As I bowed politely, applause broke out.

There was no need for me to say more. Ju smoothly took the microphone back from my hand.

Attention shifted to the one holding the mic. Relieved, I turned slightly toward Ju.

Standing calmly in the spotlight.

Ju began to speak with ease.

“Since it’s just us here, I’ll keep it casual.”

To his left stood me, and to his right, Yun. My mentor stared dully at the seats.

In contrast, Ju radiated the impression of flowers scattering behind him.

The Personnel Director spoke.

“Hildebert is a rookie officially appointed only this month. He’s twenty-eight. He actually passed the recruitment test earlier this year, but due to complications during the stasis and recovery enhancement processes, his appointment and introduction were delayed.”

The explanation rolled on smoothly. Exactly what I had heard from my mentor. My fabricated administrative records: all coursework supposedly completed online, afterward living off various cyber jobs.

Ju wrapped up the introduction cleanly. The gathered people listened quietly.

His neat voice mixed with the rain outside.

When his explanation finally ended, just as it was starting to drag on, he concluded,

“That’s the official introduction. Now let’s hear a short self-introduction from the rookie, then after that, we’ll allow five minutes of questions.”

The microphone returned to me.

So the time had come.

I took it, hiding my resignation beneath a polite smile.

Rumble, thud!

A huge crash came from outside the windows. Heads turned instinctively. The panes rattled noisily under the storm.

Ssshh. The cool sound of rain pierced through.

“Coming down hard,” Ju murmured with a chuckle.

The tornado must be closer. ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ The downpour was strengthening.

Glancing at the window, I returned my gaze to the audience.

Best to finish this quickly. Ju had told me earlier that most rookies kept their introductions short. People were already restless.

“Hello. Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Hildebert Taleb.”

My voice echoed through the hall.

At least it wasn’t trembling.

With all eyes on me, I continued.

“Due to issues during the recovery enhancement process, my greeting comes late. As the Personnel Director explained, I have little career worth boasting of, but because of that, I am like a blank page ready to learn everything. Some may think of me as a stone that rolled in from nowhere. Since I rolled in uninvited, I may not become a stepping stone, but I will not be a stumbling block. I know full well the only one who must do well is myself. I will do my best. Please look kindly on me.”

I gave a small bow.

Applause followed. I let out a quiet breath and looked at the hall.

Everyone was watching me. Thankfully, the darkness hid their expressions.

Hopefully no one would ask questions....

“Who’s your mentor?”

Of course.

The question came from a man with streaked gray hair sitting in the front row. His presence was overwhelming. Even from behind a podium, I had to steady myself not to be crushed.

Meeting his gaze, I answered.

“Choi Yun.”

A stir spread through the hall.

I saw the ripple of shock in people’s widening eyes.

I knew this reaction. The same one in the Commander’s office, the same from Leeho.

Yes, everyone. My mentor is that man standing right next to me.

Expression serene, I listened to the murmurs bursting out.

“Yun? Doesn’t he refuse to train rookies because of his science division work?”

“It’s less the science work and more his personality....”

“Hey, the rookie’s right there, keep it down.”

“So that’s why he was standing up there. I was wondering what face he was making.”

“Looks like he couldn’t be more annoyed.”

“But that’s always his expression....”

“Does he even have time? Isn’t he one of the science division’s top two brains?”

“Isn’t that way too high a difficulty for a rookie from day one?”

The seniors’ whispers pricked at me.

I kept my hands neatly folded, smiling. Stay composed, Hildebert. Just like in front of Leeho. Don’t let them see inside.

The man who asked studied me, arms crossed, eyes measuring.

Just as I was perfecting my polite smile, a familiar voice rang out.

“Hey, the rookie already looks enlightened?”

Ro.

Clicking his tongue at my fixed expression.

“What happened to make him look like that already?”

What about my expression?

Yet many nodded in agreement. I spotted people covering their mouths, some gazing at me with pity. Ricardo, over there, clutching his stomach, holding back laughter.

Do you find this funny?

“How pitiful. We’ll have to treat him well....”

“Just buy the kid a meal.”

Yes, please, treat me well. Though I’m managing better than you think.

The murmurs kept going.

Through it all, my mentor stayed calm as ever.

Yun’s dry voice cut through.

“I understand your reactions, but this was the Personnel Director’s decision.”

All eyes swung to Ju.

He kept his faint smile, even as the murmuring rose again.

Facing their questioning looks, he tilted his head, resting his chin on his hand, and studied me.

“Mmm~....”

The Personnel Director examined my desperate smile.

I turned my head and met his eyes. Then — beam! I gave my brightest grin.

Ju’s eyes curved like crescents.

“Hilde.”

It was as if daisies scattered behind him.

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well~.”

“Hey!”

Ro slammed the armrest of his seat.

“What about that looks like he’s doing well! Look at those dead eyes!”

“What’s wrong with his eyes? He looks fine to me.”

“Ah, thank you, Director. And thank you, Senior Ro, for your concern. But I truly am doing well.”

“Exactly. If you ever have a problem, come see me anytime, Hilde. My office is on HQ’s ninth floor~.”

