Chapter 62 Wonders
"...You little brat, do you have to ask for a scolding?"
Just as Hermes was about to step into the Tree of Life, which shimmered with green light, Apollo seized her wrist.
The force was very light, as if it were just a finger touching her, but because of the burning heat of the God of Light's body, the girl he bound felt as if she were weighed down by a thousand pounds.
Hermes glanced back at Apollo, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated, his handsome, thick eyebrows furrowing slightly.
"Don't stay there too long."
A hint of concern flickered in the depths of the God of Light's light blue eyes, as if he were entrusting her with something very important, for he was capable of seeing many things that others could not discern.
This is more of a warning.
He recalled what he had seen when he followed her here last time—she had clearly left the Earth Mother's abode in a daze.
Will that goddess resort to the same trick again this time?
Perhaps Hermes sensed Apollo's worry, for she gave a classic sweet smile and gently brushed his large hand away from her slender yet strong wrist.
"Don't worry, dear Apollo~" Hermes winked mischievously with her right eye, "Didn't you say you would always believe in me?"
Then, without hesitation, she walked toward the core of the Tree of Life and never looked back.
Apollo was left standing silently in place, reluctantly meeting the strange gazes of Athena, Prometheus, and even the nymphs who had already met the Earth Mother.
Why is she always so willful and self-willed?
Apollo thought to himself.
Moreover, when did he ever mention that he would always believe her overly absolute statements?
At that moment, Athena asked, "Leaving aside the purpose of your visit, was that also an older brother's expression of affection for his younger sister?"
"..."
"cough……"
Prometheus, never one to miss a good spectacle, chimed in, "Ah, is that it?"
Apollo fell silent again, even looking away, his ears turning red.
Then the two wisest of the gods smiled knowingly.
Meanwhile, Hermes finally saw Gaia, the Earth Mother, again amidst an endless expanse of green light. She was still dressed as an ordinary working woman, her compassion tinged with a unique elegance.
Her wheat-like skin shone even more brightly under the green light, shrouding the serene face of the Earth Goddess in a veil that seemed almost tangible.
Everyone could see the clarity in her emerald green eyes, but no one had ever recognized the other side of her gentle appearance.
Just like her capricious son and husband—Uranus, who had already paid the price high above—it was the earth that first gave birth to all of this before she could be honest with the sky.
Then, she destroyed it all with her own hands.
"Respected and sublime Mother Earth, my dearest goddess Gaia, it's been so long and I miss you dearly!"
Hermes gazed at the tall, voluptuous goddess before her with a beaming smile, her emerald green eyes, almost identical to hers, revealing undisguised curiosity and excitement.
Even the motherly love for all living beings was perfectly reflected on this round and lovely face.
"Salute to you, great Gaia!"
Hermes laughed gleefully, while also staring intently at Gaia, as if trying to see through her true nature hidden beneath her loving facade.
"But... is it because you knew why I came to you that you summoned me into this sacred, towering tree?"
This is a sacred tree of life, which was transformed from Gaia herself and dwells and multiplies in this holy realm.
When Hermes played the flute, which was imbued with the power of nature, she once again sensed the malevolent aura emanating from the Lord of Cilicia.
After stepping into the core of the divine tree, she even heard the heartbeats of countless living beings.
They were so gentle and peaceful that they stood out starkly against the cacophony of whispers that accompanied them, filling her with an indescribable sorrow.
Yes, it's tragic.
Ah... my foolish and ignorant brothers and sisters, my descendants...
[...I shouldn't have let her down...like those foolish and ignorant people...]
[Phimbo...Phimbo...Phimbo...]
Even in this place where there was clearly no danger, Hermes was still haunted by the wailing of the ferocious monster. She was perplexed by the Lord of Cilicia's obsession and utterly disgusted by its greed and the unknown.
So she thought, she had always thought, that all of this incredible stuff must be closely related to Gaia.
Even though she instinctively felt affection and love for Mother Earth, this did not prevent her from being quite aware of Mother Earth's control and manipulation of her.
And at this moment, the noble goddess of creation finally spoke in response to Hermes.
"It's been a long time since we last met, and I've missed you terribly."
"A cute little girl."
Gaia parted her lips slightly, looking down at this child who was as cunning as she was.
