Humanity Protection Company

Illustrations: None.

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[Monster in the Fog (Temporary)]

-Hostility Level: Yellow

-Danger Level: 2

-Importance Grade: D

-Details: An anomaly that creates fog erasing short-term memories in its habitat.

-Measures: Designate the mountain where it was first discovered as a special protected area to prevent civilian access, establish an anomaly management team to prevent the escape of the anomalous entity, and prioritize efforts for its reproduction in the original habitat. Also, assign a research team according to the anomaly discovery procedure.

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[Regarding the direction of researching the newly discovered anomaly.]

To the newly established research team.

As always, prioritize analyzing the anomaly according to the anomaly discovery procedure. Since it’s a newly discovered anomaly, everything is still speculation.

Can it really reproduce? Does this anomaly really generate the fog? Are the fog and the monster separate entities? Could the fog create the monster? Perhaps it doesn\'t erase memories but consumes them?

There are many questions, and the unknown can be dangerous, so we must uncover the truth.

Of course, we understand the shortage of memory erasers. Research the safety of the fog\'s components and the reproduction of the entity first.

For this reason, personnel were sourced from the Rare Material Research Institute and the Anomaly Research Society.

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[First Research Report on the Monster in the Fog]

Preliminary results have been obtained and are reported as follows.

Analysis of the memory-erasing component of the fog shows it is safe. It can be used immediately as a raw material for memory erasers.

Although there is no data on long-term consumption, since it is rare to take memory erasers long-term and periodically, this has been deprioritized.

Breeding was successful, and offspring were born.

However, the Extinction Representative noticed a suspicious point, which we will report together. Please consider the following as the opinion of the Extinction Representative.

The date when several humans were clinically tested with the memory eraser coincides with the birth date of the offspring. What does this imply?

Its diet is also significant. The anomaly eats animal entrails, but this is insufficient for the energy it requires for its activities.

I think this:

Its essential nutrient is human memory.

The fog is its mouth, consuming memories through it for sustenance and reproduction.

Thus, using the fog refined into memory erasers aids its reproduction, and the more memory erasers we use, the more their numbers will increase exponentially.

I suggest raising the hostility level of the Monster in the Fog to Orange before their numbers become uncontrollable. Before we repeat our mistakes.

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[Regarding the Increase of the Hostility Grade of the Monster in the Fog.]

After carefully reviewing the Extinction Representative\'s opinion, we concluded that it is not an unmanageable risk. We will maintain the current level.

The reasons are as follows.

-Shortage of Memory Erasers: If we can increase the supply of memory erasers, we must tolerate a certain level of risk. What else can we do?

-Weakness of the Anomalous Entity: Although it was an infant entity, it was weak enough for a few rookie investigators to kill. Even if its numbers increase uncontrollably, simple firearms should be able to handle them.

Of course, complacency is a sin, so we have prepared precautionary measures.

-Strict restriction of habitat and precise monitoring and management of entity numbers 2. Separate management of memory erasers made from the anomaly: We name the memory eraser made from the fog MM-001 and manage it separately like other special equipment.

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[Statement of Reflection]

Affiliation: Anomaly Investigation Team

Position: Investigator

Name: Lee Yeonwoo

I hereby submit this statement of reflection, pledging not to repeat the mistake of setting fire to the mountain and destroying the anomaly while performing investigation duties.

Blink-blink-

Lee Yeonwoo blinked along with the flashing cursor. Even before his cast was off, he had to write a statement of reflection as soon as he started his first day at the office.

He doubted if he had written it correctly.

Glancing sideways, he saw Yoo Ji-yoo frowning and typing on her keyboard. He leaned over a bit more to peek at her monitor. It was the same statement of reflection.

Even the content was almost identical, with only a few words different.

“Um, senior. Is this how we\'re supposed to write the statement of reflection?”

“Let me see.”

Yeonwoo turned his monitor slightly after moving his body to the opposite side. Ji-yoo quickly scanned it and then returned to her seat.

“It looks fine as it is.”

“Isn\'t it too similar?”

“It doesn\'t matter, does it?”

“Really?”

“If they have a problem, they can fire us. There are only three investigators, including the team leader. What can the higher-ups do?”

With that, she uploaded her statement.

Yeonwoo read his statement of reflection again from the beginning. No matter how much he looked, it was too similar to Ji-yoo\'s, as if he had copied it.

Feeling uneasy, he raised his hand to the keyboard to change a few words when the team leader spoke.

“Just write it roughly, rookie. Investigators don\'t get promoted, and the longer you work, the more your salary increases. There’s no disadvantage to writing these things carelessly.”

“Really?”

Hesitating for a moment, Yeonwoo pressed the upload button. It felt unsettling, but even the team leader said so.

No sooner had he submitted the statement of reflection.

“Damn it. What the hell?”

