Chapter 518: The Nth Employee, and the Ties Between Justice, Judgment, and Lucy
In the end, Lucy decisively chose to back down. She was entirely used to folding under pressure by now, so swallowing her pride didn't sting nearly as much as it used to. Still, her crimson eyes kept darting toward Ren and Justice, burning with an insatiable curiosity about whatever secret conversation they had just shared.
Their shopping pace had noticeably increased, a shift Ren welcomed with quiet satisfaction. He had no desire to drag out the excursion any longer than necessary. More often than not, he found himself relegated to the role of a glorified coat rack, lingering awkwardly outside storefronts that were far too intimate or inconvenient for a man to casually browse.
"Hm? The WGO isn't actually that far from here," Hiratsuka Shizuka noted, glancing down the bustling street. "Are you two planning to head over there as well? What about the car?"
"Of course we have to go see it," Shizuka continued, a spark of genuine excitement in her eyes. "That's the World Gourmet Organization! It's not exactly a place you can just casually tour whenever the mood strikes, especially with the new headquarters currently under construction. Just getting a glimpse of the site is a rare opportunity."
Ren considered it for a moment, adjusting the weight of the shopping bags in his grip. "Fair enough. Let's head over together, then. I suppose it counts as checking in on my workplace, considering I'm an Nth employee of the WGO."
Nami tilted her head, her orange hair catching the afternoon sun. "An Nth employee? What exactly does 'Nth' mean?"
The rest of the group exchanged equally confused glances.
Ren answered with absolute casualness, "Because I'm not full-time. Didn't they explicitly tell me I could drop by whenever I wanted? My employment status is basically on par with taking a leisurely stroll."
"That still doesn't explain the 'Nth'."
"Look at it this way," Ren elaborated. "If I were working full-time during the day, I'd be considered half an employee. But no matter how you slice it, my actual contribution doesn't even reach that half-mark. Since the exact fraction is entirely ambiguous, I just substituted it with the variable 'Nth'."
Nami's expression flattened into a deadpan stare. "In a purely logical sense, that is not an explanation anyone can immediately grasp."
Justice tapped her chin, a playful grin spreading across her lips. "So, Lucy, does that mean I count as an Nth employee too?"
"No," Lucy snapped, crossing her arms. "You count as half."
"Eh?! I don't get to just take a stroll?!"
"I fully intend to make you go back to work."
Justice blinked, genuine disbelief breaking through her usual laid-back demeanor. "You're making me go back to work?! I'm retired, you know."
"Don't worry," Lucy replied smoothly. "Your version of work is virtually indistinguishable from taking a stroll anyway."
Justice stared at the silver-haired demon for a long, silent moment. Finally, she let out a breathy laugh and nodded. "Alright, alright, I get it. But I'm only working when the mood strikes me!"
"Hm? You and Ren really are a perfect match in every sense of the word."
Justice playfully nudged Ren's ribs with her elbow, her grin widening. "Hear that, Ren? Lucy says we're a perfect match."
"I said you were compatible!" Lucy barked, her face flushing. "Are your eyes malfunctioning? Or is it your ears?!"
Justice merely shook her head, entirely unfazed. "What's the difference? Forget it, let's get moving. I'm actually pretty curious about this WGO place. Hey, Lucy, what are you waiting for? Lead the way."
Lucy scoffed, her hands planted firmly on her hips. "Why do I get the feeling... you know the route better than I do?"
"I actually don't. I'm genuinely waiting for you to take the lead."
"Hmph! Follow me, then!"
Watching Lucy march proudly ahead, her silver hair swaying with every authoritative step, Justice turned her attention back to Ren. Modeus had already latched onto his arm, pressing herself flush against his side.
"Has Lucy always been like this?" Justice asked, her voice dropping to a curious murmur.
Ren kept his gaze on the retreating figure of the former CEO of Hell. "She was relatively normal at first. Now, it's a terminal condition."
Justice chuckled softly. "You're a truly terrifying man, Ren. But honestly? I find this version of Lucy infinitely more entertaining."
"Oh? What was she like before?"
