episode_0055

055 – The Nightmare Goddess, Angered #2

The day before the shareholder meeting.

Alecto tapped Melinoye on the shoulder.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look good. You acted so confident, but are you nervous now that a big event is upon you?”

“I’m not afraid of shareholder meetings.”

Melinoye frowned intensely.

Alecto adjusted her wings and asked.

“Then what is it? No, let me guess. For the past two weeks, you’ve been taking out your device and checking it every time you had a moment, as if you were waiting for someone’s call.”

“I haven’t done anything like that.”

Melinoye frowned even more.

*Whoosh—.*

Her burning gaze resembled that of a terrifying CEO.

Perhaps blood ties truly couldn’t be deceived.

‘Most people would tuck their tails between their legs here, but—’

Alecto was a fearless goddess.

“You were upset because Assistant Manager Joy didn’t contact you, weren’t you? Shall I tell Melinoye to contact you when I go back to the office?”

“It’s not like that. But it is because of Assistant Manager Joy. Assistant Manager Joy dared to commit a rude act against me.”

“A rude act? Did he grab your hand without permission?”

“That fellow told me he liked nymphs. And he also said that a nymph quota system should be introduced.”

*Gasp—!*

Alecto gasped loudly.

Because uttering the ‘N-word’ in front of Melinoye was taboo.

But?

Alecto observed Melinoye with narrow eyes.

Melinoye was a goddess, but at the same time, she was also an ‘N-word’.

‘That fellow Joy made a bold confession.’

In other words.

Saying he liked nymphs in front of Melinoye was akin to confessing he liked Melinoye herself.

A mortal and an immortal goddess.

It was an act of daring courage in a situation where an enormous wall of status difference separated them.

“So what did you say in response?”

“I told him to back off.”

“Good. A fellow who dared to anger a goddess deserves punishment, right? Shall I go punish him more? I could even send him on a business trip to a harsh place.”

“There’s no need for that. Joy is already suffering a terrible punishment from me.”

“Oh? What kind of punishment?”

Could it be that she turned him into a hell cockroach?

After all, the executives of this Soul Society had turned despicable mortals into torture wheels of hell.

However, Melinoye’s story far exceeded Alecto’s expectations.

“Four days.”

“Four days?”

“I withdrew my attention from Joy for about four days. If he can’t receive attention from a goddess as perfect and beautiful as me for four days, it’s only natural for him to writhe in sorrow and despair, isn’t it?”

Alecto was about to say something but closed her mouth.

So she simply decided to nod.

“You’re right.”

“But despite committing such a sin, he still hasn’t apologized to me. If he contacts me first and begs for forgiveness, I, as a benevolent goddess, would be willing to forgive him.”

Alecto finally understood why Melinoye kept staring at her device.

“There goes Joy. Shall I go ask him why he hasn’t contacted you?”

“No, it’s fine. He’s probably so desperate from the fact that I dislike him that he can’t even compose himself properly. He’s surely not even eating properly.”

“He’s laughing heartily with a female colleague, though?”

*Flash—!*

Melinoye looked at the tip of Alecto’s finger.

However, Alecto’s finger, which Melinoye thought was pointing at Joy, quickly extended to just her middle finger.

“It’s a lie. Gotcha!”

“……”

Melinoye frowned deeply and kept her mouth shut.

Alecto patted Melinoye on the back.

“The shareholder meeting is starting now. I just told a joke to lighten the tension. And remember, our ‘Night Faction’ will remain neutral in this meeting. I’m not exactly taking your side.”

# # #

The conference room prepared at the main office.

*Click. Click-click—.*

Executives began to take their seats.

“Morose, present.”

“Hypnos from the Welfare Team, present.”

“Charon from Charon Transport. Present.”

“Honorary Director Nyx nim is entering.”

“Erebus nim is entering.”

Proto-genoi-level executives Nyx and Erebus also took their seats.

It was the first time so many executives had gathered in one place since the ‘Business Reform’.

If a mortal stood here, their heart would surely burst from the might of the gods.

