027 – The Song Demon #2
“I’ll make you truly understand which side it is that’s looking down on music.”
The man who had become a demon entered the recording studio. As Rilke, who had tried to protest the shocking outburst from moments ago, followed him in, the man snatched the bass from Rilke’s hands.
“Ah! What the—!”
Rilke couldn’t resist because the man moved his hands at an invisible speed, ripping the strings off the bass. His skill was anything but ordinary, so Rilke stopped protesting the theft and froze in place.
Dum-dum-dum-dum-dum—.
What came next was even more astonishing. Zwaaang—, zwaaang—!
A screeching noise like something tearing apart. Bassist Rilke was flustered.
“How is a bass guitar making electric guitar feedback at the same time…!? I’ve never even heard of a technique like this! What… what are you doing right now?!”
And then he even started singing.
“━───!”
It was a melody like a scream from the depths of agony, a voice that shook the soul like a tormented soul in hell. Rilke’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.
“T-This… this is possible…?”
It was utter overwhelming defeat. This was only the second time in her life she’d felt this way.
Could this man be… that Orpheus…?
Rilke stared at the man. Long hair, face powdered white. Tears streaming from pitch-black eye makeup—it was more than enough to fit the infamous reputation of an employee from the Penalty Execution Department in this Happy World.
There was no way he could be the same person as Orpheus, who had exuded thoughtful nobility and grace. Absolutely not.
So who the hell was this guy?
…A demon! This man is an evil spirit and a music demon…!
In that moment, Rilke thought of her boss, Section Chief Jo Iseo. And the nickname he went by.
The demon of Happy World even commands underlings who are demons themselves! I thought the rumors were wrong and he was just ordinary, but nope, not at all!
Rilke had a gut feeling. If this song being recorded right now spread through the Soul Society, it would crush the reputation that E&S had barely earned.
The Soul Society is still so vast. To think someone like this was hiding out. This man’s skill… I hate to admit it, but he’s on par with Orpheus—or even better!
What siren Rilke had felt from Orpheus was defeat. But what emanated from this demon’s performance now was pure terror.
Terror that she might die from the music itself. It was a good thing everyone here was already dead souls. At least they wouldn’t die again.
“This Carnoy likes beating things hard…!”
Dong-dong-dong-dong—.
At that moment, Carnoy, E&S’s drummer, started pounding the drums. Whether it was to show she wouldn’t be outdone by this ‘killer song,’ or just because she enjoyed smashing things, who could say.
“G-Give it back! That’s my guitar!”
Rilke snapped out of it and wrested the guitar back from the man. She poured all her energy into playing, determined not to be overshadowed by his music. Pat, pat—.
Her fingertips stung and bled from the thick bass strings, but this wasn’t the time to care. If this track went out as is, it would ruin everything in so many ways, so she was trying to neutralize it with their own music.
Just like the hero Orpheus had once overlaid his song over the sirens’ to save the lives of the Argo’s crew.
Only now did siren Rilke finally understand the noble intent of Orpheus. She even realized just how terrible her actions had been when she was alive.
I had a casual cup of coffee with Arachne. She brewed it exceptionally well—probably thanks to her deft hands.
“Shall we head to the recording studio now?”
“You’re doing it yourself, Section Chief Jo?”
“That’d be best.”
“You must sing pretty well, then?”
“Nah, I’m just average. Totally average.”
“This Melinoi wanted to sing too-no-rat…!”
Melinoi singing? Absolutely not. You never know. She might turn out to be amazing. I couldn’t allow that variable.
“Melinoi, please wait here.”
“Just waiting is boring-no-rat….”
“Hmm, how about you dispose of the leftover honey candies? The ones Eurydol and Rilke didn’t eat. If we leave them, bugs might come.”
Melinoi’s face lit up instantly.
“Leave it to this Melinoi-no-rat…! When it comes to tossing candy, no one’s better than me…! I won’t taste a single one and will throw them all away-no-rat…!”
Melinoi grabbed the boxes of special honey candy and vanished somewhere. Only then did I feel relieved enough to head to the recording studio.
Clunk—.
Creeeak.
As I opened the heavily soundproofed door, a strange heat suddenly whooshed past my face. Then I saw Rilke collapsed on the floor.
She looked unconscious, snapping me wide awake.
“Rilke! Are you okay…!?”
“…….”
Next to Rilke, Eurydol knelt on one knee like a wounded soldier. Arachne seemed just as shocked by the scene.
“Eurydol! Rilke! Carnoy! What the hell happened?! Are you guys alright…!?”
Arachne helped Eurydol to her feet. At that moment, Eurydol laboriously opened her mouth.
“…You, what’s your name?”
“…….”
The man at the end of her gaze—Crowzer—looked pretty flustered. His white makeup made it hard to read his expression, but having watched him the past few days, I could tell he’d done something majorly wrong and was tense about it.
“Well, I’m outta here!”
Whoosh—!
Crowzer bolted from the office. As Eurydol tried to chase him—“Wait—.”—her legs gave out, and she tumbled over.
What the hell had happened?
“Did Crowzer do something?”
