In truth, they told me I would not have to say much.

Ju would mostly explain. After I spoke briefly, Ju would take the microphone again and finish the schedule. They said it would not be long, and they absolutely would not make me sing or anything like that. Yun would also be standing by my side....

That settled me a little.

Though it did not untangle the knot in my stomach.

“Shall we go in?”

Ju looked at me with a gentle smile.

Since I had now become (half-formally) a registered Black Badger, he was also my superior. Ever since that day, Ju had been calling me casually.

“It’s not time yet, but we’ll be able to see our people coming into the hall. Let’s go.”

“...Should I?”

“Of course! Come on, come on.”

Ju gave me a push on the back.

The stage faintly lit, the broad seats spread out. With a heavy heart I stepped onto the stage.

Murmurs filled the hall. The sound of chairs being pulled out, people sitting down, footsteps mingled together.

From behind me, Ju’s clear voice asked,

“Do you know anyone?”

I stood in the shadow of the curtain at the edge of the stage and looked toward the seats.

People of every shape and color were filing in — skin tones, hair colors, eye colors, heights, all very diverse. Senior Black Badgers sat down, some casting glances at me on stage.

I tried hard to pretend not to notice the sharp looks.

Scanning the hall, I searched for a familiar face. There were only a few....

“Ricardo.”

“Ah, that’s right, Ricardo was your monitor.”

I nodded, not taking my eyes off Ricardo as he entered.

As always, he wore glasses that suited him perfectly. A neat black coat and suit. That habitual smile clinging to his lips.

He was conversing with a tall man in a purple coat as he walked in. That man looked just as striking, but I did not know his face.

Next came someone familiar.

Curly-haired Ro strode in with a noisy group around him. He was at their center. I could not hear what they were saying, but they laughed loudly, approaching the stage in a ruckus.

As I watched blankly, Ro’s eyes met mine.

The senior who had first asked me if I had food raised one hand high.

“Hey! Rookie!”

Heads turned toward us at once.

“Long time no see! Been well?”

“Ah, yes. Thanks to you....”

“They say your place is across from Yehyeon’s, huh?”

Ro grinned up at me on stage.

The Badgers around him opened their eyes wide. Big, rough men who looked like they had skipped shaving for days stared at me like buttons popped open.

I did not know exactly what shocked them, but they were definitely surprised.

Before I could awkwardly reply, Ro spoke over me.

“Poor bastard! How the hell did your life end up swerving like that?”

It is not so unfortunate. I am quite satisfied with my hut, senior.

“Anyway, good luck with the self-introduction!”

Ro did not wait for my answer. He waved his hand loosely, turned his body, and sat down.

The Badgers around him reluctantly tore their eyes away from me.

They all sat beside Ro.

Every one of them was a stranger. I wanted to know their names too, but there were too many for me to ask Ju one by one.

There would be a chance for greetings later....

From right below the stage came a tired voice.

“Rookie.”

The husky voice startled me into flinching.

“You’re introducing yourself today, right?”

It was Leeho Chang.

The senior I had spoken briefly with when we caught the mushroom.

He still looked exhausted. The dark circles under his eyes were still there. Today, instead of a gray anorak, he wore a navy windbreaker.

Always giving off the air of a worn-out office worker. Yet somehow, he was a comfortable presence. Even though I had only met him once.

I greeted him with a bright smile.

“Yes. Long time no see, sunbae.”

“Just call me Leeho. Forget the ‘sunbae.’”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

“Do well.”

Leeho spoke lazily.

“It’s nothing special, so don’t be nervous.”

Having said what he wanted, he trudged to the seats.

People tossed him light greetings. He answered them wearily and sat down at the far end, even the way he perched on the chair looking tired.

Someone you want to boil tonic medicine for.

“You’ve already exchanged names with Leeho?”

The Personnel Director peeked his head out.

Meeting his eyes, I nodded.

“Yes. Briefly, when we caught the mushroom. Ricardo introduced us.”

“Good. He’s a good kid. Joined about ten years ago through open recruitment, been doing well steadily. He always looks tired, but that’s just because his tension’s lower than others.”

So it seemed. He had looked that way last time too.

I tore my gaze from the dozing Leeho and swept the hall.

The wide seats were nearly filled. People whispered as they glanced at me.

It was so burdensome I could hardly keep my mind straight. Good thing I skipped lunch.

I tried not to hear what they whispered, but it was impossible.

