Lobotomy Corporation but with Simulation System?

—Oh, Angela, don't do this!

—I don't want to be punished!

X wanted to protest, to struggle, but she couldn't speak. She couldn't control her body, couldn't perform any action.

This had happened before. The past couldn't be changed. She was merely an observer, witnessing this outcome.

It was an uncontrollable fear, a fear of the AI.

Her golden pupils unconsciously constricted, because the AI… was getting closer… getting closer to her.

It was like a cruel cat catching a mouse. A blue velvet cat had its eyes on a black mouse, pressing it into a corner, an easy situation. Unhurriedly, teasing it, just to see the amusing expression of the prey struggling.

Moreover, being punished for doing something wrong… It was only natural, logical and fair.

Even though she had said that any punishment was fine, how could she accept it in reality?

Even this "X" wouldn't willingly accept punishment. She hastily stood up from the Manager's chair, trying to escape, but clumsily fell, her body hitting the cold metal floor. The approaching footsteps were getting louder and louder.

The sound of the crimson, sturdy shoes tapping on the floor… rhythmic and regular, like clicking a steel lock.

X thought that the AI Secretary would step on her hand, increasing the pressure, then suddenly crushing her bones, like those scenes often depicted in TV shows and movies—

Like those villain bosses in movies who loved to torment the protagonist, humiliating them verbally before resorting to violence… crushing their hands, pulling their hair, slamming their heads against the ground.

But no. The expected icy pain didn't come. It was just stroking… The AI was stroking X's head, using her spread fingers like a comb, smoothing X's slightly messy hair. Her black bangs were very soft and comfortable to touch.

When X opened her eyes, she saw the AI squatting down, looking intently at X who was sprawled on the floor.

And when the AI noticed that X had finally opened her eyes, the strange smile on her face became even brighter.

It was a charming smile. That curve of her lips made X shiver. X wanted to turn her head away, to change her line of sight, but she could only look, look at her AI Secretary.

A hand reached out, resting on X's hand.

[Manager, get up. How long are you planning to stay on the floor?]

Her tone was extremely gentle. As she spoke, another white hand caressed X's chin, moving from her chin to her throat, gently pressing and searching for her pharynx.

A woman's pharynx is different from a man's. It's not as prominent. But if you press carefully, you can find it.

Now, the AI was pressing against X's pharynx. The cartilage was being poked and scratched by the AI's smooth fingertips. X's every gasp, every swallow, was clearly felt by the AI—

The trembling sensation traveled to her fingertips.

X didn't know what the AI was thinking, but she knew she was about to lose control.

It was like she was trapped in this body, being manipulated… unable to call for help, unable to control her body at will. She could only observe through this perspective, moved by the scene before her eyes.

She couldn't hear what "she" was saying… but she could clearly hear what the AI was saying.

[You've been looking forward to this punishment, haven't you? Oh, perhaps you could try to accept this process.]

The AI wasn't in a hurry. She spoke slowly, like a gentleman sitting at a dinner table, calmly adjusting his tie while the waiter served the food, carefully wiping the gleaming silverware.

The blue-haired Secretary would never resort to violence… and the Manager's punishments wouldn't be the painful, violent methods X imagined.

Lifting X's chin, she forced X to look into her eyes.

They were similar golden eyes…

Encircling her, she held X tightly in her arms. Her seemingly slender arms possessed a strength greater than a clamp, firmly holding X, restricting her movements.

[Forgive my irrationality, but I hope you'll understand…]

X could clearly feel a slight vibration at her waist. The AI was pressing tightly against the black uniform belt buckle. Because of the belt, it wasn't easy to pull down her clothes with such resistance.

But the AI didn't seem to want to forcefully pull it. Her previous action of pulling the corner of the black uniform was just to test the feel.

Arousing anticipation… or perhaps, to heighten the mood? Perhaps that's how it could be understood.

No matter how X thought about it, the AI wouldn't stop what she was doing.

The belt usually served to accentuate the waist, highlighting its slenderness, securing the potentially loose trousers, and also serving as a beautiful accessory.

In formal settings, belts were always worn with suits. Not only the material and the pattern of the buckle, but also the metal buckle and clasp were carefully chosen.

The elegant attire displayed elegance and grace, and for someone with a slender figure, it accentuated a sense of restraint.

Therefore, destroying this sense of restraint would bring immense satisfaction.

X's waist was very slender, delicate. Her trousers were a little loose, so she had to tighten her belt to prevent the trousers from sagging.

And the metal clasp, being touched, the clasp opening, the belt being pulled from her waist… how strange?

The white coat she wore didn't give X any sense of security. In the AI's arms, she trembled violently from fear. She really didn't want to see what happened next.

And what would happen next was something she didn't even dare to think about.

—Quickly get me out of here!! Where's the exit button?!

—Is this thing broken!!

X cursed, but she couldn't find any exit button in her vision. The Lobotomy Logo was gone after entering this mode. She felt like she had entered a simulation game and found that she couldn't exit normally.

But this was only anxiety. The anxiety wasn't that intense… In other words, this was still within X's acceptable range.

She watched as the delicate white hands touched her, wiping her neck, leaving a slight stinging sensation.

