Corroserum: Corroserum's Badge

Operator Record Corroserum's Badge
Dreams, passions, ideals and will are all not corrosion-resistant, so everyone, please pay careful attention and take care of yourself while at work, thank you.

Unlock conditions

• Raise Corroserum to Elite 2 Level 1.
• Have at least 50% Trust with Corroserum.

Characters

Doctor Astgenne Corroserum Customer Representative Engineering Operator Senior Project Manager

Backgrounds

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“

Rhodes Island's Engineering Department often receives requests for research projects from cooperating parties. During a certain project, Corroserum not only exhibits poor work ethic, but even makes a very serious error that causes dire setbacks to the entire R&D effort.

”

<Background 1>
1099 Rhodes Island Engineering Department Practical Science/Technology Project Unit 13 "The Next Step in Corrosive Research, and Corresponding Protection Countermeasures" Project Leaders: Corroserum, Astgenne
[After work on the project concludes...]
Corroserum	Good work, everyone. Now if you don't mind...
No sooner has Corroserum said this than he puts on his blindfold to take a break, as is his habit.
[The Doctor enters.]
Astgenne	Good evening, Doctor.
Doctor	Good evening, Astgenne. / Is Corroserum asleep?
[Corroserum wakes up after hearing the Doctor.]
Corroserum	Doctor. Good evening.
Doctor	Just passing by. All good here? / Any setbacks with your project?
Corroserum	If you're really curious... Could I ask you to hold this up for a moment?
[Corroserum gives an armor plate to the Doctor.]
Corroserum	No need to panic, the experiment will be conducted within controllable limits. The armor plate you're holding has our latest reworked protective coating applied, which should suffice to ensure your safety.
Doctor	Sure. Just hold it like this? / Wait, safety? Mine?
Corroserum	As you can see, it has previously suffered a degree of corrosive wear. However, the improvement to our new coating technology lies not in anti-corrosion. Care to begin, Astgenne? Please attack the plate with Originium Arts.
Astgenne	Hold up, isn't this method a little dangerous for an experiment?
Doctor	It's fine, I believe in your tech. / Relax, I can protect myself.
Corroserum	Your cooperation is greatly appreciated, Doctor.
Astgenne	Well, I... Okay, then...
[Astgenne strikes the plate with her Arts, which withstood it.]
Corroserum	That's right, this improved protective coating retains a level of resistance against Arts attacks even when corroded. That's new. Of course, all credit is due to Astgenne and her efforts. Unfortunately, I have yet to achieve any particular breakthroughs on the corrosive front.
Astgenne	...... Sorry about this, Doctor. I need you to play along with me for one more attack.
Doctor	No problem. / W... Wait!
Astgenne	Lightning, illuminate! Hah!
[Astgenne unleashes another Arts attack that managed to put a dent on the plate.]
Astgenne	Thought so... It took such an excessive attack just to pierce the plate's defenses. Oh, uh! You're okay, right? Sorry... I...
Doctor	No worries, I'm fine. / That was one insane attack. / That was one tough defense.
Astgenne	Phew... Sorry.
Corroserum	As should be obvious, this protective coating's strength has far exceeded the project goals.
Astgenne	But it still hasn't reached the theoretical limit of the design. What if we took it a step further? I think there's a call for more testing.
Corroserum	I agree, but I also wouldn't consider it wise to chase the theoretical limit.
Astgenne	...... I need to make a detailed record of the results of this trial. Thank you, Doctor.
Doctor	Honored I could be of help. / Likewise.
Corroserum	Doctor, it just passed six o'clock. Please allow me to clock out for the day. Thank you very much for joining us for today's experiment. Oh right, I have some candy from Quercus and Yanese tea from Mister Lee sitting on my desk. They're both excellent for relieving fatigue, so please feel free to help yourself. In any case... I'll see the two of you later.
[Corroserum leaves.]
Astgenne	......
Doctor	Aren't you going to clock out too?
Astgenne	Oh... Don't worry about me. I might be working late again. I still need to do a bit more research and testing.
<Background 2>
[Corroserum plays a rock music on the radio.]
Corroserum	(Takes a deep breath) (Stretches) (Takes a deep breath) Phew... Time to head back! Oops, music's a bit loud. Wouldn't want to disturb others. I'll have to turn it down a little.
[Corroserum turns down the radio's volume.]
Corroserum	Hmm hmm~ (Grooves along with the music) Gotta turn on the humidifier since the room's a bit dry.
[Someone knocks the door.]
Engineering Operator	Project Lead Corroserum, are you in? I have something for you.
[An R.I. engineering operator enters the room.]
Engineering Operator	These are the materials you requested. Please sign here, if you don't mind.
