WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Natty
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Black Badger ◈
Chapter 17: Introductions (2)
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Applause poured down after I gave a respectful bow.
I did not need to say anything more. Joo naturally took the microphone from my hand.
Everyone’s attention shifted to the person holding the microphone. Relieved inside, I turned slightly toward Joo.
Joo stood comfortably beneath the spotlight.
Joo began in an easy tone.
“Since it’s just us, I’ll keep it casual.”
I stood to Joo’s left, with Yoon on the right. My senior partner stared down at the audience with bored eyes.
In contrast, Joo looked like flower petals might scatter behind them.
The Head of Personnel spoke.
“Hildebert is a newcomer who was only formally appointed this month. Twenty-eight years old. He actually passed the recruitment exam earlier this year, but there were complications during the aging suspension and physical recovery enhancement procedures, so his appointment and introduction were delayed.”
The explanation continued evenly. It matched what I had heard from my senior partner. My fabricated administrative details. Someone who had completed all academic courses online, then lived by doing this and that in cyberspace.
Joo neatly summarized it all and finished the introduction. The people gathered in the auditorium listened quietly to the Head of Personnel.
Joo’s composed voice and the rain outside the windows.
Just when it began to grow a little dull, Joo finished speaking.
“That concludes the official introduction. Now we’ll hear a brief introduction from the newcomer, then we’ll have five minutes for open questions.”
The microphone returned to me.
So the time had come after all.
Trying to hide the resignation showing in my smile, I accepted the microphone.
Rumble, boom!
A tremendous sound came from outside the windows. Everyone reflexively turned their heads. The windows shook in the wind and rain with an uneasy rattle-rattle.
A chilly shhh came through the windows.
“It’s really coming down.”
Joo muttered with a smile.
The tornado must have drawn closer. The rain kept growing heavier.
After glancing at the window, I turned back toward the audience.
I intended to get this over with quickly. Joo had eased the pressure earlier by saying that newcomers usually kept their introductions short.
People get bored, so keep yours short too.
“Hello. Let me introduce myself again. My name is Hildebert Taleb.”
My voice echoed through the auditorium.
Thank goodness it was not shaking.
I continued under the pouring gazes.
“There were complications during the recovery enhancement procedure, so my greetings have come late. As the Head of Personnel explained, I do not have a career worth boasting about, but that means I will learn everything like a clean blank sheet. I imagine some of you may wonder where I rolled in from. Since I rolled in here of my own accord, if I cannot be a stepping stone, I will at least work hard not to become an obstacle. I know all I have to do is do well. I will do well. Please look kindly upon me.”
I gave a small bow.
Applause followed. Letting out a quiet breath, I looked over the auditorium.
Everyone was watching me. It was fortunate, at least, that it was too dark to see their expressions.
I hope no one asks questions....
“Who’s the senior partner?”
Of course someone would.
The question came from a gray-haired man seated near the front.
He had an overwhelming presence. Even with the podium's height advantage, I had to work not to be intimidated.
Meeting his piercing gaze, I answered.
“Choi Yoon.”
The hall stirred.
I could see the unrest slowly spreading through the auditorium. People’s eyes widened when they heard my answer.
I knew this reaction. Everyone in the Commander-in-Chief’s office had reacted this way too. Lee Ho had as well.
That’s right, everyone. The man standing beside me is my senior partner.
I listened to the whispers with a detached expression.
“Yoon? Doesn’t he avoid training newcomers because of his work in the Science Department?”
“It’s not because of the Science Department. It’s more his personality....”
“Hey. The rookie is right there. Lower your voice.”
“So that’s why he was standing up there. I was wondering why he had that expression.”
“He really looks like he’d rather die than be here.”
“But that’s always his expression....”
“Will he even have time? Isn’t he one of the Science Department’s top two minds?”
“Still, isn’t this way too difficult for a rookie in his first year?”
The seniors’ murmurs flew at me and stuck.
I stood with my hands neatly folded, smiling. You have to do well here, Hildebert. You cannot let your true feelings show, like you did in front of Lee Ho.
