Chapter 24 Loyalty
That's the cutest thing about that brat.
After leaving the palace of the God King, both gods seemed somewhat distracted.
"If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have agreed to help you devise strategies for the Pythia Competition. You have your ravens and muses, that was a task you should have done yourself..." Hermes muttered incessantly, "...Damn it, now I'm really a gofer!"
She began to suspect that the reason Zeus had specially come to give her winged shoes after she was born in the cave of Courrenne was for this very day.
As expected, the old man wasn't so kind; he just wanted to make her work like a slave for all sorts of troublesome things, without any reward.
What if she really ends up helping that old geezer philander and offend Hera, just like in her dream? A large part of her return to Olympus and becoming a chief god was thanks to Hera's promotion, and she doesn't want to go against this powerful goddess after this!
An old man's messenger... just thinking about it is absurd.
She has no desire to be forced to run errands!
Apollo's calm reply came from beside him: "You should regret causing trouble for me when I was in the Temple of the Gods."
Because he's vengeful, he'll definitely drag her down with him.
To host and preside over the quadrennial athletic competition in Delphi? Okay, he accepted, and she could come along too.
The Arcadia herding, which had long since ended, was exploited by her in public? Well done, she's taking care of the sacred cows in his place.
Apollo would always drag Hermes into whatever trouble she caused, and he even looked forward to what kind of trouble she would cause next.
Because everything Hermes has done so far has benefited Apollo, and her existence is indeed special enough to make him treat her differently, he will choose to indulge her unconditionally countless times.
The God of Light has always been rational and has a broad perspective.
"What do you mean by making trouble out of nothing? I was doing this for your own good!" Hermes, unaware of Apollo's thoughts, glared at him fiercely, then raised her arm and pointed the scepter of the god of commerce at his annoying, arrogant face, making the snakes coiled around the scepter look menacing at him. "And, most importantly, I won't regret it!"
"I will never regret anything I've done through careful planning!"
Apollo: "..."
Is she angry? Why is her hair all sticking up? She looks fierce, which is completely out of character for her cute image.
That's probably what makes this brat so unique.
Apollo: "...I see."
This is terrible, he thought to himself with a terrible sense of unease—perhaps he shouldn't have said those things to her, and that he should have been gentler in his tone.
“Hermes.” Finally, Apollo sighed and reached out to stroke the head of the girl whose cheeks were puffed up in anger. “I understand. I’m sorry.”
Well, he was indeed too petty before.
Then let him take on the responsibility of being an older brother and try to appease her again.
"Is there any gift you want, or any wish you have? Just tell me." Apollo lowered his hand and looked directly at the little devil whose eyes had widened upon hearing this. "I will grant your wish."
Strange, unbelievable.
Hermes touched the lingering warmth of the God of Light's hand on her head. Lately, he had been fond of touching her inappropriately, as if it were some kind of inexplicable fetish.
But at least he listened to her opinion and didn't pull at her clothes or hit her on the head.
Moreover, he said those things that bothered her.
"Really?" Hermes gripped the scepter of two snakes tightly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Apollo. "Whatever it may be, you will grant it for me, brother Apollo."
Upon hearing this, Apollo paused for two seconds, then said, "Yes. Except for things in my temple."
Hermes was instantly disappointed.
No, how would he know what she was thinking? Is he just being so wary of her?
Hmph, he keeps saying he'll do anything for her, but that's just utter nonsense, you petty Apollo brother!
Hermes turned and flew away into the distance.
"Okay, okay, then let me think about it some more, Brother Apollo!"
Her excellent trait was that she always kept her word, and she genuinely wanted to teach Apollo a lesson.
Therefore, she's determined to steal his temple!
Huh? Wait a minute, there seems to be someone blocking the way?
Hermes slammed on the brakes, her winged sandals landing firmly on the ground, and she saw clearly the deity walking towards her.
Black hair, golden eyes, a goddess's crown... it was Hera.
If I'm not mistaken, Hera is also holding a child's hand.
As the two figures drew closer, Hermes immediately bowed deeply to them and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Goddess, good day!"
An oppressive shadow loomed over Hermes. She looked up and saw Hera standing before her, accompanied by a girl who looked only seven or eight years old.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze lingering for a few seconds on the little girl's light blonde hair and golden eyes.
