[Summons. All HQ Badgers to report to Portal Zone immediately.]
[Summons. All HQ Badgers to report to Portal Zone immediately.]
Portal?
My eyes widened, and I lifted my head.
There had been several summons before, but never one ordering everyone to the Portal Zone.
“Let’s go.”
Yun walked out without a trace of hesitation.
“You know where your locker is now, right?”
“Yes.”
Every Badger at headquarters had a personal locker — where combat suits and personal weapons were stored. Those like me who hadn’t yet passed the promotion test hadn’t been issued personal weapons.
We’d be using shared ones from the locker room.
When I ran there, several seniors were already present.
After giving a quick bow, I began changing.
This time, we even had to wear helmets that looked like gas masks. The black combat suits were thicker, heavier than usual, lined with all sorts of strange devices I couldn’t identify. Yun, already changed in an instant, shoved me into my suit before I could ask anything.
His rough hands had me flailing.
“Ugh!”
My hair got caught!
“My hair!”
Yun yanked out the strands caught in the zipper—or maybe the helmet.
A few others nearby watched us, clearly amused.
“Why can’t you even put on clothes properly?”
“He’s new.”
When Yun muttered in confusion, one of the onlookers snickered.
“Maybe you’re just too rough with him?”
Once I was fully changed, I followed Yun out.
Everyone was dressed the same, but it was easy to pick out my instructor — the quietest, most efficient one in the room.
We were the last to leave the locker area.
“Remember where the Portal Zone is?”
“No.”
Back then I’d been completely out of it.
I hadn’t even remembered what I looked like.
Yun didn’t seem surprised; he just nodded.
“Basement.”
Basement?
It was underground?
I followed in silence, startled.
Ahead, helmeted Badgers were moving with mechanical precision. Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor. I lifted my visor slightly for a better view and kept close behind my senior.
People parted along the walls as we passed — like the Red Sea opening.
Focused solely on Yun’s back, I ran until those ahead suddenly stopped.
I halted with them and looked up.
A gray metal door filled my vision. Clack, clack. The loud, metallic unlocking sound rang in my ears.
Locks disengaged one by one, slow and heavy.
The massive door groaned open inward.
The air changed.
A draft pulled inward as the space beyond revealed itself.
I took a breath as my vision widened.
The Portal Zone.
A familiar sight — one that still made me lose my breath.
Cold light spilled across my eyes. The area was vast enough for several cargo trucks to drive in side by side, and still blindingly pale. Just looking at the color chilled me to the bone.
Two enormous, unidentified devices stood in the center.
People who looked like scientists were checking their pads beside the machines.
At the entrance stood the Personnel Director.
“You’re here.”
He turned from his pad to look at us.
“You see the list?”
He gestured toward a floating display as the incoming Badgers gathered.
“Badgers assigned to B-5 Sector, head to the inner side. Those assigned to B-14, stand by in front of the entry device!”
Most of the Badgers assigned to Sector 5 moved as a group. The smaller number assigned to Sector 14 walked silently to the device near the entrance.
Weapons in hand, they crossed the enormous hall.
Only Yun didn’t move.
Both the Personnel Director and I turned toward him in confusion.
Yun stood still, then raised his visor.
“What’s with this lineup?”
“Pardon?”
Ju tilted his head slightly.
He met Yun’s eyes, smiling with gentle amusement — that same kind, melting smile that could soften anyone’s heart.
Except Choi Yun’s.
It had the opposite effect. The instructor frowned deeply, his irritation palpable even through the helmet.
He looked like he’d just seen something disgusting.
His voice dripped with annoyance.
“Do I really need to spell it out for you?”
Electric hums spread through the device connected to Sector B-5’s portal as Yun growled,
“Why the hell did you bunch all the lunatics into Sector 14?”
“Because of Sylvia and Leonard?”
Ju met Yun’s glare without flinching.
The Personnel Director smiled brightly.
“I know you have a problem with your own kind, but please be patient. They’re both talented, aren’t they?”
“You know it’s not just about those two. Jerry Jones, Lucia Kwon, Gale Dawson, Isaac Lane... do I need to keep going before you get my point?”
“They’ll listen to you, Yun.”
The Director dropped the act of ignorance.
The hallucinated daisies that always seemed to bloom faintly behind him vanished in an instant.
I swallowed hard, watching his smile change.
“Most of the key personnel need to concentrate on Sector 5.”
“Then send everyone there.”
“They need bait.”
His voice lowered, just enough for only us to hear.
“They want a distraction in Sector 14 — something to pull the creatures’ attention away from the Badgers surrounded in Sector 5.”
Ah.
He meant me.
Everything clicked. The Badgers in Sector B were trapped by Creatures. We were being sent through the portal to rescue them — and a team in Sector 14 was needed to draw the monsters away from Sector 5.
That was why Yun and I were placed there.
My kind would sense me, and they’d flock to wherever I was.
A logical choice. I nodded, showing I understood.
But Yun didn’t stop glaring at the Personnel Director.
He stared at that infuriatingly pleasant smile and muttered,
“So I’m supposed to take care of it quietly, is that it?”
