Welcome to Happy World #4
The ghosts of Happy World loved their booze. Even I, who was dying to get out of this place, had to admit the liquor here was out of this world. Wine brewed by steeping pomegranates—specialty produce of the underworld—in the storied waters of the Lethe and Styx Rivers. Without this stuff, I doubt I could've lasted so long pulling double duty as guard and temple acolyte.
So I headed to my usual haunt. The bar's name was Nymph's Tail.
"Sisyphus Energy, Inc. hits the daily limit! All menu items 50% off!"
"Unlimited Lethe River pomegranate wine for Happy World staff!"
Passing those gut-wrenching signboards, I stepped into the tavern, where off-duty ghost clerks were packed in tight.
"Whoooosh—!"
"Whoooosh whoooosh—!"
They spotted me and came swarming, rubbing their fluffy bodies all over my face in delight. Thanks to me (unwittingly) reforming Sisyphus, the dorms were brighter now, and they loved it.
"Whoooosh—!"
"Whoooosh whoooosh—!"
"The communal washers and fridges are running smooth without a hitch. Perfect. Just perfect."
For them, anyway. Not so much for me. But if my misfortune made someone else happy, that was something, I guess.
"Never seen a guy ghosts take to like that. And you're fluent in Ghost Language, too."
Someone called out to me then. I turned to see a woman eyeing me. Her skin was as translucent as Tartarus mist, her hair darker than Erebos's shadows, and those eyes—flashing pomegranate-red—were striking. She was so unearthly beautiful, I half-wondered if she was a goddess. But nah, couldn't be. The goddesses around here mostly worked execs at HQ, Pluto's Palace.
Someone this gorgeous and not a goddess...?
I reflexively checked her ears, half-expecting them to be pointy. She touched hers and asked in a soft, silky voice,
"Why are you staring at my ears?"
"Just checking if you were a nymph. They have those triangular pointy ones."
Hers were small and round. Not a nymph.
"Checking for nymph traits? Why bother? You got a thing for nymphs or something?"
I waved it off hard. No misunderstandings on my watch.
"Not at all. I hate nymphs. Hell, the reason I'm stuck here is kinda because of them."
"Really? No idea what your deal is, but that's hilarious. Same here. I can't stand nymphs. Tiny, chatty for no reason, crying at the drop of a hat. Pre-evolution, they're weaker than squirrels."
Evolution? What evolution? Nymphs from Greek myth didn't level up like Digimon or Pocketmonsters.
"Anyway, have we met before? You look familiar."
Met before? Was she hitting on me? I shook my head.
She rubbed her temple. "Ugh, I get this sometimes. Feels like I've met someone I haven't, been places I've never gone. Or lost something but can't remember what."
Odd duck. But in Happy World, odd was normal.
Hell, I get déjà vu all the time. Kinda relatable.
She topped off my glass with pomegranate wine, pattering over quick.
"Fate brought us together like this. Be my drinking buddy? I'm new here, don't know anyone. Ghosts love you, so you seem decent."
"Me?"
"Never heard? No one ghosts flock to is a bad guy."
This knockout wanted to drink with me? Romance scam? Nah, in Happy World, I had nowhere lower to fall.
"Whoooosh whoooosh—."
"Whoooosh—!"
"Hehe, tickles. These ghosts are so lively. Love it."
Ghosts were all over her like puppies. If they trusted her, she couldn't be bad. Ghosts don't back bad people, right?
So I knocked back my glass without a second thought. I'd always liked my booze anyway.
###
Beeeep-beep-beep!
A shrill beep snapped me awake. The golden sand clock I'd installed in my room recently—somehow with an alarm function. Don't ask how a sand clock alarms. Beats me. Point was, it was 6 a.m.
Exec welcome party's at 8, right? Two hours to kill. Woke up way too early.
Early rising habits are scary.
Rustle rustle.
Something stirred beside me. A woman. The one I'd been drinking with last night.
"You..."
Problem was, why the hell was she here? Blackout drunk, I guess. Pomegranate wine from Lethe waters sometimes wipes memory chunks. Lethe being the river of oblivion and all.
"Uh, last night, did we...?"
"Hey, seen my wallet?"
"Wallet?"
Wallet out of nowhere. She came out swinging, leaving me speechless.
Ignoring me, she peered around. "Round coin purse with a cute puppy embroidered on it."
