Side story. Everyday life in the Civil Protection Agency
A white flag was fluttering in the wind on a flagpole. The place where the flagpole was erected was an ordinary single-family home.
And there was a boy sitting in front of the house’s front door. He looked like he was in elementary school.
The boy with his long hair braided into a single braid had a sullen expression on his face for some reason. He also looked bored.
While the child was playing alone, kicking a soccer ball, some children who looked to be around the same age appeared at the corner of the alley.
[Oh, we’re missing one person to play soccer. Where can I find one?]
One of the children grumbled in discontent. Then, the children looked around and whispered among themselves.
[Huh? Isn’t that Kang Do-hyun over there? He’s alone.]
[Should I call him too? We’re one person short.]
[That’s right. And Kang Do-hyun is good at soccer. He even has a soccer ball.]
Young Kang Do-hyeon’s shoulders flinched. He pretended not to hear, but all his attention was focused on that.
As Do-Hyeon Kang was kicking the ball again, a child shouted at him.
[Hey, Kang Do-hyun! We’re going to play soccer. Do you want to go together?]
The bouncing ball stopped, and Kang Do-hyun glanced back at the kids. He pretended to be indifferent, but he couldn’t stop himself from getting excited.
[Not enough people?]
[Yeah. I can do it right away if you come.]
[Then I’ll go.]
Kang Do-hyeon approached the children pretending to be calm, but the corners of his mouth were rising without him realizing it.
But the smile on Do-Hyeon Kang’s face soon disappeared. When they reached the playground, a child frowned as soon as he saw Do-Hyeon Kang.
[Why did you bring Kang Do-hyun?]
[He said to bring one because we are short on people. I saw him in class and he seems to be good at soccer.]
[Dengshin-ah! Are you bringing the shaman’s son with you?]
Some of the children’s faces darkened at the mention of the shaman’s son, and some looked puzzled. One child asked.
[Why the shaman’s son?]
[If we play with a shaman’s child, we’ll lose luck. A ghost will follow us! Don’t you know you shouldn’t play with that kid?]
The children were frightened by the word ghost. The expression on the face of the child who brought Kang Do-hyeon was particularly bad.
Kang Do-hyeon, who was standing far away, was just blankly staring at the soccer ball, wondering when the soccer game would start.
The more this happened, the more the children looked at each other. In the end, the child who had suggested bringing Kang Do-hyeon was pushed forward.
The child hesitated and then spoke to Kang Do-hyeon.
[… … Oh, hey. They say there aren’t enough people. You should go.]
When he counted the number of people, he was one person short if Kang Do-hyun was not there. He was also used to the gazes of the children looking at him.
You’re trying to force me out again. I could tell intuitively. Kang Do-hyun said, getting upset.
[What are you talking about? You clearly said earlier that it wasn’t enough.]
[They say another one will come later.]
[To be honest, is it because I’m a shaman’s son?]
The child did not respond to those words. The silence was an affirmation. The children avoided eye contact or glared at Kang Do-hyun. Young Kang Do-hyun bit his lips.
There have been many instances of being bullied because I am the son of a shaman, but I haven’t gotten used to it yet.
If only I could put a curse on him. But young Kang Do-hyun didn’t have that ability.
He just glared at the children with his blazing eyes. The children cowered in fear, but then exploded in anger.
[Oh, don’t be so unlucky, go quickly!]
[Go and play with ghosts!]
Kang Do-hyeon had no choice but to turn around, his small fists clenched tightly. The only place he could go was the shaman’s house with the flag hanging.
I really wish I could see ghosts. Then I would feel less lonely. But Kang Do-hyun didn’t have that ability at all.
At school and outside of school, Kang Do-hyun was a loner. Children and adults alike avoided him and regarded him with suspicion.
[Tsk tsk, what a shame he was born as a shaman’s child.]
It was one of the things he heard often. However, Kang Do-hyun was not at all dissatisfied with the fact that his mother was a shaman.
While others viewed Seo Hwa-kyung as a menacing being, Kang Do-hyeon respected his mother.
This was because people who were suffering from heartache would return to smiling faces when they met Seo Hwa-kyung.
Kang Do-hyeon respected his mother. He also wanted to become a shaman like his mother. That’s why he didn’t hate being called the shaman’s son…
‘I wish I had just one person who would be my friend.’
Will I make friends when I change classes next year? Will I be able to make friends like that when I go to middle school?
As I was entering the house with those thoughts in mind, I felt a presence inside.
[Oh, Dohyun is here.]
Mother, it was Seo Hwa-kyung. Kang Do-hyun, who would normally run towards his mother, stopped for a moment when he saw the unfamiliar child next to her.
[Mother, that child… … ?]
He was a boy shorter than me. He had messy hair, sunken eyes, and a dead-looking appearance, so at first I thought he was a ghost.
But judging from the way Kang Do-hyeon looked in his eyes, he was clearly a human. Seo Hwa-gyeong said in a calm tone.
[This kid’s name is Seo Kang-rim. I adopted him as my adopted son.]
[Adopted son… … ?]
[I’m talking about the child who will become your younger sibling.]
Little brother. At those words, Kang Do-hyun’s eyes opened wide.
I thought I wanted a friend, but then I got a little brother. That wasn’t so bad. The important thing was that I wasn’t alone anymore.
