Chapter 8 - The Commander-in-Chief (2)

The commander-in-chief looked at me sitting stiffly in my chair and asked,

"You must have plenty of questions. Please feel free to ask."

I blinked at his unexpected opening. I must have looked rather blank, because a faint smile appeared on his tired, expressionless face. I stared at the faintly smiling man.

"... Uh, in that case..."

"Yes?"

"What should I do now?"

Yehyeon blinked.

Had he not expected that question? But it was what I most wanted to know. What was I supposed to do now? I had no money, no memories, no ties to anyone. Literally nothing.

On top of that, I apparently posed a potential bombshell for this organization.

The commander-in-chief answered slowly.

"Ultimately, that is what this interview will be about."

"Oh. That's a relief. It's what I most wanted to know."

"Before I give you our conclusion, let me explain how we arrived at it. That should make it easier to understand."

I couldn't ask for more than that. I nodded readily, and his explanation began.

"There were two wars."

Riccardo had mentioned that on my first day here.

"Portals opened, and the things we now call creatures poured through. You encountered them yourself a week ago, Hilde... Both wars were fought between humanity and the creatures. During the first, humanity escaped the crisis by developing defensive barriers called cores. National borders disappeared then, and living areas came to be divided by those barriers instead. The largest of them is Center Core, where you are now."

It was more or less what I'd expected. I nodded as I listened to the commander's businesslike voice. I still didn't know why portals had suddenly opened, but so that was how national borders had vanished.

His matter-of-fact explanation continued.

"The second war broke out when the cores protecting us became unstable. It wasn't as devastating as the first. The Black Badgers were well organized, and we had many brilliant scientists. The second war ended quickly. Since then, the world has adapted to its new circumstances, bringing us to the present."

I vaguely recalled what Riccardo and Ami had told me. Ami had apparently fought in both wars. Riccardo had fought in the second and survived.

But despite their enhanced bodies, I was told, not many war heroes had survived...

"Now that I've briefly explained the times we live in, shall we move on to the organization?"

Yehyeon moved briskly from topic to topic.

"We are called the Black Badgers."

Black badgers?

"Think of us as a special military force created to combat creatures. None of us age, and we all possess exceptional healing abilities. Those conditions must be met before an enhanced body can be safely transplanted. During the first war, everyone going into battle received one. During the second, volunteers who joined the war received them. Since the war ended, we've been selecting Black Badgers specifically to receive enhanced bodies."

Aha.

This, too, was more or less what I'd expected. I'd been told that the state closely monitored people with enhanced bodies. I'd assumed there was a separate selection process.

"These days, Badgers eliminate creatures that occasionally squeeze through gaps in the cores, and work to expand the cores. That was a brief overview. Do you have any questions?"

The question came at an unexpected point. I'd intended to keep listening, but I straightened my back.

I couldn't organize what I wanted to ask.

I tried to sift through the questions swirling chaotically in my head and boil them down. A concise question should get me a clear answer. After some thought, I finally managed one.

"Can an enhanced body be removed?"

Feeling Yehyeon's eyes fixed on me, I elaborated.

"Well... I'm aware that my sudden appearance has put you in a very difficult position. I've also heard there would be an uproar if the media learned I existed. So I thought you might try to remove my enhanced body. That would solve the problem."

"Sound reasoning, but removing an enhanced body has far too serious aftereffects."

A bitter smile touched Yehyeon's lips. He interlaced his long, pale fingers and rested them on the desk.

"We don't remove a Badger's enhanced body unless they've done something truly terrible. It takes far too long to return to a normal life afterward. And there's no guarantee they ever will."

"But you're saying it is possible? Then couldn't we accept the risk and remove mine...?"

No matter how I looked at it, this was the most reasonable solution. After turning it over in my head every which way, I blurted out my unfiltered thoughts.

"I'd also prefer having my enhanced body eliminated to being eliminated myself."

Silence descended. The atmosphere changed.

The commander-in-chief's already large eyes widened further. I met his jet-black gaze. He was clearly surprised by what I'd said, but I couldn't read anything else in his expression.

The ticking of the clock surrounded me.

I knew I'd been far too frank. But I didn't think I was wrong. Most powerful organizations would certainly have tried to eliminate me.

I might have lost every memory, but I didn't think I'd lost my judgment. A missile you never even knew existed turns up, its serial number unregistered? And word hasn't leaked out yet? Naturally, you'd dismantle it and bury it without anyone knowing.