The man who had asked the question folded his arms and examined me with appraising eyes.
Just as I tried to perfect the smile on my face, a familiar voice rang out.
“Hey, the rookie has already transcended everything?”
It was Ro.
Ro clicked his tongue when he saw the smile fixed on my face.
“What happened to make the kid look like that already?”
What is wrong with my expression?
But many people agreed with Ro. I saw people nodding here and there. A few covered their mouths, while others looked at me with eyes full of sympathy.... Ricardo was over there clutching his stomach and holding back laughter.
You find this funny?
“Oh no. We should be nice to him....”
Someone muttered.
“Just buy the rookie a meal.”
Another Badger added.
Yes. Please be nice to me, everyone. Though I am doing better than you seniors think.
The murmuring continued. Whispers that showed no sign of stopping.
Through all this, the senior partner standing onstage with me remained as impassive as ever.
Yoon spoke dryly.
“I understand your reaction, but this was all the Head of Personnel’s decision.”
Everyone’s eyes snapped toward Joo.
Joo wore a gentle smile. The murmuring rose again.
As people gave Joo looks asking what this was about, Joo rested a hand on the chin and tilted the head while looking me over.
“Hmm....”
The Head of Personnel inspected my desperate smile.
I turned my head and met Joo’s eyes. Then I smiled brightly with all my strength.
Joo’s eyes curved into crescents too.
“Hilde.”
It seemed daisies scattered behind Joo.
“I’m glad you seem to be doing well.”
“Hey!”
Ro slapped the armrest.
“How does that look like someone doing well? His eyes are completely dead!”
“What’s wrong with his eyes? He looks as handsome as ever.”
“Ah, thank you, Head of Personnel. And thank you for worrying about me, Senior Ro. But I truly am doing well.”
“There you have it. If there’s a problem, come find me anytime, Hilde. My office is on the ninth floor of headquarters.”
“Yes, Head of Personnel. Thank you.”
“It’s too late.”
A beautiful woman with dark skin delivered the assessment with a smile.
“He’s already thoroughly frightened.”
I’m not!
I was given a house, and I’m doing well.
My thoughts did not reach the people seated in the auditorium. Keeping the determined smile on my face, I looked over the auditorium again.
The battle-hardened questioner studying me with an unreadable expression. Lee Ho watching this situation with an incredulous look. Ricardo unable to straighten up as he stifled laughter, and Assistant Ska in the back row, wearing a sympathetic smile.
Ye-hyeon was watching the situation with a subtle smile.
Careful not to meet his eyes, I looked over the people.
I saw Ami blinking her round eyes several times.
Yoon broke the silence again.
“Just so you know, this one moved into the cabin beside mine, not the dormitory. Don’t go lurking around the dormitory trying to find the rookie.”
The dry voice echoed through the auditorium.
Sighs broke out all around. Even the seniors who had kept quiet until then let out sounds of genuine pity for me.
I continued smiling as I watched this entire spectacle.
My cheeks feel like they’re about to cramp.
“How did the rookie end up there?”
The beautiful woman who had judged my future earlier rested her chin on one hand and met my eyes.
“Where did you live before?”
Ah.
What should I say? For a moment, I could not think of an answer.
Yoon came to my rescue.
“He had no money, so he was recently kicked out of the one-room place he was living in. It’s a sore point, so don’t pry too deeply.”
Yoon spoke in a dry voice.
“He had nowhere to live, so I gave him a cabin I wasn’t using.”
“Oh my, I’m sorry.”
Her large eyes turned toward me.
Dark brown eyes beneath long lashes examined my expression. I struggled to make my trembling smile even brighter.
“That was a careless question.”
“It’s all right. Thanks to that, I was given a nice place to live and have been doing well. I suppose this is what they mean by a blessing in disguise.”
“What a polite kid. Is this why the Head of Personnel paired him with Yoon?”
“Will training be nearby too?”
A man asked.
“Instead of using the training room attached to the dormitory?”
