episode_0049

049 – Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket

“Joy Deputy Department Head… no, should I call you Joy Assistant Manager nim now? What brings you here!”

A small-framed woman with yellow hair, like a chick, hooked her arm through mine.

It was Hedone, a Gen Z employee who, along with Krauser, a deadbeat employee officially recognized by Bones Department Head, formed the other half of the problematic duo.

It was surprising and perplexing.

Why was Hedone, an intern from an affiliate company, at a charity event full of executives?

I don’t know, but let’s shake her off for now.

Getting caught in a sex scandal is the worst.

With a swift motion—.

I pushed away Hedone’s head, which had been hooked through my arm.

“Hedone, by any chance, did you come to wash dishes?”

“Mumble mumble, dishes?”

“I’m asking if you got fired from the Penalty Enforcement Department and got a job as a waitress. If that’s the case, you should be careful not to break the dishes. The dishes here can’t be bought with the average person’s salary.”

“Pfft! I’m a guest too. I was even officially and formally invited, you know?”

To think a mere affiliate company intern was invited to such a tremendous charity event.

Is that possible?

“Senior nim! Let’s sit together at our table! A lot of really expensive dishes are served at my seat! Things like golden truffle caviar! The person who invited me is Prince Zagreus’s right-hand man, so we’re sharing a table!”

Right-hand man?

Alecto nim’s gaze, which had been full of playfulness until just now, changed in an instant.

She didn’t say anything, but it was as if she was saying “Go.”

Soon, Melinoye nim also made a leisurely ‘hmmph’ sound.

“Right, Joy. You’ve met a junior after a long time, so you probably have a lot to talk about. I’m not interested in such an unremarkable party, so I’m thinking of leaving soon. You can sit with your junior.”

She said that, but it was as if she was saying “Don’t go.”

Her burning eyes were hot enough to burn.

‘…Goddess Thermal Power Plant Mode!’

When Melinoye nim enters that mode, it seems bad things always happen to me.

What should I do?

The chance to make contact with the Prince’s closest confidant won’t be common.

If I make contact, an incident will surely occur, and the probability of being fired will dramatically increase.

On the other hand, if I follow Hedone, Melinoye nim seems likely to get angry.

「Joy, I’m pregnant.」

「Senior nim, I’m pregnant too!」

「Trust Melinoye nim」 ◀

「Trust Hedone」

A scene from a peculiar game flashed before my eyes.

That means my mental strength is rapidly depleting.

Did the shepherd Paris, who held a golden apple before the goddesses, feel the same as I did?

Snap out of it.

I’m the one who earned a master’s degree even under Professor Jusu, from whom graduate students quit in less than a month, aren’t I?

What would Professor Jusu, my mentor, have done?

Suddenly, what he had said came to mind.

─”Lee Seo-ya. Putting all your eggs in one basket is foolish, but the more flowers you put in one basket, the richer they look and the deeper their fragrance becomes. So, during this retreat, put all the female students in one room.”

That’s it.

That’s exactly it!

“Hedone, are there many seats left at the table? If possible, I think it would be good if everyone here could sit at your table too.”

“I don’t know if everyone can sit, but if it’s crowded, it would be more fun, right? Then wait here! I’ll go and ask!”

Pitter-patter—.

It was Hedone, who had disappeared somewhere.

Watching that sight, Alecto nim shook her head.

“The new recruits hired since the work reform are really different from our time. They don’t seem to care much about their superiors’ reactions either. I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.”

“Joy, I don’t particularly have any intention of socializing with everyone by sitting at a table.”

Melinoye nim was still in ‘Goddess Thermal Power Plant Mode’.

The method of choosing both Melinoye nim and Hedone simultaneously.

Perhaps she didn’t like my trick of trying to put all the flowers in one basket.

Alecto nim lightly nudged Melinoye nim’s side with her elbow.

“Why, isn’t it a good opportunity for you too? You don’t even know what kind of person Prince Zagreus’s right-hand man is. Don’t you remember being pushed back in the succession structure thanks to his efforts?”

“The reason I lost to Prince Zagreus is because you ‘Night Faction’ members took the side of the reckless and ignorant Zagreus, didn’t you?”

“Right. That’s why we ended up taking Prince Zagreus’s side; it’s because that right-hand man persuaded us. He’s a really skillful fellow. At that time, you didn’t have such a subordinate.”

