episode_0039

039 – Internal War! # 1

A retaliatory audit is expected from the audit team.

How terrifying and strict it will be.

They will dig up every sin, real and imagined, and impose disciplinary action.

Even I, known as a competent deputy manager, won’t be able to endure it.

Can a mere mortal like me endure in this war?

“However! I will never run away!”

A glorious death.

Firing.

That is the fate I desire.

Hedone, a junior employee, grabbed my arm and cried, whining.

“Deputy Manager Joy nim, you fool! Why on earth are you going so far! What is the reason you’re doing so much for this company and its employees!”

“That is─.”

A piercing gaze.

I felt a chilling gaze, so I turned my head to see Melinoye nim watching my and Hedone’s farce with fiercely burning eyes.

That gaze was like a ‘Goddess Thermal Power Plant’ fueled with plenty of dry firewood….

“Woah! Look at those blazing eyes! Our Goddess must also have been impressed by Deputy Manager Joy’s declaration! I, Krauser, known for being good at social life and quick-witted, can tell!”

“Hedone, let go for now.”

I made the junior employee Hedone let go.

If there’s one strategy I, who desires dismissal and disciplinary action, will never use, it’s a sexual harassment scandal.

Given the work environment of ‘Happy World’, getting caught in a sexual harassment scandal would lead directly to dismissal and disciplinary action.

Conversely, Melinoye nim might say, “A disloyal employee like you, become a wheel of hell, zap!” and split my head.

So I tried to make Hedone let go, but this girl, like a rhinoceros beetle stuck to tree sap, wouldn’t let go easily!

“Deputy Manager Joy nim! You can’t die! Ugh-huh-huh-huh-.”

Why would I die?

Hedone, you brat, saying ominous things.

At that moment, Melinoye nim let out a soft “hmm” sound.

“It seems Deputy Manager Joy is trying to do something reckless, but that’s absolutely not the case. Because Deputy Manager Joy is someone with a clear goal of rising up. He doesn’t fight battles he can’t win. So don’t make a fuss.”

*Clap, clap.*

“Then everyone return to your seats and prepare for the audit.”

# # #

Goddess Melinoye walked through the garden of Happy World, which was created after the business reform.

Although she had jet-black hair.

Strangely, she blended well with the flower garden.

That was because she was the daughter of Persephone, the Goddess of Verdure.

Mothers and daughters tend to resemble each other.

As Alecto, the Goddess of Vengeance, resembled her own mother.

So Alecto had an undeniably cruel side.

“Our princess might soon cry loudly, just like when she separated from her mother, you know? Because this audit is going to be incredibly strict.”

“I’ve never cried, Alecto. Unlike my brother, I was a perfect and flawless goddess from birth.”

“Hmm, I’ll grant you that. Besides, even though you received Nyx’s feather, aren’t you calmer than expected? Or, are you so flustered that you’ve gone completely mad?”

*Giggles.*

Alecto and her sisters, the Erinyes, were the first employees of the audit team.

So, she knew better than anyone how harsh their determined investigations were.

There couldn’t possibly be anyone who could endure that.

Even a great executive.

But Melinoye rather scoffed at Alecto.

“Rather than worrying about me, it would be better to take care of yourself. Since Deputy Manager Joy declared he would confront directly, it means he won’t be holding back.”

“Huh? Is this the time to worry about us? Hey! This war is happening because of that Deputy Manager Joy, who has several times undermined the authority of our audit team!”

“That’s that man’s maneuver. Deputy Manager Joy is hungry for achievements, like a lion searching for water. As a target to bite, you, the easiest target in the head office, have been chosen.”

*Narrowing of eyes.*

Princess Melinoye narrowed her red eyes.

Alecto exploded in anger.

“Huh? Are you saying our audit team has become prey to be eaten by a mere mortal? You bloody lump of a girl! When you were in the womb, I was─.”

