Chapter 10: Anomaly Catching Anomaly

New Anomalous Entity, 163-19 (Interlude 2)

"Come in."

With the words granting permission to enter, the doorknob turned and the door opened.

Not only Site-17, but most Sites' main facilities usually had a near-future atmosphere.

Nevertheless, there were still quite a few places with ordinary hinged doors.

"Did you call for me?"

With the sound of heels clicking, a blonde woman entered the room.

A woman with a tired and indifferent face.

It was Researcher Sophia Brown.

Considering the difference in rank between the two, she might have shown a little more respect,

Whether she was oblivious or doing it on purpose,

She simply faced the lead researcher in front of her with an apathetic attitude.

"You're late. I feel like I called you at least a week ago."

"I'm sorry. Unfortunately, I don't remember much about what happened before and after the breakout."

"Or were you just too lazy to come see my face?"

"Hmm, I'll reserve my comments on that. At least until you tell me why you called me, Researcher Oliver."

After a few playful exchanges, Oliver chuckled.

That was because she and he had quite a long history together at Site-17.

Others might mistake it for a tense conversation between a stern man and woman,

But at least for them, this conversation was like a casual greeting between a teacher and student, without formalities.

"So, how's your health since that incident?"

He asked tentatively.

As a researcher at Site-17, she was also present during the breakout.

The difference between their experiences was that he was behind a firmly erected barrier,

While she, unable to get behind the barrier in time,

Barely survived the Anomaly's whims like other researchers and was later found by rescue workers.

"I seem to be doing okay. It would have been better if I hadn't had to undergo a massive amount of testing for a week, though."

"Can't be helped. If you suddenly mutated into an Anomalous Entity and started chewing on my head, it would be too late to do anything about it."

"Don't worry. No matter what I turn into, I wouldn't want to eat your head."

"Because of the bond between teacher and student?"

"No. You don't wash your hair that often, do you?"

"...There are times when I'm busy."

Although she was deflecting Oliver's question with a rather humorous joke,

Sophia could feel a chill run down her spine as she recalled the situation at the time.

That was because what happened that day was Anomaly 871.

Commonly known as the day the Swallowing Shadow broke out.

The risk level was Stage IV.

A rating given only to Anomalies that were dangerous enough to cause a major disaster, although it varied depending on the entity.

Moreover, during the previous breakout, all personnel who had not made it to the safe zone were reported missing without exception.

If some incredible luck hadn't been on her side, she would have died or suffered something worse than death.

Although she didn't remember anything from that time and was confused for days after being rescued.

In any case, sometimes just being alive is something to be grateful for.

Especially if you work in this field.

"Just asking in case, but the memories from that time—"

"Are exactly as written in the report. I really don't remember anything."

"What's the last thing you can recall?"

"Probably... I was talking to Researcher Arthur. The conversation was just about the research records from the other day."

Sophia frowned, rummaging through a corner of her vaguely emerging memory.

Clearly, what she was last doing was discussing the details of a newly emerged Anomalous Entity with her junior colleague.

She didn't remember the specifics of what they talked about in detail,

But that was probably because the conversation wasn't very important information, not because of amnesia.

A conversation with her junior colleague, as always.

And the memory ends before she knows it.

Without any warning or new appearances.

Suddenly, as if the film had been cut, the scene ends abruptly.

That was all the memory Sophia Brown had.

"Research records, you must be talking about that new Anomalous Entity."

"You know about it. Was that even written in the report?"

"Why wouldn't I? I was the one who assigned you to interview that Anomalous Entity that day."

"...Hmm, now that I think about it, that seems to be the case."

Sophia said, recalling the events of that day.

A new Anomalous Entity that came out of a dimensional gate, which had caused a serious disaster in the past.

When she was assigned the task of interviewing it, she was honestly filled with anxiety,

But when she entered the isolation chamber, what do you know.

There, an unbelievably docile and cute girl was waiting for her.

'I wonder if I'll ever see her again... It'll be tough.'

She showed a hint of regret.

Even among the dangerous Anomalies that abound, there are some that are harmless and safe.

However, the problem is that their number is extremely small in proportion.

Especially one that was so cute and docile, to the point that it suited her taste so well.

For her, who had to face serious dangers every day and felt like she had a hole in her stomach,

It was rare to find a source of comfort that could be a light and salt.

However, Anomalies or Anomalous Entities with the word "new" attached to them always require frequent check-ups and interviews.

Therefore, no matter how much she had initially started the meeting with the girl,

While she was undergoing all sorts of check-ups, it was almost a foregone conclusion that someone else would be in charge of researching the girl.

With a sense of regret, she was thinking of taking out and watching the video recordings from the research records of that little girl.

