[Good morning, Manager. You look quite well today.]
X's second day as Manager began with an awakening by the intelligent AI. Heaven only knows the sheer Panic she felt when she first opened her eyes to see Angela. It was terrifying to the extreme.
To X, the face of that intelligent AI was fearsome. Especially when her field of vision was entirely occupied by her, she felt... quite unwell.
"Good morning, Angela."
Getting out of bed, changing, washing—the ordinary second day of employment held nothing special. Seven-thirty was a decent hour; the beauty of dawn usually began there.
Checking in for work, carrying a cup of coffee to the Manager's room, pondering the day's plan, and receiving the tasks assigned by the intelligent AI and the Department Deans.
There was still some time before the official nine o'clock bell. Before work officially started, there was a sliver of what could be called free preparation time, or perhaps time to be teased by her own Secretary.
['Face the Fear, Build the Future.' This is the motto of Lobotomy Corporation'sFounder; we all refer to her as 'A'. Which part do you prefer? Don't be nervous, I just want to understand your perspective.]
The elegant AI Secretary tossed a question to X. Upon hearing it, X subconsciously added two more sugar cubes to her coffee and began to stir. In her vision, the Lobotomy logo flashed, signifying she had the chance for multiple choices.
— Face the Fear?
— Or Build the Future?
[Simulation Start ——]
[Day 2 —— The Founder's Motto]
[Lobotomy Corporation's slogan is the Founder's motto. As a Manager, it is necessary to consider the Founder's intent. When the intelligent AI asked for your opinion on the motto, you answered 'Build the Future' without a second thought.]
[You observed the intelligent AI frown; she seemed disappointed in you. Immediately after, she began lecturing on the current plight of humanity—either accepting it or shaping a completely different future for one's own goals—and that such was the intent of Lobotomy Corporation.]
[You remained silent throughout this, not caring at all about what the Corporation was truly like; you only wanted to add two more sugar cubes to your coffee.]
[Your passive and perfunctory attitude drew the intelligent AI's dissatisfaction. She punished you. Before the intelligent AI could teach you to comprehend the Founder's motto, your mind became unstable.]
[You were stripped of your qualifications as Manager...]
[Achievement Unlocked —— What does it have to do with me?!]
[Warm Reminder: Maintaining a concerned attitude toward the Corporation is necessary; the Manager needs to serve as an example.]
[This result has no rewards or collectible options. Please try harder.]
X subconsciously frowned, stopped stirring her coffee, and set aside the jar of sugar cubes she had just opened.
If she added any more, she feared she would dissolve into the coffee just like a sugar cube. She didn't want that yet.
"If I had to choose... I prefer the 'Face the Fear' part. One must face it first, overcome that fear, before one can build a future."
X took a small sip of her coffee. Coffee without sugar was astringent; the dark flavor lashed at her tongue. Following the rich, aromatic bitterness was a lingering sourness in her mouth. Bitterness could indeed jolt one's spirit.
X loved sweet things, but she didn't hate pure coffee like this. Sometimes it was precisely because of such dark bitterness that sweetness was highlighted so beautifully.
[A very good answer, but it's not quite the intent as you understand it. We are the first group of humans in the world to discover Abnormalities... Well, that doesn't include me; I am not human.]
When the intelligent AI mentioned 'humans', her expression showed a subtle sense of loss. Just as she had introduced herself, the Corporation's AI could express rich and delicate emotions, but X didn't know if such facial expressions were merely a facade.
Merely an intelligent AI... mimicking humanity.
[How should I explain it to you? We are like pioneers who have discovered an entirely new world, yet the journey of exploration is far from over. All our discoveries thus far are merely the tip of the iceberg of that world.]
[Since the birth of humanity, Abnormalities have existed beside us. But, it wasn't until recently that we 'noticed' their existence. Upon discovering them, their very existence makes us feel Fear from the bottom of our hearts.]
[In essence, they are a bunch of terrifying alien species.]