Alecto’s sisters, the Erinyes, also straightened their relaxed postures and sat formally today.

“If I were a mortal, my lifespan would have been shortened.”

“Megaira, attention!”

*Click—.*

At that moment, a goddess with hair as dark as night and shining like stars in a violet-blue hue rose from her seat.

Nyx, the Goddess of Night and Honorary Director.

As she rose, executives classified as part of the Night Faction, including Alecto, also stood up.

Goddess Nyx spoke.

“The Chairman is entering. Everyone, stand.”

*Whoosh—. Groooowl—.*

The conference room door opened, and the CEO appeared.

His nickname, ‘King of the Underworld,’ was no exaggeration; his fearsome face and burning gaze were so terrifying that even some executives held their breath.

Beside him, a man wearing only a red cape and red briefs followed him in.

It was the man known as the ‘Little CEO,’ Prince Zagreus.

*Tsk—.*

Melinoye clicked her tongue.

The CEO seemed to head towards the prominent central seat at the long table, but then pulled out its chair.

“Zagreus, today, you lead this meeting. Because if you are the man who will one day inherit the ‘CEO’ position from me, then various experiences are necessary.”

“Not the Chairman, but Prince Zagreus?”

“Even with such a commotion, the succession plan remains unchanged, it seems.”

The executives began to murmur.

Zagreus took the chairman’s seat and then looked around.

“Then, everyone, please take your seats. Mother-in-law, you look even better than when I saw you last. Father-in-law also looks well. Is ‘Happy World’ a comfortable place to live?”

After the betrayal of Thanatos, the CEO of Happy World.

To cover up that incident, Proto-genoi-level executives were dispatched to Happy World.

Erebus and Nyx.

The couple are reportedly bringing the chaos to an end, with each taking on the roles of CEO and Vice CEO.

For reference, this couple also happened to be Zagreus’s father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Because Zagreus married Nyx’s daughter.

“Zagreus, in formal settings, I would appreciate it if you would address me by my exact title.”

The Goddess of Night smiled elegantly.

At that moment, murmurs spread through the surroundings.

“Nyx nim drew a line. Is it true that the ‘Night Faction’ decided not to side with Prince Zagreus at this meeting?”

“Princess Melinoye must have employed a formidable scheme.”

“I heard that fellow Joy played an active role. That mortal fellow who received the commendation.”

The meeting hall became noisy.

Then Prince Zagreus raised the gavel and struck the table with a bang.

“Good. Public and private matters are to be strictly separated. Thorough and meticulous work. I don’t dislike it either. Then let’s immediately discuss Thanatos, the former CEO of Happy World.”

Thanatos was the God of Death.

He was also an executive excellent enough to be counted among Goddess Nyx’s many children.

The participation of such a key figure in the rebel army.

It must be a painful mistake for the ‘Night Faction’ and its leader, Nyx, who were present here.

In other words—.

Prince Zagreus declared that he would deal with Nyx’s faction from an official standpoint, not as a relative by marriage.

This meant that Prince Zagreus’s faction and the Night Faction would officially become hostile.

Morose, the God of Doom, raised his hand and spoke.

“Prince Zagreus. You can’t say you have no responsibility for Thanatos’s betrayal, can you? Because we all know that Thanatos and you lived like brothers.”

“Yes! That’s right! As the head of the ‘Safety Management Team,’ how will you take responsibility for failing to prevent it beforehand!”

The executives began to clamor.

Then Nemesis, an executive of Prince Zagreus’s faction, raised her hand.

“We weren’t just sitting idle. But we have to admit what needs to be admitted. Because our brother Thanatos caused a commotion, the stock price of our Soul Society….”

“Nemesis! Are you saying you won’t side with your sisters and oppas?”

A chaos that broke out in an instant.

Alecto quietly watched the situation and fell into thought.

‘The only one who benefits from the fight between the two factions is Melinoye. Since Assistant Manager Joy got involved, everything has turned advantageous for Melinoye.’

