Chapter 73 Secret

"She wants to support you to become the new king."

The underworld remained as dark and eerie as ever, unchanged even after Persephone became Queen of the Underworld.

Hermes didn't particularly like the atmosphere of the underworld, so it was always her clone who went to guide the dead. Unexpectedly, her true self came here again this time, still on the grounds of sin.

As she passed the Acheron River, the souls of the dead waiting to be ferried across by Charon paid homage to her—for she had brought blessings to humankind. This somewhat eased her heavy heart.

"Alright, that's enough for you. I'm busy, I have to go now." Her dedicated colleague flapped her wings and said, "His Majesty Hades is waiting for you in the palace, so please don't get lost."

Yes, this was Zeus and Athena's plan.

After being comforted by Apollo, Hermes' previously confused mind finally came to its senses. She wondered why the wise Athena had behaved so strangely at the banquet... Now that she thought about it, Athena must have already spoken with the old man.

They needed Hermes to take Typhoon to Hades, the god of the underworld, because Zeus had already persuaded Typhoon to defect, and Gaia's conspiracy was still ongoing.

Hermes couldn't understand how things had developed in such a strange way.

Why would the old man believe Typhus? And why did Typhus turn against him?

Do they all want to... bring down Gaia?

Thinking of this, Hermes' eyes darkened, after all, it wasn't impossible.

Typhoeos appeared this time possessing the body of a human girl, so when he stepped into the underworld, Thanatos slit the girl's neck, causing her soul to float out together with Typhoeos's soul.

The girl's transparent soul broke free from Typhoon's control, transforming into a slender, terrifying, and twisted form, vaguely revealing a sense of bewilderment and helplessness.

She was still called Psych, and when she met Hermes and Thanatos, she understood.

"Homage to you, beloved goddess Hermes."

"And all the noble deities..."

The girl then joined the procession of human undead waiting on the banks of the Acheron River, never to look back.

Hermes originally wanted to ask the girl if she still had memories of what happened before Hebe created her, but the girl appeared too serene, so she felt it was unnecessary.

“You seem to be in a bad mood. Why? Never mind, I’m not interested in that. I have a lot of things to do.” Thanatos rose into the air and waved to Hermes and Apollo. “Goodbye, you two!”

Hermes responded, then, recalling the terrible things that had happened to her, and looking at the despairing Acheron River, she couldn't help but sigh.

Fortunately, Apollo was by her side, otherwise Hermes would have been extremely sad.

She couldn't explain why, it was as if the scene triggered her emotions, something else was influencing her reason and mind...

When Apollo arrived, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "It's alright, I'm here. Aunt Hecate won't do much."

Although this powerful goddess is on Gaia's side, she will not stand idly by and watch the Olympian gods be destroyed, as that would not do her any good.

Hecate and Zeus were close friends who trusted each other and always had an intimate working relationship—as evidenced by the fact that she guarded the sinful gods and monsters imprisoned in the abyss of Tartarus for him.

So Hecate acquiesced to Zeus sending Hermes and Typhoon to the Underworld. Oh, and Apollo, who volunteered to come along out of concern for Hermes.

"Okay, I hope we can complete the mission as successfully as last time."

Hermes kissed Apollo's cheek, and he paused, his ear tips turning slightly red.

He coughed lightly, then straightened his back and puffed out his chest again, pretending to be calm.

"Hermes, wait..."

Apollo seemed to want to say something more, but hesitated for a moment and did not continue.

"What's wrong?" Hermes asked, puzzled.

“No,” Apollo shook his head, “I’ll tell you later.”

"You're so cunning, Brother Apollo! You know perfectly well how strong my curiosity is..."

"Sorry, let me organize my thoughts."

"ah?"

Hermes was dumbfounded.

What the hell, Brother Apollo? What's wrong with you? Are you playing a trick on me?!

Cough cough, I almost forgot something important—

“Now…” Hermes turned her head, staring intently at the dark soul that had been feigning death for so long beside her, “Tiphios, you despicable scoundrel, I haven’t settled accounts with you yet!”

This wretched monster has repeatedly harassed and harmed her and Pan before, and now it actually has the audacity to want to have a harmonious and mutually beneficial cooperation with them? What are that old geezer and Athena thinking?

