Admi!nistrator - 8

Manager X felt like his head was about to explode. Why? Because—the new abnormality was making a fuss, no, a huge freaking fuss. Had it caused a major problem? Not exactly. Then, did it go around tearing people apart? Nope, not that either...

 

"But still—"

 

 

The containment cell door... was it really something that could be broken with bare hands? Was the Qliphoth Suppressor even working in the first place?

 

 

"Yes, Manager."

 

 

 

"...Did I just say that out loud?"

 

 

 

"No. But I'm a competent AI. I can read your thoughts."

 

 

 

Angela said with a slight smile.

 

 

 

 

"Right—"

 

 

 

X, unable to deny it, just accepted it.

 

 

 

The manager stared at the screen with a blank expression. As soon as he looked, he discovered yet another bizarre behavior from the abnormality. It was picking up a bread bag from the floor, making holes for the eyes, and wearing it on its head. What was the intention behind it? He racked his brain to understand, but nothing came to mind. It was probably his fault for even trying to understand an abnormality.

 

 

 

After broadcasting a suppression order to the high-ranking employees in the company, he felt somewhat relieved, but the escaped entity, O-01-25, was wearing the bread bag and casually chatting with the office workers. Had the office workers gone mad? Or were they being brainwashed? The manager pondered for a moment.

 

 

 

He considered firing a termination round at the office worker who was conversing with the abnormality (he couldn't hear the details, but judging by their mouths opening and closing, they seemed to be talking), but he hesitated, unsure how the situation might change.

 

 

So far, there hadn't been an abnormality that would go berserk if someone died right in front of it... or had there? He scratched his head slightly. But this abnormality felt... exceptional. Suddenly breaking down the door with a punch and escaping, casually chatting with the office workers—

 

 

 

Definitely a type he'd never seen before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"..."

 

What should he do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

After dealing with several WAW and ALEPH-class abnormalities, he thought he had a good grasp of them, but maybe he was sorely mistaken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"...The employees will handle it."

 

 

 

His employees, the high-ranking ones, had become strong enough to fight ALEPH-class abnormalities, so he felt somewhat reassured after ordering them to suppress O-01-25. Then, he remembered.

 

 

 

He still had to meet today's energy quota, just like before. No matter how much this abnormality was driving him crazy, work had to be done. The manager held his complicated head and was assigning abnormality work to other employees as usual when—

 

 

 

 

 

 

Static.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Damn it—Manager, reporting the situation. We chased the new abnormality with other employees to suppress it, but... it ran away from us and ended up breaking into the Queen of Hatred's containment cell."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua, the command team leader, radioed in, and his report drove the manager even more insane. Breaking another containment cell door—? He was quickly assigning tasks to other employees, but upon hearing Joshua's report, he hurriedly switched the screen to the Queen of Hatred's cell.

 

 

 

 

 

He resented Angela a little for not offering any advice in this situation. She was a competent AI, but she didn't provide the answers he needed when he needed them. Maybe thinking about this was a waste of time in such a pressing situation.

 

 

 

X stopped resenting Angela and checked the Queen of Hatred's cell via CCTV. Just as the employee reported, the door was blown far away. He had hoped it was a lie, but it was disheartening to see it was true. Thinking about another abnormality escaping because of this new one made him want to just press the retry button and start over, even if it was only a few seconds into the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Nice to meet you—!"

 

 

 

"Oh, uh-huh.. Nice to meet you too☆"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But surprisingly, or rather, thankfully... the Queen of Hatred hadn't escaped. Escape? It seemed more like the two abnormalitys were having a peaceful chat. Luckily, the CCTV in the containment cell had good audio, so he could grasp the situation inside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing them chat like that, was this new abnormality one of the magical girls? But they seemed like strangers—or maybe they were from the same world?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The manager felt like he had gained a little bit of information about the new abnormality. Of course, that thought didn't last long. Because O-01-25, who had been empty-handed, suddenly generated a magical wand, no, a gun in its hand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

His jaw dropped, just like when the abnormality had escaped earlier. His mouth stayed open for several seconds. He realized just how big a deal this had become.

 

 

 

Angela opened her eyes slightly from behind the manager and watched the unfolding situation. She simply wore a mysterious expression as she observed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

——————————————————

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Who's talking about me—!"

 

 

 

Why is my ear so itchy...

 

 

 

"Is something wrong?"

 

 

 

"It's just... my ear is itchy—"

 

 

 

"Aha—!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's right. Even after creating Mika's unique weapon, the submachine gun, I didn't go outside right away. It felt a bit selfish... The main reason was—

 

 

 

"If you're also a chosen one—I want to hear your name... your abilities! There's so much I want to know!"

 

 

 

 

 

The boisterous abnormality in front of me, the Queen of Hatred, kept talking.

 

 

 

 

 

It was my fault for continuing the conversation... Let's rewind a few minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

"Yeah—! Then, let's have an ice-breaking time~!"

 

"...Really?"

 

"Of course! What should we start with—"

 

 

 

I ended up saying something like Mika's catchphrase. Did I pick up her speech patterns by possessing her body? Before I could ponder further, did I somehow strike the Queen of Hatred's girlish heart? She had an ecstatic expression as she began to speak.

 

 

 

"Then, I'll introduce myself first! Listen carefully, okay?!"

 

 

 

And so she continued, recounting her heroic tales, stories of her companions, and other trivial details. I was stuck here, listening to her. My big mouth... But I'm a princess, so I should be forgiven—no way that's happening.

 

 

 

 

Just as I was getting tired of the repeated stories, she finally asked for my name. Of course, I hadn't asked for her name either... but didn't she not tell me herself?

 

 

 

If I didn't answer, the Queen of Hatred was looking at me with such an expectant face. I wouldn't fall for cuteness...

 

 

 

"My name is Misono Mika ☆ You can call me Mika if you want—!"

 

 

 

I fell for it. I fell for it completely. I fell for her cute appearance. No, if I think about it, isn't this a great opportunity?

 

 

 

 

 

 

What kind of opportunity, you ask?

 

 

 

 

 

 

"An opportunity to escape☆"

 

 

 

 

 

 

—An opportunity to become a fugitive ninja.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being with the Queen of Hatred wasn't bad, but now that I have a weapon, me, Misono Mika, shouldn't have much trouble returning to my original containment cell. Of course, this mindset has to last when I see the employees again—

 

 

 

I took off the bread bag I was wearing and gave it to the Queen of Hatred. It's definitely not because I didn't know how to dispose of it.

 

 

 

"This is a gift for you before I go. Let's meet again—!"

 

 

 

 

It was totally because I didn't know how to dispose of it... Faust's (fake) bread bag is rare! I gave it to the Queen of Hatred, not even watching her reaction, and turned around to look at the crumpled door. Then, I kicked the door, which I had roughly fixed earlier, creating a way out. If there's no path, you create one with Mika's power.

 

 

 

I held Quis ut Deus in my hand and confidently stepped outside once more.