Hephaestus's Story - (2)
For a moment, Hephaestus shed tears, igniting flames to dry them.
Somehow, the flames seemed to carry his emotions, looking sorrowful...
Is there truly no other way...?
Perhaps he could change his appearance to suit Aphrodite's taste using divine power...
"Ah, what if you visit Apollo? As the god of healing, he might help with your looks..."
"I have already sought out Apollo."
According to Hephaestus, he had hoped that Apollo could change his appearance to match Aphrodite's preferences.
However, that too was impossible.
He was not an ordinary human, and altering the appearance of one of the Twelve Olympians was no easy task...
"When I ignite flames to work as a blacksmith, my face quickly reverts to its original form."
"Ah..."
No matter how handsome a face Apollo could fix for him, the flames and power of Hephaestus, the god of fire, would return him to his true appearance.
Indeed, our gods maintain their looks as they were born...
The reason the blacksmith god is ugly and lame is not because he fell onto Lemnos Island, but because he was born that way.
"Still, thank you for taking my troubles seriously."
"No, I... I apologize."
"It's alright. It's all my fault for not being able to win over my wife."
As Hephaestus finished speaking and was about to leave, flames flickered in his eyes.
What... what thought has crossed your mind now, my nephew?
"But I absolutely cannot forgive that Ares!"
"Are you talking about Ares, who had an affair with your wife and fathered Harmonia?"
Aphrodite loved Ares enough to bear the goddess of harmony, Harmonia.
Yet, it was impossible to suppress the goddess of love from loving...
Still, since she had given birth to Harmonia, Hera must have told her to behave herself, right?
"Did Hera not tell Aphrodite to stop her affair some time ago?"
"Yes, that did happen. But..."
Unable to bear it any longer, Hephaestus reported to Hera, and feeling guilty for having thrown their son onto Lemnos Island, Hera accepted his request.
Thus, it was said that the queen of the gods quietly admonished the two who had committed adultery.
To be precise, it was Hermes, who often visited the underworld, who conveyed this.
The Olympian gods are somewhat free-spirited when it comes to love.
However, if they had a child from an affair, it was likely a message to behave themselves.
In fact, Zeus rarely engaged in affairs that went beyond a one-night stand.
When a child was born, he would be cautious around his legitimate wife, Hera, for a while...
"My mother still speaks of it. I happened to catch them enjoying a secret meeting the other day."
Ares, as the god of war, had a robust, muscular build.
And with a handsome face and a caring nature towards his children, it was no wonder Aphrodite found it hard to let go.
"How could he be so shameless, having even fathered a child and still continuing to meet her afterward!"
"Um..."
"I feel anger rising towards my wife as well. Considering we were forced into this marriage, how many times can I turn a blind eye...!"
"That does seem a bit excessive..."
"Still, thanks to coming to the underworld, my thoughts have become clearer! Thank you, Uncle."
What on earth are you thinking?
What are you trying to attempt now, my nephew?
"This time, Apollo is hosting a festival of arts in Olympus for several days, and I would like you to come, Uncle."
"Well, I don't really want to go up to Olympus..."
"If you come to Olympus, I will check the Stygian sword and the Vident, Quine."
"... But since it's my nephew's request, I should naturally go."
It seemed the Stygian sword had some rust on it, and having the transparent helmet and Vident checked would be beneficial for me.
Upon hearing my words, Hephaestus seemed to have made a firm decision, nodding heavily as he spoke.
"I also have a splendid piece of art to showcase at the festival. I would like to show it to as many gods as possible, so I will invite other gods from the underworld..."
What on earth is he planning?
Thus, the day of the arts festival in Olympus arrived.
As it was a festival hosted by Apollo, the god of arts, there was much anticipation...
"I will be going to this festival!"
"I want to go too... Styx."
The two goddesses, Lethe and Styx, expressed their desire to accompany me to Olympus.
However, only one could be absent.
If both goddesses disappeared from the underworld, the remaining gods would be overwhelmed with work, so one must remain to handle duties...
"Will you keep doing this?"
"You were hugging Hades behind my back last time..."
"Styx, with those big breasts of yours..."
"What did you say?!"
With her hands on her hips and a pouty expression, the goddess Styx stood her ground, while the goddess Lethe, crossing her arms and pouting, was equally unyielding.
Enough... enough already.
"I'll just go alone..."
"Then let's draw lots."
"That's a good idea."
The sight of the goddesses quickly drawing lots to determine my companion was...
For some reason, it filled the air with a suffocating tension.
