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

It's spicy... EP.14

Rice... I haven't been able to eat since coming to Lobotomy Corporation.

Come to think of it, I don't feel hungry or sleepy even though quite some time has passed.

They say if you don't eat anything for too long, you stop feeling hungry. Guess it's true.

As I blankly watched Louis, he suddenly opened the containment room door and brought something in from outside.

What Louis brought was... you know, those big-lidded dishes they put food in at buffets? It looked exactly like that.

"Hmm, is there anything you'd like to eat? You can request it to be reflected in your tasks as much as possible from the next cycle."

And then he asked for menu recommendations. Something I want to eat... I can't think of anything when asked suddenly.

In that moment, one thing popped into my mind.

"I want to eat Buldak Bokkeum Myeon..."
"Huh? What's that?"

Oops, I guess I blurted it out without realizing I was only thinking it.

"Uh, how should I say this? Buldak Bokkeum Myeon is, well, a really spicy stir-fried noodle dish? Something like that. It's really delicious but very spicy... Anyway, it's delicious!"
"...I've never heard of it in my life, and I have no idea what kind of dish it is. But I'll try to request it."
"Thank you!"

Louis carefully opened the lid, like a restaurant chef revealing a dish.

...Or rather, he tried to open it. The problem was, he kept glancing at me and hesitating.

"Why aren't you opening it? I want to eat already."
"Well, the basic meals for Abnormalities aren't as grand as you might think. It's a little... awkward when you look at me with those sparkling eyes."

Was I really staring that intensely? Now that I think about it, I was even drooling.

I must have been unconsciously drooling while imagining Buldak Bokkeum Myeon.

I shouldn't do that. Louis would be scared.

I quickly wiped the drool from my mouth and waited for Louis to open the lid.

I wondered what kind of dish it would be. It's my first meal here, so I hope it's something delicious.

Finally, the lid opened, and what I saw with my expectation-filled eyes was...

A cup of Buldak Bokkeum Myeon instant noodles.

"I'm sorry if you were expecting something more... Today's meal is rye..."
"Wow! It's Buldak Bokkeum Myeon!"
"Huh?"
"What?"

I didn't know what was going on, but Louis's face turned to shock as he looked at the Buldak Bokkeum Myeon.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
"No, it's just... never mind. Just eat."

Surprisingly, the Buldak Bokkeum Myeon was already well-cooked.

In other words, someone had already poured in the hot sauce and mixed it thoroughly.

Even wooden chopsticks were neatly placed beside it.

"I'll eat well!"
"...What on earth."

Ignoring Louis, who was scratching the back of his head, I took a big bite of the Buldak Bokkeum Myeon.

- Slurp.

...

...

"Spicy... so spicy..."
"..."

And now, I'm regretting it immensely.

I should have been able to eat a large cup of Buldak Bokkeum Myeon without any problem. Why is this so spicy?

"Spicy... ugh. It's so spicy... huff."

No matter how hard I tried to breathe, it just felt like it was getting spicier.

What is this? Even the Nuclear Buldak Bokkeum Myeon wasn't this spicy.

"...It looks extremely spicy. Should I get you a glass of water?"
"No, it's fine. Ugh. Please..."

I tried to endure it with sheer grit, but this was too much. A total strikeout.

Unable to bear it any longer, I asked Louis for water.

"Here."
"Th-thank you..."

- Gulp, gulp.

"...Hiccup."

In the end, the Buldak Bokkeum Myeon was abandoned in the corner of the containment room after only two bites.

"It must have been tear-jerkingly spicy... I don't know what this is, but I'll ask them to bring something less spicy next time."
"Ugh, please..."

What's welling up in my eyes right now isn't tears, but sweat.

I want to believe it's sweat.

...I've become a spice wimp. There's no greater humiliation than this.

"O-01-39, the instinct work of 'Little Girl' has been completed."

[Acknowledged. The work on Abnormality O-01-39 has concluded.]

Leaving me with my pride severely wounded, Louis exited the containment room.

My tongue is still tingling.

I sat still, holding the water Louis had brought me in my mouth.

"I'll just stay like this until the spiciness goes away..."

As I slumped in the now-empty containment room after Louis left, another announcement sounded.

[The ordeal of the Green Midnight has emerged. All management staff in every department are requested to put forth their best effort in suppressing the ordeal.]

...

...

"I'll inform the upper Sephirah."

Only the gentle, beautiful voice echoed in the silent management room.

The owner of the voice was Angela, the AI secretary who oversaw all departments and assisted the manager in their tasks.

"The mental corruption levels of the Command Team employees have exceeded the maximum. Did the other Sephirah just stand by and watch?"

Angela let out a rare, soft sigh and picked up the microphone again.

"The Command Team has failed to respond to the ordeal."

Here, 'ordeal' refers to the remnants that couldn't even become Abnormalities. Beings that wander the company without producing energy.

"Replenish the personnel immediately and suppress the ordeals. I will order the other departments to provide support as well."