The Training Department Dean's office fell into a strange, silent quiet. X, seated on the sofa, remained silent, staring at the Training Department Dean's hand for several seconds, still not understanding its meaning. Perhaps she knew, she understood clearly, yet she didn't want to know, to understand.
Time ticked by, second by second. The Training Department Dean's azure eyes gradually grew heavy.
"Uh— Your nails are very pretty? Did you get a manicure?"
X was talking nonsense, spouting fabrications with her eyes wide open. This was completely out of tune with the previous conversation. Her eyesight was excellent, she could see clearly.
Most of the Deans didn't do much decorating, especially on their nails. They wouldn't apply various colors, nor would they wear that kind of nail polish. After all, this was the Corporation, a Corporation managing Abnormality energy, not a beauty pageant.
They wouldn't have that mindset either; at most, they might wear cute hair clips or something on their head…
So when faced with the Training Department Dean's gesture, X's head froze, like a computer tower getting water in it, entering a crashed state. She stammered, her words rambling disconnectedly, flustered and panicking.
Her hand braced against the sofa, inching backward, as if preparing to flee for her life, to leave this place of trouble.
"Manager! Are you an idiot?!"
Seeing X's movement, the Training Department Dean's faint smile completely stiffened, her expression sinking into total gloom——
Although she shouted, it carried a hint of embarrassment. This might not be simple anger, but the rage of encountering someone utterly slow-witted and oblivious to the atmosphere.
"..."
X nodded rapidly like a quail, perhaps also like a woodpecker. She had no intention of denying anything; even being called an idiot was fine.
"Must I make Hod spell it out?"
Hod Dean was atop X, looking down. This was a fuzzy rabbit occupying the high ground, completely discarding her previous weakness. Or perhaps… though her intonation remained soft, her tone was incredibly firm and strong.
If she were to swing a fist, it would surely be strong and powerful, contradicting her appearance.
"...Alright, Hod, keep causing trouble and I'll get angry."
X was oblivious; she just wanted to save herself. That obtuse simulator didn't even warn her of the danger. If she had known the Training Department Dean was also this terrifying, she...she wouldn't have come.
Netzach, for all her fuss, was just minor trouble – just a kiss and a check, asking for a little compensation. She only paid a negligible price, and that was fine.
How could the Training Department Dean… In short, under this intensity, X found it hard to maintain composure for a moment. She had a feeling of shattered illusion; she liked a fragile little rabbit, not a wild beast pouncing on her wanting to bite and tear her apart.
Although X was unsure if the Training Department Dean's change in temperament was a good thing, at least she was certain that for the next few days, she wouldn't interact with Hod again. She vowed, except for work, she would absolutely not say a single word.
It was too terrifying… X was afraid.
This kind of psychological problem was beyond her ability to solve. She suspected the Corporation AI was extremely, extremely seriously eccentric. How to put it, X couldn't find the words for a moment, but in short, she was utterly terrified.
She had originally only felt Angela had some issues, but she hadn't expected the Department Deans' problems were also this significant… Besides Netzach, another Dean was secretly added to X's list of concerns.
The Manager's methods of punishment, even without delving deeply, just the slightest thought, could send shivers down X's spine. Her fear of this already far exceeded her fear of the Abnormalities.
X attempted to assume a stern expression, her face hardening with seriousness, but this state, however one looked at it, resembled a startled quail cupped in someone's palm, trembling slightly, perhaps from the cold, or perhaps a stress response born of fright.
Slightly disheveled hair, a slightly widened collar, rapid panting from difficulty breathing, the rise and fall of her chest clearly visible…
And due to the fervent kissing, a trace of saliva remained at the corner of her mouth.
Tears streamed down her face, dripping onto her pale neck.
These were pitiful tears. Despite her stature, she appeared as though she had been beaten, utterly bullied, which, visually, was indeed the case.
However one looked, with someone straddling her waist, her clothes were slightly disheveled. Coupled with the streaming, tearful eyes… all evidence indicated that the Corporation Department Dean was bullying the Manager.
Seeing the black-haired woman in front of her suddenly burst into tears, Hod was stunned, her hand movements ceased.
Although this sight was… more enticing, more delicious, and made one want to continue… a bit more, tears always evoke pity. When someone cries, others will subconsciously try to comfort them.
She knew the woman before her was strong; even then, not a single tear fell. But now, the short black-haired, yellow-eyed woman was suddenly crying. It must be…it must be very difficult for her.
Adults rarely cry because they bear responsibilities and must constantly show a strong front to everyone, hiding their vulnerability.
However, the Training Department Dean clearly forgot that this was just her rigid impression of the woman. Now, she was vastly different from before.
Likes drinking hot milk, eating sweet little biscuits…likes the little yellow duck, likes to curl up under the covers and sleep in, and also loves to laugh.
All of this is different from the mature, serious, rigorous, and indifferent person in her memory. The black coffee in her impression has long since been replaced by sweet milk; she's no longer the person who would say cold and heartless words with a straight face.
Everything has changed; everything is changing, this is something one can truly feel.
Clearly, on one hand, she craves this warmth, yet she is still applying old assumptions to the other person.
Is this self-comfort, finding a sense of numbness by searching for a shadow of the other person, or is it immersing oneself in a happy illusion?
Desire is gradually receding, and rationality is slowly returning. The intoxication of Enkephalin, the burning fervor of desire, is extinguishing. Hod Dean's eyes, as blue as the sky, are beginning to focus, becoming clear.
The impulses brought by the substance, the agitation fueled by desire, have also been extinguished.
"I'm…I'm sorry, Manager! I, I——"
The Training Department Dean carefully wipes away X's tears. Because it's an air-conditioned room, under the slightly cold influence, the tears quickly turn icy; a soft handkerchief cannot easily wipe them away.
