Chapter 2 Stealing the Cow

"This is the work of yours, isn't it?"

The goal was clear: steal cattle.

Moreover, it was a bull stolen from Apollo, the god of light.

Hermes originally intended to weave a pair of large straw sandals to wear so that her footprints would not be discovered, but she suddenly remembered that she was currently wearing a pair of winged sandals given to her by Zeus.

Although it was the first time she had worn these shoes, she had a level of control over them that was as if she had already worn them all over the world. It was so easy that she was familiar with them, as if they had always belonged to her.

After cleaning up the previous footprints, she flew off the ground in her sandals and floated in the air, driving the off-white cows out of the wooden shed.

Of course, to prevent others from discerning the direction of the cattle, she deliberately disrupted their movements, making them walk in different directions until their hoofprints became disordered.

In order to successfully achieve one's goal, a basic disguise is still necessary.

"How beautiful!" Hermes flew closer to the cows and admiringly stroked the head and ears of the one with the shiniest coat. "Brother Apollo must treat you very well, right?"

"Moo~"

The white cow blinked its bright, large eyes and rubbed against the back of her hand, looking extremely docile.

Hermes liked the cow very much. She kissed its forehead and decided not to kill the little cutie later.

Yes, she wanted to kill Apollo's bulls, both of them.

The reason is—to return to Olympus.

While playing her harp outside the cave that afternoon, she planned to use the theft of Apollo's ox as a pretext to get him to take her to Mount Olympus to meet the gods. She believed he would do it, whether to vent his anger or to let the other gods judge the matter; it was all part of her calculations.

And after that... it was time for her to work hard for her mother and herself.

She wanted to protect her mother.

We also need to plan for our future.

Hermes looked at the beautiful white cows, who huddled around her and licked her fingers gently with their thick tongues.

It's a little itchy, but very warm.

This made Maya's daughter, who was not inherently bad, suddenly feel that there was no need to kill the cow.

She originally intended to offer this as a sacrifice to the gods she had never met, hoping to evoke their pity and goodwill towards her, paving the way for her return to Olympus. In order not to antagonize Apollo, the bull's owner, she also planned to give him the lyre she had made as an apology gift, since music was also part of his divine duties.

However, in retrospect, it was indeed unnecessary.

After settling the cattle in another barn behind the pond at the foot of the hill, Hermes stroked the head of the white cow that was especially close to her before reluctantly flying out of the barn and closing the gate.

She did indeed have a soft spot for the cows.

Moreover, she couldn't be sure whether things would turn out the way she had envisioned.

So, let's play it safe.

Before flying back to the cave in the Kulenne Mountains, Hermes glanced at a large tree not far away, where a black raven perched on a branch, its equally black, round eyes staring intently at her.

"quack--"

In the instant it turned back, the crow flapped its wings and flew into the sky, gradually disappearing into the night under the light of the stars and moon.

Hermes knew that it was Apollo's raven.

Back in the cave, Maia paced anxiously back and forth in front of the cradle. When the mountain goddess saw her child finally return home, she rushed forward and embraced the little rascal who had caused her so much worry.

“Oh, my little darling,” Maya murmured hoarsely, “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

After finishing the meat and fruit that Maia had specially reserved for her, Hermes noticed that her mother still hadn't asked her what she had been doing or why she had come back so late.

She transformed back into a baby, just as she had been when she was born this morning, held in her mother's arms, and slowly drifted off to sleep to the sound of gentle and melodious lullabies.

I had a very strange dream.

In her dream, she lived in her own palace on Mount Olympus, enjoying a life of luxury and happiness until Zeus hurriedly found her and mysteriously asked her to help and protect a certain human woman in the mortal world.

And so began the nightmare of continually assisting Zeus in his philandering and evading Hera's surveillance and punishment.

Upon waking, Hermes was horrified and couldn't help but wonder if she would really be forced to collude with the old man and offend Hera in the future.

However, the shadow looming above made her shiver involuntarily, and the seemingly palpable low pressure made her unwilling to directly face the god-like figure standing by the cradle, squinting and looking down at her.

Even though we had just accidentally made eye contact.

Those deep blue eyes were quite like Zeus's, at least when he looked at her with a cold face and an unpredictable gaze.

It feels too dangerous, so it's better to just look away.

Thinking of this, Hermes couldn't help but shudder again, closed her eyes, and breathed evenly.

However, a cold sentence came to my ear.

Stop pretending.

To be honest, his voice is quite pleasant, and it matches his handsome features perfectly.

—It would be even more perfect if it weren't so tense.

As those large, bony hands grabbed her by the armpits and lifted her from the cradle, Hermes thought to herself.

Despite the burning gaze, she opened her eyes and met those blue eyes.

"This is the work of yours, isn't it?"

Cold words escaped from those beautifully shaped, thin lips, and at the same time, she noticed that Apollo's eyes were actually a lighter color than Zeus's.

Like his slightly wavy blond hair, it revealed a hazy yet clear light.