Before Justice could answer, Pandemonica adjusted her glasses, her voice soft and carrying the faint exhaustion of endless paperwork. "The boss never left her office. She worked from dawn until dusk, buried under contracts. You practically never saw her face outside of a formal meeting."
Modeus nodded enthusiastically, her grip on Ren tightening. "That's right! She always wore this freezing, unapproachable expression. Even though everyone in the office knew she was actually very kind underneath it all..."
"Lucy carried a massive amount of pressure on her shoulders," Justice added, her tone softening with a rare edge of sincerity. "She absolutely overworked herself, but she was always incredibly lenient with us employees. All things considered, the Lucy running the company and the Lucy walking right there are two completely different entities."
Ren absorbed the information, a faint smirk touching his lips. "That does sound interesting. Speaking of the old days, Justice, you and Lucy are close friends, right?"
"Of course. Same goes for that girl, Judgment. Though Lucy's dynamic with her is a bit different—half friend, half admired junior. As for me, Judgment and I get along great. She did take over my position, after all."
Shizuka let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head. "Your European and American names are so strange. Though, when translated, some of them sound incredibly cool. Justice, Judgment... it has a nice ring to it."
"Not bad, right?" Justice beamed. "That girl Judgment is actually a lot like me, just way too serious for her own good. And a massive tsundere."
"Did she catch it from Lucy?" Ren asked dryly.
Justice startled, a sharp laugh escaping her throat. "Does Lucy know you call her a tsundere?"
"She's highly sensitive to the word. You can test it out right now if you want. She's walked quite a bit ahead of us."
Justice nodded eagerly.
Ren raised his voice just enough to carry down the street. "So, Lucy is acting like a tsundere again?"
Almost instantly, Lucy whipped around, her face flushed bright red as she pointed an accusing finger at him. "I am not a tsundere! And hurry up! What are you all just standing around for?!"
Ren casually shrugged.
Justice laughed, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "As expected. You've got her completely figured out. Come on, let's catch up."
"Mm!" the group chorused, trailing after the flustered demon.
Up ahead, Lucy let out a quiet, frustrated breath. 'Was I really that fierce back in Hell? Not really... But what exactly was my job before all this?'Her sharp demonic hearing had picked up every single word of their conversation, and the'tsundere' label still grated on her nerves. She was the embodiment of Pride! One of the Seven Deadly Sins! Not some blushing, stammering tsundere! If anyone fit that description, it was Yuko!
Meanwhile, across the city at the sprawling construction site of the new WGO headquarters.
Nakiri Mana had spent the entire morning enduring Courage's endless operational reports. As the afternoon sun beat down on the half-finished steel framework, Mana prepared to conduct a personal inspection of the grounds.
Pausing near the entrance, a sudden thought crossed her mind. She turned to the First-Class Inspector. "Courage, I just realized something. Will I be expected to teach classes at Totsuki once the headquarters is fully operational?"
Courage nodded, her clipboard pressed neatly against her chest. "Yes, Lady Mana. Once the facility is complete, you will have that option. It serves as a dual-purpose strategy—training exceptional chefs while scouting potential Executive Officers for the WGO. It's highly efficient, and the proximity makes commuting to Totsuki quite convenient."
Mana hummed thoughtfully, her sharp eyes scanning the blueprints. After a long moment, a faint, knowing smile curved her lips. "And what specific class are you planning to teach, Courage?"
"Me?" Courage answered without missing a beat. "Whichever day Ren is scheduled to teach, I intend to take the slot immediately following his class."
Mana blinked. "Is there a particular reason for that?"
"Because whenever Ren comes to teach at the WGO, the atmosphere feels just like being back in school. It's incredibly stimulating... ah, no... I mean, very interesting."
A deep, betraying flush crept up Courage's neck.
Mana narrowed her eyes, her gaze piercing right through the flustered Inspector. "What exactly were you about to say just now?"
"I didn't say anything at all!" Courage squeaked, spinning on her heel and marching rigidly toward the construction zone. "Lady Mana! Let us proceed with the inspection!"
Mana watched her go, a quiet chuckle escaping her lips. "Alright, alright."
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