episode_0024

024 – A Skewer Sticking Out of a Pocket

The day before Astaroth offered a suspicious contract to Section Chief Joy.

6 PM.

Astaroth returned to her office.

“So, everyone’s going there after work?”

“…Shh.”

“Oh.”

The employees slipped out, mindful of Astaroth’s presence.

Astaroth didn’t particularly care.

‘I am a cold-hearted and solitary demon. That’s what a demon is.’

Astaroth was busy.

Because she had to upload Section Chief Joy’s recorded demerit points via Helmes Net.

‘If I bring down the big shot Joy, everyone will have no choice but to acknowledge my ability. Then I’ll be frequently invited to birthday parties and after-parties. Of course, even if I’m invited, I won’t go.’

Just as she was about to upload the demerit points—.

Something unexpected happened.

“What? He was on vacation!?”

Section Chief Joy.

He was not currently in work status.

He was on a week-long reward vacation.

Looking at the documents, he had even tried to return his reward vacation himself, but it had been rejected by ‘the President’s authority.’

That meant—.

“This crazy guy tried to return his reward vacation but was rejected, so he just put on a suit and came to work during that time, now?”

An employee who loved work so much that he returned his reward vacation.

An employee who, upon being rejected, just came to work during his vacation period.

Even the personnel of “Helven Company” usually adhered perfectly to work hours and holidays, which was the norm.

Section Chief Joy was doing company work for free, even though he was on vacation.

‘…Then what was my day today for? All these demerit points were for nothing! Section Chief Joy, did he do this on purpose to screw me over…!? What a demonic idea…!!!!’

She was tricked.

And badly so.

All that remained for Astaroth, who had wasted a day, was the bag Joy had asked her to throw away.

Astaroth took out a fruit snack on a stick from the bag and crunched on it.

At that moment, her brow furrowed.

“What is this? This isn’t Forbidden Fruit Tanghulu, it’s just an apple. They’re tricking people and selling this?”

Her mood suddenly worsened when the food didn’t meet her expectations.

Astaroth immediately went to the “Happy World Branch” of “Helven Company” and grabbed the person in charge by the collar.

“Don’t you see the business hours? We’re closed—Gack!”

“Branch manager. I know everything about you deceiving people and selling ordinary apples as Forbidden Fruit, so speak honestly. Don’t try to deceive me, who was once an executive director of ‘Helven Company.’ If you stall for time, your sentence will only get heavier.”

Blue-glowing snake eyes, and even horns indicating a senior executive!

‘Why is a senior executive who should be at Helven Company here!?’

Out of fear, the branch manager confessed his crimes without hesitation.

“…W-well, the price of ‘Hell Cactus’ has been continuously rising recently, so I was planning to buy some in advance, stockpile it, and sell it later! As a result, funds were insufficient….”

“So you lied and sold cheap apples as Forbidden Fruit?”

Astaroth immediately arrested the branch manager that day.

And she also arrested all the various accomplices who had tried to manipulate the market price by hoarding ‘Hell Cactus.’

“Did you stay up all night at the company?”

“Team Leader, you really work incredibly hard.”

“To be so thorough, even with people from her own company, which you could call her original home.”

The audit team members also saw Astaroth in a new light.

Overnight, she made a sweeping arrest of all the criminals.

Thus, Astaroth accumulated great merits and realized something at the same time.

‘Section Chief Joy, surely he didn’t know there was corruption at the “Helven Company” branch and then deliberately give me the credit? Why on earth would he do such a thing? No… there is something I can point to.’

Perhaps he wanted to make connections with the audit team.

Since the audit team knew a lot of top-secret information, there were many who wanted to get close to them.

However, Astaroth didn’t want to owe Section Chief Joy a debt like this.

So Astaroth drafted a contract impressive enough to tempt anyone.

“It’s at least a manager-level transfer. It’s the highest level a mortal can achieve. Section Chief Joy, you, of all people, would know that such an opportunity is rare, wouldn’t you? Hahahaha!”

“If it’s ‘Helven Company,’ wasn’t it originally called Hell?”

“Yes, working there at a manager level would bring enormous glory—.”

“But I refuse.”

Rrrrip—!

Joy tore up the contract without even listening to all of Astaroth’s explanation.

There wasn’t even a moment of hesitation.

“…You’re refusing my offer?”

Astaroth was horrified.

And Department Head Bones, who fainted at the sight.

“Y-you refused a scout offer even though you were guaranteed a manager-level transfer! You, what kind of demands are you planning to make at the salary negotiation coming up soon…? I… I cannot handle a person of your caliber….”

Was a manager-level transfer not enough to satisfy him?

Astaroth felt two desires looking at Joy.

‘Section Chief Joy, I want to make you sob loudly with my own hands!’

‘On the day my secondment ends, I definitely want to bring you to our company!’

Astaroth wanted to compete with Section Chief Joy to see who was truly more fitting to be called a ‘demon.’

If she succeeded in finding Section Chief Joy’s flaws and getting him fired as an audit team employee, it would be her victory.

At the same time, she could take him to her maternal company, “Helven Company,” so it was killing two birds with one stone.

“Alright, Section Chief Joy. To refuse my offer. The upcoming audit will be especially harsh. So please, enjoy your reward vacation to the fullest! Because it might be your last! Hahahaha!”

# # #

I was just planning to take the audit team employee around and accumulate demerit points.

It was truly an insane plan.

For some reason, things didn’t go well, and I even received an amazing scout offer.

I didn’t know what on earth had happened last night, and I didn’t particularly want to know.

What’s important is the last part of the story.