“Yes, Personnel Director. Thank you.”

“Wrong.”

A bronzed, beautiful woman gave her verdict with a smile.

“He’s already scared stiff.”

No, I’m not.

I’ve got a house, I’m living just fine.

But the hall did not hear my thoughts. I kept my cheerful mask fixed, looking out again.

The veteran who questioned me, scrutinizing with unreadable eyes. Leeho, watching like he couldn’t believe it. Ricardo, choking on suppressed laughter. Ska, in the back row, offering me a sympathetic smile.

And Yehyeon, observing with that faint, subtle smile.

Carefully avoiding his gaze, I scanned the crowd.

Ami, blinking her round eyes rapidly.

Yun broke the silence again.

“For the record, he’s not in the dorms. He moved into the hut next door to me. Don’t go poking around the dorms looking for him.”

His dry voice filled the hall.

Sighs broke out everywhere. Even seniors who had been silent until now let out genuine words of sympathy.

I kept smiling at this circus.

My cheeks were starting to twitch.

“How did the rookie end up there?”

The same beautiful woman rested her chin on her hand and met my eyes.

“Where were you living before?”

Ah.

What do I say? My mind went blank.

Yun rescued me.

“He had nothing. Got evicted from a one-room apartment not long ago. Sensitive matter, so don’t dig too deep.”

His voice was as dry as ever.

“He had nowhere to live, so I gave him a hut I wasn’t using.”

“Oh, I see. Sorry.”

Her big eyes turned to me, amber beneath long lashes. I strained to widen my smile.

“I asked carelessly.”

“Not at all. Thanks to that, I ended up with a good place. Misfortune turned to blessing, as they say.”

“Polite boy. That’s why the Personnel Director paired him with Yun?”

“Then does he train near there too?”

Another man asked.

“Not using the dorm training hall?”

“No. He will. We just need to align with the current group using it.”

Again Yun answered.

He shifted his gaze across the hall.

“Who are the mentors for the rookies just above him?”

Two Badgers raised their hands.

I recognized one. He had been there when I first fell into this world — the man with the mask pulled up to his nose, standing with Shu, later dismissed by Ricardo and Ami.

Those piercing blue eyes stuck with me. His face was strong, square-jawed.

The other was unfamiliar.

Yun addressed them.

“Have your rookies gone outside the Core yet?”

Both shook their heads.

So there are two rookies just above me.

Does that include Shu? Somehow I doubt it....

Lost in thought, I was pulled back by Yun’s voice.

“I plan to take him outside tomorrow.”

Noise exploded in the hall.

Gasps. Incredulous voices. Only one day after appointment?

The reactions were too many to catch individually. I lacked the energy anyway.

Just keep smiling, Hildebert, smile!

I fought to hold a likable expression in the chaos.

When will this self-introduction end....

Kugugugu, kwaaaang!

A thunderclap shook the hall.

The roar was enough to grab everyone’s attention.

The chatter fell silent.

A chill quiet descended.

Ju glanced at the window with a smile.

“The rain keeps coming down.”

He gestured for the microphone. I quickly handed it over with both hands.

Ju, smiling, turned to the hall.

“I know you have many questions, but unfortunately, time’s up. The rain’s getting worse, and we need people to guard the Core. So we’ll stop the introductions here. Please teach the rookie well and help him adjust.”

His clear voice carried through the hall.

Satisfied with the listening Badgers, Ju looked back.

“We can dismiss them now, Commander?”

Every head turned.

Yehyeon, still as stone, blinked slowly. The Badgers’ attention struck him like arrows.

Silence swept the hall. Tense, I watched for the Commander’s response.

He unclasped his hands from his knee and looked down at his subordinates.

“All right. You’ve all worked hard to come here despite your busy schedules.”

His husky voice resonated.

No one moved, waiting for his words to finish.

“As the Personnel Director said, this case is special — delayed by complications during the recovery process. I thought it best to introduce him before as many Badgers as possible, so we arranged this. He still has lingering issues with recovery, so guide him carefully.”

Normally such words would stir another round of whispers, but none spoke. The Badgers stayed at attention, eyes fixed on Yehyeon.

“I’ve kept you too long.”

He rose.

The two men beside him stood as well. Together they turned and walked toward the hall’s main doors. Ska stepped ahead and opened them.

Light from the corridor spilled into the dim hall.

Crossing into the light, Yehyeon ended with a soft command.

“Thank you for coming despite the storm. Now return to your duties. Be careful — the weather is harsh.”

“Dismiss!”

Ju called brightly.

“Dismissed! Go carefully! Whoever leaves last, lock the hall door!”

Noise surged back in.

Chairs scraping, greetings exchanged, voices talking, footsteps heading out.

The Badgers flowed out like a flood, their noise drowning the rain. Like the credits rolling after a film, groups leaving together....

A hand landed on my shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

Yun spoke flatly.

“Before the bothersome ones catch us.”

Bothersome ones?

I wasn’t dense enough to ask. I nodded quickly and followed right after Yun as he headed backstage.