NOVEL WEB Chapter 4
A rookie researcher at FPL, Gan Hana, had a dream.
That the unknown phenomenon she was researching, IF-017, was looking up at her with an adorable expression just like when their eyes met yesterday.
But it was all just a dream.
IF-017 was always sleeping after all.
During the months Gan Hana had been observing, it never did anything but sleep, and she’d heard it had been doing the same even before she arrived.
The other researchers thought “If my assigned IF acted like this, I’d have no complaints,” but secretly Gan Hana found it disappointing.
After all, IF-017’s appearance perfectly matched Gan Hana’s taste for small, cute things.
“Huh? Then what was that about ‘yesterday when our eyes met’?”
This sudden doubt crossed her mind.
Gan Hana cautiously opened her eyes and looked ahead, half-expecting something.
And then it happened—something incredible.
There really was IF-017, looking up at her with that same adorable expression from yesterday!
Gan Hana immediately brightened up as if waking from a nap.
“It was real!”
It must’ve been watching her for quite some time since the dream felt so long.
In response, Gan Hana enthusiastically reciprocated.
She opened her mouth to speak but remembered being scolded by a senior for thinking sound could travel through the containment walls yesterday, so she opted for a wink instead.
But IF-017 simply closed its eyes, rendering Gan Hana’s efforts meaningless.
“Ah…”
Deflated, Gan Hana wondered if it hadn’t seen her.
With no other choice, she checked the control console.
The live biofeedback graph displayed a steady waveform pattern.
Recognizing it instantly, Gan Hana inwardly screamed.
It was the same pattern she’d memorized from constantly seeing it in the system console every day except yesterday.
This was the exact pattern IF-017 showed while asleep.
The conclusion was unavoidable.
Gan Hana realized IF-017 had fallen asleep 10 seconds after closing its eyes.
“No way!”
Her vision darkened.
After all, the official IF-017 experiment guidelines only applied when it was awake.
Just as Gan Hana was planning to start verifying things now that IF-017 was finally awake, this came as a devastating blow.
Her pupils trembled as if in an earthquake—there was no way the higher-ups could be wrong.
“But they said stress levels meant it wouldn’t sleep like before!”
Despite the stress, whenever attempts were made to relieve it, IF-017 would close its eyes—a complete deadlock situation.
“Could it really be dangerous…?”
Indeed, the higher-ups were correct.
IF-017 wasn’t sleeping—it had merely been lying still with its eyes closed.
So had Gan Hana misread the control console’s biometrics out of sheer foolishness?
No, that wasn’t the case either.
Though Gan Hana might seem dimwitted on the surface, she was actually quite knowledgeable in this field and hadn’t misinterpreted anything.
The problem lay in the flawed information she’d learned.
Lying motionless with eyes closed, breathing steadily, and showing brainwaves indicating no thoughts—all signs pointed to sleep.
Anyone, including Gan Hana and everyone else at FPL, would naturally assume this state indicated sleep.
Of course, if it were truly that obvious, it wouldn’t be classified as an IF.
The truth was, IF-017 hadn’t slept a single moment since being captured by FPL.
For years, it had merely lain there motionless with its eyes closed. The stable brainwaves? Just a result of not thinking about anything.
IF-017…
Rather, Dragon, had been too restless with discomfort to fall asleep.
This truth remained hidden from everyone, including Gan Hana, who only saw IF-017 lying quietly in the containment room with its eyes closed.
Unaware of this, Gan Hana clenched her fists determinedly.
“To stabilize IF-017’s stress levels… I need to find a way to keep it awake.”
Had IF-017 overheard, it would’ve recoiled in horror at the very idea.
—–
[Experiment Record] 017-A-176
Author: Researcher H, FPL Laboratory No.4
Experiment Overview: To verify whether IF-017 remains a safe unknown phenomenon matching the friendly classification despite recent observable movements, we conducted a safety test using one Gamma Rank personnel.
