Return Trip After Roasting Prince Zagreus – Week 1 #3
On the way back after yelling my lungs out at Prince Zagreus. I was walking along feeling pretty damn good when a stupid rock caught my foot.
"Whoa—."
The moment I realized I was about to face-plant and started flailing wildly,
thud, thud-thud-thud.
Suddenly, rocks kept tripping me up one after another, but instead of falling, my posture straightened right out.
"Oh yeah! Talk about good luck!"
When things are going your way, everything just falls into place.
Splash!
But complacency is the killer. I'd regained my balance just fine, but in the process, my foot plunged straight into a puddle.
"Soaked through. What a pain."
Shoes, shirt, socks—all drenched. Ruined my mood completely. My one and only suit, wrecked. I spat on it and rubbed like hell, but whatever the stain was, it wouldn't budge.
"Damn, this is toast."
Imagine showing up to tomorrow's shareholders' meeting in mud-soaked rags. That might actually rack up some negative points in my favor—
—Double fists are the basics!
—Let's all beat that insolent bastard senseless!
—Turn him into a Hell Cockroach!
—Make him a Hell Cockroach and beat him some more!
—But I had to avoid pissing off the execs that badly. Just then, a tailoring shop caught my eye. Looked like it specialized in women's clothes, but maybe they had gender-neutral stuff too.
Ding-a-ling.
I pushed open the door, and there was a familiar face.
"Oh, Arachne?"
"Well, if it isn't—Manager Jo! What happened to your suit?"
"Soul Society weather's always flip-flopping, right? Stepped in a puddle from the rain shower. This is the result."
"Ah, so that's why you're here. Perfect timing! This shop's partnered with my spider friends—they're wizards at whipping up outfits. One hundred percent spider silk fabric!"
Spider silk? I'd heard it was used for bulletproof vests or something.
"Isn't that crazy expensive?"
"Super rare. Even among execs, only royalty could pull it off. Even with a reservation, you'd wait ten years for delivery!"
A suit that takes ten years just to get on the queue. Impressive, if nothing else.
"But you're a friend of our spiders, Manager Jo. I'll have one custom-made for you right now! Cool in summer, warm in winter—perfect!"
Ooh.
Soul Society's erratic weather was already a drag. Functional clothes? No reason to say no.
"How long till it's done?"
"Normally forever, but with my skills? About an hour."
An hour to make a suit? Classic Arachne. Greece's top seamstress.
"Hioong!"
Arachne let out a spider cry, and spiders started crawling out from everywhere in the quiet shop. Sizes from palm-sized to face-huggers.
—Gioong…!
—Nioong…!
—Dioong…!
—Rioong…!
—Bioongshin…!
Those cries were weird as hell. Especially the last one—sounded like it was mocking me.
"Spider friends, this is for Manager Jo to wear, so extra care! Make it good for all seasons!"
At Arachne's request, the spiders swarmed me, measuring every inch.
"Measurements done! Give it an hour. Oh, Manager Jo—I've got some stuff to handle. Could you cover for me real quick?"
"What kind of stuff?"
"Nothing big. Our idols are performing at Pandora Market soon, but need venue approval signed. You know how picky the market management team is."
Cyclops Sai and Chairman Odysseus could be sticklers, yeah. But I had connections—signing should be easy.
Free fancy suit was feeling a bit guilty, but this works out perfect.
I borrowed some tracksuit from Arachne and headed out.
"Oh! And if you have time, help with our idols' new song recording? Just record it on the magic shell and bring it back!"
Errands galore. One hour till suit's ready, nothing else to do, so off to Pandora Market.
"Manager Jo! Long time no see!"
Skeleton Chairman Odysseus was sweeping at the entrance.
"What's with the broom?"
"The staff you recommended are killing it. Helen, Sai—they handle everything. Leaves me with nothing to do!"
Good to hear things were smooth. Perfect timing.
"Heard E&S idols are performing here soon. Came to ask for venue cooperation. Can you sign?"
"That new stage thing? Better get Pandora's okay—she owns it."
Pandora, the massive fluffy ghost lady. Market boss.
"Can't just meet her, though?"
"Nope."
"Who called me?"
Poof.
A huge, pillow-soft ghost appeared. Pandora herself.
"Manager Jo, been a while. Heard some fun rumors. Big event coming up?"