Didn’t we decide not to recruit rookies this time? one muttered.

This one’s special, they say the Commander himself gathered us, another replied.

He’s handsome, someone whispered. Is that white hair dyed?

Even while pretending not to, the Badgers kept staring at me. Many openly stared without shame.

“Hilde!”

At the clear voice I turned, and my face lit up at once.

“Ami!”

She walked up to the front row, waving her hand.

Truly, I was glad.

Seeing the senior’s beaming smile, I smiled too.

“You came!”

“Of course!”

Ami stopped at the front of the stage, grinning wide.

“It’s really nothing, so don’t be nervous!”

Encouraging me, she then looked for a seat.

As she turned her head, this person and that person greeted her. Ami replied easily and found a seat. She insisted on the very front and plopped down.

Even after sitting, people kept greeting her.

She’s popular.

Understandably so.

As I thought that, Ju spoke.

“Five minutes until we start.”

My stomach twisted tighter.

“You also know Shu, right?”

Shu?

Puzzled, I turned my head. Ju smiled and jerked his chin. Following his gaze, I saw a familiar face — a woman with short yellow hair tipped pink.

She had been present when I first opened my eyes, though we had not spoken.

She walked in holding something like a skateboard at her side.

When I nodded, Ju explained smoothly,

“Shu Diamond. She’s «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» your direct senior, just above you.”

Ah... they say the batch right above is always the scariest.

“Introduce yourselves later. Look, here comes Yehyeon.”

So he really attended.

Why would someone so busy come here just for me?

Yehyeon was entering with Ska.

Seeing Ska’s neat braids, I remembered the moment he had run barefoot to rescue me.

That dazzling backlight around him.

Everyone’s gaze turned to them at once, then scattered. The noisy hall fell quiet.

Yehyeon sat at the very back row with Ska and another man.

A blonde woman in the row right in front of Yehyeon stiffened in nervousness. She must regret choosing that seat.

Meanwhile, Ricardo sat in the same front row, legs crossed, elbow hooked over the backrest. He glanced at the leadership behind him and threw out some sly words. Yehyeon replied smoothly, Ska roughly as if scolding.

The man next to Ricardo only bowed silently to the leadership. Yehyeon gave a faint smile and nodded.

“You came a day early, didn’t you?”

I heard Ju ask Yun.

“You cut your trip short by a day. Was that at your request, Yun?”

Yun stood with arms crossed, leaning against the wall. He narrowed his eyes.

He fixed Ju with a dry look. Of all the people I had spent time with here, Yun was the one I had been with longest, yet I still could not tell what he was thinking.

A window rattled in the storm.

With a parched voice Yun answered,

“Do you think he would listen if I asked?”

“Well, true. You always lose to Yehyeon anyway.”

“When it comes to official matters, he never yields. Except for you — you’re the rare exception.”

“Me?”

Ju asked innocently.

“Why me?”

His eyes were wide with feigned innocence.

But the feeling was strong — he knew exactly what Yun meant, and was deliberately playing dumb. The ultimate act of pretense.

Yun seemed to think so too, staring at him with disbelief.

“It’s time.”

Uncrossing his arms, Yun walked forward.

“Let’s begin.”

“We should.”

Ju smiled lightly, then turned.

My heart, which had calmed, started pounding again. Ju looked at me, smiling kindly, and patted my shoulder — a wordless reassurance. Then he turned and walked to the center of the stage.

A microphone awaited there on a podium.

“Ah.”

Ju’s voice echoed through the hall.

People straightened their postures and focused on him.

“Ah, ah. Can you all hear me? Thank you for coming despite the foul weather.”

Smiling fresh like scattering petals, the Personnel Director.

Silence fell over the hall. Only the patter of rain through the small windows and the sound of chairs shifting filled the space.

The house lights had gone dark. A spotlight illuminated the stage.

On stage stood three people: the Personnel Director, Yun, and me.

A hush, expectant.

That anticipation was broken by Ju’s clear voice.

“Then let us begin the rookie introduction. Hildebert Taleb, come stand by the podium.”

I exhaled deeply and stepped forward.

“Let’s just do a simple greeting and introduction.”

Ju handed me the microphone.

All eyes were on me.

I tried to stay calm. According to Ju, normally new recruits did give self-introductions, though never under circumstances like mine — never by the Commander’s direct order.

I turned toward the hall.

Then I bowed politely.

“Hello. I am Hildebert Taleb.”