Genes Can't Be Fooled #2
“Astalote, how's the investigation into Hecate going?”
Early in the morning, Zagreus paid a visit to Audit Team 2. It was a sudden drop-in from the CSO, but Astalote—who had by now fully adapted to the company—handled it with effortless poise.
“The search of Hecate's residence is underway, but any key intel should all be in the report I submitted yesterday.”
Flip—. Zagreus unfolded the report he'd brought along. To sum up its contents:
1. Hecate held nearly 40% in shares but lost most of them due to some incident.
2. With her shares drastically reduced, Hecate obsessed over acquiring more to maintain her divine authority.
3. Tartarus approached her—or perhaps she reached out to them first.
4. Hecate attacked the goddess Artemis, absorbing her authority to bolster her own power.
“Keep in mind, this is just my summary pieced together from the evidence we've found so far—pure speculation. The real truth will only come out once we catch the culprit and grill them.”
Astalote took a cautious step back. But Zagreus the prince had a gut feeling that the truth they'd uncover wouldn't stray far from what was written there. And his instincts were usually spot-on.
“The goddess of boundaries, Hecate, was a big name even back in my family's company, Hellven Company. How the hell did she end up losing all her authority and power?”
Astalote rifled busily through the towering stacks of documents. Nowhere in them was there any detail on the circumstances of Hecate's downfall.
Zagreus paused at the obvious question, then shook his head.
“Astalote, the past doesn't matter right now—what matters is what's coming next. Like this poster here.”
KARIKLO ACADEMY SUMMER INTENSIVE COURSES NOW OPEN!
Enrolling Students & Teachers—Rave Reviews!
A school poster found at Hecate's house. Zagreus had no doubt that she and Tartarus were targeting this “Kariklo Academy” next.
And that was the problem.
“From what I hear, there's someone there with ties to you, Astalote. Maybe Tartarus is trying to make contact with him...?”
“I don't even want to imagine it.”
Astalote shuddered. She thought back to her days at Hellven Company. A hellhole teeming with all sorts of demons. And among those demons, one was feared above the rest.
When she heard that that one had come to study abroad in Soul Society, Astalote couldn't believe it. A walking disaster bomb like him, studying abroad?
'Maybe they shipped him off under the guise of 'study abroad' just like they exiled me here as a 'temporary dispatch' to get rid of their headache.'
He was utterly uncontrollable. He'd abused his status to cause all sorts of chaos, sparking “major incidents.” Even his father couldn't rein him in.
So they had no choice but to banish him under the name of “study abroad.”
But what if the rebels from Tartarus crossed paths with him and joined forces? Astalote pictured the worst-case scenario.
“We have to stop Tartarus from contacting him. So why are you here right now? Shouldn't you be heading to the academy?”
“I'm busy, you know that. Don't worry—I've already sent the perfect guy for the job. Jo Iseo, the deputy director. That man knows exactly what needs doing.”
When the chairman told Jo Iseo he was sending him to Kariklo Academy, he didn't even ask what the mission was or why. He already knew full well.
'Just how much does that guy know—and about what?'
As Zagreus pondered, Astalote sank into her own thoughts.
The man called a “demon” here in Soul Society: Deputy Director Jo. And the hellraiser dubbed the “demon among demons” back at Hellven Company.
What would happen if those two met? It was impossible to predict.
'One of them might end up dead.'
Uneasy, Astalote resolved to wrap up her work early and check on things herself.
# # #
“There he is! The problem child!”
At the end of the direction Hedone pointed, a male student stood.
“That guy's one of the top troublemakers here at Kariklo Academy?”
He looked the part at a glance. Around 180cm, same height as me. Long black hair tied back, with horns sprouting from his forehead like a goblin's. Or rather, more like a devil.
“Doesn't look normal at first glance.”
“Right? Ever since I got temp-dispatched here as a student teacher, I've been through hell because of that guy. You have no idea.”
“What, you were on temp dispatch? Finally got demoted from Happy World? Should've quit doing your nails and Pilates during work hours.”
“Hey! Deputy Director Jo, come on! It's not a demotion—it's 'temp dispatch'! And you're hilarious! When did I ever do nails or Pilates on the clock?!”
Whack whack whack—!
Hedone pounded my back.
“Cough.”
I could finally understand how the moon felt after a meteor cratered it. One more joke and I'd be done in by a meteor punch.
Anyway.
“Want me to take you to meet the academy director first? I'll show you the way!”
“Nah.”
I strode straight toward the so-called problem child. Whatever it was, if even Hedone was at a loss with him, getting tangled up might just twist my fate in a bad way.
Of course, Hedone freaked out.
“Deputy Director Jo! No way!”
No way? That's exactly why I'm going.
As I approached, the male student tilted his head.
“Don't think I've seen you before. You from outside? If you're lost, I can show you around. Was just getting bored during lunch anyway.”
