The Journey of the Gods - (2)
The goddess Styx and the goddess Lethe returned after a brief change of clothes.
However, their attire...
"Lady Styx, that chiton... Isn't it the garment blessed by Lady Hecate, imbued with the magic of tranquility?"
"That's right. I received it as a gift when I visited Olympus last time."
Styx, wearing a chiton that was deeply plunging and quite revealing.
The beautiful black fabric made the goddess's beauty stand out even more.
"What about me... How do I look?"
Lethe approached shyly, wearing a thin garment that accentuated her thigh line.
No...
I've never seen anyone wear such clothes before.
"I saved this for a special outing with Hades today. I did well, didn't I?"
"Yes... You look beautiful today."
Her face, usually devoid of emotion, was truly beautiful as she smiled bashfully.
Thus, I left the fortress, entranced by the two goddesses.
But isn't it a bit early to be linking arms like that?
It's a bit suffocating with both of you doing that...
"Meow! Meow!"
"Okay."
I gave a gentle pat to Cerberus, who guarded the entrance of the fortress.
We passed the rivers of Forgetfulness, Fire, and Sorrow in order, finally arriving at the river Acheron.
Charon, who was steering a newly born massive ferry, froze upon seeing us.
The ferryman quietly muttered as he scanned the faces of me, Styx, and Lethe.
"... So, who is the main wife?"
"Me!"
"Of course... it's me..."
My arms were gradually tightening.
As I began to feel a softer touch, I thought it best to stop here...
"Charon, please refrain from unnecessary comments..."
"Uh... I understand..."
Somehow, we made it to the mortal realm.
It had been a long time since I had breathed the fresh air and felt the warm sunlight in my true form.
Chirp chirp.
The sounds of life and the vibrancy of nature, which were hard to feel in the underworld.
"How will you get to Mount Etna?"
"I usually take the chariot. I always rely on the ghost horses."
Naturally, it wasn't just humans who met death and came to the afterlife.
All sorts of animals and monsters did as well.
I waved my hand, summoning a translucent chariot and ghost horses into the empty space.
Blue flames ignited in their pupils, and the tireless horses let out rough cries as they were summoned.
Neigh!
The chariot was also a masterpiece crafted directly by Hephaestus.
Though not divine, it was incredibly sturdy.
I lightly climbed onto the chariot and extended my hand, which was not holding the reins.
Soon, the goddesses smiled and took my hand one by one.
However... the belt on Lethe's waist seemed oddly familiar...
I tried to take a closer look, but Styx urged me on.
"Hurry up! Hades!"
Nodding, I drove the chariot toward Mount Etna.
The chariot of the underworld moved swiftly, unseen by mortal eyes.
Near Mount Etna.
Except for the snow-covered peak, the scenery was warm and inviting everywhere.
A vast meadow spread out near the mountain, with various animals bustling about.
However, Typhon's massive body lay buried at the base of the mountain, causing frequent earthquakes in the area.
That’s why I sometimes come to the surface for a patrol while enjoying the sights of the mortal realm.
"I really wanted to come here. I heard that the goddesses of Olympus often come down here too."
"Look, there are nymphs over there."
I paused the chariot for a moment and looked around.
I saw beautiful forest nymphs in revealing chitons singing.
"Ha ha ha!"
"Lady Kore! Come with us!"
"Next time, let's go into the forest!"
Hmm...
But who is that blonde goddess running around so energetically?
Since I don't recognize her, she must be a newly born goddess.
Just as I was about to steer the chariot to explore near Mount Etna, Lethe gently tugged at my garment to get my attention.
"Hades. Hades."
"What is it?"
"Please let me and Styx down here for a bit."
"We'll just take a quick look around. I see a nymph I know over there..."
"Then I'll just circle the mountain and come back. Feel free to explore."
A nymph you know? Well, that could happen.
The goddesses seemed excited, perhaps because they had come to the mortal realm after always being in the underworld.
"I'll be back quickly!"
"Then see you in a bit..."
The goddesses who got off Hades's chariot entered deep into the forest.
They looked around, searching for someone.
"Weren't we supposed to meet here?"
"Oh, over there..."
Soon, they seemed to have found the person they were looking for, walking over with faint smiles.
In the middle of the forest stood the goddess of beauty and love, crossing her arms.
"Wait, you really went out with Hades? That wooden man?"
"It's all thanks to the belt Aphrodite lent me. Hee..."
The one the underworld goddesses were looking for was none other than Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love.
Lethe approached her and handed over the belt.
