episode_0054

054 – The Nightmare Goddess, Angered # 1

It had already been a month since I was assigned to the Headquarters Audit Team.

Since coming to the Audit Team, days had been so busy I barely had time to breathe.

However, the last week had been extremely peaceful.

“Assistant Manager Joy! How about a drink at my place after work!”

*Thwack-*!

Assistant Manager Narcissus grabbed my shoulder and shook me.

This person had been restless for a while, unable to invite me to their house.

Even if I went, they didn’t really offer anything delicious.

“Alright, everyone, let’s head home.”

“Alecto nim, you worked hard today as well.”

“General Manager Hector also worked very hard! See you all tomorrow!”

It had already been half a month since Headquarters employees, for whom working all night in the office was normal, started leaving work on time.

This was possible because the confrontation between the Safety Management Team and the Audit Team had practically entered a lull.

‘This peace is not good.’

Since there were no problems, there were fewer chances to cause trouble.

Since there was no chance to cause trouble, there was no chance of being fired at all.

Someone might say that it’s fine since the peace for these fifteen days was tranquil, but-.

That’s precisely the problem.

‘I’ve completely adapted to the Headquarters atmosphere. If I stay like this, I’ll become lazy.’

Adaptation is a scary thing.

If I keep spending time like this, a mindset of ‘Isn’t it tolerable to live here too?’ might seep out from within me.

That mindset might become an ambush that interferes with my ‘firing strategy’.

“Assistant Manager Narcissus, thank you for the offer, but I have an appointment.”

*Whoosh-*.

I quickly exited the office that I was starting to get used to.

“Happy Snack Bar” on a shabby street.

As I went in front of it, the familiar hipster nymph Euriol ssi frowned.

“You’re late.”

I know.

It took some time because I was hesitating at the entrance of the snack bar.

Soon, the nymph Peranoi laughed *muhehehe*.

“Then, it seems everyone who was coming has arrived, so we shall hold the 5th Nymph Hometown Association meeting…! Let’s talk about what has happened since then…!”

For the past few days, I had often participated in the “Nymph Hometown Association” meetings.

This meeting was, literally, an organization formed by nymphs living in this “Soul Society.”

The reason I could join this meeting, which only nymphs could participate in, was because I had been bestowed the position of ‘Honorary Nymph’.

Of course, there were also those who were displeased with me.

“Assistant Manager Joy, I haven’t recognized you as an Honorary Nymph yet.”

It was Euriol ssi, the main vocalist of idol group E&S.

It turned out that being an ‘Honorary Nymph’ was not something one could easily become.

It was decided through strict review and deliberation?

Actually, I didn’t want to be an ‘Honorary Nymph’ either.

More than 80% of the reason I was suffering here was probably because of nymphs.

It was truly humiliating that I had to become an honorary nymph.

“…Ah….”

Then, Echo ssi served red spicy rice cakes on a plate and offered it to us.

The ditch water nymph Carnoy joyfully raised both hands in excitement at the steaming snack.

“This Carnoy likes snack food…! In that sense, let’s all dance the Nymph Dance of Joy together…! Let’s do it…!”

*Thump-thump-thump-thump-*.

Carnoy danced, shrugging their shoulders.

Soon, Rilke ssi, and the strange secretary nymph Peranoi, also danced *thump-thump*.

Having observed them for the past few days, nymphs liked to perform this unknown dance called ‘Nymph Dance of Joy’.

*Glare-*.

Then, I turned my head at the glaring gaze and saw Euriol ssi staring at me.

“You call yourself an Honorary Nymph, so why aren’t you dancing the ‘Nymph Dance of Joy’?”

I also had no choice but to dance *thump-thump*.

*Thump-thump*.

“*Muhehehe*, indeed, Honorary Nymph Joynoi…! Your skill at dancing the Nymph Dance of Joy is truly excellent…!”

“I don’t know what’s what, but indeed, it’s Joynoi…!”

I truly didn’t know what was what either.

Anyway, we ate our delicious snacks and chatted.

The main topic of discussion was the “NLM” hashtag movement that Peranoi had recently been pushing.

“Nymph Lives Matter,” they said, was a movement to promote nymph rights?

“We nymphs deserve to be promised better treatment and lives…! We propose introducing a ‘nymph quota system’ and establishing company rules to mandatorily hire nymphs in all departments of Headquarters…!”

“This Carnoy doesn’t know what’s what, but thinks it’s a good idea…! So let’s all dance the Nymph Dance of Joy together…!”

*Thump-thump-thump-*.

The frantic nymphs began to dance again.

I, too, reflexively danced and fell into thought.

‘Nymph quota system?’

