What's Your Name?
“......Gone again?”
Do-jin was in the middle of a meeting with the guild executives, discussing the recent [High School Student Serial Disappearances]. Photos of the missing filled the wall screen, and everyone's faces were unusually grim. All the victims were teenagers.
“This incident... doesn't it feel off somehow?”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“If it were just a simple disappearance, it wouldn't have come to us.”
“Kids are vanishing, yet no one remembers they even existed. Even with these photos right here.”
If students were definitely disappearing, surely their families, friends, or teachers would remember them. But when they showed photos to the school staff and asked who was missing, the responses were bizarre.
—“I don't know. Was there a student like that?”
Everyone perceived their existence as hazy. As if those students had never existed in the first place. A bizarre situation where they only knew the student body count had decreased.
“Any reports of Netherworld manifestations?”
One executive nodded at Do-jin's question.
“None confirmed so far. No Netherworld formations detected.”
“Then it's not Catastrophe-grade or higher. Small mercy.”
No Netherworld means at least not Catastrophe-grade or worse.
Likely Illusion-grade or Disaster-grade ghost story. Illusion-grade ones mostly induced psychological fear without direct harm, while Disaster-grade affected people within a certain area.
If no one remembers the missing students... probably Disaster-grade.
This wasn't mere disappearance—it was their very existence fading.
“Ga-eun takes this case.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Your Fox Shrine power sharpens senses and excels at finding hidden things.”
“Got it, Dad!”
“...Call me Master in the guild—”
“But you make me call you ‘Daaaad’ at home.”
“D-don't bring that up here...”
Laughter erupted from the executives.
“Pfft! Master, trying to act all stern in the guild?”
“Everyone knows you're a daughter-con. Why be shy?”
“Hmph. Quiet down, you lot.”
The heavy mood lightened thanks to Ga-eun.
“Anyway, don't let your guard down. Even with awakener powers from ghost stories, we're not invincible. You know that, right?”
Ga-eun leaned back in her chair, pulling a sulky face.
“I know. Research shows it, and you lecture us every time. The danger rating of the power we get doesn't match the ghost story's. Makes sense—the user's different.”
One guild member chuckled and chimed in.
“Master, aren't you babying your daughter too much? Haha.”
“Ahem. It's not like that.”
Do-jin cleared his throat, cutting the flow, and started assigning the team.
“Do-hyuk and Soo-yeon for support.”
“Their abilities suit investigations too. Better together.”
Do-jin gathered his papers and stood.
“Be extremely careful on this mission.”
Ga-eun, Do-hyuk, and Soo-yeon nodded seriously.
While quietly sorting files in the office, I suddenly felt eyes on me.
“What the? Goosebumps out of nowhere?”
Turning, there was Ga-eun at the door, arms crossed, staring.
“Oppa. Guild life treating you okay?”
“Been a few weeks, so I'm adapting. But why're you here again?”
“Again...? You hate me coming...?”
Ga-eun clenched her fist subtly.
“Haha! I meant ‘you came again—nice!’”
Damn. Couldn't win against Ga-eun before, and now she's awakened. One hit and I'm dead!
Poor me, watching Luna at home and Ga-eun at work! Luna's been obedient lately, but this human bulldozer's tough even after all these years.
“Hmph! Think I'll fall for that again!”
She loves empty flattery, it's obvious.
“So, what's up?”
“Can't I just say hi?”
“Nah, your face screams ‘got something to say.’”
“Heh. Since when are you so perceptive?”
“Drop the ball again and I'm a corpse.”
“Heading out on a mission today.”
“Mission?”
“Yeah, ghost story investigation. Students vanishing from a high school.”
Students disappearing?
Felt familiar, like from a novel.
“Anything special about it?”
“Not simple disappearances. No one remembers the missing kids.”
“Remembers?”
“Student count drops, but no one knows who.”
“Hmm...”
A strong sense of déjà vu hit.
This is exactly from that novel.
But I couldn't recall what came next. What happened to my memory? Early dementia? Foggy as hell.
What was the ghost story? I knew, but... People vanishing, memories fading...
Then—one sentence flashed.
[Don't Forget Your Name]
Got it. This ghost story hides existences with its power.
It was using its ability in reality, blurring even my memory.
“Ga-eun.”
“Yeah?”
“If the ghost story feels weird—”
Telling her might lead to questions later, but saving lives first.
Deal with fallout after!
“Never forget your name.”
“Out of nowhere, what?”
“No one remembers the missing, right? But photos exist.”
“Yeah. So?”
“They say names anchor you to the world. Maybe that's what's being forgotten.”
“You say the weirdest stuff sometimes.”
Still, knowing it's for her sake, she smiled faintly.
“Fine, got it. You're not one for nonsense, so I'll remember special.”
“Good. Heed your oppa's advice.”
“Yeah, yeah. Why so many worrywart guys around me?”
You think you're not a walking trouble magnet?
I swallowed the words.
Ga-eun waved and left, saying she'd be back.
“As long as she doesn't forget her name, she can survive even without solving it. Should be fine.”