Mom in the Island's Shadow #1
I'd have to say that if I were to name the culprit who dragged me into all this suffering starting from Happy World—
Professor Zeus definitely holds a huge share of the blame!
"Professor Zeus!"
On the cruise ship, dressed in a robe made of red velvet, I was gazing out the full-glass window at the night view of Elysium New City.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind me, and I lost all reason, lunging at him.
Crash!
Thanks to that, the crystal wine glass in my hand shattered.
The precious grape juice, worth several gold coins per drop, stained the carpet embroidered with majestic heroes.
But I didn't care.
Grrrk!
I grabbed Professor Zeus by the collar like that.
"A family company! You said it was just some small-time operation!"
It was Professor Zeus who had introduced me to the job at Happy World.
A small family-run business—they had a ton of miscellaneous work but no real substance, though the family was loaded, so no worries about late paychecks. That's what he told me.
I trusted him, sent in my resume, and went to the interview—!
But my rage subsided quickly.
What took over next was pleading.
"Professor! This isn't right! Do you know how hard I've worked for you? Pickling kimchi when you asked, picking up the kids from the airport when you said—I've done everything!"
Brush brush brush.
I straightened out Professor Zeus's disheveled collar.
But the professor didn't budge an inch.
"So what? You're making bank just like I said. Living it up, aren't you? That robe you're wearing, the wine you were sipping—you're enjoying it all!"
"Aaaargh!"
"You should be grateful to me, kid. Know what your master's program buddies are up to now? They couldn't lick the dirt off your toes!"
If we're just talking money, maybe!
But this is the underworld.
I can't leave.
"Professor, can't you at least let me see my mom's face? It's been three years since she last saw her son—dead or alive! Don't you have any pity?"
Operation: Appeal to sympathy!
Not a lie, either. Mom and I really have been separated for three years.
At my plea, the professor slyly averted his eyes this time.
Then he pulled a photo from his pocket.
"Wh-what's this?"
"Your mother. She just built a whole building in Seocho over there. I'm taking a cut of your salary and sending it straight to her account. Your mom's doing fine, so don't worry."
"Th-that can't be…."
There was Mom, posing with a V-sign in front of a swanky new building, sunglasses on.
Bodyguards in black suits nearby, luxury foreign cars too.
"……."
Great that she's doing well, but…
Isn't this too well?
Her only son vanishes for three years with no word.
As I sat speechless, the professor dropped a bombshell.
"I told your mom you got a job at a foreign firm in Azerbaijan. Not entirely a lie, right? And I'm hurting too, kid."
"Why are you hurting?!"
Fresh rage filled my heart.
But I couldn't blow up because what he said next was shocking.
"Once you're dropped into this Soul Society, even I can't interfere anymore. Whatever happens here, you handle it yourself."
"Ugh…!"
"I got you the job thinking you'd work a few months, make quick cash, and bounce. But you go and snag a director spot? Now the kimchi every year tastes like crap without you—ruining my appetite."
"Seriously, I can't even go up to the surface for a single day?"
"Afraid so. That's the law of the underworld. So why not think positive? How much do you make a month? At director level in Soul Society, it's insanely good—?"
"I've been thinking… are you quoting New World lines?"
"Busted?"
"Anyway, Professor, money's not the point. My family and I are separated."
"Money's not the point? You have no idea what it's like up there these days. Say that and you'll get stoned. Don't talk like you've got it easy."
…Hard to argue with that.
"Plus, if Soul Society work gets too tough, just quit."
"Quit?"
"Yeah."
That's the problem—I can't!
I swallowed the retort.
Then Professor Zeus made a stunning proposal.
"Quitting won't be easy, sure. Soul Society's a lifetime gig with huge pride. But if you have a 'pretext,' you might pull it off."
"Pretext?"
"Yeah. Slack off a bit, cause some incidents. The chairman's strict—he'll hold you accountable and fire you. Then you head back to the surface loaded."
"Ooooh."
"Perfect plan, right?"
"Ooooh!"
At that moment, it hit me.
Professor Zeus has no clue.
He doesn't know why I can't quit.
Or why I'm keep getting promoted.
Sometimes I wondered alone.
Maybe my success is tied to Professor Zeus somehow.
His vast influence working behind the scenes?
But no.
What the hell, Happy World.
I slumped into the plush chair.
"So—huh?"
But the professor who'd been yapping next to me just moments ago was gone.
Appears out of nowhere, vanishes the same way.
Does whatever he wants.
Still, this meeting was fruitful for me too.
I tucked Mom's photo carefully into my wallet.
"Can't stay here forever."
I renewed my resolve.
Back to the surface before Mom gets any older.
Orpheus—that Crowzer guy—underwent hellish trials to reunite with his family down here.
