Chapter 63 Uneasy

“Come with me, Hermes.”

In other words, the current situation is extremely absurd.

A large group of deities, along with two green snakes, gathered in the deep forests of Crete, each harboring their own thoughts and looking at each other in bewilderment. If the goddess Gaia, who slumbers far away in the Tree of Life, knew of this, she would surely be very surprised.

But as long as Hermes is involved, even the most outrageous things suddenly become normal.

After all, she was nicknamed "Olympus's Number One Troublemaker".

Even if the current situation is not her doing, she has to take the blame herself.

"In any case, it's all your fault, Hermes."

Artemis directly stamped the blame on this person.

"Don't ask, the answer is you're a repeat offender."

Upon hearing this, Apollo emerged from behind Athena and Prometheus and returned to Hermes's sight.

“I agree.” Apollo regained his nonchalant and aloof demeanor, but then he paused and added, “But I believe you… didn’t do it on purpose, Hermes.”

Hermes: "..."

Are you two siblings putting on a show here?

And what exactly did I do wrong?

[How wicked! He only knows how to bully our beloved prince! I hereby declare that the goddess Artemis, like that pesky Apollo, is on my blacklist!]

Shh, Apistoni, be careful Artemis doesn't hear you...

[I told you you were an idiot, Tokei! Don't worry, only Her Majesty Hermes can hear our thoughts!]

really.

Hermes thought to herself.

Perhaps this is also thanks to that person's immense power...

"This is so interesting!"

At this moment, Aphrodite also cheerfully acted as the atmosphere-setter, splashing her delicate, jade-like hands back and forth in the water.

"Why is this our little Hermes' fault, everyone?"

And then they went on to delve deeper into this damn topic.

Hermes said with a forced smile, "Because my sister Artemis was infected with the silly goose virus by that wretched Apollo."

As soon as she finished speaking, she quickly crouched down, protecting her head from Apollo's iron fist attack.

Hilarious! I'm used to it by now, it's practically a conditioned reflex, okay? That bastard Apollo won't get away with it again!

Upon seeing this, Aphrodite opened her shimmering, affectionate emerald green eyes and, to her credit, exclaimed "Wow!"

"Tsk."

Apollo lowered his fist, which had missed its mark, and looked coolly at the brat who had suddenly jumped several meters away from him.

"One day I'll tear that mouth of yours, which is always spouting nonsense, apart."

Unexpectedly, Hermes, upon hearing this, actually winked at him with her right eye with a sly smile.

"So why aren't they related?"

Apollo: "..."

What kind of suggestive witty remark is this?

Damn it, why did he think of such random things...?

This time, even the usually composed and calm Athena and Prometheus joined Aphrodite's "Wow!" combo.

"never mind."

Artemis shook her head. She was already used to the way her younger brother and the brat Hermes got along, and she didn't intend to pursue the latter's mistakes any further—hopefully, this girl could keep the creatures of Arcadia in check.

She tried her best to ignore the two strange green snakes for the time being, because now was not the time.

"Hermes, have you seen Gaia?" Artemis brought up the topic again.

This is the most important thing right now.

And Athena and Prometheus, who were summoned to Crete by Gaia early in the morning... tsk, no matter how you look at it, something doesn't feel right.

Artemis was pondering whether or not to show the thunder scepter she had found in Cilicia to everyone present, without even knowing if it was real or fake.

Not to mention that Hermes also has this thing.

“Of course, Sister Artemis!” Hermes naturally picked up the conversation. “It’s really strange, but Princess Gaia also wants me to go to the Underworld to find the Moileans.”

She chose to learn from Apollo and did not reveal any further information to those present.

Upon hearing this, everyone present reacted with varying expressions.

"Also?" Aphrodite stood up from the water, and as she stepped ashore, her wet body and pink dress instantly dried. "So Hera summoned you and Apollo away to have you two do things for her in the Underworld?"

That happened after Aphrodite and Ares were making love in the palace and were caught in bed together by Hephaestus.

Although Artemis was not present at the time, Apollo did mention to her the underworld mission that Hera had given him and Hermes.

Artemis frowned: "How come Hera is involved with Gaia in this kind of matter?"

“Yes, dear little Al.” This time it was Aphrodite’s turn to force a smile. “You know, there are countless reasons why Hera and I are at odds.”

"Like now—well, I have to explain, the reason I hid in Mother Earth's abode was to avoid… ha, retaliation."

After all, both of Hera's sons fell for Aphrodite.

Apollo and Prometheus remained silent on this matter.

Artemis scoffed, "I know, I've been there too."

"Also, don't call me that, it's disgusting."