“Crowzer… don’t tell me he’s that Happy Metal… ugh… so he’s the one…”
Eurydol wore an intensely frustrated expression. At the same time, Carnoy raised her drumsticks high.
“This Carnoy doesn’t get what happened, but she could beat the drums like crazy, so she feels great…! This Carnoy actually loves beating anything…!”
Dum-chit, dum-dum-chit—.
With the drum beats as background, I pinched my cheek. It hurt. This mess wasn’t a dream.
The mood settled down eventually. E&S’s members were still exhausted and sprawled out, but Arachne jumped for joy like never before after listening to the recorded file.
“Th-This is a masterpiece! The best recording album I’ve ever heard! If this song spreads, we’ll be able to afford a fancy magic carriage or magic carpet! Hioong…!”
Moments ago, E&S had zero enthusiasm for recording, and now they’d made an album infused with soul. What had changed…? Even Rilke scowled and clicked her tongue at me.
“Section Chief Jo, I didn’t peg you for it, but you’re a scary one. To think you’d prepare something like this just because we didn’t cooperate nicely. You’re ruthless.”
“No, I didn’t—”
Oso-soso—.
Goosebumps erupted on my neck, cutting me off. I turned at the familiar chill and presence. At the entrance stood the goddess with black hair and a laurel crown, staring at me.
It was Lady Melinoë.
“Underestimate the employees of Happy World, and you’ll suffer for it. Especially Section Chief Jo, famed for his terrifying prowess. He’s like an untamed beast.”
“Lady Melinoë… don’t tell me you’re that—gasp! This Arachne greets the princess of Soul Society! What are you all doing? Bow down now!”
Shiver-shiver—.
Arachne was sweating bullets, pitifully terrified. The other women snapped to attention and hesitantly bowed, but hipster Eurydol alone gazed calmly at Melinoë.
“I don’t bend to power. And you called her Princess Melinoë, right? If you sense closely, I feel a nymph aura from you. A very peculiar one…”
Eurydol leaned in to touch foreheads with Princess Melinoë. Arachne freaked out, even tearing up.
“E-Eurydol! You can’t do that!”
“To treat a goddess like me the same as your kind of nymph. You’re not afraid of punishment, are you? Shall I test if that ‘no bending to power’ conviction of yours is real?”
Seeing the faint crease between Melinoë’s refined brows, I knew she was genuinely furious. Calling the nymph-phobic Lady Melinoë a nymph? She could turn into a hell cockroach for less.
But Eurydol didn’t seem scared.
“Adult nymphs have either gained something or lost something. Me, Rilke—we both did. Princess Melinoë, which are you…?”
“How dare you—”
Rumble-rumble-rumble—.
The recording studio shook with Lady Melinoë’s rage. If this kept up, we’d all be hell cockroaches by joint liability! I had to step in to avoid that.
“Alright! Looks like recording’s done, so let’s head out! Lady Melinoë! It’s almost quitting time anyway—let’s get home! Commute times are strict—. That’s what matters, right?”
Did my persuasion work? Whoosh… Lady Melinoë’s aura deflated sharply.
“Punctual commutes are the basics for employees. Those who value the fundamentals are fit to walk the king’s road. Fine, I permit you to clock out.”
Arachne watched in awe.
“Calming an enraged executive’s fury. Section Chief Jo, you’re incredible. We almost became bugs again on a whim…”
Strictly speaking, Arachne’s spider form wasn’t a bug, but whatever. Not the point right now.
“Alright, ghost employees, assemble.”
—Hoo, hoo…!
—Hoo…!
At Lady Melinoë’s call, fluffy white ghost employees seeped out from somewhere. The princess bundled them into a round, fluffy ball like cotton and mounted it. Then she reached out to me.
“The return ferry’s probably delayed by rebels. Section Chief Jo, I’ll give you a special ride.”
Normally I’d avoid getting close, but I needed out of this mess, so I climbed onto the ghost carpet. The ride was surprisingly plush.
Float-float—.
As we left the office, Lady Melinoë spoke.
“I listened to the recorded album too. It’ll represent Happy World forever, passed from mouth to mouth eternally. With that achievement, your promotion to deputy chief is right around the corner.”
“Deputy chief?”
“Yeah, HQ staff are at least deputy level. Once you’re deputy, Section Chief Jo, you can really join HQ. That’s your first step toward executive.”
“But from what I hear, the deputy promotion exam is extremely exclusive, with competition like 100-to-1. And some executives judge it personally.”
“Right, and even if I’m a judge, I won’t give you special treatment. Remember that. I’m a mature goddess, and mature goddesses must be fair to all.”
We arrived home.
“Section Chief Jo, you drive this ghost carpet from now on. With those Tartarus regressionists stirring everywhere, we need to ensure safe commutes.”
The princess handed me a rectangular wooden amulet.
“This is the summoner. Call the ghost carpet with it, or contact me directly. Of course, as a fair goddess, I won’t answer casually.”
Was this the moment I got luxury foreign car keys and a direct line from the chairman’s daughter? I couldn’t even ask the carpet’s price.
For some reason, Lady Melinoë’s lips were smeared with honey. I was dying to know why, but one wrong move and I’d be a hell cockroach, so I just bowed deeply.
“I’m deeply honored…”