Chapter Text
“This is the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau. Civilian, are you currently in need of rescue?”
“.....”
Taking various rescue calls for the Disaster Management Bureau.
That's right.
He, Lee Gyeol... was currently a part-timer of Baekho Team, the Preliminary Investigation Unit of the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau.
They were responsible for taking civilian calls that came from within Supernatural Disasters.
“.....”
It was quite a far cry from being the person who used to dye his hair blond like a delinquent in his high school days.
But how would he even get a job from the Bureau this early even if he just barely reached his early twenties?
He was just a civilian.
A civilian with no ties from a certain city caught up in a supernatural disaster.
But the place he was from was Segwang. A place that formerly didn't appear on the map.
The Sealed Special City.
It was the name Segwang Metropolitan City had gotten as an Annihilation Grade Disaster. Access to that information was very limited.
But now it was now more known to be the place producing massive amounts of missing persons.
When questioned about their whereabouts, those missing people expressed to have vaguely received heart-to-heart counseling sessions... Of which they were promptly sent away to be checked for signs of contamination by the Bureau.
But honestly?
It just sounded like there were still lots of cover-up behind the scenes.
Even so... There's another reason why he came to the Bureau. The transfer student from his memories...
Considering the circumstances last time they met... He really wanted to see for himself how that person was doing now.
Transfer student– no, it would be more appropriate to call him by a different title now.
The Agent...
How old would he be now...?
Is he well?
“.....”
Sigh.
Lunch break was now over.
Everyone was steadily making their way back to their cubicles, the others already holding their department-issued headsets at their seats.
But how would both rookie and experienced agents be completely fine if they keep taking Disaster calls?
They had preventive measures made in advance. All the items within the department were of special quality.
That's why all the phone equipment was specially commissioned to be custom-made by the Dokkaebi Workshop.
But recently for the past six months, things seemed to have changed. Increased danger levels and civilian interaction within Disasters were getting more frequent.
Baekho Team was currently swamped in an almost unbelievable number of calls. Hyunmu Team also had to gear up more often to the calls. Jujak Team got more fed up of having to clean up after those teams as a result. Talks of the mysterious last team were scarce but they keep helping out in all departments so not much can be discerned.
Because of that, many agents have already complained it took even longer to finish up and requests for longer paid leaves along with vacation requests were pending. They may keep their mouths shut in front of the higher ups but the group chats were always overflowing with vents and frustrations.
Lee Gyeol looked at the figure walking at his general direction. The feared aggressive positivity all workers dread...!
"Okay, break's over. Let's do our best, everyone." The half-hearted smile and blank eyes completed the look.
The Team Leader went around giving encouragement but got confused when groans kept echoing through like a cycle.
Contrary to his expectations, it seemed to backfire.
“Come now, we can do this!”
Sighing, Lee Gyeol picked up the phone again.
Time to get back to work.
~~~~~
Ah, I was on nightshift duty today...
In the blink of an eye, it was already evening.
Absentmindedly going through the motions expected of a part-timer rookie, it was almost time for his end of shift. It was tiring.
He tentatively ran a hand over his head.
Hopefully my last call would be kind of nice so I can go sleep much earlier.
Suddenly, a ringing icon shone without much warning on the PC.
“.....”
‘This damn... I shouldn't have jinxed it. Why won't it even let me rest for a bit...’
The screen blinked. A timer appeared.
The five seconds was nearly up...
‘I can't reject this call now even if I want to. Haa.....’
...The typical greeting was instantly spewed out of his mouth.
“This is the Supernatural Disaster Management Bureau. Are you currently in need of rescue?”
“.....”
Why is it quiet on the other end...?
“...Civilian?”
A young male voice... probably in his late twenties finally replied. The voice sounded oddly excited with a sense of hurriedness and trepidation.
–Yes! Can you determine my location?
Lee Gyeol then looked at the small label pop up on the analog phone. A line of text appeared on the screen.
[Estimating probable Disaster.... ]
[Tracking signal location..... ]
......
.......
[Result: Shinmaru Retreat Center/ Deadly Test of Courage ]
‘.....!’
“Are you currently performing a test of courage?"
–Yes. During the test of courage… everyone else in my group disappeared, and I’m the only one left.
‘Then...’
“...By any chance, have you discovered the stamps?”
The voice chirped back instantly.
–Yes! Everyone disappeared on the way out after completing their stamps.
Ah.
‘……If this Civilian didn't disappear with them, then this person might not have met the conditions.
In other words...’
–…Hello?
‘...He is either a missing person or a contaminated individual.’
Schooling his expression that had fallen upon the civilian's situation, Lee Gyeol put on a professional tone.
"Hmm... I see. An agent will be dispatched now, so it’s best if you stay away from the test of courage site. Avoid contact with other objects or people as much as possible."
–But.... H-how long will it take? You’re a government agency, right? Is it possible it could take, like... More than several hours depending on the situation?
Lee Gyeol could only sigh. Taking into account how fast the Agents could be deployed, they would also need to be briefed of the situation at the very least.
“…That is a possibility.”
But then the voice continued on.
–I don’t think I can hold out until then… I’ve already experienced several strange things even 'til now…!
‘.....!’
–Is there… anything I could try to do to get out of here on my own?
‘How would he even have the presence of mind to think of something like that in a such a situation...?’
‘Could it be...’
"……Have you experienced a supernatural phenomenon before?"
–Yes. A few times before… This is like a ghost story, isn’t it? Do I need to... like, appease a grudge or something?
