LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 52: Anything
[O-04-84], Observation Level [I], confirmed information as [Meat Lantern], Qliphoth Counter extreme as [1].
Danger Level is [TETH], work-related harm type is [Spirit (White)], escape-related harm type is [Physical (Red)]. Target will devour anything that approaches its 'lure', a manifestation of its existence.
Observation Level [II], the manager must know:
1. Qliphoth Counter can decrease by 1 when getting a Bad Work Result.
2. Qliphoth Counter can decrease by 1 when finishing any work in 40 seconds or less.
3. After it breaches, all employees will not 'detect' it breaching. Therefore, the Manager must personally locate this Abnormality and personally order its containment.
Observation Level [III], preferred work:
Instinct (normal), Insight (high), Attachment (normal), Repression (low)
Observation Level [IV], E.G.O equipment extracted:
Weapon [Lantern], grade: [TETH], harm type [Corrosion (black)]
Suit [Lantern], grade: [TETH], Resistance: Physical (relatively high), spirit (relatively high), corrosion (relatively low), soul (extremely low)
This data is provided by the Information Department…
"Tough, Yesod, take a break. Oh, everyone worked hard today, the work was smooth. Let's add a pineapple pizza to the employee lunch menu. I think the employees will be very happy."
X closed the folder containing the information about [O-04-84]. The Information Department was very efficient. After the morning containment work, they had already compiled the information on the newly received Abnormalities and handed it to X.
Of course, the energy collection was also more than halfway through. There was still about half of the Energy Quota graph on the screen left blank. It was now time for lunch break.
X rubbed her eyes, which were starting to feel a little uncomfortable. She blinked, realizing it was tiring compared to her usual work.
Searching for the [Meat Lantern] on the screen was really a tiresome thing. To be honest, she had already regretted accepting this troublesome creature. But after all, she had to deal with those difficult Abnormalities to manage. She could only say that she had adapted to this process early on.
"Angela, I want to eat lunch with the Deans, okay?"
Although she was asking her AI Secretary, X had already picked up her lunch bag from the Manager's chair, and it seemed like as long as she got the AI Secretary's approval, she would sneak out.
[Manager, it's not good to be in contact with employees too often.]
"But… I just want to see the Deans, alright! It's good to go out more often. The Deans should feel like I actually care about them. And I'm also concerned about the employees, right? This is a win-win situation, it's beneficial to both sides."
As she said this, X started to rub against her Secretary, trying to win over this capricious AI. Usually, as long as Angela didn't explicitly refuse, it meant there was hope.
As expected, after X stuck to her Secretary and rubbed against her for a while, Angela yielded.
[You're becoming increasingly cunning… Remember your first day in office, when you saw me, your startled expression.]
[Fine, but remember, you can interact with the employees, but you don't need to fulfill any of their requests.]
[You can enjoy their compliments or their admiring gazes, but that's it… You don't have to give anything in return. You don't have to establish any connection with the employees. That's pointless.]
"Oh, I know, I know. Angela, you've repeated these words three times. Seriously, I am listening."
X said this with a feigned embarrassment, but her actual actions were to pull her AI Secretary closer, as if to express her gratitude, she kissed the AI Secretary on the cheek.
This kind of understanding behavior was very satisfying to the AI. The AI's lips curled into a wider smile, and she responded with an action. She hugged X's waist, pulling her closer.
Even though there was a certain difference in height, X knew she should take the initiative to lower herself, to allow the AI to hold her, to satisfy its desire to possess and control.
It was surrendering herself to the collective, sacrificing a bit of her to ensure her own safety, a reasonable tactic.
X was very enlightened. Even with this kind of enlightenment… It was uncertain whether it should be praised.
[But your kindness will eventually be shown in the wrong places… Kindness is good, but you need to control yourself.]
The AI Secretary whispered this into X's ear, probably intentionally reminding her because she cared. After reminding her, she released X's waist and opened the Manager's room door.
As for the Secretary's words, X was probably ignoring them. Her attention was completely on the outside, not on the AI.
Like a prisoner looking at the clock in jail, as soon as she saw the door open, X's eyes lit up. She didn't even bother to rub against the Secretary's body, she immediately took her lunch bag and ran out.