Did this mean these strange nymphs would occupy positions in every department?

It was a truly terrible idea.

Who would ever permit such a thing?

‘Wait a moment.’

But an idea flashed in my mind.

It was an absurd idea, but perhaps precisely because of that, it might be acceptable.

If I personally pushed that idea, everyone would see me as an idiot.

Then my performance review would also be lowered.

“Peranoi ssi, the nymph quota system truly seems like an excellent idea.”

“Indeed, Joynoi…! You are truly worthy of being the Honorary Nymph acknowledged by this Peranoi, and this Peranoi’s fated rival…! To recognize the excellence of this idea, Joynoi is also no ordinary person…!”

The problem was that to push for something like a quota system, one would need to hold a high position of responsibility.

With my meager rank as an assistant manager at Headquarters, it was out of the question.

“Have you proposed it to Zagreus nim?”

“It was rejected…! Zagreus nim is nymph-friendly and an excellent person in many ways, but sometimes he can be foolish…! That’s why this Peranoi has to take care of him…!”

So Prince Zagreus had already rejected the nymph quota system.

If it were me, I would have rejected it too.

Then, which executive would be willing to push this agenda?

Director Alecto nim?

They’d think it was a joke.

Directly to the Chairman?

The moment I brought up ‘nymphs’, they might split my head in half.

In that case, I only knew one executive.

That was Melinoye nim.

‘Melinoye nim intensely dislikes nymphs. What kind of reaction would I get if I brought up something like a nymph quota system to Melinoye nim? First of all, it’s certain that my score will be lowered.’

Good.

It’s decided.

Then when and where should I speak to Melinoye nim?

Suddenly, it occurred to me that I hadn’t seen Melinoye nim at all lately.

‘In a way, this is natural, I suppose.’

Even if I was a Headquarters employee, I was merely an assistant manager.

On the other hand, Melinoye nim was a royal family member who had contended for the successor position.

It meant that someone like me, a low-ranking employee, couldn’t simply see her just because I wanted to.

Of course.

I had a terminal that connected directly to Melinoye nim.

Something I received a while ago.

If I contacted her with this, I could meet her, but….

“Joy ssi, do you have any worries?”

Then, Siren Rilke ssi approached me and asked.

I put away the terminal and shrugged lightly.

“Worry is a basic virtue for a working adult.”

“That’s true. Being a working adult and an adult means ultimately pushing a heart hardened by bitter coffee deep down and forcing a smile. *Hahahaha*….”

Siren Rilke ssi laughed with a shadowed face.

Scary.

Isn’t she, rather than me, the one full of worries?

“…Excuse me, are you alright?”

“I’m not alright. Why did I become an adult? There was a time when I was a small nymph like Carnoy or Peranoi. Back then, I was happy just dancing. But now, it’s all sorts of utility bills, installment payments….”

There are two kinds of nymphs.

Small nymphs like Carnoy and Peranoi.

Large nymphs like Rilke, Eurydice, and Echo.

What on earth is the difference?

“Can’t you go back to your younger days? When you were small?”

“That’s right. I’ve already evolved into a sea water nymph and an adult nymph. I can no longer return to my days as a small ditch water nymph like those children.”

Can’t go back-.

Then what on earth is Melinoi?

A nymph where the appearance of an adult and a child coexist.

Among nymphs, she must certainly be an extraordinary being.

Then Euriol poked my side.

“Half-listen to Rilke’s words. Adult nymphs often tell a lot of lies.”

“Lies?”

“It’s easy to tell a lie apart. Just look at their feet or hands. Adult nymphs generally fidget their feet or hands when they lie. Look.”

Oh, it’s true.

Rilke ssi’s feet, wearing sandals, were fidgeting.

Rilke ssi actually liked being an adult.

“That’s right. Actually, I like being an adult. I can drink as much as I want, smoke as much as I want, and even if I’m super lazy, I don’t get nagged! Adults are the best! Yay!”

“This Carnoy also wants to grow big quickly…!”

“*Muhehehe*, this Peranoi will definitely find out how to become an adult nymph…!”

# # #

My daily life continued to flow by frantically.

After finishing the documents I had to process each day, it was already quitting time.

Return home, water the cactus, eat dinner, personal time.

I had developed a routine of sorts.

‘Honestly, it’s peaceful and good.’

They were perfect days, except for the fact that I couldn’t go to the surface world.

To the point where I wondered if it wouldn’t be bad to just live like this.

After repeating such days a few times, I coincidentally encountered a procession of executives in the hallway.

“Mortals, move aside, move aside! Nemesis nim is passing through!”

“Joy, what are you doing? Quickly make way and bow your head. Lest you get cursed for no reason.”

