Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Regular Rescue Mission
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Regular rescue mission.
Written like this, it sounds baffling at first, but surprisingly, it's something that happens naturally in the real world too.
"If people keep tripping and getting hurt in places I manage, I end up checking them out more often, right? That's the idea."
When working near natural features or facilities where people frequently get caught in accidents, you patrol regularly to check for anyone in danger and perform rescue operations.
The Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau did something similar.
"They designate certain supernatural disasters and, every few months or so, enter the horror tales like this to inspect them."
While confirming if anyone needs rescuing.
But there's one crucial prerequisite added.
-Horror tales where rescue requests are impossible.
"It's for people caught in supernatural disasters who can't even cry out 'Help me~'."
That's right. Some horror tales, by their nature, make it completely impossible to request rescue via phone or anything like that.
For those horror tales, if agents can enter and exit relatively safely, the dispatch rescue team makes it a routine duty to patrol them.
'...Yeah, there were exploration records based on that setup.'
Ones where recording changes over time was a key fun element, or where points shifted as rounds accumulated.
In that sense, it's similar to the darknesses assigned to employees or teams by Daydream Corporation.
Though the purpose is incomparably more noble...
Just moments ago, Agent Choi—who'd been perfectly grating on my nerves—now wore a surprisingly trustworthy expression as he casually scratched the back of his head.
"And this horror tale... hmm, it's not dangerous as long as you follow the rules strictly, but those rules require exactly pairs to make things work smoothly. So it's a two-person job."
Hm?
"But earlier you said it was three-person..."
"Right! Our junior here's the side dish!"
Side... side dish...?
I'd never been treated like that in my life, and my vision blurred for a moment, but I quickly realized it was actually a huge win and shut my mouth.
'More people means less scary, whatever.'
Plus, agents from the Disaster Management Bureau probably weren't trolls.
And the lineup was people I was very familiar with.
"Me and Jaegwan!"
Agent Cheongdong, who had stepped away briefly for a report, was mimed by Agent Choi gesturing vaguely in the air, pointing alternately at himself.
Then that hand pointed at me.
"And our side dish."
"Y-Yes..."
I gave up on everything and nodded limply.
Agent Choi, peering at my face, chuckled and patted my shoulder.
"Heh, you're holding up well."
"...?"
"Let's go. Jaegwan's probably dying of impatience waiting! Your senior will find the destination on their own~"
Agent Choi led me to the elevator.
Location: Basement Level 2.
"Kids heading out on field duty hang out at headquarters? Think of it as most of them on standby at B2."
He explained that they were allocated lower floors since speed was often life-or-death.
Right after exiting the elevator and turning into the hallway, a nameplate came into view.
[Black Tortoise Team 1]
Agent Choi opened the door with a flourish.
"Ta-da! Welcome to Black Tortoise Team 1's waiting area!"
Inside, surprisingly... it was cozy.
A round sofa, a pantry corner, blankets, a bookshelf crammed haphazardly with board games, philosophy books, and comics.
Not fancy or modern like a public agency's lounge, but it gave off a strangely clubroom vibe.
The whiteboard on the wall still had old scribbles intact.
-The best rescuer has arrived
-Play EDM at my funeral and the goblins will take you
-We'll never forget our Black Tortoise Team 1
...Probably messages left by those who could no longer carry out missions, piling up without being erased.
The complete opposite of Daydream Corporation's elite team's clean, personal one-person offices.
"Haha, that old guy's retired now, but he loved home interior design— even picked up haunted picture frames... Isn't it nice? Jobs just come to you while you sit!"
"Yes... It's a nice space."
"......"
Agent Choi, momentarily speechless and seeming flustered, smiled warmly.
"Right? Told you it's a good team. Not lying."
"......"
"In that spirit, hey, you could join our team too..."
"I'm good."
Almost fell for it there.
"Alright, alright! Still time left anyway."
Agent Choi guided me to the sofa, and we sat facing each other, catching our breath briefly.
A table sat between the two sofas, covered with a tablecloth—probably to keep dust off—making it lumpy but oddly homey.
"Phew! Let's rest till Jaegwan gets here."
"Yes."
"And... this."
Agent Choi suddenly smiled warmly and pulled out a well-sealed piece of paper from his pocket.
...The scrap I'd given him, bought at the manhole market.
Gasp.
"Sorry, but no matching supernatural disaster for that note in the Disaster Management Bureau's database."
"......"
Yeah, figures. It was just a hint to the lab behind the manhole...
And Agent Choi, as if used to this, added reassuringly like to a newbie.
"Probably... something the Bureau hasn't caught yet. Happens a lot, so let's give it time."
"......"
"You okay with that?"
Probably asking because his words implied 'this one's probably unsavable.'
But I nodded.
"...For real?"
"Yes."
I took the note as he held it out, inhaling deeply.
'I've already confirmed the corpse of the researcher I dealt with...'
If this were real... I'd have answered like that.