Alecto strongly felt the presence of a mortal who, in a way, was even less significant than a trivial ant—even though he lacked the qualifications to participate in this place.

Wouldn’t Melinoye be feeling it even more?

At that moment, Melinoye raised her hand.

“I’d like to discuss future policies rather than this bogged-down debate about responsibility. Certainly, after Thanatos’s betrayal, our ‘Soul Society’’s stock price has been fluctuating wildly. I have a solution for that.”

A solution to stabilize the fluctuating stock price.

Everyone’s gaze was drawn to Melinoye at this astonishing, magic-wand-like proposal.

At this moment, everyone instinctively realized.

If Melinoye were to put forth a truly remarkable proposal, the seemingly solidified succession structure might change.

Just as everyone’s gaze focused on the Princess’s lips, Melinoye opened her mouth.

“…It is the introduction of the ‘Nymph Quota System’.”

“Huh?”

Alecto couldn’t help but frown.

Then Prince Zagreus laughed loudly.

“Pfft! Melinoye! You said nymphs are useless and just noisy. And you, proposing a nymph quota system. Are you in your right mind? If that was a joke to lighten the mood, it was quite successful.”

“It’s not a joke. And nymphs aren’t exactly useless and just noisy either. Zagreus, your secretary is a nymph too, so you should know well that nymphs are capable.”

“That’s true, but…”

Prince Zagreus subtly glanced around.

In his gaze, he saw executives trying to suppress their laughter or looking awkward.

“She says nymphs are capable…”

“I never thought Princess Melinoye would say such a thing. Isn’t that just her promoting herself as capable?”

“Right, Princess Melinoye is a goddess and a nymph.”

Laughter erupted here and there.

Alecto recalled that the ‘Nymph Quota System’ proposal Melinoye mentioned was Assistant Manager Joy’s idea.

In other words, for Joy’s dream, Melinoye endured ridicule at this very place, knowing she would be mocked.

It was an inconceivable thought for gods who valued their reputation as much as their lives.

‘Melinoye, to think you thought so much of Joy.’

However, Melinoye was serious.

“What’s so funny? I am speaking seriously. And if you fail to realize how valuable this proposal is, then you must be nothing more than that.”

“What did you say? ‘Nothing more than that’?”

“Princess, are you trying to persuade us or fight us?”

“Zagreus, tomorrow, hold an emergency shareholder meeting and invite Joy as a presenter. That man would be able to explain the potential of the ‘Nymph Quota System’.”

“What?!”

At this moment, Alecto was greatly astonished.

To put a mortal in front of countless executives was truly a tremendous gamble.

From a mortal’s perspective, it could be an opportunity to make a strong impression on the executives.

Conversely, it could also lead to being completely dismissed, making it no different from a poisoned chalice.

“My sister, the executives’ time is more precious than gold. If Joy’s presentation isn’t worth the time investment, how will you take responsibility?”

“That won’t happen. Because his proposed ideas always carry the certainty of success.”

“That’s considerable trust.”

“However, even if I say this, there will undoubtedly be fools who still don’t understand. Therefore, if this ‘Nymph Quota System’ fails to pass, I will relinquish all my shares.”

*Gasp—!*

Everyone gasped.

Relinquishing all shares was tantamount to resigning from her executive position and declaring that she would become as humble as a mortal.

# # #

“You scoundrel! This is no time to sleep!”

I was sleeping when someone violently pulled back my blanket.

A fearsome-looking man glared at me, and I thought I had died and the terrifying King Yama had come to take me himself.

But that wasn’t exactly wrong either.

Because the one who pulled back my blanket was the Chairman.

“Chairman? What brings you to my house?”

“Joy! The fate of the shareholder meeting and all nymphs residing in ‘Soul Society’ rests on you! And among all nymphs, my treasure of treasures is also included!”

“Who, me?”

“Yes! The future of ‘Soul Society’ rests in your hands!”

There’s no way something that big could fit in my hand.

Ah, this is a dream.

What an incredibly realistic dream.

What kind of nightmare is this?

So I just closed my eyes.