"So, what did you hear? Was it the call of those evil monsters?"
...
What kind of talk is that? Why did she so bluntly bring up the monster issue...?
Gaia, unconcerned by Hermes's surprised gaze, continued in a gentle tone, "I have always lived far from the gods, but if anyone tries to disrupt the peace among all living beings, even I, with my benevolence, cannot tolerate it."
What was she saying?
“I have compassion for all living beings, so if you remain lost like a lamb, I will patiently act as your teacher, dear little Hermes.”
Gaia reached out her right hand and gently stroked the winged hat on Hermes' head.
“I helped your father ascend the throne and quell the chaos in the world, but he was always powerless, and there were too many difficulties and dangers lurking in the shadows, so you were born.”
Under this persuasive and suggestive rhetoric, Hermes's face gradually showed confusion, and her eyes became dull.
"You are intelligent and quick-witted, possessing innate strength, so it is only natural that you should shoulder the responsibilities that are due to you."
turn out to be……
"Therefore, slay the evil that plagues the supreme throne, and help the ruler of the throne to quell the chaos of the world once more, just as I once did."
“Before that—three days from now, find a broken thread for me at the place of the three Moirai sisters in the underworld. Then, I will no longer turn you away.”
"Then……"
I see.
When she saw Hermes's dull eyes gradually return to their original clear and bright state, Gaia withdrew her right hand, which had already lost its green glow, and covered her mouth with a soft laugh.
This is, after all, a child she created herself.
"This is why you came to me, and it is also the new task I am giving you."
It wasn't for any other god, but only for Gaia.
But at least in their eyes, she was loyal to him.
"Now..." The Earth Goddess stretched out her arms, embracing the God of Deception in her bosom as she had done before, enveloping him in the warmth of her love. "Do you understand, my dear child?"
"..."
“I understand, thank you for your kind teachings.” Hermes hugged Gaia back, burying her head deeply in his chest, which was as vast as the sea. “I will do as you wish.”
She concealed the fleeting glint of darkness in her eyes.
Beloved Earth Goddess... what unspeakable secrets are you still hiding?
After bidding farewell to Gaia, who had fallen into a deep sleep, and stepping out of the Tree of Life, Hermes' mind was filled with countless thoughts, and her heart was pounding wildly.
She was breathing softly, and beads of cold sweat could be faintly seen on her forehead.
Resisting the Earth Mother's will and manipulation against her instincts was still too difficult for her at the moment. She almost lost control of herself and was almost manipulated by the Earth Mother like a puppet, just like when they last met.
But at least this time, she managed to rid herself of that fleeting thought.
It was something that should have belonged to her.
Rather than the thoughts and consciousness that Gaia injected into her body.
As for the so-called evil spirits, Hermes has already captured important information about them from Gaia's origin.
The monster was born in a cave in Cilicia, its wings capable of conjuring cruel storms, its body covered in feathers filled with corrosive liquid. Its true form was terrifying and grotesque, possessing the heads of a hundred dragons, a tongue as black as a raven, eyes capable of spewing forth towering flames, and…
And a body taller than the sky.
Hermes turned around and looked at the Tree of Life that seemed to pierce the sky.
If Gaia, as the embodiment of the earth, gave birth to numerous gods and monsters, then where in the world are the endless descendants of these monsters now?
“Tiphoeos,” Hermes murmured involuntarily.
But when the breeze gently blew by, that forbidden name was instantly dispersed by an invisible hand, never to reach the ears of anyone other than her and that person.
Fortunately, someone else came to their side at that moment.
Hermes.
Hermes turned her gaze and saw Apollo's tall figure in a white robe approaching her.
He was so tall and strong, just like his light, able to protect her forever, shelter her from the wind and rain, and fight alongside her.
“You’ve stayed there for quite a long time again,” Apollo said, his eyes fixed on her.
Hermes blinked, looking as innocent and sincere as ever.
"I know, but what does it matter? As long as I can see my beloved Princess Gaia and help her solve her problems, that's enough!"
She knew he was covering for her.
Because Gaia has not truly fallen into slumber.
Apollo frowned, sighed, and then grasped Hermes's wrist again.
"Alright, let's go, we should do something else."
Hermes looked down at her wrist, which was being gently held in his large hand. She did not refuse; in fact, she smiled broadly.
