BLB Chapter 8

The Commander-in-Chief looked at me sitting tensely and asked.

“You must have a lot of questions. Feel free to ask.”

I blinked once at the unexpected opening line.

Perhaps because I had a dumb look on my face, the Commander-in-Chief, who had a tired, expressionless face, put on a faint smile.

I stared at the man smiling thinly.

“…Um, well then…”

“Yes.”

“What should I do now?”

Ye-hyeon blinked.

Did he not expect this question? But it was what I was most curious about right now. What should I do now? I’m literally a person who has nothing – no money, no memories, no connections.

Moreover, I seem to be a potential bomb for this organization.

The Commander-in-Chief answered slowly.

“This meeting will eventually be about that.”

“Ah. That’s a relief. It’s what I was most curious about.”

“Before I tell you the conclusion, I’ll give you some background on how we reached it. It will be easier for you to understand that way.”

I’d be more than grateful if you do that.

I obediently nodded my head.

The explanation began.

“There were 2 wars.”

Ricardo had told me on the day I first arrived here.

“As portals opened, what we now call creatures poured in. Mr. Hilde, you encountered them directly a week ago… The 2 wars that occurred were fights between humans and creatures. During the 1st war, humans developed a defensive shield called the Core and escaped the crisis. At that time, borders disappeared and living zones were divided by the defensive shield called the Core. The largest among them is the Center Core where you are now.”

It was roughly as I had expected.

I nodded while listening to the Commander’s businesslike voice. I don’t know why portals suddenly opened, but. That’s why the borders disappeared.

The businesslike explanation continued.

“The 2nd war broke out when the Core, which was a defensive shield, became unstable. It wasn’t as tragic as the first war. Because the Black Badgers were well-organized and there were many excellent scientists. The 2nd war was quickly concluded. Afterwards, the world operated according to the new environment, leading to the present.”

The explanations Ricardo and Amy had given me briefly came to mind. Amy says she participated in both wars. Ricardo says he participated in the 2nd war and survived.

However, there aren’t many war heroes who survived despite having an Enhanced Body…

“Now that I’ve given a simple explanation of the era, shall we move on to explaining this organization?”

Ye-hyeon swiftly moved the story along.

“We are called Black Badgers.”

Black badgers?

“You can understand it as a special force created to counter creatures. They all have halted aging and extremely superior recovery abilities. Those conditions must be met first for an Enhanced Body to be successfully transplanted. During the first war, Enhanced Bodies were transplanted into everyone who went to the battlefield. During the second war, Enhanced Bodies were transplanted into volunteers who participated in the war. After the war ended, Black Badgers to receive Enhanced Bodies are being selected separately.”

Aha.

This was also roughly as I had expected. They said Enhanced Body holders are closely managed by the state. I assumed they would be selected separately.

“Currently, the Badgers are eliminating creatures that occasionally slip through the cracks of the Core and working to expand the Core. I gave you a brief explanation, do you have any questions?”

The question came from an unexpected place. I, who had been intending to just listen, straightened my back.

I can’t organize the questions I want to ask.

I try to refine the various questions swirling chaotically in my mind. I tried to summarize the questions. A concise question would yield a clear answer.

After much deliberation, I barely managed to ask a question.

“Can an Enhanced Body be removed?”

Feeling Ye-hyeon staring at me, I added an explanation.

“Well… I’m aware that my sudden appearance is a very troublesome existence. I’ve also heard that the moment my existence is exposed to the media, there will be chaos. So I thought you might try to remove my Enhanced Body. Because that would solve the problem.”

“It’s a good inference, but the side effects after removing an Enhanced Body are too severe.”

Ye-hyeon gave a bitter smile.

He interlocked his white, slender fingers and placed them on the desk.

“Unless a Badger causes a really huge incident, we don’t remove their Enhanced Body. It takes too long to return to a normal life after removing an Enhanced Body. There’s no guarantee of a normal return either.”

“But it is possible, right? Then it seems like we could remove my Enhanced Body while taking on the risk…”

No matter how I think about it, this seems like the most rational solution.

I pondered, turning my head this way and that, then blurted out my unrefined thoughts.

“From my perspective, removing the Enhanced Body from my body is better than having my existence eliminated.”

Silence descended.

The atmosphere changed.

The Commander-in-Chief’s already large eyes grew even larger. I met his black pupils. It was clear he was surprised by my words, but I couldn’t read any other emotions.

The sound of the second hand ticking on the clock enveloped my body.

I’m aware that I spoke too honestly. But I don’t think I said anything wrong. If it were most organizations with power, they would have tried to eliminate me.