It was the seductive belt, Kestos Himas, crafted directly by Hephaestus.
Aphrodite, receiving her belt back, looked puzzled.
"Are you saying the belt I lent you had an effect?"
"Yes! Hades, who always rejected us, came out to the mortal realm with us for the first time!"
"It's all thanks to the goddess Aphrodite."
The goddesses smiled brightly, while Aphrodite looked rather bewildered.
"Ugh... When I wore it, he seemed indifferent and showed no interest..."
"... Is that so? He seems to be kinder today."
"Maybe you wore it wrong..."
Aphrodite's face crumpled as she saw the two goddesses looking genuinely confused.
Perhaps her pride had been wounded, she covered her head and shouted.
"No way! That can't be! I'm the goddess of beauty and love... Argh! How frustrating!"
After a moment of huffing, Aphrodite crossed her arms again with a pout.
Just then, she was called by Styx, who was summoning clouds to return to Olympus.
"Um... Aphrodite."
"What is it...?"
"Didn't you originally like Hades? Why did you lend us the belt?"
Lethe also stared at Aphrodite with curiosity.
The fact that the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite, had come down to the underworld with Hades was known to anyone working in the underworld.
Even the most oblivious person could sense that the goddess had feelings for him.
But why did she lend the seductive belt to a rival in love?
Aphrodite answered with a smirk, filled with questions.
"What I wanted was just one night, and it's not unusual for a god of the Three to have many women, right?"
"Then what about Poseidon or Zeus...?"
"Not really my type. And Zeus has Hera's watchful eye..."
The goddesses nodded in understanding as they looked at Aphrodite.
The goddess of beauty, even with a sly face, appeared captivating.
"And once you marry, you need to know joy before your eyes wander elsewhere, right?"
"Hades doesn't seem to like goddesses who cheat."
"Argh! You're so loud! I didn't marry Hephaestus because I wanted to..."
However, at Lethe's remark, her expression crumbled immediately.
This time, Aphrodite posed a question to the underworld goddesses.
"But isn't marriage burdensome for you? Being married to the lord of the underworld means dealing with all that work and the weight of being the wife of a god of the Three..."
Hades, the god of the underworld, was quite popular among women.
His high status as one of the Three, his gloomy yet handsome face, and his kind nature, unlike his brothers.
However, there were occasionally goddesses who hesitated to become his main wife.
With great power comes great responsibility.
Living in the dark underworld instead of Olympus and managing numerous duties as the mistress of the underworld could be daunting.
"I don't mind that at all."
"I'm already busy with work anyway...?"
But the goddess of Forgetfulness and the mistress of the Styx River were different.
Without a moment's hesitation, they answered the question.
Aphrodite briefly recalled Pygmalion.
The mortal who was more sincere in love than anyone else, who moved the heart of the goddess of love.
"... Thanks to the goddess's blessing, I lived a fulfilling life with my beloved wife!"
Pygmalion received the blessing he bestowed upon his statue and achieved love, yet she, despite being the goddess of love, could not attain the love she desired.
"Oh my... How can someone be this beautiful? You belong to me, Poseidon!"
"Uncle Poseidon, please yield to me."
"You are more beautiful than anyone I have ever seen..."
"Goddess, I have composed a poem to praise your beauty."
"Stop, stop! At this rate, there will be discord among the gods, so I, Zeus, will decide who Aphrodite's husband will be!"
So beautiful that all the gods coveted her beauty.
To prevent discord among the gods of Olympus, the chief god Zeus forcibly decided on her husband.
"That limping Hephaestus? Why should I..."
"Father, this is too much..."
"Yes? But..."
"Aphrodite is asking for you to decide..."
Thunder! Boom!
"I will not accept any further objections! From now on, the husband of the goddess of beauty is Hephaestus!"
Thus, it was a forced marriage.
Hephaestus, her husband, tried his best to treat her well.
He made anything she desired and even gifted her the magical belt, Kestos Himas.
However, she could not develop feelings for her husband and began to commit infidelity.
She had a daughter, Harmonia, the goddess of harmony, with Ares and had relationships with many male gods.
The more one tries to suppress it, the more love burns fiercely.
A sad smile lingered on the lips of the goddess of love.
With a sorrowful gaze, she sent blessings to the two women challenging love.
"... Indeed, that is what love is. I, Aphrodite, will support you, so do your best."
And at this moment, Hades...
"What is your name?"
"I'm called Menthe."
He was conversing with a nymph who evoked memories of the past.