Regular rescue mission.
Phrased like that, one might wonder what it could possibly be, but it's actually something that happens quite naturally in reality.
"If people keep tripping and getting hurt in a place I manage, I’d naturally look into it more often. It’s like that."
It refers to the act of performing rescue duties by regularly patrolling and checking if anyone is in danger while working near natural features or facilities where people frequently get into accidents.
It was similar at the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau.
"We designate a few Supernatural Disasters and enter those ghost stories every few months or so to check on them."
To see if anyone is in need of rescue.
However, one most important prerequisite is added.
-A ghost story where reporting for rescue is impossible.
"It's for people who can't cry out 'Save me~' even if they're caught in a Supernatural Disaster."
Indeed. Due to their nature, some ghost stories make it impossible to request rescue using phones or other means.
In such ghost stories, if Agents can enter and exit relatively safely, the Emergency Rescue Squad conducts rounds as part of their regular duties.
‘…Certainly, there were Exploration Records written based on that setting.’
This was the case when documenting changes over time was a key point of interest, or when points that changed as rounds accumulated were the draw.
In this regard, it could be seen as similar to the assigned Darkness that Daydream Inc. would allocate to employees or teams.
Though the purpose here was incomparably more noble….
Agent Choi, who had been getting on my nerves just moments ago, now wore a fairly reliable expression as he casually brushed back his hair.
"And this ghost story… well, it’s not dangerous as long as you follow the rules quickly and correctly, but due to the nature of those rules, things only run smoothly if it’s a two-person team. It’s a job for two."
Huh?
"But earlier you said it was for three…."
"Right! Our Hubae is the tag-along extra!"
E-Extra….
My mind went blank for a moment at being treated like a tag-along for the first time in my life, but I soon realized it was a huge gain and shut my mouth.
‘Whatever it is, it'll be less scary with more people.’
Besides, the Agents of the Management Bureau likely wouldn't have any trolls among them.
The lineup was even made up of very familiar people.
"Me and Jaekwan!"
Agent Choi roughly traced a shape in the air with his hand for Agent Bronze, who had briefly disappeared for a report, then pointed back and forth between himself and the shape.
Then, that hand pointed toward me.
"And our dear Kkakdugi."
"Y-yes…."
I gave up on everything and gave a hollow Positive.
At that, Agent Choi, who had been peering at my expression, smirked and tapped my shoulder.
"Man, you've got a lot of patience."
"…?"
"Let's go. Jaekwan’s neck is going to grow long from waiting! Your senior will find his way to the destination on his own too~"
Agent Choi led me toward the elevator.
The location was the second basement floor.
"You wonder why the guys who go out for field work are at the headquarters? You can assume most of them are waiting on the second basement floor."
An explanation followed that they were allocated a relatively lower floor because getting out quickly was often a matter of life and death.
And as soon as we stepped out of the elevator and turned the corner of the hallway, a nameplate came into view.
[Hyunmoo Team 1]
Agent Choi opened the door buoyantly.
"Ta-da! Welcome to the Hyunmoo Team 1 standby area!"
The inside was… an unexpectedly cozy space.
There was a circular sofa, a pantry area, blankets, and a bookshelf randomly stuffed with board games, philosophy books, and comic books.
Like the rest areas for officials in public institutions, it didn't have an expensive or modern feel, but it gave off a strange impression of a club room.
Even old doodles remained intact on the whiteboard on the wall.
-The best rescue worker was here
-If you play EDM at my funeral, a Dokkaebi will take you away -I will never forget our Hyunmoo Team 1 forever …It seemed the final messages left by those who could no longer perform their duties were piling up without being erased.
It was the polar opposite of the clean, private individual office spaces of the Elite Squad at Daydream Inc.
"Haha, a fellow who retired a while ago said home interior was his hobby and even picked up a haunted picture frame… isn't it great? Just sitting here makes work come to you automatically!"
"Yes. …It's a pleasant space."
"……."
Agent Choi, who had been silent as if slightly flustered, gave a thin smile.
"Right? I told you it's a good team. I wasn't lying."
"……."
"In that sense, hey, you could join our team too—"
"I'm fine."
I almost gave him an opening.
"Sure, sure! We still have time."
Agent Choi guided me to the sofa, and we sat facing each other to catch our breath for a moment.
There was a table between the two sofas, and it was bumpy because it was covered with a tablecloth, perhaps to keep off dust, but it felt strangely familiar.
"Phew! Let's rest for a bit until Jaekwan gets here."
"Okay."
"And… this."
Agent Choi suddenly wore a slightly warm smile and pulled out a well-sealed piece of paper from his coat.
…It was that scrap of paper I had given him, the one purchased at the Manhole Market.
Gasp.
"I'm sorry, but it seems there's no Supernatural Disaster in the Management Bureau database that matches the writing on this note."
"……."
I suppose so. Since that was just a hint to the location of the laboratory behind the manhole….
And as if used to this situation, Agent Choi added words to soothe the newcomer.
"Perhaps… the Bureau hasn't caught it yet, but these things happen frequently, so let's wait a bit and take our time."
"……."
"Will you be okay?"
He was likely asking because what he said meant, 'I don't think we can save the person this time.'
However, I nodded.
"…Really?"
"Yes."
I took a breath and accepted the note Agent Choi held out.
‘Actually, I’ve already confirmed the corpse of the Researcher I traded with….’
If this were a real situation… I probably would have answered like this.
"Still, I think there's meaning in the fact that we tried."
"……."
Agent Choi didn't respond for a moment.
‘…Was that too cliché?’
In that moment of slight regret.
"Hubae, give that back to me."
"…?!"
Agent Choi reached out his hand to me again.
"I'll look into it just one more time."
"Pardon?"
