Black Badger

Chapter 4

The HR director named Joo didn't arrive right away.

Before he did, Ricardo stepped out to take an incoming call and then returned. The man who came back after the call relayed the conversation to me and Ami, saying he'd received contact from the aide.

"The Supreme Commander and the aide won't be able to show their faces until tomorrow~. They asked me to pass on their apologies for the delay...."

"Yes."

I replied politely.

Even so, I thought I didn't particularly want to run into the higher-ups. The person in the highest position would have been uncomfortable. After all, I'd suddenly popped up and caused him trouble. There was no way he'd looked on me favorably.

I probably couldn't avoid meeting him altogether.

For now, I was satisfied with the fact that I wouldn't have to see him that day, and I shoved the remaining hamburger into my mouth.

As soon as Ami confirmed I'd finished the hamburger, she spoke up.

"Mr. Hilde, please stay and sleep in the headquarters building!" Come to think of it, I didn't even have a place to sleep.

I had no money. No knowledge about this place. No acquaintances to ask for help. And no memories. I literally had nothing. It would have been hard to find someone as empty-handed as me.

What the hell had I done in the past?

I didn't know if my memories would return or not, but if I ever got them back, I vowed never to repeat a mistake like this.

In any case, I was grateful for the offer of a place to sleep.

I bowed my head toward Ami.

"Thank you."

"You don't have any clothes either, right? It would be uncomfortable to sleep in what you're wearing, so let me buy you some pajamas or something. Tell me your size!"

I couldn't remember what size I wore.

Thinking deeper, I realized the horrifying fact that I couldn't even remember what I looked like.

My stomach twisted as if my organs were sinking.

Could a person really forget their own appearance?

This felt truly awful.

Reflexively, I looked down at my body. I'd glanced at it earlier, but fortunately, I wore ordinary clothes. A white shirt, black suit pants, black dress shoes.

I stared at them blankly before slowly lifting my head.

My expression must have soured. People looked at me intently with changed expressions.

Just like when I'd first opened my eyes a few hours ago, I could feel the gazes of those around me piercing me.

Even facing those expressions, I couldn't bring myself to say I was fine.

I stared straight ahead, unable to manage my expression.

"Um...."

They waited patiently for me to continue.

"If it's okay.... uh.... could I see a mirror?"

A flicker of realization crossed their faces.

They quickly brought me a mirror.

I took it slowly and, avoiding their reactions, looked at the reflective surface.

A stranger's face appeared in the mirror. He looked to be in his mid-20s. Tanned skin and white hair. Distinct features, with golden eyes that sharpened the impression.

Was this what I looked like?

The face in the mirror felt unfamiliar.

The fact that my own face felt alien twisted my gut.

At least the fragmented memories that sporadically surfaced were too mundane and boring to piece together the life of someone named Hildebert Talev.

What kind of life had led to this situation? I knew the names of the Earth and countries, food names, but forgetting my own face was clearly abnormal by anyone's standards.

I barely suppressed a sigh of lament.

At that moment, the door to the infirmary slowly opened.

"Kang Joo!"

Ro, who had been playing a mobile game, bounced off the bed.

"Hey! You're really back at work?!"

Holy shit, this is insane! Ro let out a straightforward exclamation and grinned, holding up his phone.

At his shout, everyone's heads turned simultaneously.

Even I, lost in despair, dumbly turned to look where Ro stared.

Click-click-click-click. Ro madly snapped photos of the entering man with his phone. The flashes burst noisily in the white infirmary.

The man ignored the reaction and entered calmly.

(Probably) HR Director Kang Joo.

...He looked completely fine.

I blinked at the East Asian man in a black suit. He ignored Ami's cry of, "Ro! Take a picture with the clock too! Got it?" and approached me.

I observed the protagonist of the bizarre rumors that had been circulating.

He wasn't short. His face looked at most mid-20s. Black hair and black eyes. Gentle eyes with a round curve. A smile different from Ricardo's—warm and kind.

A dazzling smile that seemed to accept any foolish words from the ignorant with benevolence....

The HR director, who stopped at an appropriate spot, had an impression that suited a kindergarten teacher more than his title.

He smiled at everyone.

"Hello."

The HR director opened with a clear, soft voice.

"Have you shown Mr. Hilde to a place to sleep?"

We hadn't even introduced ourselves yet.

His natural question caught me off guard. The others looked at the HR director with surprised expressions too.

A brief silence fell.

Ricardo recovered first.

"We were just about to guide him~."

