WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Natty
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Black Badger ◈
Chapter 20: Cabin (3)
──────
I’m scared.
“Did you already forget that your recovery is impaired?”
“I’m sorry....”
“Or did killing the mushroom make you overconfident?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
“Rick.”
Ami, standing beside Ricardo, tugged hard at the hem of his clothes.
Ricardo rolled his green eyes toward Ami.
“Hilde’s sorry too, so don’t scold him too much.”
Ricardo raised an eyebrow.
I lowered the gaze I had slightly raised. I looked at the smooth floor. The spotless floor of my senior partner’s house.... I was sitting on the sofa in Yoon and Ami’s home.
My injured arm was neatly wrapped in bandages.
My cabin had been smashed to pieces, so I could not go there.
The cabin.... I had been happy there for a week....
“No.... What are you thinking? Do you not believe our wounds heal right away? Or do you keep forgetting that yours do not?”
“It’s okay.”
Having failed to calm Ricardo’s anger, Ami turned her attention to me.
She placed a hand on my shoulder as I sat stiffly on the sofa like a criminal guilty of treason.
“He’s worried about you.”
“If you spoil a rookie from the start, he’ll get spoiled.... Are you going to turn him into someone who throws himself into danger without thinking whenever other Badgers are in trouble?”
“You won’t do that again, right, Hilde?”
I nodded hard, then added,
“I’ll stay alert.”
Ricardo’s eyes narrowed. When he was in a bad mood, he was terrifying. I tried not to avoid his cold stare.
After glaring fiercely into my eyes, Ricardo spoke.
“Don’t do it again.”
I immediately answered his cold words.
“Yes, sir.”
“You have not even fought in a territory reclamation battle. The only people you should be protecting right now are civilians.”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“It is fortunate it lodged in your arm. If it had stabbed you somewhere worse, you would have suffered for a long time. I would have been fine wherever it hit, but....”
“I did not think it through.”
“And why did you pull it out?”
I had moved so instinctively then that even I could not explain myself.
But answering that way would probably be a disaster.
I answered politely.
“I’m sorry.”
He sighed.
As I kept my head lowered, reading the mood, I felt Ami patting my shoulder with her small hand. I pressed my lips into a straight line and sat quietly.
The cool air after the rain settled over the living room.
Footsteps broke the silence.
“You should say something too, Senior~.”
Ricardo turned his gaze toward Yoon, who had suddenly returned to the living room.
My senior partner, who had disappeared into the basement carrying a pair of butterfly creature wings, turned his head.
“As the senior partner, you should....”
Yoon silently looked at us.
Then he approached the sofa. I raised my head and watched him come closer. It seemed he had dealt with the aftermath of the cabin, the Lamborghini, and everything else while Ami treated me and Ricardo scolded me.
“How is the wound?”
“It is not serious, but I think Samuel should take a look at it.”
Ami answered Yoon’s dry question.
Yoon nodded, then fixed his keen gaze on me.
His dry eyes gave nothing away.
He declared in an even tone,
“Stay here tonight.”
“I’m fine.”
The moment he said the words I did not even want to think about, I shot halfway up in alarm.
Ricardo pressed my shoulder and made me sit back down. He seemed to press only lightly, but his grip was heavy. I had no choice but to obediently sink back onto the sofa.
Yoon spoke in his usual dry voice.
“Ye-hyeon will not be back today anyway. I’ll put you in the Badger dormitory tomorrow, so sleep in the guest room tonight.”
“But....”
“That’s right! I’ll make shrimp-ball cheese tteokbokki! Hilde, do you know shrimp-ball cheese tteokbokki?”
What was shrimp-ball cheese tteokbokki?
I blankly looked into Ami’s round eyes.
“...No. I have never heard of it. Is that because I barely remember anything...?”
“Don’t let her fool you. There is no such food.”
Yoon said firmly.
Ricardo gave a quiet snort. I could not tell exactly what part he had snorted at.