This plan is absolutely outrageous!

"You weren't communicating with that old man through that scepter, were you?"

—The thunder scepter that Typhoon stole from Zeus, then she stole it back, and then returned it to Zeus.

But what purpose does the other seemingly counterfeit thunder scepter left with Artemis's sister serve?

That old man is really cunning; no wonder he was able to ascend the throne…

Typhoeos did not materialize, but appeared before Hermes and Apollo only in a gloomy and dark soul state.

Its hoarse, deep voice reached the ears of the two Olympian gods in a sinister tone.

"So what? With my help, you'll at least have a better chance of defeating her."

Typhoeos seemed to hate Gaia intensely, and it was unwilling to be bound by this cruel mother any longer.

"I will not apologize to you for what I did before, because I was also a victim, I was deceived... Now, hurry up and go find that brat Hades, I can't wait to go back to that damned Abyss Prison."

Upon hearing this, Hermes and Apollo exchanged a glance.

...

……ah?

Hermes was stunned.

Did Typhon know Hades? Had it been to Tartarus before?

By the way, it seems that Apollo once mentioned that Typhoon had a wife, the serpent-like Echidna.

Hermes then began to think anew.

Although the underworld itself was composed of Tartarus, one of the creator gods, after Hades took control of the underworld, an eternal kingdom inhabited by the dead appeared there, and deeper still was the abyss of hell that imprisoned the most heinous criminals—that is, Tartarus.

If Typhobus had been to the depths of hell, and it was Gaia's child, then its father...

A strange thought suddenly froze in Hermes' mind. Hermes' eyes widened, and she quickly tugged at Apollo's cloak beside her.

Apollo looked down.

Hermes looked up and blinked.

Apollo blinked, then nodded firmly.

"..."

"..."

Wow, this is getting more and more interesting.

Just then, Typhus, who was floating in front, transformed into a terrifyingly large eye, staring intently at the two Olympian gods who had just finished a silent exchange.

"Are you two secretly talking about something behind my back?"

Hermes immediately replied, "Your mother is Gaia, your father is Tartarus, and your wife is Echidna?"

Typhoeos: "Oh, you just found out? Ha, I thought you Olympian gods were all that capable!"

Hermes: "...I think you intend to stay in the Tartarus Abyss forever."

Upon hearing this, the large eye that Typhoon had transformed into blinked, just like Hermes and Apollo had done just now.

“Be careful, you damned little thing,” Typhoon said menacingly. “I hate that place, and I hate you all. If I weren’t forced by circumstances, I would not hesitate to destroy you all.”

...Tsk, even with disaster looming, he still hasn't changed his ways. This guy is as disgusting as ever.

If it weren't for the circumstances, she would have tried every means to eliminate it. This monster is too arrogant!

"You want to break free from her control and restraint, right?" Hermes asked tentatively.

For a fleeting moment, Hermes felt a slight pang in her heart, which caused her to involuntarily twitch her eyelids, but a genuine smile curved her lips.

She thought she knew why.

She now knew why Gaia had granted her divine power.

Because Hermes was manipulated by Gaia, and because Gaia regarded Hermes as something akin to a 'personally appointed messenger'.

Perhaps that expert still wants to push her to the top—

Hermes froze, her heart still throbbing, but her mind had already been pulled back from the brink of confusion.

Wait, what is she thinking...?

At the same time, Hermes heard a response from Typhoeos ahead.

“I want to live, I want to live freely, even in pain and despair,” Typhuos said. “Therefore I warn you—be careful.”

Typhoeos seems to be hiding many secrets.

That really intrigued Hermes.

Apollo, meanwhile, gazed quietly at Hermes, his pale blue eyes filled with unreadable emotions.

Just as they were about to enter Hades' palace, Apollo suddenly grabbed Hermes' cloak—as she often did. He leaned down again, his perfectly shaped lips close to her ear.

Hot, fiery breath poured onto the girl's fair and tender skin.

“I’ve made up my mind, Hermes,” Apollo said softly, yet with unwavering conviction. “After this ordeal is over, let’s get married. If you’re willing.”

