Jaeyeon snatched me away from Lee Seunghyun and dragged me toward the car.
The cold wind stole the heat from my body. I shivered at the chill that cut through the air. I had no time or sense to figure out where I was coming from or where I was headed.
I simply followed where Jaeyeon led # Nоvеlight # and ended up boarding a limousine.
A pleasant warmth wrapped around me. Colton was already seated inside. Sitting across from me, he watched in silence as I half-collapsed onto the seat with a small groan.
Jaeyeon climbed in beside me and slammed the door shut.
In a car that could easily fit six people in the back seat, silence settled.
“Thanks.”
Half-sprawled across the seat, I muttered faintly.
“What time is it?”
“The mark on your stomach’s more impressive.”
Instead of answering, Jaeyeon grabbed my shirt and pulled it up.
Too tired to argue, I just lay there. The car glided forward smoothly. I heard Colton set down the file he’d been holding and adjust the watch on his wrist.
My old friend broke the silence.
“Pathetic sight.”
I knew he’d say that.
I propped myself up with my elbow.
“No excuse. Got myself kidnapped like a damn idiot.”
Judging from Colton’s attitude, it didn’t seem like Jaeyeon’s doing. I met the sharp blue eyes of my long-time friend, who was studying me coldly.
“Do you know who took me?”
“Would it change anything if I did?”
That was just like him.
Ignoring Jaeyeon, who was busy taking pictures of the “lab rat” stamp on my body, I let out a sigh.
“I didn’t think my skills were that bad... But to your ears, that’s just an excuse, right? Fine. Forget it for now. Are we heading to the testing site?”
“Hospital.”
“Eh?”
His short reply made my voice jump.
I pushed Jaeyeon’s arm away and widened my eyes.
“What hospital? Why are we going to a hospital? My exam starts at nine-thirty!”
“You can barely walk.”
“Ah.”
That’s ridiculous.
I turned my head back and forth frantically but couldn’t find a clock. Desperate, I looked pleadingly between the authoritative friend across from me and Jaeyeon, who sat slouched beside me.
“I can do it. Please, just take me to the exam. I’ve done it before—it works. Even when my arm turned to ashes, I still managed to grab the dragon.”
“Not that story again!”
Jaeyeon groaned.
“God, I wish you’d shut up about that. Those were good times—when you couldn’t even remember to bring it up.”
“I’ll stop if you take me there.”
“What for? To put on a dropout show in front of the rookies?”
“Hey, no.”
I tried clenching my hands and feet.
It felt like I had a bit more strength than before. If it kept improving at this rate, maybe I’d recover slowly. The drugs flooding my system might start to thin out. The external injuries were only burns and bruises. If the drugs diluted, the situation might improve a lot.
Maybe food would help too.
The window reflected a pale, white sky. I glanced outside at the passing scenery before turning back.
“Can’t we just neutralize the drug somehow?”
Colton looked at me for a long time.
“You both knew the exam was today. That’s why you rushed here, right?”
“You’re planning to go there with that stamped on your forehead?”
“Ah, that.”
I touched my forehead.
It still burned hot. When I pressed it, the pain flared again.
Less than the ache in my stomach, though.
“Think it’ll come off?”
“Want me to remove it?”
Jaeyeon grinned crookedly.
“Forehead stamps are free of charge~.”
I looked at Colton.
His hair was neatly slicked back, and his dark suit was immaculate. The cane with its smooth silver handle stood at an angle against the back corner seat.
Ah, the good old days.
Seeing what hadn’t changed brought the past rushing back. Back then, they used to attend operas or exhibitions together. Jaeyeon would take on a woman’s form, matching Colton’s age, her arm linked through his, smiling elegantly. A scarlet dress. Opera glass engraved with angels. Delicate silk gloves that revealed half the skin beneath.
And Colton had struck Jaeyeon with that very cane when she tried to climb onto him.
Now he sat perfectly still.
I gave a quiet laugh.
“You’re mad.”
My friend’s face didn’t change.
“At least you can tell.”
Oh, sure...
He must be pissed that I ended up under Yehyeon’s command, that my skills were still a wreck, that I’d ended up like this right before the exam.
But none of it could be helped.
And even if I had fallen through a Portal into Colton’s Core instead, I would never have chosen to work under him.
Yeah. That part must annoy him even more.
“Don’t be mad.”
I spoke as gently as I could.
“I’ve actually gotten better, you know.”
He answered only by arching a brow and letting his gaze sweep over my injuries.
I gave a bitter smile.
“Just a little longer. I’m working on it.”
“Wait long enough, and I’ll be receiving your corpse.”
“I’m not dying until I’ve fixed what I started.”
Not that that’s really up to me.
The memory of our reunion at the social hall came to mind.
So did what he’d said to me back then: ‘We’ll talk when you’re officially cleared to work within the Core.’
If I passed the promotion exam, that would happen.
My voice came out low and rough.
“Once I pass, I’ll be able to move more freely.”
My old friend understood.
“You don’t have much time.”
Dawn broke outside the window.
The black leather seats were touched with light.
Dust motes danced between the silver rays.
Colton stayed silent for a while, then gestured lightly.
“To the testing site.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Remove it.”
My collar was grabbed.
Jaeyeon shoved my upper body back.
Flat against the seat, I blinked up at him—no, at the laser pointer-like device in his hand.
