Chapter 16

 “My husband’s been working late every day these days. If you’d like, please come inside and wait. Would you prefer some herbal mint tea? Or maybe hyacinth? Asphodel?”

Near the ten-thousand-year cactus garden stood a charming home with a warm, inviting yard. The meticulous care in its design was obvious—even Orpheus had stopped sniffling and looked around in awe.

“You said your name was Kshalri, right? Your gardening skills are truly exceptional.”

“They really are,” I added.

Back when I was scouting land for Chronos’s office, I learned how infertile Happy World’s soil truly was. Trying to grow anything here was nearly impossible.

But this yard was in full bloom—vivid and lively. Clearly, the result of immense dedication.

Squeeeak, squeeeak—

That’s when something unusual caught my eye.

A strange cactus in a small pot was swaying side to side, almost rhythmically.

“Ma’am… is that a Cerberus Cactus?”

“It is! You’re quite knowledgeable for a civil servant. Most people wouldn’t know a cactus by name.”

“I bought one recently on HelmesNet.”

“Oh my! That was probably one of mine. I’m the only one in Happy World who cultivates and distributes Cerberus Cacti. I like to call them ‘hell-cacti.’”

Wow, small world.

I never imagined Krates’s wife would be the one distributing the plant I’ve been raising. Kshalri affectionately stroked her various cacti like they were pets.

“These little guys used to be punishment tools for prisoners—because of the thorns. But they’re actually adorable once you bond with them. If you care for them, they don’t raise their spikes at all.”

What is this, a cactus or a hedgehog?

I had one too, but I never knew they behaved like that.

“Also, they’re great at catching hell-roaches. Just place one between your flower pots and it keeps all the bug-biters away—”

“MA’AM!!!! What did you just say!?”

“Huh? I said they’re good at catching cockroaches…? Why are you yelling all of a sudden—”

This changes everything.

I had no idea these cacti repelled hell-roaches.

“Ma’am, can I bulk order these? I’ll buy every last one you have! Name your price! Please!”

To someone like me, tormented daily by palm-sized hell-roaches, this cactus was nothing short of divine intervention.

And Kshalri, who raised and distributed them, looked like some sort of saint or spiritual savior.

‘Krates… this is the first time I’ve ever been jealous of you.’

She really was stunning. Strong enough to cultivate such beauty in this wasteland, graceful in demeanor, and somehow exuding the air of a lady from a noble house.

“Please, ma’am! How can I grow cacti like these? Share your secrets!”

“Secrets? Oh, I wouldn’t say there’s any real secret. These days, the Daedalus Sun’s been shining so bright that flowers grow more easily. My husband said it’s all thanks to you, Joy, for straightening out Sisyphus.”

“That was… a coincidence.”

Ugh. My stomach still twists when I think about that incident.

But Kshalri, oblivious to my trauma, gazed out toward the fading sun.

“It’s almost dinnertime. If you don’t have other plans, may I treat you to a meal?”

“Gladly! And I’d love some meat, if possible!”

Orpheus answered for me before I could say anything.

Grrrrgle—

His stomach spoke volumes.

Kshalri giggled politely behind her hand.

“Pardon me, but… who is this gentleman?”

“He’s Orpheus.”

“Pfft—! You’ve got quite the sense of humor, Joy! If he’s Orpheus, then I’m Helen of the Golden Apple! Now come on in!”

Inside, the house was just as elegant—tasteful décor, floral arrangements, orchids placed with care and warmth.

‘Wow… I really want to live in a house like this.’

Orpheus was equally stunned.

“This is nothing like my shabby apartment. So this is how a senior staff member of Happy World lives, huh? Joy, is this what your place is like too?”

My place?

The staff dorm crawling with roaches.

Technically, I did get a new house key from Princess Melinoe, but I was too scared to even check the address. I had a feeling if I stepped in, I’d never come out again.

“I threw this together last-minute. I hope it suits your taste.”

The moment I sat down, I thought we’d wandered into a buffet.

There was so much food.

“This is amazing! Even the starving Tantalus wouldn’t know hunger like this! Kshalri, you’re a culinary genius! Though… this soup’s a bit bland.”

Orpheus devoured everything like a man possessed.

I, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by the 16+ side dishes and struggled to even pick up my spoon.

“Ma’am, this seems like a lot. I feel bad for imposing.”

Was she really doing all this just because a coworker came over?

Kshalri laughed elegantly again.

“We eat like this every day.”

“That’s right!”

Even a young boy named Platanus nodded with pride.

So this wasn’t even special for guests?

I was filled with righteous fury.

They eat like this every day? Krates, you bastard!

To think that someone else was already living the domestic dream I had always longed for—

it made me mad, jealous, and oddly respectful.

“No wonder Krates is known as Team One’s ace. With a wife like this backing him up, anyone would thrive.”

“Team One’s ace… Is that what they call him?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No, he talks about work now and then, but he never really mentions himself. How is the company doing lately? He’s always saying the long hours are tough.”

“Long hours… well, with the grand audit approaching, everyone’s been busy.”

CLACK. CREAK—

Just then, the front door opened.

And in walked Krates, carrying a heavy load.

“Honey, Platanus, I’m home. Ugh, my boss was on my back all day again. Work dragged out. But guess what I got? Ta-da! The Nymphtendo Switch 2! You said you wanted—”

He froze like someone had hit the pause button.