“There are plenty of problems within the audit team, aren’t there? With the ‘business reform’, why do you think they brought in a ‘horned woman’ from the collaborating company? It’s to keep the rotten audit team in check, isn’t it?”

“Ju… Just shut up! Humph! Anyway. Our princess seems to like that mortal named Joy quite a lot. Could it be that you’ve fallen in love? How romantic─.”

“Not at all. I am the thorough incarnation of nightmares. I don’t specially think of any one employee or have any intention of favoring them. I’m just making a corresponding investment in a competent employee.”

“Oh, look over there, Deputy Manager Joy is walking with a female employee?”

*Whisk!*

Princess Melinoye’s gaze moved, following Alecto’s fingertip.

Of course, there was no one.

“Oh? It must have been my mistake.”

“…….”

*Frowning.*

Melinoye frowned.

*Bristling.* When her hair bristled, Alecto gasped.

Because it felt like the ‘terrifying nightmare Melinoye’, who once fought with Zagreus over the successor position, had returned.

This kind of Melinoye must absolutely never be provoked further or made angry.

Otherwise, every night, she might have to spend a terrifying time.

‘…But, isn’t she cute?’

Alecto, the Goddess of Judgment, liked to torment various things.

Cute things naturally make one want to torment them more.

“Deputy Manager Joy walking with a female employee seems to interest you so much, doesn’t it? Come to think of it, when an unmarried employee rises to the level of deputy manager, I hear marriage proposals come in from all over.”

“Bees and butterflies are bound to flock to fragrant flowers. To excellent employees, it’s natural that envy and popularity follow accordingly. For butterflies gathering on a flower, neither the flower nor the butterfly can be blamed.”

“Right, right. Come to think of it, if it’s someone like Deputy Manager Joy, I wonder if he’s not an exemplary hero unseen for centuries. He seems worthy of receiving my interest and affection. Shall I also become a butterfly?”

“What?”

“If that fellow gets severely hit in this audit and loses his job, taking him into my house as an exclusive butler doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Hmm, shall I consider it─.”

“There’s no way Joy will be fired. Rather, Nyx’s faction, it’s you who had better prepare yourselves. If Joy’s integrity is revealed during this audit, you will lose your stake.”

The shareholding of Nyx’s faction is approximately 200%.

This total exceeded the CEO’s sole shareholding of 91 percent.

Such great individuals supported Zagreus, not Melinoye, in the succession structure.

Ultimately, the ridiculous ‘business reform’ was implemented.

Zagreus.

To bring him down, first, his influence, the Nyx faction, had to be overthrown.

‘Deputy Manager Joy understood that and caused this situation. He made the lazy Nyx faction move. It’s like he created an opportunity that looks like a crisis for me.’

At that moment, Alecto *fluttered* and spread her wings wide.

She seemed to be returning to her workplace.

“Humph! Then go ahead and show that so-called miracle! But the one in charge of this audit is my brother Apate. If he gets his hands on him, your cherished Joy will also be torn to shreds.”

Apate.

The mastermind of the Head Office’s Strategic Planning Department and the one called the god of deceit and trickery.

He was a man famous for his extremely cruel schemes, not caring about means or methods for his objectives.

“……Joy.”

# # #

“Bones nim, section chief, you were originally from the head office’s audit team, weren’t you?”

“That’s right!”

“How is it over there? Like the office atmosphere or work policies.”

“Deputy Manager Joy, ‘Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win a hundred battles’—is that it? Indeed, he’s a thorough man! To already be trying to grasp the enemy’s movements! Everyone, learn from this!”

In my opinion, there were problems in the audit team.

Problems like ostracism and factions.

‘Asterohte is the evidence.’

In the first place, what was the reason they brought in executive-level talent from a collaborating company?

Why only for the audit team?

This matter was caused by the meticulous Prince Zagreus, who was shrewd enough to win the succession war against Melinoye nim.

There must be a proper reason.

There must have been a problem that required it, right?

And where such problems exist, incidents always happen.