So inconsiderate. She didn't even try to pretend, she just ran out. The AI frowned.
Sometimes, it knew it was fake. Intentionally, she kept breaking through… Even if it meant maintaining a fake relationship, even if it meant sweet lies, she would willingly accept them, comforting her empty heart.
The AI stared at the screen, her expression calm. Today was the same as usual. She was carrying out her duties.
Supervising the entire operation, acting as the leader of the Deans, and handling and taking charge of the tasks that the Corporation hadn't designated.
...
"Lunchtime, Yesod. I've always been curious about whether Deans need to eat or not. Looks like you don't… Oh, don't make that scary expression. I remember you can taste things. Don't you want to try some? I heard that sharing lunch with friends makes it even more delicious."
X brought her lunch to the Information Department Dean. During lunchtime, most of the employees would enjoy lunch in the lounge. As for the Deans, they would usually rest in their respective offices, not to be bothered during this time.
Because X had casually mentioned it, they had added a pineapple pizza to the employees' lunch. Regarding this kind of food, some employees had a pained expression and gave their share to others, while others happily enjoyed their coworker's extra pizza.
X had tried pineapple pizza before, and it was actually quite delicious. The cut pineapple slices were sweet and sour, and went well with the rich flavor of the cheese. She didn't understand why some people claimed they couldn't accept it.
Her lunch today was a hamburger with fries and popcorn chicken. It was perfect for sharing with friends. Of course, that didn't include her loyal, reliable, and trustworthy AI Secretary.
Angela didn't eat these things. She didn't need to.
AIs looked down upon eating human food… probably?
On the other hand, X wouldn't dwell on this issue. Even if Angela could eat, she wouldn't find it strange. After all, the designers of the Lobotomy Corp AI had added so many unnecessary and useless functions, a gustatory system was nothing.
It was far more complex to equip machines with an emotional system than to equip them with a gustatory system. Even the Corporation's AI Deans could taste food, so there was no reason why Angela couldn't.
But even if she was in awe of the AI's sophistication, it didn't stop X from feeling like the designer of the Corporation's AI had been electrocuted by a stepladder. How could anyone give an AI an X-sense system? No matter what the reason or the goal, it was incomprehensible!
Too absurd… too absurd…
"Try some, Yesod!
Oh, would food that attracts snakes affect your body?"
X used her dinner knife to stab a piece of golden, crispy popcorn chicken and brought it to the Information Department Dean, Yesod's mouth. Yesod looked at X's enthusiasm with a troubled expression.
"Manager, this won't affect my body… But what I mean is, this isn't necessary."
The Deans could taste things, but they usually didn't eat anything. This could be understood as a kind of rule, intentionally avoiding this kind of "eating delicious food" behavior.
Machines didn't need to eat like humans. But they could drink, consume alcohol, inject addictive drugs, smoke, etc. Even though the above behaviors were no different, they were different from "eating" in meaning. They could indulge, but they wouldn't "eat" like organisms.
Even if the absorbed object is ultimately converted into chemical energy…
"It doesn't matter, Yesod. You haven't eaten with anyone yet. How does it feel to eat with a friend like this?"
"Oh, the work today has been 'Flawless' so far. Let's celebrate a little early."
X wasn't going to give up without achieving her goal. Yesod didn't firmly refuse, her clearly hesitant attitude meant she was wavering. And wavering meant she could be persuaded.
It was always fun to see someone who always followed the rules break them for once.
"Okay, no next time. But X, you should only be happy after you've finished something. You're getting excited too early. The work isn't over yet… After work, I will seriously examine the results of your work. If you haven't done a good job, I will request punishment from the Corporation regarding the Manager."
Yesod accepted the fried chicken that X had brought to her mouth. She chewed… X intently watched the Dean eat, pondering the Corporation's AI situation.
This seemed to be no different from Angela, the structure was as similar to humans as possible. If X hadn't been explicitly told by Angela that the Department Deans were also AI, she wouldn't have been able to tell at all that they were machines.