"Once you've eaten as much experience as I have, you have know-how beyond just the database. I might as well try one more time."
…And so, the paper note went back to Agent Choi.
My conscience hurt a bit, but I endured it since my life was on the line too. I should repay them by working hard like an ox at the Management Bureau….
"……Thank you."
"Okay."
This time, Agent Choi didn't say things like 'join the team if you're grateful,' but just smirked.
‘…Is he planning to ask the informants he knows?’
Agent Choi had so many Exploration Records that he was involved with many factions.
In the end, it meant he had become a character with a wide range of diverse connections.
So, saying he would look into it one more time probably meant he would dig for information outside the Management Bureau as well.
‘It doesn't matter.’
Didn't it literally mean he would just glance over it? It was probably a trick to try and entice me into Hyunmoo Team 1 one more time….
…Wait a minute.
‘Don't tell me… he's actually going to find the ghost story?’
Going into a disastrously unconvincing development where there happens to be a ghost story matching that paper… no, that couldn't be it.
Well, it was just a delusion that made me break into a cold sweat just thinking about it. Let's stop.
And right after Agent Choi tucked the paper note back into his coat, the final Agent for today's mission finally opened the door to the waiting room and entered.
"Oh, Jaekwan!"
Agent Bronze strode in and sat on the sofa.
Right, this is the one I should express the pain of my conscience to!
I abruptly bowed my head.
"Agent Bronze! I'm, well, I'm sorry…."
"…Yes?"
"You went to such lengths for me, but I didn't handle the work properly in the Field Cleanup Unit…."
"……."
I'm apologizing like this, so please give me just one more chance.
I haven't given up on that Field Cleanup Unit yet…!
Then, Agent Bronze let out a small sigh and shook his head.
"You don't have to apologize."
"Exactly~ It's weirder to apologize for an Agent smashing a Supernatural Disaster!"
"……Agent Choi."
"Oh boy, Jaekwan is scary~ Let's work, let's work."
When Agent Bronze glared at him, Agent Choi hurriedly pulled out the briefing documents while feigning innocence.
…Thanks to that, I missed my chance to appeal. I should aim for the next opportunity.
An opportunity will arise again if we go into today's work together anyway.
"Hubae, how far did I get?"
"Ah, you mentioned that today's mission is for a three-person team…."
"Right! But you know what? In addition to that, a very reliable person will be helping us."
Agent Choi pointed to the wall next to the sofa.
A translucent curtain hung loosely there.
"It's our Elder. The Team leader!"
"……."
A curtain?
I barely managed to speak.
"…I, I can't see anyone."
"You can't see them, but you believe they're there!"
"……."
"The Elder heard a newcomer was coming today and insisted on helping."
‘Is this perhaps a hazing for the newcomer?’
I was starting to get confused.
Just as I was about to scour the Dark Exploration Records in my head to see if someone had actually transformed into a curtain or if that was even possible, I ended up standing politely in front of the curtain at Agent Choi's urging.
"Jaekwan stands here, and the Hubae stands in the middle… Great."
Agent Bronze, me, Agent Choi.
Then Agent Choi stepped forward and pulled back the curtain.
Light poured through the gap in the curtains.
"…!!"
Behind the translucent curtain, there was surprisingly a glass window that hadn't been visible.
Of course, since this was the basement, the outside wasn't visible, and only an auspicious and numinous light like an aurora danced outside the window.
A window pane undulating between lattice frames like a paper door.
"Fascinating, isn't it? I heard this was made with some mysterious glass and this and that… but I don't really know."
Agent Choi approached with a smile.
"The important thing is that the Elder watches over this place through this!"
The Elder.
"Who… exactly is the Elder?"
"I told you. He's the Team leader of our Hyunmoo Team 1!"
Surprisingly, Agent Bronze stayed still without rebutting. It meant it was the truth.
"Jaekwan. That."
Agent Bronze politely removed the cloth covering the table between the sofas.
Whoosh.
What was placed on the revealed table was… food.
‘Buckwheat jelly, and… raw chocolate?’
What kind of combination was this?
"Now. Wave your hands."
Agent Choi took the lead and raised both hands. Since even Agent Bronze raised his, I quickly followed suit and raised my hands too.
"May you receive many blessings today as well, Elder!"
Then we all performed a deep bow toward the window.
"…?!"
"We ask for your help with today's mission."
I was out of my mind, having never read about such a thing in the Dark Exploration Records. But like a newcomer, I followed along and bowed.
The moment I stood up.
"…!!"
My body began to shrink.
My field of vision lowered, and my hands and feet became smaller. Everything that came into view wobbled as it grew slightly larger.
No, what was wobbling was my head! My head, which was relatively large compared to my shrunken body, had briefly lost its balance and tottered.
"Heh."
My voice had changed too. And….
The transformation stopped.
"……."
"……."
Now, there were only two things in my sight that hadn't grown larger than before.
The two people on either side of me.
"Preparation complete. Thank you, Elder."
I turned my head.
In the spot where Agent Choi had been, an elementary schooler was standing, looking at me thoroughly as if inspecting me.
No, I mean… it was a young Agent Choi! A child's face displayed that same slickness and ease!
"Are you alright?"
On the other side was Agent Bronze as a child. This one was equally stoic, no, wait….
‘Oh my god.’
I looked down at my hands.
I also saw the arms of the child Dokkaebi Fire, its size reduced to match my shrunken body.
Instead of a thumbs up, it waved its hand at me excitedly.
"Good. Mission preparation complete."
"……."
"Today's Supernatural Disaster is… a place where only 'the proper children of the new nation' can enter normally."
"……."
"So that means we've all become 8-year-old children!"
I think I'm going to lose my mind.
Discussion