Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

"Jo Iseo Deputy Manager... no, I guess it's Jo Iseo Team Leader now? What brings you here!"

A small woman with chick-yellow hair latched onto my arm like a koala. It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hedone, the MZ-generation employee ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠who formed a duo of utter deadbeats with Crowzer, the officially certified trash subordinate of Manager ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bones. I was shocked and flustered. Why was an intern from a subsidiary company at a charity event crawling with executives?

I had no idea, but first things first—shake her off. Getting tangled in a sexual harassment scandal would be the worst.

I smoothly pushed away Hedone's head from my arm.

"Hedone, did you come to wash dishes?"

"Mugugugu, dishes?"

"I'm saying you got kicked out of Penalty Execution and landed a waitress gig. If that's the case, be careful not to break anything. The plates here cost more than most people's monthly salary."

"Pfft! I'm a guest too. I was officially and properly invited!"

An intern from a subsidiary getting invited to this massive charity gala? Was that even possible?

"Sunbae-nim! Sit at our table! They've got super expensive dishes at my spot—like golden truffle caviar and stuff! The guy who invited me is the Zagreus Prince's right-hand man, so we're sharing the table!"

Right-hand man? Alecto's eyes, which had been full of mischief just moments ago, shifted in an instant. She didn't say it, but her look screamed, "Go."

Soon, Melinoë let out a leisurely hum from her nose.

"Fine, Jo Iseo. You've run into a junior after so long—you must have a lot to catch up on. I'm not interested in this boring party, so I'll head out soon. You can sit with your junior."

Her words said one thing, but her blazing eyes said, "Don't you dare."

Those eyes were burning hot enough to scorch.

'...Goddess thermal power plant mode!'

Whenever Melinoë entered that mode, something bad always happened to me. What was I supposed to do?

Opportunities to rub elbows with the prince's inner circle didn't come often. Making contact would surely spark some incident, skyrocketing my chances of getting fired. But following Hedone would piss off Melinoë...

Some bizarre game scene flashed before my eyes. My mental energy must be draining fast.

Was this how Paris felt, golden apple in hand, with goddesses staring him down? Snap out of it. I was the grad student who earned a master's under Professor Zeusoo, who quit after less than a month. What would my mentor do?

Suddenly, his words came back to me.

Yeah, that was it!

"Hedone, got plenty of seats at your table? It'd be great if everyone here could squeeze in too."

"Not sure if we can all fit, but it'd be more fun packed tight! Wait here—I'll go ask!"

Dodododo. Hedone dashed off somewhere.

Watching her go, Alecto clicked her tongue.

"New hires after the Business Renewal are so different from our batch. They don't even glance at the bosses. Not sure if that's good or bad."

"Jo Iseo, I have no intention of sitting at a table mingling with everyone."

Melinoë was still in goddess thermal power plant mode. Did she dislike my scheme to basket all the flowers together?

Alecto elbowed Melinoë's side.

"Why not? It's a golden opportunity for you too. You don't even know what the prince's right-hand is like. Remember how we got pushed out of the succession fight thanks to that guy's exploits?"

"I lost to Zagreus because you 'Night Faction' fools blindly backed that reckless brute."

"Exactly. And we backed him because that right-hand guy convinced us. He's got real talent. You didn't have a subordinate like that back then."

"Then or now, I'm already a perfect, flawless goddess. My policy of reaching CEO on my own, without help, hasn't changed."

"Hmph, suit yourself. Jo Iseo Team Leader, ignore the arrogant princess and come to Hedone's table with me."

Slrk. Alecto hooked her arm in mine.

"Escort your department head and executive director properly. This counts as work extension, by the way? Impress me, and it'll boost your performance review."

Or piss me off, and it'll tank it, right?

Whoosh! Melinoë's gaze burned even fiercer.

"Changed my mind. Can't trust a Night Faction member like you cozying up to Zagreus's right-hand—what schemes might you cook up? Someone needs to keep watch. You lot always cause trouble."

"What're you on about?"

Then Hedone came sprinting from afar, hands over her head making a big circle, jumping up and down.

"It's good!"

Alecto frowned.

"Jo Iseo, is that kid okay?"

"She's a good kid. Probably."

Unlike the outdoor rooftop tables, Hedone's had a simple tent roof. Felt like a VIP designated spot. How did a mere intern score an invite like this?

Hedone scratched the back of her head at my admiration.

"Hehehe, it's not me who's great. My mom and dad are big shots on the surface world. They're probably inviting me to butter them up."

Big shots on Earth? When she first joined, I suspected from her name, but...

"Hedone, is your father's name by any chance...?"

"Pervert, Team Leader Jo Iseo! How can you ask that here!"

Pang pang! Hedone punched my shoulder. How does a chick-sized girl hit this hard? Felt like my shoulder might dislocate.

Anyway. Her dad was probably Eros, the god of love from Greek myth. He had a daughter named Hedone. Not super common, but not impossible, so I never connected the dots. Why would Eros's daughter work here in Soul Society, not on Earth?

