Chapter 71 Pruseh
"It's good to see you again, 'Mother'."
The Silver Age followed the Golden Age under the rule of Cronus. Athena and Prometheus created this generation of humans at the command of Zeus. They took hundreds of years to grow up, and even after reaching adulthood, they only had a few years left to live, yet they never developed a mature mind.
Athena originally wanted to create female humans like herself and the other goddesses, but Prometheus's words aroused her concerns.
"They will unconditionally spoil and care for their children, and their hearts will be clouded regardless of whether the children grow up."
Because Prometheus was a visionary, capable of calculating the uncertain future with wisdom no less than hers, Athena, with her concerns, abandoned the idea of creating women.
The earliest humans were quite ignorant and naive. Athena and Prometheus gently and carefully taught them a great deal of knowledge, including the importance of respecting and worshipping the gods. However, as time passed and humans grew up, they developed other thoughts. They would worship the gods while simultaneously harboring resentment towards them, endlessly complaining about why the gods who created them could not bestow more blessings upon them.
Even without a mother's love and indulgence, humans still grow into forms that the gods do not desire. As a result, they die quickly after reaching adulthood and are then recreated by Athena and Prometheus.
After being given the important task of leading the Silver Humans to migrate by the Earth Mother Gaia, Athena remembered Prometheus's admonition. Therefore, she asked the merciful goddess Gaia whether humans really did not need mothers.
“My dear, you already know the answer in your heart,” the Earth Goddess replied to Athena. “Do you miss Metis? She is a good girl, but you believe that it was your father who conceived you.”
No, I never thought that way.
I have always deeply loved and respected my mother, even though we have never met.
Athena instinctively wanted to refute Gaia, but Gaia saw through her fear and guided her to a new path.
"There is still a way to remedy this."
Gaia slowly retreated to the Tree of Life, smiling gently at Athena amidst the dazzling light.
“Take those poor children to a place where ash trees grow, and they will be reborn there.”
Athena had once considered bringing humans to Gaia's private domain, for it possessed not only ash trees but also all kinds of plants. However, after Hermes and Apollo were attacked by monsters there, the wise Athena suddenly had a new conjecture.
This was very bad, almost shaking her great faith in the Earth Mother. So after the meeting at the main temple, she finally made up her mind, asked Prometheus to move mankind to the Cyprus area, and went to Arcadia alone.
In the cave of Courrenne, she met Maia, the mother of Hermes, who was taking good care of Pan.
After receiving confirmation of her guess from Maia, Athena felt heavy-hearted and rushed to Hermes' side.
Then we see the gods holding a grand feast on the Peloponnese—wait, why are they suddenly in this mood? And in human habitation no less?
Athena was slightly taken aback.
Hermes, whom she was looking for, was caught between Zeus and Hera. The three of them had very different and funny expressions, especially Hermes's tearful look.
"Look who's here! Our famous goddess of wisdom, Athena!" Ares was as noisy as ever.
But Athena has no time to pay attention to others right now.
Zeus, the father god, happened to be there as well.
Athena walked solemnly and silently toward Hermes, ignoring even Artemis's greeting.
Artemis was quite puzzled by this and had a feeling that something was wrong.
“Strange…” Artemis jumped down from the tree branch, frowning as she gazed at her sister’s retreating figure. “What important matter is it, Athena?”
Upon hearing this, Poseidon handed Artemis a cup of holy spring water and laughed loudly, saying, "Hahahaha! When has she ever been without important business?"
"..."
After taking her place in front of or behind Hermes, Athena pursed her lips, her gaze finally settling on Zeus on her left.
She saluted and said, “Father God, I have something to report.”
Zeus raised an eyebrow: "No rush. Athena, you've come at the right time. Little Hebe said she wants to present us with a precious gift, which you can inspect after she returns."
Athena: "This...?"
Even though she was the goddess of wisdom, she was somewhat bewildered at this moment.
Athena wasn't the only one who felt this way; Hermes, who was forced to sit between Zeus and Hera, was also quite bewildered—ever since this strange couple suddenly decided to hold a banquet.
Especially when they didn't want to sit next to each other but insisted on being together, so they dragged her in as a sacrifice.
