Chapter 8

Episode 8. Supernatural Space – Garden (3)

***

Not as many problems can be solved with a gun as one might think. But it’s better than going in empty-handed, so most missions involve carrying one.

The Alpha Team Leader recalled their first mission.

During that mission, the Science Officer died first, and the system collapsed rapidly. It was a brutal and definitive initiation for the Team Leader.

On the field, the role of the Science Officer is more important than anything. Of course, having one more person with a gun on the field isn’t a bad thing.

The enemy might fly, might not die from bullets, might be invisible, or might not even be a physical opponent.

When fighting supernatural phenomena, someone needs to observe the surroundings using means other than sight.

Just this supernatural phenomenon alone.

The retrieval team used a Geiger Counter to locate the target, confirmed the absence of spatial distortion with a celestial angle meter, and analyzed biological samples to confirm that bullets could be effective.

If the Science Officers had missed just a few things, the outcome of the operation would have been drastically different.

Honestly, the Team Leader didn’t trust Dr. Kim.

He seemed a bit clumsy, and from the first meeting, he had a very girlish appearance. Was that also a supernatural phenomenon? Still, it wouldn’t have been surprising at all.

The Director’s Office confidently stated that Dr. Kim, with his military background and degrees, would have no problem accompanying them as a Science Officer.

And then, before the mission even started, he almost died getting off the helicopter. It was a miracle that Dr. Kim survived and descended using a fast rope.

But.

The lead researcher of the Director’s Office, Dr. Kim, performed far better than anyone expected. He grasped most of the characteristics needed to understand the supernatural phenomenon, and even managed to communicate somewhat with the notoriously uncommunicative Science Officer Min.

“Prepare to withdraw.”

The Team Leader began preparing to leave.

***

We achieved our purpose in entering the supernatural space.

We recorded the characteristics of the supernatural space, located and killed a supernatural creature to secure a sample, and identified the cause of the supernatural space’s appearance. The cause was a bizarre altar and a spacetime distortion behind it.

We’re still not sure about the solution. We might need to secure a safe zone and build facilities, but that’s not an immediate concern.

Now, we just need to withdraw.

It would be great if the helicopter came this far, but considering they were whining about electronic equipment breaking down, it’s unlikely the helicopter will come close.

Wait, didn’t they not even land earlier?

This time, I hope the helicopter at least lands. Even if we have to descend by rope, I’m not sure if we can climb back up.

Anyway.

In conclusion, we need to move to a point where the Foundation’s helicopter can land.

Since electronic devices are malfunctioning around this supernatural space, it’s realistically impossible for the helicopter to approach.

We began exiting the supernatural space along the path we came. The soldiers were moving much faster than when they entered.

“Is this the way out?”

“Yes.”

“What happens to this place now?”

“Since we’ve identified what’s inside, the Foundation will likely bring more specialized equipment for further investigation. Supernatural spaces aren’t common.”

The Team Leader answered me.

The sound of a helicopter began to be heard from afar. I looked up at the sky. The helicopter wasn’t visible, but it seemed quite close.

The soldiers chose a suitable clearing, and soon a helicopter appeared in the sky.

The wind from the helicopter’s rotors swept the area, causing leaves to fly and dust clouds to rise from all directions.

A moment later.

The helicopter landed on the ground. I quietly sighed in relief from the corner. Now, all we had to do was board the helicopter and return.

“Alpha Team, withdrawing from the mission area!”

The retrieval team boarded the helicopter, and soon after, the helicopter’s door closed. The rotors started spinning, and the helicopter ascended into the sky.

***

We sat in the helicopter, waiting for the rotors to stop. During missions, we don’t wait, but apparently, it’s standard procedure.

As soon as the helicopter’s door opened, a team in protective suits rushed over. If I remember the manual correctly, everything from the supernatural space needs to be disinfected.

“Support team here!”

“Prepare for disinfection!”

The Foundation staff in protective suits noisily sprayed white disinfectant all over the helicopter.

Including those who boarded the helicopter. So that’s why everyone wore gas masks when disembarking. After the disinfection, I walked past the retrieval team.

***

It took quite some time for the retrieval team to fully disembark from the helicopter. After getting off, I saw Nanami waiting for me at the helipad entrance.

“How was the mission? First time in the field?”

“I thought I was going to die. The soldiers told me to jump out of the helicopter.”

Nanami looked somewhat apologetic.

I don’t know exactly, but the reason I was deployed to this field mission was probably Nanami. I agreed, but someone must have approved my participation in this mission.

“Sometimes that happens. Don’t you know how to fast rope?”

“No, I don’t.”

Nanami started walking towards the door. The Director’s Office is located in the facility’s basement. It’s quite a distance from here to Nanami’s and my office.

“Ah. It’s okay, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a relief. Where was the eyeball candy monster?”

“This supernatural phenomenon wasn’t a single monster but a supernatural space with multiple mutated creatures. At its center was a spacetime singularity.”

Nanami suddenly stopped walking.

As if there was something to think about.

“A spacetime singularity with a large supernatural space… It doesn’t seem like something we can handle.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Nanami started walking again.

“What do you think we should do?”

I had thought about a solution earlier. I’m not sure if it’s the best method, though.

Beep.

The elevator door opened.

I entered the elevator with Nanami, and the elevator began to descend.

“We identified the location and size of the spacetime singularity within the supernatural phenomenon. I think we need to build facilities near the singularity to control the creatures’ access and secure a safe zone to prevent civilians from entering.”

“Hmm, we probably don’t have the money for that.”

“Then what should we do?”

Nanami pondered for a moment.

“Go into the Director’s Office and contact the Foundation Headquarters. There’s a big analog phone in the center of the Director’s Office.”

I think I’ve asked Nanami too many questions, but there’s more than one or two things I’m curious about.

“Feel free to talk.”

“What does the Foundation Headquarters do?”

The Foundation is, strictly speaking, an international non-governmental organization.

Although it deals with hidden supernatural phenomena, can reshape the reality known to the public, and is the world’s strongest military group. The Foundation Headquarters… I wonder what it does.

“I don’t know either. If you call the Foundation Headquarters, they’ll let you know what to do. But they say it’s better not to call too often.”

I followed Nanami.

“Can’t you do it, Nanami?”

“You’re the scientist. They’ll listen to you more.”

The elevator door opened.

“Just make the call, and the Foundation Headquarters will handle it. If there’s a problem, let me know.”

“Okay.”

“I’m busy. See you later.”

Nanami entered her office, and I stared at the Director’s Office door.

The Director’s Office, which had been empty for a while, exuded a gloomy atmosphere. No choice. Got to do what needs to be done. It can’t be harder than holding onto a rope and jumping out of a helicopter.

I stepped into the Director’s Office.

The Director of the Seoul Branch is currently vacant. In the Director’s Office, nothing remained except the desk and the phone on it.

I looked at the phone in question.

A vintage-looking phone with no visible buttons, only a power connection. I pressed my temples to shake off the unease.

Sigh.

There are quite a few people with phone phobia in society. If the phone connects to a mysterious secret research facility, it’s even more so.

Thinking about it, that’s not it. The mysterious secret research facility is us. We don’t even know what the Foundation Headquarters does.

If Nanami is right, picking up that phone will connect me to the Foundation Headquarters.

No one seems to know what the Foundation Headquarters is. Even Nanami said she didn’t know what the Foundation Headquarters does.

I took a deep breath and picked up the phone. It’s something I have to do anyway, and being scared won’t solve anything.

The call connected immediately with a beep.

“Hello. Uh-”

“We will handle your request as instructed. Goodbye.”

Beep.

The call ended immediately. Are they crazy?

What the…