I looked at the so-called genius scientist who seemed to have no intention of resting and shook my head.

Then I sent my mentor a text. At the same time, I asked about today’s schedule.

It was almost 9 a.m. Usually, he started running me ragged from 8. Strange that he’d said nothing today.

While waiting for a reply, the scientists approached me, who was just standing there blankly.

They tugged at my sleeve as they greeted me.

“Hilde.”

They spoke to me with grave faces.

“There’s a bounty on Martin’s head.”

“...Don’t you think that wording is strange?”

I understood what they meant, but the phrasing sounded bizarre.

But the scientists were dead serious. They grabbed my arm and dragged me deeper into the lab.

“It’s currently the quest with the highest reward.”

“Quest?”

What the hell.

I mean, of course I know what a quest is. But why here? I stared at them in confusion, and shock rippled across their faces.

Their jaws dropped open, then they all spoke at once.

“Don’t tell me Yun never explained?”

“You didn’t hear the quest system explained?”

“He really didn’t tell you.”

This was my first time hearing of it.

When I nodded blankly, they pulled harder at my arm.

I let them lead me.

Compared to when I was around Yun and the other seniors, being with these people made the difference in strength obvious. They were tugging with all their might, but to me it felt ridiculously light.

I’d better be careful with my strength.

They brought me to a round plaza-like space filled with floating holograms.

Holographic windows drifted in the air. Following their instructions, I stepped into one of the glowing circles on the floor. Instantly, I was surrounded by quest windows.

[Quest: 50 Blue Glowing Ink Mushrooms]

[Reward: 500,000 won]

[Quest: 35 Mad Buffalo Horns (Grade A condition)]

[Reward: 750,000 won]

[Quest: Capture 5 Reversed God Hosts]

[Reward: 1,000,000 won]

[Quest: Freshly Dropped Excrement of an Oscillisk]

[Reward: 3,500,000 won]

What the hell is this.

It looked exactly like the kind of quest you’d see in a video game—except the rewards were painfully real. I swiped through, reading them all.

Most were in the hundred-thousand range, some hit a million. Clearly designed as personal missions. Some had names of participants and progress percentages listed.

I focused on the ones with familiar names.

[Choi Ami: 20 Red Firefly Butterfly Wings: 40% complete]

[Carl Dow: 10 Blue Land Whale Fins: 80% complete]

[Ro Giacomo: 5 Sunhorn Rabbit Tails: 20% complete]

[Leeho Chang: 100 Bomb Rat Ticks: 95% complete]

“These are individual missions, right?”

“Exactly. You can pick whichever you want.”

They flipped through the holograms, giving me a quick explanation. Only Badgers could go outside the Core, but scientists needed samples for research. This system was created for that.

Basically like mini-quests in a game. The scientists set rewards using their research budgets.

Ami, Carl, and Bobby were reliable quest-takers. But plenty of Badgers never touched quests, and plenty botched them.

I chuckled when they told me Giacomo Ro never brought back an intact sample.

Figures.

“Carl’s practically the scientists’ VVIP. The condition of his samples is flawless.”

“Ami is the best at capturing flying creatures. No other Badger brings back flying samples like she does. Scientists researching them rely solely on her.”

“As for Ro, well... he didn’t really set out to do the quest. He just happened to bring something back, and the scientist went crazy asking for it.”

“He probably forgot it was even listed as a quest.”

“As you might guess, Yun doesn’t do quests. He’s too busy with his own research.”

“Hilde, you should start too.”

The white-coated scientists earnestly tried to coax me.

“I’ll pay you in cash, lump sum.”

“Of course—but I can also advance your payment if you want.”

“My samples are plants. No risk of being attacked.”

Such enthusiasm.

I told them if Yun gave me permission, I’d pick one. They erupted in cheers. I smiled awkwardly at their excitement.

That happy?

“Please find Martin too.”

One of the scientists, the same who had wailed in front of Martin’s empty spot, pointed to a hologram.

“See the reward?”

Hard to miss.

It was an astronomical figure. I turned my head toward the blood-red glowing quest window.

It read:

[Quest: Martin’s Core Unit]

[Reward: 30,000,000 won]

The lab truly loved Martin.

I stared at it blankly, then shook my head.