It didn’t matter who the kid was. He was just happy to see her. Kang Do-hyun smiled brightly and approached Seo Kang-rim.
[You said you were Seo Kang-rim? I’m Kang Do-hyun!]
However, Seo Kang-rim was startled when he saw Kang Do-hyeon approaching him and stepped back. Seo Hwa-kyung patted Seo Kang-rim on the shoulder as if to say that it was okay.
[Even if you become close with Do-hyun, nothing will happen to him. And since you are brothers from today, you have to get along well.]
At those words, Seo Kang-rim raised his head hesitantly. Young Seo Kang-rim cautiously stepped forward and looked at Kang Do-hyeon.
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Kang Do-hyeon still spoke with a happy face.
[I seem to be older than you, so call me hyung.]
[… … Yeah, bro.]
When Seo Kang-rim called him hyung while hesitating, Kang Do-hyun smiled brightly. The two of them may not be able to play soccer, but they can still practice.
He was the first friend and new little brother he had. Kang Do-hyun promised that he would be really close with Seo Kang-rim from now on and that he would treat her well.
At that time, it was definitely like that.
* * *
-Beep be …
A sharp notification sound was heard. Lying limply on the bed like a corpse, Kang Do-hyun felt in the direction of the sound and picked up his smartphone.
A feeling of discomfort still remained on his face, which was still sleepy.
‘… … I had an old dream.’
He had a dream about the first time he met Seo Kang-rim after a long time. He got up from the bed without even having time to recall the dream.
Because I had to go to work.
5 a.m. Kang Do-hyun raised his upper body with his long hair all messed up.
After the sad days, the fate of the deceased collapsed, but I had to go to work. It was a work environment where I wanted to rest, but couldn’t.
Kang Do-hyun was still working at the Civil Protection Agency. He had more work to do after moving from a regular sergeant to a team leader, so he woke up earlier.
‘The reports that came in overnight… … Fortunately, nothing major happened.’
He was checking the reports sent by the night shift while getting ready for work. He was ready to go to work from the moment he opened his eyes.
After the fate of the Protectorate was lost and the true nature of the Protectorate was revealed, many people left the Protectorate.
They could have just closed down the Fate Guardians, but there were still demonic realms and demon beasts left in the world, and there was still a need for an organization to deal with them.
Accordingly, the Fate Protection Agency changed its name to the Civil Protection Agency and attempted to continue its role while operating transparently.
‘The problem is that there is a severe shortage of people.’
Since he got a house right next to the Civil Protection Agency, getting to work was a breeze. When Kang Do-hyun entered the office, the men inside looked at him with zombie-like expressions.
“Is the team leader here… … .”
“Good morning… … .”
As it was a place to deal with demons and demonic spirits, the Civil Protection Bureau’s lights were on 24 hours a day.
When there were a lot of people, we worked in three shifts, but now that the number of people has decreased, we are working in two shifts.
If others saw this, they would tell me to report it to the Ministry of Labor, but I had no choice. Everyone was volunteering.
“Just hold on a little longer. The weekly edition will be published in an hour.”
“Yep… … .”
Their only hope was to get off work. As they waited with dying voices, the time to get off work finally arrived.
The weekly shift drivers came in at that moment. They all had faces like corpses.
“Thank you for your hard work… … Everyone, go home.”
“Yeah, you guys work hard too… … .”
Among those who came to work on the weekly shift were Yoon Bom and Yoon Gyul-woo. They had just arrived at the office, but their eyes were dark as if they were about to leave work.
Yoon Bom said in a dying voice.
“Hello, Team Leader… … . You came to work early today.”
Yoon Gyul-wool also had a worn-out face like Yoon Bom, as befitting a twin. He stared at Kang Do-hyun as if he was looking at a monster.
“Team Leader, how on earth are you here at this hour? You must have gotten off work past midnight, right?”
“If you manage your time well, you can do it.”
The twins looked at Kang Do-hyun, who was speaking calmly, with a look of incomprehension.
The twins had been working overtime for several days, and were completely exhausted after defeating a demon last night.
And the people who came to work besides the twins all had similar expressions. Kang Do-hyun clicked his tongue and took out a card from his pocket and handed it to them.
“Go buy coffee for each team member and drink it.”
“Wow, it’s the team leader’s personal card~ Thank you.”
Yoon Bom walked over and took the card. Then she smiled and said something good.
“Still, things will get a little easier starting today. The relief pitcher has agreed to come.”
“… … Ah. It’s time to come now.”
Was that dream because of this? Thinking so, Kang Do-hyun looked at his watch.
It was now time for the regular workday. After a while, the door opened and a man came in. The man bowed slightly to the people and greeted them.
“Hello. I am Seo Kang-rim, dispatched from Bihomun. Starting today, I will be working as a temporary envoy. Please take good care of me.”
Even though there were many familiar faces, he treated them politely as if he was talking to a stranger. As Seo Kang-rim entered, the regular attendants began to stir.
“Am I really a Seo Kang-rim hunter?”
“Did the Bihomun branch manager come to help?”
Everyone was exhausted from working overtime and night shifts, so they would have welcomed any help they could get, but it was none other than Seo Kang-rim?
While everyone was exhausted, their eyes began to sparkle with hope.
