135 – Horror Summer Vacation #5
Charybdis, restored to her divine form as a goddess, turned out to be a stunning beauty. Tall and slender, she looked just like a model. Me, married to a goddess like that?
"My daughter hasn't found anyone suitable all this time, and I heard you haven't had a wedding either, Manager Jo. You two tying the knot would be perfect! No complications in the world at all!"
Poseidon, the man vast as the sea itself, laughed heartily—pahahahaha—as if he'd just dropped the ultimate solution.
Ignoring the parties involved, it was actually a pretty decent conclusion. Stories of princes lifting curses and marrying princesses were a dime a dozen in myths and fairy tales.
"Marriage to the eldest daughter of the Sea King Poseidon...!? Jo, my brother! The maritime realm holds as much authority and wealth as the underworld!"
"It's a proposal too grand even to call excessive for a mere human."
Everyone was too busy marveling or gasping at the situation. The problem was, to me, it felt like a noose tightening around my neck.
Marriage to Charybdis? Suppose I bit the bullet and accepted. Then my dream of everyday life back on Earth would vanish forever. I might never set foot on dry land again, doomed to live in some underwater palace like the Dragon King's.
"Great King of the Seas! Might I humbly ask one question? Marriage is a grave matter. Shouldn't the wishes of those involved come first...?"
The Three Gods were old-school fathers. Back then, did the couple's opinions even matter? In the Greek worldview, if a father said to his son or daughter, "Marry that one," you just did it.
But! Charybdis was Poseidon's treasured pearl of the sea. When she returned to her true form, even knowing it might undermine a supreme god's dignity, he'd wept like crashing waves. Proof positive. If his daughter, whom he wouldn't trade for the world, found this marriage proposal distasteful? Even Poseidon might reconsider.
In that brief moment, I'd crafted a response that honored the gods' proposal without being rude—and I was impressed with myself.
"The parties' opinions, eh? I suppose I got carried away with my own joy! Charybdis, what do you think? Speak freely about the rewards I'd bestow on Manager Jo!"
"I—"
All eyes turned to the model-like sea goddess. Her cheeks flushed faintly.
"Father, ever since I became a monster, I figured marriage was out of the question for life. But now that a rare chance has come my way again, why not give it a shot?"
What the...!? As bold in spirit as she was in stature—a total cool customer! Was marriage something you tackled with the mindset of leaping off a cliff for a bungee jump?
"Besides, Manager Jo showed me kindness even when I was hideous as a monster. He's got a heart as wide as the ocean. Unlike those who fawned over my beauty and lineage, only to abandon me once I turned. A man like that would make a fine husband, I'd say."
Unbelievable! Inviting Charybdis on vacation had come back to strangle me! I was so unjustly flustered, my vision went dark.
"Kahahaha! Yes! A man with a heart vast as the sea! A vital virtue indeed. Jo, my daughter seems content with this marriage, so let's proceed with the ceremony at once!"
No. At this rate, Poseidon's pressure would turn me into a married man! Had to be some way out...!
That's when Hedone barged into the conversation.
"Hey, you can't just steamroll ahead like that! What if Manager Jo already has someone in his heart? Like... me, for instance!"
That's not it. But damn, her timing was perfect—classic MZ-gen employee, blurting whatever without a care for optics. Clutch.
Everyone's gazes shifted uneasily. Most were sneaking peeks at Melinoë's expression. Finally, she broke the long silence.
"Manager Jo is a key asset to Soul Society. Dragging away such a vital person without consulting us—or even asking him— is unacceptable."
"Niece. Why bother asking him? Look at my daughter. I say she's stunningly beautiful. What man would turn down a chance to marry her?"
What confidence! And it met an even greater confidence in return!
"Manager Jo will refuse. Because he's the type who's grinding to stay in Soul Society forever. Even aiming for an executive spot. Right?"
I didn't want to stay in Soul Society forever! It felt like Minesweeper—my whole surroundings were bombs. One wrong word, even a breath, and boom.
Then puhaha—Charybdis burst out laughing.
