NOVEL NEXT Notice
Reports have been received indicating that the number of personnel having excessive contact with 163-19 is increasing.
While it is true that this anomalous entity exhibits an abnormal level of docility, it is still classified as a Level V hazard.
All personnel working at Base 17 are reminded of this fact and are advised to refrain from actions that could unnecessarily provoke 163-19.
—
Inside an office at Base 17.
Two men, separated by a desk, quietly faced each other.
Flip.
With a sound, one of the man’s documents turned to the next page.
The man’s name was Oliver.
Due to a series of incidents at Base 17, he had been having quite a busy schedule.
Currently, he was checking a report on an anomalous phenomenon brought by one of the researchers.
“Besides what’s written in the report, were there any other unusual behaviors observed?”
“Yes. Both entities did not show any significant reactions during the observation period.”
“In that case, it would be best to reduce the number of personnel and assign them elsewhere. After all, manpower is scarce everywhere.”
In Oliver’s hand was data related to the phenomena associated with the 19th entity.
After the linkage experiment with the girl, they seemed to have completely lost any significant signs of activity, as if terrified.
Although it might be a bit premature according to regulations, Oliver determined that they had been somewhat neutralized.
He planned to divert the current scarce personnel to other tasks.
“Alright, I’ll take my leave. Make sure to report immediately if any unusual reactions are detected from the anomalous entity.”
“Understood.”
After the last page of the thick report was turned, the man moved to leave the room.
Slide. The door began to open naturally.
“Oh, speaking of which…”
However, just before stepping outside, he suddenly remembered something unfinished and stepped back into the room.
Seeing him turn his head toward Oliver, the latter quickly pulled his chair back in.
“What’s the matter?”
“Well, it’s not a big deal… but there’s been a lot of talk about that anomalous entity in the base lately.”
“Are you referring to 163-19?”
“Yes, that’s right. I was just thinking that you might be spending too much time on that entity lately.”
The man looked at Oliver as he spoke.
The girl known as the 19th entity was originally under the care of Researcher Sophia, but since her danger level had risen, he was now directly in charge.
Recently, he had been spending quite a long time with the girl under the pretense of conducting detailed experiments.
“It can’t be helped. 163-19’s behavior is unprecedented. I can’t treat it lightly or just leave it alone.”
“Of course, but all previous attempts to weaponize anomalous phenomena have failed, haven’t they? Isn’t it a bit dangerous to let so many anomalies come into contact with her?”
“Are you saying that based on the phenomena that have been neutralized?”
“I won’t deny that achievement, but I still think the frequency of recent experiments is too high.”
With a hint of dissatisfaction in the man’s voice, Oliver frowned slightly.
He didn’t entirely disagree with the man’s opinion.
Attempts to weaponize anomalies had been made before, but those attempts always ended in bloody, catastrophic failure.
What Oliver was doing could only appear extremely radical to other researchers.
“It’s not that I don’t trust the entity. I just think that conducting experiments on her so frequently poses a security risk… and might put psychological pressure on her.”
However, as the man continued speaking, Oliver felt something amiss.
The man’s concerns, which started with anxiety about the girl, gradually shifted to more self-serving reasoning.
“And there’s also some statistics showing that the personnel in the base are gaining psychological comfort from that girl… I thought maybe we should at least allow visits every couple of days—”
In the end, he fully revealed his true intentions.
Silence.
So, in summary, he was saying not to monopolize the girl and to do some reasonable research.
Ahem! “Of course, this is just my personal opinion, merely reflecting the ideas of other researchers in the base.”
“…I understand. You may leave now.”
As the man cleared his throat and tried to adopt that ‘calm and rational researcher’ attitude again, Oliver maintained a cold gaze on him.
The man seemed to find the current situation a bit uncomfortable, so he quickly exchanged a simple goodbye and left the room without looking back.
—
Huff…
A little time passed after the man stepped outside.
Letting out a small sigh, Oliver pushed his chair back.
Scratch. The chair lightly dragged across the floor.
And shortly after, a voice began to emerge from within the suddenly empty room.
“Did he leave?”
A small head peeked out from under the desk.
It was the brown-haired girl, the 19th entity.
“Yes, it’s fine to come out now since no one else will be here for a while.”
A sigh of relief escaped the girl’s lips.