Corroserum	Thanks a bunch. Go ahead and leave the stuff over in that corner. You can go after dropping it off. I'll sort it all out myself later.
Engineering Operator	By the way, why'd you request so many discarded experimental materials? And not just from our team either.
Corroserum	It's not work-related; just a personal hobby of mine.
Engineering Operator	...... A personal hobby, huh... And for Astgenne, it was a personal idea. I really have no clue what the two of you are working on in secret.
Corroserum	Here's the receipt. Did you need anything else?
Engineering Operator	Corroserum... When I left the lab just now, ours was the only one with the lights still on. Astgenne hasn't been back to her room for days now. I think... you should go check up on her.
<Background 3>
1089 Raythean Industries Experimental Engineering Department
Senior Project Manager	Come in.
[Corroserum enters the room.]
Corroserum	Hello, everyone! I'm the new researcher, Corroserum, and my specialty is...
Senior Project Manager	Alright, fill out these forms first and bring them over to the accountant's office by tonight.
Corroserum	Sure! If any of you need any help, feel free to give me a call.
Senior Project Manager	Let's get started.
Corroserum	On it!
<Background fades out>
See that? Yes, the person right there on the screen.
<Background fades in>
Senior Project Manager	Not leaving yet?
Corroserum	I'm not heading back today. Not like I have anything else to do, so I might as well knock this out.
Senior Project Manager	Relax, you still have plenty of time.
Corroserum	Yeah, I know. I just happened to have a flash of inspiration. You can head back first.
Senior Project Manager	By the way, Corroserum, how long have you been with the Engineering Department?
Corroserum	...About half a year?
Senior Project Manager	Oh... Good luck then.
Corroserum	Yup!
<Background fades out>
Did you get a good look at how they appear on the screen?
<Background fades in>
Senior Project Manager	Corroserum, come here for a moment.
Corroserum	What is it?
Senior Project Manager	It's been two years since you joined the Engineering Department, right? I've always seen you as an intelligent and hardworking young man.
Corroserum	Thanks, boss!
Senior Project Manager	So... There's a project, but it's not one of ours. It belongs to a friend of mine in the military, and they urgently need a new type of protective material for their soldiers.
Corroserum	I can handle it.
Senior Project Manager	I'm not joking around here. Think it through carefully–I have no way of sending you extra assistants, and you can't afford to fall behind in your day-to-day work here either.
Corroserum	Trust me, I can handle it.
Senior Project Manager	...... Fine, do your best.
Corroserum	Will do!
<Background fades out>
Do you still remember his name?
<Background 1>
Astgenne	This data set... shouldn't be possible. How could he have missed such an obvious error?
[Corroserum enters the lab.]
Astgenne	...Weren't you supposed to be off work?
Corroserum	Sorry to bother you. I'm just back to pick up a file. And, I'll be taking my leave now.
Astgenne	Wait, hold on a second!
Corroserum	Hmm? Did you need something?
Astgenne	I did have a question, about the corrosive agent you were in charge of improving.
Corroserum	Ask away.
Astgenne	You haven't made any progress with it for months now. Even when I joined up with the rest of the team, we couldn't move forward at all.
Corroserum	True. Admittedly, development in this area has been more difficult than I imagined.
Astgenne	I've always had my suspicions, since from a data-perspective these kinds of results shouldn't be possible. But I never thought about it too much since I trusted you. Until just now, when I checked the records of previous experiments and stumbled upon this... Your sample report.
Corroserum	Was there some sort of problem with it?
Astgenne	Was there a problem?! In each batch of samples you make, you use less of the active ingredient than we calculated for. In other words, the samples we've been testing over the last few months have all been incomplete, defective products! No wonder the experimental results of your corrosive agents have been so disappointing. This whole time, we've barely met the minimum project design requirements.
Corroserum	...... Sorry, this does appear to be a major oversight on my part.
Astgenne	You're telling me you somehow managed to miss all this?
Corroserum	Yes, for which I deeply apologize.
Astgenne	......
Corroserum	......
Astgenne	Then can you make some new samples that actually match the data we're using?
Corroserum	Sorry, but not right now. Because I'm off work.
Astgenne	Hey–!
Corroserum	You'll have my complete cooperation tomorrow, but I really must get going. Regarding the serious errors in my work, I will explain the situation to the Doctor myself, and take full responsibility for the consequences. In any case... See you tomorrow.
[Corroserum leaves.]
Astgenne	Hey! Corroserum!
<Background 2>
Corroserum	(Takes a deep breath)