This must have been a very boring and pointless thought. Or perhaps, it was just the same as humans. If it was the same as humans, why not directly use humans? Why make AI?
X didn't understand this complicated thing, but she didn't need to understand it. After all, when using a product, there was no need to consider how the product was created or produced. She was just the consumer.
"…"
The Information Department Dean seemed to be seriously contemplating it. Or perhaps, she was analyzing the food that X had just brought her. In any case, the Viper retracted its fangs and fell silent.
"How about it? Do you want another one? Try this!"
X poured tomato sauce over the fries. The sweet and sour tomato sauce went perfectly with the crispy, hot fries. No one would dislike it.
This was against the rules, but Yesod still bit into the fry that X had brought to her. What was the reason for this irrational behavior, this impulsive action…? Probably, she hadn't eaten in a long time.
She felt the deliciousness of the food, so she wanted to eat.
Desire was a sin, a mistake, and should be restrained. The next time X brought her some, Yesod refused.
But the goal had been achieved. X didn't force Yesod to eat it again. The main reason she fed Yesod was because she found Yesod's expression very interesting. At first, she was very scared, but after realizing that she wasn't as scary as she seemed, X's courage grew.
It was unknown where she got the nerve to provoke Viper Fortitude like that…
After sharing food with her "friend," X officially enjoyed her lunch. The hamburger was a beef cheeseburger, full of calories. She ate with a sense of happiness.
X couldn't care about eating gracefully. Although she was ultimately teasing Yesod, what did it matter? As long as she wasn't embarrassed, Yesod was the one who would be embarrassed.
X seriously licked the cheese that had stuck to her hand, then licked the ketchup off her lips. The Yesod sitting opposite her frowned, finally couldn't stand it and looked away. She didn't want to look at X's disgraceful, unrestrained behavior.
Maybe to shift her attention, or maybe she was just making small talk, Yesod started talking about something related to her.
"Manager, I once had a dereliction of duty. I ignored an employee whose pressure level exceeded eighty-two. He should have gone to receive treatment, but at that time, his work quota wasn't completed. And employees who don't complete their work have to be dealt with."
"He was very anxious, but he wasn't at all qualified to perform those tasks… He begged me, and I agreed."
"The employee intended to release two Abnormalities. In the end, seven employees were accidentally killed by them. And I… When he was about to attack other employees, when he was about to attack others, I had no choice but to pull the trigger…"
"I'm very angry at my actions. Of course, not just at the fact that I pulled the trigger. At that moment, everyone knew they had to do it."
"What truly angers me… is that my subordinates paid an irreplaceable price for my naivete. It makes me… so angry with myself. I was used by my subordinates."
Yesod's self-narrative was very indifferent, very calm. But under that calmness, X could still vaguely feel the suppressed emotion.
"It wasn't your fault, Yesod… Everyone makes mistakes. Besides… No one can truly treat employees like tools to be used up. They can talk, they can react, and being influenced by their feelings, that's only natural."
X didn't know what to do. She could only awkwardly comfort her.
But Yesod smiled at this point, a self-deprecating smile.
"It's alright, Manager. You can make fun of me. After all, how naive I was at that time, how naive… Employees are really good at deception. Those beautiful memories were all lies, but I believed them."
"It's… it's like a sixth-grade elementary school student imagining what it's like to be an adult. The employees died because I was irresponsible… I made a promise to myself, I will never repeat that mistake."
But Yesod suddenly retracted her smile and looked seriously at X.
"Manager, this is Lobotomy Corp. Don't try to become friends with anyone, or build relationships. It's pointless. We see bodies in bags every day. It's a lonely place."
"Sometimes, you might imagine having a friend, when you feel lonely, think about my experiences."
"Of course, I'm not your friend. The other Deans aren't either. We're just subordinates and superiors, with a cold relationship. Sometimes I'm jealous of Angela, because she doesn't have any emotions."
X listened for a while, but finally understood what Yesod was saying.
I understand!
"You need a warm relationship between a superior and a subordinate, Yesod."
X pretended to nod, then she immediately showed a mocking, cunning smile. Because—
"What are you doing!!!"
Yesod was caught off guard by X's quick kiss, on the face.