Chapter 45 Bastard

"You really know how to raise a child, you brat."

In fact, Apollo had important business to discuss with Hermes.

Today, humans are able to navigate the oceans with ease, and profound connections have been established between people all over the world. Delphi, the pilgrimage site dedicated to the god of light and prophecy, is seeing an increasing number of pilgrims from all directions.

One day, the priestess Pythia listened to the prayers of a group of sailors who were about to set sail to explore more distant and unknown lands. Their companions had gone out in waves, but never returned. These lost sailors longed to find their lost comrades and to fulfill the dreams they had never achieved.

When Pythia told Apollo about this, he sighed helplessly but did not take out his golden bow and arrows as usual.

Apollo is not only famous for his light and prophecy, but before he became the chief god of Olympus, he often stayed on earth to fight monsters, and humans revered him as a hero of immeasurable merit.

He knew in his heart that those human sailors had been harmed by sea monsters, but the ocean was Poseidon's domain, and these monsters living in the vast sea were like the sea god's children.

He shouldn't have felt pity for humans, but he suddenly thought of Hermes—how would she, who treated humans kindly and was respected and loved by them, act in this situation?

That two-faced creature surely wouldn't bear to see humans harmed, right? It was she who persuaded Poseidon to open the seas to humans, allowing them to fish and shrimp and open up sea routes.

So Apollo decided to go to Arcadia to discuss the matter of the siren with her.

She was the only person he could think of.

Moreover, he had invited Pan to his Delphi after she was born.

Although the little rascal didn't take his grand invitation to heart.

Even so, Apollo had not expected to encounter Hermes above the Isthmus of Corinth. She was accompanied by a robust and handsome young man, whose unusual appearance suggested he was her adopted son, Pan.

When Apollo saw Hermes so intimately embracing Pan's shoulders and waist, carrying him through the sky, his throat tightened, and this time it wasn't inexplicable.

He knew that his feelings for her were etched in his heart.

Apollo glanced down at the mermaid prince lying on the rocks of the beach below, and inevitably recalled his past journey across the sea when Hermes seemed to have a particular fondness for this son of Poseidon—he vaguely remembered the way she stared at the mermaid's tail with a wolfish gaze.

The god of deception and theft loves precious treasures, especially those belonging to others.

Therefore, after Apollo stopped Hermes from rushing toward Triton, he almost forgot that the reason he came to find her was because of the siren.

Hermes.

"Long time no see."

Apollo simply confronted his own feelings for her, which he couldn't control; he wasn't content with merely being her reliable partner.

Even if she uses him without any scruples.

However, before Apollo could speak further, the boy who had been raised by Hermes interrupted him.

She even called him "uncle" and "unlucky guy"...tsk, it must have been that little rascal Hermes who taught him that.

Like mother, like son.

But when Apollo thought of the mother-son relationship between Hermes and Pan, his eyes darkened, and he became even more displeased.

Then she continued rambling on about a bunch of useless nonsense, making Apollo feel an urge to tear down her temple in Arcadia.

No, before that, he should first demolish the temple he had specially built for her in Delphi to vent his anger.

Then Hermes finally said something kind.

"No, how about I go with you to the Olympus wedding banquet six days from now?!"

Although it was obvious that it was just a hoax, at least Apollo was slightly better off.

He steadied his rapidly beating heart, let out a soft hum from his beautifully shaped thin lips, and even raised his hand to brush a strand of hair that had fallen to the side of his face, making no attempt to hide the slight blush rising on the tips of his ears.

"Brother Apollo?"

Since she had invited him so sincerely, he would reluctantly accept.

"Seriously! You're ignoring me and blocking my way... Pan, let's go! Let's just change today's itinerary to the sea!"

--etc?

Apollo paused in his hand as he brushed his hair aside, and even his light blue eyes widened slightly.

Not only did Hermes's second half of the sentence bother him, but the little rascal actually took Pan and flew directly over him to Triton below!

He couldn't catch up with her at all!

Hermes, of course, wouldn't let that big bastard Apollo have his way. She was caught by him just now only because she didn't expect to run into him here.

Since he still wasn't going to reply after she'd already said that, why should she waste her time here? Clearly, Triton, with his beautiful, colorful fishtail, was much more appealing!

And so, Hermes ignored Apollo in front of him and led Pan to the rear of Triton.

The ocean was as blue and clear as ever, as stunning as the mermaid prince lying on the beach rocks.

For some reason, Triton's expression was somewhat melancholy. His pale, bluish face was etched with worry, and even the luster in his amber eyes had dimmed.

Hermes gently patted Triton's strong shoulder and greeted him.

"Good day, Triton!" She smiled brightly at his handsome face as he turned to look at her. "I've come to visit you!"

