Lobotomy Corporation but with Simulation System?

"Oh?!"

X looked like an innocent passerby who had been bitten by a viper hibernating in the bushes in a completely undefended area. A pained and surprised expression appeared on her face.

Why had she become the victim…? What did it matter to her? The spearhead… why was it aimed at her?

Wasn't she fighting with Netzach? She was just a mediator…

X couldn't understand how she had offended the Information Department Dean.

Yesod almost grabbed X's collar. Her serious expression and stern tone were as if X had committed an unforgivable crime.

But she stopped. She reined in her actions, stopping at the last moment. Her hand retracted, returning to her usual arms-crossed posture, waiting for X's explanation.

X paused for a few seconds before coming to her senses. The information was quite shocking. It was something she wasn't used to dealing with.

"Wait… Yesod, let me think…"

"You mean— you fought with Netzach because of me…?"

X asked uncertainly. Although it was a question, her tone was declarative. Because… it seemed… that was the case.

"No."

But the Information Department Dean denied it, instantly and sharply.

Hearing this answer, X furrowed her brows slightly. She seemed to understand the Viper's temperament.

"Okay, I get it. So you mean I'm too biased toward Netzach. You're dissatisfied with my actions as Manager, right?"

This sentence was like using a branch to stir the grass. The Viper hiding in the grass was startled.

X saw the Information Department Dean lower her head, shrinking into her high-necked shirt. She didn't go any further, the high neck blocking most of Yesod's face.

But her face was red. X could see it.

"Yesod, you feel that I'm too lax. Every time I see Netzach being lazy, openly violating Corporation regulations, going to other Departments, I don't stop her, I don't criticize her. As a Manager, I'm being inappropriate, right?"

"You wanted to teach me a lesson. But you were constrained because I am the Manager, and the Corporation forbids violence against Managers. So you could only beat up the equally inappropriate Netzach to vent your anger, right?"

X changed her gentle attitude, becoming aggressive and intimidating, like the stern bosses in novels, movies, and TV dramas— a tyrannical boss reprimanding her subordinate.

Yesod turned her head to the side, not looking at X. She might not have agreed with X's words, but she didn't refute anything X had said. The Viper's fangs were showing, like her teeth had been suddenly knocked out.

X didn't care. She continued.

"But no matter what, Yesod, I'm your Manager. No matter how inappropriate my actions are for a Manager, I'm still your Manager, right? You're a Department Dean, my subordinate."

"You're my subordinate. My subordinates make mistakes, and I should punish them. This is appropriate Manager behavior, right? Turn your head, look me in the eye, Yesod."

"Now, immediately, answer my question!"

It was unknown if this sentence was just extremely decisive, but the Information Department Dean, who had always been imposing on the Manager, actually listened to X's words this time. She honestly turned her head, but her gaze wavered, avoiding direct eye contact with X's golden eyes.

The gentle appearance she usually maintained, the initially cold and arrogant golden eyes, were gone. When X no longer maintained that gentle and obedient demeanor, when her tone was no longer gentle and warm, the arrogance and coldness emerged—

It was like a true leader giving an order that had to be obeyed.

Or perhaps… a tyrannical autocrat.

"It's…"

Under Yesod's eyes, there seemed to be a layer of indescribable gloom. Her brown eyes seemed to have lost their light. Now, she just nodded blankly in response.

Perhaps, that was an emotion called resentment.

No Dean had ever been scolded like this by X. Even the most unruly Netzach had been easily forgiven by X. But the Information Department Dean was the first…

It wasn't the careless Malkuth, nor Hod, nor the perpetually slacking Netzach. It was the responsible, serious Information Department Dean, Yesod.

Her hand, covered by the black sleeve, clenched quickly and tightly into a fist. Although her simulated skin wasn't exposed to the air, she felt a painful, stinging sensation, as if a burn had developed countless blisters.

Her skin was rotting, decaying… peeling off layer by layer.

She felt this way, although it wasn't possible. It was just a hallucination.

This wasn't fair…

"So, Yesod, you caused this incident, you arranged this fight yourself. Can I consider this an attempt to undermine unity among the Deans, and severely punish you?"

The Information Department Dean said nothing, only a slight nod indicating her response… It was as if she was being forced to admit her guilt.

Then came surprise, an indescribable surprise.

Because— it was the same area where she had been pressed against the wall, her lips pried open by warmth. Then, she was invaded, possessed, and her senses were discovered. It was intensely hot.

She could feel softness, and she could feel human temperature. It was far hotter than the AI's external body temperature. It was burning, scorching hot.

Even though it was forceful, it wasn't rough. The gentleness was more like wiping a wound, and the warmth was like a small stove, radiating heat, not causing any aversion or disgust.

It made people want to cling to this warmth… savor this taste after the lingering heat had faded.

"Okay, that's my punishment for you. Don't say that the Manager doesn't punish her subordinates who make mistakes. I'm very responsible, Yesod."

X wiped the sweat from her lips, her tone gentle. She seemed to have returned to her usual self, the gentle, unassuming Manager.

"You… you…"

The Information Department Dean couldn't utter a complete sentence. Her face was intensely, terribly red… it was unknown whether it was from anger or something else. Even when she covered her face with her hands, she couldn't hide her shame.