I'm just doing the opposite: heading up to see mine.
I can do it. If anyone can, it's me.
Confidence welled up calmly.
Viable plans popped into mind, some pretty solid.
"What a beautiful lady."
A voice from behind startled me.
There stood Lady Melinoë—
No footsteps, no presence. The goddess of ghosts is terrifying!
"What brings you here…?"
Did she overhear my chat with Professor Zeus?
My heart sank as I gauged her mood.
Thankfully, she seemed to have just arrived.
"Jo Iseo, I heard you escaped the rebels' prison safely and came to check."
Dust covered Lady Melinoë's shoulders.
Like she'd been through something rough.
No way…
Before I escaped the prison.
Ghosts swarmed in, messing with the rebel guards.
Did Lady Melinoë lead them in—?
"Lady Melinoë, did you raid the rebel base to rescue me?"
"What are you talking about? Even I wouldn't do something that reckless. Fufufu."
She laughed leisurely.
But her fingers twitched suspiciously.
She totally did!
Risking real danger to save me?
That's—
—heavy!
Too much favor, way too burdensome!
Touching, sure, but!
With a Melinoë like this, can I even escape the underworld?
Would she let me go easily?
No bright future in sight.
But Lady Melinoë, ignoring my thoughts,
approached and eyed the photo in my wallet.
"Jo Iseo, you take after your mother."
"Yes."
"It's been a while since you saw her."
"Yeah, well…."
"Parting from one's mother is quite sad. I'm a per.fect. goddess from birth, so I feel no sorrow—but ordinary folk aren't like me."
What was she getting at?
Unease crept in.
"Jo Iseo, Soul Society employees are mostly dead souls, so they might lack consideration for you. I hadn't thought—but you've been separated from your living mother."
They say you panic when caught off guard.
That was me.
A straight fastball dagger out of nowhere?
It pierced my heart like an icy awl!
"But Soul Society folk can't leave by law. As an executive, Jo Iseo, meeting your mother on the surface is impossible forever."
Crack crack.
Lightning struck my body.
Like a billions-year-old glacier splitting from warming, plunging into the sea.
Everything in me sank to the abyssal depths.
Impossible to go up forever?
I'd vaguely sensed it—but
hearing it from Lady Melinoë hit different!
"However. You could meet your mother down here."
What?
Meet Mom in the underworld?
That means—
Mom has to die! A fat pad drip!
I thought Lady Melinoë's dark joke fit a goddess of ghosts and nightmares perfectly—then she scratched her nose.
"Our Nymph Management Department has a collaboration proposal for your Entertainment Department. Hear me out—it won't be bad. Jo Iseo, how about inviting surface folk to Soul Society?"
What the—.
# # #
"So, Soul Society's expanding to the surface for business? Need new customers—that it?"
Crowzer got my explanation spot-on.
Quick on the uptake.
At least in comprehension.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!"
Hedone, on the other hand, was lost.
So I decided to explain kindly for her.
"Soul Society competes with places like Eastern Underworld Inc. or Hellven Company, right? Everyone scrambles for new souls."
There are many afterlives.
I don't know the exact rules for where souls go post-death.
But Soul Society, Hellven, Eastern Underworld—they all crave endless new souls.
"Probably sell insurance on the surface. Looks like normal accident coverage, but fine print sends you to Soul Society on death."
"Hmm, not sure. Do we really need to go that far?"
Hedone clutched her head, struggling.
Honestly, I didn't care about the business details.
I don't think it'll succeed anyway.
Why? I'll sabotage it.
But—
"They're selecting some surface folks to invite to Soul Society. To gauge needs."
Flutter. I showed everyone the tickets.
"Thinking of inviting my mom. Lady Melinoë gave me one."
Soul Society invitation tickets.
"Gasp! Director Jo's mother?! You should've said so first!"
Hedone trembled, fists clenched.
"I'm confident scoring points with a potential mother-in-law! Why? I'm Psyche's daughter! Azaza!"
"Mother-in-law? No clue what you're on about, but Jo's mom is like my own as sworn brothers! Worry not! I'll treat her as mine!"
What to say… their enthusiasm's appreciated, but
it made me super anxious.
Shh. I pocketed the tickets carefully.
Then headed out of the office.
If Mom learns I'm working in the underworld, she'll faint. Gotta convince her this is an Azerbaijan theme park.
Lost in thought while walking—
I spotted a little boy crouched and crying.
Hic-sob.
"Mo—mmy."
Damn, ignore it.
Whatever it is, don't get involved.
My own nose is made of stone.
I miss my family too.
But even that evening, coming back for something I left at the office—
the kid was still huddled in the alley corner.
"Why are you crying there?"