A look of surprise flashed across Triton's face for a moment, and the next second, he nodded, and a glimmer of light finally appeared in his beautiful peach blossom eyes.

Good day, Hermes. Thank you for remembering our promise.

Triton gave a slight smile, his gaze lingering for a moment on Pan, who was standing next to Hermes, before tilting his head in slight confusion.

He asked, "And who is this?"

Pan was curiously looking at the mermaid prince, while Hermes ruffled her son's hair and cheerfully introduced him.

“This is my son with Periuse—Periuse is a nymph from my homeland, Arcadia. The child’s name is Pan, and he’s like a little fireball, isn’t he adorable?”

Triton's expression froze for a few seconds when he heard that Pan was the child of Hermes and a nymph.

Isn't Hermes a female deity? How did she have a child with a nymph who is also female? And this was only their second meeting, so how could she already have a child?

Did she actually marry that nymph fairy?

Triton felt a tightness in his chest, a mixture of disbelief and some obscure, incomprehensible emotions.

Just then, Hermes turned to Pan and said, "Good boy, quickly greet your brother Triton. He is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and Amphitrite, the queen of the sea, the prince of the ocean!"

Pan immediately put on a bright smile and greeted the mermaid who looked like a friend of his mother goddess.

"Hello, Uncle Triton!"

But Pan did not call Triton "brother" as Hermes had instructed; instead, he called him "uncle."

Even that seemingly friendly smile now carries a hint of provocation.

Triton felt an even greater tightness in his chest.

He pursed his lips and remained silent.

Hermes was extremely embarrassed. She tapped Pan on the head with her scepter. He was well-behaved in front of her, but he changed completely when facing Terry.

What a disgraceful and unlucky kid!

“How dare you speak to your brother Triton, Pan? You should call him brother,” Hermes admonished earnestly, while secretly glancing at the mermaid prince who seemed even more melancholy out of the corner of her eye. “Triton is wonderful. I loved him even before you were born… Look, his fishtail is colorful, isn’t it beautiful!”

Upon hearing the word 'like', Triton froze, even his head and the fins on the sides of his arms twitching.

Triton stared blankly at the Olympian goddess in front of him, who was looking very serious, and suddenly felt that perhaps she was even more alluring than Aphrodite, the legendary goddess of love and beauty.

Pan actually thought so too, but he didn't want other male gods to covet his mother.

Just as he was about to utter another shocking statement, a voice suddenly came from the sky.

"Is that so, Hermes?"

Instantly, the three gods looked up at the same time.

Good heavens, what is that glittering golden thing?

Oh, it's Apollo, the god of light, and his swan chariot.

Apollo leaped down from the chariot and swiftly landed behind Hermes.

His signature move then reappeared.

Hermes felt a cold wind sweep past her back, and sure enough, a large hand tightly gripped the back of her dress.

"You make Pan call Triton 'brother,' but you call me 'unlucky guy,' is that it?"

Unexpectedly, this time Apollo did not lift her up like an eagle catching a chick, but instead pulled her into his arms.

"You really know how to raise a child, you brat."

As that cool, deep voice rang in her ears, Hermes was instantly forced into Apollo's arms.

Her back was pressed tightly against his broad, sturdy chest, and she could clearly feel his burning body temperature.

"—???!!!"

"What are you doing, you bastard Apollo?!"

If you don't understand, is this some new form of torture? Or is it a desperate method of torment from the depths of Tartarus in the underworld?

What's wrong with Apollo all of a sudden?!

Hermes stared in shock, and under the equally shocked gazes of Pan and Triton, she struggled violently, trying to get away from that damned Apollo's embrace.

But Apollo, that bastard among bastards, was very strong, and his grip on her waist was so tight that she couldn't break free.

Triton was still in a daze, while Pan, driven by his love for his mother, rushed forward, ready to fight Apollo to rescue Hermes.

"I almost forgot, I'm actually a jerk too."

Apollo reached out his other hand and pressed down on the head of the goat boy charging towards him. When he met those angry purple eyes, the corners of his eyes turned up slightly, and a half-smile appeared on his lips.

"Why don't I, this bastard, help you teach your son a lesson, Hermes?"

—After all, this child really takes after his mother's personality; he's a brat too.

Apollo grabbed Pan by the collar, about to throw him onto his chariot, when he suddenly found himself unable to move.

His heart and lungs stopped when waves of frost froze his entire body from head to toe.

The next moment, Hermes successfully broke free from his ice sculpture-like embrace.

"Oh, so what?"

The little bastard even pounded his chest with the scepter he had given him.

"You can't beat me at all, dear Apollo brother~"

Apollo was furious because Hermes had once again flashed that damnably beautiful smile.

[Author's Note]

Wuhu~