episode_0067

067 – Married Women’s Hell # 3

“It feels like I’m going to go bald.”

Department Head Hector.

He felt as if he had aged more in the past few days.

Though, as a skeleton, he didn’t have any hair to lose in the first place.

“Bones, it’s already been two days.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Two days have passed since Section Chief Joy summoned Ms. Elfridi, the Prince’s second wife, for investigation. Bones, have you seen the crowds gathered in front of headquarters? I mean, the Elves.”

“Well, I spend most of my day here at the lake. Foreign species Elves gathering, you say. That would truly be a sight to behold.”

Bones, the former Department Head of Happy World, was currently content with his life as a fishing spot manager.

Thus, he didn’t pay much attention to the events unfolding in Soul Society.

His wife and daughter.

Just being able to be with them was enough.

‘Thanks to Joy.’

On the other hand.

Department Head Hector was having a headache also because of Joy.

“Bones, I truly envy you. I, too, wish I could just quit my job and enjoy a comfortable retirement. Pressure from above, subordinates rising from below. Working life is truly not easy.”

“Department Head Hector, try trusting Joy a little more. As you already know well, if you trust and follow that man, he will surely produce amazing results. I have never seen a knife so sharp.”

“The problem is that it has no handle, so it feels like it’ll cut my own hand.”

Hector stood up from his seat.

Looking at the lake, his mind became somewhat peaceful.

And so, he returned to headquarters.

“Oppose discrimination against foreign fairies!”

“Soul Society, stop Elf discrimination!”

“Free Elves!”

“Acquit and release Crown Princess Elfridi!”

Coinciding with the ‘Work Innovation’ initiative, Elves who had permeated throughout Soul Society had come out to one place, holding pickets and staging a protest.

As Hector understood it, Elfridi, the Prince’s second wife, was a foreign species ‘Elf Sorceress’.

It was said that the Prince met her during the time he adventured on the surface world like a human.

Elves use a mysterious power called ‘magic’.

Because this ability was extremely useful, Elves everywhere in Soul Society were steadily expanding their own positions.

“Joy, any results?”

Department Head Hector asked Joy, who was coming out of the investigation room.

Dark circles were deep under Joy’s eyes, as if he hadn’t slept for two days straight.

However.

His expression was brighter than ever before.

“What an amazing person. The circumstances clearly indicate she accepted illegal solicitations and valuables. Yet, there is no evidence whatsoever, not even a minor clue. The Wives’ Association is truly a terrifying organization.”

As Section Chief Joy said this, a smile blossomed on his face like a flower.

For a man who had started a hopelessly unfavorable fight, to be smiling!

‘You are scarier than I am!’

Department Head Hector couldn’t bring himself to say that much, so he just patted him on the back.

An unprecedented incident: a surprise inspection of the Wives’ Association.

Alecto, an executive of Audit Team 1, was in the same predicament.

“Joy, how about releasing the Elf even now? If we do it now, we might be able to gloss over it as if nothing happened. The Wives’ Association is a hornet’s nest that even our executives don’t easily touch!”

The terrifying thing about the Wives’ Association was that the wives were connected by a close-knit network.

Among them were the wives of executives, so even the executives themselves dared not carelessly get involved.

Of course.

Everyone knew that it wasn’t right for outsiders, who weren’t employees, to control advancement and success in Soul Society.

But no one could figure out where to begin addressing the issue, or how to fix it.

Furthermore, they were even more reluctant to take the lead.

And so, even the ‘CEO’ remained silent.

Moreover, after Prince Zagreus’s second wife became the Vice President of the Wives’ Association, they prospered even more.

No one could stop their solo dominance.

Or so they thought, but the man who bravely stepped forward was none other than Section Chief Joy.

“It was something someone had to do. But why now of all times?”

In Alecto’s opinion, Section Chief Joy seemed to have acted too rashly.

If this matter were to fail, Section Chief Joy would be forever distant from the path to success.

