episode_0041

041 – Internal Conflict! # 3

Director Apate pointed his finger at my colleague Markius.

He was saying that Markius was a mole for the rebel group Tartaros.

“Markius?”

“Mr. Marki, a rebel…?”

The office instantly began to stir.

Soon, Section Chief Bones asked as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Director-nim, why is Markius a rebel spy? I hope there’s a valid reason for suspecting my subordinate employee.”

“I’ll explain. Markius, weren’t you famous as a member of a bandit group when you were alive? You betrayed all your comrades and killed them, then tried to murder the boss who took you in and raised you, and ended up dying, taking him down with you!”

“What?! I thought he only looked like a bandit, but he was actually from a bandit background? What’s more, he was a psychopathic murderer who killed over ten people.”

“…Was he really that terrifying of a person?”

“It seemed likely. Because his face looked so scary….”

“It’s undeniable he’s a spy!”

“As expected, physiognomy is statistics, huh.”

The office atmosphere stirred and wavered.

Director Apate snapped his fingers as if he had seized victory.

“The sweet taste of betrayal is more addictive than opium. What do you think, Markius? My hypothesis that you, who couldn’t break the habit of backstabbing, are trying to backstab your colleagues even in this Happy World.”

“……”

Markius, who loved to talk about this and that, for some reason stayed silent.

Markius’s silence, of all things. It’s quite rare to see.

Wow, was that guy really a member of the rebel army? Honestly, he was suspicious just from his appearance!

And this is my opportunity!

“Wait! My colleague Markius is absolutely not a rebel! I will guarantee his innocence! If he turns out to be a member of the rebel army, I will take full responsibility for it!”

A situation where anyone could see Markius was the culprit. What will happen if I protect him? What if I say I’ll even take responsibility?

The arrows of criticism would surely turn back on me. It would be like trying to block a 10-meter tsunami with a pot lid.

Perfect!

“Section Chief Joy’s words are right! There’s also a chance Mr. Markius isn’t a rebel spy! In fact, there’s even a chance that this Krauser is the spy!”

At that moment, Krauser spoke up. That good-for-nothing fellow probably doesn’t even know what he’s saying right now.

Anyway, the important thing was that Director Apate-nim had readily accepted my guarantee. He clapped his hands loudly, his orange eye glow shining brilliantly.

“Section Chief Joy, this ‘guarantee’ you speak of. Only those who are prepared to throw away their entire being for another can utter such words. Is it okay if you lose your job for Markius?”

“Of course!”

An instant reply.

At those words, the office employees stirred greatly like a wave. Especially in the case of Hedone, a junior employee as naive as a chick, she even shed tears continuously.

“Ahh, how much Section Chief Joy-nim cherishes his employees! He loves his colleagues and subordinates as if they were his own body!”

Hedone, this foolish fellow. As if there’s anyone as selfish as me.

But as if Hedone’s foolishness had become contagious—

“Section Chief Joy-niiim!”

“I’ll also take responsibility with you!”

“Me too! If Section Chief Joy-nim quits, I’ll just quit too!”

Why is everyone saying they’ll quit? Did they eat something wrong from the high-class restaurant dishes I had them gorge on these past few days and develop a problem?

At our appearance like that, Mr. Apate got angry instead.

“I never thought there’d be so many fools who say they’ll bear the sin themselves. Fine, arrest them all! Until Markius confesses, you will be detained with him!”

# # #

There were many prisons in Happy World. Because, unlike its refreshing name, this Happy World was a place designed and created for punishment and torture.

The employees of our Punishment Enforcement Department were all imprisoned at once in a large prison created to imprison giant Titans.

Although it was this kind of situation, it was a bit funny. What are we doing now? Could this possibly be a dream?

So as I was chuckling to myself, Section Chief Bones, who was trembling next to me, was startled.

“In such a desperate situation, you’re even laughing! Joy, you must have a secret trump card, right! Do you really believe Markius is innocent?”

“Innocent, you ask?” No, I don’t think so.

Markius was a bandit with a villainous face. Even if he’s not a rebel spy, he’s the kind of guy who would commit something, and he’s probably already committed a lot.

While we’re imprisoned, a terrifying audit team will thoroughly investigate Markius’s crimes with fiery eyes. Even every single receipt from his purchase history, including what he bought from the convenience store in front of his house! If they investigate like that, dust will inevitably come out of anything.

He’ll receive disciplinary action. And I, who guaranteed him with 60x leverage, am definitely going to be utterly ruined.

It was truly a perfect scheme. The operation was so perfect that even Director Apate, the god of deception and lies, couldn’t notice it.

It’s my perfect victory. I feel like laughing!

So, when it was agony to hold back my laughter, Markius let out a sigh.

“Joy, and all of you. To be imprisoned because of me. I’m really sorry to you all.”

“No, Mr. Markius. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Joy, why suddenly the polite language?”

“Why polite language, you ask? Marki is a psychopath who stabbed and killed several people, isn’t he? If I treat such a guy informally, how do I know he won’t just suddenly kill me too? Maybe that’s why I found myself needlessly looking back on the actions I had taken towards Marki so far.

Soon, Section Chief Bones asked Marki.

“For an employee of this Punishment Enforcement Department, there’s no one without a story, but. Markius, you are unusual. What on earth happened? Since we’ve already decided to be in the same boat, tell me honestly.”

Markius avoided eye contact. There must be a lot of things difficult to say.

“If it’s difficult to say, you don’t have to say it.”

I encouraged Markius. Because no matter what he said, it was impossible to overturn this desperate situation.

“And everyone, don’t worry too much. I’ll bear the responsibility all by myself.”

Being fired is enough with just me. It had to be that way. If for no reason because of me, employees lose their jobs in large numbers, that itself will make my dreams unsettling.

