Mid-Level Deputy Manager Exam #1
“Whoa, isn't that a Ghost Carpet? I heard even most souls can't buy one after saving up gold coins for centuries!”
On my way to work, I ran into old man Cronus, who marveled at my new ride. Even a former ruler like this Titan geezer seemed to think a ghost carpet was an extravagant luxury.
Compared to stuff on the surface, it's probably like a Rolls-Royce.
“But Jo Iseo, aren't you scared of those ghosts or find them creepy?”
“These guys?”
Ghosts were fluffy and cute. In this Happy World, alongside the hell cacti, they were one of the few healing spots.
Soon enough, Cronus started rambling on about things I hadn't even asked.
“In this Soul Society, there's no such thing as death, so forgetting is the scariest thing. Those who stay here too long slowly forget who they were and turn into those hazy ghosts.”
I'd heard something like that before. Old souls ended up as these fuzzy, round ghosts.
“That's why the locals here often fear ghosts. They think they might end up like that someday, so they fundamentally avoid them.”
“I see.”
Ghosts didn't scare me at all. Maybe because I was still alive, not a soul yet.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Ding ding ding ding—.
“Ah, this must be that song.”
“The one Section Chief Jo Iseo got the music file for, right?”
“Wow, the song's amazing. Just listening makes my work efficiency go up.”
Lunchtime at Happy World. Speakers scattered around the office building broadcast beautiful songs and accompaniment from nymph Eurydol and the sirens.
“Whoa, Section Chief Jo Iseo. I had no idea you had talent in music production too. It's getting rave reviews for perfectly igniting the staff's motivation with that passionate song! Even our president is thrilled!”
“...Ah...”
“I never thought picky idols E&S would record with such war-like passion. Kahahat! What's your secret?”
Manager Bones asked me for the secret sauce.
Truth was, I didn't have one. I'd just been sipping coffee, thinking maybe I'd try singing a bit, when I went to the recording studio—and the session was already done.
All thanks to that shady new hire, Crowzer.
“Phew, in the end, my voice got completely edited out as requested. What a relief. I got so carried away with blood rushing to my head that I accidentally unleashed some forgotten passion... but seems my identity's still safe....”
I recalled this guy was Orpheus. I'd thought he was a total has-been and let my guard down. My mistake.
But that wasn't the only issue nagging me.
“Marquius, you seen Melinoi?”
“Melinoi? What're you talking about?”
Just yesterday, she'd been with me visiting the entertainment agency, but now everyone had forgotten her again. Second time this happened.
“Section Chief Jo Iseo's talking about himself. Even as a section chief, he's still personally handling stuff like cleaning supplies.”
“No one would complain if he delegated that to subordinates.”
“How can someone be so consistently humble?”
Once again, everything Melinoi had done was remembered as my achievements. Doubling my accomplishments in the process.
If I don't fix this situation where Melinoi keeps popping up and stealing my merits...
If my memory served, Rilke had called Melinoi a nymph with a unique constitution. That 'constitution' was likely the culprit here.
That's when Manager Bones burst into my office.
“Section Chief Jo Iseo! You're on the deputy manager promotion exam list! It's been less than a year since your section chief promotion, and you're only the second to take the exam this fast! Second!”
Deputy manager already? My stomach churned, but curiosity won out.
“Who's first?”
“Prince Zagreus! He was CEO blood but started as an intern. So among mortals, you're the first to promote this quickly!”
I was so thrilled tears streamed down. As I wiped them, Bones dumped a pile of stuff from his hands onto my desk.
Thud—!
“These are the workbooks I used prepping for my deputy manager exam. A talent like you might not need 'em, but you never know!”
A mountain of books. Next to them gleamed axes and swords menacingly.
“And the weapons?”
“Deputy manager exams aren't like entry tests where you just sit and write answers. At that level, you handle diverse tasks, so personal combat prowess is crucial.”
I hadn't even taken the entry exam. Not that I had time to say it—Bones slapped my back heartily.
“Of course, you who took down that mercenary king—no, pirate king?—Magnus in one hit will breeze through the deputy exam!”
Taking down Magnus as a new hire? That was Melinoi. But it was remembered as me.
So what about my actual fighting skills? In this underworld full of superhumans like Sisyphus casually pushing boulders up mountains, my physical abilities were plain mortal.
That's the problem!
