Chapter 158

– Did you cough? I’m glad to see that your sleep quality doesn’t seem to have declined despite everything you have to worry about. –

“…Yeah. Since this situation has dragged on, I’m not too picky about where I sleep. How about you, are you feeling suffocated?”

Zero gently coaxed me, who was buried in my pillow and reluctant to get up. I wouldn’t be able to move if I didn’t get up soon; I might be late.

Well, they know full well about the tightrope walk happening inside. I mean, the current precarious standoff with the enemy has been going on for about a week without major issues. But I shouldn’t relax too much; it’s not like Zero is an artificial intelligence with a fried logic circuit.

– I don’t have to worry about muscle atrophy due to lack of exercise. Concerns related to the body are unnecessary. –

“I didn’t ask how your condition was, but how you feel… Ugh, never mind.”

Hmm… It seems like it might just be typical Zero, engaging in ambiguous remarks that are hard to tell if they’re jokes or serious.

It’s a vibe much like a laid-off carebot cruising along confidently.

In any case, the reason we’re having this exchange is due to my background; I’ve ended up living and eating in a special room assigned within the area designated to the managing director.

I got caught at the last moment by Edamatsu and that guy Kajun, making me start an unplanned life as a true company employee, while Zero, deemed to have overly robust combat capabilities, became a pitiful creature unable to leave the assigned room.

Well, the talk about combat power is secondary. In reality, due to Enema’s security regulations, fully automated droids and other machinery are not allowed to act freely within the headquarters building.

Thanks to that, I was the only one suffering between a complaining staff member fussing about having to disassemble and store Zero’s limbs and a human daring to ask if they could turn them into Swiss cheese.

Still, I unexpectedly discovered that the bizarre battlefield, where only infantrymen or special agents like the Tracker appear in games, had its own unique historical accuracy—so from a gamer’s perspective, it wasn’t so bad.

…I had foolishly thought that if someone got injured, a medical-heavy black company would just treat them on-site and reinsert them.

Rustle, rustle…

I put aside the meaningless sentiment that chatting about this or that wouldn’t help solve my troublesome situation and changed my clothes.

Now I was opting for functional yet uninteresting Enema attire instead of the combat uniform, which had become oddly awkward not to wear.

Since underwear wouldn’t be seen, I slipped on a personal luxury item and wore a skin-tight top designed to prevent hair or dust from getting in.

And on my bare lower half, I wore a perfectly fitting mini-skirt… or not!?

With a flap! sound, I took out some women’s dress pants that covered my ankles, shook them in the air a bit, and slipped my legs in. They were cut so neatly that there was no loose or awkward sensation whatsoever. Lastly, I slipped into a pair of brown ankle boots.

I’m a research colonel from the Enema Corporation, the giant above the corporation.

If you imagined something different, I apologize, but researchers cannot work dressed in clothing that carelessly exposes areas other than their hands and face. I might already be an oddball, but I can’t afford to catch attention by breaking these trivial safety regulations.

Ah? But isn’t Enema’s fashion sense too bizarrely—maniacally—creepy? With a latex suit up top and business attire down below?

It’s amusing to say this is the finishing touch and then pull out one last symbolic piece of clothing.

A white lab coat… or rather, more similar to a doctor’s gown—since it originated from a lab coat, I can’t tell if that counts as ‘the same’—and put my arms through it.

I wonder how many sizes they have stocked up; even when I wear it, the hem only comes down to around my knees, which is annoying… not really. Did they somehow want to incorporate a Japanese aesthetic? With sleeves wide and flowing like a haori, it ironically reminded me of the stereotypical image of a mad scientist in creative works, making me feel mixed.

The company shouldn’t know that I, who barely grasp pure science and not even applied engineering, dressing up like this amounts to mere cosplay, but I barely managed to hold in my urge to say something.

In the end, I adhere to dress code, complete safety regulations, and maintain a strong mental state.

Thus perfectly prepared, I naturally head to my regular workplace… the director’s office.