She crawled out from under the desk and plopped down onto the chair across from Oliver.
At this hour, she should have been involved in research or experiments related to other phenomena.
So why had she been hiding under his desk?
To explain that, one must rewind a bit in time.
When the girl returned from resolving an emergency situation involving phenomenon 4891, she had gained the freedom to roam inside Base 17.
However, she still hadn’t expanded her interactions with anyone other than Sophia.
Well, that was to be expected.
The girl hadn’t been very social, either before or after her reincarnation.
Having lived a life so distant from communication, she had forgotten how to even think of speaking first.
At that time, the situation at the base was dire due to terrorist attacks from hostile organizations, leaving many personnel unable to work.
Even those who were not casualties dared not approach the girl, whose threat level had reached the maximum.
Thus, despite having the liberty to move around the base, her life was not much different from when she was in the isolation room.
However, as time passed, and people who had received treatment began to return, life inside Base 17 started to regain some vitality.
Researchers, including Emma, couldn’t resist their curiosity and began to approach the girl.
They discovered that the girl behaved in ways not much different from those of an ordinary person, even though she was an anomalous entity.
People, unable to control their curiosity about this unprecedented being, began to make contact with her.
As her demeanor of not rejecting visitors became apparent, gradually more and more people flocked to her――until she felt so overwhelmed by their interest that she tried to flee.
I didn’t see this coming…
Oliver held his forehead as he recalled the girl’s troubled expression.
In fact, he had expected it wouldn’t be long before researchers would be drawn to the girl.
The reason humans keep their distance from anomalies is simple: they are monsters.
Monsters do not share the same values as humans, they cannot communicate, nor can they be understood.
Therefore, even if humans benefit from them, they do not feel gratitude.
Because monsters are unlikely to help out of mere goodwill.
However, if the entity were human—
If their appearance, communication, and values all seemed similar to their own—
Naturally, humans would express their gratitude to those who saved them.
Especially if such aid came as a lifeline at the brink of death, they would inevitably develop an affection for those who helped them.
“What if I issue a directive prohibiting contact with the researchers?”
What was problematic was that he had not anticipated how much interest would build up around the girl.
The current fascination being shown by the researchers felt like it could easily lead one to believe she possessed any sort of mental corruption ability.
If the girl found the excessive attention unpleasant, it could lead to unintended consequences.
Oliver even entertained the thought of outright restricting contact with the girl.
“…I’m fine. It’s not that bad.”
But the girl’s response was that it was okay.
Honestly, the gazes directed at her were somewhat burdensome, but that didn’t mean she wanted to completely isolate herself.
As some priest once said, no one can truly be a complete island unto themselves.
The girl, who had been distanced from interaction and communication for so long, also didn’t want to break ties with others while finally returning to her hometown instead of adopting a “lone wolf” concept.
“Still, I wish they’d refrain from petting me…”
Except for that one behavior.
“…Alright. I’ll inform the researchers.”
Inside the office.
Oliver cast a complicated expression as he looked at the girl’s somewhat disheveled hair.
Then, from where he was seated, he began to draft a notice prohibiting excessive contact with her.
—
“By the way, didn’t you come here for a reason?”
“Huh? Oh, right.”
Just as a brief notice was almost completed, Oliver asked about the reason for the girl’s visit.
The girl had initially come to him for some matter, and just before engaging in conversation, their discussion had been interrupted by a sudden knock at the office door.
“It’s just that I wanted to go outside for a bit.”
“Outside? You want to go out for some fresh air?”
“Is that not allowed?”
“No, it’s possible. However, there might be restrictions depending on the place.”
What the girl had spoken about was a request for permission to go outside.
Well, it wasn’t that surprising.
In previous conversations, she had subtly expressed a desire to leave this place.
And quite some time had passed since then, making it perfectly reasonable for her to bring up such a request now.
“Well, that’s fine with me, but may I ask you something first?”
“Sure. If it’s something I can answer, I’ll respond.”
Of course, he couldn’t just let such a being roam freely in the city without any precautions.
He warned her about the necessary precautions, but it seemed the girl wasn’t particularly interested in that, as she instead appeared to have her own inquiries.
For a moment, she gazed at the ceiling, slowly swinging her two legs back and forth.
“Is there an empty room here?”
With those words that made no sense, she left a huge question mark on Oliver’s face.
“…A room?”