021 – My Favorite Idol #3
This was the lowest and hottest place in all of Soul Society: the executive conference room.
The women seated around the round table grumbled in unison.
"Huh? Change of concert venue?"
"Not 'Elysium' but 'Happy World'? And what's this address? It's not even a proper concert hall."
"Megaera, disappointed."
They were women whose names alone inspired fear—the goddesses of retribution. Their titles were Executive Director Alecto, Senior Executive Director Tisiphone, and just the cute Megaera.
"Huh? Look at this, girls. It says 'Venue Manager – Jo Iseo'."
"So this guy named Jo Iseo is the culprit behind this disaster?"
"Megaera, furious!"
The concert scheduled for Elysium New City had been an event even the executives were eagerly anticipating. But now the venue had suddenly been changed to the dingiest slum in all of Happy World. A street concert, no less.
"Inviting the executives and then putting on such a shabby show."
"We can't let the person responsible go unpunished."
"Heh heh heh heh."
Responsible party. Everyone's eyes shifted to the name 'Jo Iseo' added to the pamphlet.
At that moment, one goddess who had kept silent since the executive meeting began finally spoke up.
"This concert is going to succeed, no question."
It was Melinoë, the goddess of nightmares and vice president of Happy World.
She stood from her seat, surveyed the room, and spoke in a relaxed, gentle voice.
"You can trust Manager Jo Iseo. That man has a rock-solid goal when it comes to success. So this concert will succeed."
"Huh? You expect this Alecto to just take your word and drag myself to that filthy slum?"
"Unlike a certain princess who's been demoted to a desk job, some of us are busy. Thanks to the rebels."
"Overtime…."
With security in Soul Society being unreliable, it wasn't easy for the executives to venture into the slums. If any accident or incident broke out, it could be irreversible.
But Melinoë spoke with unwavering conviction.
"If the concert turns out to be a waste of time, I'll take full responsibility. I swear it on the Styx River."
A vow on the Styx River—the highest oath a god could make.
"And how exactly do you plan to take responsibility? Willing to stake some of your shares?"
"Fine by me."
"Fine?!"
"At the next executive meeting, if opinions that the concert failed exceed the majority, I'll hand over 2% out of my 10% shares to all of you."
"Wha…!? 2%? That's 20%…!?"
Melinoë's resolve gave even the goddesses of retribution pause, and the executives who had shown no reaction until now widened their eyes in shock.
"2%."
"Just 1% of Soul Society's shares is enough to earn you an executive title."
"If it were easy to get, everyone would have it."
But to Executive Director Alecto, Melinoë's bold claim seemed like pouring oil on herself and leaping into flames.
"Our princess must really trust that Manager Jo Iseo. The princess who never praises anyone is speaking with such confidence."
"But if the concert succeeds, I'll take 1% out of the 5% shares you Erinyes sisters hold. As payment for doubting me and Jo Iseo."
"Huh?"
1% of shares. It would be a massive loss, but Alecto was confident. A street concert had no chance of succeeding.
"Deal. But Melinoë, if you lose those shares, the CEO seat slips even further away. Won't you regret wasting it on something so trivial?"
"Just watch. You'll learn that the smallest things are often the most important."
The Happy World concert now held the future of Soul Society in the balance.
Time passed, and Cronus's clock struck evening.
'Is this really okay? Is it really gonna be fine?! The executives are coming!'
Among Soul Society's executives were many with crow-like black wings. As these beings began gathering in the slums, one by one, the locals—who usually swaggered around with shoulders back—shrank away like mice before a cat.
"R-run away…."
"What the hell is going on?"
"Is this the day Happy World falls…?!"
Arachne wanted to hide too. Holding the concert in Happy World's slums. It had sounded plausible when Manager Jo Iseo suggested it, but now that it was here, her vision blurred and cold sweat poured.
'If this fails, I might get turned back into a spider for mocking the executives! If that happens, I'll resent you forever, Manager Jo Iseo! Forever! Eternallyyy!'
Arachne turned her eyes to today's headliner, the singer she managed.
Eurydol. A mature, calm yet cheerful blonde nymph. She had spent the whole day with eyes closed in meditation.
Eurydol always meditated like this before a show. Producer Arachne thought she was used to it, but today it felt oddly unsettling.
Arachne felt adrift, like being tossed into a storm without a lifeline.
"Hioong…."
She just trembled in fear.
Then someone entered the makeshift performer lounge.
Manager Jo Iseo.
"Is everything going smoothly?"
"Manager Jo Iseo! We're doomed! Doomed! The executives actually came to this slum! If it goes wrong, it's on you! Aah, don't drag me into it…!"
"Now, now, Miss Arachne. No need to worry. You know better than anyone the talent of the idol group 'E&S' that you raised. So trust them."
Ding ding di-dick—.
The hourglass alarm rang, signaling the start of the show.
Eurydol opened her eyes, and the sea nymph sirens rose as if on cue, taking the stage around the yellow-flowered cactus.