We were gathered around the sofa in the spacious living room. My senior partner came closer and casually tossed the black bag he was holding. I looked at the bag that fell beside me. It was heavy, and something hard seemed to be inside.
Ami and Ricardo also turned to stare at it.
Only Yoon did not look away from me.
“You.”
Me?
When I turned my head, I saw the faint smile on Yoon’s lips.
What the hell. This was the first time I had seen this person show a positive emotion on his face.
I blankly stared up at my senior partner’s rather wicked-looking smile.
“...Yes?”
“You do not seem to have been an ordinary civilian.”
Yoon pointed at the black bag with his chin.
I stared stupidly at him, then carefully felt the black bag with my uninjured hand. I could make out the shape of what was inside the PVC bag. It was a familiar shape. Anyone could recognize it easily.
A kitchen knife.
“You’re occasionally far too skilled at handling weapons.”
Yoon gave a low laugh as he spoke.
“Like it’s ingrained in your body.”
“Me?”
When I asked, Yoon nodded.
My expression must have grown even more stupid.
What? Then maybe I really was a Badger. That would make having an enhanced body make more sense. I did not know why my recovery was poor, but.... Anyway, I must have been an incredibly strong Badger who lost his memories in some incident and flew into the future.
What kind of fantasy novel setup was that...?
No.
But wait.
“Would someone like that get hit by a mushroom thirty-four times?”
“Usually, you’re useless trash.”
That was harsh.
“Anyway, let’s watch for now. You are a research subject in many ways. Do you have anything you want to ask? If not, go wash up.”
“I do.”
The answer came out reflexively.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward me. I met the eyes of my senior partner, whose eyebrow rose slightly. It was something I had been considering alone from the moment Ami skillfully treated my arm until Ricardo finished scolding me.
It was awkward to ask. But if I did not, it would keep bothering me....
I made up my mind and opened my mouth.
“Um, don’t creatures seem to attack only me?”
Silence fell.
So I had not imagined it. It was not the heavy silence of, What is this person talking about? It was the silence that came when someone said aloud what others had wanted to hide.
I bit my lip.
Yoon was the one who broke the heavy silence.
“It does seem that way.”
This was driving me crazy.
“There is a pattern. Looking at the mushroom and the shark, it does not seem every creature acts that way. But generally, the higher-ranked ones do, and the ones that seem to have come from outside.... What are you doing?”
“I’m making a call.”
I found the contact labeled “Lee Ye-hyeon_private number” and tapped it.
I held the phone to my ear. The call connected. A plain ringback tone continued.
Ami tilted her head and asked, “Who are you calling?”
I turned to answer, but the ringing stopped.
A husky voice came through.
[Hilde?]
“Commander-in-Chief.”
At my weighty address, shock passed over the faces of the people around me.
But I ignored their expressions. There was something I truly wanted to say to the Commander-in-Chief. Even if Ricardo and Yoon beat me up later for calling the direct line without any sense of propriety as a rookie, I felt I had to say this to Ye-hyeon.
He had said I should not hesitate to contact him if I had something to say, even if it was probably only words.
I spoke seriously.
“There is something I would like to say.”
[Yes. What is it?]
“Did you know creatures gather around me?”
There was a short silence.
[I have noticed that tendency. Did you call to tell me that?]
“Please get rid of my enhanced body.”
Ami’s jaw dropped.
Ricardo squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his thumb hard between his brows. Yoon narrowed his eyes and scrutinized my face.
Silence came. The person on the other end of the phone was silent again.
Ignoring everyone’s reactions, I explained my wishes in detail.
“My recovery is poor too, is it not?”
[...It is. So?]
“Because of that, I will already cause trouble for other Badgers. On top of that, I attract creatures. I could not be more of a bomb.”
Besides, I was a parachute hire who had slipped into this job improperly.
I had a bad but strangely certain premonition that all these unknown traits of mine would hurt someone someday.
It was not that I could not imagine what terrible thing might happen. Someone might get hurt while protecting me because my recovery was poor, or a creature charging in to kill me might cause a problem.
