episode_0014

014 – For the One I Love # 3

Goddess Melinoye frowned, seeing Prince Zagreus, who had suddenly appeared. Of all times, to meet the person she least wanted to meet right now. Of course, what’s important now isn’t her fated mate.

“Zagreus, Sisyphus’s break time seems to have already exceeded 10 minutes. How are you going to handle that problem? At this rate, Section Chief Joy won’t be able to avoid a salary reduction.”

“Melly, didn’t you see the hourglass Section Chief Joy was holding earlier? That’s a 10-minute one. As long as that hourglass hasn’t run out, Sisyphus’s break time hasn’t ended yet.”

“Oppa, that wasn’t a 10-minute one, it was a one-hour one.”

“Then go and argue with Kronos about it. If he says it’s ten minutes, then even an hour becomes ten minutes. You wouldn’t dare question the authority a god possesses, would you? That’s against etiquette.”

Among gods, there was a rule to respect each other’s powers and domains. Even the highest god must acknowledge the authority of the smallest god. And Section Chief Joy seemed to know that fact well.

“For a regular employee, he’s quite a resourceful man. If this matter works out well, we’ll owe him a great debt. My head is already hurting just thinking about what kind of reward would be good to give him.”

Melinoye just said nothing. Prince Zagreus didn’t particularly expect an answer, so the two stood awkwardly on the river of the underworld. They were siblings who had fought over the management rights of Soul Society and the issue of successor inheritance. Though they didn’t speak to each other, a subtle tension went on between the two of them. When some time had passed like that, Prince Zagreus opened his mouth first.

“It seems you cherish Section Chief Joy quite a bit.”

“It’s the opposite. Joy cherishes me.”

Princess Melinoye tightly gripped the coin purse in her pocket with her hand. Prince Zagreus, who had no way of knowing what was going on in Princess Melinoye’s pocket, was about to say something, but then held out something small and round.

“Want a candy?”

“No.”

“But you used to like it.”

“I never did. Because I am a goddess who is inherently noble and perfect. Unlike you.”

“I suppose so. Then, Your Noble and Perfect Goddess-ship will be unaffected even by the upcoming major audit. You know that audit team employees cannot be swayed even by the prestige of executives, right?”

Major audit. Rummaging through even very old documents, pointing out every single number and letter, and passing judgment. Melinoye was already feeling tired, but on the other hand, she was impressed. Section Chief Joy. The thing he was doing right now was precisely because of that major audit.

‘Regarding the matter of special prisoner Orpheus, there was a big problem from the start. Of course, until now, no one had raised an issue, but everything has changed with the “work reform.”’

If she had stayed still like this, Melinoye would have been greatly disgraced. Therefore, Section Chief Joy had volunteered for a disadvantageous role for Melinoye, risking the dangers of salary reduction, punishment, and dismissal.

‘Joy, to think you would do so much for me.’

Melinoye recalled her first meeting with him. But, in fact, there was nothing she remembered well. That day, for the first time in her life, she had gotten completely drunk. It was also the first time she had blacked out. What was certain was that morning Joy, risking being late on an important day, had found her wallet for Melinoye. Even after that day, Joy had shown enthusiasm in all sorts of things for Melinoye.

‘He must surely love me. I don’t know what kind of conversation we had when I was drunk, but he must have fallen for me then.’

He must have fallen in love at first sight. Because she herself was a goddess who was perfect and mature, with no secrets or weaknesses whatsoever.

‘A woman like me. A scary woman.’

Of course, Melinoye was not someone a mortal like Joy could easily covet. Because she had defined herself as a perfect career woman and a terrifying goddess of nightmares—

“Oh, by the way, Zagreus, is there a soul named Magnus in the Elysium where you live?”

“Why.”

“To make him have a ter-ri-ble time.”

# # #

Ugh, damn it. Suddenly, I got an immense chill. What could be the reason? It’s simple. It’s because of Sisyphus.

“Section Chief Joy, you’re truly a terrifying person! To think even Prince Zagreus’s appearance was all calculated. Just how many steps ahead do you see?”

Until the ferry arrived at the Elysium riverbank, Sisyphus trembled and didn’t stop marveling.

“I thought the timing was coincidental, but surely, you knew this entire matter would happen, and even my and Kronos’s involvement was arranged beforehand? It’s enough to give me goosebumps!”

What in the world are you talking about? At this point, I was actually becoming afraid of what I had done without even knowing myself.

“I, too, boasted that I was comparable to Prometheus when it comes to wisdom. Section Chief Joy, I can’t compete with you.”

“Sisyphus ssi, what have you been talking about since earlier?”

“I’m talking about Soul Society’s annual event, the major audit. Isn’t what we’re doing now all because of that? Especially this audit is special because of the ‘newcomer.’”

I knew there would be a major audit soon. And that the audit team employees from headquarters were tenacious and vicious fellows, capable of finding black dust even on a pure white cloth. When such guys swarm in, flipping through all sorts of documents and looking for flaws, no matter how honest and innocent a person is, some flaws inevitably come to light.

‘Depending on the degree, one might receive punishment. Like a salary reduction. There are also people who have been dismissed. Perhaps I might also be dismissed because of this Orpheus matter. I hope so.’