"You all took my joke so seriously, I can't hold back the laughs! It was a joke. A joke!"
Kakakaka—the statuesque beauty clutched her stomach, howling.
"A joke?"
"You mean it was all a lie?"
The mood stirred restlessly. Charybdis wiped away pearl-like tears and added,
"Would I, freshly freed from a curse, marry some mortal? It shouldn't even happen. Manager Jo, you're impressive, but you're not quite there for a goddess yet."
Someone calling me inadequate? It soothed my soul like an angel's whisper.
"Did you seriously think a puny mortal like a sea squirt or anemone could marry a great goddess like me?"
Getting insulted had never felt this good. Ahhh! I might awaken to some weird fetish!
But—Melinoë bristled instead.
"Manager Jo is more than enough. Spending so long as a monster must've dulled your eyesight. A wise goddess sees the mighty tree in even the smallest seed."
"A seed's a seed, and a tree's a tree."
Crackle—lightning sparked from the princesses' glares.
Hedone jumped in too.
"What's with the seed and tree talk? I prefer flowers!"
Chaos. The atmosphere was primed to explode. Charybdis huffed disinterestedly first.
"Have a fun vacation, everyone. Manager Jo, separate from the marriage nonsense, I won't forget the favor you did me. I'll personally protect this beach. No more monsters approaching."
###
Dusk had fallen. Sapak, sapak—Charybdis padded barefoot along the sand.
Men halted in their tracks, stealing glances at her face wherever she passed. A peerless beauty, yet she exuded an icy wall no one dared breach. Even massive sea creatures and king octopuses fled at the sight of her from afar—her presence was that overwhelming.
Only one man could approach her: her father, Poseidon.
"Daughter, you sure you're okay? You seemed pretty taken with that man. In this post-god era, finding a guy with a hero's heart isn't easy."
"What? He's just an inadequate mortal—that's fact. Anyway, I've been thinking about some old stocks I hold. Shipwrecks and such."
"Stocks?"
"Shipwrecked pirates' souls as water ghosts straddle the underworld and deep sea, right? So the underworld and ocean split responsibility."
"True. Water ghosts often become grudge spirits bound to their death spot, sparking disputes between sea and underworld. Why?"
"I remember holding decent shares in shipwrecks and pirate ghosts. I sank plenty of pirate ships, after all. Can I exchange these for equivalent Soul Society shares?"
"Sure. Post-'Business Renewal,' shipwreck stocks work in the sea or underworld. Called shipwreck coins too. So?"
"I tallied mine—about 1 percent."
"Just 1 percent? Ant-sized!"
"Small amount. But someone said a wise goddess sees the great tree in the seed. So, I'm planting one."
"Planting a seed? You and your metaphors! I prefer straight talk. What are you getting at?"
"......"
Charybdis gazed at the crashing waves instead of explaining. Her father joined, both staring out at the vast sea.
It had been ages since father and daughter looked the same way. Truth was, the talks of seeds and shares weren't what they needed.
The man, as a father, knew it well.
"I left you alone too long. I'm sorry. Should've visited more, told you I loved you more."
Tears poured from the man. His dutiful daughter patted his back.
"You did your best, Father. I chose to hide here. I hated my form, couldn't accept it—wandered lost for ages. But..."
A terrifying monster, yet a beautiful goddess—Charybdis. She'd decided to embrace and love both sides.
Thanks to Manager Jo. Affirming even the self she couldn't love, she'd overcome the curse, reclaiming all her power.
Now she saw things clearly. Like others mired in similar struggles.
Melinoë, you're like me. In some ways, even more tangled.
Pity for her cousin in the same boat. So she'd wait a bit. No fun stealing her little cousin's happy times as an older sister figure.
But just waiting was boring. Charybdis pulled out a conch-shell communicator.
"Yeah, it's me. About those shipwreck stocks I have? Roughly 1 percent. Once shutdown vacation ends and markets reopen, transfer them all to Manager Jo."
The scheming sea goddess planted her seed. She looked forward to what it would grow into.