Although my memories have completely flown away, I don’t think I’ve lost my judgment. An unregistered missile that no one knew existed appeared? And the information hasn’t leaked out yet? Of course, they would disassemble and bury the missile without anyone knowing.

So…

“Mr. Hilde.”

My name was called heavily, and I looked at Ye-hyeon.

Now, instead of surprise, an unnameable emotion had taken its place in the Commander-in-Chief’s eyes.

“What do you think of yourself?”

“Pardon?”

Why ask this?

I stared intently at his face.

“Um… I don’t have any particular thoughts. Because I don’t remember anything except my name. There’s nothing to think about myself.”

“Doesn’t that usually make one more obsessed with oneself?”

“Is that so? Thankfully, I had no inconvenience living for the past week. Living so comfortably, I had no reason to think about myself.”

“Aren’t you curious about what kind of person you were before?”

Why did the conversation roll in this direction?

Even while having such thoughts, I earnestly pondered my answer. Of course I’m curious. Although no more fragments of past memories came to mind, 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 remember the past, but not curious enough to be obsessed. Because being curious doesn’t solve anything.”

“I see.”

“Yes.”

The Commander-in-Chief fell into thought.

I scanned the person across from me in the silence that descended once again. He had untangled his interlocked fingers and was lowering his gaze to the documents on the desk. His half-closed eyes moved slowly to the side.

Black pupils rolling slowly to the side.

The man quietly read for a while, then slowly closed the document.

“Well, forgetting can be a blessing too.”

A murmur that sounded like he was talking to himself.

While I blinked, he raised his head.

Ye-hyeon met my eyes with an unreadable expression.

“You probably won’t have to remember everything.”

Why do you say that?

Please provide more explanation to this dumb person…

Perhaps my thoughts showed, because a small smile appeared on Ye-hyeon’s expressionless face.

“Mr. Hilde.”

“Yes.”

“We won’t dispose of your Enhanced Body, and we won’t eliminate you without anyone knowing.”

Huh?

Then what are you going to do? Keep me locked up like this forever?

“We won’t confine you to a hotel room either. You don’t have to worry.”

It seems my thoughts were read this time too.

As I smiled awkwardly, Ye-hyeon gently curved his eyes.

“We’ve come up with a solution other than such extreme measures. I explained about the Badgers earlier, remember?”

“Pardon? Yes.”

“Do you remember?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“I want you to become a new rookie Badger.”

What?

I opened my mouth dumbly.

Ye-hyeon let out a small laugh.

“If you become a legitimate Black Badger, it won’t be a problem that you have an Enhanced Body. We were just about to select a new Badger anyway. It’s fortunate that the timing aligns.”

“Uh… um… Thank you for the offer. But am I the right person for that? I just ran away from the creature to the point of death…”

“It’s an extremely normal reaction. It’s also one of the important qualifications for a Black Badger. Being a normal person.”

“But…”

“I’m not forcing you. Because Badgers gain youth in exchange for not being able to die a natural death.”

My open mouth wouldn’t close.

Ye-hyeon erased his smile and observed my reaction with businesslike eyes.

There was no emotion in his continuing voice either.

“The end of a Badger’s life can only be miserable. A happy end for a Black Badger is either euthanasia of their choice or instant death during a mission where they can’t feel pain. One of the two. Despite not aging, the average life expectancy is similar to ordinary people due to the high-risk nature of the job, and there’s considerable mental pain as the people around you age while you remain young. Objectively speaking, it can never be called a happy life.”

Ye-hyeon spoke coldly as if it were someone else’s business.

I sat frozen in my seat, keeping silent. Until he said, “So if you don’t want to become a Badger, I’ll try to find another solution. Although you’ll have to stay in the room longer.”

The comfortable office that doesn’t suit the described job. The faint scent of old books. The transparent glass window covering one side and the bright blue sky visible through it.

Thinking about it again. How did I end up in this situation?

The moment Ye-hyeon lowered his eyes, telling me to think about it, I found the answer I wanted to give.

“I don’t mind. If it solves the problem, I’ll gladly become a Badger.”

Ye-hyeon raised his head and looked at me.

I met his large eyes and answered.

“Because I have nothing to lose.”

An unknowable emotion flashed across the man’s eyes again.

I never found out what it was. I didn’t have the courage to ask, and he had no intention of explaining.

The expected stillness envelops the office. The man was silent for a long time.

Only when the light crossed the desk diagonally did he break the silence.

“I understand.”

In a voice that seemed to be filled with affection and compassion, though it must be my imagination.

Thus, the relationship between Ye-hyeon and me turned into that of a superior and subordinate.