The corners of the intelligent AI's mouth curved slightly more.
"Is that so... thank you for your explanation, Angela."
X didn't fully believe the intelligent AI's words. Perhaps some of it was true, or perhaps some was just a lie meant to tease her.
But regardless of truth or falsehood, there was no need to point it out. Right now, she only needed to satisfy the intelligent AI's desire to perform, rather than exposing her or denying her the opportunity to do so.
That would lead to no good end, and X didn't want to be punished by Angela yet.
The coffee reached its bottom. X requested a glass of warm milk from the intelligent AI. The fragrant sweetness of the milk slightly dissolved the inexplicable feeling in her mouth left by the coffee. Compared to the coffee preferred by mature adults, X indeed still preferred sweet drinks.
It might be a bit childish, but it was just right for X now; life was already bitter enough, it needed at least some sweetness to neutralize it.
Then, before work officially started, there was yesterday's unresolved matter.
Originally, she should have chosen which Department to open yesterday, but it had been delayed until today because of X's poor condition.
[Have you considered which Department you wish to open? The Information Department or the Safety Department?]
"The Safety Department... Mmm, I heard the Information Department Dean is a bit scary."
X didn't know if the Information Department Dean was truly that frightening, but she knew if she chose the Information Department first, the intelligent AI might use it as an excuse to indulge her wicked sense of humor.
Although she understood in essence that it was simply a matter of whether the intelligent AI was interested or not, and one choice couldn't completely avoid the issue, X still wanted to choose something different from the simulation.
At the very least, X didn't want to see a Dean putting on airs and harshly reprimanding her on her second day of work, right?
Not all Deans were as warm and familiar as Control Department Dean Malkuth, who never spared praise for the Manager. Most Deans focused more on the work itself rather than flattering the Manager.
[It seems the reputation of 'Viper' Yesod has reached your ears. Gossip among the Deans in the Corporation spreads like wildfire. However, you are the Manager; you must rely on your own judgment.]
[I will notify the Safety Department Dean to prepare for the meeting. During this waiting time, please choose the 'cargo' the Corporation has delivered for you today.]
On the large screen composed of over a dozen monitors, three crimson Containment Boxes appeared. Below them were marked Subject Numbers. Some had names, while others remained blank. All this intelligence needed to be gathered through management, gradually filling in the gaps in information.
The only information provided to Manager X was a single line of descriptive text for each item:
1.[F-02-44]
[However, the curse continues eternally, never broken...]
2.[Bloodbath]
[Many hands float in the bath. They are the hands of the people I once loved...]
3.[O-04-100]
[The more blood it has, the more beautiful it is...]
X found the choice difficult. When her eyes hit the word 'Bloodbath,' her body instinctively flinched, and she touched the scar on her own wrist.
"Angela, why do some only have Subject Numbers? Are they special in some way?"
Two of the three Containment items only had Subject Numbers, while the third had an official name. Honestly, X had a bad premonition... or rather, ever since arriving at this Corporation, she hadn't felt a single good thing.
[You are the new Manager, and many preceded you. They all managed Abnormalities just like you. If a Containment item already has an official 'Translated Name,' it means a previous Manager chose it, and the Corporation holds detailed intelligence. Management will be somewhat easier.]
[Whether you follow the path of those who came before or forge an entirely new one, the choice is in your hands.]
[However, I do not recommend you choose 'Bloodbath.' The previous Manager was forced to resign due to mental instability caused by it.]
"Is this Abnormality very dangerous? Extremely difficult to manage?"
X questioned her AI Secretary, wondering what exactly could cause a Manager to collapse. She wanted to avoid repeating the lethal mistakes of the past.
[This Abnormality is not inherently dangerous to staff. However, it will harm you, causing severe disturbances to your psyche. The Corporation cannot shield your mind from this type of contamination through conventional means.]
"Alright... That sounds dangerous enough. Thank you for the reminder, Angela. Do you have any suggestions for the other two Abnormalities?"