"I see. So, you remember everything about that Anomalous Entity?"

"There's not much to remember. It wasn't a very long interview. I wrote everything down in the report without missing anything."

"Yeah, that report full of requests..."

"It was necessary. That Anomalous Entity had amnesia and couldn't even speak."

Sophia recalled the little girl who was constantly turning her head.

She didn't seem to understand complex words, but she seemed to be able to communicate simply, and she was very friendly to her.

But even so, she couldn't find out anything from a child who didn't remember anything.

Therefore, she did not gain any significant information from the first interview and requested access to past research records that were prohibited.

Oliver and Sophia looked at each other, and an uncomfortable silence lasted for several seconds.

Finally, the silence was broken by the sound of a desk drawer opening smoothly.

Oliver opened the drawer on his right and took out a bundle of documents and storage devices,

Then, holding it in one hand, he held it out in front of her.

"What's this?"

Sophia asked, and he replied.

"What else? It's what you requested."

"Huh? But the research on that Anomalous Entity... wasn't someone else already in charge of it?"

As she flipped through the papers, she could see that they were full of various research records and data that she would not have been able to see with her position.

These were things that made it hard for her, who was planning to organize the piles of annoying research data that had been piling up for a week, to hide her excitement.

"Too many people were removed from work due to the breakout. Nevertheless, the new Anomalous Entity is a research subject that requires separate personnel, but fortunately, the examination results did not reveal any dangerous possibilities."

In the different colored parts of the document,

There were the results of the tests that the Anomalous Entity had recently received, including hair, skin tissue, and more.

And, the test results were all—

"Normal."

It was that of an extremely ordinary girl.

"Yeah. It's unbelievably normal, considering she came out of a dimensional gate. To be honest, I wonder if the special task force guys mistakenly brought in a girl with amnesia."

"I don't understand. If that's the case, there's no reason to put me in charge of this Anomalous Entity, is there?"

Sophia asked, as if curious.

Of course, being in charge of the girl's research was definitely what she wanted, and it was an opportunity she didn't want to miss.

That's because the Anomaly Research Department she knew was always suffering from a shortage of manpower.

The required ability of the personnel is far higher than the lives of the people who are consumed.

She knew very well that she was a fairly useful person, and that was why she had guessed that she would not be selected for such a mission.

A question about an incomprehensible order, heard in reverse from a subordinate.

To that reasonable and flawless question, Oliver tapped the desk a few times with his finger as if serious.

Then, he answered the question with a short word.

"Intuition."

After that one word came out of his mouth.

For a moment, silence filled the room.

"...Excuse me?"

Sophia asked back as if she didn't understand what he was saying.

In fact, she couldn't be blamed.

At least, ever since she joined this Site, he had always appeared to be a cold and rational person.

It wasn't that he, who was often told he was insensitive, had any right to say it, but he believed that Oliver was even more mechanical than himself.

For such a person to utter something like 'gut feeling,' she couldn't help but be a little dumbfounded.

"I know. It's an inaccurate and unscientific word. It's also something that people like us should be most wary of and exclude when we work."

Their job was to somehow interpret unscientific and illogical things and bring them into a place they could understand.

For people who do such work, words like unexplained intuition or premonition were completely out of place.

"But sometimes, when you do this job, there are times when you have to trust this feeling."

It was a very poor explanation for answering someone else's question.

That's probably why even she, who heard those words, had a bad expression on her face.

But how could he explain something he didn't even know in detail?

"So, what exactly is that feeling telling you this time?"

"I don't know either. That's why you have to find out."

"...I can't guarantee anything?"

"Well, I didn't expect much from the start."

"Really, you could have just said so..."

Sophia, showing a bored reaction, turned and started to leave the room.

With a small thud, the door closed.

Soon, an endless silence came to the room where he was the only one left.

Oliver turned his head and saw the piles of documents, the numerous records and research logs he had been looking for earlier.

And among them, a single piece of paper that stood out, was blatantly stealing his gaze.

The only change at Site 17 that occurred during the escape of Anomaly 871.

A girl who was in the only isolation room where all recording devices were destroyed during the incident.

Oliver wondered if it was something his gut feeling was telling him, or just a worry.

And if it wasn't just a worry, he wondered whose side it would be on.

He began to add something to the report of the Anomalous Entity.

New Anomalous Entity.
Commonly known as, 163-19.

The entity was found to have below-average endurance and strength in a comprehensive examination.

This is similar to the physical examination results of a ██-year-old girl.

No other abnormalities were found.

Considering the lack of aggression, docile nature, and examination results, the lowest risk class is assigned to the Anomalous Entity.

Risk Level Classification: Ⅰ

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