He was now nothing more than a noisy nuisance causing noise pollution.
But during his life, Orpheus was a musician great enough to be hailed as a Hero.
He even joined and played an active role in the legendary Argo Expedition. Returning after finishing his adventure, he married his lover Eurydice, and on the very day he tasted the pinnacle of happiness, tragedy struck.
His new bride Eurydice was bitten by a poisonous snake and died. At this time, Orpheus made a bold decision.
He descended into the Afterlife to plead for his wife's return. For the dead to return to the Surface alive is the ultimate Taboo.
But Orpheus's music made it possible, and even the rigid 「CEO」 conditionally permitted Eurydice's return to the Surface.
The condition was this: ─Do not look back under any circumstances while ascending to the Surface. Unfortunately, in the world of mythology, conditions were always meant to be broken.
It's as if they exist solely to be broken. Orpheus looked back just before reaching the Surface.
There are various anecdotes about why he looked back just before success, but what's important is that he broke the condition. His lovely lover Eurydice was dragged towards the deep darkness of Happy World, and Orpheus, having lost his will to live, wandered until he was brutally murdered by mad women. So, did Orpheus, now a resident of the afterlife, reunite with Eurydice?
Coming to this 「Happy World」 and checking, the conclusion was NO. Orpheus had committed the Taboo of coming to the Soul Society while still alive.
As Punishment for that, he became a resident of Happy World and was undergoing the ‘Amnesia Punishment’. At the entrance of this Happy World flows the River of Forgetfulness, River Lethe.
Orpheus drank a lot of that river water. Now, what would happen if Orpheus and Eurydice met here?
What if a Staff member responsible for executing Punishments defied regulations to accommodate a prisoner?
What if they Released him from prison without any reason? According to the rules of this Soul Society, where even the 「CEO」 is bound by regulations, that Staff member would likely face punishment.
And that was the move I was aiming for.
A blatant illegal act.
My affairs had been strangely twisted by odd fortunes these past few days, but this time, no one would be able to do anything about it. “Manager Joi, are you really sure this is alright? I shouldn't be leaving this house at this time. I remember that being my Punishment...” “Ahem, I told you I'll take responsibility!” # # # Bones, who was about to Leave work, was startled.
It was because he received a report that Special Prisoner 「A-09C」 had left his House Arrest and was walking through the City Center. 'Manager Joi, surely he didn't leave with Orpheus!' Orpheus was under House Arrest.
His Management grade was only a mere C, but Department Head Bones couldn't help but be tense about him leaving the house.
This was because Orpheus was a somewhat special Prisoner. Slide-.
Department Head Bones opened his drawer and took out a document hidden deep inside. 「Name: Orpheus」
「Cause of Death: Compound fracture and decapitation due to beating」
「Charge: Taboo」
「Punishment: House arrest and Amnesia」 This was the original Punishment Contract for Orpheus.
What needed attention here was the signature written at the end. Fwoosh-. The letters were burning like flames.
It read: 「Approver: Hades」 Those letters were truly chilling enough to give one goosebumps.
The ultimate superior down below, before whom even the evil Evil Spirits of the Underground World and the Deceased Souls inhabiting the deepest, darkest places cowered.
The 「CEO」 of this Soul Society, whose name alone inspired fear.
Orpheus's Punishment was devised and executed by him personally. Although Orpheus's Management grade was only C, in some ways, he was managed as strictly as Cronus himself for that reason. 'Joi, I don't know what you're thinking, but this could look like challenging the 「CEO」's authority! If things go wrong, it won't just end with a salary cut!' Bones trembled, his third left rib rattling from extreme anxiety.
Just then, a woman with Pomegranate Eyes appeared from somewhere and asked. “The office is nice for a Department Head level. Spacious. So, Department Head Bones, is there a problem?” “Princess Melinoe! Th-That is... Nothing at all, Ma'am!” Bones was greatly flustered.
For the most difficult superior to appear just when a subordinate had caused a major problem.
As he was fidgeting restlessly, Goddess Melinoe added. “It's probably about Manager Joi. In this 「Happy World」, the only Employee capable of making Cold Heart Bones nervous is that man. So, what is it this time? Tell me honestly.” “...Well.” “If you lie to your Goddess, you will spend a ter. ri. ble. time.” “...He's left with Orpheus. It seems they're heading towards Elysium. Committing such an illegal act right before the Headquarters inspection. What on earth is he thinking...” “Pffft!” Melinoe spat out all the Helmericano she was drinking.
