For the One I Love #4
A few days had passed since I'd crossed the river with Orpheus.
I figured there'd be hell to pay for letting a special prisoner walk free right before the big audit. But—
"Not a full-term release, but a full annulment? Manager Bones, what are you talking about? Annulment of the penalty clause?"
"That's right. The executive board voted unanimously to scrap Orpheus's penalty clause entirely! Now that he's regained his memories, he's no longer a prisoner of Happy World! Not even an ex-con—just a regular resident."
"You're joking, right?"
"Ahem, that's a fair point. Let me correct myself. Not just any resident. A resident who sings like absolute garbage. No, wait—not just garbage, but horrifically, disgustingly bad…."
Not even a standard expiration of sentence, but a total annulment. It meant erasing the very fact that he'd ever been a prisoner here. Like it never happened. No criminal record left behind.
"Jo, you must know why Orpheus was punished in the first place. He broke a taboo: arriving in Soul Society while still alive."
"Yeah, obviously."
"But Jo, you're working here as a full-time employee, alive and all. History's full of precedents—Psyche, Theseus, Heracles, and so on."
There were plenty who'd come to this underworld while still breathing. Were they all punished?
Nope.
"Heracles and Psyche became gods, and Theseus is living it up in Elysium. Coming to the underworld alive isn't even that big a deal to begin with."
So why was Orpheus the only one who got slammed?
The reason was crystal clear.
"He just pissed off our mighty CEO. You could call it a personal grudge call. But who'd dare object?"
Zzt—
It felt like electricity crackling over my scalp. The whole picture suddenly snapped into focus.
"But this audit's different. Word is, the new audit team member's a monster, and since they're from outside, they couldn't care less about executive authority."
The first major audit since the Business Renewal. Imagine the audit team—hungry for brownie points—digging into prisoner penalty clauses here in Happy World.
If they caught wind that Orpheus had been unjustly punished, and it landed in the lap of that new auditor dubbed the "demon witch"?
No way they'd let it slide.
The CEO—who'd handled it on a personal whim—would eat crow. And Happy World's current president and VP would get dragged for letting it fester.
Of course, no employee in their right mind would touch the Orpheus case and risk the CEO's wrath.
That's where I'd stepped in, springing him and restoring his memories on my own—
"Jo, thanks to you taking the bullet and making the first move, we could all find our courage. Now we can wipe that botched penalty execution clean!"
How the hell did things end up like this? All I wanted was to transfer out via that noisy singer.
"To shoulder that burden yourself, knowing it'd earn the Chairman's ire…."
"Getting caught by audit would've meant years of headaches…!"
"Section Chief Jo, I'll follow you forever. Sniff!"
I was too numb to even swear anymore.
And right then—
The first-floor lobby erupted in chaos. Marquius came sprinting in, pale as a ghost.
"Manager Bones, audit team's here!"
Even Crates—who'd been strutting around like a prickly triangle for days—froze in shock.
"Audit day's not today!? Damn it! What are you all standing around for? Move, move!"
The office turned into a warzone in seconds.
"Shred these files! Shred them! We cannot let the auditors see!"
"Hide 'em! Basement, now!"
"Argh! Nooo! Not enough time!"
For that one moment, Happy World felt more like actual hell.
Even Manager Bones's bony face twisted in tension.
"Could it be her? The new hire! That 'demon' of the audit team…! I left ages ago, but her reputation precedes her. The merciless 'demon'…!"
A merciless employee who could make Bones shake like this? In Greek mythos, it'd have to be a vengeance goddess or war deity to earn the "demon" label.
Clack, clack—
High heels clicked sharply as someone stormed into the Penalty Execution Department's office.
Standard audit uniform, long golden blonde hair, horns sprouting from her head—a woman.
"No need to freak out, everyone! Just dropping by today! Wanted to see who'd ruined my prime target. So, who's the 'demon' Section Chief Jo?"
BOOM—!
Her voice echoed like thunder.
She strode right up to me and stuck out her hand.
"Only one guy not flinching at my voice. Takes guts to be called a 'demon' in Happy World. You're Jo, right? Nice to meet you. I'm Astarote!"
Wait, As… what?
She flashed sharp fangs in a grin. I was too stunned to reply, so she kept going.
"Who'd have thought you'd annul the A-09C case before audit even hit. That was my juicy bite lined up. You got me good. But! Don't get cocky yet."
Her serpentine blue eyes gleamed with eerie light.
"If there's dirt, I'll strip you down to your panties and socks!"
She cackled pa-hahaha and swept out.
A total storm of a woman.
