After parting ways with Yesod, X quickly found Netzach curled up in a corner of the Safety Department.
The green-haired beauty was completely drunk. Her hair hung loose down her back without any concern for appearances, a total mess.
A sharp, pungent smell clung to her—alcohol mixed with other irritating substances—strong enough to make anyone frown the moment they caught a whiff.
Two buttons of her uniform shirt below the collar had long since been undone, exposing a clearly defined collarbone.
In her hand, resting near it, she held a flower that she had no idea where she'd torn out of a vase. The vivid green petals contrasted sharply with her pale skin, giving her an oddly seductive air.
"What's wrong… huh…?"
When X pulled her up, Netzach was still floating in a dazed haze.
Her eyes were unfocused and glassy, her body limp. She even subconsciously opened her mouth, trying to stuff the flower she was holding inside.
Despite wearing a department head's uniform, she showed none of the authority or seriousness befitting the role—as if she were fundamentally incompatible with the word "responsibility."
"I came here to talk to you—"
Just as X was about to continue, the green-haired drunk—who barely seemed conscious—suddenly found strength from nowhere. She shoved him back and pinned him hard against the cold wall.
"You look… really damn hot today~"
A lingering, satisfied smile hung on Netzach's face as both her hands clamped firmly onto X 's shoulders, holding him in place.
"You… you did something… good, didn't you… hehe… Not bad at all…"
Before X could even struggle, her body swayed again, and the smile on her face turned vacant.
"Huh? The floor… why is it… shaking? Earthquake?"
She let go and tipped sideways, wobbling as if she were about to collapse.
"Hey— you—"
Before X could reach out to steady her, she shot out an arm like lightning and grabbed his wrist in a death grip.
"Hehehe… hehe…"
Her other elbow naturally came to rest on X 's shoulder, and her face—reeking of Enkephalin—leaned in close to his head.
"I know… what you're… thinking…"
Her speech was slurred, but her tone carried an unsettling certainty.
"This useless mess… looks really… pathetic… right?"
In her eyes—eyes that were usually lazy—there still flickered a sharp, almost predatory light.
"I get it… I've seen through it all…"
"I always hear… those kinds of… judgments…"
"But think about it…"
"…"
X barely leaned back even a little before an overwhelming force yanked him forward again. The more he tried to pull away, the closer Netzach pressed in, giving him no space to breathe.
"Think about it…"
Her entire body was nearly pressed against his.
"Even if I do… absolutely nothing… who the hell… cares!?"
"…Someone does."
X finally found a gap to speak. He shifted slightly and gently, soothingly stroked her back with the hand that wasn't trapped.
"I do. I care about you."
"Fake… fake nice guy… liar!"
Netzach shook her head violently, instinctively trying to push away X 's false kindness and cheap comfort.
But her chaotic thoughts dragged him right back again, her forehead nearly colliding with his face.
"You're weak… good-looking… and always wearing that… fake saint… look…"
"You're just like a walking… uh… yeah! Roast duck!"
She stared at X 's face for a long moment before confirming her conclusion.
"What's the difference between you… and a walking roast duck!?"
"I don't need… your comfort!"
"Maybe tomorrow I'll be— hic— dead with grass two meters tall over my grave… and you people… damn it, all of you…"
She rambled incoherently, then suddenly changed direction mid-thought.
"Oh—no… except… you. except you…"
"And don't— hehe— don't think you… hic… you get to stay out of it either!"
After all that, Netzach finally released X 's wrist and instead jabbed a finger hard into his chest.
"I mean… why don't we celebrate… the fact that we survived… another stupid damn day?"
She laughed.
"To hell with Angela… hic! To hell with this damn company! Let's— let's get wild!!!"
"We should party like… there's no future… hehe, party!!!"
Perhaps the Enkephalin surged again, because Netzach's emotions spiked once more. She threw her arms wide and burst into laughter.
"Wait… we never had a future anyway, right!? Right!!? Hahahahaha!!!"
"Am I being punished for my sins? Am I already… in hell? Lord!!!"
"I confess to you!!! I— hic!!!"
With that final hiccup, her manic energy deflated like a punctured balloon. Her body slackened, and she collapsed against X 's shoulder, eyes closed.
"This has to be a dream… a nightmare… there has to be… a way… to wake up…"
Her muttering faded until it disappeared entirely.
"…Honestly."
Facing a completely unconscious subordinate, X could only shake his head helplessly.
"Why do you think I'm lying to you…?"
What else could he do? Reprimanding her or comforting her now would both be equally meaningless.
"Even if I'm mentally strong… hearing you all accuse me like this… still hurts."
X sighed softly.
"Why do you always think… that I'm lying to you?"
He decided he would talk to her properly after work—or tomorrow morning.
Carefully, he carried the unconscious green-haired woman to the main lounge and laid her down on the sofa. By the time he finished, only five minutes remained before the workday officially began.
"Looks like Enkephalin control… really needs to be tightened."
Walking down the empty corridor back to his office, X muttered to himself.
"…Maybe I should just ban it outright."
"…Yeah. That'll do."
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