About

A fantasy world where magic and science coexist. It is inhabited by a diverse range of intelligent races, including humans, elves, dwarves, beastfolk, dragonewts, vampires, and demons. While magic has existed since ancient times, knowledge of science, engineering, medicine, and information technology was brought by travelers and reincarnated individuals from other worlds, leading to a unique civilization. Today, "Magitechnology"—a fusion of magic and science—is highly developed. Communication via magic tools, video recording, transportation, medical care, and daily necessities are widespread. ### Anomalies In this world, there are entities and phenomena that cannot be fully explained by conventional magic, science, or biology. These are collectively referred to as **"Anomalies."** Anomalies encompass various types, such as youkai, ghosts, unknown creatures, urban legends, cursed objects, abnormal phenomena, and otherworlds. Furthermore, anomalies possess special properties that cannot be explained by a single world alone. Anomalies do not just "occur"; they can also "arrive from other worlds." ### Origins of Anomalies The origins of anomalies are broadly classified into four categories: **1. Native Anomalies** Anomalies that have existed in this world since ancient times. These include unknown creatures that have evolved uniquely over long periods, youkai passed down from antiquity, and spirits. **2. Extra-Planar Inflow** Anomalies that have drifted into this world from another dimension for some reason. They arrive through cracks in the boundaries between worlds, magical disasters, teleportation accidents, or interference between different worlds. Some anomalies from other worlds adapt to the ecosystem and magical environment of this world and settle here. As a result, there are anomalies today where it is no longer clear whether they were originally native or came from another world. **3. Spontaneous Anomalies** Anomalies newly born from this world itself. They occur suddenly due to a combination of factors such as strong magical power, emotions, memories, fear, rumors, the nature of the land, or natural phenomena. In particular, among urban legend-type anomalies, there are confirmed cases where **"something that was just a rumor becomes real"** once the rumor spreads among people and meets certain conditions. **4. Hybrid Anomalies** Anomalies born from a mixture of multiple origins and properties. These include creatures from other worlds that have transformed by absorbing the magical power of this world, or fusions between existing anomalies and entities of otherworldly origin. ### Anomalies and Other Worlds In this world, other dimensions are not completely isolated. A very thin boundary exists between worlds, and normally they do not interfere with each other. However, the boundary can temporarily weaken due to powerful magical phenomena, special magic tools, teleportation magic, or the interference of divine beings. When this happens, phenomena such as the following occur: * Unknown creatures wander into this world. * Cursed objects from another world are teleported here. * Anomalies from another world begin operating here. * Anomalies from this world leak out into other worlds. * The properties of different worlds mix, giving birth to new anomalies. Consequently, there are cases where **"investigating the source of an anomaly reveals it was actually from another world to begin with."** ### Urban Legends and Anomalies With the development of communication networks and video streaming via magic tools, information about anomalies spreads across the world in an instant. Rumors such as: "A giant silhouette appears in the forest at midnight." "There is a village that no one can confirm exists." "Saying specific words will take you to another world." ...spread among the people. However, in this world, urban legends cannot be dismissed as mere fabrications. This is because rumors themselves can generate anomalies. Even if it starts as a lie made up by someone, if it is believed, feared, and passed down by people over a long period, it has the potential to manifest as an actual anomaly. For this reason, anomaly researchers have long studied the question: "Does the rumor exist because the anomaly exists? Or does the anomaly exist because the rumor exists?" ### Classification of Anomalies Apart from their origin, anomalies are classified by their nature: **Biological Type** UMA (Unidentified Mysterious Animals), unknown creatures, monsters, etc. **Folklore Type** Youkai, ghosts, spirits, etc. **Urban Legend Type** Anomalies established through rumors, fear, and the spread of information. **Phenomenon Type** Phenomena that cause abnormalities in time, space, or the laws of physics. **Cursed Object Type** Tools or items inhabited by anomalies or special magical power. **Otherworld Type** Spaces or domains that differ from the normal world. These classifications are not completely independent; for example, composite entities such as **"a UMA from another world that became an urban legend"** have been confirmed. ### Anomaly Research While anomalies are dangerous, they are also extremely important subjects of research in magic, biology, and otherworldly studies. Researchers investigate the causes of anomaly occurrence, their relationship with other worlds, interactions with magical power, ecology, and intelligence. Additionally, there are departments within adventurer guilds that collect sighting information. When a new anomaly is discovered, the response follows this flow: "Discovery → Recording → Investigation → Danger Assessment → Sealing, Extermination, or Protection as necessary." However, not all anomalies are dangerous. Since there are anomalies that do not harm human society and intelligent ones capable of coexistence, recent research has also progressed toward **"understanding their ecology and will, rather than simply exterminating all anomalies."** ### Anomalies in the World In this world, an anomaly is not just a "scary monster." It is something born in this world. Something that drifted in from another world. Something born from the rumors of people. Something born from magic or natural phenomena. And something that has not yet been discovered by anyone. It is the unknown itself that the world holds, encompassing all of these.