***

I wondered if the people who brought me here were waiting outside.

The answer came quickly. As Ye-hyeon told them to come in, the office door opened and familiar voices poured in. I saw HR Director Joo, Chief of Staff Ska, Ricardo, and Amy entering the office.

Amy approached me with wide eyes.

“What happened?”

“He’ll be your junior now.”

Ye-hyeon grinned.

Amy’s face brightened. Smiles appeared on the faces of Ska and Ricardo who followed her.

“Really? That’s great!”

Somehow, my heart softened at the sincere voice.

“Now Hilde is my junior!”

Amy’s bright exclamation pierced my ears. The woman who ran up next to my chair and smiled brightly. Ricardo lightly patted my back. The light touch clearly held a small affection.

Thank you. For being so happy for me.

A smile formed as I looked at the people I had grown strangely attached to during the week.

I should thank them again when we become closer.

To HR Director Joo too…

HR Director Joo had an inscrutable smile.

“Congratulations on becoming a member, Mr. Hilde.”

“I ended up like this out of the blue. Thank you.”

“Not at all. Ah. You must have been waiting impatiently for a week. Now that the important matters have been decided, shall we quickly decide on the subsidiary things?”

Hmm?

As I looked at him with a puzzled expression, Joo curved his eyes gently.

The HR Director spoke with a smile that seemed like flowers would flutter behind him.

“Mr. Hilde’s instructor will be Yoon Choi.”

Thud.

Amy dropped her cell phone on the floor.

At this timing?

But it wasn’t a coincidence. The heads of Ska and Ricardo, who had their hands on my shoulders, whipped around.

At the same time, two pairs of eyes growing in size.

The tall men looked at the HR Director with dazed faces.

What?

I blinked, startled by the sudden reaction.

What is it?

“…Why Yoon of all people?”

Ye-hyeon asked in a strained voice.

The Commander-in-Chief seemed to have been exhausted by Joo’s single remark. The posture of supporting his head with his white hand.

Why is he doing that?

HR Director Joo brightly ignored the people who had lost their words and were standing still.

“Because Mr. Yoon is the perfect fit to be Hilde’s instructor.”

“Yoon? I think Yoon is unsuitable to be anyone’s instructor…”

“He would be for most juniors. But he’ll get along well with Hilde.”

“HR Director.”

Ricardo looked at Joo with a strange expression.

“Did Hilde do something wrong to you?”

“No? I truly believe the two will be a good match, so I made this decision. You all know. When I do HR work, I exclude personal feelings. I’ve never misjudged a person or compatibility.”

“But Yoon is a bit… No, to begin with, he seems like he would hate teaching someone…”

“Right.”

Amy firmly answered Ska’s cautious point.

She added, looking straight at Joo with round eyes.

“Yoon-oppa hates teaching anyone!”

“But this time, he’ll do well.”

“On what basis are you making that judgment…?”

“Intuition.”

“…HR Director, just this once, it would be best to reconsider that intuition…”

“Enough.”

The conversation stopped at Ye-hyeon’s tired voice. Gazes converged on one spot. I also turned my head from looking at Joo.

The Commander-in-Chief declared without raising his gaze.

“Let’s proceed as the HR Director has decided. Hilde’s instructor will be Yoon.”

“Ack! Commander!”

“Yeah. My intuition has been right so far, so it will be right this time too.”

“Well… If the Commander has decided so…”

Amy was appalled, Joo smiled, and Ricardo shrugged his shoulders. Ska, who had been keeping his mouth shut, put his hands in his pockets with a troubled expression.

And I become terrified.

I blankly stared at the Commander-in-Chief sighing while frozen in my seat.

What kind of person is this Yoon Choi that people react like this?

The reaction was similar with the HR Director, and the HR Director I ended up meeting wasn’t a normal person. He’s not a bad person, but. He’s not exactly normal either.

But who is this Yoon person that even makes the seasoned Commander-in-Chief sigh?

Who is he!

“Hilde.”

At Ye-hyeon’s call, I stopped screaming internally.

“Y-yes.”

“If Yoon gives you a hard time, don’t hesitate to tell me. I’m the one who can control Yoon the best. He listens to almost everything I say.”

Ye-hyeon’s tired voice echoed in my brain.

What? Control, you say. Why is a word that seems like it would be used for a beast being used for a person?

I stared ahead with a dumbfounded expression.

I have a bad feeling… I have nothing but a bad feeling.

Who the hell is Yoon Choi? Why did this person become my instructor? Feeling my mind going blank at the sudden reactions, I couldn’t bring myself to get up from my seat for a long time.