– Surely it’s better for me to accompany you somehow, isn’t it? –

“Haah… Just keep an eye on the room. If I’m eavesdropped on here, I might actually die from stress.”

…Damn it, having such a person as a managing director means Enema will be in serious trouble someday. I can assure you of that.

…

The tip of the fountain pen scratches the surface of the document, yet not a single sound of friction can be heard.

Is the quality of the writing instrument that good, or has the paper’s material improved? If not, should I conclude that the user has remarkable hand skills? It was hard to tell.

Most police work is done sitting in the control room, just moving fingers, or if there’s nobody watching, enough to manipulate specialized programs and cyberware in their heads. It had been a long time since I’d seen someone perform their tasks in such a classic manner.

And while our director was diligently busy, I… sat idly on the elegant sofa.

For how long? Until work hours completely ended.

For how long? Every single day without fail since that consultation.

Why? It seems my mere presence in the same space ensures everything runs smoothly and progresses faster.

…This insane person is trying to use me as some sort of totem and air freshener. I can’t believe this is truly sane behavior. Especially considering they created such a mad job for themselves and have me sitting here too.

“Is your seat uncomfortable…? Customized furniture takes a little while to procure… Would you like me to set up a bed or sleep capsule in the meantime?”

“I am optimized for the sofa. I could spend a good two weeks on the couch without any issues. Yes.”

Even after hearing such a sincere response imbued with experience, I shot a glance toward the source of discomfort, who just smiled softly as if it were a funny joke.

What must the ordinary employees, suddenly shifted to a corner office just to accommodate me, feel witnessing this scene?

…It’s too pointless a supposition to be of any use.

They were probably thinking, “That person is being hysterical~”. It might even be better for them that all face-to-face reports are entirely handled by Kakubari and Kajun.

Oh, right. It wasn’t solely because of me that a massive organizational change took place.

…Click!

“Hmm.”

I glared at the stack of documents disappearing into the drawer after just finishing review. It was the topic of conversation in this faction and quite a headache—Operation Downfall.

While Edamatsu, who smiles genuinely when looking at me, and I, who only observes from a step away, might be unaware, for Kajun, the one continually crying for a re-examination of the operation, or Kakubari, it was a life-or-death matter.

The one who must grant all approvals and negotiate with the prey is enjoying the conversation with me instead, which makes me ponder… that even if I feel discontent with this corporate life and my subordinates wage a silent rebellion, I wouldn’t know…?

“Edamatsu…! The supporting data is dubious, and to start a massive family squabble over this!? It’s truly unacceptable! The chairman will be furious! Please, please reconsider just one more time…!”

“Clarifying the facts. And it was given explicitly that purging was part of the mission, was it not? I have been repeatedly informed that the chairman personally entrusted this matter to you, director, and ordered you to capture the villain and eliminate him.”

“That’s only if there is clear supporting evidence…! No, Kajun! I thought you were smarter than this…!!”

Gradually they have begun to discuss troop strength and execution dates. Even though many concrete plans have been laid, the two people who came into the office one after another continued their verbal battle.

A subordinate who jumps over their direct superior and snatches the commanding baton from the boss.

A chief secretary who’s caught unprepared at such an unlikely event.

Honestly, it’s ambiguous who is in the wrong, but in this case, it seems like the unreasonable older guy voicing the rational opinion appears to be at a disadvantage.

I understand how terrifying it is to be responsible. However, with no sense of familial love and compounded emotions tightly bundled together, saying one should refrain from internal strife would carry little persuasiveness, unfortunately.

“This… This brazen…!!”

“If you have run out of things to say….”

I let the voice of someone driven to anger fade into my thoughts.

By the way, Operation Downfall… I’d never imagined I’d have to experience that infuriating quest so soon.

Based on the situation, it seems this is indeed the ‘first phase’ of the Downfall Project. I suddenly felt it was unfortunate to have inadvertently stumbled into such a maddening moment when my mouth and body were itching to act.