21
Chapter 21
[Monster in the Mist (Temporary)]
- Hostility Level: Yellow
- Risk Level: 2
- Importance Grade: D
- Details: An anomaly that creates a mist capable of erasing short-term memories within its habitat.
- Countermeasures: Designate the mountain where it was first discovered as a Special Protection Zone to block civilian access, and establish an Anomaly Management Team to prevent the Anomaly Entity from escaping. Priority must be placed on breeding the Anomaly Entity within its original habitat.
Additionally, assign a Research Team according to the anomaly discovery protocol.
***
[Regarding the direction of research for the first discovered Anomaly Entity.]
To the newly established Research Team:
As always, prioritize the analysis of the entity in accordance with the anomaly discovery protocol. Since this Anomaly Entity was only recently discovered, everything is still mere speculation.
Is breeding actually possible? Does this anomaly really generate the mist? Could the mist and the monster be separate entities? Perhaps the mist creates the monster? Maybe it doesn't erase memories, but consumes them?
There are many questions, and since the unknown becomes a danger, we must uncover the truth.
I trust you are well aware of the shortage of Memory Erasers. Begin your research by examining the safety of the mist's components and whether the entity can reproduce.
For this reason, personnel were first drafted from the Rare Material Research Institute and the Cryptid Research Club.
***
[Monster in the Mist 1st Research Report]
I am reporting that rough results have been derived.
The analysis of the memory-erasing components of the mist shows they are safe. There are no issues with using them as raw materials for Memory Erasers immediately.
Of course, there is naturally no data on what happens with long-term consumption, but as the long-term or periodic use of Memory Erasers is rare, I have pushed this to a lower-priority research task.
Mating was successful, and an offspring has been born.
However, the Spokesperson of Extinction has discovered something suspicious, so I will report that point as well. Please read the following keeping in mind that these are the opinions of the Spokesperson of Extinction.
The date the Memory Eraser was clinically tested on several humans is the same as the date the offspring was born. What does this mean?
Looking at its diet makes it even more ominous. While this Anomaly Entity eats animal organs, it is far too insufficient compared to the calories needed for its activities.
Here is my theory.
Its essential nutrient is human memory.
The mist is its mouth; it consumes memories through the mist to sustain its life and reproduce.
In other words, by refining the mist into Memory Erasers for our use, we are aiding their breeding. The more we use refined Memory Erasers, the more their numbers will increase exponentially.
I propose upgrading the hostility level of the Monster in the Mist to Orange. Before their numbers explode beyond our control. Before we repeat the same mistake.
***
[Regarding the upgrade of the Monster in the Mist's hostility grade.]
After carefully reviewing the opinion of the Spokesperson of Extinction, we have concluded that it is not an uncontrollable risk. We will maintain the current level.
The reasoning is as follows:
1. Shortage of Memory Erasers
If we can increase the supply of Memory Erasers, we have to accept a certain level of risk. What else can we do?
2. The Anomaly Entity's vulnerability
Even though it was a juvenile, it was weak enough for a few rookie Investigators to kill. Even if their numbers grow beyond control, they can be dealt with using simple firearms.
Of course, complacency is a sin, so I have prepared security measures.
1. Strict restriction of the habitat and detailed observation and management of the population.
2. Separate management of Memory Erasers derived from the Anomaly Entity.
The Memory Eraser made from the mist is designated as MM-001 and will be managed as a separate item, similar to other special equipment.
***
[Letter of Reprimand]
Affiliation: Anomaly Investigation Unit
Position: Investigator
Name: Lee Yeon-woo
I reflect on the fact that I set fire to the mountain and destroyed the anomaly during the course of my duties, and I hereby submit this letter of reprimand, pledging not to repeat the same mistake in the future.
Blink— Blink—
Lee Yeon-woo blinked along with the flickering cursor. He had returned to work before even removing his cast, and the first thing he did upon arriving at the office was write a letter of reprimand. He began to doubt if he had written it correctly.
Glancing at the desk next to him, he saw Yu Jiyu typing away with a deep frown. He leaned in further to peek at her monitor. It was the same letter of reprimand.
Even the content was identical. Only a few words were different.
"Um, Senior. Is this the right way to write a letter of reprimand?"
"Let me see."
Lee Yeon-woo shifted his body and slightly turned his monitor. Yu Jiyu leaned in, scanned it quickly, and then returned to her seat.
"I think you can just upload it as it is."
"Isn't it too similar?"
"It probably doesn't matter."
"Is that so?"
"If they have a problem, tell them to fire us. There are only three of us, up to the Chief; what are the higher-ups going to do?"
With that, she uploaded her letter.
Lee Yeon-woo read his letter from the beginning once more. No matter how he looked at it, it was too similar to Yu Jiyu's. It looked like he had copied it.
Feeling uneasy and about to put his hand on the keyboard to change a few words, something happened.
The Department Head spoke.
"You can just wing it, Rookie. Investigators don't get promotions anyway; the structure is that your salary goes up the longer you work. There's no penalty for writing these haphazardly."
"Is that true?"
After hesitating for a moment, Lee Yeon-woo pressed the upload button. It felt wrong, but since even the Chief said so.
As soon as the submission was finished.
"Fuck. What a goddamn mess."
