[Lobotomy Corporation] I'm an Abnormality...

I'm sorry! EP.7

"Ah."

The pure white flower, which just moments ago was radiating a warm light, was losing its glow in my hand.

"I'm, I'm sorry..."

I didn't mean to break it on purpose, how did this happen?

As I fretted over the wilting flower, a question popped into my mind.

Wait, who was talking to me just now?

I turned my head towards the direction of the loud shout I'd heard a moment ago...

A bald man holding a massive greatsword was staring at me with an indescribable expression.

Behind him were people with red hair... yellow hair... green hair... a variety of colorful hair, looking at me from behind the bald man as if frightened.

"Uh..."

People. Not the dog-like abnormal from the room next to mine, but real people.

They're the first people I've met since coming here, so I should probably do something.

I can't just stand here and have a staring contest.

Since I'm an abnormality, should I raise both hands to show I'm harmless?

No, first impressions are important. If I raise my hands in surrender the moment we meet, wouldn't they think it's weird?

Hmm... in times like these, isn't it better to just act natural?

"Um... hello..."
"You, how did you...!"

The bald man at the front cut off my greeting and pointed his finger at the flower in my hand.

What? Why this flower?

Gasp, could it be a really important flower or something?

"Th-this?"

I held up the flower, now withered and droopy.

The bald man's expression grew increasingly shocked.

I don't know what's going on, but I know one thing.

I've done something big.

"Wait, I haven't heard of any young kid like you joining the management team... Can you tell me which department you belong to?"

Amidst my confusion, the bald man approached me with a terrifying expression.

It was even scarier because he was dragging his huge greatsword along the floor.

"Ah, I don't belong to any department, I'm just an abnorma..."

Wait a minute, my mind started racing.

The Abnormality alarm just went off.

And these people appeared right after, as if they were waiting for it.

Blood dripping from the bald man's greatsword.

No matter how you look at it, they're here to subdue an escaped abnormal.

...Huh? Then if I reveal that I'm an abnormal, won't I get sliced by that sword?

I'll become a chopped-up girl instead of a little girl.

Oh my god.

"You don't look well... Are you okay? Hey! Where are you going! You can't just leave like that!"

The bald man shouted something from behind, but I didn't look back and ran down the hallway.

I don't want to be dragged to the Room of Truth!

...

...

"What on earth was that girl?"

"How should I know? Maybe she's just a shy newbie..."

Noah picked up the pure white flower the girl had dropped while running away, lost in thought.

A small girl with a black hoodie and white hair.

Seeing her unable to answer the question, I wondered for a moment if she was an abnormal, but if she were, the escape alarm would have sounded already, so she's not.

I don't think such a young kid would be in management... Is she a new hire in the administrative office?

Even if they're short-staffed, using such a young girl... I hate this Lobotomy Corporation more and more.

...Wait, there's something more important than that.

There was no announcement that the Meat Lantern had been subdued, meaning it's still somewhere in the department.

Maybe this flower just happened to resemble the Meat Lantern's flower.

It was sheer luck that the girl survived.

...We have to subdue the Meat Lantern as soon as possible.

"T-Team Leader!"
"What is it now, Justin?"
"There's something strange out here...!"

Something strange?

Noah turned his head towards the inner hallway at Justin's bewildered words.

What he saw was,

A clump of gray grass with two round dots attached to it.

The true form of the 'Meat Lantern,' which always lures unsuspecting newcomers by displaying its flower outside and devouring them.

"No way! The Meat Lantern is revealing its main body outside its containment cell?!"

Noah was shocked by the Meat Lantern's unusual behavior and gripped his E.G.O, Mimicry, tightly.

...Looking closely, in the place where the Meat Lantern's flower should be, only a snapped green stem protruded.

And its movements seemed incredibly angry.

"Damn it, I don't know what's going on... Everyone, behind me! We're going to subdue the Meat Lantern!"

...

...

And so, the battle between the bald Team Leader Noah and the newly bald Meat Lantern began.