“Then as now, I am already a perfect and flawless goddess by myself. My policy of rising to the position of ‘CEO’ by myself, even without others’ help, hasn’t changed.”

“Hmmph, then do as you please. Joy Assistant Manager, ignore the self-righteous princess and come with me to Hedone’s table.”

With a slide—.

It was Alecto nim, who hooked her arm through mine.

“You’ll have to escort me well, as I’m your department’s superior and managing director. For your information, this is also an extension of your duties, okay? If you make a good impression on me, it will also affect your performance review.”

Conversely, if you don’t make a good impression, it means your score will be severely deducted, right?

Flare—!

Soon, Melinoye nim’s gaze burned even more intensely.

“My mind has changed. Since you, a member of the Night Faction, will contact Zagreus’s right-hand man, and I don’t know what schemes you’ll cook up, someone will have to monitor you. Because you always cause trouble.”

“What nonsense.”

At that moment, Hedone came running from afar.

She raised both hands above her head, made a large circle, and bounced up and down.

“They said it’s okay!”

Alecto nim frowned.

“Joy, is there something wrong with her?”

“She’s a good kid. Probably.”

# # #

Unlike the tables set up separately outdoors on the rooftop, Hedone’s table had a roof made of a temporary canopy.

It strongly felt like a special designated seat.

How could Hedone, who was merely an intern, have been invited to such a special seat?

At my admiration, Hedone scratched the back of her head.

“Hehehe, it’s not that I’m amazing. My mom and dad are people who have some influence on Earth. In other words, they probably invited me to make a good impression on my mom and dad rather than on me.”

Influential mom and dad on Earth?

When Hedone first joined the company, hearing her name, I thought, ‘no way’.

“Hedone, your father’s name, by any chance…?”

“Joy Assistant Manager nim, pervert! How can you say such a thing here!”

Thump, thump—!

It was Hedone, hitting my shoulder.

What did a girl with a chick-like build eat that her strength is so great? It really hurts.

It feels like my shoulder is dislocating.

Anyway.

Hedone’s father seemed to be Eros, the god of love in Greek mythology.

Eros has a daughter, and her name was ‘Hedone’.

It’s not a common name, but.

However, it’s not a name that doesn’t exist at all, so I never imagined that *that* Hedone and *this* Hedone were the same person.

This is ridiculous.

Why on earth would Eros’s daughter get a job, not even on Earth, but in this ‘Soul Society’?

Soon, Melinoye nim, who was swirling a wine glass, scoffed.

“To try and succeed in the society of this ‘Soul Society’ merely by her parents’ prestige is naive. That won’t last long. Unlike on Earth, this place is a thorough meritocracy.”

“That’s right. That’s why it’s so hard. In that respect, Joy Assistant Manager nim is truly amazing! He’s writing a success story in this ‘Soul Society’ all by himself, without connections or blood ties! He’s my role model!”

Zap—!

Melinoye nim’s gaze not just burned, but became stinging like lightning.

But Hedone didn’t seem to notice it and was waving her hand far away.

“Here! Here! Peranoi!”

Flap, flap, flap—.

At the end of Hedone’s gaze, vigorously waving her hand.

A girl with orange hair cut into a bob was standing.

“Why are there so many guests at this Peranoi’s table…? This Peranoi doesn’t even have a place to sit! What the nymph…!”

A nymph with triangular pointed ears.

Her manner of speaking was also peculiar.

Her age felt like she had just become a middle school student?

She seemed similar to Melinoye or Carnoy, whom I encountered often.

This fellow is Prince Zagreus’s right-hand man?

He’s more peculiar than I thought.

“Are you Peranoi, the owner of this table?”

It was when I asked.

The peculiar nymph frowned and got very angry.

“I am not ‘Pae’ranoi, but ‘Pe’ranoi…! This Peranoi possesses the most sensitive senses even in Soul Society and is a supreme nymph, therefore, the two pronunciations are distinct!”

In many ways, I felt overwhelmed.

Soon, Alecto nim also softly scoffed.

“…Ha, nymphs.”

“Did you just disregard nymphs…? Nymph hate is a great crime…! If you don’t upload this NLM (Nymph Lives Matter) support hashtag to social media, you will not be forgiven!”

At this moment, I subtly glanced at Melinoye nim.

Melinoye nim, in some respects, is also a nymph.

I wondered how she would react to this peculiar Peranoi.

