episode_0029

029 – Mid-level Manager Examination # 2

“Phew, has the time for the manager promotion examination already come again? This is the third time since the business reform.”

Alecto of the Erinyes sisters gazed at the schedule placed on the round table, her eyes glinting cunningly.

“So, Zagreus. Is it true that the CEO themselves will personally bestow a reward upon the employee who wins this manager promotion examination?”

“It’s true. I swear by my lovers’ love.”

At Zagreus’s words, the executives’ eyes shone with their respective desires.

An examination jointly organized by the headquarters and its affiliates.

This “manager promotion examination” was more than just a simple test; it was a major event for the Soul Society.

It was famous for busy executives, each with their own distinct personalities, also attending to grace the occasion.

“This victory. It belongs to me, Charon. The CEO’s bestowal too. This humble one. It belongs to Charon.”

At that moment, a man clad in a black robe spoke in clumsy words.

He was Charon, the general manager of the affiliate Charon Transport, a man known as the ferryman of the underworld.

As he spoke confidently, the Erinyes giggled.

“Pft, pfft, is it because of Admetus, the perpetual winning candidate?”

“That perpetual manager who keeps failing the final examination.”

“Megaira, laugh!”

Cackle, cackle.

Alecto’s crescent-moon-shaped eyes turned towards the death executive, the president of Happy World.

Because the perpetual winning candidate Admetus and Thanatos had a deep connection.

“Thanatos, what reason will you find fault with to fail Admetus this time? You were always harsh in evaluation and scoring. For extremely narrow-minded and personal reasons, too.”

At Alecto’s question, Thanatos shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“This ‘manager promotion examination’ is special. So, the evaluation must be fair, right? By the way, in our Penal Enforcement Department, Manager Joy will participate. You’ve all heard his name at least once, haven’t you?”

Manager Joy.

At that name, the executives’ eyes stirred with interest.

Manager Joy, a candidate who has recently been talked about, not just within Happy World but even among the headquarters executives.

In some respects, he was a strong winning candidate, even surpassing Admetus of Charon Transport.

However, some executives expressed doubt.

“Even so, he’s just an affiliate manager.”

“Still, I wonder if the victory will go to a headquarters team employee.”

“Like last time?”

“I heard a great secret weapon is coming from the Prince’s side too….”

In this Soul Society, the difference between the headquarters and its affiliates, who worked with the executives, was significant.

Even with the same rank, there were often several levels of difference in status between a headquarters manager and an affiliate manager.

However—.

Even so, it was something they shouldn’t let their guard down about.

After the executive meeting ended, the executives returned to their respective workplaces and pulled out their communicators.

“It’s me, Charon. This ‘promotion examination’. We will win unconditionally.”

“It’s me, Alecto, is what I mentioned last time ready?”

“I am Hypnos nim, the head of the Employee Welfare Team, but could I get the answer sheet for this examination…?”

They busily moved in the shadows to make their employees win.

Fair evaluation was nothing more than a pretense.

The executives spared no means or methods to make their champions win.

In other words, this was not only a manager promotion examination but also an examination for the executives to see if they had the capability to make their subordinates win.

Watching the excitement rise, Thanatos, the president of Happy World, checked Princess Melinoye’s expression.

Because she hadn’t said a single word throughout the executive meeting today.

“We also need to decide which team’s manager to support. If our efforts are dispersed for no reason, both our candidates might fail, mightn’t they? So, about that—”

Whoosh—.

The death executive’s eyes shone blue.

“How about Manager Joy as the champion we back this time? The achievements he has shown are unprecedented since Happy World’s founding.”

“Conversely, the countermeasures will be just as severe. The reason perpetual manager Admetus couldn’t win was because he was a winning candidate and received the most countermeasures.”

The executives’ desire to make their champion win was strong, so they somehow belittled and pulled down the opposing candidates.

Admetus of the Transport Team often faced such countermeasures and, as a result, often suffered frustration a step short of victory at every competition.