Puppy-embroidered wallet. Cute taste for such an icy beauty.
"I know, doesn't suit a mature woman like me. Mom gave it to me, so I carry it. Where the heck is it?"
She started rummaging my place. I was baffled, but this could be my ticket.
"Looks important. Let me help."
"You sure? Could take forever."
"Your mom's gift, right?"
Helping find lost item makes me late to the exec event. Perfect plan.
We tore the room apart, even hit last night's bar. No wallet.
"Whoooosh whoooosh—?"
"Whoooosh—."
Ghost staff knew nothing. Her face fell bitter.
"Lost causes happen. It was beat-up anyway; was gonna replace it. Sorry to drag you. You helped like it was yours. Least I can do is buy hangover soup."
Hangover soup? After last night, more booze?
"Boss, one pomegranate wine, please."
Clink.
Then my eyes caught something weird.
"Hold up, that's—."
The "hangover cure" she pulled from her pocket: coin purse with a three-headed puppy.
"No way, it was in your pocket? That's the one, right?"
"Ah? Ahhh...!?"
She flushed beet-red on that porcelain face, stammering.
"...Ahem. Mature me making a ditzy nymph mistake like that... Sorry. But keep this between us? I'll make it up to you."
We'd hunted high and low for something in her pocket? Ice queen my ass—total airhead. Glad it wasn't lost, though. Seemed sentimental, mom-gifted and all.
Wonder how Mom's doing. Kinda downer.
I just wanna quit this Happy World dump, head topside, slurp her ramen.
"Gotta head to work then."
Found the wallet, and whoops—10 a.m., way past start time. Irreversible tardy. Score.
Blazing.
Way overdue for work, Daedalus's fake sun glared like the real deal. Sisyphus's energy output cranking it up, maybe. Annoying tail, though: wallet girl following me.
Tried zigzagging—yep, still tailing.
"Something you need? I said no reward necessary."
"Not about that."
Not reward? Then...
Last night? She wants accountability? Chaos with the wallet, memory fuzzy, but waking together means...
Greek gals here valued purity. Virgin goddesses and all.
Did I unknowingly pop her cherry?
Racking my brain for memories, she said something totally off-base, all soft:
"You're Happy World staff, right? Got business there today, but bad with directions. Figure following you gets me there."
Business at Happy World? Complaint? Fine by me. Tardiness locked in.
"Joey! You! Been looking everywhere!"
Right at the hell-palace-looking company entrance, Bones Manager spotted me pacing the flowerbed I'd planted last year and bolted over. His bony face screamed tension.
"Joey! Crucial day like today, why so late? Not like you! And I had this favor to ask...!"
Here comes the scolding. Music to my ears. I bowed deep.
"Sorry! Tardiness on a big day like this! Dock my pay, fire me—I'll take it gladly! Of all days!"
Grrr—!
Key: look pissed. It worked; Team 1 ace Crates pounced like he'd scored.
"Haha! Joey! Promotion went to your head! Late on a big day! Hahaha!"
Tardy on D-day. Even Achilles couldn't dodge this tidal wave. Yes—!
Inner victory dance.
"Wait, hold on."
Clack!
Bones smacked his bony jaw. Hold on what? Unease crept in.
"Our Joey isn't just late."
"What do you mean?"
Crates beat me to it. Not just late? Huh?
"Joey, the favor was escorting the new exec starting today. No contact since last night. But—."
Bony hand pointed behind me.
"You brought her before I asked! Worried she'd lost her way!"
"...Exec?"
"Top-notch employee as expected! Look, everyone! Joey brought the exec! That's the delay!"
Exec what? Turned—only last night's girl behind me.
Bones groveled before her.
"This skeleton Bones greets the great and noble one! Lady Melinoë, heartfelt welcome and congrats on your Happy World posting."
"Welcome, Lady Melinoë!"
Placards waving everywhere. I clutched my blanking mind, dredging up Melinoë.
Then terror hit.
Melinoë.
The name you whisper in fear: firstborn daughter of the underworld's ruler, the CEO.
And she ruled nightmares... and was a nymph.
Damn, round ears tricked me—not a nymph! The new exec nymph was her!
So I told a nymph I hated nymphs? And spent the night with her.
Memory fuzzy, but drunk duo waking together... yeah.
Chiiiillls.
Slept with the CEO's daughter. Forget Olympus transfer—