“Commander-in-Chief. I am a stone that rolled in anyway, so please get rid of my enhanced body before it causes trouble.”
Silence settled over the living room too.
Ye-hyeon said nothing over the phone. Ignoring the throbbing pain in my arm, I waited uneasily for his decision.
I could tell the seniors were also quietly waiting for their superior’s decision.
After a while, the cold voice of Black Badger’s highest authority came through.
[No.]
“...No?”
[You are under my command now, so what happens to you is ultimately my decision.]
The voice that followed was authoritative.
[Hilde. I understand why you are saying this, and your reasoning is valid. But my decision will not change. You are my subordinate, so you must follow my decision. Do not think about anything else. Train hard from now on.]
“...Yes, Commander-in-Chief. I overstepped. I am sorry.”
[You will do well in the end.]
Ye-hyeon’s voice softened at once.
The authority and coldness vanished from his voice like snow melting.
[I know more than you do right now, so trust me and follow me.]
“Yes. I will.”
[Good. Who are you with right now? Are you alone?]
“Ah, no. I am with Yoon, Ricardo, and Ami.”
[You called this number while you were beside Yoon?]
Ye-hyeon suddenly burst out laughing.
Why was he laughing? I was too flustered to speak, and my laughing superior gave a gentle instruction.
[Put it on speakerphone.]
I quickly pressed the speakerphone button and turned the phone screen toward the seniors. Ricardo smirked at the screen, while Ami brightened.
“Ye-hyeon!”
Yoon slipped one hand into his pocket and looked at the phone.
“This guy is funny.”
“I’m sorry. I suddenly felt like I absolutely had to tell you....”
“He really is funny.... To think a rookie would actually call the Commander-in-Chief’s private number~. You are a bold rookie....”
[He was scared of becoming a burden to others. It is all right. By the way, what happened? The cabin.]
“It got wrecked.”
Ami answered casually.
Since the call was connected to a private number, she seemed to speak to Ye-hyeon without formality.
“There is not even a trace left. Hilde’s cabin.”
[In the end? Hilde, sleep at our house tonight.]
Aah, so it came to this....
But in this situation, I could not bring myself to refuse.
I squeezed my eyes shut and answered.
“Yes, Commander-in-Chief. Thank you.”
[I will not be coming back, so do not worry. And Yoon, you heard most of that, right? The kid is having worries like this, so make sure he does not get any more foolish ideas. Teach him well from now on. If teaching him becomes too bothersome, hand him over to another decent Badger.]
“Hand him over for what? He is a research subject I need to keep nearby and observe.”
There was a subtle delight in my senior partner’s voice as he answered.
My shut eyes snapped open. I quickly raised my head to look at my senior partner, at the same time Ami and Ricardo turned their heads.
We blankly stared at the tall man standing in the living room. A man whose emotions were strangely impossible to read under normal circumstances.
He was looking at the phone with a faint smile.
“Even if someone tells me to hand him over, I will not. So do not worry about that.”
[...Uh. This is not the direction I meant.]
After a moment of silence, Ye-hyeon muttered.
He made a small sound, then spoke to the green-eyed senior.
[Sordi. Could you keep an eye on Yoon? Make sure he does not dissect the rookie.]
“Hmm~. If I go up against Yoon, I’ll lose....”
“I’ll try.” Ricardo answered lazily.
“I’ll keep a close eye on him too!” Ami added brightly.
I stared at their reactions in stunned silence, recalling something my senior partner had said before.
I should open it when I have time. Open it, open it, open it....
Open what?
And why was the word dissect even coming up?
Dissect? What?
Me?
I sat there in shock for a long time.
Until Ye-hyeon praised the seniors for their hard work taking down the creatures and ended the call, saying he had to go. Until Ami ran into the kitchen to prepare her strange tteokbokki. Until Ricardo lazily remarked that he would have to train harder to stop Yoon, and Yoon coolly answered that he should try.
I sat on the sofa, having forgotten how to move.
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