She was a goddess who had lived a long life, but she absolutely could not understand what Section Chief Joy was thinking, and it frightened her.

# # #

“Section Chief Joy, would you bring me a glass of water? I’ve been cooperating with the investigation for two days already, so bringing me a glass of water is fine, isn’t it?”

Prince Zagreus’s second wife was an extremely beautiful married woman.

Her overflowing dignity and haughty demeanor reminded him exactly of Lady Melinoye.

This one, however, was a little more mature and difficult.

“Here you go.”

As I brought the water, Ms. Elfridi drank it refreshingly.

Then she set the cup down with a thud and spoke.

“So, I wish you’d start asking something, anything? You’ve held me captive and just sat idly, it’s boring, isn’t it? Ask me anything.”

“……”

I didn’t answer.

Just dragging out time.

As could be seen even from our recent conversation, after bringing this Elf married woman to the investigation room, I hadn’t asked a single question.

Why?

Naturally, it was to fail this investigation.

Could there be a more certain method than this?

But perhaps she was bored after being confined for two days, as the Elf Crown Princess began to speak first.

“Section Chief Joy, you are similar to me. In the sense that you are an impurity who doesn’t belong in this Soul Society. I am a foreign species Elf, and you are a living human.”

“Hey now, please answer only what I asked.”

“You’re not asking questions, so how am I supposed to answer anything? Then, conversely, should I ask questions? How are you enduring in this land full of death’s aura? From what I see, it doesn’t seem like you’re using magic either. I mean, how are you enduring Happy World’s toxic aura with a normal human body?”

“I haven’t done anything particularly special, but.”

“You’re answering vaguely. Is it a secret? If so, I have a way too.”

Only then did I feel a change.

Strangely, my body wasn’t moving.

“Oh.”

“You might have resistance to death’s aura, but your resistance to hypnosis seems low. Just now, when I put down the cup, you fell into my hypnotic magic.”

What?!

Hypnotic magic?

To think such ridiculous magic exists!

“Then, from now on, you will have to answer honestly to whatever I say. If you understand, say ‘I like Elves very much.’”

“I like Elves very much—*Gnnnngh!*”

I desperately tried to stop my mouth from moving on its own.

Because I was afraid of what I would say if I were swept away by the hypnosis like this.

“Oh ho, you’re resisting my hypnosis? Your unconscious self must be tremendously powerful. But how much can you endure? You are close with Melinoye, aren’t you? What’s your relationship?”

“*Gnnnngh!*”

This, at least, I absolutely cannot say!

Never! Neverrrr!

It was while I was enduring like that.

“How dare you try to harm my employee! You’ve revealed your true colors as a foreign species!”

*Thud—!*

The investigation room door burst open, and Lady Melinoye, dressed in a black suit, stormed in.

At that moment, I had a strange experience where both relief and horror coexisted.

It was good that I could avoid having my mind dissected by the witch.

But the appearance of Lady Melinoye, the Goddess of Nightmares, seemed to foretell an ominous future.

“You’re Hassan’s younger sister? This is the first time we’ve met like this since the wedding. More importantly, to call me a foreign species. Shouldn’t you call me sister-in-law?”

“Since you harmed my employee, there’s no compromise. Ghost Parade!”

—*Whoosh whoosh…!*

—*Whoooooo…!*

Ghost employees, who appeared from somewhere, charged towards the evil hypnotist Elf witch.

The Elf witch was instantly enveloped by round, fluffy ghosts.

“What?! What is this?! What on earth are these soft, fluffy things?! Get them off me!”

At this, Lady Melinoye’s expression was serious.

She also clenched her fists tightly.

“To try and force Joy, an ‘Honorary Nymph’, to say that he likes foreign species Elves. You must have increased your influence through such corrupt methods. I cannot forgive you.”

“What nonsense! Get these ghosts off me!”

*Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump!*

Lady Melinoye lunged towards the Elf witch and wildly struck her with her fists.