Details: Below is the communication log between Gamma Rank personnel G and researcher H during the entry into IF-017’s containment chamber.
Personnel G enters wearing protective gear. IF-017 lies motionless with eyes closed at the center of the chamber.
Researcher H: Ah, mic check. Can you hear me alright?
Personnel G: No issues.
Researcher H: Alright, Senior. We have to do this because regulations require a Gamma Rank test before entering, but don’t worry. It’s just formalities. You can relax and go rest afterward.
Personnel G: Understood.
Researcher H: Since you know more about IF-017 than me, I’ll skip the explanation… But Senior, did you see the apology message I sent last night? The unread count didn’t disappear…
Personnel G: Is this relevant to the experiment?
Researcher H: Oh come on, Senior! When I heard you were almost dragged to the IF-684 department due to a Gamma Rank shortage, I rushed over and got you reassigned here for the IF-017 experiments, yet you…
Personnel G: Let’s proceed with the experiment. What should I do?
Researcher H: …Understood. Starting standard unverified anomaly hostility test. Please move to the green line marked 15 meters away from the subject. Go as slowly as possible and report any abnormalities immediately.
Personnel G complies, taking approximately 3 minutes and 47 seconds to reach the green line. IF-017 remains motionless.
Researcher H: Cameras show no problems. Anything unusual on your end?
Personnel G: Mild headache. Otherwise, nothing notable.
Researcher H: (muttering) You always complain about headaches when bored… Noted. Now please clap three times at five-second intervals. Keep it normal, not too soft or loud.
Personnel G complies. Three claps echo in the chamber. IF-017 remains motionless.
Researcher H: Any abnormalities?
Personnel G: Headache persists. No changes otherwise.
Researcher H: Good. Now move to the blue line at 10 meters distance marked from the subject.
Personnel G complies, taking around 50 seconds to reach the blue line. IF-017 remains motionless.
Personnel G: Position reached.
Researcher H: Clap three times again, same as before.
Personnel G complies. Three claps echo. IF-017 remains motionless.
Researcher H: No reaction noted. If everything’s fine, approach the red line at 5 meters distance and clap three times.
Personnel G complies. Quiet footsteps are heard for about 57 seconds followed by three claps. IF-017 remains motionless.
Researcher H: Definitely not hostile… Good. Next step. Open the box you’re carrying. There should be several experimental items inside. Take out the white ball and roll it toward IF-017.
Personnel G: Understood.
Personnel G complies. A white ball approximately 10 cm in diameter rolls along a groove in the floor and stops near IF-017’s side. IF-017 remains motionless.
Researcher H: Any changes?
Personnel G: None whatsoever.
Researcher H: Next, take out the device with a white border and two buttons. Press the smaller button first.
Personnel G: Yes.
Personnel G complies. A TTS voice recording plays from the white ball. IF-017 remains motionless.
Researcher H: Now press the larger button.
Personnel G complies. The white ball vibrates slightly. IF-017 remains motionless. Personnel G sighs softly.
Researcher H: Next, take out the cylindrical object folded inside the box. Press the button on the back to extend it into a 5-meter-long rod. Use the tip of the rod to gently touch IF-017’s lower body twice.
Personnel G: …Understood.
Personnel G complies. The rod’s tip touches IF-017’s ankle. IF-017 remains motionless.
Researcher H: Excellent. Now the upper body. Touch it twice and if there’s still no reaction, tap the head once. Then retrieve the rod, fold it by pressing the rear button, and return it to the box.
Personnel G complies. The rod’s tip touches various parts of IF-017’s body. IF-017 remains motionless.
Personnel G: Phew…
Researcher H: Take a deep breath, Senior. You know IF-017 is safe better than me… Neutral classification confirmed. This is the last part. Approach until you can touch IF-017 and stand there.
Personnel G hesitates briefly before complying. It takes approximately 4 minutes and 7 seconds to reach 50 cm from the subject. Heavy breathing is heard from Personnel G. IF-017 remains motionless.
