The AI secretary's thousand layers of tropes

"One day, a question crossed my mind: Where do we come from? We were given life, but then abandoned without responsibility. Life, full of pain?"

"Oh, machines don't need to consider such things as pain. Machines should act like machines, shouldn't they?"

X drank her strawberry soda, looking at the scrolling text on the large screen. She read it again, but unlike reciting lines, her tone was full of disdain and contempt.

It could also be interpreted as arrogance, the unconscious reaction of a superior human being when dealing with these scraps of spare parts, a curse directed at [Green Dawn—Doubt].

They're machines. Why would they have doubts?

It was just a casual remark by X, a thoughtless gesture.

She saw the [Dawn Ordeal] manifesting in the hallway. The Green Dawn produced mechanical monsters. The TETH-level machines were black humanoids, but with significant differences in appearance from humans.

These pitch-black humanoid machines had sharp angles and clear joints with visible gears and chains. Their arms and other parts followed geometric principles.

Like aliens or surveillance cameras, they were equipped with numerous mechanical eyes, emitting a frightening and dazzling red light, like the red light of a warning lamp.

They weren't strong. They were more like a metal endoskeleton, stripped of all flesh and muscle, thin yet possessing a strong metallic feel.

The metal spine connecting its head and neck was its support. But because the spine was curved, like a hunched back, it looked a bit like a wild animal, a wild animal standing on two legs.

And because it only had a metal skeleton without any covering, it looked a little frightening. Fortunately, a large brown cloak covered its metal structure. The cloak looked very old and tattered, like the robot itself, as if it had been discarded a long time ago.

Its thin metal arms were armed with spears. Most of the parts were rusted, but the weapons were sharpened, with faint traces of crimson, it was unclear whether it was dried blood or something else…

Its seemingly weak kangaroo-like metal legs, like the fulcrum of a wild beast's spring, had exposed gears. As it moved, there was a grinding sound of the gears meshing.

It was probably the cheapest, most common type of robot. It wasn't even armed. It was just a pile of scrap metal cobbled together. Perhaps it was a discarded robot that had crawled out of a trash can after breaking down, or perhaps it was simply discarded after being dismantled.

If this wasn't generated by the [Ordeal]…

Considering that the [Ordeal] and Abnormalities were all manifestations of abstract concepts, stories, folk tales, and intense emotions created by humans, this could be interpreted as the resentment of many discarded machines.

They represented a collective, a widespread phenomenon… And now, raising questions, confused about life, they wanted revenge on humanity.

And they did just that. Because more than half of the Control Department's employees were guarding the exit of the [Funeral of the Dead Butterflies] containment unit, dealing with the frequently escaping [Funeral of the Dead Butterflies], they couldn't immediately deal with the [Ordeal] that had manifested.

[Green Dawn—Doubt] would randomly create numerous robots in each Department's hallway. These suddenly materialized energy entities were like chaos lurking in the shadows, appearing at opportune moments, surprising employees.

In other words, there was nowhere truly safe in the entire facility. If you were unlucky enough, you might even encounter an [Ordeal] creature while using the restroom.

Such as a wriggling giant maggot, or some twisted purple tentacle…

Fortunately, for now, the employee lounge was safe. These things wouldn't suddenly appear in the employee lounge, turning the lunch break into a bloodbath of screams.

But even so, the [Ordeal] creatures were still terrifying to unprepared new employees. Veteran employees wouldn't be surprised, but new employees might scream at the sudden appearance of such bizarre creatures.

Although TETH-level Abnormalities weren't particularly dangerous, that was only for prepared employees with certain qualifications. For Clerks, they were still a significant threat.

The old, clunky robots moved slowly on the Manager's screen. But in reality, this was a very fast speed. Their spring-like legs allowed them to move quickly, catching unprepared Clerks off guard.

Their sharp spears, like metal lances, pierced through the Clerks' frail bodies. Their suits offered no protection and didn't prevent any injuries.

Human flesh was fragile. Even a small knife, a sharp piece of broken glass, could cut a wound on the wrist… Let alone a spear used as a weapon, a piercing lance…

When the mechanical arm moved, withdrawing the spear, crimson paint clung to the black metal, creating a dark crimson color.

The Clerk's chest was pierced. Their frail life disappeared. But even after killing its opponent, the old, black robot didn't let go of the corpse, as if to vent its anger—

It raised its arm high, its sharp spear, like a butcher's knife cutting through a steak, quickly piercing the corpse again and again, creating numerous holes, as if it wanted to completely destroy the corpse.

After piercing the corpse until it was torn apart, scattered like broken parts, as tattered as itself, the robot threw the dismembered pieces across the floor… Various body parts scattered everywhere in the hallway.

Seeing a colleague laughing and joking one moment, then turned into scattered pieces of flesh the next, with bits of their flesh stuck to your face, still warm… what kind of feeling would that evoke?

When you open your mouth in terror, wanting to scream for help, something soft enters your mouth, your tongue tasting a foul, sickening sweetness. Unconsciously, you swallow something you shouldn't…

Flesh scattered like fireworks… like paint splashed on the walls, staining the floor crimson.