Hermes was terrified, fearing that the two great gods might suddenly start fighting and implicate her. After all, Hera had offended Zeus several times in front of the gods today, and Zeus's mood was visibly not very good.
Furthermore, they clearly came to the mortal realm to investigate humanity... so why are they suddenly holding a banquet?!
"I suddenly feel so sleepy, Your Highness. I'm going to take a nap..."
【Your Highness, please bear with us for a moment. We'll offer you advice after we've woken up!】
Apistonie and Toki! You two cowards who deserted their posts!
Hermes gripped her twin serpent staff tightly, feeling even more devastated.
But speaking of which, does Athena have something important to report to Father God?
The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get...
Hermes greeted Athena, then reminded the old man for the third time: "Father, have you forgotten something?"
Zeus seemed to suddenly remember that important matter and snapped his fingers.
"Alright, if any humans come here, they won't discover our true identities."
"Rest assured, Hermes, this is exactly what I plan."
Zeus patted Hermes' head, then met Hera's venomous gaze.
His noble wife was narrowing her eyes slightly, staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze, but he was already used to it because she had treated him like this countless times.
"What is it now, Hera?"
Hera continued to stare at Zeus, but her fingers, painted with purple nail polish, touched Hermes' shoulder and tapped it lightly.
"You seem to be hiding something from me, Zeus."
As this pointed remark was uttered, the air began to freeze once again.
Hermes swallowed hard, her desire to escape the clutches of these two great gods growing stronger. She felt that they might start fighting at any moment, and that she, the innocent victim surrounded by them, would inevitably be caught in the crossfire.
However, with one hand on her head and the other on her shoulder, the invisible pressure they exerted was truly immense.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
But the old man kept going on that damned topic that Hera had started.
That's just as serious as him having affairs.
Hermes: "Um, how about I change seats..."
Hera: "Who gave you permission to speak? You ignorant little brat."
Zeus: "Why take your anger out on an innocent child?"
Hera: "How dare you?"
Zeus: "Then what do you mean, my dear wife?"
Hermes: "..."
That's absolutely amazing.
Apollo! Brother Apollo! I really miss you, sob sob sob...
Hermes felt the pressure of their hands on her increasing, and she had no doubt that in a few more seconds she would truly go from being a sacrifice to a broken sacrifice.
She cast a pleading look at Athena—after all, the other gods were having a great time singing and dancing, and none of them seemed reliable.
However, Athena's gaze toward Hermes was filled with inquiry and suspicion, and she even frowned slightly.
This left Hermes somewhat bewildered.
But Athena still chose to speak up to defuse the situation: "Father, this matter is extremely urgent. I just learned of it from Arcadia—"
"Enough!" Hera stood up, even pulling Hermes along with her. "I ordered you, Hermes, to go to the Underworld now."
Hermes, once again innocently caught in the crossfire of the battle between the two great gods, was speechless with frustration.
This sudden change attracted the attention of other deities.
Demeter was startled and patted her chest with lingering fear: "My dear sister, what does that mean?"
Hestia: "Hiss..."
Poseidon: "I know, Zeus must have angered her again."
Aphrodite, who was hugging and cuddling Ares, complained, "What is it now? What is it now, Hera!"
Hephaestus, still gritting his teeth, said: "Mind your own business and show some respect for my mother."
Ares: "Mind your own business too. Even if Apollo cured your leg a long time ago, you'll still be an ugly old cripple in my eyes!"
Artemis: "The Underworld? Why send Hermes there?"
Hebe, the goddess of youth, also had this question at that moment, as she happened to return from outside the woods.
"Yes, what happened?" Hebe, carrying a golden cup and a handful of dirt, looked over with a blank expression. "Mother Goddess...?"
If this was a task given to my sister Hermes by the Mother Goddess, then shouldn't I go with her too? And with my brother Apollo as well!
Besides, we agreed that I would offer my gift to Father God first...
Hebe walked toward the three under the gaze of the gods.
Athena was the first to react. She paused, looking at the soil wrapped in cloth in Hebe's arms.
"Little Hebe, this is..."
"Yes, dear Athena."
