Black Badger

Chapter 227: Second Year-End Party (2)

I smiled at my seniors and fellow rookies with a tired face.

We were heading to the year-end hall at roughly the same time as last year.

Except unlike before, we were dressed comfortably.

“Tom, that sky-blue fisherman knit looks really good on you.”

Ami smiled brightly as she complimented him.

My red-haired cohort smiled shyly.

“Thank you. Ami, you look really good with that rainbow check scarf.”

“Thanks. I bought it before coming here~.”

The round-eyed senior spoke cheerfully and tilted her head toward me.

“Hilde was trying to wear another weird outfit again, so I dragged him out shopping.”

“It wasn’t that weird....”

“Were you going to wear a weird sweatshirt again?”

Hesh adjusted the position of his black beanie and looked at me.

I protested weakly.

“It was from that online select shop you told me about. It really wasn’t that weird.”

“Hilde, don’t you just sort items by popularity and buy whatever fits your size?”

“If it’s sorted by popularity, aren’t they all good clothes?”

We walked down the cool corridor as I answered Tom’s pointed comment.

Hesh blinked, and Ami pulled the ice cream out of her mouth before speaking.

“Hilde, your face and height are being wasted.”

...Are they? I usually buy achromatic clothes, so nothing should look that odd.

I liked the era when I had a uniform. Last year, as a first-year, I wore the Badger dress uniform. Everyone kept telling me to just endure the discomfort for one year, but I had no complaints.

It was convenient....

“You look so classy dressed like this.”

“Really? Thanks.”

“That jacket was a great buy!”

Hearing Hesh’s praise, Ami hopped excitedly as if admiring her own choice of clothing.

I gave a faint smile and used my thumb to wipe the smear of ice cream on my senior’s cheek.

“Hilde, you’re insanely handsome when you’re in sharp, structured achromatic clothes.”

Personally, I liked comfy sweatshirts, baseball jackets, and windbreakers.

I didn’t argue back. I’d always been used to wearing whatever others told me to wear.

We discussed the incoming rookies as we stepped into the elevator.

Ding!

The elevator doors slid open immediately.

Light and sound poured out.

“See you later.”

This year, everyone would sit with their respective seniors.

It wasn’t entirely voluntary for all of us, but that’s how the consensus landed. Judging by their expressions, Hesh and Tom didn’t look too upset. Looked like everyone successfully avoided the worst table options.

Wishing each other safe survival, we scattered toward tables where we recognized faces.

I also headed to the senior who had arrived first.

“Senior.”

He was my savior.

“Thank you so much for inviting me to drink with you.”

Jonathan Kudo stared at me as if he couldn’t understand what I meant.

I gave a bitter smile and pulled out the chair across from him.

“Senior Chen and Senior Green also contacted me. I’m grateful they spared time for such a worthless rookie, but... I wanted to drink with you, Senior.”

“You talk smooth as butter~.”

A voice stretched lazily as someone approached the table and sat beside Jonathan.

I smiled as Ricardo sat down—his black turtleneck, gray herringbone jacket, and blue-light glasses matched unbelievably well.

“You’d float with only your mouth above water...”

“...And with you, too, Senior. We’ve never had a drink together, have we?”

“I don’t want to drink with ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) someone who pours vodka like a lunatic~.”

“How cruel. I drink wine perfectly well.”

The smell of mussel stew tickled my nose.

Just like last year, the year-end hall began to fill up. While chatting with my seniors, I looked over the incoming faces.

I saw everyone except Yun, Kal, and Sophia.

Jason Trevain’s crew. Richard Green and his followers. Bobby, Aki with Leeho, Shu, Asil, Walker, Lucia Kwon, Jerry Jones, Dawson, Giacomo Ro....

Leonard and Sylvia weren’t present. They were probably still chasing the deserter.

People poured in and took their seats one by one. The once noisy venue grew steadily quieter.

Those who went to the restroom or stepped outside for a cigarette all returned to the hall.

And then—timed like ghosts—the leadership entered.

Three rookies followed behind them.

Noticing the bright red hair among them, I smiled faintly.

“Hello.”

Yehyeon’s voice rang across the top floor.

“You’re all here. Let’s begin.”

The year-end party had started.

***

There were three rookies in total. Hesh’s younger brother, Luke Lyle. The former F1 superstar Jack Black—Kairos.

And the one absolutely terrified: Nana Dol.

Nana had jet-black, extremely curly hair. She had freckles like Tom. She looked like a grad student.

She was also the most nervous person in the room. Even from here, I could see her faintly trembling.

If Yehyeon talks to her she might actually collapse.

The Commander must have thought something similar, because after finishing his opening remarks, he looked to Luke first.

“Luke. What would you like to drink?”

Luke was quite different from Hesh.

I felt it the first time we met—this junior didn’t talk much. He wasn’t lively or easily fired up like his older brother.

But he definitely had the same stubbornness, competitiveness, and willpower.

You could see it in his eyes.

Even now, he met Yehyeon’s gaze squarely.

“I’ll have a dark beer.”

“A proper younger brother of Hesh Lyle.”

The seniors’ mutterings reached my ears.

“They look really alike.”

“But their personalities seem totally different?”

“Different is better. I like calm kids.”

“Two siblings joining together... haven’t seen that in a while. Must have good genes.”

“I heard their father’s a soldier.”

“A three-star general or something.”

“Think he’ll break a beer glass too?”

Ignoring the murmurs filling the hall, Yehyeon and Luke Lyle clinked glasses.

“I’m glad to welcome a younger brother as capable as your senior. I look forward to working with you.”

Clink!

Luke downed the beer in one go.

The glass landed safely on the table.

The seniors, disappointed but supportive, applauded vigorously.

