"So... Yesod, could we maybe sit and talk…?"
X awkwardly lowered her head, fidgeting with her clothes before glancing at the office's air conditioning. Her gaze wandered, unsure of where to settle. Facing Yesod was an ordeal; those piercing eyes radiated a coldness that made X feel consumed by guilt.
The Dean standing before her was the embodiment of strictness, clearly not one for jokes. Her mere presence brought a chill to the room, as if an extra industrial AC unit had been switched on.
X hurriedly straightened her collar and tugged her jacket—which had been lazily draped over her shoulders—back into place, smoothing out the wrinkles at her waist. It was a futile attempt to salvage her ruined image, but at least it might stop her reputation from sinking any further.
At least her attitude toward admitting fault was sincere...
Fortunately, Yesod, the Dean of the Information Department, wasn't the type to bully others for sport. Though her demeanor remained icy, she acknowledged X's reasonable request and signaled for her to take a seat.
The plush sofa, which usually felt like a sanctuary, offered no comfort now. Under Yesod's unwavering stare, X shifted restlessly, unable to find a comfortable position.
The silence was deafening. With no topic to discuss and no idea what to say, X felt so awkward she could have dug a hole and crawled inside.
Yesod was nothing like Malkuth, whose sunny warmth always filled the silence with conversation. Nor was she like Netzach, the shiftless slacker who lived a life of pure lethargy. Yesod's sheer gravity forced everyone around her to tense up instinctively.
X couldn't even pinpoint why she felt so defensive, aside from her disheveled clothes. She hadn't failed any tasks. Neither the Deans nor Angela had any grounds to punish her.
"Cough... anyway, it's an honor to meet you, Dean Yesod. I am the new Manager, X. I'll do my best to coordinate effectively with the Information Department."
X forced an awkward laugh, realizing her stalling was only making things worse. The frigid atmosphere made small talk impossible. If this first meeting ended on such a disastrous note, X dreaded to think what the future held.
Yet, building a rapport with each Dean was essential. She had to lubricate the rusty gears of the Corporation, ensuring every department finally clicked into place.
Friction between Deans was common, and a Manager had to masterfully synchronize these moving parts to ensure the whole was greater than the sum of its parts.
Yesod, however, didn't seem to care for the sentiment. Upon seeing X's smile, her brow furrowed even deeper.
Perhaps she found X dim-witted, or maybe she simply loathed that vacant grin. Either way, Yesod spoke, sharp and cold, cutting X's introduction short.
"Formalities are unnecessary. The Information Department exists to serve the Corporation and the Manager. I only ask that you remember one thing: every report you read was produced through the blood and sweat of my Department. Do not treat this intelligence lightly. Show some respect."
"Value this data as the ultimate tribute to the Information Department."
Yesod's brown eyes locked onto X, her gaze never wavering. X continued to dodge that stare, choosing instead to fixate on Yesod's uniform.
It wasn't a conscious choice; X simply didn't know where to look, yet staring at the floor felt even more cowardly. She settled for staring at Yesod's clothes to avoid those intimidating eyes.
"... You seem quite preoccupied with my attire."
Yesod had noticed X's wandering eyes. Frankly, staring at a woman's clothing for that long was borderline impolite. However, since X was also a woman, Yesod didn't take it as a personal insult.
Instead of reprimanding her, Yesod simply explained her choice of dress.
"I have a strong aversion... to exposing my skin. In fact, I find it repulsive."
"I don't know why, or when it began... but I believe I was this way long before joining the Corporation."
Black gloves and long sleeves masked every inch of her skin, while a turtleneck guarded her throat. If it weren't for basic necessity, Yesod would likely have veiled her face as well.
Her words struck a chord within X. Unconsciously, X looked down at the scar on her own wrist. The jagged mark, reopened and stitched countless times, looked like a gnarled centipede clinging to her flesh.
X couldn't recall when she gained the injury, or why she had done it... presumably, it predated her arrival at the Corporation.
A faint, haunting sensation gnawed at her mind. She couldn't grasp it, but it felt vital. Had she forgotten something she should have never let go?
Just as X's doubts began to spiral, the office door was thrown open. The sudden noise shattered her train of thought, and that lingering, misplaced feeling vanished into the void.
It was Netzach, stumbling in with her usual disheveled look, hands shoved in her pockets. She faced Yesod's murderous glare with total indifference. If X had even a fraction of that audacity, she wouldn't be such a nervous wreck.
Then again, being that reckless was a one-way ticket to being fired. Managers could be eccentric, but they didn't tolerate incompetence.
"Yesod, got any spare printing paper? I need to borrow some."
Apparently, Netzach had run out of supplies. Either she'd burned through them all, or she'd lost them in her own cluttered mess.
"Netzach! Corporation regulations strictly forbid the unauthorized transfer of Department assets. Shall I file a formal report against you immediately?"
The fallout hit X too. Manager X had been content to watch the drama unfold, but Yesod's anger was an AOE attack, and now Netzach's lazy eyes were drifting toward her as well.
