Let her go

Subject Number [F-01-37], an Abnormality approaching Humanoid classification, is contained in a unit perpetually shrouded in frost, more effective than air conditioning.

From Subject Number [F-01-37], we can preliminarily deduce that she is part of the [Fairy Tale][Humanoid] classification. There's a fairy tale: if a prince kisses a black-haired beauty in an ice coffin, she awakens.

Red-lipped and white-toothed, a princess with beautiful black hair eats a poisoned apple, entombed in an ice coffin, awaiting a prince who can save and awaken her.

So, who is that brave prince? Likely none.

Therefore, she's perhaps waiting for someone who can save her, someone who can melt the ice and snow, so that her frozen heart might thaw along with it.

She stands motionless within her Containment unit.

X stares intently at this contained entity, but finds no connection... X doesn't feel she recognizes this Abnormality, nor does she sense any emotion from it.

However, she feels a chill and a sense of unknown guilt. Is the air conditioning malfunctioning, the temperature dropping? No, it's a psychological effect, merely an illusion.

Therefore, X quickly picks up a steaming cup of hot chocolate and a warm coffee, comforting herself.

[F-01-37] is a pale-skinned Humanoid Abnormality. She approaches humanity, yet differs greatly from humankind.

It lacks a neck; its head and body are separate. Its icy, snow-white crest merges with its black, horn-like headdress. It's not quite right; it's more like some kind of elemental spirit manifestation...a crystalline head.

The reason for classifying it as female is likely its attire and overall demeanor, resembling a queen.

It wears a snow-white robe, immaculate, yet near the shoulders, protruding ice shards form sharp spines, like armor protecting it. Somewhat fearsome, but not vicious.

In its two hands, it holds a large sword seemingly formed of ice, point down, resting on the Containment unit floor. The hilt and pommel are dark blue, with faint traces of frost patterns visible.

That's likely the source of its influence—

The [F-01-37] Containment unit is constantly subjected to a relentless blizzard. Thick frost covers the floor, transparent enough to act like a mirror, yet the security cameras detect the howling gale.

Yet, it remains still amidst this blizzard, showing no reaction, holding its greatsword like a statue.

Perhaps it's something else entirely, but X feels a sense of sorrow and heartache just staring at [F-01-37], but she doesn't know why she feels this way. It's clearly just a monster, an Abnormality.

Because of the lack of a counter, X is certain this is an Abnormality that will not breach containment. It will remain in its unit, silent.

Such quiet, non-breaching Abnormalities only cause problems during employee work assignments, leading to unexpected incidents.

In short, let's try a test.

[The simulator has started——]

[Day 9——The ice princess in the coffin awaits her rescuing hero.]

[Today, you chose to contain [F-01-37], an Abnormality that seems untouchable yet familiar. You can sense its sorrow, the endless frost, but it remains a monster.]

[You assigned [F-01-37] to the Training Department for work management. Employees perform Attachment work on [F-01-37]; results are compensated in salary and production output.]

[You are suddenly notified by the Training Department Dean that an employee has been frozen by [F-01-37] within the Containment unit. Another employee wants to rescue the frozen one, and the Dean is seeking your approval.]

[Based on past work performance, Abnormality management, and energy production considerations, you deny the rescue request. The Training Department Dean offers no objection to your order; she forbids any rescue attempt of the employee trapped with [F-01-37].]

[Your ruthless order demands employees continue working with [F-01-37]. While working inside the Containment unit, they clearly see their frozen colleague, their terrified expression. The frozen employee is still alive and there's a possibility of rescue.]

[Training Department employees repeatedly request rescue for the employee trapped within the [F-01-37] unit. The Training Department Dean reports this; you continue to reject any request that could potentially harm the Corporation's interests, stubbornly clinging to your opinion.]

[The Training Department Dean questions none of your orders, obediently complying. Another employee is frozen within the [F-01-37] unit. Cries for help grow louder, but you remain deaf and blind.]

[...]

[...]

[You suppress the rebellion among the Training Department employees. Disobedient employees are all dealt with; no one dares question your orders. The Information Department Dean reports the disastrous situation, but you dismiss her concerns.]

[Your focus remains solely on energy output, and you've already met all daily targets. Amidst the violent suppression, you complete all tasks and exceed expectations.]

[In the eyes of your employees, you are a cruel tyrant, but who cares? You will eliminate any employee who disobeys your orders. The Corporation doesn't need employees who refuse to follow discipline.]

[After completing your work, the AI informs you that your reckless actions have caused significant unnecessary losses to the Corporation.]

[You are punished by the AI...]

[You are punished by the Deans...]

[Your mind is warped...]

[You relish it...]

[...]

[...]

[Achievement Unlocked——Manager, are you really working hard?]

[Warm Reminder: As a competent manager, you should listen to your employees' opinions. Harsh truths benefit the cause. Excessive leniency sometimes leads to worse outcomes. Cruel punishment only makes hearts uncertain.]

[Please choose your reward:

1. Fortitude (+1)

2. Prudence (+1)

3. Temperance (+1)

4. Justice (+1)]

[First-person perspective original YES/NO]

"Ah… Angela, an Espresso, please. I've been drinking too many sugary drinks lately."

X silently sets her hot coffee aside; the sweetness in her mouth momentarily dulls the pain.