His eyes locked with mine and widened in shock.

“M-Manager Joy… what are you doing here?”

“Krates. Long day, huh?”

# # #

Krates was good at his job.

The reason was simple.

He had received an elite education as a prince during his lifetime, and—more importantly—he needed a lot of money.

To make money, you had to be competent.

And so, over time, Krates became known as the ace of Team One and a top performer in Happy World.

‘Joy… I lost my “Top Employee” status because of you, but next time… just you wait.’

He scowled at the Employee of the Year plaque on the wall.

After clocking out and handling a few tasks, Krates came home—hoping to be greeted by the warm smiles of his wife and son.

Instead, he was welcomed by the exact same smug face from that cursed plaque.

Manager Joy.

Promoted to manager in just two years.

A man so formidable, they called him the “Devil” in the Department of Sentence Enforcement.

Joy casually raised a hand in greeting.

“Krates, good job on the late shift.”

In that single sentence—“Good job on the late shift”—Krates heard a world of meaning.

“You lucky bastard. Smart son, beautiful wife, amazing cook, and she grows flowers too. Color me jealous.”

“Oh my, thank you for the kind words.”

Kshalri blushed, delighted.

But to Krates, it felt like chewing on a cactus.

Everything was clear now.

‘You demon, Joy! You’re holding my family hostage for leverage!’

There was no overtime in Happy World.

After the last company dinner, Vice President Melinoe banned all overtime and after-hours work.

That policy had been pushed through thanks to none other than Joy.

And yet Krates had been coming home late under the excuse of “overtime” for days.

The truth was, he had a secret he couldn’t tell anyone. That’s why he made excuses.

But for Joy to say “good job on the late shift”— that meant he knew.

He knew everything Krates had been up to.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

Pat pat.

Joy tapped Krates on the shoulder and strolled out.

“Nymph-tendo!”

Their son cheered.

Krates ruffled his boy’s hair, loosened his tie, and casually asked his wife:

“So, honey… what did you and Joy talk about?”

“He mentioned the garden. You know, the ten-thousand-year cactus garden you gave me for my birthday? He offered to buy it for 30 gold. Isn’t that close to a few years’ worth of your salary?”

“Th-that garden…!?”

Krates’s vision blurred.

That plot of land had been bought with embezzled funds—money he siphoned while managing accounts for the Sentence Enforcement Division.

He’d altered mountains of ledgers to keep it hidden.

To figure it out, someone would have to comb through fifty years’ worth of accounting records.

Yet the one person he never wanted to find out… had found out.

In that moment, Krates recalled Joy’s nickname:

“The Devil.”

Also known as “That Madman Obsessed With Results.”

He could feel Joy’s metaphorical fangs sinking into his neck. He couldn’t breathe—felt like he was dying all over again.

Dying.

That terrifying memory snapped Krates to attention.

‘Never again. I won’t let my family go through something like that again!’

He steadied his breath and asked calmly:

“Anything else he said?”

“Ah yes, the cactus. He asked to buy them in bulk. You know, the ones I grow?”

The hell-cactus!

Those things had thorns that could burst a vein with a single scratch.

Why would anyone want them in bulk?

‘Torture.’

That’s what they were originally for—punishment plants.

Buying them in bulk could only mean one thing.

‘Joy knows I embezzled money. He’s blackmailing me! He’s threatening to torture me and my family with cacti! I know it!’

Krates shuddered.

There were too many metaphorical thorns piercing his conscience.

Because that flower garden… held more than just evidence of embezzlement.

It hid a secret—one that could utterly destroy his family if revealed.

“…So, dear. What did you do with the garden? Did you sell it to Manager Joy?”

“Yes, I sold it for gold. I know you’ve been exhausted from all the ‘overtime’ for me and Platanus. I couldn’t enjoy my hobby knowing that. But now we’ll have plenty of spending money, so don’t worry!”

“Ah… Aaaah…”

Watching his wife smile so brightly, Krates clenched his fists.

If it had only been about embezzlement, he could’ve still buried it.

But selling that garden? That meant there was no turning back.

‘I can’t afford to hesitate. I have to act first—before that devil makes a move! I will protect my family!’

***

I was practically humming.

Buying land full of flowers… no wonder people raved about real estate.

“Oh yeah~.”

I was in such a good mood that everyone noticed as soon as I walked into the office.

“Manager Joy, you look cheerful today!”

“I bet I know why! It’s about that land, isn’t it?”

Wait—how do they already know I bought land?

It would’ve had way more impact if this had blown up on audit day.

Then again, whether now or later, my reputation was toast.

Top employee buys land using stolen funds—

What a headline.

Right then—flap!

Manager Bones slapped a newspaper onto my desk.

“Manager Joy! This article—is this true!?”

“Newspaper?”

SHOCKING! Team One Employee Implicated in Massive Corruption Scandal…!?

Missing equipment and unregistered weapons discovered on ten-thousand-year cactus garden!

Employee C requests witness protection in exchange for confession—claims Manager Joy threatened him!

Unregistered weapons believed linked to a coup resistance faction—

“You tracked and exposed Krates to prevent a full-blown rebellion?! Joy, your dedication to Happy World… just how far are you willing to goooooo!!!”