Corroserum faces himself in the mirror... And repeats his daily exercise.
Corroserum	(Confront your work.) (All of its facets.) (All your different colleagues.) (What expression would be the most appropriate?)
<Background 3>
Senior Project Manager	Corroserum, what the hell have you been doing?! This is what I get for trusting you so much!
Corroserum	But... our data indicate that this performs twice as well as the original requirements.
Senior Project Manager	And it costs how much?! Do you have any idea how much we'd have to sell just to recoup our expenses? Are you trying to lose us money here? Not to mention how the client is going to balk at the price tag.
Corroserum	But, didn't you say they were your friend...?
Senior Project Manager	Good grief... Young man... Step outside for a moment.
Corroserum	But sir...
Senior Project Manager	Get out!
Corroserum	...Alright.
<Background fades out and in>
Senior Project Manager	Everyone! Put whatever you're doing on hold! We have an urgent project that needs to get done. What you were just issued is a new type of protective material that showed up on the battlefield.
Corroserum	This?!
Senior Project Manager	Right now, one of our important clients urgently needs an agent that can deal with this protective material. We've been given a hard deadline of one month, so during this time I need everyone here to give it their all. No taking time off, no slacking! This MUST get done! Does everyone understand?
Corroserum	Boss...
Senior Project Manager	What?
Corroserum	This material... I think I've felt something very similar half a year ago...
Senior Project Manager	Get to work already! If you have something to say, tell me later.
Corroserum	......
Senior Project Manager	Did you hear me?
Corroserum	Yes, I understand.
<Background 4>
Customer Representative	Are all our people here?
Corroserum	Yes, my colleague had something to attend to, so let's get started.
Customer Representative	Very well... We've already received the data sheets you submitted, as well as tested the samples you gave us. Without a doubt, they meet our standards when it comes to performance, quality, and other measures. However...
Corroserum	Is there an issue?
Customer Representative	So here's the situation. We've been... having a number of internal reorganizations lately. A lot has changed. The new manager proposed a new target policy, and was dissatisfied with the performance of the current corrosive agent. He would like you to meet the following benchmarks.
[The representative gives Corroserum some documents.]
Corroserum	A corrosion index requirement as high as this... practically falls under the category of a WMD.
Customer Representative	It's... for personal protective use. Also, for whatever reason, the budget for this project has been slashed. Therefore, you might encounter some difficulties in terms of controlling costs and future development expenses. I hope you understand.
Corroserum	Sorry, but allow me to say something. First of all, I can't guarantee that we can meet these new benchmarks. It's something I'd have to discuss with my teammates first. Second, an extended R&D cycle would inevitably lead to an increase in development costs. If you're going to cut the budget...
Customer Representative	Um... In that case, how about removing some of the unnecessary protective systems? Just leave in the basic safety features.
Corroserum	I must apologize, but making modifications to a chemical agent is not as simple as appending a line of text.
Customer Representative	But we're talking about removing functionality here, right? Surely that's not so difficult for professionals like you.
Corroserum	......
Customer Representative	And, regarding the budget... There's truly nothing I can do about that. However, internally we do acknowledge the excellent work you've shown us. Which is why I think of these as hurdles we can overcome together. ...We are, of course, very sorry for the trouble. I trust we will have more opportunities to work together in the long-term.
Corroserum	The one to make that decision will be... Doctor?
Doctor	Sorry, we can't accommodate these kinds of requests.
Customer Representative	...... Understood. We'll discuss things again on our end.
<Background fades out and in>
Customer Representative	Apologies. In light of the current situation, our side has decided to terminate R&D on this project.
<Background 1>
Doctor	Sorry all your hard work went to waste. / I'll ensure we're compensated for breach of contract.
Corroserum	Thank you, Doctor. But I think this outcome is for the best.
[Astgenne enters the lab.]
Astgenne	......
Corroserum	......
Astgenne	Doctor! Impeccable timing as always! After a few days of comparing the old experimental data, I've finally found the problem! Here's a sample of the new corrosive agent. Oh, and this time, you don't have to stand behind the armor plate. Just keep your eyes peeled!
Corroserum	......
[Astgenne poured an agent on an armor plating, which melts it down.]