Melinoë, twirling her wine glass, snorted.

"Relying on parental clout to succeed in Soul Society? Amateurish. Won't last. Unlike Earth, this place is pure meritocracy."

"Right? It's so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tough. That's why Team Leader Jo Iseo is amazing! Building a success story here from nothing—no connections, no blood ties! You're my role model!"

Zzt! Melinoë's gaze sparked like lightning amid the flames.

Hedone, oblivious, waved wildly at someone far off.

"Here! Here! Paranoy!"

Whoosh whoosh. At the end of her frantic waving: a girl with short orange bobbed hair.

"Why are there so many guests at this Paranoy's table...? No seat left for this Paranoy...! What the nymph...!"

Ears pointed like triangles—a nymph. Her speech was weird too. Age-wise, like a middle-schooler? Similar to Melinoë or Carnoy sometimes.

This was Zagreus's right-hand? Weirder than expected.

"Are you the host of this table, Pa-ra-noy?"

I asked, and the odd nymph scowled furiously.

"I'm not 'Pa'ra-noy, I'm 'Pe'ra-noy...! This Paranoy has the sharpest senses in all Soul Society, so we distinguish those pronunciations...!"

My mind was reeling from all directions.

Alecto snorted softly too.

"...Hah, nymphs."

"Did you just diss nymphs...? Nymph hate is a major crime...! Post the #NLM (Nymph Lives Matter) hashtag on SNS or no forgiveness...!"

I glanced at Melinoë. She was part-nymph herself. Wondered her reaction to this weirdo.

"Nymphs are just the worst. Noisy little things chattering away—gives me a headache."

As expected, negative. Blasphemous thought, but I couldn't voice it.

But now was my chance. Time to stir the pot, Jo Iseo!

"Then, Ms. Paranoy, I have a question about the trending nymph flu."

Flinch! The nymph Paranoy shuddered.

She probably never expected a sensitive question at this cheery gala.

"...Hey, Jo Iseo Team Leader. Isn't that too rash? This is enemy territory smack in the middle. Most folks here are Zagreus faction connections."

Alecto froze in shock too.

"Jo Iseo...?"

Melinoë, sipping wine, halted abruptly.

The buzzing party went dead silent, like someone hit pause.

Paranoy scowled at me.

"Watch your words from now on...! You're facing the CSO's proxy—don't forget...! So, repeat that...!"

"Ms. Paranoy, weren't you the first infected with the nymph flu? But because you didn't cooperate with the epidemiological investigation, initial response failed."

Zagreus's right-hand, Paranoy, worked in Safety Management yet ignored quarantine rules and hid her movements. Initial containment failed, sparking a massive flu outbreak among Soul Society's nymphs.

Melinoë was stunned. After the Thanatos rebellion, the prince was the top power player—crossing him was suicide. Especially here, enemy central. Even fierce Alecto was on her best behavior at Zagreus's charity.

But—

"Ms. Paranoy, am I wrong? First nymph flu case: you. And here are the hospital records you tried to hide, right in my hand."

Jo Iseo went straight for the jugular.

Melinoë instantly got why he obsessed over the 'nymph flu.'

'Jo Iseo, you cared that much about my cold? You love and worship me so much, you can't forgive the Zagreus faction culprit.'

Melinoë was deeply moved.

Hedone shot up from her seat.

"Team Leader Jo Iseo, you idiot! It's because of me, right? You got mad 'cause I caught a cold and missed work for a month! To think this far for me!"

Wa-rak. Hedone clung to Jo Iseo's arm, sobbing.

Lightning flashed from Melinoë's eyes.

Boom!

A massive explosion engulfed the area. When senses returned, the gala was a field of fainted guests.

At this spectacle, black-haired nymph Melinoi jumped up and shouted,

"This must be Team Leader Jo Iseo's valor knocking everyone out-norat...! To leak valor in enemy territory and fell them—such a bold man-norat...!"

"Oho, are you Team Leader Jo Iseo's nymph employee...? You look no ordinary nymph...! Hold this Paranoy's hand-dat...! Join the Nymph Alumni Association-dat...!"

"This Melinoi is a lone wolf nymph-norat...! What I offer ain't a handshake cloth, but a punchin' fist-norat...! Taste a lil' of my fist flavor-norat...!"

"Then we're enemies-dat...! You'll regret it-dat...! Nymph Skill: Massive Beatin'!"

Dudududududu.

Dudududu.

The two nymphs' fierce punches collided. Red lightning crackled everywhere.

"Gah! Nymphbi-gi clash!"

"R-run!"

In the chaos as everyone fled, Jo Iseo Team Leader stood calmly.

'Total mess. No clue how it escalated, but I wrecked the charity big time. Can't dodge responsibility. Fired for sure. Fired!'

Jo Iseo even smiled.

Watching, Alecto was awed.

'...Smiling in this hellish mess?'

For the first time, Alecto felt chilling fear from a mortal. Though she'd never admit it.