Chapter 37
Who would’ve thought the manager of the Plant Gallery, “Chicoretta,” was actually Lady Persephone?
Now that I think about it, there were plenty of clues I could’ve picked up on.
The “Core” in “Chicoretta” literally means “maiden”—the very name Lady Persephone used in her youth.
And here I was, assuming it was inspired by that adorable grass-type pokémon, Chikorita.
I was completely wrong.
“Both Persephone and Chikorita are plant-types, aren’t they?
Joy, if you were really aiming to get fired, you should’ve seen this coming. What a blunder!”
I launched into a brutal round of self-criticism.
If you asked me whether this situation was a win or a loss, well… based on my recent track record, I’d say I had more to lose.
Which is why I’d tried to use the audit as an excuse to slip away.
“No need to worry about the audit team anymore.”
Lady Persephone had just called her son, Prince Zagreus, and ordered the brakes put on the audit team.
Behold the sheer, omnipotent authority.
In many ways, the goddess before me wasn’t just powerful—she practically surpassed the CEO (「CEO」) himself.
“Joy, come help me prepare the drinks.”
Krates nudged me in the side.
Honestly, I was more than willing to leave this intense scene, so I followed him into the shop’s storage area where the fridge was.
Once inside, Krates glanced around and then whispered.
“Joy, you damn promotion-chasing demon… You really went and pulled this off?
Would’ve been nice if you’d given me a heads-up!”
Heads-up? I didn’t even know myself.
I nearly fainted standing up when I saw Cerberus earlier.
But before I could say any of that, Krates let out a heavy sigh.
“Did you see the kimchi made from ‘Hell Cactus’? That stuff’s a torture tool.
No mortal body should have to ingest it.
I’ll eat it all for you, so don’t overdo it.”
“Kimchi?”
“This is how I repay the debt I owe you.
Knowing you, you’re probably planning to impress the hostess by scarfing down a bunch of her homemade dishes to score promotion points.”
Why would I ever do that?
Sure, I liked Hell Cactus—but only for its barrier effects against hell roaches.
Liking pesticide doesn’t mean you want to drink a cocktail made from it.
“I’m already dead anyway.
Even if I eat that torture-food, I won’t die again.
It’ll hurt… but I’ll survive. So leave this to me!”
…That was unexpectedly touching.
I hadn’t realized he felt that indebted.
“Let’s not drag this out. If we take too long, she might get suspicious.
Today, I’m here to protect the one thing I’ve got left—my home!”
With a burst of resolve, Krates rushed back outside.
I followed behind slowly, heading toward the tables in front of the flower shop.
Rows of kimchi containers were lined up across the table.
Lady Persephone let out a delicate laugh and opened one for me to see.
Inside were bright red cubes catching my eye.
“Oh wow, you cut the cactus into cubes to make kkakdugi?”
“That’s right. It’s my own recipe. Would you like to try some?”
Try it…?
I mean, cactus or not, it’s still cactus.
I hesitated, casting a sidelong glance at Krates.
He nodded—he was willing to take one for the team.
Krates picked up a plate, swallowing nervously.
“…Whew…”
Just then, Lady Kshalri chimed in:
“The Lady said this kimchi releases a frequency that repels pests—mosquitoes, hell roaches, and the like.
Isn’t that incredible?”
—WHAT!?
A dream come true!
As someone recently ambushed by a roach the size of a department manager, this was the kind of food I couldn’t not eat!
“Krates! Hand that over!”
I snatched the plate from him in a panic and shoveled the side dishes into my mouth like a nymph chasing honey candy.
Crunch. Crunch.
To my surprise, it was… edible.
No—actually, it was pretty good.
It tasted kind of like the kkakdugi that comes with a solid bowl of ox bone soup.
Who knew cactus had a texture so similar to radish?
“From the taste… Did you add soda? Am I right?”
“Fufufu, Joy, you have a refined palate.
I used a lime soda to bring out the sweetness.
My husband never notices these things.”
“Back in grad school, I stayed over at my professor’s place for a few days and made nothing but kimchi.
Tried every method there was.
I can really taste the care in this.”
Honestly, I’ve made more batches of kimchi than I’ve written thesis pages.
Maybe that’s why this cactus kimchi genuinely impressed me.
Lady Persephone bloomed with joy, smiling like a flower in full spring.
“It feels wonderful to be appreciated.
When you’re making food for your kids, your spouse… you can’t help but put love into it.
I wish more people had come to enjoy it.”
Looking out at the empty seats, the goddess seemed genuinely disappointed.
She sighed as she gazed at the tower of kimchi tubs.
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to eat it all ourselves.”
“Would it be alright if I shared some with others I know?”
“Of course! That’s much better than letting it go bad and tossing it out.”
Maybe I’ll share it with the company staff.
Might even drive out the swarm of hell roaches infesting the office.
Just imagining it made me happy.
Honestly, adding it as a permanent side dish in the company cafeteria didn’t sound like a bad idea either.
“You live alone, right, Joy? Don’t forget to eat properly, okay? I know you get buried in work.
I’ll send you some extra side dishes from time to time if I make a big batch.”
…Seriously?
That was a tempting offer—one that made my stomach flutter… and ache.
I’d unintentionally earned a lot of points with the hostess of Soul Society.
That didn’t exactly line up with my plan of tanking my reputation and getting fired.
Maybe I should try knocking my score down a little.
Say something she wouldn’t want to hear.
