Midnight Flight (1)
Document Name: Hell Train Experiment Failure Progress and Cause Analysis
Date: [Redacted] Year [Redacted] Month [Redacted] Day
1. Overview: This report analyzes the circumstances of Squad Member 24's "suicide measure" activation and the possibility of external intervention related to the "Hell Train" experiment failure, while outlining future response strategies. (Omitted...)
7. Cause of Anomaly: In this incident, Squad Member 24 used their hidden trump card early without concealing it. This judgment cannot be explained by previously identified Foundation personnel, so it is deemed highly likely that a high-risk intervenor unknown to the Cult has appeared.
8. Persons of Interest Analysis
• Ririri Detective Agency - Holds resolution records for multiple high-risk incidents including "Moon's Fall," "Murder Hotel," "Magical Girl's Birth," "Doppleganger," etc. However, the agency director was recently appointed as a Special Task Force special advisor. Since the Incheon incident is classified as direct conflict with the Foundation, the possibility of the Ririri Detective Agency taking the lead is judged low.
• Foundation New Hire Ryu Harin - Victim and participant in the resolution of the "Fox Possession" incident - Reported solo elimination of "Eight-Foot Ghost" - Publicly announced Foundation resolution of the "Hell Train" incident - Confirmed repeated participation in raids on High Sea Cult bases
9. Comprehensive Judgment and Response: Ryu Harin likely handled multiple anomalies solo and is estimated to possess abnormally high tracking and intervention capabilities. Classify this individual as an immediate high-alert target.
"So, Harin, what the hell happened?"
Come to think of it, her cooldown was probably just about up. She's not some invincible anchovy who levels up just by breathing, after all.
Thinking back, Ryu Harin had been way too lucky lately.
The "Magical Girl's Birth" outbreak? She got skipped as a newbie.
Got naturally dragged into "Watson"? Ended up just as the driver.
And this "Hell Train" mess? She sailed through unscathed because I stepped up first.
But looks like Lady Luck's finally ditched her.
"?"
"......"
Holy shit, this was serious.
I shot up from my seat without thinking.
"Mayuri?"
"Gotta hit the bathroom."
One thing I'd realized lately: If Ari's a cat, then Sua's basically a doggo.
She's loyal as hell—specifically to her owner, me. Not so much to anyone else.
Like, if I told her to strip naked in the middle of the street, she'd do it without a second thought.
At the same time, she's got this cat-like habit of eavesdropping on my calls like it's her job. Makes me think all the cute girls around me are basically just beasts in disguise these days.
Anyway, since Ryu Harin was dropping this bombshell, I had no choice but to sneak off to the bathroom (away from Sua) for a private chat.
"Killed someone? What the hell does that mean?"
"How the fuck did that even happen?"
Ryu Harin spoke in a trembling voice.
"Yangmiro? Who's that?"
"Hmm?"
I blinked.
A ton of red-flag words jumping out at me.
"A coworker senior just shows up at your place?"
"Why?"
"No way you'd be close to a coworker senior..."
Hmm, debatable.
Ryu Harin's an NPC saddled with massive inferiority complex baggage. She's not evil at heart, but she can't shake it off, so she lives with this "I'm fine dying anytime" mindset. Doesn't make friends because, as a Foundation employee, death could come knocking any second—her way of showing pro professionalism.
Nah, it's just low self-esteem.
"Can you tell me when you got close to this 'Yangmiro,' how you interacted, what kind of person she was?"
"Knew it."
I had a pretty good idea what anomaly this was.
Entity Name:I Am a Murderer
Estimated Management Rank:Death (Viriditas) (Danger Level 3)
Hostility:Extremely Hostile
Targets ensnared by this anomaly commit spontaneous murder without specific conditions. The victim did not exist prior to the anomaly manifestation and becomes observable only upon incident onset. The murderer's memories are altered to believe they knew the victim all along, with this distortion spreading to surrounding individuals centered on the murderer. Consequently, the victim is socially treated as a "real person" who existed.
Post-manifestation, the murderer exhibits abnormally proactive evasion to conceal the crime, while encounters with police/investigative agencies sharply increase coincidentally. Upon realizing exposure, the murderer faces extreme mental pressure, leading to high-probability suicide. (Slight individual variation.)
Like becoming the protagonist of a thriller flick—easy to grasp?
Get caught in this, and boom, you're a murderer.
Key point: The actual murder isn't what matters.
That "Yangmiro" senior Ryu Harin mentioned? Probably never existed to begin with. She's a corpse conjured outta nowhere just to guilt-trip Ryu Harin.
So the killing itself? Meh, not the big deal.
It's the total life-ruining aftermath that's the real horror—the essence of this anomaly.
"Doesn't matter if they do or not... The murder can't get out."
Like a beloved celeb's crime exposed. A famous politician's dirty secrets leaked. An elite's raging libido revealed.
