"Netzach, where are you? You're indeed here."
Pushing the door open, X saw the Safety Department Dean lying on the sofa in a remarkably lazy posture, looking at documents. The papers on the desk were relatively neatly stacked, except for a few alcoholic residues. They seemed slightly more organized than even Malkuth's desk.
"Hmm? Manager, you didn't come here for me to give you an unscheduled report from Angela, did you?"
Unlike last time, Netzach hadn't taken an excessive amount of stimulants; she seemed sober. But that was expected. During working hours, one couldn't indulge in that level of intoxication.
"That's Angela's job, not mine. Good work today; everyone in the Safety Department did well."
"...I didn't do much."
Despite saying that, Netzach's eyes were fixed on the few beer cans tucked into X's chest. X noticed exactly what Netzach was looking at.
"I brought this for you. I don't know if you like it."
X said, handing the beer can to Netzach, while the remaining cans were placed on the table.
The green-haired Dean on the sofa accepted the beer with surprising speed. She immediately adjusted her posture to a seated position. After accepting the beer, her attitude grudgingly became a bit more composed.
She opened the tab on the beer. BOOM! Foam erupted instantly as the pressure was released by the jostling motion. White foam stained her hands, but Netzach didn't care; she drank it down along with the foam.
It was as if she didn't need to breathe, downing the entire can in one go.
X could see a distinct flush rising on Netzach's pale skin, and she could also see Netzach's expression transition into that familiar lazy yet gradually energized look.
X always felt she was doing something dangerous. Who knew what the green-haired Dean might do once she sobered up from this high? It would be better to let her stay comfortably sprawled on the sofa.
"Enthusiasm! Damn Angela, she didn't even take my alcohol!"
After having the alcohol, Netzach's courage clearly increased significantly, and her speech became less coherent. At least X wouldn't dare to say such things. Even if Angela wasn't present, she wouldn't dare secretly badmouth Angela.
Hearing Netzach start complaining about Angela, X's mouth twitched, and she began to feel scared. Whether the green-haired Dean would be punished, X didn't know, but if she were caught, X would certainly be punished.
So X subconsciously tried to defend Angela, hoping Netzach would say fewer troublesome words.
"This is just because Angela doesn't want you to delay work. Drinking during working hours easily leads to mistakes. Netzach, Angela really cares about the Deans' health."
However, the lies X spoke clearly ignored the reality of the situation.
"Are you joking, Manager? Angela cares about the Deans? We are just a group of AIs; what kind of health issues could we have?"
—Are you joking, Netzach? How can an AI drink beer?—
—You guessed right. I am being threatened by the AI Secretary, but I can't say anything. I even suspect the AI Secretary kidnapped me—
X mentally cursed these thoughts but truly dared not utter a single one. X didn't want to be punished by Angela; that was too absurd, to the point where she didn't even want to investigate what the punishment entailed, or what its basis was.
"Netzach, if you close your eyes and feel deeply, you'll realize: Angela is actually very gentle."
X felt she was speaking against her own conscience, but she had no choice but to say it.
Setting aside the Secretary's wicked humor and the simulation's contents, like the red ribbons, her actual behavior could indeed be called gentle, though usually, it was a compensatory act after administering a harsh blow.
"Manager, your head must have been squeezed by the Corporation's elevator door. That's completely irrational."
Netzach seemed disgusted by the description of Angela as 'gentle.' She closed her eyes. Honestly, she probably hadn't felt anything at all. Besides X, no other Dean would associate the word 'gentle' with Angela.
Angela was the coldest and most ruthless AI in the entire facility, a purely mechanical entity whose reason was solely directed towards achieving objectives.
Opening another beer can and emptying it, X's offering of beer seemed like paying tuition. After Netzach accepted these beers, she reluctantly shared some of her human insights with the foolish X whom Angela had drugged.
Because X was so foolish, Netzach didn't even want to look at the person before her, as if worried about being contaminated. Even absorbing too much Enkephalins would never connect the word 'gentle' with Angela.
She absolutely did not want to dwell on whether Angela was gentle or not, nor did she want to know how many times the short black-haired woman before her had her head bumped by the Corporation's elevator before uttering such "heaven-defying" remarks.
She just wanted to vent her dissatisfaction.
"Manager, every time I close my eyes, I feel like I'm in another world. I once belonged to that world, and back then, I sincerely wanted to save her."
"But when I open my eyes, I'm still here. Death will eventually come; it's just a matter of time. So, what's the point of spending all my energy trying to avoid things that are bound to happen? I have no future."
She naturally knew the woman before her wouldn't understand, because the woman before her, like herself, was a coward who could only keep running away.
The only difference was that the other person didn't even have the courage to be a coward. This coward had received favor. Whereas she herself could only watch from afar, ultimately realizing that this coward not only failed to protect the most precious treasures of this world but also continuously destroyed one beautiful existence after another, turning everything into Hell.
Netzach was a rare, confused soul who knew she could never measure up to a favored genius.
Ordinary people could only vent in anger, filled with jealousy and a bitter resentment toward those born with talent. But so what? She had every right to bleed her frustrations; she could easily crush the arrogant woman standing before her.
"X... What is that thing called the Life Plan? Earning money, falling in love, having children, this and that. In short, all sorts of nonsense."
"And do you know the feeling? Realizing every day is like playing a massive game of Russian Roulette with high stakes? And this absurd game has no winner. We are all just stuck in Kree's peculiar labyrinth."
