Regular rescue missions.

When written like this, it might sound confusing, but in reality, it's something that happens quite naturally.

"If people keep tripping and getting hurt in the areas I manage, naturally, I’d have to pay more attention to them. It’s the same idea."

It refers to the routine patrols and rescue operations conducted near natural sites or facilities where people frequently get into accidents, to check if anyone is in danger.

It was the same in the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau.

"They designate certain supernatural disaster sites and every few months, we enter the ghost story to inspect the situation."

Checking to see if there’s anyone who needs rescuing.

However, one crucial condition is added.

“ – Ghost stories where calling for help is impossible.”

"It’s for people who get caught in a supernatural disaster but can’t call for help, even if they want to."

That’s right. Some ghost stories, by nature, make it completely impossible to use a phone or any other means to request rescue.

For those kinds of ghost stories, if agents can enter and exit relatively safely, the Field Restoration Unit conducts routine patrols as part of their regular duties.

‘…Right, there were exploration records based on that setting.’

It applied to cases where tracking changes over time was a key point of interest or where the accumulated iterations introduced evolving elements that made it engaging.

In that sense, it was similar to the designated darkness assigned to employees or teams by Daydream Corporation.

Though, of course, the purpose here is far more noble…

Agent Choi, who had been irritatingly teasing me just moments ago, now looked surprisingly reliable as he casually rubbed the back of his head.

"And as for this ghost story… hmm, as long as you strictly follow the rules, it’s not dangerous. But because of the nature of those rules, it absolutely requires a two-person team to function properly. So it’s a two-person job."

Hmm?

"But earlier, you said it was a three-person job…."

"That’s right! You, rookie, are the extra!"

T-The extra…

Having never been treated like this before, I was momentarily dumbfounded. But then, realizing that this was actually a huge win for me, I shut my mouth.

‘The more people there are, the less scary it’ll be.’

Besides, the Disaster Management Bureau agents aren’t the type to troll around, so it should be fine.

And looking at the lineup, I realized I was already quite familiar with them.

"Me and Jaegwan!"

Agent Bronze, who had stepped away briefly for a report, was gestured at vaguely by Agent Choi as he motioned between himself and the air.

Then, that hand pointed at me.

"And of course, our extra."

"Uh, yeah…."

I gave up on everything and just smiled helplessly in agreement.

Seeing my expression, Agent Choi chuckled and patted me on the shoulder.

"Damn, you’re holding up pretty well."

“…?”

"Let’s go. Jaegwan’s probably getting impatient! Your senior should be able to find their way to the destination just fine~"

Agent Choi led me toward the elevator.

The destination was Basement Level 2.

"If field agents are stationed at headquarters, they’re usually waiting in Basement Level 2."

Since speed is crucial for most missions, they’re allocated to the lower floors for faster deployment.

As soon as we stepped out of the elevator and turned the hallway corner, we saw the nameplate.

[ Team Hyunmu 1]

Agent Choi cheerfully swung the door open.

"Ta-da! Welcome to Team Hyunmu 1's waiting area!"

Inside was… an unexpectedly cozy space.

A round sofa, a pantry area, blankets, board games, philosophy books, and a bookshelf crammed with manga.

Like most break rooms in public institutions, it didn’t have a luxurious or modern feel, but instead, it gave off the vibe of a college clubroom.

The whiteboard on the wall was still covered with old scribbles.

“ – The greatest rescue agent was here.”

“ – If you play EDM at my funeral, the goblins will come and take you.”

“ – We will never forget our Team Hyunmu 1.”

…These messages, likely left by those who could no longer carry out missions, remained untouched, piling up over time.

It was the complete opposite of the pristine, private workspaces assigned to the Elite Teams at Daydream Corporation.

"Haha, there was a guy who retired and said interior design was his hobby—he even picked up a haunted picture frame… Isn't it great? Just sitting here, work comes to you!"

"Yes. …It’s a pleasant space."

“…….”

Agent Choi, momentarily caught off guard, then smiled slightly.

"Right? I told you it was a great team. I wasn’t lying."

“…….”

"On that note, hey, you could totally join our tea—"

"I’m good, thanks."

That was close—I almost gave him an opening.

"Alright, alright! We’ve still got some time."

Agent Choi guided me to the sofa, and we sat across from each other, taking a brief moment to relax.

Between the two sofas was a table covered with a slightly lumpy tablecloth—probably to protect it from dust—but somehow, it felt oddly charming.

"Phew! Let’s take a short break until Jaegwan gets here."

"Yes."

"Also… this."

Agent Choi suddenly gave a warm smile and pulled out a neatly sealed piece of paper from his pocket.

…It was the piece of paper I had bought from the Manhole Market and given to him.

Oh.

"Sorry, but it seems like there’s no supernatural disaster in the Disaster Management Bureau’s database that matches this note."

“…….”

Of course. That was just a hint to the research lab’s location behind the manhole anyway….

And Agent Choi, as if familiar with situations like this, added a few words in a comforting tone, as if soothing a rookie.

"It’s probably something the bureau hasn’t identified yet, but cases like this happen all the time. Let’s take our time and wait a bit."

“…….”

"Will you be okay?"

He was probably asking because what he really meant was, ‘We probably won’t be able to save this one.’

But I nodded.

"…Really?"

"Yes."

Then, taking a deep breath, I accepted the note that Agent Choi handed back to me.