That's because they've grown a bit older—
"Hello, Hebe, goddess of youth!" Hermes spoke again, addressing the child who was timidly hiding behind Hera. "I am Hermes, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
Although she had once impersonated Hebe to deceive Hera, she felt no embarrassment at this moment. Her lively, cheerful, and outgoing personality allowed her to always face anyone with confidence.
At this moment, Apollo also arrived beside her, nodded slightly to the Queen and Hebe, and said something.
Hebe finally emerged from behind her mother goddess, her little hands still tightly clutching her skirt, her big, watery eyes timidly gazing at the seemingly kind goddess.
"Hello... Sister Hermes..."
So cute! These round, soft little babies are just too adorable!
Little Hebe was just as adorable when she was in the cradle!
Hermes almost couldn't resist going up to pinch Hebe's soft, round cheeks, but with the goddess Hera present and her aura too powerful, she dared not do so.
But why would Hera bring Hebe along? They must have seen her and Apollo, right?
Just then, Hera finally spoke: "Hermes, Apollo, where are you going?"
“The sea,” Apollo spoke before Hermes, his handsome, chiseled face expressionless as he faced the goddess. “We need to find Athena to discuss the competition at Delphi.”
Hera raised an eyebrow: "Why do you have to go to the sea to find Athena? Besides, you two came from Zeus's palace, didn't you?"
The goddess used an affirmative sentence, indicating that she had just witnessed everything.
Seeing this, Hermes remained silent, wanting to see how Apollo would handle the situation.
Will he answer honestly?
Apollo paused for a second, then continued, "His Majesty the King of the Gods also sent us to resolve the conflict between Athena and Poseidon."
Ah, what an honest God of light!
Hermes covered her mouth and chuckled, then saw Hera glance at her.
She quickly feigned a few coughs and chimed in Apollo's defense, "He's right, Your Highness, the Queen of Gods!"
"Oh, you've really had a hard time." Hera's smile was neither too strong nor too weak, seemingly a fake one.
"It's not hard work at all!" Hermes waved her hands repeatedly. After all, Hera had helped her a lot. Although she didn't know what Hera's purpose was, she didn't have any ill intentions towards her. "Your Highness, there are some things I've always wanted to tell you."
She took a deep breath, raised her clear, clean emerald green eyes, and looked directly at Hera with sincerity.
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Holy Queen."
Upon hearing this, Hera raised an eyebrow again, and the corners of her mouth curved up slightly.
But the goddess of youth continued speaking.
“You clearly had no reason to elevate me to this level, yet you still chose to help me without hesitation. You are truly kind, gentle, and compassionate.” The Goddess of Deception and Theft looked genuinely sincere, unlike her usual self. “Thank you for your help. If there is anything you need me to do in the future, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to accomplish it within my power.”
She was going all out; since she was going to be running errands and getting overwhelmed with trouble sooner or later anyway, she might as well treat it with sincerity this once.
Because she didn't want to offend Hera, because she actually liked Hera very much.
The God of Light, standing to the side, seemed to have sensed Hermes' resolve, his gaze upon her as unfathomable and dangerous as a quagmire.
After a long pause, Hera gave a cold laugh.
Hermes paused, then realized that Hera's gaze had bypassed her and was directed... toward... what was behind her?
She wanted to turn her head to see what was so captivating to Hera, but Apollo pressed down on her left shoulder, signaling her not to make any rash moves.
“I accept your loyalty, Hermes.” Hera was still looking in that direction, her voice sweet as poison. “Then take my daughter with you to the sea. You and Apollo are both intelligent and brave, and you will surely be able to take on the responsibility of educating her.”
...
……ah?
No, why is that? What does this have to do with Hebe?
Hermes was completely stunned.
This time, Apollo was silent.
He wanted to see how she would handle the situation.
"Do you...do you trust me?" Hermes couldn't help but ask.
But Hera swiftly and cleanly pulled Hebe, who was hiding behind her, out of the room.
“Mother Goddess…” Hebe said reluctantly.
“My dear, you’ve heard from your older sisters and brothers that if you need anything, just tell them.” Hera bent down and gently kissed her daughter’s forehead and cheek. “So don’t worry or be afraid. Go on the adventure with them and bring back all the treasures from the sea for Mother Goddess.”
After calming her daughter, who was blushing with anxiety, she straightened up again and then coldly faced the two little rascals who were quietly watching the scene.
“I trust you, Hermes.”
"Therefore, you must not let me down."
...like that big bastard who gave them half their lives.
