Vice Manager Jo and the 13 Labors #1
Up on the headquarters rooftop, a crowd of male employees had gathered. They puffed on cigarettes or chatted idly to shake off the fatigue from work.
"Real estate prices in Happy World have been climbing lately..."
"Still better than the new apartments in Elysium."
Predictable topics for office guys—stocks, property, marriage, all loaded with numbers.
But lately, one scorching hot topic had risen above the rest among the men.
"Hey, you hear the latest from the Welfare Team?"
"That they're killing it? If they keep this up, they'll turn into a powerhouse like the Audit Team."
"Nah, not that! The Orsos story from the Welfare Team!"
"Orsos? You mean 'poor Orsos'?"
Orsos from the Welfare Team was one of only three men there—and the sole bachelor. You'd think being the lone guy surrounded by beautiful women would make him the star of envy and fantasies.
But people called him "poor Orsos."
From the start, he'd been soft-hearted, and he just couldn't adapt to the Amazonian women of the Welfare Team. He'd twisted up like a dried squid under their onslaught.
However—
"That Orsos has been grinning ear to ear lately."
"So the rumors are true. The Welfare Team's vibe has totally changed..."
Rumors had been swirling lately. A single guy transfers into the Welfare Team, and suddenly he's drowning in attention from beautiful, capable women—more than he deserves.
Of course.
To me—currently on temporary assignment there, handling section chief duties—it was utter nonsense.
The Welfare Team was still hell on earth for single men.
"Section Chief Jo! There you are!"
"I have something to discuss about the employee event—let's go!"
"Section Chief, want me to carry you?"
"Outta my way! The section chief's coming with me!"
Beautiful female employees swarmed up to the rooftop. They latched onto my arms, tugging me their way.
The other guys watching dropped their cigarettes in awe.
"I just found my new dream. Transferring to the Welfare Team."
"So that's the paradise Elysium I've always dreamed of!"
"The rumors about the Welfare Team's overhaul were true!"
Idiots.
The women hanging off my arms were straight out of myth—Amazons who made even the boldest male heroes quake in their boots. Getting limbs yanked by them was like being tied to a bull and torn apart.
Crack, pop—
See? My joints were screaming already.
I got dragged back to the office by that irresistible strength.
Bam-bam!
Pop pop pop!
Explosions erupted all around.
"Whoa."
I flinched for real. Thought war had broken out.
"Section Chief! Congrats on your vice manager promotion!"
"Ta-da!"
The flower bouquets from the women snapped me back to reality. Balloons and banners everywhere—colorful, meticulously done.
"Don't forget us when you head back to Audit tomorrow!"
"Section Chief Jo is an Honorary Welfare Teamer!"
Today was my last day on temporary assignment. Tomorrow, back to Audit Team duties. They'd thrown this farewell party for me.
I was flustered.
I'd only been here two weeks.
And even those flew by in a blur—I barely knew what I'd done.
'Honestly, I didn't do jack. They handled everything themselves.'
A concrete jungle of perfect businesswomen. It would've run fine with or without me.
"Section Chief, just stay here with us!"
"Yeah!"
Yet these Welfare Team folks were tearing up like we'd bonded deep. So affectionate, so thoughtful.
'All those cliques... probably 'cause they're this warm-hearted. Wanted community with everyone.'
My conscience stung.
I didn't deserve this welcome or gratitude.
I was just a loach stirring up trouble to get fired.
But they treated me like a national hero. My face burned.
"Welfare sisters. Don't cry just because I'm leaving. Smile instead. I was your nuisance, an unwelcome guest."
My confession turned the Welfare Team into a sea of tears. Even Vice Manager Panthesilea dabbed at her eyes with her pinky.
"You said harsh stuff like that when you first got here. Playing the villain on purpose to unite us, huh? As expected of the man Boss Hector approves of."
Soul Society folks only saw and heard what they wanted.
Why was that?
As I pondered, Manager Hippolyte approached and handed me the rubber band from her ponytail.
"Section Chief Jo, I entrust you with this, Hippolyte's hair tie. Show it, and the Demiskira tribe warriors won't mess with you."
Snap—
She looped it around my wrist.