“So please, enjoy your reward vacation to the fullest! Because it might be your last! Hahahaha!”

Wait, reward vacation?

After Astaroth left, I picked up Department Head Bones, who looked dumbfounded, and shook him wildly back and forth.

“Department Head, what on earth is that demon fellow talking about? Wasn’t my reward vacation canceled by my request?”

“…I wanted to do that for you. But the ‘Reward Vacation Order’ was issued under the authority of President Thanatos of Happy World, so it’s a bit difficult for me, who is merely a department head, to cancel….”

“…No way!”

“This time, the new song ‘Happy World’ made by the idol group ‘E&S’ became our company’s anthem, didn’t it? The President must have been in a good mood. So just enjoy your vacation!”

“Aaaargh!”

So all that commotion I caused yesterday to get demerit points meant absolutely nothing!

At my scream, Markius patted my back with a serious expression.

“From what I’ve seen, you’ll be the first and last employee who hates vacation that much. Do you really like coming to work that much? Joy, I truly give you credit! Now, let’s go get lunch!”

Rrrrumble—.

Lunchtime.

“Alright, everyone, feel free to choose what you want to eat! Today, I, your department head, am treating! Hmm, I’d like ‘Hell Black Bean Noodles.’”

“M-me too, black bean noodles. Even though I had them yesterday….”

“Me too, black bean noodles….”

“Me too, black bean noodles….”

“Then let’s all go with black bean noodles.”

The menu was standardized because they were mindful of the department head.

What if I, alone, took a different path here?

I’ll be rebellious, like a skewer sticking out of a pocket.

“I’ll have the eight-treasure stir-fry.”

“What? Not even spicy seafood noodle soup, but eight-treasure stir-fry…?”

“…But the department head is paying for it….”

“T-that expensive….”

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

Come on, everyone, criticize me, who has completely thrown away all sense of tact and common sense.

But it was right at that moment.

“It was before I became a department head. Back then, this company’s hierarchy was even stricter. There was even a common saying that a subordinate’s merits were the superior’s share, and a superior’s mistakes were the subordinate’s mistakes.”

Department Head Bones, looking bony, for some reason streamed tears profusely with his skeletal face.

“My superior liked fiery red Hell spicy seafood noodle soup, boiling like a hellish stew, but I actually hated spicy seafood noodle soup. However, I couldn’t say that, so I also had to eat only spicy seafood noodle soup for several years….”

Wait a minute—.

This is not a good direction!

“I vowed and tried to ensure that someday, when I reached a high position, I would let my subordinates eat freely. Seeing you say your menu so freely is even moving!”

Department Head Bones crumpled the menu list he had just written down with his hand.

He said with touched eyes.

“For an organization to innovate, such free opinions must be exchanged! That is the essence of ‘Happy World’! Joy, you are truly relieving this old bony fellow’s sorrow!”

“Oh, I see! Actually, I prefer fried rice more than black bean noodles….”

“Then I’ll change my menu too! I’ll have the cold mixed Chinese dish with shark fin!”

“Then I’ll have the truffle pasta sprinkled with gold flakes—.”

“Ahem, ahem, young people these days certainly have good appetites. How much money did I have in my bank account, I wonder….”

Although it turned out differently from my intention in many ways, the eight-treasure stir-fry was very delicious as a result.

When else would I get to eat it if not at a time like this?

# # #

One day, after my hellish reward vacation period finally ended.

“To prepare for the staffing gap that occurred after Krates quit due to an unpleasant incident, I’ve hired a new employee. Since I, your department head, personally hired this talented individual, his work competence will be no problem!”

Department Head Bones introduced a strange person to everyone.

“I am Krauser, who dreams of world domination with ‘Happy Metal.’”

Orpheus, why are you here?

As I was making a dumbfounded expression in many ways, he cleared his throat with an ‘ahem’ sound.

“I heard that ‘Happy World’ employees earn a lot of money. My dream is to earn a lot of money like that, buy a very expensive instrument, play it, become a famous celebrity, and then become very popular!”

It was a very grand plan.

Orphe… I mean, Krauser greeted everyone, then approached me.

“Section Chief Joy, I look forward to working with you!”

“Orphe—.”

“I’ve abandoned that name! It’s what you might call a personal ‘work reform.’ Doesn’t just changing your name make you feel new in many ways?”

“…….”

“So from now on, feel free to call me Krauser!”

It’s extremely uncomfortable.

Department Head Bones also clicked his tongue.

“His hair is long. He wears white makeup on his face. His appearance is too untidy. As a matter of principle, a company employee should be neat in appearance.”

Though Department Head Bones himself is so neat that only bones are left.

Skeletal Department Head Bones said.

“Section Chief Joy, then you’ll take the new employees and handle one task. Regarding the recording of the company anthem this time, you need to meet that idol. You’re probably the right person for it, aren’t you?”

“Me?”

“Miss Arachne, who is usually so fussy, said she’d be willing to collaborate if it’s you. Anyway, take the new recruits, introduce them to various parts of the company, and get it done!”

—Oh, for crying out loud!

—Oh, for crying out loud!

Even if it wasn’t for that, I felt like I would go crazy if I stayed in this office full of hellish office politics.

Good thing.

“But, wait a minute. Department Head. New recruits, you say. Besides Orph… Krauser, is there another?”

“Joy, what are you talking about! Ah, just in time, here she comes! The new employee you specially hired.”

“Mwahahaha, this Melinoi has finished cleaning the supply room, it is so…! Precisely small tasks are the most important things, so this Melinoi, a small new employee, is precisely the most important employee, it is so…!”

Sud. Den. Ly.

A nymph appeared.