episode_0081

081 – A Man Who Keeps Failing in Social Life # 2

It was said that this Monster Building had a ‘special monster’ that had not yet been revealed to the public. As someone who loved Greek mythology and had even earned a master’s degree in that field, natural curiosity arose within me.

However, Deputy Director Augeas was startled and pressed Paris.

“Hey, you blockhead! What are you talking about, a special monster! That fellow isn’t even controlled yet, so he’s not in a state to be shown carelessly to others!”

“Th-that is…”

“You stupid fool! If the Inspector gets hurt, will you take responsibility? Huh? Please, just think before you speak!”

He bowed deeply—.

After a long stream of abusive language, Deputy Director Augeas, who bowed his head to me.

“I apologize. Please forget what that Paris fellow said. I’m saying this entirely for the Inspector’s health and safety!”

The zookeeper called a blockhead was named Paris. Yes, it was that Paris, who handed the golden apple to the most beautiful woman among the three goddesses.

‘Is he Inspector Hector’s younger brother? To think I’d meet him in a place like this.’

However, even though they were siblings, the treatment of the elder brother, Inspector Hector, seemed vastly different. Unlike Inspector Hector, who was respected by many people, the treatment of his younger brother Paris was truly sufficient to be described as a blockhead or a bottom-tier person.

It made sense, as Paris would definitely be among the top five disliked figures in Greek mythology if one were to pick them. Even his own brother Hector, and his lover Helen, often told Paris to “just go die.”

“This creature’s nymph creature wants to shut the mouth of the nymph hater Paris…! It means for him to be hit by the Nymph Secret Technique: Relentless Beating and shut up…!”

“This Carnoy doesn’t know what’s what, but the nymph hater Paris is going to get punched…!”

Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-.

Nymph employees who appeared from somewhere relentlessly beat Paris.

“Aaah!”

Paris screamed.

Why was Carnoy, who had gotten a job at the bank, here?

Anyway.

I envied Paris, who was being cursed at by his superior and beaten by the nymphs.

‘How can one be cursed at so much by a superior and hated by people?’

Of course, Paris himself looked pitifully withered.

Paris, who had been beaten to a pulp by the nymphs’ soft, padded fists, opened his mouth with difficulty.

“I… I just thought the Inspector seemed to like animals… I thought it would definitely be good to let him see the special monster…”

Actually, I didn’t like animals. I never knew what animals were thinking, and they were bundles of unpredictable variables. All I liked was the docile and variable-free Happy Cactus.

However, it seemed worthwhile to definitely take a look at this ‘special monster’.

‘There must be a reason why Deputy Director Augeas deliberately tries to hide that fellow from me.’

A monster so out of control that the inspector might get hurt. Carelessly approaching such a creature and then suffering great trouble— It was a perfect event to leave a stain on the legend of Demon Joy.

“Deputy Director. I really want to see that special monster.”

“Th-that…”

Deputy Director Augeas showed a truly flustered expression. He glared at Paris, then clicked his tongue—and abruptly turned his head away.

“I clearly warned you! It’s not my responsibility!”

“Yes. If any problem arises, I will take full responsibility.”

Please, let a problem explode—

Thinking that, I went down to the basement of the Monster Building.

# # #

A basement where not a single ray of sunlight entered. As I walked through the dark stone passage, relying on a single candle, I felt a little eerie. I wondered if Hercules, who journeyed to the underworld to capture Cerberus, felt the same way I did.

“Th-the special monster… I discovered it. It was injured and collapsed… I treated it… and fed it… But… it hardly followed people… so I couldn’t reveal it, and it’s in this special prison…”

Even the man-eating Chimera, the venomous serpent Hydra, and the Nemean Lion were publicly displayed and performing tricks in this situation.

A special monster too fierce to even be revealed?

What kind of creature could it possibly be?

It was something I greatly anticipated.

“Bu…but I actually think that fellow is k-kind. It seems to empathize with me in being hated… But the Director and the De-Deputy Director absolutely insist it must be hidden…”

Paris chuckled weakly, saying “euh-heu-heu…”. He seemed to be aware that he was hated.

“Paris, how is life in this Monster Building? It seems you are thoroughly disliked by the nymph employees and Deputy Director Augeas.”

“…That’s… because I fail at everything I do… and even mess up tasks I’m ordered to do. I’m completely unable to please people… Social life is… truly difficult…”

Suddenly, I recalled the employment crisis on the surface world. A world where young people who ‘just rested’ instead of getting a job had greatly increased.

However, what was surprising was that most of these young people hadn’t rested from the beginning; they were people who had been bounced out after experiencing social life.

‘It wasn’t so much that working was hard, but rather that they were often overwhelmed by human relationships. It’s harder for sensitive people to endure in a harsh society.’

I too was a person who, overwhelmed by the employment crisis on the surface, continued job hunting here and there, eventually getting a job in this Soul Society by strange bad luck. Seeing Paris express the difficulties of social life, it somehow didn’t feel like someone else’s story.

“Still, you’ve managed to hold onto your job without quitting.”

“Th-that’s… because I read a news article that said if you quit your job without a steady profession in this Soul Society… your ghostification accelerates… I don’t want to become a ghost…”

This is why the residents of this Soul Society fear layoffs and demotions. It’s because they don’t want to become ghosts who have lost their memories.