Researcher H: How are you holding up? Speak slowly.
Personnel G: The subject… shows no difference from usual. Appears to be sleeping peacefully. Its position has shifted slightly…
Researcher H: Are you alright, Senior? Your heartbeat seems too fast. If you’re feeling strange, feel free to return and rest.
Personnel G: (swallowing sound) I’m fine. Continue.
Researcher H: Hmm. Understood. If you want to stop anytime, just say so. Lightly touch IF-017 with your fingertips.
Personnel G complies. IF-017’s breathing becomes irregular near the shoulder area.
Personnel G: (panting heavily) It’s awake… Damn it… Huff… (unintelligible)
Researcher H: Calm down, Senior. Heart rate increased slightly, but biometrics remain unchanged. Lastly, touch the face once and wait for 30 seconds before returning. That’ll conclude the hostility test, so hang in there.
Personnel G: I didn’t choose internal duty for this… (unintelligible)
Personnel G complies. Extends a finger and lightly pokes IF-017’s cheek.
IF-017’s entire body twitches once before slowly opening its eyes. Its gaze remains fixed on the ceiling rather than Personnel G.
Personnel G freezes completely. At this point, Personnel G’s heart rate exceeds 180 beats per minute and exhibits signs of hyperventilation.
Personnel G: (heavy breathing)
Researcher H: Senior! Senior Gisel! Calm down and remove your hand! You can’t leave until you remove your hand! Just return and consider this experiment finished. I’ll handle the rest…
Personnel G: The experiment must proceed according to regulations… Must follow procedures… Must release the hand… Must release…
While muttering repeatedly, Personnel G’s posture collapses. IF-017’s cheek is pressed further, causing its head to tilt approximately 5° to the right. After about 7 seconds, IF-017 slowly turns its gaze toward Personnel G.
Personnel G’s pupils dilate dramatically, showing intense reaction, then convulses like a paper doll before falling backward. Due to the weight of the protective suit, they struggle to rise from their spot.
Approximately 4 seconds later, IF-017 quietly closes its eyes and its biometrics return to a sleeping state.
Personnel G: (screaming) (unintelligible)
Researcher H: Senior! IF-017 closed its eyes again, so please return quickly! Senior? Senior?!
At this point, Personnel G appears to have entered a full panic state and doesn’t respond to Researcher H’s instructions.
Approximately 40 seconds later, Personnel G rises shakily, soaked in tears, and stumbles backward.
Personnel G: (labored breathing) Counted 30 seconds but nothing happened… Nothing happened? Why nothing? It’s an unknown phenomenon, it should kill me… Why nothing… Huff, choke…(sound of collapsing)
Continuously muttering, Personnel G retreats backward until reaching 18 meters from IF-017, then falls sideways while attempting to turn toward the exit door and goes silent.
Approximately 30 seconds pass. The only sounds are the steady breathing of the prone IF-017 and the prone Personnel G.
Researcher H: Senior. Senior? Can you hear me? (sigh) Security officer, please recover Personnel G. Ending standard unverified anomaly hostility test.
End of record.
Experiment Results: During the standard procedure, IF-017’s maximum action was “looking.” Even when Personnel G exhibited behavior that could be interpreted as hostile, no further actions were observed. This confirms IF-017 remains a safe unknown phenomenon matching the friendly classification. Additional verification is needed, but minimal safety has been confirmed, allowing researchers to enter the containment chamber directly for future experiments.
Notes: Personnel G, who fainted during the experiment, recovered without physical or mental issues after approximately 14 hours of rest. Contrary to concerns about IF-017 possessing gaze-related abilities, no mental contamination or abnormal phenomena were confirmed, and the cause was determined to be excessive tension in an already fatigued state. Additionally, upon questioning the recovered Personnel G, they reported “IF-017’s cheek was surprisingly squishy.”