Annabella/Archive

Overview**Archive**MailMedia

## Info

One of the seven great urban legends on Mirroria's anonymous forum—the crimson vampire maid who lurks in the lower city...
The mysterious girl turns out to be holding multiple part-time jobs, which even include being a bodyguard, just to make a living. As it doesn't really seem out of the ordinary, the urban legend has been found to be gossip that was blown out of proportion.
She herself insists that she is only a servant who does her job and follows the commands of her "Master" on the other end of the communicator. The identity of this "Master," however, remains a mystery.
That said, she does feel like a vampire in some regards... but she probably is just an ordinary person who's good at shooter games and talks a bit weirdly...

## File 1

One of the Seven Great Urban Legends: The Vampire of the Lower City - Cursory Investigation Report I
The fact that this fantastical-sounding rumor could stir so much speculation in Mirroria is quite surprising. Before it rose to the top of the "Big Seven" legends in netizen polls, it was widely believed that topics like AI, robotics, cats, dogs, electronic music, or wine were more popular.

Some information has been collected here based on the author's own interest, and the genesis, evolution, development, and decline of a popular urban legend are briefly recorded.

The origin of the rumors is currently believed to be a photo that was secretly taken of a girl and posted online. The photo takes place in an alley of the lower city, and is quite blurry, but a black-haired girl in the shadows can still be seen, and her chest and skirt are covered in red.

About two days later, someone altered the photo and posted it under their own name. In the altered photo, the red stains are much clearer, and look like bloodstains. Despite the fact that the alterations seem a little obvious, the description for the photo wrote, "What is this? Has the lower city become this dangerous? Is there any public safety at all?"

The word "vampire" has yet to appear at this point.

Another two days later, a critic with a large following forwarded the previous picture, including their own impressions and photos of the original scene, saying: "Doesn't she look like a CGI vampire from a movie? But after researching it, I found that it is real." After this, more people began jumping in on the trend, remarking that the photo looks like something that could only be seen in a fantasy movie.

The topic gained momentum after this, and more and more "eyewitnesses" of speculative credibility began making claims, such as that they've seen similar things happen in the lower city... or that someone they knew disappeared without a trace right after going to the lower city...

A week later, an anonymous author wrote a first-person story detailing their escape from an encounter with the "vampire" in the lower city. The author deliberately created a terrifying atmosphere for the story, describing in detail the person's state of mind while escaping. This type of rumor has always been extremely contagious, as it delivers an immersive experience to the reader. The legend of the "vampire" reached its peak of popularity with the publication of this cleverly-written anonymous horror story.

Perhaps it is because the lives of the populace of Mirroria are too stable, lacking in stress or excitement, causing everyone to find immense interest in the baseless story of a "serial killer vampire" that didn't have any evidence.

## File 2

One of the Seven Great Urban Legends: The Vampire of the Lower City - Cursory Investigation Report II

It is said by some that the vampire chooses nameless strangers as its victims, seeking only to satisfy its base desires. Others say that the vampire is a self-proclaimed "scavenger" of the city, and is the result of a misguided scientific experiment. And still, others claim that the vampire is the most dangerous element in the entire city, whose true identity is actually a bloodthirsty Grayspace Entity infiltrator with a human face...

The more fantastical the story becomes, the further it departs from reality, to the point that these so-called "cases" were never reported on by the news, yet were perfected under the keystrokes of the netizens.

Once the legend of the vampire reached a certain level of popularity, the topic was said by some well-informed or indie video makers to have reached, in their words, peak "maturity."

Anyone can write about a topic when it is still rising in popularity. No matter how unfounded or speculative the content is, there will still be people who will read it. If the topic is saturated, though, then they become tired of it. Even as the readers were incited towards panic, a portion of them were dubious towards the authenticity of the incident, and were inclined to find a true and reliable explanation for it. Over time, this voice became louder and louder.

A "mature" topic will lend itself much better to "dissection" than a topic with little discussion. As a result, a group of people vied with one another to discover the truth behind the photo that started the rumors, as the first one to debunk the most reasonable of these rumors would be in a very suitable position (meaning, of course, that they would receive a lot of attention).

## File 3

One of the Seven Great Urban Legends: Vampire of the Lower City - Cursory Investigation Report III

The matter did not go smoothly, however, and became stuck in a rut.

Just as the author felt that the issue had hit a dead end, the first reliable video to clarify the rumors surfaced on the net.

Despite the controversy and arguments in the community, as well as the many videos from people of divergent opinions that have appeared, most people still believe that the original clarification is the most reliable.

This is because he was the first to find the original subject of the photo, as all later requests for interviews were rejected for the reason that "It's already been explained clearly."

In the only video to be taken of the original subject of the photo, the victim who inadvertently became the central figure of an urban legend bowed respectfully to the camera, apologizing for the trouble she caused and clarifying the misunderstanding. She explained that she didn't participate in any dangerous activities, and that she only happened to be at the scene because of her part-time job.

She introduced the cafe she worked at in the video, describing in detail her full and healthy life as an ordinary person. There was nothing to be suspicious of in this description, and despite the fact that many were disappointed at the fact that the "vampire" never actually existed, it appeared that the dust had finally settled on the matter.

The author's belief is that over-speculation concerning an innocent girl whose photo was secretly taken is in quite bad taste. In addition, attention shifted to the cafe introduced by the girl, turning the video into some strange kind of promotion. Business at that cafe has been booming for some time now.

And the popularity of the rumors gradually subsided...

## File 4

Subject: No Title
Sender: Z-Bug
Time: 2712/■/■
Recipient: #28

How have you been, Annabella?

I won't bother introducing myself, we've met at the company before, and I feel there's no need for a long explanation, as you remember me anyway. After you, you do occasionally take the time to search for me, ha-ha.

I hope that you can stop doing so, if possible. My aims are different than the ones who abused you so, I was merely an innocent who got caught up in it all. It would be more accurate to say that I'm on your side on this issue, and I feel that this company should go down. I speak the truth.

Spare me, and leave me to peacefully pursue my interests within my corner of Mirroria, and I won't bother you.

At this point, this is merely a request, but if you can't let this go... my feelings toward the matter will change. Consider this to be my warning.

What more is there to say of you? You selfish "vampire" girl.

Even though you were forced to at first, but now you've grown a taste for it, haven't you? You truly have grown into someone who can sacrifice others without hesitation, a "vampire"... This is merely a metaphor, I have little interest in the stir that was caused online by your photo being taken during one of your assignments.

What truly surprised me is how, with your personality, you play-act as someone who makes their living serving others, inventing a supposed "Master" whom you serve.

My monitoring of you has shown that you are still just as verbose as when you used to work at the company. Your brazenness truly appalls me. Surely you know better than anyone that you are completely free. You strived for your freedom, yet you yourself won't set yourself free. Why is that? Was Hynriard so successful in its brainwashing of you?

My guess is that you are seeking to excuse your sins. By pretending that you are merely executing orders given by someone else, you can commit cruel and heinous acts with a clear conscience.

What do you think? Am I right?

To a certain extent, I do pity you for what happened, and I'm even willing to ally myself with you. As for providing intel or such to the Security Force, I would feel conflicted in doing so.

Nonetheless, I believe you understand that the situation will change if you insist on threatening my safety.

Think on it.