But only for a moment—. “Ghost employees, assemble.” ─Hooooo.
─Hooo, hoooo...! Fluffy ghosts started seeping out from everywhere.
Goddess Melinoe gathered these ghosts into one mass, made something like a cloud, and then rode atop it. # # # In the distance, the New City of Elysium was visible.
The tall, Newly built apartments gleamed white, truly dazzling. It looked close enough to touch if one reached out, but in reality, the rivers of the Afterlife meandered between here and there, and one had to cross the vast Asphodel Meadow, so it was quite far. Whooooosh-.
As its name suggested, the Asphodel Meadow was filled with Asphodel Flowers.
When a wind blowing from somewhere rustled the flowers, Orpheus collapsed. “Mr. Joi, I really can't go any further. I don't know who you want me to meet. Just send me back to that small, dark room!” Send you back? Then nothing will happen.
That won't do.
This Happy World needs more incidents and accidents. “Mr. Orpheus, didn't you say you wanted an Instrument made from Nymph hair? If we just cross that river, everyone can be happy, so stop whining!” If we just cross that river! However, a problem arose.
Recognizing that the Prisoner I had with me was Orpheus, all the ferrymen of Charon Transport shook their heads. ─Hooo, hoooo-!
─Hooooo-. Was it because they couldn't take a Prisoner without permission from their superiors?
Everyone having such a strong work ethic is a problem. “Fellas. Can't you help me out?” ─Hoohoo... At my request, the Ghost employees seemed to exchange glances, then pointed towards the riverside with their vague and round hands.
There lay an old boat, the kind you had to row yourself, unlike the modern motorboats. Creak-!
Just in case, I got into the boat and tried to row. 'Ugh, damn, why is this so heavy?' The oar was incredibly heavy.
It wouldn't even budge. “The oars in this Underground World weigh at least a thousand geun [TL] Approx. 600kg or 1320 lbs [/TL]. So, you need considerable physical strength to row them yourself. I also struggled a bit trying to row this myself back in the day...” Orpheus scratched the back of his head.
He tilted his head. “...Why did I try to row an oar of the Afterlife myself?” This is driving me crazy.
A thousand geun is about 600kg?
To row something like that, ordinary strength wouldn't even make it twitch. “Mr. Orpheus, please wait here for a moment.” An idea popped into my head, and I immediately headed towards the Field.
Running hastily, I saw a monstrous man exhaling raggedly while pushing a mountain-sized Boulder. “Ooh, delicious. This is it. This weight. A delicious weight.” “Senior, I respect you!”
“Truly Happy World's Heaviest Weight!” The crowd has grown?
If they look like crazy people, you're right.
I approached them and spoke. “Mr. Sisyphus, I need someone to row a heavy oar. Do you have a moment?” “How heavy is it?” “600kg.” “No thanks. That's too light. Suddenly lifting something light will cause Muscle Loss.” “If you handle this one job well, I will consider increasing the weight of the Boulder Mr. Sisyphus is pushing. The one you're pushing now, honestly, it's light, isn't it?” Sisyphus raised an eyebrow as if intrigued by my proposal.
However, he pointed with his chin to the Hourglass placed before him. “Is this a job that can be finished within my 10-minute break?” Taking Orpheus across the rivers of the Afterlife to Elysium would take at least an hour.
Sisyphus's 10-minute break was utterly insufficient.
But? “Then please wait here just a moment.” I knew exactly how to solve this situation.
So, I ran with all my might, and in the distance, I saw an Old Man tilling a Farm Plot. “Old Man!” “Who's this? Isn't it Manager Joi? Why have you come again?” The old Titan Cronus.
He straightened his back from tilling the field and looked at me.
I didn't have time to delay with this giant Old Man, so I got straight to the point. “A ten-minute hourglass that lasts an hour. Can you make one?” “Are you telling me to use the Relativity of Time? Possible.” Rustle, rustle-.
Bending his knees, Cronus scooped up Soil from the ground.
He soon entered his humble hut Office and Clank, clank- hammered something.