Bored during lunch? This guy's itching to stir up trouble!
A bloodthirsty demon would wear the exact same expression! Perfect! We're on the same wavelength. I accept your challenge!
“I'm Jo Iseo, deputy director in the Chairman's Secretariat at Soul Society. I'm here on business at Kariklo Academy, but I can tell at a glance—you're it.”
“Me? Business with little old me? I just transferred in, so I'm not up on Soul Society ranks, but... a deputy director in the Chairman's Secretariat? That's huge, right?”
The guy scratched the back of his head. If a lowly human like you bores me, you're dead—that's the vibe, right?
“Eek! That guy's approaching Junior!”
“We're doomed! Blood festival incoming!”
“Danger!”
Just from me talking to him, the academy's notorious delinquents were swallowed by fear. Some even bolted like rabbits.
Nice reactions.
That's when it happened.
“Oh, sorry. Forgot to introduce myself. I'm L. Junior. Just call me L or Junior, whichever.”
L. Junior. The name rings a bell for some reason. Not Greek mythology naming convention.
“I'm in 9th grade here at Kariklo Academy. Vice president of the Environmental Beautification Club. I like cleaning up trash.”
“You like cleaning up trash?”
“Yeah. Isn't it fun shoving all that filthy, disgusting garbage into the bin?”
He meant beating the crap out of all these problem kids until they were crumpled heaps. A hobby as violent as his looks. I liked it.
“Junior, looks like my job here just got crystal clear. Two days. I'll whip you into perfect shape in two days flat.”
“A great man like you, guiding me? What an honor. Please do—!”
L. Junior bowed deeply. Bring it on if you dare—that's the feel.
That's when Hedone yelled from afar.
“Deputy Director! Hurry! Hurry! Director Kariklo wants you in her office ASAP! Quick!”
# # #
The mentor of the heroes in Greek myth was Chiron. Half-man, half-horse centaur with top-notch teaching skills, he had famous pupils like Heracles and Theseus.
Chiron had a wife: the nymph Kariklo, who was an educator in her own right.
Her husband Chiron died and became a constellation. But Mrs. Kariklo didn't—she became a resident of Soul Society.
And here in Soul Society, just like on earth, she opened an academy—
That would be this “Kariklo Academy.”
I stared at the nameplate on the desk.
And at the woman lounging there, legs in slippers propped right up on it, looking smug.
'Not a director—more like a biker gang boss.'
Funky spiked blonde hair. Baggy, worn-out pink tracksuit. Cigarette dangling from her lips.
'One free-spirited married lady.'
First time seeing one like her. I'd figured the wife of Chiron would be some prim suit-and-glasses type.
Nope.
What really caught my eye were the baseball bats, axes, and bloodstained iron pipes scattered around. Wonder what those are for. Exactly what I'm thinking?
As I eyed things warily, the no-nonsense married lady Kariklo spoke up.
“Deputy Director Jo, huh. Big shot like you showing up. Finally decided to cough up some funding? Ever since the business renewal, education budget's been slashed—no AC, even. For us.”
“We'll talk funding later. Mrs. Kariklo—”
“Call me Teacher!”
“Teacher. I wanted to discuss student L. Junior.”
“Tch, straight to the problems? Deputy Director Jo, drop that kid. He's not someone we can handle. You'd need Prince Zagreus himself!”
“Prince Zagreus isn't coming. I'm here instead.”
“I know you're impressive from the rumors, but he's no match for a mere mortal. Ever heard of Hellven Company? Foreign corp.”
Hellven Company—
'Hell itself.'
The real hell crawling with demons. Astalote's home turf, right?
“That kid's the only son of Hellven Company's chairman.”
Hold up. Hellven Company chairman... that's on par with our CEO, right?
A bit more purely evil, on the dark side—
The son of that kind of being? So L. Junior's L stands for Lucifer.
What the hell, Hellven Company! Who the hell did I just pick a fight with!?
“So, wanna run?”
“Not at all. If anything, I'm hooked.”
“What?”
Now's not the time to play it safe. To escape this Soul Society, I'd shake hands with the devil himself!
“Give me two days. I'll have him fully reformed in two days. Just because his dad's an evil demon doesn't mean we give up on the kid. That's not my philosophy of education. Education is—!”
Education is—
I'd yelled it loud and proud, but my mind blanked on what came next.
Screw it, say anything!
“Education is turning birthright into effort! Proving anyone can change, anyone can improve—that's the essence of education!”
“Turning birthright into effort...? That's exactly what Chiron said when he proposed to me. My treasured words, not even in my autobiography. How do you know...?”
Married nymph Mrs. Kariklo's gaze toward me shifted.
Whatever it was, I'd scored points. And if those points plummeted dramatically, it'd make for better drama anyway!