Chapter 30 - Imminent Future Encounter With The Underworld Dog

"Wait, I haven't asked how huge it is!"

Jack felt disappointed as the phone had hung up already.

"I-... I have to get my soul-!"

Joren's face became desperate as he learned the truth.

"Getting hard? What does that mean?"

Ness asked which she looked at Virena for answers for which she just stayed silent.

"Oh, it's normal since the soul and the body is partially connected -- even after death -- but since Joren's just half-dead, whenever he feels excited so does his soul's pen-"

Jack's mouth was shut tight with two hands. These two hands did not come from the same person. Jack looked at his right and saw Virena intimidatingly look at him.

"Don't taint the Principal's innocence."

The unicorn's eyes then rolled to his left where he saw a murderous look from Joren.

"I'll kill you."

It was no longer a threat at that point but a declaration so Jack just shut his mouth.

"What?"

Ness just tilted her in wonder. A moment later, Joren was anxiously tapping his foot onto the ground.

"Stop it, it's annoying."

Virena said which Joren stood up to. This made Virena's heart skip a breath, thinking that she really offended him this time. However, Joren sighed.

"Sorry, I shouldn't be here doing nothing. I'll go out and think of a way to get my soul fast."

Joren bit his thumb before walking out of the house.

Virena and Ness looked at each other.

"Joren."

The former called out.

"Um, yes?"

"You can't go out on your own."

"Ah, yeah, I forgot."

"Joren."

Ness called out this time.

"Yes?"

"I haven't told you how to get merit points and how you get your soul out of the UnderWorld."

"... you know how?"

Joren looked at Ness with a hopeful expression.

"This is thick-skinned of me but please tell me."

He said, now with self-awareness.

"Well, getting straight to the point. If you just took your soul out of the UnderWorld, it will become unstable in the realm of the living. It will desperately find a body that fits it and since you're the original owner while having some 'space' within you, it will naturally return."

Ness said with a smug expression, proud that she knows the answer.

"Wait, so you're telling me that you're only telling Joren this now?"

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"And why are you still here?"

"Heh, I'm interested, that's all."

Ness then ignored Jack before explaining her reasoning.

"If it's just in Diyu, then, you'll mostly just worry about Ox-head and Horse-face. But if your face is in the Greek UnderWorld, then you're going to have a problem with Hades, the God of the Underworld. So, I personally think this is as hard as meeting with the God of Death, Ammit."

"Oh... yeah. Well, Hades is not so free to trouble himself with one soul. But you're going to have a problem with Cerberus who guards the UnderWorld's gates against the dead that wants to leave."

Jack stepped into the conversation since this was common knowledge among the teachers of the Myth Academy.

"The Cerberus, I've heard of it. How strong is it?"

Joren answered but Jack just laughed it off.

"It's not a matter of how strong it is. Don't believe the legends saying a strike from its paw can break the bones of a moral human, they're underestimating the Cerberus so much."

"Yeah, I have to agree with that."

Ness said with a serious expression.

"So how do I escape through the Cerberus then?"

Joren asked. The scenario of his soul retrieval was finally becoming vivid in his head. The possibility of it is rising. The only thing he know was the reality of that scenario. What if by just entering the UnderWorld, he wouldn't be able to find his soul due to an accident? That's a great possibility considering that he has no idea what's in there.

Although it sounds like an amusement park by now. But that doesn't change Joren's perception of the dangerous UnderWorld where demons could be seen everywhere while fire spreads throughout the land. It was still a place where he could meet his death anytime. This mentality will prepare him for the worst as he knew there's no backing down now.

Well, from the start, he never thought of backing down.

"If I'm correct, there's only been two cases where the Cerberus was 'defeated'. One was by music while the other was by strength."

Ness pointed two fingers however, she didn't have much faith in the second.

Joren then asked how the Cerberus was 'defeated'. Ness explained but neither of the options was to his bidding. He doesn't have musical talent nor can he improve his strength before escaping the Cerberus.

The four discussed it as hours passed by. When night came, Joren and Jack were sent out by Virena. Jack seemed to be unaffected by the strong pressure and water friction but Joren would always look like he was dying.

After recovering, Joren and Jack walked out of the Principal's Office.

"I didn't know you were that close to the Principal and especially, her vampire maid." asked Jack while they were on their way to the teleportation gate.

"Close? Nah, we just met, Mister Jack."

Joren denied it but he was pleased he met them.

"Not close? For the few times I entered the Principal's Office, the vampire secretary has only talked to me once or twice, I forgot. Meanwhile, you can easily approach and talk to them. That's not something anyone has done before since they are quite apprehensive towards other people."

"Really? But I think they are kind and welcoming though. See earlier, they went all the effort to help me. Although I said that Virena has the responsibility, in the end, I think it's just me and some accident."

"What really happened?"

"Since you helped, Mister Jack... I'll tell you."

... Joren then narrated the whole story while omitting some parts that he would never tell.

Jack nodded in understanding as he sipped a coffee.

"So that's what happened. Personally, I think it is your fault but at the same time, since you don't know how hostile the secretary is, it's not your fault. It's a bit complicated, I see."

"And also."

Joren asked with a tilt of his head.

"Yes?"

"Why are you in my house?"

"... that is an interesting question. Since it's already night now, I shall sleep."

Joren shivered by Jack's suggestion.

"No, I fear that will not happen."

"Hahaha, I'm just joking." Jack laughed before continuing, "Let's continue this after you rescued your soul... if you will survive."

"No"

Joren plainly replied but he doesn't want to be so rude as to straightforwardly tell Jack to get out of the house. Jack is still his teacher.

"I have a question, Joren."

"Hm?"

Jack then looked straights into Joren's eyes.

"Being a lesser undead is not that bad, why do you want to turn back to being human? If you offend Hades... let's just say that would be the last thing that you'll want. I'm telling you this because if you continue this path, there are only two results; either you completely die midway or miraculously escape, spreading your name on the same level as Hercules and Orpheus, and at the same time, offending Hades. Both are bad."

"..."

Joren nodded as he agrees with what Jack said.

'Think, Joren. This is one of the worst ideas I've ever heard.'

Soon later, Joren responded after some thought.

"Is Hades as strong as Zeus?"

'So he's reassessing the situation. That's good.'

"Not really but Hades is still one of the strongest Gods out there. Others cannot compete."

With that, Joren should change his mind by now, Jack thought.

"Oh, that's good. Then if I offend Hades and he tries to be my enemy, I'll put him in his place before I do it with Zeus."

Joren yawned to explicitly show that he's sleepy.

"Umm... and it's already night. Can we continue this tomorrow?"

"..."

At that moment, Jack didn't know if he should pity Joren or not.

'This man has a lot of loose screws to have delusional thoughts like that.'

This made Jack a little sad.

'He's such a unique man. Unfortunately, he's an extremist.'

Afterward, Jack agreed and said he's getting sleepy too. He then went out to go home by himself after saying goodbye and good night.

Joren sighed in relief when Jack left. He feared for the worst.

<Challenging a God before you even leave your first title: Thug Underling. Not even the Gangsta God is that stupid... I mean, ambitious.>

"If I don't aim high, how could will I get out of this situation?"

Joren just left some final words before he ended the day...

Night had passed and it was the break of dawn...

[Mission Progress: 9,336/10,000 swag steps]

"Hu... hu... hu... hu..."

Around the neighborhood, the Abnormals were weirded out by a scary man who was jogging in a strange manner. The earliest birds would come out of their living quarters, ready to go to school, only to return and locked their door when they saw Joren who was grinding his side missions and currently doing what he calls "swag jogging"