The Chief cursed. Startled, Lee Yeon-woo peeked over the desk partition to look at the Chief's station. Yu Jiyu also pretended not to notice while listening intently.
The Chief grumbled to himself for a while, then raised his thick hand and motioned for them to come over.
"What the hell are these bastards planning now, drafting an Investigator? Hey, Jiyu, Rookie. Come over here."
"Yes, sir."
"Coming."
As the two approached the Chief's desk, he leaned back in his chair and pointed to the monitor. A request form was displayed there.
[Personnel Draft Request]
There were long strings of formal phrasing, but the message that this was non-negotiable was clear.
The Chief clicked his tongue.
"Orders from the top. They want any one Investigator to be sent over."
Yu Jiyu rubbed her tired eyes.
"I don't know what it's for, but I should probably go. Yeon-woo's arm still hurts."
"That's not it."
The Chief looked at the request with irritation and then glared at Lee Yeon-woo. Lee Yeon-woo fidgeted with the hand that was still in a cast, but the Chief didn't care.
"These bastards just want a name and a body. They're doing this so they can brush off any public attention as standard Investigator activity."
"...Then should I go?"
When Lee Yeon-woo asked, the Chief nodded.
"There's nothing for you to do anyway. Just hold your position and come back."
"Still, wouldn't it be better if Senior Jiyu went? I'm completely new."
Lee Yeon-woo asked, glancing at Yu Jiyu. It didn't seem right to abandon office work and leave just because the task was easy.
However, Yu Jiyu subtly stepped back.
"What more could you possibly do here in the office, Yeon-woo? It's more efficient for me to stay."
She was right. Lee Yeon-woo had only learned how to write a letter of reprimand; he knew nothing else. Furthermore, he couldn't use one of his arms.
Then, Yu Jiyu made a strange face.
"And looking at you, Yeon-woo, it seems like you're a magnet for accidents. I'm afraid that if I step in, I'll get caught up in something weird."
"Uh..."
Lee Yeon-woo couldn't think of a rebuttal. He felt the same way.
Starting with the Human Qualification Exam, through his training, an Anomaly Entity went berserk and a Hostile Group attacked. Then, on his first assignment, he encountered a real anomaly.
The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
'Am I cursed? Should I find a Shaman?'
In the past, he would have dismissed such a thought as nonsense, but since he was living in a strange world—
The Chief cut through his idle thoughts.
"Rookie. Go to Cheonghae Port in Cheonghae City tomorrow."
"Ah, yes. But what am I supposed to do there?"
"There should be someone else there; just follow them around. There really isn't anything for you to do."
Lee Yeon-woo gave a short answer with an uncomfortable look on his face.
"Yes, sir."
For the remainder of his working hours, Lee Yeon-woo learned the basics of office work from Yu Jiyu, and soon, the day to depart for Cheonghae Port arrived.
***
A public parking lot near Cheonghae Port.
The scorching sun was stinging, so Lee Yeon-woo took a long sip of a convenience store iced coffee while looking around.
The parking lot, smelling strongly of the sea, was almost empty of cars. Sand carried by the ocean breeze occupied more space than vehicles did. It looked as if yellow spray had been scattered across the lot.
Lee Yeon-woo scuffed the sandy asphalt with his shoes, keeping a close eye on the parking lot entrance.
'When will the people who called me arrive? And what kind of car will they be in? Maybe a van?'
Just then, his phone rang. It was an unknown number, but Lee Yeon-woo answered immediately.
"Yes, this is Lee Yeon-woo."
- Are you the one who came on a business trip per our request? The Investigator?
The voice sounded urgent.
"Yes. I'm the Investigator who was drafted."
Lee Yeon-woo answered cautiously while scanning his surroundings. A small truck was entering the parking lot, drifting precariously without slowing down enough.
Screeeech—!
- Are you at the location we specified?
"Yes. I'm waiting in the parking lot."
- Where are you?
The speaker sounded as if they had just arrived. Lee Yeon-woo looked at the blue truck, feeling uncertain.
"Is it a blue truck? With a cargo bed?"
- That's correct. Come here quickly.
Clunk!
The truck slammed on its brakes, slowing down abruptly. Lee Yeon-woo hurried toward the rear of the truck, passing by the cargo bed covered in a gray tarp. His pace slowed for a moment.
Through a gap in the tarp fluttering in the sea breeze, he caught a glimpse of a foreigner and something that looked like a door.
'What? A foreigner? A door?'
Swallowing his questions, he climbed into the passenger seat. No sooner had he closed the door than the truck sped off without so much as a greeting. The truck left the parking lot and entered the road.
Lee Yeon-woo asked.
"Where are we going?"
"I'll start by explaining the current situation."
"Excuse me? No, where—"
"Prepare for an ambush."
The man in the black suit in the driver's seat spoke rapidly, glancing at the rearview and side mirrors. His eyes shifted anxiously. He stepped on the accelerator, increasing the truck's speed.
Lee Yeon-woo quickly fastened his seatbelt.
'Ambush? Ambush? They said they were just borrowing my name. They said I just had to hold my position.'
It didn't seem like he would be spending his time peacefully. Lee Yeon-woo shoved his mobile phone, which had movies saved on it, deep into his pocket and looked at the side mirror.
The truck sped along the empty roads of the port city.