Astgenne	Did you see that? The new agent completely ate through the previous version of the protective coating. But! But! For this new one, I've adjusted the way we approach our technical designs when it comes to the protective coating!
Doctor	...... / Astgenne, I have to explain something.
Astgenne	What's wrong, Doctor? Did something go wrong at the meeting?
Corroserum	...... It's not that big of a deal. The client felt that the existing agent achieved the desired effect, but wanted us to make improvements to the protective aspect. Your hard work has given us a way forward for our future research. Also, these materials can be used to keep our own operators safe in the future. Isn't that right, Doctor?
<Dialogue branch starts here>
Doctor	Yes, we'll be better protected.
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	...I appreciate both of your efforts.
Astgenne	Thank you, Doctor!
Corroserum	We were simply doing what had to be done.
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	Astgenne, take a break. That's an order.
Astgenne	...Alright.
<Dialogue branch ends here>
Corroserum	Oh right, Doctor. There's something we have to talk about.
<Background 5>
Corroserum	So, during the research on the corrosive agent, I indeed made a mistake in the amount of a key ingredient. I am willing to accept any consequences for my error.
Doctor	...... / Why didn't you tell the truth earlier? / Were you worried about Astgenne?
Corroserum	Hmm? You do know what my area of expertise is, right?
Doctor	Corrosives science. / Anti-corrosion protective coating tech.
Corroserum	That's right. From the day I joined Engineering, I've been constantly going back and forth between corrosion and anti-corrosion in my research, encountering no shortage of setbacks and breakthroughs. But I never paid attention to my own protection, nor did I consider that the reagents were silently eating away at me. Until one day, I realized that the things known as dreams, passions, and ideals are not so corrosion-proof after all. ......
<Background fades out and in>
Corroserum	So... Why not let Astgenne keep believing in her work, Doctor? Speaking of which, it's almost six o'clock. May I clock out now?
Doctor	One final question.
Corroserum	Ask away.
Doctor	Be honest. Was it really a mistake?
Corroserum	...... You know, Great Yan has an old adage about the spear and the shield. Mister Lee told me the story a while ago.
Doctor	I know. / Never heard of it.
Corroserum	When you hold the strongest shield, there will invariably be someone who wants to challenge it, to break through its limits. And from that was born the sharpest spear. And when the sharpest spear becomes undefeatable, there will invariably be someone who seeks to challenge its deadly strength. And from that was born the strongest shield. It is a never-ending cycle, one in which nobody can predict the end result. Unless... There is nobody left to pick up a spear or shield.
Doctor	......
Corroserum	Ah... I didn't mean to go off on a tangent. In any case, I made a mistake in my work, and I'm solely responsible for it. But we can talk about this more at work tomorrow. After all, I'm off-the-clock. (Takes a deep breath) (Stretches) (Takes a deep breath)
Doctor	Corroserum, what are you doing?
Corroserum	Hmm?
Corroserum	Do you really want to know, Doctor?
<Background 3>
Senior Project Manager	I'm asking you, can it cause obvious damage to the target?
Corroserum	Absolutely. After all, that material was made with the same formula I experimented with once before. Though I'm not sure how it made its way out into the wild.
Senior Project Manager	Son of a gun... And what's the current safe service life of this weapon?
Corroserum	Around thirty allowances of ammunition.
Senior Project Manager	Can you make a bulk delivery in time?
Corroserum	No, because we haven't finished testing. Those soldiers would be marching off to their deaths.
[The manager slaps Corroserum.]
Corroserum	......
Senior Project Manager	Is there something wrong with you? Do I have to beat some sense into you?! Our clients can't wait forever, and we have the stuff on hand right now! This is a business! This is how we put food on the table!
Corroserum	......
Senior Project Manager	People want something that works, meets their needs, and doesn't cost too much! That's all that matters! As for what happens to the soldiers, does any of that affect you in any way? Does it?!
Corroserum	......
Senior Project Manager	Isn't thirty ammunition allowances' worth good enough? Who knows if the main forces can even use up that much. You're still young, so would it kill you to use your head and think outside the box for once? I'm seriously disappointed in you.
Corroserum	(Is this really worth getting mad over?) (Of course it is.) (That said...) (This is just work.) (Why take it so seriously?)
Senior Project Manager	What's with that look on your face?!
Corroserum	Sorry, sir. In that case... I'll head back to work first.