A Clever Trip to Hell (5):
"Honestly, you knew and ate it anyway!"
"Shut up!"
Somehow, I'd ended up plopped in the chair Hecate sis brought over, and watching this couple bicker was pure entertainment gold.
If they truly hated each other with a burning passion... well, that would've hurt my heart.
But no, even in their squabbling, you could see the affection shining through.
These kinds of marital spats are just so fun to spectate.
Woof!
The doggo, who'd been sitting next to me yawning just like me, slinked over sneakily.
And then it started licking my hand with that tongue of his.
Those pitiful eyes... yeah, he clearly wanted a taste of this cookie too.
'Dogs can eat anything, right? Should be fine.'
I casually went to hand the cookie over to doggo without a second thought.
"Hold on."
"Huh...?"
Hecate sis stopped me just as I was about to toss it.
She gave me a slightly stern look and said,
"That's bad news if you give that to a dog."
"It is...?"
"Yeah, it's dangerous for puppies."
A cookie dangerous for dogs? I was totally shocked.
I almost hurt doggo's health there...
I patted his head, conveying my apologies.
"Sorry, doggo... This cookie's... something only sis can eat, got it...?"
I stroked his head while apologizing, then crunched into the cookie deliciously.
After munching about three pieces?
"..."
"Anyway, stay in the room while I play with the angel for a bit."
"Fine..."
Finally, the lovey-dovey lovers' quarrel seemed to be wrapping up.
Persephone sis had clearly seized the upper hand.
She descended with majestic strides and scooped me up again.
"Ugh..."
I stayed good and still, careful not to drop my cookie.
"Aww, you cute little angel... You're just way too adorable..."
Hmm... Is that so...?
I just tilted my head without saying much, but Persephone beamed happily and spun me around in the air.
It felt just like riding an airplane.
"Whoooaa..."
My head was spinning round and round.
My halo spinning too.
In the midst of it, I spotted the gloomy guy staring jealously our way.
Looks like that uncle wants to play like this with Persephone sis too.
Hmm, I should tell her to do it for him later.
Whine...
"This okay...?"
"Yeah? It's fine."
"But doggo looks like he's struggling..."
"Don't worry. These guys aren't your average pups—they're tough."
I peered down at the triple doggo carrying both of us, tongue lolling out.
These little cuties who were originally tiny had grown to large-breed size after Persephone sis whispered some fancy words to them.
And now we were riding on their backs as they carried her.
But no matter how I looked at it, he didn't seem okay.
'Eh... hope he's alright...'
Still, Persephone sis knows more about these triple doggos than I do.
So I decided to stay quiet and behave.
Woof! Woof!
Our doggo was barking his head off beside us, like he was begging to carry us too—probably jealous of the triple doggo.
Gotta let doggo ride later too.
I dunno why he'd volunteer for such hard work, but with all that boundless energy, maybe he's the type to go looking for trouble.
Cawww!
"We greet the Queen."
"Queen of the Lowly Realms..."
"Hey, hi."
As Persephone and I traveled along, people started appearing bit by bit.
They looked like regular humans on the outside, but the difference? Their bodies were semi-transparent.
'Shades...'
Seeing actual dead folks in person felt kinda weird.
"Queen..."
They bowed their heads in reverence to us as we passed, regardless of nationality, race, or era.
One lady was in Joseon-era commoner clothes, and a young guy wore a tattered, worn military uniform.
"Huh... an angel?"
The ones who'd bowed without thinking all lit up when they spotted me.
'Whoa, that's embarrassing...'
As I started feeling awkward, Persephone answered nonchalantly.
"Everyone's just fascinated by our angel. There aren't any angels in our world."
"Really...?"
"Yeah, we have similar goddesses, but angels are only on the Abrahamic side. Oh, angel—which side are you from, anyway?"
"Huh?"
"Judaism, Christianity, or Islam?"
I just blanked out.
"Um..."
"Eh, no need to answer if you don't wanna."
"Nooo... It's not that I don't wanna..."
"Then?"
I hemmed and hawed before answering honestly.
"I... dunno really..."
"Huh?"
"Just... one day I woke up like this..."
"Hmm..."
Persephone sis stroked my hair silently for a bit, then asked,
"Hey, can you see when people are gonna die? Like, a feeling that this one's about to kick the bucket?"