Shareholders' meeting for my exec promotion? My stomach twisted.
"You owe me a debt, so hit me up anytime you need help."
"Great—mind signing here? And here. Here, here. Here. And here—."
"So many spots? And my hands are all marshmallow-y—hard to grip a pen!"
"Tricky."
"Take my seal instead. Use it for future stuff too—no need to bug me."
Pong!
She handed over her seal. Odysseus gawked.
"Pandora giving away her seal? Huge honor. She trusts you that much!"
Yay or nay?! Anyway, seal in hand, I stamped Arachne's performance permits.
Now, E&S's new album recording? Off to Elysium? Bit of a hike.
Pandora added,
"Sirens should be at the market studio. Sound setup matches the new stage best—even records ghost screams crystal clear."
Nice. Luck's on fire today?
I headed to the market studio. Rilke greeted me with a gloomy face.
"Rilke, first time since vacation. Here to help with Arachne's new album request… Why the long faces?"
"Manager Jo! Perfect timing! Know our new album title?"
"Nope."
"'100 Nymphs Illuminating the Underground'!"
What kinda song?
"To sing it, need permission from every Soul Society nymph to use their names. Some are real picky…."
Copyright issues, got it. I checked the signed list.
Melinoë(-)(hair strand)
…
Joinoi( )
Oinone( )
Melinoë topped the list—hilarious, signed with a strand of hair.
"Hair?"
"Nymph hair's like a clone. Counts as consent over signatures. Top-tier seal."
News to me. So Crowzer's obsessed with turning nymph clones into instruments? Total perv.
Rustle.
Two blanks: "Joinoi" and "Oinone."
"Oinone won't sign. You know her, right? Could you get it for us? Then we can record."
Easy enough.
I hit Oinone's junk shop. She was dusting, lit up seeing me.
"Famous guest at my shop."
"Sirens making a song—your name's in the lyrics. Need consent for copyright."
"Words ain't enough. Buy something."
Sharp as ever. Grabbed a nearby vial.
"Hydra venom for?"
Hydra venom?! Flinched, but fate's fate.
"Hell Cockroaches infesting home. Ignore hell cacti now. Pesticide from this?"
"Cockroaches… Heard rumors. Mountain-sized one spotted…."
Mountain-sized Hell Cockroach! Exec-level? If real, it'd kill me with fright. Better stock anti-pest spray.
"Hair strand okay?"
"I'll pluck it."
Got Oinone's hair. Full nymph consent achieved.
"Meli-meli Melinoë, weird nymph—."
"Karkar Carnoy beatdown—."
"Meli-meli Melinoë, freaky nymph—"
"Karkar Carnoy massive beatdown—"
E&S recording went smooth. Lyrics were odd, but normal for Soul Society.
Next day, I wore the pitch-black spider silk suit to work. Heading to the conference room—shareholders' meeting.
Today's about my exec position.
Knock knock.
Door sealed tight. My doom beyond!
"Manager Jo. Entering."
Execs sat stone-faced. I took position; Chairman spoke.
"Manager Jo, while you were out, we voted. 72% approval—qualified for exec exam."
What?! Already voted—72% yes, exam eligibility granted—!!!
Bolt from the blue. Vision blackened. Alecto and Moros chimed in.
"Jo, you're Night Faction."
"More than qualified."
Night Faction backed me. Damn.
But fine. Just the start. Within expectations.
Chairman handed a paper.
"Jo, your trials ahead."
"Indeed!"
I knelt, took it. Heavy words followed.
"Each GOD LIKE difficulty—divine feats. Yet you vowed to complete them all."
Final hurdle to exec. Ultimate gate. I breathed deep, opened it.
⛓ Retrieve the seal of the legendary ghost Pandora
⛓ Collect hair from every nymph in Soul Society
⛓ Receive a suit woven from spider silk as a gift from the spiders
⛓ Harvest venom from the great monster Hydra
⛓ Record a siren song firsthand—
"Jo. Worthy of these trials? Fail, and no exec seat—exiled for insolence and irreverence!!!"
—What the Happy World.
No wonder yesterday's luck was insane.
One way out: bolt!
Then someone yelled.
"That suit! Spider silk!"
"And that spray on his belt—Hydra venom for sure!"