Hera left quickly, and Hermes was finally able to turn around and look at her. She saw the Queen of Gods walking menacingly toward the God of Love and Beauty, who was standing with her arms crossed at the foot of the steps of the King of Gods' palace.
Recalling what happened in the God King's Palace, the words "Your circle is truly chaotic" slowly surfaced in her mind.
However...
Hermes turned her head and saw Hebe, who was looking down at her skirt in bewilderment.
In an instant, a sunny and cheerful smile appeared on her fair and delicate face.
"Hebe! Let's go on a deep-sea adventure together! Let's steal... no! Bring back all of the Sea King's treasure!"
Under Apollo's gaze, whose emotional shifts were imperceptible, she knelt down and gently embraced the goddess's daughter, who looked up in surprise upon hearing this.
"I will protect you!"
"..."
"And there's also the taciturn Apollo!"
“…Yes, thank you, Sister Hermes.”
When Apollo saw Hebe slowly smile and nod gently, he lowered his eyes slightly, concealing the depths of his gaze.
That's the cutest thing about that brat.
*****
Poseidon ruled the sea, and all living things in the sea were under his dominion.
How dare mere humans trespass into his territory, not only attempting to catch and slaughter the fish and shrimp here, but also trying to cross over to other places?
Poseidon was furious. He had gifted humans horses capable of galloping a thousand miles, but those foolish creatures created by Athena and Prometheus from silver were not grateful to him. Instead, they coveted his domain.
What puzzled and angered him most was that Athena, that damned girl, had rebelled and sided with humanity, acting like a traitor to the Olympian gods and opposing him.
"Athena, how many more times do I have to say it?" Poseidon rose from his throne, nearly throwing his trident in a fit of rage. "Those lowly ants are not worthy of setting foot in my domain!"
Beneath the throne stood a goddess with golden hair and grey eyes, exuding a valiant air. She wore a silver crown adorned with red feathers, an exquisitely embroidered skirt covered in snake-scale armor, and even carried an image of Nike, the goddess of victory. All that was missing was a golden spear and an Aegis shield with golden tassels.
Athena, the goddess of wisdom, seemed to have regained her dignity as the goddess of war, and stormed into Poseidon's underwater palace as if fully armed, truly inheriting the arrogant temperament of her domineering father.
“Why must you be so heartless to those poor children, Uncle Poseidon?” Athena’s grey-blue eyes resembled Zeus’s, sharp and piercing like a falcon’s. “You caused tsunamis and earthquakes, letting violent disasters destroy their hard-earned homes. And when they try to gain even a little something for themselves, you turn your anger on the suffering earth, which has been completely transformed by the Isthmus of Corinth. That’s so unfair.”
“They worship me, and they rebel against me,” Poseidon said sternly and coldly. This niece, corrupted by the Titan Prometheus, was truly a headache for him. “They have gained immense benefits, but what about me? Do you want to allow those lowly ants to pollute my kingdom, Athena?”
"Humans are not ants, nor are they insignificant." Athena furrowed her delicate eyebrows, looking even more majestic. "They are the lives we created with our own hands, the children we should cherish and protect."
Upon hearing this description, Poseidon scoffed and said disdainfully, "You are nothing like your mother, who is known for her intelligence."
Athena's mother was the former goddess of wisdom, Metis.
After Metis was swallowed by Zeus under the pretext of fear and curse, Athena leaped out of her father's head and inherited her mother's divine wisdom.
This has always been a source of trauma for her.
“I respect you, Uncle Poseidon.” Athena said expressionlessly, her thin lips pursed, swallowing back her disappointment. “I beg you to grant humankind the right to fish and sail on the ocean.”
Even someone as composed as her was burning with rage at this moment.
Prometheus was right. She is not mature enough yet. She needs more experience to become a powerful goddess like her mother.
Thinking of this, Athena couldn't help but clench the Nike statue in her hand, a feeling of resentment spreading through her chest.
An eerie silence fell over the magnificent underwater palace.
"..."
“We have distinguished guests,” Poseidon suddenly changed the subject.
Athena paused, sensing the familiar presence.
She turned her gaze and saw a group of mermaid guards escorting several deities as they strode in from the side hall's corridor.
They are Hermes, Apollo, and Hebe, the daughter of the goddess.
"Tsk." Poseidon's handsome face looked even colder. "Keep an eye on your willful and arrogant brats, Zeus."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