‘Incidents always bring about stormy dismissals or disciplinary actions. I wish I could find an angle to jump into that storm.’

But Section Chief Bones nim seemed to have a strange misunderstanding.

“…Surely you not only plan to fend off the head office’s audit team, but genuinely intend to bite them back and win in return?”

Did he think my interest in the audit team meant I intended to fight and win against them?

It’s the opposite, you see.

I just wanted to thoroughly understand the audit team’s habits and then pick out and do only the things they hated.

Soon, Section Chief Bones nim shook his head.

“Don’t, Joy, it’s better not to dig too deep into the darkness of the audit team. Especially in the matters of the ‘Night Faction’, it’s better not to even get involved─.”

Section Chief Bones nim gasped and covered his mouth with his skeletal fingers.

And then he looked around and hastily cautioned me.

“Pretend you didn’t hear what I just said. That will be good for your personal well-being too.”

“Yes? Why?”

“…In this Soul Society, there are plenty of dangerous things just by trying to know them. Taboos, I mean. For example, things like the types of food Cerberus eats….”

Section Chief Bones nim was trembling a lot.

What are Cerberus’s food types that make him so scared?

However, it seemed certain that there were more problems than expected in the audit team.

Shall I subtly probe?

“Surely, Section Chief nim, you were very successful at the head office, being demoted here—is it perhaps because of that ‘Night Faction’? And Section Chief nim’s contemporary, Kelton ssi, being cut from the company and becoming self-employed also…?”

“Oh-oh! I cannot tell you more! You too, don’t dig any deeper! I’m afraid your competence might ruin you!”

Dangerous taboos, just by trying to know them.

To think the gold vein I needed to dig was at the head office, not just anywhere.

“So, Deputy Manager Joy, this time, in what way do you intend to surprise everyone? Surely if it’s you, you must have thought of an amazing strategy that I, with my empty skull, couldn’t even imagine?”

“Of course. Everyone, just trust me. And if you needlessly make a fuss and show signs of being flustered, enemies will easily find our weaknesses and bite us. So everyone, just carry on as usual.”

“With an internal audit ahead, you’re telling us to carry on as usual. Meaning, don’t take any countermeasures─. Are you saying that now? Huh?”

Section Chief Bones nim’s eyes sparkled blue with disbelief.

Other employees also murmured, showing expressions of concern.

If the forelock of opportunity was visible, it would be right now.

“As usual is fine. As usual. If anything happens, I will take full responsibility! So there’s no need to work overtime today either!”

“…We don’t have to work overtime?”

“Today too? Tomorrow too?”

“In that sense, today, instead of overtime, shall we have a company dinner? I’ll pay for everything. Everyone, tell me if there’s anything you want to eat!”

“Oh, oh, oh!”

“Me, I’d like golden granular caviar with truffles. A while ago, my friend boasted about eating it from a high-end establishment… but with my salary, it’s too expensive….”

A high-end establishment?

Hedone, is that charming junior planning to empty my pockets?

But─.

“Good! Let’s go! Go!”

“Jo, Joy! You! After becoming a deputy manager, you’ve become so generous!”

“Hiyah, I, Markius, truly acknowledge you!”

*Squealing.*

The office atmosphere instantly brightened.

*Rushing.*

I exited, taking everyone to the company dinner venue.

No one would know.

In fact, that I had no plan or strategy.

Time flew by like an arrow.

Before long, four days later, it was the day of the audit.

The audit team employees, like demon Rakshasas, burst in.

Now, reveal all my sins and wrongdoings and fire me!

“I am Apate, the Managing Director of the Strategic Planning Department, in charge of this audit. I am also called the god of deceit. Before starting the audit, Deputy Manager Joy, I have a word for you─.”

The executive, with deep dark circles under his eyes.

He got angry at me.

“When and where on earth did you plant a mole among us! Making us distrust each other and fight! Deputy Manager Joy, you devilish fellow!”

What is this nonsense now?

I just didn’t prepare for the audit and just played and ate every day.