This time, Manager Joy might take on such a role.

Could he endure the numerous countermeasures and schemes well?

When Thanatos expressed a slight concern, Melinoye was rather calm.

“If you can’t even overcome such schemes, you can’t get promoted to manager. Being a manager in this Soul Society is the first step to going to headquarters. And headquarters is a place where slander and dark schemes run rampant.”

If one cannot win the manager promotion examination, they cannot survive even more in headquarters, which is like a battlefield.

Thanatos agreed with those words.

No one didn’t know how fiercely Princess Melinoye and Prince Zagreus fought.

‘Back then, Princess nim was truly like an incarnation of nightmare. She had no composure. She never even laughed. Even to me, she was chilling. But the recent Princess nim has changed a little.’

Why is that?

Of course, what was important now was what kind of help to give their champion.

“In that case, what should we do for Manager Joy? Other executives are moving in the shadows. We can’t just stand still, can we?”

“It’s alright. Even if we do nothing.”

“Huh? If Manager Joy fails like this, our reputation would be ruined, wouldn’t it?”

Reputation was as important as life to the executives.

But Melinoye remained calm.

“If it’s Manager Joy, he will definitely win. All we need to do now is think about what reward Manager Joy will receive when he wins.”

Of course.

The Great Goddess Melinoye knew what gift Joy would most want to receive.

# # #

In this Happy World, there was an arena built by Daedalus in collaboration with the great monsters, the Hekatonkheires.

Originally, it was devised as a labyrinth to imprison formidable Titans like Kronos.

However, after the business reform, it was used as a place for certain competitions, not an execution ground.

What kind of competition?

It was the “Manager Promotion Examination.”

Woah-woah—!

Cheers and shouts from the arena where countless people gathered.

“This year’s competition seems unusually big! When I saw it on broadcast last time, it didn’t seem like this many people gathered!”

Krauser marveled, watching the gathered crowd.

This year’s crowd is indeed impressive.

The reason is simple, right?

“Because there was a big event like the rebel incident. They expanded the scale even further to let the residents know that the Soul Society and Happy World are still strong.”

In other words, this promotion examination was more than just a simple event; it was like a massive public relations campaign to show that the current system was running well without malfunction.

A similar example is the ’88 Olympics, which blossomed even more splendidly despite receiving sabotage by an enemy nation.

“It’s probably Prince Zagreus’s scheme, the icon of business reform.”

“Oh! To think such a meaning was hidden. I didn’t know. To see this crowd and think that far. Manager Joy, as expected, you are amazing!”

“Krauser ssi, although you were specially hired as compensation for unjust punishment. If you can’t properly grasp and infer even such matters, there will be many difficult situations in the future.”

“That’s right! I will keep that in mind!”

Leaving Krauser’s fuss behind, I looked around.

Diverse spectators gathered from all over this Soul Society.

Then the crowd’s shouts burst like thunder.

“Th-the executives!”

“The executives are coming!”

“It’s Hypnos nim of the Welfare Team!”

“The Erinyes sisters too!”

“It’s my first time seeing the executives directly…. It’s so touching I’m tearing up….”

The executives entered the special spectator seats prepared on the high platform.

In this Soul Society, ordinary residents might never even see an executive’s face.

In a way, that was natural.

It’s strange that I often get involved with Melinoye nim these days.

Why would an affiliate manager have reason to meet face to face with the headquarters CEO’s precious youngest daughter?

Anyway!

At the executives’ appearance, the arena atmosphere became even hotter.

“Even if I can’t win, it’s a chance to show a good image in front of the executives….”

“I’ll show everyone my one-hit kill assassination technique, Lightning Slash.”

“The manager title I’ve been sick of is over now. Now I will stand as manager.”

Many managers, with shining eyes, burned with tension.

The scale of this Soul Society was enormous, so the number of managers was also abundant.

‘Only one will win among them and become manager. Therefore, I can absolutely not win among these monsters and superhumans.’