Since she knew the risks of 'Bloodbath,' X decided to pick from the two lacking reports. Her predecessors explored unknown territories, and she, as the new Manager, had to move forward like a novice explorer.
[Manager, the choice is yours. I will offer no recommendations; you are the Manager, not I.]
Angela clearly wouldn't offer more intelligence. Reminding X to avoid 'Bloodbath' was likely her greatest mercy, a suggestion rooted in the principle of protecting the Manager.
Protecting the Manager... It sounded like a noble reason. Although, judging by the simulation results, X's mental breakdown had been instigated by her own AI Secretary, making it hard to believe Angela truly cared.
It was best to listen to her Secretary's words with a grain of salt. Taking them too seriously seemed naive. Mixed with falsehoods, who could know what ulterior motives the AI's logic carried?
Since Angela wouldn't offer further help, X made a casual choice, selecting the first one.
the Abnormality with Subject Number [F-02-44] was TETH-class.
Abnormalities of this class were only slightly more dangerous than ZAYIN-class, still falling within a "safe" range. As long as they were handled properly, they wouldn't harm employees, and even an accident wouldn't cause a catastrophe.
Under non-ideal circumstances, however, these Abnormalities could still kill. Therefore, a Manager could never overlook this level of threat.
To be precise, one could never overlook any Abnormality. Monsters are always monsters, and monsters are always dangerous. Whether they appear docile or violent, they possess the power to easily take a life.
The first rule in the Manager's notebook was clear: never underestimate an Abnormality.
[The new Abnormality will be assimilated by the Safety Department. You may now proceed to the conference room to greet the Safety Department Dean; I have already notified her to attend.]
After finishing these announcements, Angela prepared to leave. X felt a sudden pang of uncertainty.
"Angela... aren't you coming with me?"
Surely the Secretary should accompany her to meet the Dean...
[Manager, I understand your need for company, but I have my own duties. You are the Manager; you must possess your own judgment.]
The AI said this, yet X felt a glaring contradiction. Angela's actions conflicted with her words: reliance, dependence, forcing herself upon X, yet simultaneously claiming X should think for herself.
Which version, ultimately, was the AI's true thought?
Forget it. Why obsess over an AI's thoughts? She was just a machine. Even if her external appearance was flawless, making her almost indistinguishable from a human, she was still just a machine.
Who would seriously try to figure out if an AI truly possessed a soul?
The prerequisite was ignoring those terrible punishment simulations. Just thinking about them made X shiver. She didn't want to experience that content herself, nor did she want to know the specifics of a punishment that could shatter a mind.
However, X couldn't show relief that Angela was gone. She had to strictly manage her facial expression, pretending she couldn't bear to part with her.
She was forced to yield under the overwhelming pressure of the machine.
Once Angela truly left her sight, X let out a breath. She felt far more relaxed when the Secretary wasn't nearby.
Since she had been to the conference room once yesterday, she knew the way without a guide. Although the Corporation's layout was complex, like an endless labyrinth imprisoning a Minotaur, X surprisingly felt she could find the right path.
No one was in the room. She had assumed the Safety Department Dean would be waiting, but this time, she was the one waiting.
There was no sound of footsteps. As the door was pushed open, a woman who looked like she was dressed in a hurry walked in.
Messy, dark long hair hung down loosely. Excess fat pushed up the edges of her black suit, and not a single button was properly aligned. Even the 'M' emblem on her sleeve was crooked and wrinkled.
"...Why is the meeting room located so far away?"
The woman casually glanced at Manager X and immediately collapsed onto the sofa. X was still standing, but the woman was already sprawled out, looking as if her very bones were about to melt into the cushions.
"Er... You should know my name, right? Ah... I don't know, this is annoying. My name is Netzach; I am the Safety Department Dean."
Even her voice sounded weary, like someone who had been forcibly pulled from a deep sleep.