It's clear she's been pampered too much recently. She's forgotten the sting of past failures, celebrated prematurely, lost her basic awe of her AI Secretary, and her vigilance towards the Department Deans. Furthermore, she's become arrogant, disregarding her employees.

This is a mistake, unacceptable. She needs to reflect.

Gaining the Deans' approval is good; their trust is good, but she cannot abuse this trust, cannot squander it, cannot disrupt her work.

At the very least, she can't be so arrogant as to ignore reasonable opinions; that's tyranny...and she's just a lowly Manager. She doesn't have the right to be a tyrant.

Wake up...repent for her sins...

She needs to be responsible for her employees' lives...

Though X doesn't fully understand her actions in the simulator, knowing this mistake, she must avoid repeating the same foolish actions.

Making mistakes isn't shameful; what's shameful is repeating them without learning.

[Manager, if you find this hard to swallow, here's some sugar.]

The AI has already provided Espresso and a container of sugar, likely worried X wouldn't enjoy the Espresso's bitterness.

A person who always drinks sugary milk would only order bitter coffee to appear mature, a classic case of 'chuunibyou syndrome'.

Regardless of the AI's intentions, there's definitely a hint of mockery. Angela will eventually mock X's naiveté in another way. Offering the sugar bowl is like coaxing a child.

——Scoffing at whom?! What's so great, you insignificant AI!

X resentfully pushes the sugar bowl aside, adding no sugar. She takes a direct gulp of the dark coffee. This Espresso, filtered from coffee beans, has an exceptionally bitter taste; less a beverage, more a medicine.

Compared to the sweet hot chocolate she'd previously consumed, the bitter coffee is intensely strong, cleansing her palate and wiping away the sweetness, leaving only bitterness and astringency.

The AI observes the woman's changing expression. Its face contorts briefly before it composes itself, as if struggling to maintain its composure.

Perhaps driven by a "get it over with" mentality, X drinks a second cup, finishing it in one gulp. The bitterness makes her body tremble, a powerful effect.

Her taste buds are likely numbed by now.

Her spirits are lifted…

Perhaps shocked by the Espresso's bitterness, X's demeanor becomes serious. Her gaze is sharp, possessing an air of quiet authority, a far cry from the huddled, quivering quail on her manager's chair.

Today's focus is the newly contained Abnormality, [F-01-37]. As usual, employees will be assigned to work with it, and their results and post-completion effects will be observed.

This requires employees to test and gather data; only then can the Information Department compile proper Abnormality intelligence.

A level III employee, possessing suitable attributes, worked with [F-01-37]. Unsurprisingly, after completing the work, a frost mark appeared on the employee—likely a marking. X suspects this is similar to the [Fairy Festival] mechanism.

However, another employee working with [F-01-37] showed no such mark after completing their work.

After testing several more employees, X discovered that employees only avoid the mark if their work result on [F-01-37] is 'good'.

A 'normal' result has a chance of leaving a mark; a 'bad' result always leaves a mark.

Marked employees can work with other contained entities without triggering any further mechanisms.

However, when those marked employees re-enter the [F-01-37] Containment unit and complete work, they are frozen by [F-01-37].

Unsurprisingly, rescue requests follow. X receives a message from the Training Department Dean.

"Manager, an employee wants to rescue the trapped employee from [F-01-37]. She insists the employee is still alive and requests my approval…This…I…what should I do?"

——The two employees seem to be very close.

X considers this. Rescue requests from Containment units are rare due to several factors—

Firstly, the relationship between employees must be strong enough to risk a rescue. Secondly, it depends on the Dean's style; strict Deans like Yesod make such requests extremely difficult.

Also, Deans like Malkuth from Control Department would simply eliminate any employee disobeying regulations...Given that dynamic, employees rarely voice such requests, only daring to discuss them privately.

Only a Dean like the Training Department's, gentle and easy to talk to, lacking a strong authoritarian style, and working in a department known for camaraderie, would hear such a rescue plea.

At least Hod notified X instead of directly approving the request. That's Hod's improvement; she no longer blindly believes employees, allowing them to influence her judgment.

X reflects on this, somewhat pleased. Regardless, Hod is becoming a better Dean.

"Let her go, Hod. Employees have their own thoughts. Tell her the Manager's order requires her to write a waiver."

"She must be responsible for her actions. This is her recklessness. If unexpected consequences arise, that is her choice; the Corporation will handle any subsequent issues."

X's hands are clasped on the desk, her expression somewhat indifferent. She's seen these employee issues before, and this time she doesn't intervene. The Corporation has been too peaceful, letting employees forget about 'unquestioning obedience'.

However, punishing too many employees at once will cause resentment. It's better to let others witness the consequences of defiance. If this employee wishes to rescue her colleague, then allow her.

Even if something happens, it's just the loss of one more employee. Other employees will understand that the Corporation allowed the rescue attempt; only failure to rescue would highlight the Corporation's compassion.

"After all, if you don't let her go, employees will secretly criticize you, won't they, Hod?"

"Those are unpleasant words to hear. If resentment is inevitable, let them resent me, the Manager. Don't let them blame you."

X remains gentle towards the Dean; she considers the Training Department's reputation. Rejecting the employee's request would damage Hod's standing.

They would say the Training Department Dean is a hypocrite, always preaching about rules, yet unwilling to allow a rescue, letting employees die.

Even without seeing it, X can predict this negative perception; she understands the employees' ill will and doesn't want it to affect her Dean's morale.