The team leader swore. Startled, Yeonwoo stretched his head over the desk partition to see the team leader’s spot. Ji-yoo also pretended not to listen but paid attention.

The team leader grumbled to himself, then raised his thick hand to beckon them over.

“What kind of bullsh*t are these guys pulling by assigning an investigator? Hey, Ji-yoo, rookie. Come here.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

When the two reached the team leader’s spot, he leaned back in his chair and pointed at the monitor. There was a request form.

[Personnel Assignment Request]

The document contained a lot of formal language, but it was clear they couldn\'t refuse.

The team leader clicked his tongue.

“It’s an order from above. They want to borrow any investigator.”

Ji-yoo rubbed her tired eyes.

“I don\'t know what it is, but I guess I have to go. Yeonwoo, your arm still hurts, right?”

“That’s not it.”

The team leader, looking annoyed at the request form, glanced at Yeonwoo. Yeonwoo fidgeted with his hand still in a cast, but the team leader didn’t care.

“These bastards just want a name and a body. They’re trying to pass off some investigation activities to deceive people.”

“…So I’m going?”

When Yeonwoo asked, the team leader nodded.

“There’s nothing to do anyway. Just sit around and come back.”

“Wouldn\'t it be better for Ji-yoo to go? I’m a complete rookie.”

Yeonwoo glanced at Ji-yoo, feeling uneasy about leaving the office for something seemingly easy.

But Ji-yoo took a step back.

“What can Yeonwoo do in the office? It\'s more efficient for me to stay here.”

She was right. Yeonwoo had only learned how to write a statement of reflection and knew nothing else. Plus, he couldn’t use one arm.

Ji-yoo then made a strange face.

“And seeing Yeonwoo, it feels like trouble follows him. I’m scared I’ll get involved in something weird if I go.”

“Uh…”

Yeonwoo couldn’t argue with that. He felt the same way.

Starting with the Human Qualification Exam, an anomaly had gone berserk during training, and a hostile group had attacked. From his first task, he had faced a real anomaly.

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

‘Am I cursed? Should I see a shaman?’

In the past, he would have dismissed such thoughts as nonsense, but living in this strange world—

The team leader interrupted his useless thoughts.

“Rookie. Tomorrow, go to Cheonghae Port in Cheonghae City.”

“Oh, yes. But what should I do when I get there?”

“There will be someone else there. Just follow that person around. You won’t really have to do anything.”

Yeonwoo responded briefly, looking uncomfortable.

“Yes.”

For the rest of his shift, Yeonwoo learned basic office tasks from Ji-yoo, and the day to go to Cheonghae Port arrived.

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At the public parking lot near Cheonghae Port.

The scorching sun beat down, and Yeonwoo sipped on an iced coffee from the convenience store, looking around.

The parking lot, filled with the smell of the sea, had hardly any cars. More sand blown in by the sea breeze occupied the space than vehicles. The parking lot seemed to be dusted with yellow spray paint.

Yeonwoo scuffed his shoes on the sandy asphalt, keeping an eye on the parking lot entrance.

‘When are the people who called me coming? And what kind of car will they be in? Maybe a van?’

At that moment, his phone rang. It was an unknown number, but Yeonwoo answered immediately.

“Yes, this is Lee Yeonwoo.”

-Are you the investigator dispatched as requested?

An urgent voice.

“Yes. I was assigned and came out.”

Yeonwoo answered cautiously, looking around. A blue truck entered the parking lot, drifting precariously without slowing down properly.

Screech-!

-Are you at the location we mentioned?

“Yes. I\'m waiting in the parking lot.”

-Where exactly are you?

It sounded as if they had just arrived. Yeonwoo looked at the blue truck, feeling uncertain.

“Is it the blue truck? With the cargo compartment?”

-That\'s right. Hurry up and get in.

Clunk!

The truck braked sharply, slowing down. Yeonwoo quickly walked to the back of the truck, passing by the grey tarpaulin covering the cargo area. He slowed down briefly.

Through the flapping tarp in the sea breeze, he caught a glimpse of a foreigner and what looked like a door.

‘What? A foreigner? A door?’

Swallowing his questions, he climbed into the passenger seat. As soon as he closed the door, the truck started without any greeting. It left the parking lot and entered the road.

Yeonwoo asked,

“Where are we going?”

“I’ll brief you on the current situation.”

“What? No, where are—”

“Prepare for an attack.”

The man in the black suit driving the truck spoke quickly, glancing nervously at the rearview and side mirrors. His eyes darted back and forth anxiously. Pressing the accelerator, the truck sped up.

Yeonwoo quickly fastened his seatbelt.

‘An attack? An attack? They said they just needed my name. They said I just had to sit around.’

It didn’t seem like he’d be spending his time peacefully. Shoving his phone, loaded with movies, deep into his pocket, Yeonwoo looked at the side mirror.

The truck sped down the empty road of the port city.