126 – In the Battle Where Promised Victory is Sealed #3
Melinoë's confinement lasts ten years. Is it even possible for anyone to stay cooped up inside without stepping out for a full decade? I'd seen those MeTube videos like "Locked in a Warehouse for 100 Days for $50,000" blowing up as popular content. That alone proved how tough it is to live like a shut-in.
Of course, for executives who've lived forever, ten years might feel like a mere ten days. But for me? I'd lose my mind.
Do I actually crave freedom more than I thought?
Looking back, my desperation to escape this Soul Society wasn't just about returning to the surface to see my family. I'd only just realized it now, but apparently, I hated confined, stuffy spaces.
"No one is allowed in the princess's temple."
"Step back."
Before I knew it, we'd arrived at the New Moon and Ghost Temple. Skeleton guards dispatched from the Safety Management Team were defending it with ironclad vigilance.
"It's Manager Jo. I have some business with Lady Melinoë. Any chance for a quick visit?"
"No."
"It's Chairman's orders—I have no choice."
I tried pulling rank as manager, but the guards' glowing eyes didn't even flicker. Meeting the goddess wouldn't be easy, it seemed.
As that thought crossed my mind, one of the skeleton guards poked my side with a poke.
"But we can tell you there's a roughly thirty-second gap when we switch shifts with the next crew."
"If someone slipped in during that time, we might not notice and let them get away."
What? That was basically an open invitation to sneak in.
I scanned their bony faces, and the guards sheepishly scratched the backs of their skulls.
"Our kids go to Kari Kle Academy. They finally got an A on the last exam for the first time."
"Thanks to all your hard work there, Manager Jo, they've really gotten into studying."
Come on, what did I even do there? Whatever it was, my luck was holding.
About ten minutes later, the guards stepped away briefly for their shift change. Seizing the moment, I crouched low and whoosh—slipped into the Ghost Temple.
If anyone catches me like this, my own punishment is sealed!
But not yet. I still needed to meet Melinoë and ask about the secret sauce that got her this confinement punishment from the Chairman.
So I flattened myself, dodging the skeleton CCTVs scattered everywhere.
Never thought I'd end up crawling like a hell cockroach!
A bit humiliating. But knowing this humiliation would one day buy my freedom, I endured.
This time, I'd definitely make it back to the surface. As I crept through the temple with that resolve—
"Ditch ditch ditch water, clear ditch water—."
A seductive voice sang strange lyrics in a mesmerizing tone, like silver beads rolling on a jade tray. Drawn in like I'd been enchanted, I arrived at what seemed to be the temple's living room.
And there was Lady Melinoë, rustling around with something.
"Gasp—!"
I nearly stopped breathing in shock. She was wearing baggy red track pants, lying sideways on the living room floor, rummaging through a bag of snacks.
Near the "Honey Potato Chips" lay a mess of comic books.
"JoJoNoi's Bizarre Adventure".
A pair of oversized round glasses perched on her face. Her hair was tied back, revealing pointed ears like a nymph's. Even in this state, inexplicable singing continued from her lips.
"Stream stream stream water—. Muhuhu…. The World. Immortality. Stand power—."
It was straight out of some Neapolitan ghost story—the kind where you drop flat, cover your ears, and shut your eyes the moment you encounter it!
Even the perfect, beautiful goddess lounged casually when alone at home. Of course, she was still drop-dead gorgeous in a way no ordinary person could touch.
Damn, so this is what they mean by different racial stats!
As I thought that, Melinoë's eyes met mine.
"……."
"……."
Time froze in that instant. But only for a moment—Melinoë sprang up from her spot and dashed into her room.
About a minute passed.
Perfect Goddess Melinoë, descending.
She emerged in a pretty dress, hair perfectly groomed. Her pointed nymph ears had returned to normal. Of course, snack bags and comics still littered the floor at her feet.
Shoo shoo shoo—she casually kicked them under the sofa.
Her mouth never stopped moving.
"I'm gunning for CEO. To reach the top, it's vital to experience life at the eye level of ordinary citizens. This was merely fieldwork—an experiment."
"Ah. I see. A most perfect experiment, indeed."
"So, Jo, what brings you to me during my confinement? Sneaking in despite the no-access order. It doesn't matter to me, but it could spell trouble for you."
That snapped me back to reality. I'd been half-soul-out-of-body from the shocking sight, but I had to fulfill my purpose here.
"I heard you got ten years' confinement from the Chairman over what happened at the shareholders' meeting. I was curious about the details."
"Jo, you admire and adore me so much that you worried about me. You came despite knowing the Chairman's wrath."
Oh yeah, scoring points with Melinoë again. But this was a sacrifice for the greater good—my own escape.
"Lady Melinoë, what exactly happened? You said at the shareholders' meeting that you'd topple Prince Zagreus and secure the succession."