"Hmm? What is it?"
"It's not what you're thinking."
What kind of thing am I thinking about?
"...You little brat, do you have to ask for a scolding?"
"Hehehe, I know you like me so much, you silly goose Apollo brother!"
"..."
The two gods, one tall and one short, gradually disappeared into the distance, surrounded by nymphs.
After a while, another gentle breeze swept by.
The other two deities, who had been forced to play a supporting role for so long, snapped out of their daze.
Athena: "While I do not despise fools, I must say that these two are truly quite foolish."
Prometheus: "I agree."
After leaving the Earth Mother Sanctuary, Hermes and Apollo found Artemis in the deep forests of the east.
The goddess of the hunt has long since transformed back into her original form as a deer. She sits impatiently on a rock by the lake, holding a bow and arrow in her right hand and two snakes in her left. In the center of the lake sits another beautiful goddess.
Their beautiful voices came from afar.
"What bad luck to run into you here."
"Hahaha, just say you're shy around me, you adorable little virgin goddess~"
Oh, and the other goddess is Aphrodite, who somehow appeared here... Wait, what's the goddess of love and beauty doing here?!
Wait, aren't those two green snakes that Artemis is holding in her left hand Epsilon and Tokei? Why are they here too?!
Things are getting weirder and weirder!!!
Hermes, in a mental whirlwind, instinctively shook off Apollo's hand and leaped forward to snatch her own life back from Artemis's grasp.
[Your Highness! You've finally arrived! Waaaaaah!]
We searched for you so hard, and you were even used as a target by the goddess Artemis. What a miserable and tragic life for a snake! Waaaaah...
Hermes's lips twitched, her large eyes staring at the two green snakes that should have been obediently staying in Arcadia to guard Pan for her. Her already complicated feelings instantly became even more complicated.
"Epistony, Tokei, how did you two get to Crete? What brings you here to see me?"
Could it be that Pan has gotten into trouble again?
Hermes.
She quickly looked up and met the gaze of the hunting goddess looming over her from the rocks.
"Sister Artemis?"
"Perhaps you should first explain to me why these two green snakes were preparing to ambush me when I discovered them?" the Goddess of the Hunt said coldly.
Artemis was also a goddess of nature, and she could not tolerate not being respected by the creatures of nature.
Upon hearing this, Hermes' clever little mind worked at lightning speed, even answering before Apistoni and Tokei could explain.
"Perhaps because we now possess the same things?"
She certainly hadn't forgotten what Apollo had mentioned: Artemis had found the same thing in Cilicia as she had discovered.
—The thunder scepter belonging to Zeus, the king of the gods.
Artemis had clearly thought of this as well, so she narrowed her amber cat eyes slightly and clicked her tongue in disdain.
[Wow, why does it suddenly feel colder?]
[Hey, why does it feel like Artemis is glaring at us again...]
Hermes: "..."
Stop talking, it's all your fault, you two stupid snakes.
You guys still haven't answered my question?!
But the next second, the joyful voice of the goddess of love and beauty broke the eerie atmosphere.
"Ah, Hermes, did you bring Apollo here today as well?"
Aphrodite swam towards the shore, placing her arms on the stone ground near Artemis's feet, tilting her head with curiosity and surprise as she looked at Hermes, who had just realized what she was saying.
Hermes turned around and saw Apollo standing not far away, expressionless, without saying a word from beginning to end.
"Oh right, where did Sister Athena and Uncle Prometheus go?"
Apollo's face immediately darkened.
This brat is talking nonsense, isn't he?
They're definitely ignoring him on purpose, aren't they?!
At the same time, a familiar breeze gently blew by, carrying the two soft voices of a man and a woman to everyone's ears.
“Here I am, little Hermes.”
"So you still remember us?"
Hermes stared stiffly at Athena and Prometheus, who had suddenly descended from the sky before her.
"Uh..." She swallowed hard, waving her hand tremblingly, "Long time no see?"
The god of wisdom and the god of prophecy raised their eyebrows in perfect unison.
Apollo, who was positioned behind them and hidden from view, thought: "..."
ha.
Not only humans, but even gods can actually laugh when they are speechless to the extreme.
He's really had enough.
This world has been corrupted by that brat.
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