Hermes turned her head and met a pair of light blue eyes. Their owner was radiant in the dark underworld, her hazy halo shimmering with unparalleled beauty.

He had captivated her, leading her down a path of no return.

But Hermes was willing.

"Is this the shocking statement you've been planning for so long?" Hermes smiled. "How lovely, Brother Apollo. Of course I'd love to."

"Because I've been craving your things for a long time, including you."

Upon hearing this, Apollo chuckled softly.

“I’ve always known, so they’re all yours, and so are mine.”

Apollo looks very gentle and serious.

His eyes, with their light reddish tinge, were slightly upturned at the corners.

"Besides that... do you want more, Hermes?"

What were they testing?

This time it was Hermes' turn to take the initiative. She grabbed Apollo's hair at the back of his head and kissed his lips, a light, fleeting kiss.

Then, she whispered in his still-reddened ear, "If you mean things that give me physical pleasure, then of course I want more. But if you mean... hahaha, I haven't thought about it yet, dear Apollo."

Then Hermes released Apollo, and saw him lower his eyes, seemingly somewhat shocked.

“I see…” Apollo murmured. “Alright, I will help you no matter what.”

—Because you are my eternal love, Hermes.

...

...

...

That being said, is there something else we've forgotten?

Tifuus: "...Tsk."

Are you all crazy? Are you even going to leave or not? You're going to blind it!

Tiphius stared intently at the two flirting fools, oblivious to their surroundings, and in his anger, he materialized a large mouth with sharp fangs.

It's so infuriating!

Upon entering Hades' palace, just as Thanatos had predicted, Hades, unusually, did not hide in his room to sleep in, but instead sat majestically on his high throne.

On another throne beside Hades sat Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, wearing a floral crown as she did on earth, her gentle gaze meeting that of her husband as he looked upon the three.

To Hermes' surprise, Iris, Hera's messenger and the rainbow goddess, was also there.

Hermes felt increasingly suspicious when she recalled that Hera had sent her and Apollo on a mission to the Underworld.

Could it be that Hera is also in cahoots with that old man and Athena? But shouldn't she be with Gaia...? No, we can't jump to conclusions based on that alone.

Hermes suppressed all her thoughts and focused intently on what was about to happen.

Hades didn't say much, but reached out and used his divine power to put invisible shackles on Typhoon's soul. Once it was marked with Hades's mark, even if he couldn't control it, its words and actions would be under his surveillance.

That reminded Typhonus of Hera, and then of Gaia.

“Swear by the name of the Styx River, Typhoys,” Hades said slowly, as if in a low curse, “that you may never harm us, or you will fall into eternal damnation.”

In fact, Typhoeos had already fallen into utter ruin.

It had finally managed to break free from Gaia's emotional and physical manipulation, and it had finally found an opportunity to completely escape Gaia... Typhoeos was determined to make a complete change this time.

Then Typhon's soul trembled and he swore: "I swear to the Styx River, I will never harm the gods, or I will be condemned to eternal damnation."

It wouldn't speak of its fate after death, because it was unwilling to accept it. And Hades, the god of the underworld, didn't care about it either.

Hades remained silent.

At Persephone's prompting, Iris, who possessed colorful wings, handed a golden cup to Typhoon, which contained water taken from the Styx River.

Hermes couldn't see the color of the water. After Typhoon's transformed mouth drank it all in one gulp, the shackles on the soul of this hateful and pitiful monster were strengthened once more.

Like Hermes, Apollo watched the whole thing in silence.

"Alright, let's go there." Hades waved his hand, seemingly a little impatient. "You've been staying too long."

In an instant, space twisted and transformed.

Ah! Brother Apollo!

Hermes instinctively hugged Apollo's waist, causing Apollo, who was also instinctively about to hug her, to pause for a moment.

Immediately, he tightened his grip on her shoulders.

"It's okay, I'm here."

Then Apollo finally decided to reveal the secret to Hermes.

This has nothing to do with reason; he had already placed all his bets on his eternal love.

"She wants to support you to become the new king."

"From beginning to end, the only person she cared about was you."

In an instant, Hermes' heart began to ache again.

She was now in the depths of hell.