The narrow back alley. The executives with black wings and bloodshot eyes stood arms crossed, faces stern and menacing.
Drag us to this dump? Better put on a show—that was their attitude. If they failed to move the executives' hearts, there'd be no mercy.
The sirens exchanged glances, then tapped their drumsticks—tak tak.
The backing track for E&S's biggest hit, 'Forgot You', began.
Doom doom doom—.
A low bass line rumbled. Gripping the mic with both hands, main vocalist Eurydol opened her mouth.
"───."
At that instant, goosebumps rippled across everyone's skin.
Her voice sliced through the air like a sharp blade through silk.
Even the executives, arms crossed and ready to judge harshly, shuddered their wings at that first note.
'Good song. A fine singer, sure. But….'
Alecto, the pickiest of the retribution goddesses, frowned.
'…not worth my precious time.'
Good song. Exactly that—nothing more. It was almost a pity.
'If only it were in Elysium's grand stadium. Here, the hastily rigged sound system, the cramped stage, even the audience can't keep up with the band's skill.'
The venue was the problem. E&S's producer had gotten overambitious, chasing reckless innovation and change, only to ruin everything.
In a way, it was philosophical.
'Excessive change. And failure. Just like Business Renewal or this Happy World.'
The first song ended. Alecto turned to leave—no point in staying. Some executives had already slipped away.
'Melinoë, I win this bet. We'll gladly take your 2% shares.'
Then—
"Today, right here, we're unveiling our new song. It's called 'Happy World'. Inspired by the yellow flower blooming on this cactus. Here goes—."
Ding ding ding—.
Eurydol plucked her lyre.
"──."
At the end of that first line, Director Alecto's steps halted abruptly.
"…What…!?"
Everyone froze, eyes on the idol on stage.
For about a minute after the song began, they couldn't move, rooted to the spot.
The perfectly harmonized backing track, the soaring vocals on top—they competed fiercely, sweat pouring like rain from her brow.
It was a song that resonated deep in every soul.
Executives who had left trickled back, taking their seats.
The stern goddess Alecto shed a single clear, round tear—not blood.
"Huh? Why am I crying…."
Everyone forgot words, leaning in to listen.
Prisoners who had hidden in shadows and corners from the terrifying executives opened windows, poking out heads to hear.
Even Sisyphus pushing his boulder and Cronus tending his fields stopped.
Then—
"Hey, why are you holding a weapon?"
In the crowd drawn by the song, Melinoë spotted a man gripping a sharp blade.
He startled and yelled.
"D-damn it! Ignore me or I'll stab! This is a real knife!"
The man aimed at Melinoë.
Her red eyes exploded like oil-fueled flames.
"Daring to point a weapon at your goddess? Want to spend some quality time in Tartarus?"
Pwaaang—!
Melinoë shot forward like a comet, her fist slamming into the man's gut.
Other executives spotted thugs with weapons here and there.
"Huh? You rebel rats got lured out by the music!"
"Disrupting a performance?!"
"Round 'em all up!"
"A massive success! Huge success! Eurydol, Rilke! Carnoy! Your new song Happy World!"
Arachne was thrilled.
Good songs get good reviews. Masterpieces carry stories.
"Even the hidden rebels came out for the song and got wiped out! This'll be huge! A flame that sets Happy World—no, all of Soul Society—ablaze!"
The rebels forgetting their peril to hear the song—it overflowed with drama and incident for a new song's debut.
"Look! Black feathers! Gifts from the retribution goddesses! They're saying they'll watch over us and keep supporting! This new song is a success among successes!"
Slither slither—.
Arachne wiggled her hips, alternating arms raised high.
"Hioong…!"
At that moment, she thought of Manager Jo Iseo.
'That man… foresaw all this!?')
What a bold gambler.
'Winning big in tough bets is basic for the successful. That man's a real gem. Won't stop at manager—gotta keep him around!'
Arachne's opinion of Jo Iseo skyrocketed.
But Eurydol, the star who led the triumph, looked dissatisfied.
Standing before the cactus flower, she gazed up at the rundown apartment.
When everyone opened windows to hear her song—even executives listening rapt, prisoners forgetting punishments—one lit room on the fourth floor never opened. It ignored her new song entirely.
As if there was something wrong with it.
Truth be told, Eurydol had her own gripes with the new track.
'Too rushed. Lacks soul.'
She clicked her tongue.
'If it were that man….'
If it were the someone she knew—even rushed, everyone would have listened.
Thus, Eurydol deemed her new song a failure.
"Hey, isn't that Crowzer's place?"
Arachne linked arms with Eurydol, craning her neck up.
Room 404. Home of the weird 'Happy Metal' singer Crowzer.
"Crowzer?"
"Some oddball lives there. Crowzer, does this bizarre genre called Happy Metal. Ugh, don't worry about it, Eurydol."
"…Crowzer of Happy Metal."
Eurydol felt a spark of defiance. She'd come here often, vowing to sing a song that would open that window.