So...

"Hilde."

At the grave sound of my name, I looked at Yehyeon. The surprise in the commander-in-chief's eyes had now given way to an emotion I couldn't name.

"How do you think of yourself?"

"Pardon?"

Why was he asking that?

I stared at his face.

"Uh... I don't give it much thought. I don't remember anything except my name. There's nothing about myself to think about."

"Wouldn't that normally make someone more preoccupied with themselves?"

"Would it? Thanks to all of you, I've wanted for nothing this past week. I suppose being so comfortable gave me no reason to think about myself."

"Aren't you curious what sort of person you used to be?"

How had the conversation ended up here?

Even as I wondered, I dutifully considered my answer. Of course I was curious. No more fragments of my past had surfaced, but I still wanted to know what kind of life I'd led.

Yet I wasn't desperate enough to obsess over my past every day.

I slowly stroked my neck.

"I am curious, and I have been trying to remember my past, but not to the point of obsession. Being curious won't solve anything, after all."

"I see."

"Yes."

The commander-in-chief fell into thought.

In the renewed silence, I studied the man across from me. He unlaced his fingers and lowered his gaze to the documents on his desk. His half-lidded eyes moved slowly sideways, black pupils tracking along the page.

After reading quietly for a while, he slowly closed the file.

"Well, forgetting can be a blessing."

It sounded like a murmur to himself. As I blinked, he raised his head. Yehyeon met my eyes with an unreadable expression.

"You probably won't need to remember everything."

Why was he telling me this?

A little more explanation for the slow-witted, please...

Perhaps my thoughts showed, because a small smile appeared on Yehyeon's impassive face.

"Hilde."

"Yes?"

"We will not dispose of your enhanced body, nor will we make you disappear without a trace."

Huh?

Then what was he going to do? Keep me locked up like this for the rest of my life?

"We won't keep you locked in a hotel room, either. You needn't worry."

Apparently he'd read my thoughts again. I smiled sheepishly, and Yehyeon's eyes curved gently.

"We've devised a solution that doesn't involve such drastic measures. I explained what Badgers are earlier, didn't I?"

"Pardon? Yes."

"Do you remember?"

"Yes, of course."

"I'd like you to join us as a new Badger recruit."

What?

My mouth fell open stupidly. Yehyeon chuckled.

"If you become a legitimate Black Badger, possessing an enhanced body won't be a problem. We were just about to recruit a new Badger, as it happens. Fortunately, the timing worked out."

"Uh... Um... Thank you for the offer. But am I really suited to it? All I did was run for my life from those creatures..."

"A perfectly normal reaction. Being a normal person is, in fact, one of the key qualifications for becoming a Black Badger."

"But..."

"I'm not forcing you. Badgers gain youth, but in exchange, they cannot die a natural death."

My mouth stayed hanging open. Yehyeon's smile vanished as he observed my reaction with a businesslike gaze. His voice was equally devoid of emotion when he continued.

"A Badger's end is inevitably miserable. A happy ending for a Black Badger means either euthanasia of their own choosing or an instantaneous, painless death on a mission. One or the other. It's a high-risk occupation, so despite not aging, our average lifespan is similar to an ordinary person's. Remaining young while the people around you grow old also causes considerable psychological suffering. Objectively speaking, it could hardly be called a happy life."

Yehyeon spoke dispassionately, as though it had nothing to do with him.

I sat frozen in silence until he added, "So if you don't want to become a Badger, we'll explore other options. Though you would have to stay in your room longer."

A comfortable office, so at odds with the occupation he'd described. The faint smell of old books. A wall of clear glass and the brilliant blue sky beyond it.

Once again, I wondered. How on earth had I ended up in this situation?

As Yehyeon lowered his eyes and told me to think it over, I found the answer I wanted to give.

"I don't mind. If it solves the problem, I'd be happy to become a Badger."

Yehyeon looked up at me. I met his large eyes and answered,

"I don't really have anything to lose."

Once again, an unreadable emotion flickered through his eyes.

I never learned what it was. I didn't dare ask, and he had no intention of explaining.

The silence I'd expected settled over the office. He said nothing for a long time. Only when the light fell diagonally across the desk did he break the silence.

"Understood."

I must have imagined it, but his voice seemed tinged with affection and pity.

And so Yehyeon and I became superior and subordinate.