“Who’s his mentor~?”

In the applause, Ricardo asked quietly.

Watching Luke bow politely, I answered:

“I haven’t met him before. Adrien Wood.”

According to Ami, he was diligent and kind.

Seeing Ricardo nod silently, it seemed Ami’s assessment was accurate. I decided I should share this good news with Hesh later and turned my attention to the head table.

Yehyeon moved his gaze carefully toward Nana.

“Nana. What would you like to drink?”

“Ah, um, I—I’ll....”

Nana’s large eyes darted around anxiously.

“I’ll have makgeolli!”

“Makgeolli?”

Yehyeon smiled, surprised.

“You like makgeolli?”

“Yes!”

...Makgeolli?

I watched Yehyeon ask for makgeolli, and watched Ska or Gilbert fail to understand what makgeolli was.

Ami, sitting near the head table, sprang to her feet and grabbed something.

Yehyeon accepted it and opened the cap.

A cloudy, milky-white liquid.

“Don’t be too nervous. You’ll do well.”

Clink!

Nana squeezed her eyes shut and downed the makgeolli in one shot.

Clang!

And then she thoroughly shattered her glass.

“I’m sorry!”

“That’s the spirit!”

“Nice! Break ‘em as much as you want, rookie!”

The once-quiet seniors burst into cheers.

“Break as many as you want to drink!”

Yehyeon gestured for them to settle down.

The heated hall quickly calmed. Applause softened, seniors composed themselves.

As the noise subsided, my throat began to dry.

I reached for the glass and poured water.

Even as I lifted the full glass toward my lips, I couldn’t take my eyes off the head table.

“Jack Black.”

Yehyeon shifted his gaze to Kairos.

“What will you drink?”

The silence was perfect.

The seniors, uncharacteristically, held their breath. Everyone was focused on Jack Black.

Well, he was incredibly famous. I hadn’t known—having zero interest in media—but even Yun and Ricardo, who also didn’t care for that stuff, said they knew who Jack Black was.

And Kairos said that after officially becoming a Badger, quite a few seniors had visited him, claiming to be fans.

Even now, I saw faces clearly trying to hold back cheers....

Don’t mess up, Kairos.

The Empire’s finest necromancer looked at Yehyeon with orange eyes and smiled broadly.

“Commander. I’ll have apple cider.”

Hm?

Did we have apple cider?

I blinked, confused, but Yehyeon smiled warmly.

“All right. Ska. Bring the Humble apple cider.”

“HUMBLE!”

Suddenly the seniors screamed.

“How expensive is that?!”

“Humble provided alcohol? Why didn’t I know?! Why didn’t anyone tell me?!”

“Damn, the rookie’s drinking the pricey stuff!”

“Leave some for us!”

“Leave some! Maybe it’s nothing to you, BlackJack, but we’re desperate!”

“Bobby! You never said Humble was providing drinks!”

“Sorry~. I already tasted it~.”

Oh, come on.

That’s the cider I brewed.

Only now, facing the seniors who were losing their minds, did I realize.

Humble was one of the restaurant chains owned by Bobby Winter’s father, Claudio Winter. Among them, the highest-end line—Humble—had taken my cider. I didn’t know how much Claudio was selling it for, but since I’d been paid a huge sum, it definitely wasn’t being sold cheaply.

I watched Yehyeon pour cider for Kairos.

But how did he even know it existed?

“It won’t be easy, but I’ll count on you.”

Clink!

Kairos downed the cider smoothly.

The empty glass landed elegantly on the table.

“I look forward to working with you as well, Commander.”

A roar of cheers exploded.

Now the year-end party truly began.

***

I let my guard down.

The attention was finally off me. Sure, I’d be dragged around by excited seniors for a while, but what trouble could happen while pouring drinks and giving greetings?

Especially since he’d said, ‘I can’t drink as well as you, but I can drink enough not to make mistakes.’

And he was someone who could be the most professional person in the room in any official setting.

I figured I could relax and drink comfortably for a while.

I thought that as I politely poured drinks for Ricardo and Jonathan.

Then someone shouted loudly enough to shake the hall.

“BlackJack! What the hell are you doing here!”

The booming call echoed.

The voice was so loud that most seniors froze.

Ricardo, Jonathan, and I all turned toward the same spot.

I saw someone whose face was red but whose reason wasn’t completely gone. The unnamed senior clutched a green bottle and waited for Kairos’ answer.

Kairos, who had been receiving a drink from Jason Trevain near the head table.

My fellow Titan blinked, smile still intact.

“Are you asking about my motive for joining the Black Badgers?”

“Yes! Not the interview answer—the real reason!”

The senior was unfazed by the attention pouring on him.

“What’s the real reason you abandoned a multi-billion paycheck to come here?!”

“He probably didn’t want to get old.”

Someone muttered.

That seemed to snap the nearby seniors awake, and they pulled the man back.

“Why are you asking something that obvious? Just drink your damn liquor, Dante. You’re embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing Dante.”

“Get a grip, man.”

“Shut up! I want to hear it from him!”

“Stop disgracing the Black Badgers.”

“Cut him some slack, BlackJack. He used to be your hardcore fan....”

“No worries. I’ll answer. It’s not a difficult question.”

Kairos laughed lightly.

I sipped my drink as I watched his refreshing smile.

Dante wanted the “real” reason, not the public one... but sadly, he’d never get one. That guy was a master at dodging troublesome questions.

What’s he going to say?

Drinking my whiskey, I made a guess.

Maybe something like, “I like leaving when applause is loudest.”

“I joined because I came to follow Hildebert.”

Pfffft—

I sprayed whiskey.

“He’s my old friend.”

.......

...Kairos....

I told you not to cause trouble....