“Now, now, think of the juniors!”
Ju abruptly cut him off.
“The kid’s listening!”
What the hell?
I blinked, confused. I couldn’t understand why the Personnel Director answered “think of the juniors” to Yun’s cryptic line—or what exactly Yun meant by “take care of it quietly.”
Then Ju added, “You’ll really get in trouble with Yehyeon,” and the truth hit me.
I turned to Yun in horror.
“You’re not planning to kill anyone, are you?”
“You really are as quick as they say.”
Ju smiled, clearly entertained, studying me.
“Hardly anyone understands Yun’s words right away.”
I’m not sure you should be smiling like that right now...
It was natural that others hadn’t realized what he meant — no sane person would think that way. If I hadn’t spent months under this man’s command, I wouldn’t have understood either.
He was rotten to the core.
Yun ignored me completely as I shook my head in disbelief.
Then, lowering his [N O V E L I G H T] visor, he turned away.
The sociopathic instructor walked straight into the Portal Zone.
“If you’re in a hurry, send them first.”
He meant the Badgers waiting before the Sector 14 portal.
“The rookie hasn’t gone through the compatibility test yet. We’ll check him before inserting him into the portal.”
“Ah, fine.”
Once again, I didn’t fully understand what Yun meant, but the Personnel Director’s easy nod suggested this time it was something normal.
He smiled, lowering his pad.
“That makes sense. Check him first, then proceed.”
Without answering, Yun headed toward the scientists.
The Personnel Director kept smiling brightly.
I gave him a polite nod and followed my instructor.
***
Yun positioned me in front of the Sector 14 portal.
Then he said he needed to fetch the device for the portal-compatibility test and left.
I was suddenly left alone among the senior Badgers ready to move out.
Keeping quiet, I stepped to the back of the group.
Even though most had their visors down, I could feel their stares on me.
The seniors assigned to Sector 5 had already disappeared into the portal, leaving only those bound for Sector 14 in the vast hall.
While waiting for the portal to stabilize, they studied me openly.
It was suffocating.
I lowered my head under their gazes—until someone tapped my arm.
“Rookie.”
I turned toward the voice.
“Yes?”
“What were you doing, lingering by the Personnel Director like that?”
I couldn’t see his face through the helmet.
But judging by the voice and build, he was male.
He was holding a long rifle.
He leaned in close, face hidden behind his helmet.
“You realize this is an emergency, right?”
“I’m sorry.”
Apologizing was faster than arguing.
I was grateful the helmet hid my expression.
I answered in a neutral tone.
“I was told it’s because I haven’t undergone the portal-compatibility test yet.”
“Compatibility test.”
He snorted, as if that were the stupidest phrase in the world.
“That so-called test even idiots pass. And that’s what’s holding us up?”
“Yes. I’m not sure what kind of test it is either, but my instructor said he’s bringing the device.”
“Ridiculous.”
He crossed his arms and gave a mocking laugh.
The gesture oozed condescension.
“Making a big fuss over something like that.”
“I’m sorry.”
“If you’re not compatible, you should just quit being a Badger. Huh?”
“Those who’ve been cleared, prepare to move in thirty seconds.”
A scientist by the device shouted.
I blinked as a faint bluish ripple appeared in the center of the machinery. The portal to Sector 14 was finally stabilizing—its circular shimmer widening as it tore open the space to another world.
“Prepare for transfer. Countdown begins from ten seconds.”
“You’re coming too.”
The man with crossed arms jerked his chin at me.
“It’s an emergency.”
“I was ordered to stay behind.”
“Who outranks who?”
Crackle, crackle.
The portal’s hum grew louder as more seniors turned their attention to it.
No one intervened.
The countdown started. I frowned slightly at the man gripping my arm.
“Ten.”
“What, not going? You realize this is a direct order from the Commander?”
“I’ll go as soon as my instructor returns.”
“Nine.”
“It’s an emergency!”
The senior shouted furiously.
“The summons outranks your precious instructor’s orders!”
I wasn’t refusing to follow the command.
Just delaying it slightly—by my instructor’s judgment.
That’s what I meant to explain, but I was too late.
The senior yanked me forward hard. The portal’s pull was stronger than I’d expected, and though I’d anticipated the man’s strength, I hadn’t anticipated that.
Someone nearby gave me an extra push square in the back.
The countdown kept dropping.
With three seconds left, my body lurched toward the portal.
“Three.”
“Huh? Are you seriously dragging him in?”
“Two.”
Someone gasped and reached to pull me back.
But I’d already lost balance, and the blinding light swallowed my vision.
“One.”
The familiar sensation of being pulled—
That strange, wrenching feeling that never got easier, no matter how many times it happened.
And then, I was gone—sucked into the portal.
***
Thud!
A heavy impact struck my ears before I could regain focus.
With a loud crash, someone fell at my feet.
I looked down—at the senior who’d dragged me in.
My jaw dropped.
“Dawson.”
Then came Yun’s voice, cold and sharp enough to cut.
“Is this mutiny?”