Something like…
“It just occurred to me… If you made so much, maybe you could send some to your mother?
Lady Persephone was originally from the region of Eleusis, wasn’t she?”
Eleusis in Greece—where the temple of Demeter was built.
At my gentle probing, a faint wrinkle formed on the goddess’s perfect brow.
Hit a nerve, maybe?
That expression looked just like Lady Melinoe’s.
Or rather, Melinoe resembled her mother, Persephone.
“Oh, there’s no need to give any to my mother.
She still thinks I’m a child, you know?
Even when my eldest son’s all grown up and handing me grandkids, she still nags me like I’m a teen.”
Nagging, huh.
Well, Demeter was famously overbearing—
She locked her daughter Core away on the island of Sicily and wouldn’t even let her leave.
Guess that level of smothering would wear anyone out.
“But… aren’t you only allowed to stay in the Underworld for three months out of the year?
Don’t you have to spend the remaining nine months on Earth with your mother?”
“Ah, that. You know the ‘Work Renewal Act’ that passed a few years ago?
The regulations on food and confinement were revised—and applied retroactively.”
…Wait. Retroactively?
You mean—
“It doesn’t matter how many pomegranate seeds I’ve eaten anymore.
I’m a free goddess now.
I can stay down here as long as I like.”
Ohhh… so that’s how it was.
Thanks to the Work Renewal Act, the ancient rule that bound Lady Persephone to only three months in the Underworld had been revoked.
Then Lady Kshalri asked:
“Then… couldn’t you go visit your mother anytime?”
“Kshalri, as a married woman, I’m sure you get it.
There comes a time when your own household—with your husband and kids—feels more comfortable than your parents’ house.”
“Ahh… yeah, I kind of get it.
I mean, back at home I was always walking on eggshells around my mom, but here?
I’m basically treated like a crown princess! I’ve got my husband, and my son.”
Ahh, I see now.
There wasn’t any particular reason Lady Persephone couldn’t go to Earth.
She just didn’t want to.
Humming cheerfully, the woman returned home earlier than usual, well before dinner.
“Everyone cleaned their plates today. They loved the kimchi I made!”
“…That’s wonderful news.
Not that I’m surprised—your cooking is always excellent!”
“It’s all thanks to you.”
“…Me? What did I do?”
“I’m talking about Assistant Manager Joy.
You sent him to the Plant Gallery gathering, right?
So I wouldn’t be sad if no one else showed up.
I knew it the moment I saw the title you gave him.
I pretended not to notice, though.”
Joy was at the Plant Gallery?
The man hadn’t known at all. But he was wise.
“Ahem… So you caught that, huh?
Joy must’ve done a terrible job acting, then.”
“Just so we’re clear—I’m not blaming him.
I just have a sharp eye, that’s all.
But I was touched, you know?
It reminded me that you’re the only one who truly thinks about me.”
With a tight hug, the wife embraced her husband.
“I’ve been torn up about it lately… but now I’ve decided.
I’m going to stay here in Soul Society for good.
As a wife, as a mother, as the hostess. I won’t go back to my family ever again.”
“…Wh-What?! That’s a pretty huge decision!
You… You really don’t have to—”
“Don’t pretend to be upset!
You’re totally happy we’ll never be apart again!
From now on, we’re together—forever!
Forever!”
Forever—forever—foreverrrrr…
Her voice echoed like a nightmare in the man’s ears.
Ssshhhhhhhhh—
When she went to wash up, the man stared solemnly at the fishing rod he’d hidden in the corner.
He pulled out a box labeled “PERMANENTLY SEALED” and tucked the rod away inside.
Huff, huff…
Huff…!
That night, right as I was about to fall asleep, a group of ghosts knocked on my door.
I followed them to the banks of the flaming river Phlegethon—
Where the CEO (「CEO」) stood waiting, cloaked in black.
As I frantically bowed, the CEO’s voice boomed like thunder:
“You damned fool, Joy.
I don’t know what you said, but my wife’s declared she’s never returning to her family.”
“Well, at least we now understand why she’s not going back.
Thanks to the retroactive Work Renewal Act, the old laws binding her were lifted—”
“Tch. Enough. I’m sick of hearing about that blasted ‘Work Renewal.’
Zagreus… That cursed son of mine…
Looks like his policies are tightening the noose around his own father’s neck.
Must be that rebellious Chronos blood of his.”
RUMBLE—
The fiery river raged with his fury.
His red eyes, fixed on the flames, flickered like a hearth in midwinter.
The way he looked… strangely bitter.
Reminded me of Melinoe.
Her brows took after her mother—but her eyes were all her father’s.
“So… how is that old man doing?”
After a long silence, he asked—like blowing the dust off an old book.
I didn’t need to ask who.
“That old man?”
“That cursed geezer.
You meet with him often, don’t you?
A sly fox like you knows exactly who I’m talking about.”
“If you mean Lord Chronos….”
Should I say he’s doing fine?
Hard to tell, considering how many headaches he’s caused me.
While I hesitated, the CEO scoffed.
“Never mind. I don’t care enough to hear it.
Well, seeing as you’ve done your job, I’ll keep my promise.
Ask your question. You only get one, so choose wisely.”
I didn’t plan any of this.
But somehow, everything worked out.
At this point, I almost believed I was actually competent.
Still, I had a question that had always lingered in the back of my mind.
“Who exactly… is the nymph Melinoe?”
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