An illegality committed ahead of the upcoming major audit. It’s like protesting to be fired! But Sisyphus, as if he had realized something, was busy marveling to himself.

“Wow, things have become quite interesting. But talking too much wouldn’t be good. As you know well, maintaining secrecy is vital for this matter. I, too, will now pretend not to know.”

What are you going to pretend not to know? Whatever it was, the muscular giant who was making a fuss becoming quiet was a good thing. What was certain in this situation was that I had arbitrarily released Orpheus. Clear abuse of power. I pushed Orpheus’s back for the completion of that plan.

“Orpheus ssi, please get off the boat now.”

“Joy ssi, it seems it would be better to go back. Look here. The tall buildings extend so far it seems like they might reach the sky! It’s too splendid for an old singer like me to come to….”

Orpheus acting hesitantly. He seemed intimidated by the light emitted by Elysium, the metropolis of the underworld. I kept pushing his back, as he couldn’t easily step forward.

“Get off. Get off.”

In the end, Orpheus and I set foot in the new city, Elysium. So, where should we go now, I wonder-. It was when I took out a map from my pocket and was unfolding it.

“The sound….”

Orpheus, who had been acting like a coward just moments ago, began to slowly move his steps somewhere.

# # #

Every time Orpheus closed his eyes, he tried to recall his memories from when he was alive. When he recalled those happy times, spiritual inspiration emerged from deep within his soul.

─Olfie, and──Eurydice. Until death separates you, you two shall be together.

When he recalled that event, he felt a warm feeling. At the same time, he also felt a painful heart, as if someone had wildly dug into his chest with a sharp and cold shovel. In his heart, there was a large hole. Even if he sang the songs he loved so much, that large hole seemed to reverberate, and only unpleasant sounds came out.

‘Why am I like this?’

He had lost something. The feeling of even forgetting what he had lost. Every time that happened, Orpheus sang even louder and received criticism.

─Ugh, that gentleman who was so successful during his lifetime. ─Orpheus is past his prime now, completely past his prime. ─Is he really Orpheus?

Past his prime. His singing career might have ended from the moment he lost something. Orpheus tried desperately to recall what it was—. He was sure it was the lyre made from nymph’s hair.

Ding-ding-ding-. A street where such lyre sounds could be heard. Orpheus wandered through the city full of unfamiliar lights.

“Section Chief Joy, that, what is that?”

“That’s called an electronic display board. Orpheus ssi, it seems you’re visiting Elysium for the first time, aren’t you?”

Orpheus looked up at the woman whose face was on the electronic display board high up. A woman with golden hair.

「Popular group E&S! This weekend’s dome concert!」 「’I Forgot You’ and 21 other songs, Live Full Performance Challenge!」

Her brightly shining appearance on the electronic display board was too dazzling. It felt familiar somehow. He missed her. He felt sad. Seeing her, Orpheus felt something hot gush forth from his chest.

─Olfie, sing me a song. Quickly. ─Eurydice, then let’s duet together.

“…Ah…ahhh….”

How could he have forgotten until now? The lover he loved so much, even going to the underworld for her, risking fear. She was beyond Orpheus’s inspiration, the very soul itself. Because he was a musician who had forgotten his soul, that’s why he couldn’t sing any songs.

“Orpheus, are your memories coming back to you?”

“Section Chief Joy, can you tell Eurydice that I’ve come? She will surely welcome me. Where can I go to meet her…!? Is she in this city…!?”

Ding-ding-ding-. Orpheus walked following the rhythm. On the street where he arrived like that, a performance was taking place.

“It’s alright. Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding-.”

The appearance of the woman holding a microphone and singing was very familiar. Orpheus raised his hand and shouted.

“Eurydi—”

“Euriol!”

“Euriol!”

“Encore!”

But his voice was buried in the shouts of the audience. Unlike Orpheus, who had forgotten his soul, she sang with her colleagues. Being called by the name Euriol, she was loved by many people. She had cut her long-grown hair short, and on her face, which had once been somewhat passive, a confident smile appeared.

“Then, for the last time, I’ll sing the new song ‘I Forgot You!’ so give us a lot of enthusiastic response!”

Wow-.

“…….”

Orpheus saw his own reflected face in a nearby store’s display window. Clown-like white face paint. Long-grown, unkempt hair. The appearance they remembered him having no longer existed anywhere.

“…Section Chief Joy, I want to go back for today. I’ve come a long way after a long time, so I’m tired.”

“You’ve come all this way. Don’t you need to meet Eurydice ssi? It looks like the performance will end soon.”

“It’s alright. Just seeing that Eurydice is doing well is enough. Joy, to think you risked so much for me, I’m very grateful. I will surely repay this favor….”

The clown who had lost his soul turned his back on the lights and cheers of the Divine City. He, who was walking precariously, as if about to stumble and fall, soon arrived at the river mouth and eventually returned to his small, cramped room. This time, he absolutely did not look back.

“If I truly love her…. it would be right to disappear like this….”

Orpheus curled up on the bed. Inside his room, no melodies could be heard anymore. He was as quiet as a dead canary. In this situation, the people of the multi-unit dwelling praised one employee.

“Section Chief Joy, what on earth did that terrifying man do?”

“Indeed, that ‘self-proclaimed Orpheus’ stopped singing.”

“Thanks to that, it’s quiet and nice!”