Ghosts and Clouds #2
One thing I regretted after restoring Orpheus's memories was this: in my desperate scheme to get myself fired, someone else might end up seriously hurt. It would've been great if I were the type who could brush off other people's pain for my own gain without a second thought.
Unfortunately, I'm cursed with an annoyingly sharp sense of self-awareness.
In this teeming Happy World full of all sorts of characters, I'm just an utterly ordinary guy. That's why I'm suffering like this. Ordinary people feel guilty when they hurt others. And when good things happen to them, we can't help but feel a quiet joy ourselves.
Therefore—
It was only natural that I'd feel some sense of obligation or debt toward the woman who'd saved me with her fragile body only to turn into a ghost. I was pretty shocked when I learned her real name, but luckily, I got my chance, and fortune smiled on me.
'Survived because the second round was a horse race.'
Let's restore the ghost woman back to normal as the grand prize. If you're the CEO holding over 90% of the Divine Shares, it might just be possible.
Want something else instead of the prize I prepared myself?
A mere subsidiary manager like you has lost all fear.
You won't back down even if it means getting fired over that tiny round ghost?
Rumble—!
Thunderous noise echoed through the air alongside blazing letters. A grin wouldn't leave my lips as I read them.
"I'm not afraid of getting fired."
Restoring the ghost woman to normal and getting fired at the same time? Talk about killing multiple birds with one stone. This must be why people say you should do good deeds.
"If you can give this ghost—Miss Alcestis—a chance to live happily in Happy World, I'll gladly drink from the cup handed to me."
An unexpected windfall. A chance to get fired directly by the CEO himself! Mom, Professor Zeus, just you wait! I'm heading back to the surface!
I was pumping myself up when, for some reason, strange letters appeared in the air.
Honey, hold on, this is picking up all the sound.
More importantly, didn't you say you were going back to your parents' house? Why are you still here—
Crash, bang—
Static, zzt—
What the? Is the connection bad or something?
About 30 seconds of chaos passed like that.
Very well.
A winner this unprecedented deserves a fitting reward.
I accept the Happy World penalty execution and Manager Joy's request.
*^*
# # #
An emergency executive meeting in the special viewing seats. Zagreus, seated as acting chair, flashed his red eyes.
"The CEO has approved Manager Joy's requested reward. However, restoring someone who's lost their memories and become a ghost isn't easy. We'll need to pool Divine Shares."
The executives exchanged uneasy glances at the prince's words. Pooling shares was no small matter.
Soon, Alecto one of the goddesses of vengeance slammed the table.
"Ugh, what a hassle. Manager Joy—a mere subsidiary manager—dragging us executives into this."
"We should transfer him to HQ and make him suffer to vent."
"Megaera agrees!"
The vengeful goddesses cackled slyly. They now pressed their palms toward the center of the round table.
"Our sisters' 4% of shares."
"Thanatos, president of Happy World, with about 60%."
"Welfare Department Chief Hippolyte, 22%."
Slap, slap—
The executives' palms gathered neatly on the round table. The pooled shares totaled a whopping 120%.
Charon, head of Charon Transport, marveled at the sight.
"Gathering. This much shares. Since the Business Renewal. It's been a while."
The executives' eyes turned to the silent goddess. The most unique being in all of Soul Society, guardian of ghosts—her name was Melinoë.
"I'm Melinoë, EVP of Happy World. Adding my 11% makes a total of 131% Divine Shares to execute this resolution."
A intense power seeped into Melinoë's body. The coercive force dwelling in Soul Society—enough to twist fate itself—now infused her.
'This is the power of surpassing 100% shares—'
Temporary though it was, Melinoë was awestruck by the overwhelming omnipotence. At the same time, a familiar sensation washed over her.
'This feeling... from somewhere...'
Probably just that nagging déjà vu she always felt. What mattered now was handling the issue.
"Ghost Alcestis, I twist the fate laid upon you and forge a new path."
Snap!
With a flick of her fingers, a massive shockwave swept across all of Happy World.
But there was a problem.
—Whoo, whoo...?
Alcestis hadn't fully reverted from her ghost form.
The ghost expert Melinoë assessed the situation precisely.
"Turning a fully ghostified soul back to normal was too much after all. She'll spend half the day in this ghost form. The other half, she can be human."
"What? Our princess's handling is so sloppy!"
"Must be that nymph blood mixed in, right?"
"Megaera laughs!"
Cackle, cackle—
The goddesses burst into laughter.
"......"
Melinoë couldn't retort, just furrowed her brow. They might be right.
"That's how it is. 12 hours a day—that's the best we can do. And this is an elixir made from the waters of Mnemosyne. Drink it, and her lost memories will return. Way beyond a manager's salary, though."
—Whoo whoo...!
In the windy fields, Melinoë handed the round ghost to Admetus.
