Chapter 32 Doubt and Infatuation
Sure enough, he shouldn't have been so soft-hearted towards her.
Athena and Artemis were goddesses of maidens. They both swore to the Styx River to remain virgins forever, thus gaining the trust of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture.
Demeter then entrusted her daughter, Persephone, the goddess of seed, to their care with peace of mind.
She loved and cherished her daughter dearly, and did not want her to be coveted by those ravenous male gods. She had always kept Persephone hidden in the deep mountains, and apart from her biological father Zeus and these two virgin goddesses, she never allowed her daughter to come into contact with other gods.
Today, Athena and Artemis, who finally had some free time, once again brought Persephone from Demeter's care, taking the sister, who was also a young girl, to Enna, far away from Greece, to play. This had always been their secret and tradition.
They picked flowers together, played hide-and-seek, and whispered secrets to each other. In this secluded and peaceful place full of flowers, they should not have encountered any unexpected risks, nor should they have been disturbed by malicious gods.
But the unexpected still happened, which was truly hateful.
While Athena and Artemis were fetching water from a distant lake, their innocent sister was abducted by a god from the depths of the earth. Everything happened so suddenly that they didn't even have time to stop this absurd event.
When the two women returned to the place where Persephone had once lived, the girl who had always lived under her mother's protection was nowhere to be found.
The most surprising thing is that a few unexpected guests arrived here.
Hermes, Apollo, and Hecate.
They must know something, especially Hecate, who possesses the triple power of the sky, the earth, and the sea.
Hecate was born to Perses, the destroyer of the Titans, and Asteria, the star-seeker. She once helped Zeus defeat the Cyclopes and was respected and feared by the gods for her power.
She governs magic, opportunity, ghosts, and hell, and sometimes travels with the moon goddess Selene. Because she often travels to the abyss of Tartarus to oversee the imprisoned rebellious Titans and monsters, and wherever she goes, a hazy starlight and moonlight shimmer, she is also known as the goddess of the dark moon.
“You’ve misunderstood Hermes, Al,” Hecate said, smoothing her veil to her cousin, with whom she shared a deep blood relation. “She was with me just now; it had nothing to do with that.”
Upon hearing this, Artemis's lips twitched. Although she had reservations, she could only swallow her burning anger and resentment.
It was Artemis's fault that Persephone was kidnapped by a strange male god. Artemis knew that she had just inadvertently angered the innocent Hermes. Just then, her dear Hecate spoke up, so she stopped questioning the audacious thief.
"I'm sorry, I misunderstood you."
Artemis's gaze swept over the bronze cauldron behind Hermes and the wooden cage containing the ravens in her hand, before finally settling on her brother Apollo.
"But how did you get here? And what are these things..."
If I remember correctly, the triangular cauldron burning with a ghostly blue flame should be a sacred object from the Temple of Apollo, right?
As for the crow, needless to say!
Artemis twitched her lips again, speechless, and facepalmed, knowing in her heart that this time it was definitely Hermes who caused the trouble.
Hermes was a thief from the day she was born, starting by stealing fifty of Apollo's cows.
This time she stole something new, and it was Apollo's again. It makes one wonder if she has a crush on him...
Does she really like him that much? No, shouldn't it be that she likes what's his?
Just then, Apollo spoke up: "That shameless brat, I've chased her all the way from Arcadia to here."
Artemis: "..."
Why does that sound so strange?
"Give me back what's mine." Apollo looked coldly at Hermes, who was trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. "Don't make me say it a third time."
I think I've said something like that to her before.
But she never learns from her mistakes; instead, she finds amusement in them.
It was something he deeply resented yet felt utterly helpless about.
“I knew it.” Artemis sighed, meeting Athena’s sidelong glance. “Hermes is clever and cute, but she has one rather unpleasant little habit.”
Apollo retorted angrily, “That’s what you call small? When she fled Arcadia, she didn’t forget to steal my Tripod from Delphi!”
Wow, even the usually rational and calm God of Light has moments when he loses his composure like this.