As Cronus said earlier, there was no 'death' here. Locals were already dead souls. Execs were immortal gods beyond death.
So extreme stuff was everyday. For example?
“Manager, could you tell me about last exam's subjects? I recall you were drafted as event staff.”
“Right! Great memory! First was treasure hunt on a plain swarming with heart-eating eagles. Second was navigating Daedalus's blade-trap labyrinth!”
See! No death in Soul Society meant content skewed extreme. Souls regenerated from fatal wounds fast. Bones was just bones but walked fine.
The problem was me. Could a normal human survive that brutality?
I'll die for sure!
If so, bound by contract, I'd revive as a soul in Happy World—trapped forever. Worse than bodily death.
For this deputy manager exam, I had to play it safe. Or skip it entirely—
The office buzzed.
“Why's he here?!”
“What a big shot!”
“What's up? Another horned devil from audit?”
Lately, other teams' staff kept showing up like punishment duty. Curious, I turned—and saw a boy as short as Carnoy or Melinoi looking around.
Visually, maybe middle-school age? Lost kid? Then text floated up.
The One Bearing the Curse of War and Death
Admetus, Section Chief of Charon Transport
“Those letters... cursed by execs.”
“Eternal Section Chief Admetus?”
“Why here...”
Admetus. The name sparked a long-dormant synapse.
He was—
“Admetus! A friend of this Crowzer! We sailed on the Argo expedition together! Hey, Admetus! Here to see me? Great to see you!”
Ex-Orpheus, current Crowzer, waved at the boy.
The boy scowled angrily.
“Huh? A mere clerk dares act familiar with Section Chief Admetus? Who are you? Never heard of some punk like you on the Argo.”
“Uh, uh...”
What a prickly kid. Oh—eye contact!
“Ha! You're that hotshot Section Chief Jo Iseo? I'm Admetus! We'll clash in the upcoming exam. But I'll win! Don't hold it against me! Hahahahaha!”
He strutted out. The office erupted.
“This promotion exam...”
“Section Chief Jo Iseo... got marked by Admetus...”
“This means...”
What? Why the fuss? As I puzzled, Crowzer sidled up.
“My heroic saga buddy Admetus is famous for obsessively loving his wife. Willing to die for each other... *sob*... Eurydice and I had times like that too....”
Crowzer bawled. I averted my eyes from the weirdo and questioned the murmurs.
“But why'd he target me?”
“No idea.”
Right. Dumb to ask Crowzer.
Then I remembered colleague Marquius had long worked in Charon Transport. He spilled eagerly.
“Admetus is always a top pick for deputy exams. He scouts his 'rival' each time. Guess it's you now.”
“Wait... every time?”
Top contender, yet does this every time? Means he's never won.
“Hence 'eternal section chief.'”
“Key point: everyone he's scouted as rival has won the exam. Jo Iseo, looks like he predicts you'll take it!”
Explains the buzz. Then Crowzer yelled:
“Deputy Manager Jo Iseo! Congrats on the promotion!”
This jerk—headache just hearing it!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Admetus returned home. His beloved wife Alcestis greeted him.
“Adme, look! Your deputy promotion gift. Hard-earned Hell Clover! Oh, wait, we say 'Happy' instead of 'Hell' now...? Puhehe!”
“Whoa! Alke! Awesome gift!”
“Even you, adventurer extraordinaire, seeing Happy Clover for the first time?”
Eternal Section Chief Admetus hugged his wife, took the Happy Clover, and placed it carefully among the pile in a glass jar on his shelf.
Decades since his section chief promotion, yet Alcestis remembered none.
She's forgetting more and more. At this rate, my wife will become a hazy ghost.
Admetus—called eternal section chief—vowed to promote to deputy this time.
The execs' gift for deputy promotions would sharpen his wife's memories.
Problem is facing devilish Jo Iseo... and all those other strong contenders... How to win...
Pondering, he pulled out his Caller. It connected directly to 'any existence.'
“Sorry everyone, but no holding back...!”
Beep—.
“Last deputy exam's final event was 'mutual slaughter,' right? Can you switch it with your authority? Something... vehicle race. I'm good at that.”
As Charon Transport deputy, Admetus excelled at driving. Unless someone brought an irregular ride like a ghost carpet, victory was assured.
No one buys a ghost carpet on section chief salary—even after centuries of saving. My win's locked in.