“As expected, I really can’t stand nymphs. A small creature even chattering loudly makes me restless.”

Sure enough, it was Melinoye nim showing a negative reaction.

Extremely blasphemous thoughts crossed my mind, but naturally, I couldn’t utter them out loud.

However.

Now was precisely my opportunity.

Joy, you’re going to cause trouble!

“Then, Peranoi ssi. I have something I’d like to ask you about the recently prevalent nymph flu.”

Flinch—!

At my words, the nymph Peranoi trembled.

She probably didn’t expect to receive a sensitive question at a harmonious charity event.

“…Hey, Joy Assistant Manager. I think you’re being too hasty. This is the middle of enemy territory. Most of the people gathered here are Prince Zagreus’s faction connections.”

Soon, Alecto nim also stopped, extremely surprised.

“Joy…?”

Melinoye nim, who was sipping wine, also suddenly stopped her hand.

The party venue, which had been extremely noisy until just now, instantly became quiet.

As if someone had pressed a stop button.

Soon, the nymph Peranoi frowned and asked me.

“From now on, you must be careful with your words! Don’t forget that you are now facing the representative of the ‘CSO’! Therefore, say it again!”

“Peranoi ssi, you were the first infected person of the currently prevalent nymph flu, weren’t you? But thanks to you not properly cooperating with the epidemiological investigation, the initial response failed.”

Prince Zagreus’s right-hand man, Peranoi, despite working in the Safety Management Team, did not comply with quarantine rules.

He also did not disclose his movements.

Thanks to that, the initial response failed.

A widespread flu came to be prevalent among the nymphs of this Soul Society.

# # #

Melinoye was startled.

After the Thanatos rebellion, there was nothing good to gain by upsetting the Prince, who rose to become the highest power.

Moreover, this place was the middle of enemy territory.

Melinoye also had to maintain some caution regarding participating in this event.

Even the famously violent and ill-tempered Alecto was well-behaved at Prince Zagreus’s charity event.

But—.

“Peranoi ssi, am I wrong? The first infected person of the nymph flu. It was you, wasn’t it? The hospital medical record you tried to hide is right here in my hand.”

Joy chose a frontal assault.

Melinoye quickly realized why he was so obsessed with the ‘nymph flu’.

‘Joy, to think he was caring so much about me catching a cold. Because he likes and worships me so much, he couldn’t forgive Zagreus’s faction, the culprit of the cold.’

Melinoye was deeply moved.

At that moment, Hedone suddenly stood up from her seat.

“Joy Assistant Manager nim, you fool! Is it because of me? You got angry because I caught a cold recently and couldn’t go to work for a month, didn’t you! To think you care about me so much!”

With a hug—.

Hedone, sobbing, hooked her arm through Joy’s.

At that moment, lightning flashed from Melinoye’s eyes.

Boom—!

A powerful explosion enveloped the surroundings.

When I came to my senses, the charity event was a devastated mess of unconscious people.

At this astonishing sight, the black-haired nymph Melinoi suddenly stood up and shouted.

“This is clearly Joy Assistant Manager’s aura that knocked people down! Indeed, to release such an aura in the middle of enemy territory and knock people down, he is truly a bold man!”

“Oh, are you Joy Assistant Manager’s nymph employee…? You look like no ordinary nymph! This Peranoi says take her hand! Join the Nymph Hometown Association!”

“This Melinoi is a lonely lone wolf type of nymph! What I extend is not a handshake’s open hand, but a punch’s fist! Then taste a little bit of my fist!”

“Then we become enemies! You will see a painful sight! Nymph Secret Technique: Rampant Punching!”

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud—.

The two nymphs’ fierce consecutive punches collided.

Red lightning flashed in all directions.

“Aaaargh! It’s a clash of Nymph Secret Techniques!”

“R-run away!”

In this chaotic mess, everyone began to flee.

Joy Assistant Manager stood calmly.

‘It’s a total mess. I don’t know why it turned out like this. The charity event is thoroughly ruined, so I can’t avoid responsibility. It’s dismissal time. Dismissal time!’

Joy Assistant Manager, on the contrary, was laughing.

Watching that sight, Alecto was astonished.

‘…In this hellish situation, he’s laughing, on the contrary?’

Alecto, for the first time in her life, felt a chilling fear from a mortal.

Of course, she herself didn’t admit it.