That shock when your hidden shame goes public. The despair as your whole world crumbles.
That's when the suicide urge blooms.
Foundation buys it or not—the fact of Ryu Harin's "murder" just can't leak.
Hm?
"But hey, Harin. Why tell me?"
"Makes sense. Hard to forget the universe's cutest girl's face, right?"
Ah, right. I remembered—this anomaly has slight personal variations.
Some cases, victims tell no one—not friends, lovers, family.
Others casually confess to 1-2 trusted people without batting an eye.
Ryu Harin's vibe? She reached out to me half-doubting if it was even real.
And spilling to just me? No suicide trigger yet.
"No way I'm telling you to turn yourself in. You didn't murder anyone—you got hit by an anomaly."
"Well..."
No real fix for this one.
Not an instant-kill anomaly, but no escape hatch either. Pure bullshit.
Keep the crime hidden forever? Sure, you might scrape by.
But that's just sad...
Living in constant terror of the body's discovery? Brutal.
So not survival—wipe the anomaly out entirely.
"Got one idea. ...Will you follow my lead, Harin?"
"O-oh, long time no see... How've you been?"
Ryu Harin walked into the office with a stiff face.
I clocked her expression and thought: Harin sucks at acting too, huh.
"Uh, Harin? W-what brings you here...?"
"Just passing by? Thought of you guys. Oh, brought a gift."
She shoved a cake box forward.
Nao peeked and gasped.
"No way! That's the 400,000-won cake!"
"Y-yeah."
"You're giving us this? For real?"
"Kinda ended up with it. So, thought I'd drop by..."
Still stiff-faced, she powered through the act.
FYI, that pricey cake? Family gift to Ryu Harin. She planned to eat it herself but brought it as an excuse to visit.
Didn't need to go that far, but whatever.
For now, don't tell the staff about Harin's situation.
I'm the only one who knows about her "murder."
Confessing to just me seems safe—no suicide urges kicking in.
But one more person finds out? She might yeet herself out a window on the spot.
So, keep it from the office crew. Especially the two murder-sensitive ones.
"Watson" Sua. "Carnival Chef" Lisa.
First off, I'll investigate solo.
"—Fun Shadow Swap."
I sidled up to Ryu Harin, whispering super low.
The instant our shadows overlapped, mine twitched... and swapped with hers.
Now she registers as Mayuri to everyone.
And I'll be seen as Ryu Harin.
We locked eyes. She nodded—got it.
"W-well, I'll head out then!"
Me, the universe's cutest girl playing Ryu Harin, couldn't help raising my voice a bit.
Nao tilted her head at me.
"Ryu Harin, leaving already?"
"Y-yeah... Just popping in quick!"
"Didn't you have something to discuss? You were on the phone with sis forever earlier."
"T-that was..."
I glanced at "Ryu Harin" (fake Mayuri).
"I-it was love advice. Yeah, love advice!"
Ryu Harin, playing me, blurted that out.
Wait, what?
"Love advice? From sis? She's a menhera specialist!"
"What're you even— ahem. Y-yeah! Harin's got menhera vibes! Right in my wheelhouse!"
She's just rambling now.
Ryu Harin, you cool with that?
Even borrowing my identity via Fun Shadow Swap, admitting you're menhera outta your own mouth...?
Whatever. I bolted before the staff caught on.
I already had Ryu Harin's address—from her call.
Off to her place.
Feels kinda iffy deceiving the team...
No choice. This anomaly's tough to crowdsource.
Options: Harin solos it, or I become Harin and solo it.
And our little anchovy's no solo queen.
Not ditching for freedom from menhera staff or anything. You all know I love my team, right?
Though Harin objected hard.
Prideful girl hated swapping identities, but complaints, human?
Shoulda leveled up better daily. Overrode her anyway—I'll handle it cleaner.
Arrived at Ryu Harin's. Beheld the corpse.
"Eugh."
Kitchen knife plunged in the chest. Surprisingly young woman—around my age, at a glance.
Touched the body lightly.
......
No reaction.
Cute Girl Mod didn't trigger.
"Figures it wouldn't be that easy."
First thought: This "Yangmiro" corpse might be the anomaly core.
One mod-tap, incident solved!
...Woulda been nice.
"Guess we'll take the hard road then..."
Problem: It might take time.
But what can ya do? Only path forward.
Sighed, then decided: Hide the body first.
"But how?"
Hiding a corpse ain't simple. Especially for a weak, cute girl-modded shrimp like me.
Hmm. Arms crossed, pondering—
Then, sound from afar.
-Knock knock knock knock
Front door.
Eh?
"You're in there, right, Mayuri?"
Familiar voice. I blinked.
Body still unhidden.
And at the door—Lisa's voice.
Uh...
"I saw you come in. Could you open up, Mayuri?"
This might be fucked...?