But it wasn't some flimsy band—it clamped like handcuffs, unyielding.
'What hair tie's tougher than steel wire?'
No matter how I tugged, it wouldn't budge. Superhumans were on another level.
###
"Yes, that's right. Vice Manager Jo, returning to Audit."
I'd left as section chief, come back as vice manager.
Hands shot up, cheers everywhere.
"Muhuhu, as expected of an Honorary Nymph—promotions forever...! Even Paranoy approves; he survived the male hell of the Amazon battlefield...!"
"This Carnoy doesn't get it, but let's do the Joy Nymph Dance...!"
Thump-shake-thump-shake—
Nymphs wriggling shoulders and hips. Soon Audit Team joined the thump-shake Joy Nymph Dance.
"Why are there nymphs here?"
I had no clue why nymphs were in Audit.
Manager Hector clapped my shoulder—thwack thwack—rattling my bones.
"To celebrate our new vice manager, of course! Jo, becoming vice manager here? Worth celebrating for the whole department! Happens once a century!"
"What are you lot doing? Audit's clocking out today! Drop the shutters!"
Executive Alecto bellowed, and champagne popped like it'd been waiting.
Pop, pop-pop!
Spraaaay—
Foam soaked me, sticky and gross.
Pat pat pat—
As I brushed it off, Deputy Narcissus spotted the hair tie on my wrist and gasped dramatically.
"Heavens! Everyone, look! Vice Manager Jo brought back Queen Hippolyte's hair tie!"
Why the fuss?
Goddess Alecto admired my "bracelet" too.
"To earn the Amazon queen's recognition... You know Heracles' labor was fetching Hippolyte's belt, right? You've got that level of approval."
Heracles, Zeus's bastard son, cursed by stepmom Hera—had to complete 12 impossible quests.
Each one heroic enough alone.
The ninth: snag Hippolyte's belt.
Heracles got the belt.
Jo got the hair tie.
Equivalent? Ridiculous.
But the Audit team's envious stares mirrored hero worship.
'From experience, I gotta shut this vibe down!'
Let it go, and my rep might skyrocket uncontrollably.
"Everyone, calm down. How could I compare to Heracles?"
"Vice Manager Jo! You're saying you're not just matching Heracles—you'll surpass him? I've seen countless heroes, but none talked like you!"
Hector clacked his teeth excitedly—clack clack.
When did I say that?
Others piled on.
"Fair, his feats already rival Heracles."
"Overpowered Cronus and Sisyphus in the subsidiary, then fetched stars and clouds from Soul Society's sky here."
"Took down Typhon, repelled Thanatos too, right?"
Me? Typhon and Thanatos down? When?!
Where did these rumors explode from?
"Jo, you might even pull off the thirteenth labor."
Hector's eyes gleamed amid the chatter. Silence fell.
"The thirteenth labor..."
"...that legend."
What was the thirteenth labor?
Had to be big, dropped in this context.
Alecto stroked her chin, frowning.
"The 13 labors, yeah. Not even sure if it's real. Capturing the Phantom Nymph said to exist somewhere in Soul Society. No small feat."
"...'Phantom Nymph'?"
Shady name.
The dancing nymphs reacted.
"This Carnoy doesn't get it, but I heard there's a Phantom Nymph living somewhere in Soul Society...!"
"A mysterious nymph no one knows...! Not even sure if it's a nymph...! No clue where or how it lives...!"
...Enigmatic mystery nymph?
Super suspicious.
"What happens if you catch the Phantom Nymph? Complete the thirteenth labor?"
"We... don't know."
Hector's eyes wavered.
"Just rumors. One day, the great Moirae issued 13 labors. Complete 'em all, something huge happens."
True or not? Thirteenth real? All unclear.
'Probably just talk.'
Soul Society brimmed with wild tales—like me slaying Typhon and Thanatos.
Don't buy every rumor.
"Jo, vice manager now—you'll meet the Moirae soon."
"Me, the Moirae?"
"Promotion perk: one question to the Moirae for performance boosts. You knew, right?"
Moirae—Fates even execs can't defy.
A question with them?
'Could ask how to escape Soul Society?'
Vice manager promotion.
Not so bad!