‘Honestly, I had already confirmed the corpse of the researcher I had made a deal with….’

If this were a real situation, I would have responded like this.

"I still think there’s meaning in having tried."

“…….”

Agent Choi didn’t respond for a moment.

‘…Was that too predictable?’

Just as I started regretting it…

"Hey, rookie. Give that back to me."

“…?!”

Agent Choi extended his hand toward me again.

"I’ll check it out one more time."

"Huh?"

"Once you’ve been in this field for a while, you learn to rely on more than just the database. I’ll give it another shot."

…And so, the note returned to Agent Choi once again.

I felt a bit guilty, but since this was a life-or-death matter, I let it slide. I’d just have to work like an ox for the Disaster Management Bureau to make up for it…

"…Thank you."

"Okay."

This time, Agent Choi didn’t say anything about joining his team if I was grateful—he just chuckled slightly.

‘…Is he planning to ask one of his own informants?’

Agent Choi had been involved in so many exploration records that he had ties to quite a few groups.

As a result, he had become a well-connected figure with contacts everywhere.

‘Well, that doesn’t really concern me.’

Just as Agent Choi tucked the note back into his pocket, the last agent for today’s mission finally entered the waiting room.

"Oh, Jaegwan!"

Agent Bronze strode in and sat down on the sofa.

"Agent Bronze! Uh, I’m sorry…."

"…What?"

"You went through the trouble of looking out for me, but I didn’t handle the Field Restoration properly…."

“…….”

If I apologize like this, please give me one more chance. I’m begging you.

I haven’t given up on the Field Restoration Unit yet…!

Agent Bronze let out a small sigh and shook his head.

"You don’t need to apologize."

"Yeah~ It’d be even weirder if an agent had to apologize for destroying a supernatural disaster!"

"…Agent."

"Oh no, Jaegwan looks scary~ Let’s just get to work."

When Agent Bronze glared at him, Agent Choi quickly looked away and hurriedly pulled out the briefing documents.

…Well, there goes my chance to appeal. I’ll aim for the next opportunity.

Since we’re working together today, another chance will come up.

"Hey rookie, where was I?"

"Ah, you mentioned that today’s mission is a three-person job…."

"That’s right! And, on top of that, we’ll have a very reliable person helping us today."

Agent Choi pointed to the wall beside the sofa.

A semi-transparent curtain hung loosely there.

"This is our elder. The team leader!"

“…….”

The curtain?

I barely managed to speak.

"Uh… I don’t see anything."

"You can’t see it, but you just have to believe it’s there!"

“…….”

"Our elder heard that a rookie was coming today and insisted on helping out."

‘Is this some kind of rookie initiation ritual?’

I was starting to get confused.

Just before I started digging through my Chronicles of Darkness Exploration to check if someone had actually transformed into a curtain and if that was even possible, Agent Choi urged me to stand in front of it respectfully.

"Jaegwan, you stand here, and rookie, you stand in the middle… Perfect."

Agent Bronze, me, and Agent Choi.

Then, Agent Choi stepped forward and pulled back the curtain.

Light poured through the gap in the curtain.

“…!!”

Behind the semi-transparent curtain was, surprisingly, an invisible glass window.

Of course, since we were underground, there was no view outside—only an aurora-like, mystical light swirling beyond the glass.

"Who exactly… is this elder?"

"I told you! This is our Team Hyunmu 1 Team Leader!"

Surprisingly, even Agent Bronze didn’t object—meaning it was true.

"Jaegwan, that thing."

Agent Bronze carefully removed the cloth covering the table between the sofas.

Whisk.

Revealed on the table was… food.

‘Buckwheat jelly… and raw chocolate?’

What kind of combination is this?

"Alright. Wave your hands."

Agent Choi took the lead and raised both hands. Even Agent Bronze followed, so I hurriedly did the same.

"Wishing you great fortune today as well, Elder!"

Then, we all bowed deeply toward the window.

“…?!”

"Please take care of today’s mission."

I could say with certainty that I had never read about anything like this in the Chronicles of Darkness Exploration. But, as a rookie, I played along and bowed as well.

The moment I stood up.

“…!!”

My body started shrinking.

My perspective lowered, my hands and feet became smaller. Everything in my vision grew slightly larger and wavered.

No, it wasn’t my surroundings shaking—it was my head! My now disproportionately large head wobbled for a moment, struggling to find balance in my smaller body.

"Huh."

Even my voice had changed. And then….

The transformation stopped.

“…….”

“…….”

Now, the only things that hadn’t grown larger in my vision were two specific figures.

The two people beside me.

"Everything’s set. Thank you, Elder."

I turned my head.

Where Agent Choi had been standing, a random elementary schooler was now scrutinizing me with a calculating gaze.

No, wait… that was just a younger version of Agent Choi! The same smug and laid-back expression was there, now on a child’s face!

"Are you alright?"

On the other side was a child-sized Agent Bronze. He was just as stone-faced as ever—no, wait….

‘My god.’

I looked down at my hands.

I also saw my goblin fire arm shrink in proportion to my reduced body size.

Instead of giving me a thumbs-up, it waved excitedly at me.

"Alright. Mission prep complete."

“…….”

"Today’s supernatural disaster… can only be properly entered by children of a 'New Nation'."

“…….”

"That’s why we’ve all been turned into eight-year-olds!"

I think I’m going to lose my mind.