"That's how it was supposed to go. But at the last second, my father slammed the brakes. He must have been scared—afraid his own daughter would threaten his throne."
"Pardon?"
"My plan was far too perfect. That was the problem. I had no intention of succeeding to CEO as ordinarily as Zagreus. So Father checked me."
In other words, if Melinoë became successor, she'd yank the Chairman down immediately? That's why he slapped her with confinement to rein her in?
If true, it was one hell of a story.
Melinoë sat on the sofa.
"Now it's clear. My rivals aren't just Zagreus. My father, sitting in the Chairman's seat, is a competitor too. But they've overlooked something."
"Overlooked…?"
"You, Jo. They never imagined someone utterly devoted to me like you would come sneaking in. Of course, I foresaw it."
She sure didn't look like it. My eyes were still drawn to the pile of snack bags and comics at her feet.
"Ten years' confinement? I have no intention of accepting that meekly. You're furious too, Jo, at not seeing your goddess for a decade. That's why you're here."
What should I say? Let's simulate denying it first.
—Not mad about being apart for ten years? Then you deserve a horrific punishment, Jo. Turn into a hell cockroach! Yap!
—Scraaaape! Nope, worst-case scenario.
So I bowed my head flat and said,
"I think the punishment you received is unjust, Lady Melinoë. What if I carried out the plan you were pushing?"
"You, Jo?"
"Show the Chairman and everyone how brilliant and extraordinary you are. Execute your plan perfectly, and they'll all recognize your true worth."
I had no clue what the plan was, but it clearly pissed off the Chairman! If I botched it? Firing confirmed.
Just imagining it sent thrills down my spine. Was it my imagination, or did I glimpse the Statue of Liberty waving at me from afar? She looked just like Mom. The scent of doenjang jjigae bubbling with cheongyang peppers and beef wafted over—smell of home!
Right then, moisture welled in Melinoë's eyes.
"Jo, I thought I knew your devotion to me well enough. But I never dreamed it ran so deep you'd turn the entire Soul Society system against you for me."
Her big eyes looked ready to spill tears any second. Melinoë crying? This was serious!
"Jo, if you insist that much, I have no choice."
Jingle—Melinoë pulled a key from her coin purse.
"There's a new business plan in my office desk drawer. A plan only a perfect goddess like me could execute—but you could surely take it on and get started."
"Indeed!"
"And on your way out, could you toss these? I've fully mastered commoners' tastes and hobbies now—these are obsolete."
She handed me the comics and snack bags. As I took them, I noticed her foot twitching.
"I'd love to, but to sneak out undetected, I need my hands free. Sorry."
"Then no helping it. I'll dispose of them myself."
"Lady Melinoë, I'll take my leave. I'll bring good news soon."
Shoo—I bowed to her and slipped out of the temple.
Crunch crunch—Once back on the street, I could finally breathe.
"Jo Iseo here. Survived the ghost house."
Jingle—The key in my hand felt reassuring. Open her desk drawer, and my ticket to the surface—firing—awaited.
I headed straight to her office, not forgetting to call the Chairman on the way.
"Yes, Chairman's Secretariat."
"Ah, L. Junior?"
"Manager Jo! How have you been? Thanks to your recommendation, I'm working in the Chairman's secretariat now!"
"Glad to hear it. Could you pass one message to the Chairman? Someone violated the no-approach order on Lady Melinoë—."
"Wh-who would dare do something so reckless…?"
"Just say that, and the Chairman will get it."
Muhaha! Couldn't hold back the laugh. Before long, I reached Melinoë's office.
Slide—Opened the drawer, and there it was: a thick file labeled "Entertainment Dept".
Gather souls and ghosts who want reincarnation en masse.
"Game Pod"
Grant winner reincarnation.
Flip—I unfolded it, joy uncontained. Then my body froze at the contents.
"……."
That was it? I rifled through for more, but nope—that was the whole plan.
This was Melinoë's perfect plan?
My soul nearly vacated my body. But thinking about it, a goddess like her naturally thought on a different level. Mortals and gods had different racial stats from the start.
This might actually work in my favor. I'll half-ass implementing her plan. It'll piss off the Chairman and make Melinoë hate me.
Ooooh—my own idea, but perfect.
Right then—
Crunch—Someone sneaked into Melinoë's office. A thief?
Our eyes met.
"Huh, Manager Jo!"
"…Hedone?"
"You here scavenging epic loot from Princess Melinoë's office too? Hehehe. We're on the same wavelength! With her confined ten years, now's prime time for looting an empty house!"
Hedone rubbed her nostril with her index finger. Stealing ideas from someone else's office, and bragging about it so boldly.
Truly, goddess racial stats were beyond a mortal like me.
But? Perfect timing.
"Hedone, let's do a job together starting now."