Hermes really went too far this time, managing to provoke him to this extent.
"What do you mean by running away? He clearly left right in front of you in broad daylight!" Hermes grumbled, not forgetting to turn back and point at the triangular cauldron still flying in mid-air. "Besides, didn't I already say that if you want your things back, you should take them by your own strength! You're just making a fuss because you're not as capable as me. Brother Apollo, you're being too unreasonable!"
Upon hearing this, the other deities present remained silent for a few seconds.
What kind of robbery-like logic is this? Who is truly being unreasonable?
However, they could not place any hope in Hermes, after all, she was the goddess of deception and theft.
"It was my fault for tolerating and yielding to you repeatedly before, Hermes." Apollo laughed angrily, his originally cold face suddenly filled with a different kind of liveliness. "It's time for you to suffer a loss and learn a lesson."
Upon hearing this, Hermes' ears twitched. She wasn't afraid; instead, she felt a sense of anticipation and excitement.
She absolutely loves thrilling adventures!
"What? What are you going to do to me, Brother Apollo? Tell me!"
Maybe she'll even take pity on me and cooperate a little~ Hehehehe~
Unexpectedly, Apollo sneered and said, "Your temple is gone."
Seeing her expression instantly turn bored, he added another sentence.
"And your Arcadia."
What? She thought Apollo would say something more interesting, but this is all?
“Oh, alright, fair and just, absolutely not despicable God of Light.” Hermes pouted and threw the raven cage she was carrying on the ground. “Then as a return gift, shall I take your temple and Delphi with me?”
Apollo was even angrier, not expecting the damned thief to react this way: "Are you getting more and more absurd?"
Forced to suffer once again, the crow was too weak to caw anymore; it foamed at the mouth and fainted.
Apollo was extremely disappointed in Apollo's actions.
"That's exactly right. You've already threatened me like this, so how can I just stand by and watch you hurt me without fighting back?"
"...I think everyone knows who started this mess first."
Indeed, everyone is quite aware of this.
Artemis gave a forced smile and said to the two childish brats bickering as if no one else was around, "Excuse me for disturbing you, but your temples are none of my business. Even if they are demolished, it's none of my concern."
“But Arcadia and Delphi, you two can forget about harming them, otherwise…”
The goddess of the hunt narrowed her eyes, as if she were about to summon a bow and arrow to deliver a fatal blow to the two men who had offended her in front of her.
She is also the goddess of nature, who not only governs all the mountains, rivers, and wild beasts in the world, but also has the right to rule over kingdoms and continents.
When Apollo was initially banished to Arcadia to herd livestock, it was she who granted him the right to manage the land on his behalf.
Although Hermes is now the deity worshipped by the inhabitants of Arcadia, Artemis still retains the right to govern it.
So now Hermes and Apollo are both silent.
"Ahem." Hermes coughed twice, put her hands behind her back and whistled, looking completely nonchalant. "Why don't we continue discussing the Seed Goddess?"
Seeing this, Apollo agreed, saying, "Yes, the matter of Persephone is more important."
Artemis: "...Alright then."
Athena and Hecate, who had been silently watching for a long time, both raised their eyebrows, finding the scene rather amusing.
After all, it's rare to see Apollo get his comeuppance.
Although they had no grudge against him, God is eternal, so it's okay to have some fun now and then.
“It was Hades, the god of the underworld, who abducted Persephone,” Hecate finally revealed the truth. “As far as I know, he caused daffodils to bloom on the ground, which lured her to pick them out of curiosity, and he ultimately succeeded.”
Artemis keenly grasped the key point: "So you saw everything?"
“Yes.” Hecate nodded. “I’m pretty sure it was at the behest of the Earth Mother and the King of Gods.”
Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.
“As expected.” Athena frowned again. “When I went to Crete, the goddess Gaia mentioned Persephone to me.”
Upon hearing the name of Gaia, the Earth Mother, Hermes couldn't help but interject, "But how can you be so sure? She is the exalted goddess of the earth; how could she condone Hades's morally corrupt actions!"