*Whoosh-*.

Thanks to Assistant Manager Narcissus poking my side with his hand, I also bowed my head.

Even as a Headquarters employee, it was forbidden to make eye contact with executives carelessly.

Only after they had all passed could I finally lift my head.

Soon, Assistant Manager Narcissus expressed admiration.

“It was Princess Melinoye and her entourage. Nemesis nim, Tisiphone nim, and Morose nim were also there. Perhaps because the shareholder meeting will be held soon, everyone seems sensitive and sharp.”

Shareholder meeting.

In this Soul Society, the shareholder meeting could be considered an advanced stage of executive meetings.

Bold and significant agenda items were brought up, and an example of this was ‘changing the successor’.

“Assistant Manager Joy, what do you think? Can Princess Melinoye truly succeed in pulling down Prince Zagreus and usurping the successor position?”

I don’t know.

Anyway, with the recent procession, I reconfirmed the difference between Melinoye nim and myself.

No matter how rumored I was as a promising assistant manager, to the executives, someone like me would be no different from a pebble on the roadside.

Then, *woo-woong*-, my pocket vibrated.

It was the direct terminal connected to Melinoye nim.

Wasn’t this the first time Melinoye nim had called me first?

I started to feel nervous for no reason.

So I headed to Melinoye nim’s office, located at Headquarters.

The door was open.

As I entered, wasn’t Melinoye nim standing there, looking at me with an extremely angry expression?

‘Suddenly, Goddess Fury Mode?’

I was flustered.

Suddenly?

“Joy, you must have reflected by now.”

Reflected?

What reflection?

What did I do wrong?

So, as I desperately racked my brain, Melinoye nim added.

“Fifteen days. For exactly fifteen days, I reduced my attention on you, Joy. Because there could be no more *horrible* punishment for mortals than having attention withdrawn from me, a perfect and flawless goddess.”

At this moment, I realized.

That the reason my life had been peaceful lately was because Melinoye nim had deliberately reduced her attention on me!

Unbeknownst to me, I had been receiving punishment from Melinoye nim!

That’s why my life had been peaceful!

“However, I felt that I had imposed too severe a punishment. Joy, I imposed too harsh a punishment on a loyal employee like you. I swear on the River Styx, I won’t do it again from now on.”

No.

This punishment must continue.

Even though I don’t know what sin I committed!

“Melinoye nim! Do not forgive me! I am a great sinner who disappointed Melinoye nim! A wretch like me does not need to be forgiven for life! Please continue to inflict punishment upon me!”

I put on a genuinely remorseful expression.

Seeing me like that, Melinoye nim’s gaze also slowly softened.

“No, Joy, the sin of you arbitrarily becoming an ‘Honorary Nymph’ can now be considered completely atoned for. So now, all that’s left is to commend your achievements.”

Honorary Nymph, huh—.

So that’s it.

That was it.

More importantly….

“My achievements?”

“According to Alecto, the ‘Night Faction’ has promised to remain neutral at this shareholder meeting. It’s probably thanks to your efforts for me. Truly a bold and fearless achievement.”

*Stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke-*.

Melinoye nim stroked my head and asked.

“Tell me if you have anything you wish for or a wish. I won’t swear on the River Styx, but if it’s something I can grant, I’ll try my best to fulfill it.”

Even if I didn’t know what was going on, right now.

I felt as if the god of opportunity had shown me his flowing forelock.

*Prostrate-!*

I said, prostrated deeply.

“Melinoye nim, if I may dare to offer one suggestion. Would you be able to present the agenda item regarding the ‘Nymph Quota System’ to the executives at this shareholder meeting?”

“……..”

Instead of answering, Melinoye nim frowned.

*Whoosh-!*

Her gaze flared up again.

It was almost scorching.

“Joy, what nonsense are you speaking? A nymph quota system, you say. Where is the reason to *mandatorily* hire useless and noisy nymphs at Headquarters?”

“That’s…because I actually…like nymphs!”

This was Melinoye nim, who had inflicted a *horrible* punishment upon me simply for becoming an Honorary Nymph.

Confessing that I liked nymphs in front of such a Melinoye nim.

Proposing the ‘Nymph Quota System’!

This could be considered the complete end of my career.

“…Joy, to think you liked nymphs that much. My disappointment is great. This is such a shock that it wouldn’t be strange to reduce my attention for a month, not just fifteen days. For today, you may withdraw.”

It worked!

My score has been lowered!

As I cautiously lifted my head while still prostrated, I saw Melinoye nim’s small, white feet treading on the red carpet.

For some reason, her feet were fidgeting wildly.