"Good."

HR Director Kang Joo smiled gently.

Ricardo's gentle smile carried an unavoidable slyness and sharpness, while Kang Joo's held the affection of a kindergarten teacher looking at cute children.

Maintaining his smile, he turned his gaze to me.

"Wow."

Kang Joo laughed as he looked at me frozen in place.

"You're really handsome. I'm so glad to meet you like this, Mr. Hilde."

"Ah, yes. Nice to meet you too. I'm Hildebert Talev."

My voice trailed off at the end.

I didn't know what to add, so I kept silent.

He must have heard that an augmented body had been implanted in me, because the man smiled brightly as he looked down at me.

Ro and Ami snapped photos of Kang Joo again.

"Is this really you?"

Ro said, flashing wildly.

The HR director neatly ignored Ro's words.

"You don't have clothes either, right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"I'll buy you pajamas and underwear. Do you have any preferred designs?"

Pardon?

My eyes widened.

Kang Joo naturally ignored my reaction.

"I know your size from the health checkup. But I don't know personal preferences, so I was asking if you have any favorite designs or styles."

"No.... As long as it fits, it's fine."

Why was he asking about style?

"I'm grateful just for you buying them. Really."

"How about this? It seems like it would suit your eye color, Mr. Hilde."

Kang Joo pulled out his phone and held the screen in front of me.

I stared at the purchase page for a black silk pajama set.

Just moments ago, Ricardo and I had been talking about unregistered serial numbers on guns and missiles.... And now, the HR director, who had come after hearing about a mysterious augmented body possessor, asked about my pajama preferences. And for underwear, if I had a preferred style, to let him know.

I fell into chaos but tried hard not to show it outwardly.

As a result, my face stiffened.

Maintaining a blank state, I nodded.

"It looks great."

"Right?"

"It looks like total crap."

Ro, who had craned his neck to check the pajamas, said.

"What kind of pajamas are these anyway? Just tell him to wear a T-shirt and shorts or something. If it were me, I'd throw this in the trash right away."

"It definitely doesn't suit you, Ro."

"Hey! It's not about me; the pajamas themselves are crap!"

"How about these for underwear?"

Please just buy anything.... I beg you.

Of course, I couldn't show my inner thoughts. I showed a mechanical, unnatural smile.

"They're the best."

Kang Joo smiled as brightly as a blooming flower.

"Then I'll order these and these. I hope the real thing pleases you more than the photos, Mr. Hilde."

"Of course."

"With your good taste, it surely will."

"Thanks for the compliment."

"Hey. You okay? You seem a bit off. It's hard to stay normal around this guy, though."

Ro examined my face from various angles. Ricardo bowed his head and chuckled softly. His shoulders shook slightly.

Ami also looked at my face with wide eyes.

Kang Joo continued without minding the reactions around him.

"Then I'll have these delivered to your sleeping quarters. Move to the lounge and rest."

"Huh?"

Ami made a sound.

"We can just end it like this?"

Kang Joo turned his head toward Ami and smiled wryly.

The HR director, who had bent over to show me his phone, slowly straightened up and explained.

"Of course. At least Mr. Hilde, who has no memories, isn't the type to let things slip or cause incidents, right? He's telling the truth, and if we ask him to keep our secrets, he will. So, Ami, could you guide Mr. Hilde to the High Command temporary bedroom?"

"Has this been reported to the Commander~?"

Ricardo asked, crossing his legs.

Kang Joo smiled at the green-eyed man.

"Of course. Ye-hyeon entrusted me with full authority."

That's interesting.

What was the HR director seeing to evaluate me so positively? I didn't even know what kind of person I was myself.

We hadn't even had a proper conversation or introduction.

Of course, he must have reviewed the CCTV footage of me since I fell from the portal. Even so, it was too short a time to gauge a person.

"Ro, you can head home now."

But no one voiced any complaints outright.

They didn't seem particularly anxious either. As soon as Ro heard the HR director's order, he left without even a greeting.

"Ricardo, you should head home soon too. You never know when a creature might pop up, so get some rest."

Ricardo laughed long and lazily got up, patted my shoulder, and left.

The HR director, standing beside me as I bowed to Ricardo, turned his gaze to Ami.

"Ami."

Round eyes and gaze.

"Please guide Mr. Hilde to the temporary High Command bedroom."

"Yes."

Ami replied clearly and turned to look into my eyes.

"Mr. Hilde. The bedroom is three floors up. I'll show you the way."

I quietly followed behind Ami.