Dragon's Tail Joey Noi #2
Here we were in Melinoë's office.
"Joey, I'm sorry for acting so cold in front of the elevator earlier. With Executive VP Erebos and all his faction cronies around, I couldn't exactly be too friendly."
Melinoë apologized to me. Her words summed up my recent situation perfectly.
"Executive VP Erebos and his faction hate the idea of me dating you, right? If they found out, I'd face some serious backlash."
"Exactly. They're all old-guard executives—super conservative and hardline. They can't even stomach the fact that a mortal like you became an executive in the first place."
That was it. That was why things had been awkward between Melinoë and me at the office lately.
"Joey, I'm sorry to put you in this position, but... we should keep our relationship a secret from everyone for now. It's all for your safety, so don't take it too hard."
Take it hard? Not at all! If anything, it was music to my ears.
"Melinoë, don't worry about me. Feel free to treat me even harsher when we're around the office. And we should avoid these private meetings unless absolutely necessary."
Imagine if word of our relationship spread throughout the entire Soul Society. I'd be nailed down here in the underworld like a stone statue, with zero chance of escape.
But here's the thing: Even in the mythic age, Executive VP Erebos and his faction had kept a low profile, and now they were suddenly stepping into the spotlight. Using the excuse that getting caught dating would be bad for me, I could hide the fact that our relationship was just a contractual fling.
Perfect...!
I've become an executive, but I still have a shot at slipping back to the surface.
"Don't worry, though. Joey, I have a plan to take down the old-guard remnants of Erebos's faction. And your role in it is crucial."
Take down Executive VP Erebos? Ugh, just the thought made my skin crawl.
Oblivious to my feelings, Melinoë chattered on.
"Joey, as you know, executives are ranked by their share percentage."
Executive Ranks by Share Percentage
1~9%: Honorary Director
10~30%: Executive Director
30~50%: Titan
50%+: Protogenoi
It was a long explanation, but to sum it up: Executives are divided into ranks based on their shares. No need to memorize those titles.
I nodded vigorously, shaking the excess info from my head. I had zero interest in hoarding godly knowledge forbidden to mortals!
"Joey, for this plan to work, you need to at least hit 10% shares and join the executive directors. That's the only way we can take on Erebos. The detailed strategy—"
"No need to tell me."
"Joey, that means you've already guessed my plan."
Not even close! I still had no clue what Melinoë was really thinking. Especially in her weird nymph Melinoi mode— she was a walking question mark.
"Joey, you've always understood me best. It kills me to act cold around you. But when it's just us... I'll shower you with praise."
She reached out and stroked my head.
What got under my skin wasn't the situation itself—it was how good the goddess's touch felt, bruising my pride in the process.
But hey, I've got my own plan. A way to drag down an executive.
The executive in question? Me, the freshly minted Honorary Director Joey!
###
"Director Joey! Welcome! We're participating in Hellmike this time, right? We're thinking of picking an outside contractor. And right on cue, 'RUS' reached out for a collab."
This was the Entertainment Department. I'd become the director in charge of the Entertainment Dept.
Why? Because of my deal with Hedone. And the palm-slapping bet on the beach between Melinoë and Hedone.
Anyway, the Entertainment Dept was a ghost department with a nameplate but no real performance record. Since I'd become an executive, they stuck me at the top.
"Director Joey, my brother! Even now, I can't believe your luck. I hear most new executives get shoved to subsidiaries or dead-end posts because there's no room."
Crowzer munched on snacks, full of admiration. He was right—executives fought tooth and nail for chairs. No seat meant endless spinning.
Melinoë had been demoted to Happy World like that before NEO, wandering without a desk or plaque afterward. Proof positive.
But I'd snagged a flashy CEO title right off the bat—
"Truly the best!"
The absolute worst!
Anyway, I told Crowzer, "Forget that—let's talk Hellmike. Crowzer, just to check, do you know what 'Hellmike' is?"
"The event Soul Society's hosting this year! A collab with Olympus on the surface and Ocean World in the great sea. A key showcase to flaunt our results!"
The guy knew his stuff, surprisingly.