Her teeth were pried open, like a thirsty person in the desert greedily demanding…

These actions became increasingly casual and unconventional, gradually escalating, constantly challenging X's boundaries.

She couldn't bear it anymore. Touching her waist, caressing her soft lower abdomen, this was the limit of her tolerance.

X couldn't accept anything further. It was too absurd.

She wanted to escape, but she couldn't control her body. The AI continued to challenge her boundaries. Finally, X could no longer endure it. For some reason, her conflicting emotions erupted. Under this intense resistance… the simulation ended.

When she regained her composure, everything was normal. She was still sitting in the Manager's chair, the screen displaying the readiness of each Department.

But…

"Clang—!"

The coffee cup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces of white porcelain.

X had crushed the cup.

[Manager, you don't look well… Is there something wrong with the coffee?]

"…"

"No, nothing. I just suddenly feel like iced coffee would be better. Make me an iced coffee, Angela."

X didn't look at her AI Secretary. She didn't dare to.

Her gaze remained fixed on the screen, not wanting to look away, trying to ignore the AI behind her.

The iced coffee, the ice cold, as cold as the AI's heart. The first sip made her teeth chatter, but because it was so cold, her taste buds weren't as sensitive. The bitterness wasn't as noticeable.

It was nice to have something cold occasionally.

Taking a deep breath, it was nothing, right? Nothing happened. The AI didn't do anything.

It was all an illusion… She had to remain calm and focused, doing her job, completing her tasks.

"Hod, assign the new employees to perform [Instinct] and [Insight] work on [O-02-56]. Employees with a [Justice] level of 3 or higher and a [Fortitude] level below 3 will oversee [Funeral of the Dead Butterflies]. Elite employees will monitor the [Funeral of the Dead Butterflies] containment unit. Contain it if any accidents happen."

"Malkuth, I'll need your help today. Assign the new employees to perform [Attachment] work on [One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds]."

"Yesod, assign employees with an overall competency level of 2 or higher to perform [Instinct] work on [Spider Bud]. Employees with [Prudence] and [Temperance] levels of 1 will oversee [Fairy Festival] and perform [Attachment] and [Insight] work."

"Netzach, don't assign any other employees to manage [Meat Lantern] for now. Let an employee with a [Temperance] level of 1 oversee it alone. Other employees will perform [Repression] and [Instinct] work on [Beauty and the Beast]."

After confirming all the work assignments, X set the time flow rate to [Double Speed]. She alternated between [Double Speed] and [Pause] to check the Department's operations and the employees' work status.

If any employee had problems during work, such as severe [Mental Corruption] or [Physical Trauma], she would immediately notify the Department Dean and have the employee rest, undergo psychological or physical examinations.

Because the Abnormalities currently being contained weren't particularly dangerous, and the management procedures were clear, as long as the employees followed orders and completed the tasks correctly, there was no danger to their lives.

And the newly received Abnormality, [O-02-56], was also relatively harmless in terms of management. It was only necessary to pay a little attention when it escaped…

Assigning employees to work on other Abnormalities seemed to affect [O-02-56]. This little bird, perched on the tree branch, was restless and curious about its surroundings.

The counter would occasionally drop. It started at '4.' After other Departments began working and managing Abnormalities, the counter would suddenly drop. First to '3,' then '2'… quickly dropping from '1' to zero.

Once the counter reached zero, the little bird would escape from the Containment unit. The Containment unit was like paper… it offered no resistance or impediment.

Its tiny wings flapping was adorable. Its smooth body, its swollen belly, the red pattern on its belly seemed to be writhing…

This was a bird that never chirped. X vaguely understood why it never chirped.

"Manager, [O-02-56] has breached containment! We… we need to contain it immediately!"

Unsurprisingly, news immediately came from the Control Department. Dean Hod was very anxious. The little bird, running rampant in the hallways, made the Dean flustered.

[O-02-56]'s breach was without warning. No employee had been working on it. No employee had a mental breakdown or released it. It simply escaped on its own.

"Yes, I know, Hod. Don't let the employees attack it. Gentleness is better, right? It's just a harmless little bird. Don't hurt it."

X could see the entirely white bird with a red pattern on its belly flying around the hallway. Then it perched on an employee's head and pecked at them. The small "beak" could peck hard enough to cause a little pain, but it was only pain. The employees weren't seriously injured.

But the Control Department Dean was still a little worried. She was worried about the employees.

"But… Manager, that's an Abnormality!"

—What did Abnormalities have to do with "harmless"?

X understood this anxiety. Letting an Abnormality run wild in the hallway wasn't good. But [O-02-56] was a tiny creature. It looked like an ordinary bird and wasn't scary. Even if it snuck around the employees, it wouldn't cause much panic.

At most, it was just a little annoying…

"Hod, trust me. Don't try to contain [O-02-56]. It's probably just bored in the Containment unit and wants to get some fresh air. Right? Cute little bird, you'll go back obediently later."

X's tone was very gentle. She was talking to [O-02-56], which had appeared on the screen. But the little bird didn't give X any face.

It seemed to understand what X had said. Its round, beady eyes narrowed, and it pecked at the surveillance equipment. The sound of pecking was quite loud, as if it wanted to peck at X through the screen.

But it was just a "peck." The light pecking didn't cause much damage. The surveillance equipment was unharmed.