* * *

I'd been wondering whether the people who'd brought me here were waiting outside.

The answer came quickly. At Yehyeon's invitation to come in, the office door opened and familiar voices poured through. I watched the head of HR, Aide Ska, Riccardo, and Ami enter.

Ami approached, her eyes wide.

"How did it go?"

"He's going to be your junior now."

Yehyeon smiled.

Ami's face lit up. Ska and Riccardo, following behind her, smiled as well.

"Really? That's wonderful!"

Something in her heartfelt voice warmed me inside.

"You're my junior now, Hilde!"

Ami's bright exclamation rang in my ears. She bounded over to my chair, beaming. Riccardo gave me a light pat on the back. There was unmistakable affection in that gentle touch.

I was grateful. They were so happy for me.

Looking at these people I'd somehow grown attached to over the past week, I found myself smiling. Once we grew closer, I'd thank them again.

The head of HR, too...

Zhu, the head of HR, wore an inscrutable smile.

"Congratulations on becoming one of us, Hilde."

"It all happened before I knew it. Thank you."

"Not at all. Oh, you must have been feeling cooped up waiting all week. Now that the important decisions are made, shall we get the little details sorted out quickly?"

Hm?

At my puzzled look, Zhu's eyes curved gently. He spoke with a smile so radiant I could almost imagine flowers fluttering behind him.

"Your training officer will be Choi Yun."

THUD

Ami dropped her phone on the floor.

At that exact moment?

But the timing wasn't a coincidence. Ska and Riccardo, who had their hands on my shoulders, whipped their heads around. Two pairs of eyes widened in unison. The tall men stared blankly at the head of HR.

What was going on?

I blinked, taken aback by their sudden reactions.

What was it?

"... Why Yun, of all people?"

Yehyeon's voice was strained. That single remark from Zhu seemed to have exhausted the commander-in-chief. He had a pale hand pressed to his head.

What was wrong with him?

Zhu cheerfully ignored everyone standing there speechless.

"Because Yun is the perfect training officer for Hilde."

"Yun? I don't think that man is suited to be anyone's training officer..."

"Not for most juniors, no. But he'll be a good match for Hilde."

"Sir."

Riccardo gave Zhu an odd look.

"Has Hilde done something to offend you?"

"No? I made this decision because I genuinely think they'll get along. You all know I keep personal feelings out of personnel decisions. I've never misjudged a person or a pairing, either."

"But Yun is a little... when it comes to teaching a recruit. Actually, I think he'd hate teaching anyone in the first place..."

"Exactly."

Ami firmly seconded Ska's cautious objection. Looking straight at Zhu with her round eyes, she added,

"Yun hates teaching people!"

"But he'll do well this time."

"What on earth are you basing that judgment on...?"

"Instinct."

"... Sir, perhaps just this once you should reconsider that instinct..."

"Enough."

Yehyeon's weary voice cut off the exchange. All eyes turned to him. I, too, looked away from Zhu.

Without lifting his gaze, the commander-in-chief declared,

"We'll follow the head of HR's judgment. Yun will be Hilde's training officer."

"No! Commander!"

"Yes. My instincts have always been right, and they'll be right this time, too."

"Well... If that's your decision, Commander..."

Ami was appalled, Zhu smiled, and Riccardo shrugged. Ska, who had fallen silent, shoved his hands into his pockets with a troubled expression.

And I was terrified.

Frozen in my chair, I stared dumbfounded at the sighing commander-in-chief.

What kind of guy was this Choi Yun, to get this much of a reaction out of everyone?

They'd reacted similarly to the head of HR, and when I'd finally met him, he hadn't turned out to be normal. Not a bad person. But not exactly normal, either.

So who was this Yun, who could make even that seasoned commander-in-chief sigh?

Who was he?!

"Hilde."

At Yehyeon's call, I stopped screaming internally.

"Y-yes?"

"If Yun gives you a hard time, don't hesitate to tell me. I'm the best at keeping him under control, at least. He usually listens to me."

Yehyeon's tired voice reverberated in my brain.

What? Under control? Why was he using a phrase that sounded more suited to an animal to describe a person?

I stared ahead in disbelief.

I had a bad feeling about this... Nothing but a bad feeling.

Who on earth was Choi Yun? Why had someone like that become my training officer? Reeling from everyone's unexpected reactions, I couldn't even think of getting out of my chair for a long time.