Hellmike was a major event where departments from various companies set up booths to show off achievements. This year, Soul Society was handling the venue, and my Entertainment Dept was putting out a booth with entertainment-related goods, fitting the name.
And now Icarus RUS, the SNS sensation, wanted to collab with us?
"Sorry, but we'll have to turn down RUS's collab."
"Huh? Why, Director Joey! Everyone's begging for collabs left and right, and this is our first real shot!"
Hedone, why are you spouting straight facts?
Hedone and Crowzer were the full-time hires I'd brought into Entertainment Dept upon becoming director. Simple reason: Neither could do real work.
I'd expected Hedone to screw up, but her making sense gave me a headache. I told her:
"Our budget's too tight. RUS is a superstar artist everyone in Soul Society knows now. No way we can afford him."
"Ooh! Spot on, Director Joey! You sound so convincing since becoming director! You're the best!"
"Ahem. Anyway, we need max efficiency on a minimal budget. So, Hedone, Crowzer—I've got a mission for you. Hunt down has-beens."
"Has-beens?"
"People who had one flash of fame and faded. One-hit wonders. Folks with potential but low current stats and cheap rates. We collab with them."
"Kukuku, I've got plenty of those in my contacts. I'll slash their rates mercilessly. Any extra budget goes straight to this Crowzer's pocket!"
Perfect. Felt like secretly building a nuke in a dark basement warehouse. One that'd wipe everything out on detonation!
This Hellmike booth has to bomb spectacularly.
It was my first project since becoming an executive. Fail big while all eyes were on me?
—Joey's a wizard as an employee, but a total flop as an executive now?
—Even star players don't always make great coaches!
—Joey, fastest has-been ever! Instant washout.
My dream future, right there!
"Clock out whenever you want. I'm heading out."
I dumped the irresponsible plan and bolted.
Dragging my feet toward my "new home," I spotted a weird nymph. Small like Melinoi, but with rainbow hair. A rare one.
As I thought that, she approached me.
"Does this ditch-water nymph Storyol need a signature...? No helping it...! This Storyol's signature isn't given to just anyone, so feel honored...!"
She whipped out paper and scribbled her name—Storyol, the nymph.
Who the heck was she? As I puzzled, the bob-cut nymph added:
"Muhuhu, this Storyol is a famous author...! Comics, novels, movies...! Makes anything and everyone loves it...!"
First I'd heard of her. I searched on my terminal—something came up.
Didn't know the details, but she seemed like a creator with cult popularity a few years back, now totally faded from talk.
Lightning struck my brain.
"Storyol, want to work together on something?"
Luck's on my side. Instant washout op, let's go!
###
The little ditch-water nymph Storyol had once been a star author.
Comics, novels, movies—whatever she touched, people loved.
—Storyol, sign this!
—Storyol forever!
—I'll buy every Storyol sticker!
Storyol was mobbed by crowds.
The attention felt so good, but unease crept in.
—I-is this a dream...? It's been ages since this much love...!
—Yeah, it's a dream.
—Wake up already!
—Has-been!
"Hieeek...!"
Storyol woke up.
Her home was a cramped one-room. Leaky in rain, sweltering in summer, no AC.
"...Muhuhu, but it's okay... One more hit work... and I'll snag a nice place soon...!"
Brimming with hope, Storyol logged into her creation site. Heart pounding, she checked views on her ambitious new series.
"New series views... stuck for days... only weird comments...!"
She tried acting tough, but tears streamed down.
Her eyes fell on the business card.
Entertainment Dept Director
CEO – Joey
They wanted a Hellmike collab. Joey—a famous name.
Working with him? Proof she was still big-time— But memories of Executive VP Erebos flooded back.
—Storyol, all that big talk and nothing sold.
—Pay for these goods yourself.
—Daring to tarnish Erebos faction's name.
What if...
—Storyol, we collabed thinking you were hot stuff, but zero sales!
—Pay for these goods yourself!
—You made this Director Joey fail? Take responsibility!
"Hieeek...!!!"
Trembling in terror at the nightmare vision, Storyol thought:
Reject this offer for sure...
But her hand froze over the trash bin.
"......"
In her tiny room.
For a long time.
Until morning light rose.
She sat still.
... .. .
