024 – The Awl Sticking Out of the Pocket
The day before Astarote handed that suspicious contract to Section Chief Jo Iseo.
At 6 p.m., Astarote returned to her office.
"Then, everyone head there after work?"
"...Shh."
"Oh."
The employees slipped away, glancing warily at Astarote. She didn't pay them any mind.
I'm a cold-hearted, solitary devil. That's what a devil is.
Astarote was a busy woman. She had to upload the demerit points she'd recorded on Jo Iseo via the Hermes Net.
If I bite down on a big fish like Jo, everyone will have no choice but to acknowledge my skills. Then I'll get invited to birthday parties and after-work drinks more often. Of course, even if I get invited, I won't go.
Just as she was about to upload the demerit points—
Something unexpected happened.
"What? On vacation!?"
Jo Iseo, the section chief. He wasn't in work status right now. He was on a one-week reward vacation. The documents showed he'd even tried to forfeit it himself, but it had been rejected under "President's Authority."
In other words—
"This crazy bastard tried to forfeit his reward vacation, got rejected, and just showed up to the office in a suit during that time?"
An employee who forfeits a reward vacation because things are going too well at work. Rejected? Fine, just come in during vacation time anyway.
Even the folks at Heaven Company stuck strictly to clock-in/out times and days off. Yet Jo Iseo had taken vacation days and still worked for free.
...So what the hell was my day today? All these demerit points are worthless! Jo Iseo, did you do this on purpose to screw me over...? How devilishly brilliant...!!!!
She'd been had. Royally. All that was left for Astarote, who'd wasted a whole day, was the bag Jo had asked her to throw away.
Astarote pulled out a fruit skewer from the bag and crunched into it. Her brow furrowed instantly.
"What the hell. This isn't forbidden fruit tanghulu—it's just an apple. And they're selling it by scamming people?"
Betrayed by the food she'd been looking forward to, her mood soured. Astarote stormed straight to the Heaven Company "Happy World Branch" and grabbed the manager by the collar.
"Don't you see we're closed for business? The door's shut—gack!"
"Branch manager. I know all about you passing off plain apples as forbidden fruit, so spill it honestly. Don't try to fool me, a former Heaven Company executive director. Drag this out, and your sentence only gets heavier."
Her snake eyes glowed blue, horns marking her as an upper executive gleaming!
Why is a Heaven Company upper exec here!?
Terrified, the branch manager confessed everything.
"...W-well, Hell Cacti prices keep rising, so I was stocking up early to sell later! But then I ran short on funds..."
"So you lied and sold cheap apples as forbidden fruit?"
Astarote arrested the branch manager on the spot. She rounded up his entire crew trying to hoard Hell Cacti and manipulate market prices.
"You pulled an all-nighter at the company?"
"Team leader, you're seriously dedicated."
"Ruthless even to her own company's people."
The audit team members saw Astarote in a new light. She'd swept up the criminals overnight.
Thus, Astarote racked up major achievements—and had a realization.
Jo Iseo, did you know about the corruption at the Heaven Company branch and feed me this achievement? Why the hell would you...? No... I have a hunch.
He probably wanted connections in the audit team. They held tons of classified info, so everyone wanted in.
But Astarote hated owing Jo Iseo. So she drafted an irresistible contract.
"Minimum manager position on transfer. The pinnacle for a mortal. You know opportunities like this don't come often, right, Section Chief Jo? Kyahaha!"
"Heaven Company used to be called Hell, right?"
"Yeah, landing a manager spot there would be an immense honor—"
"But I refuse."
Rip—!
Jo didn't even hear her out fully before shredding the contract. Not a hint of hesitation.
"...You're turning down my offer?"
Astarote was stunned. Bones the manager fainted at the sight.
"T-turning down a guaranteed manager transfer scout!? What are you planning to demand in the upcoming salary negotiations...? I... I can't handle a vessel like you...."
Not satisfied with a manager spot? Gazing at such a Jo, Astarote felt two burning desires.
Section Chief Jo, I want to make you bawl your eyes out with my own hands!
The day my dispatch ends, I'll drag you to my company!
Astarote wanted to see who was the true "devil" between them. If she nailed him as an audit team member and got him fired, victory was hers. Plus, she'd bring him to her home turf at Heaven Company. Two birds, one stone.
"Fine, Section Chief Jo. Reject my offer, and the upcoming audit will be especially brutal. So savor that reward vacation! It might be your last! Hahaha!"
