Lobotomy Corporation but with Simulation System?

"I'm not as cold and heartless as Yesod! I'm not as clumsy as Malkuth, making mistakes all the time! And I'm not as depraved as Netzach, not caring about anything!"

"But… but why… Manager!"

It was like a desperate cry. It didn't sound like a fragile little rabbit. It sounded like… a ferocious predator.

At this moment, there was no need to explain, no need to answer "why." She just needed comfort, a touch of comfort.

X sighed and hugged the little rabbit that had suddenly bitten her… Other Deans bit her collarbone, but Hod had bitten her neck. This bite wasn't light.

Like a lioness attacking prey, leaping onto its back, clawing, pressing, then biting its neck—

X always felt that Dean Hod's personality was wilder than she had imagined.

At least, judging from her outburst, her resentment ran deep… If Hod hadn't said it, X wouldn't have known that the Training Department Dean felt this way, this was how she viewed the other Deans.

Although, this might have just been an impulsive outburst—

But these words weren't so much a criticism of others, as a search for her own superiority, a way to comfort herself.

And the root cause of this belief— was that she felt she was being treated unfairly.

Why did she feel unfair? Was it because she cared for the employees, yet they weren't grateful…?

Why did she feel unfair? Was it because she thought it should be like a beautiful fairy tale, where good people are rewarded and bad people are punished?

X could understand. This was the gap between idealistic beliefs and harsh reality. Compared to other Deans, Hod was a bit too naive, like a student who hadn't experienced the harshness of the world.

Although she appeared enthusiastic and optimistic, she couldn't accept the darkness hidden beneath the surface, the hidden shadows.

When her expectations weren't met, resentment and unhappiness followed. It was a negative emotional response, a collapse of her mental state.

The cake needed to be big, and it needed to be cut fairly and evenly… And the conflict arose from minor discrepancies, from arguments over cherries or peaches.

If the dissatisfied party were an employee, X could have fired them. But these were Deans, her Deans, her subordinates. She was responsible for them…

Because they were Department Deans, X patiently counseled them again and again. She patiently turned a blind eye to their mistakes, without imposing any punishment.

She was willing to invest her energy in dealing with the Deans' issues. She was willing to focus on the Deans. She was willing to encourage them without reservation.

The Deans had countless opportunities to complain to her. Employees only had one chance. Or perhaps, none at all.

Was this fair? It certainly wasn't fair. But their positions and statuses were different. X was fully aware of her selfishness and bias. No matter what, these were her Deans. Conflicts between Deans were her responsibility, not the employees'.

If the employees affected the Deans' mental states, then they could be eliminated. There was nothing to discuss.

This was something X couldn't understand. Why did Hod care so much about the employees' opinions? They were just parts that could be replaced at any time. Was it simply to show her kindness and differentiate herself?

If maintaining this kind image was so painful, then she shouldn't maintain it. X wouldn't make things difficult for Hod. She understood the nature of the Corporation.

As long as it didn't affect work efficiency, X didn't care what attitude the Deans had towards the employees. She didn't impose any standards… Whether the management method was good or not was reflected in the final results, in the work achievements, not in how much you cared about the employees, how much you cared about their lives.

X could have said many harsh things, calmly stating these bloody truths. But—

It was better not to.

Hod didn't need that. What she needed now was comfort, not someone to scold her, to kick her when she was down, to rub salt into her wounds.

Yesod could have said these things, ruthlessly exposing Hod's false kindness. But it was X.

If even the Manager didn't speak up for her Deans, who would? Could she rely on the employees?

Praising the Deans wasn't the employees' responsibility. Feeling grateful toward the Corporation wasn't the employees' responsibility—

If there were really employees who would willingly give everything to the Corporation, X would only think that their heads had been caught in a stepladder, or they had been forced to say something they didn't want to say.

Employees enjoyed the benefits provided by the Corporation, so they worked for the Corporation, fought for the Corporation. This was essentially a transaction, a purely beneficial relationship, without any emotional involvement.

So, they worked while cursing the Corporation. When unhappy, they cursed the Deans and the Manager. X wouldn't be surprised.

It didn't matter. This dissatisfaction was their right. Firing them was the Corporation's right.

Haha… wasn't this interesting? Just thinking about it, X felt like laughing.

But she couldn't let the Deans see her cruel side… X suppressed this desire. She was a Manager who cared about her employees and worked hard to improve their welfare…

How could she do such a cruel thing? She should just become a regular employee.

The coldness in her golden eyes was usually suppressed, hidden by gentleness. When she looked at the Deans, her gaze was always gentle, her low, soft tone never changed, whispering condescendingly.

"It's alright, Hod. I'm here for you. Did those employees say something rude to you? If you feel uncomfortable, I can deal with them. I don't want those employees to affect your mental state. We talked about this the first time we met."

"They didn't appreciate your kindness. You don't need to be kind to them. Do your job well, that's enough. Hod, you're putting too much pressure on yourself."

X stroked the Training Department Dean's brown hair, which was nestled against her chest. The hair was very smooth, and because it was simulated hair, it wouldn't get tangled. It was much better than human hair.