At that moment, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out and read Yun’s reply.

[Yun: Don’t stop them. Just leave it.]

[Yun: You’re on vacation until tomorrow. You were outside the Core two days, so you get two days off. But work out an hour and a half. Also, go here to get a suit tailored.]

[M Tailor Shop – GPS location]

[Yun: I can’t leave Yehyeon’s side, so train on your own for the next two days.]

Hallelujah.

It was regrettable the Commander wasn’t recovering, but unexpected free time thrilled me.

Grinning from ear to ear, I sent back:

[Yes, sir. I’ll do that. By the way... about Martin, how big is he?]

[Yun: About the size of a human head.]

Nice and clear.

I slowly looked over the heads of the scientists beside me.

By the time they were about to ask the very reasonable question of why I was staring at their skulls, I excused myself with some excuse about watching John, then slipped out of the lab.

* * *

I spent two blissful days.

I followed my mentor’s orders faithfully. Trained as required. Got a suit at an outrageously expensive shop.

The price was far beyond my pay, but the tailor said, “Already settled,” and refused my money. Whether Yun or Yehyeon paid, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) I couldn’t tell.

I’d have to ask my mentor later.

After training and tailoring, I wandered HQ searching for Martin, then returned to quarters and gamed. Cleared shorter titles one by one.

Having a pile of games waiting was happiness itself. If only I could hole up forever, playing...

Like back then...

Back then?

A buried memory stirred, then sank again.

I chewed my lip in frustration and drowned myself in the game.

So time passed until the last evening of my vacation. Around 8 p.m., streetlamps flickered on.

“He won’t have gone home yet.”

Carrying a paper bag, I headed toward the hospital wing. I wanted to see Samuel. No Badger ended up hospitalized as often as I did after missions.

I hoped he’d like the pound cake I’d bought yesterday at the department store.

But when I got there, I was told Samuel was in Yehyeon’s private room.

So the Commander still hadn’t been discharged?

That explained why my mentor hadn’t called. I nodded and turned toward Yehyeon’s ward.

Following memory, I reached the right corridor.

And there, in the hall of upscale private rooms, I spotted a scientist clutching a bundle the size of a human head.

“...Oh.”

Right outside Yehyeon’s door, a nervous man.

Looking at the bundle, the words slipped out.

“Human head.”

“Eek!”

The man jumped, clutching the package.

“It’s not what you think!”

“What isn’t?”

I hadn’t even said anything yet.

I tried to look harmless, but his face turned ashen gray. I kept my eyes fixed on that suspicious bundle and carefully observed him.

If I got too close, he’d bolt.

Maybe I should coax him gently.

“Here to visit, right?”

I asked in a soft voice.

“I am too. Want to go in together?”

No answer.

The scientist trembled, eyes darting everywhere. I waited patiently. If he ran, I’d chase. If he spoke, I’d reason.

At last, he stammered:

“N... no.”

“No?”

Then what are you doing here.

“What business do you have, then?”

Now he was sweating cold.

His face looked like he’d collapse any moment. Honestly, it seemed he might trip over his own legs just trying to run.

I tried again.

“If you have something to give, I can pass it along.”

“...What?”

“That package.”

I raised my free hand and pointed.

“That. Want me to take it for you?”

Silence.

He froze, staring at me. I studied his expression closely.

Oh. If I just wait calmly, maybe I’ll get Martin back.

His face shifted—fear, hesitation, resignation.

Then resignation hardened into... resolve.

Bang.

Just then, the door swung open.

And Yun’s composed face appeared.

“Hey.”

My mentor’s low, cold voice filled the corridor.

“Why are you out here talking to yourself instead of coming in?”

“Hiieeeeeek!”

The scientist shrieked like a dying pig.

“Don’t kill me!”

Then he bolted, white corridor echoing with his scream.

Adrenaline must’ve surged, because he ran fast, not even stumbling.

My mentor just stared, dumbfounded, as the man fled.

I dropped the bag with the pound cake and dashed up beside him.

“I’ll catch him!”

“Mm.”

Yun answered calmly.

“If you lose him, it’s a hundred laps on the track.”

...Why does that punishment fall on me?

But there was no time to complain. I clenched my teeth and sprinted after the Martin thief as if my life depended on it.