hyeon said to come in, the office door opened, and familiar voices poured in. I saw the HR Director, Sca the Aide, Ricardo, and Ami entering the office.
Ami approached me with wide eyes.
“How’d it go?”
“I’m going to be your junior now.”
Ye-hyeon grinned.
Ami’s face bloomed into a smile. Smiles also rose on the faces of Sca and Ricardo, who had followed her.
“Really? That’s great!”
Her voice, full of sincerity, somehow warmed my heart.
“Now Hilde’s my junior!”
Ami’s bright shout rang in my ears. The woman ran to my side and grinned. Ricardo lightly patted my back. His light touch clearly held a bit of affection.
Thanks. For being so happy about this.
Seeing these people, to whom I’d grown strangely attached over the week, I smiled.
I’ll have to thank them properly once we get closer.
Even the HR Director….
HR Director Joo gave an inscrutable smile.
“Congratulations on becoming one of us, Hilde.”
“It happened so suddenly. Thank you.”
“No need. Ah. You must have felt confined waiting a week. Now that the important matters are settled, shall we quickly handle the details?”
Hm?
I looked at him puzzled, and Joo’s eyes curved gently.
The HR Director, with a smile like flowers blooming behind him, said.
“Hilde’s Master is Choi Yoon.”
Thud.
Ami dropped her phone on the floor.
At this timing?
But it wasn’t coincidence. Sca and Ricardo, who had hands on my shoulders, whipped their heads around.
Two pairs of eyes widening simultaneously.
The tall men stared at the HR Director with blank faces.
What?
I blinked in confusion at the sudden reaction.
What is it?
“…Why of all people Yoon?”
Ye-hyeon asked in a hoarse voice.
The Supreme Commander looked exhausted from just that one word. A posture with his white hand on his head.
Why is he like that?
HR Director Joo brightly ignored the speechless people.
“Because Yoon is perfect as Hilde’s Master.”
“Yoon? I think Yoon isn’t suited to be anyone’s Master….”
“That’s true for most rookies. But he’ll match well with Hilde.”
“HR Director.”
Ricardo looked at Joo with a strange expression.
“Did Hilde do something wrong to you~?”
“No? I really think they’ll match well, so I made this decision. You all know. When I handle personnel matters, I exclude personal feelings. I’ve never misjudged people or compatibility.”
“But Yoon is a bit…. No, he probably hates teaching anyone in the first place….”
“Exactly.”
At Sca’s cautious point, Ami answered firmly.
She stared straight at Joo with round eyes and added.
“Yoon Oppa hates teaching anyone!”
“But he’ll do well this time.”
“What on earth makes you judge that….”
“Gut feeling.”
“…HR Director, this time maybe double-check that gut feeling….”
“Enough.”
The back-and-forth stopped at Ye-hyeon’s tired voice. Gazes converged on one spot. I, who had been looking at Joo, also turned my head.
The Supreme Commander declared without lifting his gaze.
“We’ll proceed with the HR Director’s judgment. Hilde’s Master is Yoon.”
“Argh! Commander!”
“Yeah. My instincts have been right so far, so they’ll be right this time too.”
“Well~…. If the Commander has decided….”
Ami was shocked, Joo smiled, Ricardo shrugged. Sca, who had been silent, put his hands in his pockets with a troubled expression.
And I was terrified.
I stared in bewilderment at the Supreme Commander, who sat frozen, sighing.
What kind of guy is this Choi Yoon that makes everyone react like this?
There was a similar reaction when the HR Director was mentioned, and the HR Director I met turned out not to be normal. Not a bad person. But not exactly normal either.
Yet this Yoon makes even the seasoned Supreme Commander sigh. Who is he?
Who!
“Hilde.”
At Ye-hyeon’s call, I stopped my inner scream.
“Y-Yes.”
“If Yoon gives you trouble, tell me without hesitation. I control Yoon the best, after all. He usually listens to me.”
Ye-hyeon’s tired voice echoed in my brain.
What. Control? A word you’d use for a beast, why use it for a person.
I stared ahead with an incredulous expression.
A bad feeling…. Only bad feelings.
Who the hell is Choi Yoon? Why did my Master end up being someone like this? Feeling my mind go blank from the sudden reactions, I couldn’t bring myself to stand from my seat for a long time.