# # #
"What the hell is Astarote's deal?"
She seemed from a whole different worldview.
Bones wiped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief. "Not entirely sure myself. She's like you, Section Chief Jo—hired under Business Renewal to promote diversity. Technically a seconded employee from another company."
I see.
But what I really wondered was why a pure skeleton like Bones—skull and all—was sweating. Physics broken or what?
Anyway. Astarote was a seconded newbie from elsewhere, but her special status gave her executive-level clout.
All thanks to that bizarre Business Renewal.
She screamed demon. Bet she gets off on tormenting people.
Hold up.
But was this situation really bad for me?
A terrifying demon eyeing me for audit, eyes sparkling? This might be the opportunity I'd been praying for.
The path to reversal is always right under your nose.
Flip flip flip—!
I rummaged through the paperwork mess Astarote's entrance had caused. An hour later, I spotted something odd.
Vegetable Garden Budget Proposal
30 pyeong purchase: 20 gold
Location: Near Asphodel Plain
Last year, when we'd planted flowers around Happy World to brighten the mood. Seemed normal at a glance, but after all my legwork picking real estate for "Cronus Office Site Selection," I knew better. That price was insane.
Asphodell Plain land was ~10 gold for 30 pyeong last year. And they paid 20? Doubled the value?
Digging deeper, tons of properties bought way over market rate.
Obvious culprit: embezzlement.
How'd this fly under the radar with all these discrepancies? Whoever did it was slick.
Smelled like scandal. Dive in, and transfer might be in the bag.
I tracked down the realtor on the receipt. Skeleton like Bones, but with a cracked skull.
"Boss, remember anything about this land deal? Who came to pay? The one who bought 30 pyeong for 20 gold."
"Can't share client info. That's how I got a hammer to the head back when I was alive."
Hard to tell gender on a skeleton, but snarky female voice.
Orpheus's hit Nymph's Song played in her office. Pricey track—I knew from buying it on budget.
Diehard fan, huh.
"Ma'am, want Orpheus's autograph? Cooperate, and I'll set up a handshake. Even VIP concert tickets later."
"…For real!?"
Straight to the multi-family housing. Dragged the lounging clown to his feet.
"Mr. Orpheus, let's go!"
"Go where? Leave me be. I'm a coward. Too scared to face my successful girlfriend, holed up like a roach. No—worse than…."
Could a guy sink this low? Felt kinda guilty, but bigger fish now.
"Didn't you say you'd repay me? Time's now!"
Hauled him to the realtor. But she blew up at me.
"This freakish clown supposed to be Orpheus? Believed you were Happy World staff! Scam artist! You even work there?"
What?
Then Orpheus—who'd been limp since Elysium—spoke.
"Beautiful nymph—for whom do you shed tears—."
"O-ohhh? That's from Sir Orpheus's masterpiece Nymph's Song…! My favorite…!"
Realtor's eyes lit up.
"Not even close! Scam bastard! Get out! Ugh, wasted my ears!"
Insane.
One solution: clink—!
Pulled gold coins from my pocket. Untouched salary—no family, no vices.
Bony hand snatched 'em quick.
"Ahem, yeah, I remember. Sharp-looking guy bought it. Handsome fella. Love 'em handsome. Got records too."
Purchase history matched the receipt's gold amount. Some lands even cheaper than company receipts.
Mystery man bought land with company funds, inflated receipt amounts, pocketed the difference to buy more in his name.
Ballsy embezzler in Happy World.
"Check this address. That's his land. That's all I can say—don't push. Generous already. Or… drink with me? Might remember more buzzed… hehe… heh… Hey, listening?"
Memorized the address, left with Orpheus.
Arrived to a stunning sight: field bursting with flowers.
Orpheus bawling.
"Millennium herbs. Finicky to grow, hard to bloom. My Eurydice loved them… sob!"
Embezzled company cash for a pretty flower patch? Whatever. I planned to claim it myself.
Section Chief Jo siphons funds for secret flower field—bam! Perfect scandal pic. Astarote'd shred me. Fired in no time.
Orpheus helped anyway.
"Finicky flowers, right?"
Soil felt damp. Cronus's Farming blessing let me know: daily watering type.
Caretaker coming today too.
Soon, someone approached, watering.
I called out. "Hello. Section Chief Jo from Penalty Execution."
"Oh! Jo? The one my hubby mentions daily? Nice to meet you! What brings you? Hubby's not off yet if you're here for him…."
"Hubby?"
"Oops, duh. I'm Kshalri. Hubby's in Penalty Execution like you—Crates from Team 1… You know him, right…?"