"I think just trying means something."
"......"
Agent Choi was silent for a moment.
'...Too obvious?'
The instant regret hit.
"Junior, hand that back."
"...?!"
Agent Choi reached out again.
"I'll check one more time."
"Pardon?"
"With this much experience, there's know-how beyond the database. Might as well try once more."
...And so the note returned to Agent Choi.
My conscience stung a bit, but this was life-or-death for me too. I'd repay by working like an ox at the Bureau...
"...Thank you."
"Okay."
This time, no 'join our team if grateful'—just a chuckle.
'...Gonna ask his informants?'
With so many exploration records, he had ties everywhere.
Thus, a wide network character.
So promising another look probably meant digging into non-Bureau info too.
'Whatever.'
Just a once-over, right? Probably another ploy to recruit me to Black Tortoise Team 1...
...Wait.
'No way... he's actually gonna find a matching horror tale?'
Like some absurd, improbable plot where one coincidentally matches the note... Nah, no way.
Yeah, just cold-sweat-inducing delusion. Stop it.
And right after Agent Choi pocketed the note again, the door to the waiting room opened—the final member for today's mission.
"Oh, Jaegwan!"
Agent Cheongdong strode in and plopped on the sofa.
Yes, the target for my guilt!
I bowed my head immediately.
"Agent Cheongdong! Sorry..."
"...Yes?"
"You went out of your way, but I messed up the cleanup crew job..."
"......"
Apologizing like this—please give me one more chance.
I haven't given up on cleanup crew yet...!
Agent Cheongdong sighed softly and shook his head.
"No need to apologize."
"Right~ Apologizing by smashing supernatural disasters is weirder!"
"...Agent."
"Eek, Jaegwan's scary~ Let's work, work."
As Agent Cheongdong glared, Agent Choi dodged and hastily pulled out the briefing papers.
...Missed my appeal window. Aim for the next chance.
Doing today's job together would bring more opportunities anyway.
"Junior, where was I?"
"Uh, you said today's mission is three-person..."
"Right! And on top of that, a very reliable person's helping us out."
Agent Choi pointed to the wall by the sofa.
A translucent curtain hung limply there.
"It's our elder. Team leader!"
"......"
The curtain?
I barely managed to speak.
"...I can't see it, though."
"You can't see it, but believe it's there!"
"......"
"Elder heard a newbie's coming today and insisted on helping."
'Is this some newbie hazing?'
Starting to get confused.
Right before mentally searching Darkness Exploration Records for curtain-transformation horrors, Agent Choi urged me up. I stood politely facing the curtain.
"Jaegwan here, junior in the middle... Perfect."
Agent Cheongdong, me, Agent Choi.
Then Agent Choi stepped forward and drew the curtain.
Light poured through the gap.
"...!!"
Behind the translucent curtain, unbelievably, was a glass window that hadn't been visible before.
Of course, being underground, no outside view—just auspicious, mystical aurora-like light dancing beyond the glass.
Wavy glass framed like a papered window.
"Cool, right? Some mystical glass setup... I dunno the details."
Agent Choi grinned and approached.
"Key thing is, elder watches us through this!"
Elder.
"Who's the elder... exactly?"
"Told you. Our Black Tortoise Team 1 leader!"
Surprisingly, Agent Cheongdong didn't contradict. It was true.
"Jaegwan. That."
Agent Cheongdong politely lifted the cloth covering the table between the sofas.
Whoosh.
On the revealed table... food.
'Mukjeolgi noodles, and... raw chocolate?'
What kind of combo is this?
"Alright. Wave."
Agent Choi raised both hands demonstratively. Agent Cheongdong followed, so I hurriedly did too.
"Have a blessed day, Elder!"
And we all bowed deeply toward the window.
"...?!"
"Please watch over today's mission."
Nothing like this in any Darkness Exploration Records—my mind reeled. But as the newbie, I cleverly followed suit.
The moment I straightened up.
"...!!"
My body began to shrink.
Vision lowered, limbs shrank. Everything around grew slightly larger and swayed.
No, my head was swaying! Relative to my shrunken body, my comparatively large head wobbled, off-balance.
"Hup."
Voice changed too. And...
The change stopped.
"......"
"......"
Now, in my view, only two things hadn't grown massively larger.
The two people on either side of me.
"Prep looks good. Thanks, Elder."
I turned my head.
Where Agent Choi had been stood an elementary school kid inspecting me meticulously.
No, a young Agent Choi! The kid's face showed that sly confidence and leisure!
"You alright?"
On the other side, kid Agent Cheongdong. Stoic as ev—wait, no...
'My god.'
I looked down at my hands.
Shrunken to match my size: the child goblin fire arm.
Waving excitedly instead of thumbs-up.
"Good. Mission prep complete."
"......"
"Today's supernatural disaster... only lets kids from a certain country in normally."
"......"
"So we're all eight years old now!"
My mind's about to break.