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

Starting over.. EP. 28

"Why is that guy again... Sigh..."

...

"Aaaagh!!"

The Manager clutched his head, howling in despair.

The 'Plague Doctor' had called Finn, an employee on his way to activate the 'Backwards Clock.'

The 'Plague Doctor's call had an enthralling effect, making it impossible for any employee, regardless of rank, to resist.

"Why did it have to be Finn, right now... This is driving me crazy!"

Angela observed the Manager losing numerous strands of hair in real-time.

At this rate, he'd be bald soon.

Angela pictured the Manager as a bald man in her mind.

This image, too, was saved alongside the recording of the previous situation.

...

After the Plague Doctor's ritual, in the containment cell of the 'Backwards Clock.'

"Finn, you've worked hard."

The Manager spoke into the microphone, his voice tinged with sadness.

He was a long-time employee, after all. The Manager felt he should at least say goodbye.

[...Manager.]

Finn began, looking up at the ceiling as if he had something to say.

[Are you not going to admit it was your fault?]

...Finn's words were enough to silence the Manager.

"..."

Receiving no response, Finn offered a small smile and a brief prayer.

Then, the 'Backwards Clock' activated.

...

...

When the Manager opened his eyes, nothing was visible on the screen.

No escaped abnormalities, no screams from the clerks.

"Is it over now..."

Just as the Manager let out a sigh of relief.

[Lewis from the Safety Team has died... His life, which he had barely managed to cling to, ends today.]

"...What?"

The sounds of countless screams, the shattering of lives.

They began anew.

['Forsaken Murderer' abnormality has escaped. Please be careful.]

['Firebird' abnormality has breached containment. Let's work together to overcome this.]

[You may Finnd it bothersome, but the escape of the Judgment Bird should not be ignored... Please quickly suppress—]

['Meat Lantern' has esc—]

[Please be mindful of the 'Snow White's Apple' abnormality's escape—]

...

"No way. This is..."

The nightmare repeats itself.

The cycle of doom is never broken.

"If even the 'Backwards Clock' doesn't work... then, is there no other way?"

Finn's life was erased, but the Manager didn't care.

He mourned with only a brief silence.

To the Manager, the immediate crisis was more important than the life of a single employee.

...

Lobotomy Corporation's time flows differently from the outside world due to the TT2 Protocol.

All events within Lobotomy Corporation are recorded by the Records Team.

No matter how many abnormalities escape within the company, they cannot escape to the 'outside.'

Because the TT2 Protocol allows them to rewind the company's time.

Deleting the records of past time, returning to the date saved in the 'Memory Repository.'

That was the Manager's 'last resort.'

"Damn it... Unfortunately, there are no records before 'Little Girl' or 'Plague Doctor'..."

If only those two dangerous abnormalities weren't there, management would be so much easier. The Manager clicked his tongue, deciding to regress to the Memory Repository.

In other words, he initiated a [Retry].

...

...

The Manager slowly opened his eyes.

He saw three documents laid out before him.

"Ah, right. I have to choose the abnormalities again..."

The abnormality he chose on this day was 'Parasite Tree.'

It didn't escape, but it constantly enthralled, making it incredibly difficult to manage.

"Honestly, anything but that guy. Let's take a look."

F-05-32
[A forest of countless hearts. Even if you cut and cut, the forest remains lush.]

"Damn it, the phrasing is so morbid. Couldn't they make it a bit more pleasant?"

The first document felt too ominous, so he put it aside.

The Manager immediately picked up the second document.

O-02-40
[A month later, the conclusion was reached. There was no 'monster' in that forest.]

"Hmm... I don't know what this 'monster' is, but it seems alright."

And Finnally, the third document.

O-03-89
[If, due to some malfunction, the mosaic covering this abnormality becomes visible, we will need to seriously reconsider the Manager's fate.]

"What the hell. I don't want to die yet..."

What kind of abnormality could have such a chilling description?

The Manager made a grim face and submitted the second document.

...

...

"Hmm..."

O-02-40 arrived, an enormous bird with countless eyes embedded in its body, a peculiar sight.

"I don't know how many birds this company has..."

The Punishment Bird, constantly appearing to peck at employees.

The Judgment Bird, with its long neck.

And the Firebird, a burning bird.

Now, O-02-40.

"I hope this one is easier to manage..."

...The nightmare repeats itself.

The cycle of doom is never broken.