“No. He’ll be using that. We need to coordinate the schedule with the teams using the training room these days.”
Yoon answered again.
He looked away from the questioner and scanned the auditorium.
“Who are the senior partners of the recruits immediately above him?”
Two Badgers raised their hands.
I recognized one of them. He had been one of the people I met when I first fell into this world. The man who had pulled his mask up to his nose. I remembered him standing with Shu before Ricardo and Ami had sent him home early.
His vivid blue eyes had left a strong impression, so I recognized his bare face immediately. He was a sturdy-looking man with a slightly square jaw.
The other was someone I had never met.
Yoon looked at them and asked.
“Have the two newcomers gone outside the Core yet?”
They silently shook their heads.
It seemed there were two newcomers directly above me.
Would that include Shu? Somehow, I did not think so....
Yoon’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“I’m taking him out tomorrow.”
The auditorium filled with noise again.
Startled voices. Sharp intakes of breath. Voices asking if he had not only been appointed a day ago.
Their reactions were so explosive that I could not make out their words this time. I did not have the energy to.
Just smile, Hildebert. Smile!
Even amid the chaos, I tried to maintain a pleasant expression.
When is this introduction going to end....
Rumble rumble rumble, craaash!
A great thunderclap shook the auditorium.
It was loud enough to seize the attention of everyone there.
The murmuring in the auditorium stopped at once.
A chilly silence descended.
Joo smiled at the window.
“It keeps raining.”
Joo held out a hand for the microphone. I quickly brought it over with both hands.
After taking the microphone, Joo turned toward the auditorium with a bright smile.
“I know everyone has many questions, but unfortunately, our allotted time is up. The rain is growing worse, and we need people to protect the Core, so that concludes the introductions. Teach the new rookie well, and help him adjust.”
Joo’s composed voice rang through the auditorium.
After looking with satisfaction at the Black Badgers quietly listening, Joo cast a glance behind them.
“We can dismiss everyone now, can’t we, Commander-in-Chief?”
Everyone turned their heads at once.
Ye-hyeon, who had been sitting still with a subtle smile, slowly blinked. The Badgers’ gazes flew toward him.
Silence spread across the seats in an instant. I watched the Commander-in-Chief’s reaction tensely as well.
Ye-hyeon unfolded the clasped hands resting on crossed legs and looked down at the subordinates.
“Yes. You are all busy, so thank you for making time to come here.”
The husky voice resonated through the auditorium.
No one moved as they waited for their superior to finish speaking.
“The Head of Personnel explained briefly, but this is an unusual case whose appointment was delayed because of complications during the recovery enhancement procedure. I thought it would be best to introduce him in front of as many Badgers as possible, so I arranged this gathering. He is still a junior with issues in his recovery, so please take care and guide him well.”
Murmurs could have broken out again at those final words, but no one opened their mouths. The Badgers remained motionless as they watched Ye-hyeon.
“I’ve kept you all too long.”
Ye-hyeon spoke evenly and rose to his feet.
The two men seated beside him rose as well. They turned and walked toward the auditorium doors. Ska walked one step ahead and opened them.
Light from the hallway poured into the dim auditorium.
As Ye-hyeon stepped into the bright hallway, he finished gently.
“Thank you for coming despite the bad weather. Now go take care of your own work. The weather is rough, so be careful.”
“Dismissed!”
Joo called out brightly.
“Dismissed! Get back safely, everyone! The last person out, lock the auditorium doors!”
The auditorium filled with noise again. Chairs scraping as people rose. Greetings, conversations, footsteps heading out of the auditorium.
People began flowing out of the auditorium like a tide. Their noise drowned out the sound of the heavy rain. It looked like a movie theater as the end credits began to roll, everyone leaving in little groups....
Someone put a hand on my shoulder.
“Let’s go.”
Yoon spoke calmly.
“Before annoying people catch us.”
Annoying people?
I was not oblivious enough to ask that aloud. I quickly nodded and followed Yoon toward the back of the stage.
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