X, as if she weren't afraid of being bitten by a snake, pulled the seemingly emotionally unstable, flustered Information Department Dean closer, holding Yesod as if she were a pet cat nestled in her arms.

The 164 cm tall Information Department Dean was perfectly nestled in the 178 cm tall Manager X's arms. She could comfortably sit on X's lap and be held in her arms.

Actually, X could have simply held Yesod's waist and held the temperamental feline snake. But she was worried that this would be too much, and Netzach and the other AIs wouldn't be happy.

Making soup, adding water when it's too salty, adding salt when it's too bland. But the amount and degree are never precisely determined. The soup might not only have salt. It might have sugar, pepper to open the appetite.

X wasn't good at handling this. She often only focused on the results, and didn't care about the process. As long as the problem was solved, that was enough.

"Let's leave it at that, Yesod. As for what you mentioned earlier, I've been thinking about it… How about this? Can you help me share some work, the meticulous and reliable Information Department Dean?"

"Help me monitor Netzach's work performance, and help her when she has problems. Okay? I'll check her work after work. If she's really doing well, I'll reward you. You can ask me for anything."

"Okay, Yesod, I'll do my best to fulfill your request."

The last sentence was unusually low and muffled. She lowered her voice, as if she were afraid that Netzach would hear, but it was also inexplicably trembling.

This lowered voice was meaningless. Netzach was sitting next to her, and AI hearing was more sensitive than human hearing.

"I don't need it!"

Netzach, who had already been restless, became even more restless when she heard X's words. It was as if her hot tofu was being pinched by someone on the chopping board.

Her mood was like the stock market, jumping wildly from the previous excitement. The happiness was gone. She wore a sullen expression, ready to throw a tantrum at any moment.

X knew, of course, that Netzach wouldn't be happy about being watched by Yesod. Their personalities and ways of working were the most incompatible. But… some things couldn't be solved simply by being happy or unhappy. No one could do as they pleased.

Many things are not up to you… whether subjectively or objectively.

"Listen, Netzach. Yesod has many things worth learning from, like her work efficiency, her abilities, and her serious attitude toward work. You can't just be satisfied with completing your work. You need to think about how to do it better."

"I've really spoiled you. You're proud and complacent just for completing your duties?"

"Starting tomorrow, I'll be raising my expectations for you. Netzach, I will check the quality of your completed reports. If they're not up to standard, I'll make you redo them. There will be no reward, and no wine."

X watched Netzach sulk. Her expression was like seaweed that had been washed ashore by the waves, lying on the beach, being scorched by the sun, drying into brittle seaweed.

But X remained unmoved. She usually doesn't ignored Netzach's requests to rub against her. Now that the other Deans had voiced their opinions, she couldn't continue to spoil her.

She would coax Netzach later. Scolding her now wouldn't help…

X really didn't want to use a commanding tone or an arrogant leadership style when talking to the Deans, but since Yesod was so dissatisfied with her lack of a Manager-like demeanor, she had to maintain a serious attitude in front of multiple Deans.

Besides, sometimes, being too submissive didn't work. She had to be more assertive.

When kind words didn't work, she could only change tactics.

In the end, it was all about solving problems. As long as it worked, no matter how despicable the method, X didn't care.

"So, that's how it is, Yesod. I know you won't let me down, right? If Netzach has a bad attitude, says something bad, or doesn't cooperate, you just report it to me truthfully."

"I will handle Netzach. Don't do anything yourself, Yesod. That would be your problem. Or do you want to be punished again?"

Even though she said "punished," X only slightly lowered her head, leaning against the Information Department Dean's neck, blowing a little air into her ear.

"…"

"I don't need your 'reward,' but I will supervise her."

The redness on her face hadn't completely faded. After a pause, the Information Department Dean, nicknamed Viper, spoke, responding to X's words.

This seemed to be her last struggle. She clearly wanted it, didn't she? Yet she insisted on refusing, constantly denying the truth.

But the reason X trusted Yesod was that the Information Department Dean was very good at controlling her desires. She was very rational, and her rationality controlled her desires. Even if she promised her "anything," she wouldn't make excessive demands.

Although she initially felt that Yesod was too harsh, finding fault with everyone, making her difficult to get along with, after understanding her better, she felt she was actually quite cute. She was called a Viper, but she was more like a high-and-mighty cat.

A proud cat kept its distance from everyone, aloof, playing by itself in the corner. But if no one paid attention to it, it would show concern.

A cat's temperament was very difficult to understand. One meow could mean it was hungry, and the next could mean that you should go away. If you stroked it too much, it might scratch you.

A very rare pet… But there was nothing she could do, she was the Manager.

"Okay, I'll keep the 'request' option for now, Yesod. Tell me when you think about it, whenever you want to request something. It's always valid."

"Let's have another drink before you leave. If you don't drink it, Netzach will get this bottle of champagne."

Before the Information Department Dean left, X poured another glass. This time, she poured a little more. X took a sip before giving it to Yesod.

The Information Department Dean seemed to try to pretend to be indifferent, but she took small sips of the wine, trying to maintain the same distance from X as she had during the earlier incident… Her true intention was completely exposed.

There was no mistake. Licking the spot where X had drunk from.