"How cold you are, little Al~ That's exactly what I wanted to call you, little Al~"

"...Is this never going to end?"

At the same time, Athena seemed to be deep in thought, and thus her brows furrowed, her gray-blue eyes filled with complex emotions.

But Hermes cleared his throat; he wasn't finished speaking.

"But I'm also quite curious, what did Princess Gaia say to Athena and Prometheus before I did?"

Now the pressure is on the other two people who have been drawn into the topic.

Apollo, Artemis, and Aphrodite all turned their gazes toward the two of them, as did the little green snakes.

[Yeah, why would they summon these two great deities out of the blue? They're usually the ones who come to worship Gaia on their own initiative!]

Wow, things are getting more and more interesting...

You two still haven't answered my question from before: how did you get to Crete? And why did you inexplicably attack Artemis? Thankfully, she didn't pursue the matter further, otherwise, even I might not have been able to protect you!

And didn't I tell you all to keep a close eye on Pan in Arcadia?!

Hermes inwardly questioned her unreliable snakes.

The snakes even brazenly broke free from her grasp and coiled around her arm, behaving in a subservient and ingratiating manner.

"Ahem, this is a long story, Your Highness."

Actually, actually... uh, um...

It's decided, we'll have a whole grilled snake feast later.

[Oops, we're sorry, we're sorry QAQQQ]

[I hope you're not angry. Really, we both really tried our best, but... but we still lost track of Pan.]

Hermes: "?"

So, the child ran away from Arcadia on his own? And you two chased him all the way to Crete?

So, Pan is right now—

Yes, and for some reason, we inexplicably mistook the goddess Artemis for Pan.

That's why the misunderstanding occurred... Please forgive us, Your Highness Hermes! We truly didn't mean it!

...

...

Hermes' feelings were very complicated.

Especially after hearing what Athena said.

“Originally, Prometheus and I intended to keep this a secret for a while.” Athena met everyone’s gaze and sighed softly. “The goddess Gaia sensed that there were lurking evil spirits hiding in certain corners of the earth, so she ordered us to find out where they were hiding and to relocate humans to areas far away from them.”

Prometheus nodded and added, "Moreover, the area must be covered with ash trees."

Artemis paused for a moment upon hearing this.

However, Aphrodite raised her hand and touched her face, seemingly lost in thought.

That's incredible.

The conversations among everyone seemed to be drifting further and further away from Hermes.

She blinked, feeling a surge of fear and confusion.

Because one of the tasks Gaia supposedly gave her, which she never told anyone present, was to kill evil spirits.

She had already confirmed that her target was the powerful monster that dwelled in Cilicia, which she named Typhoon, meaning a raging storm capable of destroying everything.

This is so profoundly connected to what Gaia told Athena and Prometheus...

Not to mention that at this time, Pan, whom Hermes both adored and deeply feared, disregarded her request and left Arcadia for Crete.

Pan, born after killing Periope by frantically absorbing nutrients from his mother's womb, is he connected to that wicked evil spirit...?

Hermes dared not think any further.

She could sense certain subtle things like Gaia, but now, she only hoped that Pan had nothing to do with it.

After all, he was a child with her and Perius's blood, and she was the one who raised and educated him.

But if that's really the case...

Seemingly noticing Hermes' unease, Apollo approached. His steps were light and unhurried, as if he possessed ample patience.

Apollo extended his large, well-defined hand, the same hand that always played the seven-stringed harp, and stroked her winged head with his long, slender fingers.

I just wanted to gently call her name and tell her not to worry too much.

But just as Apollo's hand touched the soft fabric of the winged green hat, Hermes shuddered and jumped away from his grasp.

"No!" Hermes exclaimed instinctively, then quickly realized her mistake and looked up at Apollo, who clearly meant well. "...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

[Your Highness, is this... a psychological trauma?]

[It seems to be quite large.]

Who has wronged you like this, Your Highness? Tell us, and we will avenge you!

Hermes did not reply, her emotions tense and timid.

She was simply acting on a conditioned reflex just now, because her mind and consciousness had been manipulated in this way, both inside the Tree of Life and when she first met Gaia.

Apollo's right hand was still suspended in mid-air.

He paused for a moment, and seeing the fleeting wariness in her eyes, he slowly lowered his right hand.

"Tsk..."

Apollo's eyes were deep and dark, as if shrouded in night.

He already guessed in his heart that this must be the shadow left on her by Gaia.

“Come with me, Hermes.”

Because Apollo, with his light blue eyes that often foresaw the future, captured Hermes' deepest anxieties and fears.

The God of Light ignored the other deities present and strode lightly toward the God of Deception.

“I know where he is.”

As he passed Hermes, he spoke these words to her in a barely audible voice.