I shook my head no.
She let out a relieved sigh.
"Good, you're not Azrael then."
"Who's Azrael...?"
"Oh, there's this angel our Thanatos hates with a passion. Anyway, you're not, so cool."
"Ohhh..."
I nodded and quietly munched my cookie.
I was curious about what kind of angel I am too.
That's why Han A-young and the Agency docs interviewed me, trying to figure it out.
But their conclusion? No clue.
If even those theology whizzes couldn't guess, how's memory-less me supposed to know?
These days, I'd given up digging and was just focusing on daily life.
"Hmm... I see. Well, you're cute, so it doesn't matter anyway."
Persephone listened to my answer and fiddled with my hair freely.
She braided one side, then made what folks call a "poop tail" bun.
"So, where we goin'?"
"Mm... Was gonna take you to Elysion originally."
I spotted Hecate sis, who'd been traveling with us, looking horrified.
"What's that place?"
"Oh, it's an amazing spot. Rolling meadows, all warm and fluffy."
"Ooo..."
"But... feels like we shouldn't go there."
"Aww."
The description made me wanna check it out, but wherever Persephone decided was fine with me—I nodded quick.
Throwing a fit now would be baby stuff.
I'm different!
"So, where then?"
"Mm..."
Persephone sis tapped my head thoughtfully, then asked,
"Angel, you like listening to songs?"
"Songs...?"
I've never been big on music.
Just whatever pop's playing on the street or leaks from video sites sometimes.
But hell music? That piqued my interest.
"Yeah, we've got this incredible musician in hell. Her bloodline alone is legendary."
If Persephone sis calls her that, how amazing must she be?
I nodded eagerly.
"Wanna see!"
Left, right—everywhere, buildings decked out in solid gold.
'They got money...'
Having grinded gold ore in block games, I was impressed at how much they'd have to mine for this.
How rich do you gotta be to build like that?
My gacha game's pickup banner was ending soon, and my gems weren't enough for a full pull.
I'd been subtly nagging Han A-young for cash top-ups, but kept getting shot down.
If I could snag even a tiny bit of this gold, I'd multi-pull easy...
Lost in such thoughts, I held Persephone's hand and entered the theater.
Tons of seats filled with shades who screamed old money.
"Queen... this way, please..."
"Sure."
Normally, no seats left—but Persephone sis's power is hell's strongest!
Hand in hand, we headed to VIP.
'Neat...'
I'd seen shows as a kid, but front row like this? First time.
Felt like the stage was right in my face.
"A joint performance by Orpheus and Eurydice coming up!"
With the cheery announcer's cue, the stage curtains parted, revealing a handsome duo hand in hand.
"We greet the Queen. Any song you'd like to hear today...?"
They bowed politely to Persephone sis and asked her request.
"Angel, anything you wanna hear?"
She passed the baton to me.
Of course I have faves...
But would ancient-clothes folks know 'em?
"Those two know every song, don't worry."
"Mm... then..."
I fidgeted my fingers and said,
"The Twinkle Twinkle Catch! TeenyPing opening..."
"Eh...? Uh... yeah. Can you do it?"
The guy glanced at the air, then smiled warmly.
"Of course."
"...!"
I was stunned.
Uncle knows TeenyPing too...?
With all the old folks and solemn vibe, I'd figured classical stuff.
Expectations toned down—but TeenyPing knowledge changes everything.
Eyes sparkling, I waited, and the familiar tune started flowing.
"My heart~"
The pretty sis sang it close to the original but with her own flair.
"Whoaaa..."
Excitement made my wings flap on their own.
No way... hearing this for real!
"Whaddya think? Good, right?"
"It's the best..."
Wish I had a light stick—bummer, no luck.
"Princess my~"
"Mm..."
This upbeat melody's got me itching to join in...
I tugged at happily grinning Persephone sis's collar.
"Hm? What's up?"
"Got anything to cheer along with...?"
"Just say the word, I'll get you anything."
Hmm... what'd be good for cheering?
I blurted the first thing that popped up.
"Horn pipe."
"..."
"Horn pipe sounds perfect...?"
"Pfft..."
Persephone sis spit out her juice the second she heard me.
Spitting juice mid-sip? Even she has her clumsy moments...
