Item #: SCP-CN-073
Object Class: Euclid Neutralized
Special Containment Procedures: Based on information obtained in Interview 073-5 and Foundation investigation, SCP-CN-073 has been confirmed to have been contained by SCP-CN-073 in its consciousness by an unknown method. SCP-CN-073-1 is contained at Standard Humanoid Anomaly Containment Chamber #15 at Site-CN-34. SCP-CN-073-1 is to undergo regular health inspections and treatment procedures.
Following Incident 073-F, SCP-CN-073 has been reclassified Neutralized. No further containment is required.
Description: SCP-CN-073 is the designation for an anomaly directed at specific groups of people; based on SCP-CN-073-1's description, the anomaly possesses some degree of self-awareness but lacks a physical manifestation. The anomaly affects stationery used by students coming from mid-to-high-income and upper-class families; said students will exhibit below-average quality of work, such as sloppy, illegible writing, and learning when using stationery affected by the anomaly (for a more detailed description of the anomaly, see Addendum CN-073-Beta). After studying using affected stationery for more than 48 hours, students will develop spasms in their dominant hands and difficulty paying attention. Further investigation into SCP-CN-073's anomalies is pending experimental results.
Incident CN-073-A: SCP-CN-073 came to the attention of the Foundation after sudden drops in average student performance and high incidence of learning difficulties manifested at various schools throughout China, beginning with Shanghai ██████ Middle School and Beijing ███████ Affiliated Middle School. One week later, Foundation agent Wang █████ discovered SCP-CN-073-1 in a stairwell in Shanghai ██████ Middle School during routine inspection. After confirming its anomalous nature, SCP-CN-073-1 was successfully contained.
It can be confirmed that SCP-CN-073-1 restrained SCP-CN-073 through some unknown method. SCP-CN-073-1 is a humanoid entity, physically a biologically male human in poor health, wearing a damaged one-piece garment made of lined cotton (analysis reveals that the technique used dates to 19th century China). The object's leg bones are damaged and crumbling; it moves first by raising its legs, then using a straw rope over the shoulders to pull itself into a "cattail bag" shape, then "walking" using its arms.
Following Incident 073-F, the anomaly is confirmed to be neutralized; SCP-CN-073-1 is thought to be deceased.
Interviewer: Dr. HannahInterviewee: SCP-CN-073-1
<Begin Recording>
Dr. Hannah: So, we meet again, SCP-CN-073-1. The last few times we talked, you refused to tell us anything about SCP-CN-073. So, since you actively asked to talk to me, am I correct to assume that you wish to tell us something?SCP-CN-073-1: My surname is Kǒng. But if you wish to refer to me with a number, that is fine too. I feel my life slipping from me. It… and myself, are both far too old. The two of us will soon reach our end.
Dr. Hannah: "It"?
SCP-CN-073-1: That is, the thing that is disturbing the learning of those bright boys and girls in the new-style schools.
Dr. Hannah: Please describe in detail your relationship with SCP-CN-073.
SCP-CN-073-1: At that time, I was no longer young, but I was still yet to pass the imperial exams. I was forced to make a living in other ways. Often I would help others copy out documents in exchange for a meal. But life in ██████ was not too bad; often I would have the money left over to buy some alcohol or some broad beans to eat. And when I was at the Hé household, helping their son copy out something, that was when I heard it for the first time. Back then I thought I had gone mad — you would too if you suddenly heard a voice inside your head.
It said it was a kind of strength, formed from hundreds of years of frustration of students who had studied for days and months and never found success. It said things like "are kings and nobles of high status by birth?", "you can only be rich by being heartless", and "this society has always been unfair". I was too scared to repeat its words or reply to it. I just quietly kept writing.
But slowly, the boy's impressive poem started slowly deteriorating, and the beautiful penmanship too became nothing but chicken-scratches. In the end, I grabbed the books and paper and the brush on his table and ran off to disappear.Dr. Hannah: Did you accept SCP-CN-073's ideas?
SCP-CN-073-1: How could you ask such a thing! The virtuous remain steadfast even in poverty; when we are unable to write well, we blame not the rich, nor the top scholars in the country, and not the Emperor, nor our teachers. Who is there to blame but myself? That I am unable to write well, and that I have caused the young son of a wealthy family to be likewise — where have the morals of Confucius gone?
Dr. Hannah: I understand. In that case, how did you understand how to contain SCP-CN-073?
SCP-CN-073-1: The first time I brought it home, it encouraged me to make use of its power, so that I could have my name on the golden tablet and become an official; then I would be able to use my position to open a path for the poor scholars like us to easily reach success. I agreed without sincerity, and it entered my body, just as it had entered the stationery in that writing-room.
After a while, it discovered that I did not really wish to borrow its power to ruin the students of those rich families, but by then I had already realized how to keep it trapped within my mind. It went into a frenzy, breaking free of my bindings, and ran to the house of Dīng, the successful scholar.
In the night, I found it in their house, in the reading room of their son. But while I was once again sealing him, I was discovered by their servant. I tried to run away, but its power was too strong; by the time I managed to seal it within my mind again, I was surrounded by the servants. Nobody believed what I said, so first they had me write a letter of confession, and then they beat me all night…
Dr. Hannah: Is that why your legs are in such a state?
SCP-CN-073-1: It is. After that, I left ██████, hoping that I could at least protect those children who would come to the tavern and play around, asking me for broad beans. Its power kept me alive all this time, but most of that time both of us were sleeping. Slowly, its escapes became less and less frequent, and these two months… Well, when I found it in one of those new schools, I was already very tired. I could tell it was tired out too. I have a feeling this will be the last time.
Dr. Hannah: I understand. Thank you for today. I think we shall…SCP-CN-073-1: Madam, we have seen each other so many times. You may very well be the last person to speak to me. May I know your name??
Dr. Hannah: Han… 汉Hàn娜nà, 汉Hàn as in the 汉水River Hàn, and 娜Nà as in 袅娜graceful, but read as 娜nà in a girl's name.
SCP-CN-073-1: The Creator in Heaven dyed in red and blue, the flowers delicate and graceful… How beautiful.
<End Recording>
Incident 073-F: Three days after Interview 073-5, SCP-CN-073-1 disappeared from its containment chamber. Surveillance recordings did not show how the object disappeared.
Reclassification Request: As a full survey of schools throughout China has not turned up any related anomalies, a request to reclassify the object as Neutralized has been filed.
Probably, Kong ████ must have died. — Dr. Hannah
2017/██/██: Proposal to reclassify SCP-CN-073 Neutralized approved. — O5-██
« SCP-CN-072 | SCP-CN-073 | SCP-CN-074 »