In reality, X didn't care about Hod's mistakes. She didn't want to investigate whether the Dean or the employees were more responsible…

X only cared about the results, only saw the results. What she needed were work reports, excellent work reports— She didn't care about the sacrifices made during the process.

As long as the Deans submitted their work reports to her every day, she didn't care about any trivial matters or situations involving the employees, or how the Deans managed their employees.

Most Deans were responsible for their employees and didn't bother the Manager. Deans like Hod, who were affected by their employees, were very few.

Like now—

"But, Manager… I don't care about them. What will happen to them…? They'll die on the job."

Dean Hod was still stuck in this self-imposed sense of responsibility. The Training Department Dean's stubbornness wasn't something X hadn't seen before. But this kind of stubbornness was probably even harder to deal with than Netzach's.

X also felt a headache coming on. The most troublesome Dean wasn't the Netzach who had troubled her so many times. It was Hod, who seemed obedient on the surface, but was actually very stubborn.

This could be considered earnest advice, but it was like trying to persuade an unyielding rock. She had said everything she could. Saying more would only lead to harsh words.

X tried to subtly criticize the Training Department Dean, using a combination of encouragement and reprimand.

"What I mean is, paying too much attention to employees is a burden, a psychological problem, affecting your judgment…"

"When this seriously affects your work, I'll have to consider whether you're suitable for this position, Hod."

But it didn't work. Angela's method wasn't suitable for X. The Training Department Dean should have listened to the Manager, but she didn't.

Her hand tugged at X's collar. The black uniform's synthetic fabric was soft, easily creasing under pressure. It was unclear whether this easily torn fabric had been deliberately chosen… or if there were other reasons.

Like claws emerging from the flesh, the Training Department Dean had torn a small opening in X's uniform, revealing the white skin beneath the fabric.

It was a delicate, white arm.

She tore at it in dissatisfaction, like a cat venting its frustration, messing up the sofa, pulling at the fabric around it, like pulling at the stuffing of a sofa.

But X wasn't a doll or a sofa. There was no stuffing to pull out.

There was only a vague stinging sensation, the scratching of fingertips against skin.

Hod seemed to be using her claws for the first time, like a large animal that didn't know how to control its strength. She didn't know how strong she was…

"Manager, why is it always me…?"

Her sky-blue eyes had almost lost their brightness. Her emotions seemed uncontrolled. The negativity she had been suppressing was like a bomb, the fuse lit by X's last words.

[I'll have to consider whether you're suitable for this position.]

In other words, she was saying that she was a failed Dean, not suitable for this kind of work.

The last bit of light was also shrouded in darkness…

Icy cold…

It was only at this moment that X, no matter how slow or insensitive, finally noticed that Hod's expression was wrong.

The situation wasn't good? Perhaps… she should… intervene.

X quickly spoke, trying to calm the Training Department Dean. She really struggled with this. She wasn't good at handling emotional disputes. Perhaps… she had touched another nerve.

"That's just a joke. It's not that serious. I hope you don't push yourself too hard, Hod.

If you feel tired, take some time off and rest properly."

But could someone whose emotions were out of control listen to reason?

"I know, I know! Those employees died because of me! It's all my fault! It's all because of my one-sided expectations! I'll never be forgiven. Don't drag me along!"

She practically yelled, screaming into X's ear. Because she was so agitated, her already weak and gentle voice became hoarse and sharp, shrill like a banshee's wail.

"Anyone would be more suitable for this position than me. From the beginning, I wasn't suitable for this job, right? Right! I can't save anyone!"

Someone as optimistic as Hod usually endured more pressure than anyone else. But her sensitive heart, repeatedly wounded and hurt, when it finally erupted, was more intense than anyone else's.

It was like a sudden, rapidly spreading fire. Water alone couldn't put it out, nor could it be easily stopped.

She was frantic, unable to find any support, even in the embrace… her body remained icy cold.

If Hod continued to vent like this, today's lunch break would be over. She wouldn't be able to rest… X had no choice but to use another method.

A quick, but usually inappropriate, underhanded method.

She stopped Hod's mouth, pried open her teeth, and silently left her scent behind.

This was warmth, and also gentleness… patiently guiding the naive Dean on how to respond, to respond to this anxiety…

Pressing on her shoulders, she hugged her tighter.

She could clearly hear the sound— the rapid, anxious beating of her heart.

"Manager…"

Until X stopped and wiped the sweat from her lips, the Training Department Dean was still hesitant, a glimmer in her sky-blue eyes, a faint blush on her face.

The intense fire hadn't disappeared, it had just transformed.

It wasn't resentment or angry revenge… it was a different emotion.

X didn't notice anything. She was just relieved to have resolved a potential problem, to have eliminated a hidden safety hazard.

Her smile was warm, like the warmth of the sun.

"Feeling better, Hod?"

X reached out and placed her hand on the Training Department Dean's hand. Immediately, it was clasped tightly.

Like someone sinking in mud, grasping at a straw.

The straw was weak, unable to bear the weight, yet she desperately clung to it, unwilling to let go.