How much time had passed? “This is a ten-minute hourglass that lasts an hour. Certified by Cronus. I even engraved my signature nice and big, specially!” Thrust-!
After receiving the Hourglass from the Titan, I returned to Sisyphus.
Seeing the Hourglass in my hand, his eyes sparkled with interest. “A ten-minute hourglass that lasts an hour. Very interesting. Alright. I shall also take leave while that Hourglass runs down. Let's go!” Thus, I led the Large man Sisyphus across the Asphodel Meadow towards the riverside landing.
There stood Orpheus alone, looking towards the opposite bank of the river.
Seeing him, Sisyphus's eyes momentarily flickered with surprise and tension. “Mr. Joi, aren't you pushing yourself too hard right after becoming a Manager? There's no one in this Happy World who doesn't know what kind of Prisoner Orpheus is. You might lose your job if you're not careful.” “I will take responsibility for that. No harm will come to you, Mr. Sisyphus, so please row the oars. Everything that happens from now on is solely under the arbitrary decision of me, Manager Joi.” Creak-.
We boarded the old boat. A washed-up singer and an exercise addict.
An Employee who somehow ended up hired incorrectly.
For people sharing the same boat, everyone has strong personalities. Swish, swoosh-.
Pushing that mountain-heavy Boulder wasn't just for show; as Sisyphus rowed, the boat surged forward towards the New City of Elysium at an unbelievably fast speed.
The apartments visible in the distance looked just like those on the Surface, stirring a sudden feeling of nostalgia within me.
Perhaps it wasn't entirely wrong.
Once this boat reaches Elysium, I'll likely be fired, and I'll be able to return to the Surface. But just as the boat was about to reach the banks of Elysium.
Fwoosh, Flash-! “Stop.” Princess Melinoe, wearing a bright red Laurel wreath, flew quickly towards us from behind, riding something fluffy like a cloud. ─Hooo, Hooo-.
─Hooooo...! As she got closer, her form became clearer; it wasn't a cloud, but something like a carpet made of gathered fluffy ghosts. “Orpheus, stepping foot in the paradise Elysium as a Prisoner is a regulation violation. And Sisyphus's 10-minute break is already over. Manager Joi, step back immediately.” “No, that's not quite right.” Kra-kow!
A sudden red thunderbolt struck down.
When I came to my senses, a man wearing a golden Laurel wreath stood beside Princess Melinoe with his Arms crossed. “I just confirmed that Orpheus finished his prison term and was released under Manager Joi's sole discretion. Therefore, there's no immediate problem with him being here.” What was strange was that the unfamiliar man was wearing only red underwear.
He looked somewhat familiar.
Sisyphus gasped in admiration looking at him. “Muscles sculpted like a miracle, boasting an incredible body fat percentage. Could you be the Prince of Hell, Zagreus...!?” Zagreus...
Soul Society's Rank 4, 「CSO」 Zagreus?
The man spoke. “Divine Effect!” Ping-! 【Illegal Immigrant of Another World】[TL]I'm fangirling this is Hassan from "Illegal Stay in Another World" so spoilers I guess?[/TL] “Ah, this thing. Haven't fixed the broken one yet. Refresh!” Ping-! 【CSO】
【Great Prince of the Soul Society】
【God of Happy World - Zagreus】 How did he do that electronic display effect again?
As I frowned at the dazzling letters floating in the empty air, Prince Zagreus chuckled lightly, Hmph-. “Manager Joi, with the large-scale inspection coming up, we owe you a big one. Go. Towards that shining Elysium. We'll talk about responsibility and credit for this matter after it's concluded.” What is this?
Why are they suddenly clearing the path so obediently?
Isn't it normal in this situation for the Prince to reprimand me for abusing my authority?
Just then, Sisyphus slapped his own thigh as if having a fit. Slap! “Large-scale inspection... debt... release... I see, I see, so that's how it was! Manager Joi, you truly are a terrifying person! Was even Prince Zagreus's appearance part of your calculations...!?” “...Inspection, surely not. Ah, I see how it was. Manager Joi. Truly amazing.” Even Princess Melinoe, crossing her Arms and straightening her posture─.
What on earth is happening?
Before I could ask anything, the boat arrived at Elysium.

For the Beloved One (2)