Appearing once or twice in a Disaster is already quite bad! And no one so far would be crazy enough to attempt something like that...!
He answered immediately.
“No, it’s dangerous! Touching things recklessly in that state could lead to an irreversible situation. You must… hold out and wait as long as possible."
–Then, please tell me something so I don't make a mistake. I need to know what to avoid...!
–What is this retreat center? Someone I was with said there was an accident where children died here… is that true?
“……One moment.”
Lee Gyeol sighed and immediately took a deep breath. Then he instantly looked up the information on his PC monitor.
He remembered something an Agent told him before when he was still quite new at the job.
“There are quite a few cases where a ghost story is just messing with us, you know?”
Those Agent's words still rang in his mind.
“...It's rare for a Civilian to make a rescue request in their right mind.”
“But sometimes… sometimes, there are cases where you can really save them.”
.....
“A moment when it really was a Civilian, and you had to believe their words.”
“You have to be good at telling those people apart, and no... even if you can't, you have to try to send them back if you get the chance.”
“Okay, Gyeol-ah...?”
It looked like that senior agent was reminiscing about an old memory while telling that particular story.
Presently, Lee Gyeol discreetly looked around quickly then upon seeing his team preoccupied with their own calls, he begun to answer quietly.
“...The place you are currently in is a derelict building named the Shinmaru Retreat Center. It was operated by a religious group and closed 17 years ago.”
–Was it because of the accident I mentioned earlier?
“Yes. Five days before the closure, dozens of high school students who went out for a test of courage all went missing.”
“The trail connected to the retreat center is a circular course, so they say there was almost no risk of going missing or falling, even at night. There were even some testimonies suggesting that they were actually seen returning to the retreat center.”
“However, when the supervisor went to find the high school students, not a single one of them was in their room.”
–…Were any of their belongings or personal items missing?
“No. Everything was left as it was.”
It left only one conclusion.
Those students...
They disappeared inside the Disaster.
“Afterwards, dozens of bodies were discovered near the location of the test of courage.”
“…It is said they were all smiling, even with their skulls crushed.”
“……”
It was a grim reminder of the current situation.
“...The rooms of those high school students remain exactly as they were on the 2nd and 3rd floors of that retreat center. The lights flicker on intermittently, so do not approach them. Do not touch any items either.”
–Understood.
Hmm...
“…You aren't asking why you shouldn't approach when the lights are on.”
–.....!
The Civilian seemed to be surprised then replied.
–…One of the people I was with told me not to turn on the lights. They said the person who went to smoke disappeared, and the others holding flashlights couldn't be seen.”
It sounds like three different situations pieced together.
‘He's not being fully honest with me...’
But given the danger right now...
“…I see. Anyway, this is all the background information I can provide.”
There's no need to pry too much.
Now that's done with...
“The next few things I have to tell you are more important. First, you must get away from the test of courage site. It is recommended that you hide in a gap in a tree near Fairy Spring and keep your eyes closed.”
–Does that include this retreat center?
“…Yes. If you happen to enter the lobby in that retreat center, do not look out the glass windows. It is dangerous even if you don't turn on the light.”
–And what else...?
What else... Ah! I forgot to tell him the true reason why the incidents happened. The Shinmaeum Monastery...!
“Avoid symbolic objects. You must absolutely never come into contact with anything that looks like a religious symbol in that building”.
Most of the important things have been relayed now...
Just as he was about to let out a sigh of relief–
–…If I end up in a situation where I have to make contact......
What is this...?
–Is it better to die, or is it better to make contact?
“…….”
Seeing and expecting people to die is still...
“Just… don't do it.”
–I understand. Thank you. Um….
Please don't ask about something similar again...
Rustle. Something brushed past the shrubbery.
“…….”
A new sound came in this time. Like people talking and laughing...
...It would be best to be quiet just in case it was an entity.
“.....”
Lee Gyeol deliberately left his side as silent as a dead mouse.
“.....”
After a few minutes passed, the Civilian thankfully replied again.
–Fortunately, it was just the sound of other people getting prizes and leaving….
‘That's good...’
Relief and a sense of slight happiness bubbled within his chest.
–Ah.
–Thank you for being quiet. You were being considerate in case I was in a situation where I’d be in trouble if I was caught, right?
‘There really was no need to mention that. You were the person who's stuck in that kind of situation.’
“…Civilian, you are remarkably calm.”
–I think it’s because I’ve calmed down a bit while talking to you. I was scared because all my companions disappeared and I was alone.
Ah, that's right.
It was the reason why this person even called for help in the first place.
–Don't worry. I have no intention of following other people or startling them. I’m sure there’s a way for me to get out too. For now… I’ll try to do as you said.
...Then let's give this guy one more life-saving measure. Just in case.
Oh, right.
“…One moment.”
Lee Gyeol looked around his cubicle for that item. The thing that could make this possible...! His slight concern was the noise he made while rummaging around.
‘Okay. Just plug this in and...’
“This phone should connect one more time even if the line is pulled.”
–…!
“If it’s urgent, just run and use it. I’ll try to find anything that could be helpful.”
‘So, you must definitely survive this Disaster...!’
“You must hold out and wait for rescue. Even if it takes a long time, please don't give up. We will do our best.”
‘As someone on the other side of the phone...’
–Thank you. I’ll do my best…
‘Let me root for your safety...!’
“Yes! You can do it.”
...
‘That's the least I can do... Civilian.’
Click.