"Cough, I didn't see anything... I'm not even here."
X rubbed her nose in frustration and reached under the table, grabbing a tin of tea leaves to distract herself. She acted as if the squabbling Deans were invisible, though the chaos only deepened.
"Ha! Not bad! Looks like 'Viper' Yesod is in a particularly foul mood today."
Netzach smirked, but seeing Yesod's expression darken even further, she edged back toward the door, ready to bolt.
"What exactly are you implying? Does the name 'Viper' Yesod amuse you that much?"
"Just a joke, okay? Don't give me that look. I'm out."
BANG!
The door slammed as Netzach made her getaway. Whether she was genuinely embarrassed or just loved poking the bear, she'd gotten her kicks.
If it was the latter, she'd succeeded brilliantly. She had remained perfectly calm under a gaze that would have withered anyone else and vanished before Yesod could snap. Only X remained, trapped in the sofa under the blast of the cold AC.
X desperately wanted to flee too, but Yesod took her seat directly across from her...
Worse, X was nowhere near the door. Standing up now would mean walking right into the line of fire. X could only stiffen her spine and try to look composed.
—— Netzach, you're going to pay for this!
X added another mark to her mental grudge list against Netzach. Getting trolled twice in one day was pushing her limits.
Now, X had to endure the freezing tension alone. Thanks to Netzach's provocation, the frost radiating from Yesod was at an all-time high.
"Um... Yesod..."
X tried to find the right words to comfort her, but Yesod clearly wasn't looking for sympathy.
"Manager, are you intimidated? My apologies. I was merely... agitated. The other Deans take far too much pleasure in mocking me. However, I am well aware of how the staff views me. I know my nickname is anything but a compliment."
Yesod's expression softened before X could even speak. She crossed her arms, leaving X unable to gauge her true feelings.
Still, being the butt of a joke was never pleasant. X opened her mouth to offer some solace, despite the lingering smell of alcohol making her look anything but professional.
"Yesod, I'll make sure Netzach is properly reprimanded. Don't take it to heart."
X tried to look reliable, but she mostly just looked ridiculous.
Unsurprisingly, she was outpaced by Yesod's bluntness. She hadn't even scratched the surface of what the Dean was thinking.
Yesod suddenly dropped a bombshell:
"I embrace it. I like the name. It warns people exactly what kind of person I am. Do you have a problem with it, Manager?"
Brown eyes locked onto yellow. A direct confrontation X couldn't avoid....
—— Agree with the nickname ——
—— Disagree with the nickname ——
[ The simulations have started ——]
[ Day 2—— Rattlesnake or Cobra? ]
[ You finished your shift. Thanks to your stellar performance, you unlocked the Information Department, but its Dean is a notoriously difficult woman. ]
[ Your first meeting with the Dean was a disaster. The atmosphere was stifling, made worse when the Dean of the Safety Department decided to use you as a human shield. ]
[ You watched Netzach mock Yesod, and suddenly the spotlight was on you. ]
[ Do you know where the name 'Viper Yesod' comes from? She asks if you like it. ]
[ You said you liked it. Yesod seemed satisfied. You left the office smoothly, thinking the meeting went well. ]
[ Upon returning to your quarters, you find the Secretary AI waiting. She informs you that the Dean reported you, and you must now undergo the Safety Department's additional disciplinary measures. ]
[ You have been disciplined by the Secretary AI... ]
[ Your mental fortitude has shattered... ]
[ Achievement Unlocked —— Self-Cleaning Unit ]
[ Pro-tip: Compliance isn't always the answer. Not everyone wants your pity. ]
[ Choose your reward:
1. Fortitude (+1)
2. Prudence (+1)
3. Temperance (+1)
4. Justice (+1) ]
"Pffft!"
X nearly choked on her water as the simulation flashed before her eyes. Her body shook instinctively. She wouldn't even think about what that 'punishment' entailed, but why the hell was she paying the price for Netzach's mess?
Clearly, being a timid pushover wasn't going to work. Maybe it was time for a bit of spine.
"Yesod, I think you're trying too hard to push everyone away. No matter how much you pretend to be indifferent, you still want to be understood, don't you?"
"I'm not a fan of that name. 'Viper'? How about 'Snake'? Uh... sorry, just a joke."
"I'd rather just call you by your name. Believe me, I don't care about labels or prejudices. I'm the new Manager, X, and I'd like us to be on good terms, Yesod."
"Angela told me I should learn from your discipline and work ethic, so I'm counting on your guidance. It might sound naive, but… I'll prove my worth to you, Dean Yesod."
X extended her hand, waiting for a handshake. To her disappointment, there was no movement. Yesod merely offered a blunt: "Hmm."
"Empty words, Manager. Words need a foundation. Use data to prove them. Regardless, I stand by my nickname. We've spent enough time talking; I have work to do."
X could only awkwardly retract her hand and offer a sheepish smile. She wasn't crushed, though—it would have been more shocking if those words had actually worked on a woman like Yesod.
Action, not words, was the only way to win over this Dean.