Hebe smiled innocently and stood before Hera, Hermes, and Zeus, who were still locked in a stalemate, and offered them the handful of soil.
“I found a human being who was old and dying and begged me to give him new life.”
"So I restored that person's youth, allowing him to return to his original state."
Because the Silver Humans were created by Athena and Prometheus from water and clay, everyone present knew what Hebe had done on her journey.
Aphrodite's exclamation rang out: "My God, what about his soul? Shouldn't Silver Humans go to the Underworld after they die?"
No... that human did not actually die.
Hermes was surprised to see that the soil in Hebe's hand still contained a fluorescent substance. It was not like an ordinary ghost, but it clearly had a faint consciousness.
As a guide for the dead, she was filled with mixed emotions, and she wondered what her colleague Thanatos, the god of death, thought about it.
Hebe possesses such power!
...
...wait, wait!
Hermes' eyes widened suddenly as she sensed something amiss from the mass of soul consciousness.
No, this feels so familiar—
At the same time, Hera released her grip on Hermes' arm and, under Zeus's watchful eye, calmly accepted the gift from her most beloved youngest daughter.
"There must be more to it than that, Hebe."
“Of course, Mother Goddess.” Hebe looked at the silent Athena and continued, “I’m sorry I can’t create humans as perfectly as you and His Excellency Prometheus, but… I have witnessed it firsthand, and I will try my best…”
Athena remained silent.
Zeus's gaze grew increasingly profound.
Soon, Hera lowered her hands, the cloth wrapped in soil fell to the ground, and the handful of soil slowly rose into the air.
Hebe raised the golden cup that held the sacred spring, her clear and unwavering eyes gazing upon the soul within the earth, infusing it with her divine power.
"Yes, I'm sure I can do it..." she murmured in a barely audible voice.
Almost instantly, the handful of soil burst forth with the same dazzling light as Hebe's golden cup, and then quickly took on the shape of a human.
It was a young girl who looked similar to Hebe, and she also wore a flower crown and a pure white dress.
However, the Silver Humans should only be male.
Amidst the murmurs, Athena stared intently at the human girl smiling in the golden light, and suddenly realized—perhaps Hebe could resolve the situation, especially since she was in charge of youth.
Even though Hebe had never stood out before, and despite being the daughter of the God King and his wife, she had a very weak presence.
The newly created human girl seems to possess memories of the past; she can speak and move, and is even more lively than her creator.
"Greetings, revered gods!" The human girl danced joyfully, even playfully winking her right eye at Hermes. "I've heard you call our human souls 'Pushi,' so please call me that from now on too. That's my new name~ Oh, and thank you for your blessings, Goddess Hebe!"
Hebe seemed completely exhausted; her face was pale, and she clutched the golden cup back into her arms.
She was somewhat dazed when Artemis, out of concern, pulled her into her arms.
"No, you're welcome, Puxuch..."
"Are you alright, Hebe?"
"Thank you, Sister Al, I'm alright..."
At that moment, Hera walked over, but towards the human girl named 'Psykh'. She no longer cared about her own daughter.
Hera stopped in front of Psych and raised her hand with a half-smile.
"oops!"
"What an adorable little one, reminds me of something amusing." She gently stroked the face that resembled her daughter's. "Zeus, what do you think?"
—What do you think of this precious gift presented by my good-for-nothing little daughter?
Zeus remained seated, his gaze sweeping over Psyche.
"I mentioned that Athena should be the one to evaluate it."
However, Athena remained calm, her grey-blue eyes glancing at Hermes, who had been silent for some time.
Hermes was staring intently at Psych, and Athena even caught a fleeting glimpse of shock in those emerald green eyes.
“I propose that Hermes make the judgment,” Athena said meaningfully. “Coincidentally, this is also related to the important matter I wanted to report to you.”
Zeus waved his hand dismissively: "Fine! Hermes?"
Hermes then seemed to snap out of her daze, as if waking from a dream.
At this moment, Psych tilted his head, his eyes filled with excitement as he passed over Hera and arrived at Hermes.
Hermes felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, chilled to the bone.
That is clearly...
"It's good to see you again, 'Mother'."
[...]
[Wait, wake up! Tokei!]
It's that damned monster—Tipoeus!
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