Perhaps licking would be more effective…
If before, due to the numbing effects of Enkephalin, her nerves were oblivious, now a sense of shame wells up. She can gradually understand why an Enkephalin-fueled Netzach could speak such disrespectful words to the Manager during the meeting.
After taking Enkephalin, let alone saying those disrespectful words, she even wanted to act on it directly.
The woman before her was like some kind of magic… She was the source of temptation, a sight one could not look away from once seen.
Enkephalin is an addictive substance, and hallucination is one of its side effects. It excels at stirring up the deepest desires, the instinctive yearnings residing within the heart.
There is indeed a sense of losing oneself in intoxication… That's probably why employees request these addictive substances. Under immense work pressure, injecting these drugs can effectively alleviate stress.
Forgetting pain, forgetting hardship, and sinking into pleasure.
However, X detests addicts. The Training Department Dean knows this well. The few times X showed a serious expression were related to Enkephalin issues: addicts appearing due to excessive distribution and a sudden increase in casualties from drug abuse.
Hod doesn't want the Manager to know she took Enkephalin.
For no reason other than a simple desire not to be disliked, not to see that disappointed look in X's eyes… Although she might have been disliked from the beginning, and the mistakes she's made may be unforgivable.
Betrayal is the greatest sin, an unforgivable act.
Atonement...is just self-deception, seeking a sliver of comfort within oneself to find peace.
And after the drug's effects wear off, tension, anxiety, and worry dominate, along with fear and dread.
Can those almost frankly suggestive words spoken to X, those bizarre and rule-breaking actions towards X...can they be excused?
Hod holds no expectations, feeling somewhat desperate. Such impulsive, reckless behavior, is there any turning back?
But the expected reprimand doesn't come. There's no slap, nothing else, only a not-quite-strong enough, somewhat uncertain, yet clearly questioning voice.
It's X talking to her, her voice light, perhaps due to having just cried, with a slight tremor.
"Uh—Hod, do you…do you also have…that flaw, like Netzach? That…that uncontrollable impulse, needing someone to help resolve it."
X stutters. Due to her frozen brain and the influence of alcohol, her remaining hazy rationality is refusing the truth, seeking a plausible excuse to explain the Dean's behavior.
The Safety Department Dean once explained similar behavior to her, so she unconsciously attributes the Training Department Dean's similar actions to that cause, finding an excuse for her.
This could also be considered a form of cognitive substitution, one of the common methods people use to avoid the truth, like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
It's a protective mechanism, shielding people from accepting things that are unacceptable yet must be accepted.
X is good at ignoring abnormalities to keep her work going.
Regardless, even knowing the Department Deans are abnormal, she must still perform her Manager duties; she has no freedom of choice. The Manager, seemingly with great power, in reality has nothing.
At this point, the crisis is averted, it's time to make peace, not make her Dean uncomfortable.
"Ah, ah, ah, Manager, you mean— Yes, exactly, that's right."
Hod Dean initially didn't understand what X was saying, subconsciously wanting to refute. Very quickly, halfway through, she realized this was an excuse to get by, and X had already fabricated it for her.
Although she didn't understand what a program flaw was, nor what Netzach had taught the Manager, it seemed like a good thing. The crisis was resolved, her offense didn't anger X, and everything could still be salvaged.
This deceptive behavior made Hod a little shy, but seeing the black-haired woman's captivating appearance, she nodded again.
An indescribable emotion overcame her shyness and inner moral constraints.
Although lying felt like something only naughty children would do, when she thought about how Netzach was clearly up to something sneaky, Hod felt very uncomfortable inside, and an impulse surged…
What other Deans have, she must have too!
She was clearly superior to others, not as careless as Malkuth, not as cold and ruthless as Yesod, and certainly not as irresponsible as Netzach!
And why, then, can Netzach gain more attention, more care from the Manager?
Netzach clearly only did what she was supposed to do, her duty. Why can she receive the Manager's praise? Why can she receive the Manager's rewards?
This isn't fair…
Desire begins to gradually surge. This is likely called jealousy.
This shouldn't exist, yet X mentions other Deans, mentions other women's names while interacting with another Dean.
This is very insensitive. Or perhaps, no one would be happy and laugh when hearing other women's names while spending time with someone they like.
Although X doesn't belong to her, and has never belonged to her…
Still, a possessive emotion breeds, which is the soil from which negative emotions are born.
"Alright, Hod, just this once, don't tell the other Deans."
X spoke suddenly, as if she had made a sudden decision. In her golden eyes, there seemed to remain a hazy fog; her voice was soft and husky, flowing through the bones, intoxicating.
Like someone who's drunk… No, this is someone who's drunk; the heat in her breath carries the strong scent of alcohol, the scent of Gin.
Since a small, negligible price cannot satisfy the Dean's appetite, then… she can only pay a little more to ensure her safety.
Hod watches X approach her. Just as she is about to say something, she finds X's finger on her lips, making a shushing gesture.
She turns her back, perfectly blocking the camera. The Corporation has no privacy to speak of, but while helping the Dean solve her problem, X doesn't want the surveillance cameras to see anything.
Besides, if the AI Secretary didn't allow these things, it would have stopped her long ago. Since it hasn't interfered, it means it permits this.
"Manager…"
Hod Dean looks at the black-haired woman whose figure completely covers hers, not yet realizing what is happening.
"It's nothing; I will help you solve the problem. Do you have gloves, Hod?"
The short black-haired, yellow-eyed woman asks softly, her tone gentle and captivating, in a low, magnetic feminine voice that could likely charm anyone into a daze.