“I… I have someone I absolutely must meet. I know she’s somewhere in this So-Soul Society… but I still haven’t me-met her. She’s my ch-childhood friend. A nymph…”

Paris’s childhood friend, a nymph. I think I might know who it is. Though I haven’t met her yet.

At that moment, Paris stopped abruptly.

“We’ve arrived…”

It was less like a cage for animals and more like a prison facility for criminals. A steel door commonly seen throughout ‘Happy World’ where punishments are carried out.

“L-look through this gap here.”

I peered subtly through the square peephole in the steel door—and faintly felt something entirely black crouching inside.

And the creature also looked at me.

—G-g-gh.

“Gasp!”

A horrible cry!

I immediately recoiled from the steel door.

“Paris! What on earth did you pick up and lock away?!”

“I-if you look, you’ll see it’s a H-Hell Wheel.”

“No! No. That is not a Hell Wheel!”

Because its size was identical to a human’s, and it was even walking upright on two legs. It even had two arms! However, its jet-black carapace was different from a human’s, its flapping wings were like a cloak, and its face seemed to be covered by a terrifying helmet.

‘To think that the Hell Wheel Masked Rider, who only appeared in my nightmares, actually existed!’

That creature was the most horrible and terrifying of all the Hell Wheels I had ever seen. Truly, the manifestation of nightmares. At least a ‘Manager-level’ Hell Wheel. Humanity was not yet prepared or resolute enough to accept such a creature.

“We must kill it immediately!”

I took out the Hell Wheel extermination spray made by the nymphs from my pocket. Just the existence of such a thing in this Soul Society made me feel like foam would come out of my mouth.

But Paris blocked my path and pleaded.

“A-Alexandros is kind! He’s my friend! You m-mustn’t kill him! I’ll prove it. Th-that this creature is kind…!”

“Proof?”

“Lo-look. Alexandros… here… it’s today’s meal…”

Paris took out a plucked pheasant and a few quails from his bag. And then he slipped them into the steel cage—

Grrrrr, snarrrr—.

The Manager-level Hell Wheel made a tremendous sound and instantly tore the food apart. And then it roared—the entire basement echoed, and the ground trembled.

“Look. Isn’t he cute?”

“Are you crazy! What’s cute about this! It’s a completely ferocious fiend itself!”

To think there was such a mad monster in the Monster Building.

‘In my opinion, this creature’s combat power is at least equal to, or even greater than, the Nemean Lion!’

What if the rebel group Tartarus had unleashed this creature instead of the ‘Hydra’? There would have been enormous property damage.

Wait—. If I think that way, isn’t this actually an opportunity for me?

So I said to Paris.

“Paris, raising a Hell Wheel in this Soul Society is clearly illegal. Originally, Manager-level Wheels should be culled immediately upon discovery, but…”

“C-culling.”

“Due to my connection with Paris, who guided me, I will especially pretend not to see it this time. Therefore, you must release this creature into the wild as soon as possible.”

I insisted on releasing it, just like the cold-hearted wildlife experts on animal programs. Then, Paris seemed to tremble, and then bowed his head deeply.

“In that case… please allow us to spend time together just for tonight.”

“Understood.”

Does this mean he’ll release it around midnight tonight? Tomorrow morning, the newspapers will surely be in an uproar because of the Manager-level Hell Wheel.

Thus, the next morning.

I opened the morning newspaper with a mix of anticipation and tension.

「New Monster Appearance? Residents Tremble in Fear at Manager-level Hell Wheel!」

Good, good.

Just then, Morose nim visited my house.

“Did you come to rebuke me?”

“On the contrary. Joy, thanks to you, we were able to find the connection point between Monster Building Director Momo and Tartarus. And to think you even annihilated the rebel group Tartarus’s stronghold. It’s more than the results I expected.”

“Huh?”

Morose nim handed me the newspapers. They were today’s morning newspapers. The contents written there were as follows:

「Manager-level Hell Wheel! Raids Rebel Group Tartarus’s Illegal Research Facility!」

「Tartarus’s Happy World Revolutionary Branch Finally Completely Annihilated!」

「Zookeeper Paris: “It was possible thanks to Deputy Manager Joy trusting our friendship.”」

「Connection Point with Monster Building Discovered at Rebel Group’s Illegal Research Facility. Director Momo Remains Silent—.」

What…!?

What on earth happened last night?

“…What about casualties or property damage?”

“None at all. The Chairman is also evaluating this matter very highly. He even ordered you to participate in today’s executive meeting. You can be proud.”

I, a mere deputy manager, have to participate in an executive meeting? To me, this was a more terrible nightmare than the Hell Wheel Masked Rider.

“However, raising Hell Wheels is an illegal act, violating the harsh Pact of Blood and Darkness. Joy, perhaps there might be a minor disciplinary action against you. Of course, since your achievement is greater, I will request that the disciplinary proposal be rejected.”

Discipline!

Hope can truly blossom even in despair!

“Rules are rules because they must be upheld no matter what happens. If there was a problem in handling the matter, the responsibility for it must also be borne.”

Today, I shall finally receive disciplinary action. With that thought, I dressed in a suit and headed to the headquarters’ executive meeting room.