“This’ll sting~.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
Watching him smile like a dermatologist as he brought the laser close made me unbearably tired.
I sighed and dropped my arms in resignation.
“While you’re at it, erase the one on my stomach too.”
“That part costs extra~.”
God, I’m exhausted...
I closed my eyes and endured the burning pain on my forehead.
Until the smooth limousine rolled to a stop at the exam site.
***
We arrived at 8:40.
I’d endured hell in that car. The “treatment” hurt like nothing else. I’d honestly considered just taking the exam with the damn “lab rat” mark still on me. No matter how much I clenched my teeth, vowing not to make a sound in front of them, groans slipped out anyway.
By the time it was over and the car stopped at the site, I was drenched in cold sweat.
Colton sighed deeply and handed me a fresh shirt.
“Thanks.”
I changed inside the car into the perfectly tailored shirt.
Colton said nothing, and Jaeyeon admired his work with satisfaction.
“See? Told you I’ve got good hands.”
He grabbed my chin and tilted my face up, admiring his handiwork.
“If we hadn’t treated it right away, you’d have a scar.”
“Thanks. Would’ve been better if you’d used anesthesia, though.”
“No chance.”
He snickered and released my chin.
Then he jerked his head, signaling me to get out.
He even tossed me my phone. I caught it and climbed out of the limousine carefully, trying not to repeat the pathetic scene from the abduction. I refused to show these two any more weakness.
Thankfully, this time I made it out without issue.
The sea was visible.
“I owe you one.”
Listening to the waves crash, I looked back at the limousine.
Jaeyeon didn’t even look up from his phone.
Colton rolled his eyes, bright blue irises cutting into me.
My old friend’s voice was unreadable.
“Stop living like a fool.”
A fool?
I’m the fool here?
Just as I was about to respond, the tinted window rolled up.
My dumbfounded expression reflected in the black glass—wide eyes, smooth forehead.
Before I could open my mouth, the car started moving.
And there I was, left standing blankly in front of the exam hall.
...Huh.
I only snapped out of it when my phone rang.
[Commander]
Ah...
Seeing the name on the screen, I closed my eyes tight.
I covered them with my hand for a moment. I needed time to brace myself.
Once I did, I answered, sounding solemn.
“Yes.”
I pretended to be calm.
“Commander. I’ve just arrived at the testing site.”
[You’re not taking the exam today.]
That voice—firm, cold.
The instant I heard it, I knew that if I tried to insist, I’d be crushed. Yehyeon’s tone was sharper and icier than ever.
He’d called with full intent.
This was bad.
If I tried, ‘I’m fine! I can do this!’, he’d probably reply with something like, ‘Are you defying an order?’
I steadied my scattered mind.
Then chose my words carefully.
“I have a request.”
[Let me guess. You want permission to take the exam.]
“Yes. I’m not being stubborn without reason.”
Yehyeon didn’t respond.
I took advantage of the pause.
“That group questioned my recruitment process. It’s unlikely they found that out on their own—someone must have tipped them off and arranged my abduction. Which means someone out there still knows the details of my hiring.”
[And?]
His reply was as cold as Yun’s could ever be.
Terrifying.
I swallowed hard, more frightened than when facing my mentor.
Then, mustering courage, I continued.
“If I don’t take the exam with the rest of my intake, someone will use that against me.”
[You have a perfectly valid reason not to attend.]
“But the sooner I pass, the sooner I can do what I need to do.”
[I’ll arrange a supplementary test.]
“They’ll latch onto that. There’s no way information like this won’t leak. The exam is coordinated with external agencies, after all—”
[Hilde.]
Terrifying.
“Yes, sir.”
[Go to the hospital.]
I bit my lip hard.
The salt-tanged sea breeze whipped through my white hair.
Far off, waves churned in the wind.
Feeling that gust wash over me, I pleaded.
“I really want to take this exam. Please let me.”
[Why are you so obsessed with this exam?]
“Because Kyle is back.”
A long silence.
I didn’t waste it.
I pressed forward.
“Falcon must’ve seen the need for it too, or he wouldn’t have arranged to have me transferred here. I’ll pass. I promise.”
From the silence that followed, I could sense Yehyeon’s hesitation.
He knew I had a point.
The Black Badger promotion exam wasn’t just some internal event.
Its schedule was publicly posted on the official site, and after each test, the names and profiles of those promoted were released. The media even covered new official Badgers every year. These are the new Black Badgers, they’d say.
It was treated more seriously than most national exams.
A private retest would cause a scandal.
There had never been one before.
Yehyeon was probably weighing that reality against every other factor.
Listening to that drawn-out silence, I added:
“And really, I’m fine. Jaeyeon personally removed the mark from my forehead.”
[You always push yourself too hard.]
His voice came heavy—with sadness, anger, resignation.
[And you’re terrible at pretending you’re fine.]
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
Got him.
“I’ll return safely after I pass.”
[If anything goes wrong, I’ll pull you out immediately.]
“Yes. Thank you.”
Hearing Yehyeon’s weary sigh, I replied brightly.
“I’ll do my best!”
Another sigh.
And right as it ended, my classmates’ car arrived at the test site.
The doors flew open, and Hesh and Tom burst out, eyes wide, running straight toward me.
It was thirty minutes before the exam began.