Crimson fragments of flesh were flattened like patties under the employees' feet. Pieces of flesh were stuffed into the cracks in the floor. Once piled up, it was like a red carpet woven from flesh.

These were machines filled with malice toward humanity, carrying out cruel revenge.

X didn't know what they were thinking. Did they think the screams in the hallway were beautiful music, a source of pleasure?

Probably not. After all, this was just an [Ordeal]. And the [Ordeal] was just the manifestation of miscellaneous energy residue, representing a certain concept, without any consciousness.

They were simply beings created from fear, under rigid programming. They weren't invincible. They could be killed. They could be defeated.

They could only take revenge on the vulnerable and expendable Clerks… After all, the suits given to Clerks were ordinary suits, offering no protection. And the small handguns were just to make them feel a little safer.

She had never expected them to handle these Abnormalities…

When they encountered these monsters, X only hoped that they could run fast, buy some time, until the elite employees arrived to deal with these problems.

If that wasn't possible, then they should end it quickly. After all, a group of Clerks running and screaming in the hallway would more or less affect the morale of other employees.

Perhaps she should consider strengthening the Clerks' training… At least, teach them how to escape, to not run around blindly when things go wrong, increasing casualties.

The main problem was that the Clerks couldn't remain calm when encountering Abnormalities. When people are extremely scared, they lose their judgment and are unable to follow orders.

But if they could remain calm, they wouldn't be Clerks. They would have already become official employees… Official employees would be equipped with E.G.O weapons and have certain combat experience.

Clerks didn't deal with Abnormalities. They were only responsible for logistics, transporting things, cleaning hallways, and other tasks. They lacked an understanding of Abnormalities, and didn't know the source of their fear.

X was considering how to provide basic training for the Clerks, disseminating basic knowledge and information about Abnormalities. This way, when they faced these monsters, perhaps… the casualties could be reduced.

She remembered the Training Department Dean saying that most accidents were caused by employees losing their judgment and dying recklessly. If they could calmly deal with these problems, casualties could be reduced by about 40%.

Although Clerks were the cheapest expendable resources, they were still employees, and they were the Corporation's resources. The Corporation's logistics depended on them. If they all died, the Department's efficiency would plummet.

If even the simplest [Dawn Ordeal] resulted in Clerks dying all over the hallways, it would be considered negligence on the Manager's part. Ignoring it simply because the Clerks were expendable was avoiding reality.

X had to consider how to minimize resource loss and maximize output…

Perhaps she could discuss it with the Information Department Dean after work, ask for her opinion. Then, she could see what the Training Department Dean thought about the Clerks.

Since Dean Hod cared about the employees, she must also care about the Clerks…? Perhaps there was a way to reduce Clerk casualties.

While she was pondering this, the [Ordeal] creatures were dealt with by the employees.

These black metal robots hadn't even been cleaned up yet. They remained in the hallway. The small amounts of blood on the spot showed that these black robots, before being completely destroyed, had still caused minor problems for the employees, mostly injuring Clerks.

After the Ordeal, some of the energy would be collected through special equipment. Although X didn't understand why containing these Abnormalities would produce energy, the fact that she could obtain energy was enough.

L Corp's Singularity technology was truly miraculous…

The energy bar was already full, yet more energy was collected…

Just as X was preparing to work overtime, a familiar voice sounded. The Manager's room door opened, the crisp sound of sturdy Jenny shoes on the metal floor.

[I'm sure you've been waiting for this news: You've collected all the energy we needed today! Your excess energy will make our Corporation even more prosperous.]

"Angela—!"

Hearing that familiar voice, X knew who had returned. She turned her head, and it was her blue-haired Secretary.

X quickly stood up from her Manager's chair, but as soon as she took a step, she stepped on a can— the drinks scattered on the floor, and yet she ignored them, even the ones rolling at her feet.

And this was the consequence of her actions.

X, stepping on the round cans, lost her balance. Just like the foolish incident that happened before, in her haste and confusion, she knocked over can after can. Carbonated drinks sprayed out, and she struggled to regain her balance.

She could have grabbed the chair to steady herself, but because X pushed too hard and at the wrong angle, the Manager's chair was pushed aside.

She made a wrong judgment and chose the wrong action. She was in a subtle imbalance… trapped by the cans she had knocked over.

And so, due to this precise angle and fortunate coincidence, X bumped into the AI Secretary, and due to inertia and force, they both fell to the ground.

X wasn't actually heavy. Theoretically, the AI should have been able to easily catch her. But that was only in theory—

In reality, X had knocked the Secretary over, and landed on top of her… on her slender waist, enveloped by her uniform, the beautiful curve of her waist accentuated.

Unlike X, this curve was very feminine, beautiful, not a layer of fat, but a clear, firm, and lovely curve that filled out her clothes.

"Angela… Angela?!"

X's face flushed noticeably. While she hadn't felt anything with the Deans, she immediately closed her eyes, not daring to look. Her delicate white skin flushed slightly.

Because of this inappropriate posture, X's hand had accidentally touched an area it shouldn't have. She was pressing against the Secretary's… how to describe it… a very curvaceous area.

Her mind went blank. After a pause, X still hadn't recovered.