Admetus hugged it like a precious doll gift. Round and fluffy. In its grasp was a Hell Clover.
As if waiting, the ghost offered it to him.
—Whoo...!
Clutching it, Admetus couldn't hold back tears. He'd never cried, not even facing death to prove his manhood.
Yet he didn't know why he was crying now.
Soon, Manager Joy spoke.
"Mr. Admetus, Miss Alcestis says she's sorry. She knows you hate small, cute things, so she's sorry for turning into such a small, cute ghost."
Whoosh—
At that moment, the ghost Alcestis shifted to human form. She hugged Admetus, sniffling.
"Sorry, Admetus. For turning into this... "
In Admetus's mind, Alcestis had nothing to apologize for. If anything, he was the one who should.
"...I've been lying to you for so long. Truth is, I like flowers and wild grass—little things. Small, cute stuff too. I lied to seem manly."
Admetus loved that Alcestis would now live half her days as a small, cute ghost. Because deep down, he loved cute and adorable things.
But even if he didn't—or if she turned hideous and terrifying—they'd still love each other.
Appearances didn't matter to them.
The embracing couple soon remembered the ones who made this possible.
"Lady Melinoë, thank you for helping my wife. And Manager Joy, I never expected this from you. I saw you as just a rival, but you..."
What if he'd won? He could've gotten the Mnemosyne waters to restore her memories.
But in eternity, they'd fade again, and she'd become a ghost someday.
Yet Joy had petitioned the CEO himself to fix the ghostification at its root. Even Admetus, who'd risked everything for manhood, saw it as boldly heroic.
Especially his resolve to push through, even at the cost of firing.
"How can I ever repay such a debt..."
"Mr. Admetus, I heard from your wife you like Hell Clovers. If you have any collected, could you give them to me? That'll do it."
Admetus was stunned. Hell Clovers—just that?
"Joy, someone as bold and generous as you will make deputy manager for sure. Me? I'm still far off. Falling the promotion exams was just my shortcomings."
A total defeat for Admetus. No matter the event or method, he couldn't beat Deputy Manager Joy (soon-to-be).
# # #
Mr. and Mrs. Admetus and Alcestis vanished toward the distant sunset. Watching their tiny, dot-like figures, Princess Melinoë said,
"Liking someone is truly amazing. Admetus would've loved her even as a ghost."
"You think so?"
Yeah, it really seemed that way. I envied their bond. If they'd been separated forever because of me, I'd have nightmares of guilt every night.
Of course, my reality of becoming deputy manager was a nightmare itself.
But—
Some nightmares can be beautiful.
"...What if."
Whoosh—
The nightmare goddess Melinoë's black hair fluttered in the rising wind. Thinking how stunning it was, she murmured softly,
"...What if, Joy. What if the me you so fervently follow and love wasn't a perfect goddess? If I had secrets I hide from others..."
Melinoë's red eyes wavered. Then she burst out laughing.
"Just kidding, of course. A perfect goddess like me couldn't have secrets or weaknesses. I overdid it with power today—I'm tired. Joy, I'm heading back first."
"Lady Melinoë, thank you so much for today."
Bow.
Without her, I'd have been flailing in panic. She waved coolly.
"No need for thanks. Joy, focus on prepping for deputy duties. From deputy level, HQ watches closely—be careful. Also—"
Also?
"Anyway, curfew's up—bye!"
Whoosh!
She fled like she was escaping somewhere.
First time hearing Lady Melinoë had a curfew. The CEO's precious daughter—makes sense.
So I walked alone toward that far sunset.
'Damn, feels kinda lonely.'
Is the promotion exam winner supposed to feel the saddest and loneliest? Mr. Admetus failed the exam but got a pretty, cute wife—lucky guy.
"...Ended up as deputy after all."
How did my life come to this?
"Muhuhu, Manager Joy worked hard today, nya~!"
Sudden. Appear. Ance.
A nymph popped out at the street corner. Perfectly timed, in every way.
"Melinoi?"
Normally I'd panic. Heck, I still was—but somehow, glad to see her. Who'd have thought a nymph-hater like me would welcome one.
"Melinoi, you worked hard too."
Swoosh.
I raised my hand to her head and stroked vigorously, recalling how it felt being petted myself.
Melinoi shivered in delight.
"This Melinoi loooves praise and pets~! Stroke harder, nya~! Praise boosts Melinoi's efficiency and promotes her to CEO, nya~!"
What a weirdo nymph. I chuckled involuntarily.
Then she dropped a bombshell.
"Manager Joy, you'll have a meeting with the CEO soon—prep well, nya~! For reference, this Melinoi has zero connection to the CEO, so no help from me, nya~!"
Meeting... oh, that! The betting favorite's...!?
Despair crashed over me.
What the Happy World!