I couldn’t even stop her in time.

“Aaaagh!”

“Melly Melly Melly Melly!”

That sight was like…

Rather than a perfect and beautiful goddess—

# # #

「Shock! Wives’ Association Vice President Fined!」

「Illegal solicitations also revealed to be partially true—.」

「The ‘Wives’ Association’, a social club with a long tradition, began dissolution procedures.」

「Groups claiming this investigation is discrimination against Elves clash with the Nymph Fellowship—.」

「Princess Melinoye also received disciplinary action of self-restraint….」

“It’s a huge incident! A huge incident! To think the Wives’ Association would actually be dissolved. Since Princess Melinoye and Crown Princess Elfridi clashed over the Wives’ Association matter, even the President couldn’t have just stood by!”

The incident grew so big that even the executives who had been condoning the Wives’ Association couldn’t remain silent.

Therefore, the dissolution of the Wives’ Association was decided unanimously through an emergency executive meeting, they say.

“From now on, a new organization, the ‘Married Women’s Fellowship’, will take its place, they say. Since Lady Persephone herself has decided to manage it, problems like before will not occur.”

“…I see.”

“Lady Persephone and you have a great connection, don’t you? With the dissolution of the Wives’ Association and the establishment of the ‘Married Women’s Fellowship’, you have gained the greatest benefit.”

Department Head Hector’s eyes shone piercingly.

*Rattle-rattle-rattle—.*

His trembling ribs.

“Section Chief Joy, did you really foresee all of this happening? I, the person you are, have started to fear you more and more. What on earth did you do all this for….”

“I, too, am afraid of myself.”

“…*Gasp!*”

I walked past the shivering Department Head Hector and left the company building.

As I was walking through a cactus field, seeking healing, some attractive women approached me.

I instantly realized that they were married women.

“You all are the Wives’ Association’s….”

“Section Chief Joy.”

“Section Chief.”

The married women had very serious expressions.

Perhaps they were going to seek revenge on me for destroying the Wives’ Association.

Just as I thought I would gladly accept that revenge, someone appeared.

It was Ms. Andromache, Department Head Hector’s wife.

“Section Chief Joy, thank you very much for dissolving the Wives’ Association. We… were tied up in that organization called the Wives’ Association for a long time, and we were constantly forced to make cruel comparisons and slander others.”

*Bow—.*

The married women bowed their heads to me.

“Thanks to Section Chief Joy… we can finally break free from the shackles that bound us and attain peace. To feel such relief is truly the first time in a long time….”

Just a moment—.

“Attain peace? Isn’t that something you shouldn’t do?”

What happens if you attain peace in this Soul Society?

As I felt nervous, Ms. Andromache smiled brightly, her dark circles lightened.

“It’s just an expression, you see. However, thanks to that, Section Chief Joy, you might have incurred the hatred of Prince Zagreus. Since you caused his second wife great disgrace….”

That, on the contrary, was a good thing.

However, someone suddenly popped out.

“Don’t worry about that problem! That Elfridi has been acting mean to people recently, hasn’t she? She was just accepting illegal solicitations! *Pffheheh!* Honestly, she brought it on herself! Hassan admitted it too!”

—*Woof woof…!*

She was Lady Nixdoti, Prince Zagreus’s first wife.

It meant she had appeased the Prince’s anger towards me through pillow talk.

*Sob—.*

It felt like tears would come out.

So, as I cried, the married women also cried along.

“From now on, our ‘Married Women’s Fellowship’ will officially support and sponsor Section Chief Joy!”

“Lady Persephone also says she will bestow upon Section Chief Joy the title of ‘Guardian of Married Women’!”

“Hurray!”

“Good luck with your promotion to Deputy Department Head!”

I, Joy.

The ‘Demon of Happy World’.

The ‘Honorary Nymph’.

The ‘Guardian of Married Women’.

And—.

Still unable to escape from hell.