Not getting hurt and not dying in the process.

Thorough self-preservationism is my goal.

“There are so many famous managers! Joy, I know your ability better than anyone, but this promotion examination could be especially challenging!”

It was Department Head Bones, clattering his teeth.

Suddenly, I realized again that Department Head Bones was an amazing person who went beyond manager to become department head.

Had this skeleton department head won such a promotion examination?

It turned out he hadn’t won the department head position by gambling.

He had amazing abilities.

“Of course, I bet my 100 years’ worth of salary on Manager Joy’s victory! It’s money I saved to move into Elysium Apartments with my daughter, but still!”

What!? You bet all the money you saved to buy a house on me?

What a crazy skeleton superior!

He clearly won the department head position by gambling.

“I’ve decided! It’s money I saved to buy a musical instrument made of nymph hair, but I’ll bet it all on Manager Joy! It’s my future and my everything!”

Krauser clenched his fist.

Suddenly, my shoulders started to feel incredibly heavy.

Soon, employees shouted from all over.

“All employees of our Penal Enforcement Department, let’s bet on Manager Joy!”

“Manager Joy nim will definitely win for us!”

“It’s money I saved to show filial piety to my mother in this Happy World, but I’ll bet it all on Manager Joy! I trust him!”

“The hero who saved us from the Audit Team! The main force behind the E&S Concert’s success!”

Clink-clink! Clink-clink!

Wait a minute—!

Suddenly, everyone pulled out heavy money from their pockets and threw it in a frenzy!

If I don’t win this, my hype will burst, but I was afraid I might even get beaten to death.

‘I was going to get eliminated quickly. With things like this, I have to at least pretend to try my best, don’t I?’

“Look there! Manager Joy’s name has gone up on the electronic display board!”

Clatter-clatter-clatter-.

Department Head Bones, clattering his teeth and making a fuss.

『Total Betting Amount Rank』

『72nd Penal Enforcement Department Joy – 12179 Gold』

Soon Krauser frowned.

“72nd place, that doesn’t seem that high.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! For the betting amount rank to rise to a two-digit number in a first appearance in the manager promotion examination, only Prince Zagreus and Department Head Theseus of Headquarters have done so far!”

“Th-that was it? I didn’t know at all!”

“And the one who finishes with the #1 betting rank at the last moment of the examination, regardless of the promotion examination results, is given the glorious qualification to have an interview with the CEO!”

…What!?

I might meet the terrifying CEO whose name I can’t even mention?

For me, with my awkward relationship with Melinoye nim, that was something to avoid more than anything else.

‘Thankfully, I’m still 72nd….’

Phew, first, let’s drink some water.

Calm down.

As I gulped down water, someone slapped me hard on the back.

“For a first-timer, you’re very confident! Usually, those participating in the promotion examination for the first time often can’t even drink water due to pressure. You’re full of composure. As expected, my rival!”

【The One Who Bears the Curse of War and Death】

【Manager Admetus of Charon Transport】

He was Admetus.

『Total Betting Amount Rank』

『2nd Transport Department Admetus – 666575』

His record, reflected on the electronic display board visible from his side profile, was dazzling.

A clear winning candidate.

He said to me.

“Manager Joy, I will absolutely not lose this competition. Because I have a reason I absolutely cannot lose.”

No, telling me that won’t do any good.

It was an embarrassing moment in many ways.

“Perpetual manager Admetus has marked him as an opponent? That means…”

“A…a winning candidate! Because everyone Admetus has marked as an opponent so far has won!”

“What’s that man’s name!?”

“It’s Manager Joy! They say it’s Manager Joy of the Penal Enforcement Department!”

Clink-.

Clink-.

69th, 51st—.

My betting rank suddenly began to rise rapidly!

『Total Betting Amount Rank』

『3rd Penal Enforcement Department Joy – 552179 Gold』

What the Happy World!

Just kill me instead!