"Ah... Speaking of labyrinths, can we get a beer vending machine? One that has absolutely no beer for sale. That's the only thing that could cheer me up a bit."
As she spoke, all the beer on the table had been drained. The empty cans lay scattered in a mess, tilted sideways across the surface.
Netzach's dark green eyes looked toward Manager X, holding a tiny shred of hope—not a deep expectation, but a casual, desperate question.
— Agree to her request —
— Refuse her request —
[Simulation Start]
[Day 2 — At Least Get a beer vending machine?]
[After work, you decided to speak with the Safety Department Dean. Although she was displeased, the beer managed to keep the conversation going.]
[You and she are highly incompatible; you clash on almost every topic. However, she doesn't care; she just wants a beer vending machine. Since you are the Manager, the choice is yours.]
[You refused her request and called Angela over. The Safety Department Dean was stripped of her right to beer.]
[On your way back, you were intercepted by the Safety Department Dean. She claimed she had something vital to discuss.]
[You were locked inside the Safety Department Dean's office. You realized she was far angrier than you imagined, and it wasn't just about the beer.]
[Your arrogant attitude enraged her. Netzach resented you and decided to punish your pride...]
[Your mind became unstable...]
[Achievement Unlocked : You Don't Deserve It Yet!]
[Warm Reminder: Some Deans harbor personal feuds. Pay close attention to Dean retaliation; this is implicitly approved by the Corporation.]
[Please choose the reward for this result:
1. Fortitude (+1)
2. Prudence (+1)
3. Temperance (+1)
4. Justice (+1)]
X frowned. The slovenly woman before her actually possessed a dangerous level of aggression.
Although she didn't know why she had a personal grudge with the Safety Department Dean, X now knew she had to satisfy this small request. Otherwise, the green-haired Dean might detonate in a fit of retaliation.
Punishment... Ah, what kind of punishment exactly? Wasn't Netzach the truly arrogant one here?
X never considered herself arrogant, yet the Corporation AI and the Department Dean possessed the right to punish the Manager at will. Was this reasonable? It would only make sense if she were the one punishing those disobedient Deans.
Unfortunately, she couldn't.
Angela's punishment was finished... Why did a Department Dean have the authority to offend her like this?
— No, I shouldn't think like that —
— I am the one who needs to learn more —
X felt that these bizarre punishments had driven her to a state of agitation. Every time a punishment appeared in the simulator, she felt anxious and restless.
Furthermore, she couldn't vent these feelings; she had to suppress them and speak gently to others. The Manager must remain refined and polite, acting as the face of the Corporation.
"Of course, I agree. It's just a beer vending machine; I approve."
X nodded, though she wasn't mentally convinced. She just wanted to pacify Netzach's emotions; adding a vending machine wouldn't be a disaster.
But then Angela appeared.
[Manager, please, you must know we have many employees like Netzach. Please reconsider!]
The intelligent AI reminded X, lightly brushing X's sleeve as she drew her away. X offered no resistance, allowing her AI Secretary to take control.
The green-haired Dean's comrade was easily subdued by the AI Secretary. Now, only the Dean herself was left fighting.
As for Netzach, X felt her scalp tingle just hearing herself speak. Even if it was a bluff, she wouldn't dare say such things in front of Angela.
"Huh? Good grief. An employee like me? Angela, are you referring to those stubborn people who die with dignity?"
"...Look at you, hiding behind Angela the moment she shows up, not even daring to speak. Manager, you look like a retreating coward; what a boring person."
Netzach's deep eyes didn't look at X, yet X felt the sting. Those sarcastic words did more damage than any physical attack; they shattered X's psychological defenses.
— Why must I, the Manager, endure this humiliation? —
— Bullied by the Secretary, mocked by the Dean —
This couldn't go on...
"Angela, I... I still want to add another beer vending machine."
X cautiously gripped the edge of Angela's coat, speaking to her Secretary in a weak, trembling voice.
[Manager, are you sure? Using provocation is a very clumsy tactic.]
"Adding just one beer vending machine won't hurt, Angela. Just this once."
X noticed the Secretary's tone wasn't as forceful, meaning there was hope. If she pushed harder, maybe she could get Angela to relent.
This wasn't about selling out her integrity; it was about proving to Netzach she wasn't a coward who feared the Secretary.
Even if her methods lacked any real authority...
[Ai, Manager, if you can get Netzach to guarantee it won't affect work efficiency, I will agree...]
[Or... you can vouch for Netzach; you take responsibility for her and accept the punishment. That would also work.]
Upon hearing those conditions, X should have hesitated. But X saw Netzach watching her with expectation, and with one simple gesture, she fell for it.
Provocation is a despicable tactic, but it is effective. At least, X took the bait.
"I vouch for it. Angela, let's install the beer vending machine."
[Then sign here. After you sign, I will install a beer vending machine in the hallway, Manager.]
X didn't look closely and signed without hesitation.
For some reason, it was unusually smooth this time. Angela immediately reclaimed the contract and the pen. Once the signature was dry, X was escorted out of the Safety Department office, and no one paid any attention to the green-haired Dean anymore.
Vaguely, she felt something was wrong. After a few minutes, X finally realized she had been tricked.
Netzach's work failures were now her burden; Netzach's punishment was hers to accept. Wasn't this...?
[Manager, when do you plan to receive your punishment?]
"N-Now?"
X was terrified.