I'd just planned to tag along with the audit team and rack up demerit points. A truly insane scheme.
But for some reason, it backfired spectacularly, and I even got a killer scout offer.
I had no idea what went down last night, nor did I care.
The important part was the end.
"So savor that reward vacation! It might be your last! Hahaha!"
Wait, reward vacation?
After Astarote left, I shook the dazed Manager Bones front and back like crazy.
"Manager, what the hell was that devil talking about? Wasn't my reward vacation canceled at my request?"
"...I wanted to let you, but the "Reward Vacation Order" was issued under President Thanatos's authority. Even as a manager, I couldn't override it...."
"...No wayyy!"
"That idol group E&S's new song "Happy World" became our company anthem, right? The president was in a good mood. Just enjoy the vacation!"
"Aaaah!"
Then yesterday's demerit point frenzy was all for nothing!
At my scream, Marquius patted my back with a serious face.
"You're the first—and last—employee I've seen who hates vacation this much. You love coming to the office that badly? Jo, I respect you! Let's grab lunch!"
Rumble rumble—
Lunchtime.
"Order whatever you want, everyone! The manager's treating today! Hmm, I'll have the "Hell Jjajangmyeon."
"M-me too, jjajangmyeon. Even though I had it yesterday...."
"Jjajangmyeon for me too...."
"Jjajang for me...."
"Jjajang it is for everyone, then."
Menus homogenized to match the manager's vibe. What if I went off-script here? Like an awl poking out of a pocket, standing out crooked.
"I'll have palbokchae."
"What? Not even jjambbong—palbokchae...?"
"...But the manager's paying...."
"Th-that's so expensive...."
The mood chilled instantly.
Come on, everyone, condemn me for killing the vibe and lacking tact.
But right then—
"This was back before I became manager. Hierarchy was stricter then. Subordinates' merits go to superiors. Superiors' faults are subordinates' faults—it was openly said."
Skeleton Manager Bones teared up, his bony face streaming.
"My mentor loved hell-spicy Hell Jjambbong like boiling hell soup, but I hated jjambbong. Still, I couldn't say it, so I ate nothing but jjambbong for years...."
Wait— this flow is bad!
"I vowed that when I rose high, I'd let my subordinates eat freely. Seeing you all speak your menus so freely moves me!"
Bones crumpled his menu list in his fist. With tearful eyes, deeply moved, he said,
"For an organization to innovate, free opinions must flow! That's Happy World's essence! Jo, you're easing this old skeleton's grudge!"
"R-really! Actually, I prefer fried rice over jjajang...."
"I'll change mine too! Yangjangpi with shark fin!"
"Then I'll have that truffle pasta with gold dust—"
"Ahem, kids these days eat well. How much is in my account...."
Far from my intent, but the palbokchae was delicious anyway. When else would I eat this?
"After Crates quit over that unsavory mess, we hired a new employee to fill the gap. I personally recruited this talent as manager, so their work ethic is top-notch!"
The day my dreaded reward vacation finally ended. Manager Bones introduced a weirdo to everyone.
"Crowzer, who dreams of world conquest with "Happy Metal."
Orpheus, why are you here?
As I gawked, he cleared his throat.
"I heard Happy World employees make bank. I'll earn stacks, buy fancy instruments, become a famous entertainer playing them—that's my dream!"
One hell of a plan.
Orphe—er, Crowzer greeted everyone, then approached me.
"Section Chief Jo, nice to work with!"
"Orphe—"
"I ditched that name! Call it personal "Business Renewal." Changing names freshens everything up, right?"
"......"
"So call me Crowzer from now on!"
Super awkward. Manager Bones even tsked.
"Long hair. Pale makeup. Sloppy appearance. A company man starts with looks."
Though Bones was so neat he was just bones.
The skull manager said,
"Section Chief Jo, take the newbies and check one thing. We need to meet that idol for the company anthem recording. You're perfect for it."
"Me?"
"Prickly Ms. Arachne said she'd collaborate if it's you. Show the newbies around while you're at it!"
—Perfect!
This hell-roach-infested office was driving me nuts anyway. Score.
"Wait, Manager. Newbies plural? Besides Or—Crowzer, who else?"
"Jo, what are you saying! Ah, here she comes—your specially hired newbie."
"Mhehehe, this Melinoë has finished cleaning the supply room...! Small tasks are the most vital, so this tiny newbie Melinoë is the most vital employee...!"
Sudden. Freaking. Nymph.