Towards me like that, Markius laughed.

“Joy, I truly acknowledge you. Okay, I’ve decided. I’ll tell you honestly. When I was young, bandit groups swarmed throughout the entire country. A world where laughter was a luxury had arrived.”

Markius sinking into reminiscence. These past few days, I, who had experienced many strange things, could sense that something bad was about to happen. A feeling that Markius shouldn’t speak?

But Markius was chattering noisily, as always.

“My older sister and parents also died by bandits. I, who was seven years old at the time, submissively obeyed them to survive. Eventually, it took a long time, but I completed my revenge. It’s a common story like that.”

“An avenger!” Markius was a terrifying avenger!

“Is that all?”

But Section Chief Bones furrowed his glowing eyes, as if he had heard a trivial story. Everyone else was the same. In Hedone’s case, who faints easily, she even yawned.

“It’s a more trivial story than I thought.”

“It lacks stimulation.”

“Stimulation?” I wondered what he meant, but soon understood.

The employees of the Punishment Enforcement Department were beings who executed the punishments of all sorts of villains and wicked demons. Because they clashed daily with vicious and cruel prisoners. Markius’s revenge drama, of a man who lost his family to a bandit group, might feel ordinary.

“Still, it was hard to talk about. Betrayal is still betrayal. Because my face is intimidating, people especially found me difficult to approach. But Joy, you weren’t like that from the moment we first met.”

*Thump.*

Markius stood up from his seat. He looked around.

“To be trusted by so many people like this, it’s rather my first time. I wanted to hide it a bit longer, but I can’t help it. Because I can’t let my precious colleagues suffer in a Titan’s prison.”

*Clank clank.*

He approached the iron bars and knocked on the cold metal with his hand.

“I will confess.”

Confession. No way, could he really have been a spy for the rebel group Tartaros?

When goosebumps ran down my spine in many ways, Markius added.

“I am Markius, Section Chief of the Headquarters’ Security Management Team. Receiving orders from Prince Zagreus, the CSO, I re-entered the company as a new employee and infiltrated this Punishment Enforcement Department.”

“What? Headquarters’ Section Chief?” At the sudden story, my mind went blank for a moment. I didn’t know what story that talkative bandit fellow was going to tell, but I knew a lot of things outside my control would happen!

“The reason I infiltrated this Happy World was to catch the big shot who supports the regressionist Tartaros. And, enough evidence has already been gathered. However—”

Markius glanced back at us, sitting huddled together on the floor. A somewhat wistful affection was contained in his ominous four-whites eyes.

“Without me knowing, I think I’ve grown fond of this little game. After being here for such a long time, I’ve become so attached that I ended up forgetting when I should leave. So I’ve caused trouble for everyone.”

*Thud.*

Markius placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Especially Joy, even though you saw through my true identity long ago, to you who kept my secret, I can only say thank you. I, Markius, truly acknowledge you!”

“What on earth did I see through?”

“There’s no need to pretend you don’t know now. You believed in my innocence more strongly than anyone. That’s an action that wouldn’t come out unless you already knew everything.”

At that moment, Director Apate, who came to the detention center in a hurry, asked Markius inside the iron bars.

“You are Prince Zagreus’s confidant? You mean you’ve been infiltrating the Punishment Enforcement Department for several years for the rebel investigation! And you’ve already gathered all the evidence, you say. Then who on earth is the mole—”

“Director Apate, it’s not at the level of calling it a mole. If this information leaves this place, it will become the biggest scandal since the ‘Work Innovation.’ Isn’t that right—”

*Swish.*

Markius looked towards the prison entrance. There, Thanatos, the president of Happy World, whose blue eye glow shimmered eerily, was standing.

“—Mr. Thanatos, the president of Happy World, no, would it be better to say Mr. Thanatos, the Legion Commander of the regressionist Tartaros?”

*Stir, stir.*

Instantly, the atmosphere became tumultuous. Markius’s explanation continued.

“The power to turn a blind eye to Krates’s corruption. The authority to access the supply warehouse without any records and smuggle out weapons. Also, various circumstances all point to your betrayal.”

Thanatos’s eye glow, the God of Death, shimmered eerily.

“I thought I could hide it a bit longer. Section Chief Joy, your competence has become too big of a variable. In that sense, would you like to come with me? This is a scout offer.”

What on earth did I do? I’m so truly wronged, I feel like crying.

Soon, Director Apate shouted.

“Protect Section Chief Joy! Excellent personnel like Section Chief Joy must never be taken by those Tartaros bastards! Protect him, even if it means a second death!”

*Whoosh whoosh.*

Soon, Melinoye-nim, the Goddess of Ghosts, also appeared.

“Thanatos, it would be better to surrender quietly. No matter if it’s you, you won’t be able to handle two executives at once. If you make even the slightest foolish move, you’ll have a ter.ri.ble. night.”

The executives confronting each other. Subordinates starting to faint just from that alone.

“Th-the executives’ aura is too strong.”

“I can’t breathe….”

An incredibly serious atmosphere!

Soon, Thanatos opened his mouth, as heavy as a rock.

“If a strawberry runs away?”

“A strawberry runs away?” It was when I wondered what on earth he meant.

“Strawberry jam.”

*Pop!*

Thanatos disappeared with the rising mist.

That night.

All evening newspapers of the Soul Society reported like this.

[Shock! The Happy World President’s Shocking Deviation!]

[A conspiracy revealed in the infiltration investigation of Prince Zagreus’s confidant, Mr. M—.]

[M: “Thanks to Section Chief Joy keeping my identity a secret, the investigation was smooth.”]

[Director Apate Dismissed!]

[Thanatos’s deviation is seen as becoming a fatal weakness even for the executives of Nyx’s lineage—.]