Scientific Mystery-Solving, but in an Infinite Game

Malovette is a long-term instance hailed by players as Hell-level difficulty. Those brave enough to enter have almost no chance of survival, and no one has ever cleared it. Amuro Tooru and the others, inexplicably teleported into the instance: ? # In a cramped rental apartment, a murderous monster with blood all over its hands stood just a door away from the players. Its eerie, vertically slit pupil stared fixedly through the peephole as it rasped, "...Open the door..." The reinforced door shuddered under the heavy pounding. A black-haired man with naturally curly hair leaned against the wooden table beside it. With a cigarette in one hand and a pair of handcuffs in the other, he remained unruffled. "It's unlocked. Open it yourself." The players: ...? The players: ...?!!!! Also known as: "Is It Really Scientifically Sound to Redeem a Female Ghost Through Deduction at a Fire Scene?" "Know the Law, Obey the Law, Happiness for All. If You Break the Law as a Ghost, Your Family Will Weep" "The Years NPCs Were Bewitched by Players' Good Looks" # "Is there someone you want to save?" "Is there an attachment you can't let go of?" "Is there a past you've missed, one you'll never forget?" The blond man smiled gently, with an endless sea of stars behind him. "Reversing time is a paradox, but we can make an equivalent exchange." "Become a player in the game, or head toward a predetermined ending." The young man snapped his fingers, and the bomb shattered into pieces. "Want to take a gamble?" #No CP. In other words, the police academy squad saves itself. #Nothing in this story is connected to reality. The characters' values do not represent the author's. If anything in the story upsets you, please leave immediately to avoid further distress. I don't care about other platforms, but please don't post spoiler warnings in the comments!! If you have any complaints about this story, please blame the author, not the characters. Thank you!! (A little self-preservation) Theme: Believe in science, starting with me