Of course, it's hard to say about the old man, so she didn't rush to defend his dignity.
But Gaia, who had always been protecting her, was different.
She greatly admired that truly respectable goddess.
Artemis, who shares the same natural attributes as Hermes, wants to agree with her views. However, Hecate, who is close to Gaia, is suspicious of her, and she is unwilling to doubt her instead.
Apollo and Artemis were twins born of the same mother, and he was quite aware of each other's thoughts, so he instinctively remained silent and observed the changing times.
However, there are always those who bother him and keep talking.
"And I've found it very strange from the very beginning, Lady Hecate."
Hermes frowned, her little mouth chattering incessantly.
She was naturally sensitive and suspicious, a trait she shared with the goddess Hera.
“You and I both witnessed that scene, yet you used your divine power to forbid me from speaking and acting. Not only that, you also remained indifferent to Hades abducting Persephone.” Hermes took a step closer, looking directly at Hecate, who seemed to think there was nothing wrong with what she had done. “Excuse my rudeness, but your behavior is simply unacceptable to me.”
Apollo, Artemis, and Athena were all somewhat surprised to see Hermes so boldly and audaciously questioning Hecate.
Although Hermes has recently become a chief god, Hecate is someone even Zeus, the king of the gods, respects. By doing this, she is undoubtedly asking for trouble.
Hecate stared blankly and emotionlessly at the girl who had offended her.
Suddenly, Apollo spoke up: "I'm sorry, Hecate."
Not long after, the God of Light once again reached out and grabbed Hermes by the back of her dress, forcibly dragging her behind him.
Hermes looked at him, puzzled.
What the heck? Why is this guy acting like this again? And why is he apologizing to Hecate?!
"As you can probably tell, Hermes is a fool who can't tell what's important. Please don't take her words to heart."
Apollo spoke slowly, his tall, muscular body, draped in a blue cloak, shielding the fool from the potential danger that might be imminent.
He was actually very angry, but when she made a mistake, he still instinctively stepped forward to clean up her mess.
Perhaps this is retribution.
It's all his fault for stubbornly choosing to help her back then, all because of that damned prophecy.
Artemis and Athena witnessed Apollo standing up for Hermes, and couldn't help but exchange a glance, each seeing a deeper meaning in the other's eyes.
Hecate simply nodded in response to the god of light with whom she had been raised and educated alongside her mother.
"Then keep an eye on her, Apollo."
The goddess of the underworld, who possessed extremely high status and power, spoke these words, and then transformed into a cloud of black mist, disappearing before everyone's eyes.
Hermes was left peeking out from behind Apollo, tugging at his loose white robe and prompting him to look down at her.
She asked softly, "Um, I know you want to help me, thank you..."
That brat actually has a conscience.
Apollo suddenly felt better. He swept away the gloom that had been weighing on his heart and gently waved away her restless hand.
He touched her fingers, and her warmth and smooth, delicate skin were so captivating that they caused his hard-won composure to waver once more.
It felt slightly itchy.
“It’s alright,” Apollo said softly, unwilling to admit that he still seemed to be attracted to Hermes. “Just get my things back.”
That's incredible. The God of Light even sounded pitiful when he said that.
It looks just like a big dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy!
Hermes blushed shamefully upon seeing Apollo in such an unusual state.
She stammered, "N-no, I won't! I already said you have to earn it through your own abilities!!!"
Even before she finished speaking, Hermes took to the air right in front of everyone, and casually used her divine power to take away the triangular cauldron and the cage containing the crows.
She carried them away into the distance at great speed, and in the blink of an eye they became tiny black dots and disappeared into the horizon.
They didn't leave a single word.
But it looks like they're fleeing in disarray, just like Apollo did not long ago.
Apollo: "..."
Sure enough, he shouldn't have been so soft-hearted towards her.
Athena and Artemis, who witnessed everything, couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle.
These two are really funny!
[Author's Note]
Hermes/Apollo: Yes, it's the feeling of being moved!
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