The agent group chat that Go Yeongeun showed me left quite a shock and a realization.
‘No wonder Agent Choi sent me to work in the Preliminary Investigation Unit so easily.’
Was it because my transfer to Black Tortoise Team 1 was already decided?
And Agent Bronze’s consideration in sending me to Go Yeongeun’s team today… Was that actually because today would be my last before officially joining the Dispatch & Rescue Unit…?
‘Not fair…’
No, if you only look at what’s on the surface, the only unusual thing ‘Agent Grapes’ did was insist on staying an extra day to take care of the children and ended up getting contaminated in the process, right?
So I thought I was in the clear, but I guess the fact that a supernatural disaster that could barely be handled by regular rescue was resolved, and I was the only variable, made me stand out.
And if that variable’s nickname is ‘Destruction King Rookie’… does that mean my image is set in stone?
I guess so!
“……”
“Um… Soleum-ssi. Are you alright?”
I nodded.
But maybe I didn’t look so good, because Go Yeongeun’s eyes held a hint of worry.
‘It would be weird if I acted too strange…’
Let’s get it together before I come off as too much of a coward.
Doing my best to seem calm, I opened my mouth, pretending to be just a little disappointed.
“The Dispatch & Rescue Unit is a good unit, of course, but I’m really more of a paperwork type than a fieldwork person… so I’m a little flustered.”
“……”
“Yeongeun-ssi?”
“Um, sure…”
For some reason, Go Yeongeun’s expression looked more troubled.
But in the next moment, she began offering me words of comfort, so I guess I was just imagining things.
“Well, looking at the big picture, it could actually be a good thing. After all, each team has one assigned—!”
…?
The agent in front of me stopped speaking unnaturally.
And pressed the back of her hand.
Where Director Ho had set a restriction.
“……!”
Someone’s listening.
Pretending to be out of the room, someone is somewhere in this office, listening in on the rookies’ conversation.
I made eye contact with Go Yeongeun.
‘Don’t panic.’
She was probably going to say something like, ‘Each team has one assigned person to balance it out, so it’s good.’
I picked up the conversation smoothly.
“Yes. Each team has its strengths, so even if I do end up going to the Dispatch & Rescue Unit, I’ll do my best.”
“Yes. Let’s do our best…!”
Fortunately, the conversation ended naturally.
We both raised our hands like fresh rookies and did a ‘fighting’ pose together.
After that, Go Yeongeun naturally shifted the topic to explaining the work of ‘White Tiger Team 2’ in the Preliminary Investigation Unit.
‘Phew.’
Later, we pretended to be surprised as we saw an agent yawning and standing up from under a desk in the office.
“A-Agent?”
“Ah, sorry. I just closed my eyes for a bit… You’re both rookies, right? Looks like you’ve already gotten close. Do your best. I’m off-duty today… haaahm.”
“Yes, thank you!”
After giving us a warm look, the agent left the office. I let out a sigh of relief inside.
‘Nothing to get caught on.’
It didn’t feel like surveillance so much as… just finding a couple of rookies cute and were curious, wondering if a sunbae could help. Still, we should be more careful.
‘…Director Ho’s restriction really did help.’
From then on, Go Yeongeun and I didn’t mention any related topics, focusing on PC setup, and before long, the agents returned from their fieldwork.
“We’re back, Yeongeun-ssi!”
“Team Leader.”
I stood next to Go Yeongeun to greet them.
The Team Leader of White Tiger Team 2 had a very hearty impression, and laughed loudly when he saw me.
“Ah, so you’re that… um. The new recruit!”
“……”
Did he just almost call me Destruction King out loud…?
If all these people were in that group chat, my nickname might be truly irreversible now.
‘Ha…’
I never thought I’d say this, but being a supervisor at Daydream Inc. was less embarrassing than this…
“You just got back from a big rescue mission the other day, right? I heard you did a great job. For today, relax do nothing special yeah? Just observe what kind of work the White Tiger Team does~ and then you can clock out. Alright?”
“…Thank you.”
I almost ruined the character I’d been building.
Pretending to be timid, I bowed my head low, resisting the urge to go full MZ-crazy like I did at Daydream Inc…
“Now, now. For today, you can work at Agent Mint’s desk, since she’s off.”
So I sat at the desk of an agent who had the day off, and got a quick briefing on work from the person in question herself, Go Yeongeun.
Phew.
“The work you’ll be doing today is ghost story research… but it’s not fieldwork. You’ll be working on the PC, and if you can also learn how to do the documentation afterward, that’d be great.”
“Um, will you be teaching me, Agent Mint?”
“Yes. I’ve been handling this kind of work a lot lately.”
Go Yeongeun seemed a bit conflicted, then added,
“That, well, the agent who went into the mart with me… um, after that unexpected incident, I’ve been given mostly paperwork since then.”
Ah.
‘A rookie like her almost drowned and died, so they must have pulled her from fieldwork for a while.’
Of course, Go Yeongeun was already had similar work experiences from Daydream Inc., so it seemed she’d quickly cut off that agent mentally and recovered…
‘In this place, too, they’ll probably have her back in the field within a month.’
Still, if she were to continue to handle paperwork, she might get a natural chance to access the Disaster Management Bureau’s secret archive in Gangwon-do someday.
‘…I’m jealous.’
I wanted to take that route, too.
‘…No.’
It’s not too late yet.
‘This time, I’ll really make a good impression.’
And since it’s not fieldwork today, it’s the perfect opportunity.
I’ll show just how skilled I am at ghost story documentation…!
Especially—
The documentation for the Preliminary Investigation Unit?
‘That’s all about tracking and writing up ghost stories.’
This is work made for me.
I smiled as I sat down in front of the computer.
“I’ll give it a try.”
And so, the ghost story I would be tracking down information on during my work hours today was…
[Do you know about the Red Clothes at Exit 4?]
It’s a ghost story that originated from one particular internet post.