"Wow! I got picked! Let's hurry to Olympus, Hades!"
"Ugh... The goddess of fortune, Tyche, only ignores me at times like this...!"
The ecstatic goddess Styx raised her lot high and shook it before hugging me.
But if you bury your face in mine like that... ugh!
....#$%@%!
"Yikes! Get away from Hades, Styx!"
"I don't want to~"
The underworld is peaceful today as well.
Thus, I arrived in Olympus with the goddess Styx.
From outside the Olympus palace, the sounds of laughter and music filled the air.
Lyres, Kitharas, Auloses, and many instruments created harmonious melodies.
"Oh...? It is Lord Hades."
"And the one beside you... is it the goddess Styx? Could it be..."
"I hadn't heard that the lord of the underworld had gotten married?"
As I passed by, the whispers of the gods were a rare occurrence.
Even if you block the sound with divine power, I can hear everything.
You young ones...
"Wow... Hades, look at that."
The goddess Styx, who clung to my arm, pointed somewhere with her other hand.
There, a weaving competition among many goddesses was taking place.
"Oh... everyone has impressive skills."
"Is weaving also a matter of wisdom?"
"I wonder which goddess weaves the best in Olympus..."
Weaving beautiful patterns into the fabric is also part of the art.
The participants included Athena, Hera, and Hestia.
Swish.
Creak.
Clunk.
On Athena's fabric, there was an image of Zeus sitting on a golden throne.
Countless gods fighting Typhon, and Athena herself bestowing grace upon humans were depicted.
Hera showed a harmonious scene of a happy human family living a joyful life.
The depiction of a woman holding a child and smiling was exquisite.
Hestia engraved her hearth, illuminating the dark night onto the fabric, creating an illusion that her warm energy flowed from the pattern.
"Indeed, it is Lady Hera..."
"Athena is the goddess of wisdom, yet she weaves beautifully as well."
"It’s hard to determine superiority, but... Athena's fabric has the most splendid patterns..."
"I think so too. Does the divine nature of wisdom also include craftsmanship?"
As the surrounding gods commented on the completed fabrics of the three goddesses, I too felt that Athena's fabric appeared the most splendid and well-made.
"Athena, you are truly remarkable."
"It is but a small skill, Lady Hera."
"You have captured our struggle against Typhon well..."
Athena's fabric depicted the Olympian gods during the Titanomachy.
There, I could see myself holding a Scepter in one hand and a Quine in the other.
As I slowly admired the fabric, I heard someone calling me.
"Hades."
"Dionysus."
The handsome god with golden curly hair resembling Zeus, exuding a rich scent of wine, was Dionysus.
As he shook a golden goblet filled with nectar, its contents transformed into a deep red wine.
"Please, have a taste. I made it with the most popular flavor among humans."
I accepted the goblet and slowly drank it.
The taste was both bitter and sweet, and the rich grape aroma delighted my tongue.
Of course, nectar is more delicious, but I thought Dionysus's wine was a delicacy in its own right.
As I set down the empty goblet, the god of wine sighed and spoke.
"Haah... My faith in Thebes has greatly diminished due to the last incident."
"Was it when King Oedipus went mad?"
"The temple burned, and the priests fled. It seems my faith will be hard to regain in Thebes."
However, when you spread your faith in Thebes, you instilled fear by even killing the king, so the loyalty of your followers? Their faith doesn't seem very deep...
"I have one request. Uncle."
"Speak."
"While I cannot help Gaia, could you not impose a stronger punishment on Oedipus, that man?"
That cannot be done.
No matter how much my nephew asks, I cannot change the laws of the underworld at my whim.
"Once a judgment is made, it cannot be changed. And I have deemed that punishment to be sufficient."
"But that man also killed my beloved leopard."
"I understand your circumstances well. But remember that he too is a victim."
"Indeed... Yes, I understand, Uncle."
Dionysus bowed his head with a bitter smile and quietly withdrew.
Even though I had clearly informed him of the decision regarding his punishment last time,
It seems he still cannot shake off his resentment towards Oedipus.
"Hades, you are still lenient towards humans. Even rejecting your nephew's request."
"Hermes."
"And, I just wanted to lend an ear..."
Hermes approached me with a cheerful smile.
Why does he want to lend an ear...
Is there some secret conversation to be had?
"Hehe... Is it not because Dionysus is not a cute niece that you rejected his request?"
"Stop with the nonsense, but is there a war or something going on?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"Even though it is a grand festival, some gods are missing. I don't see Ares either."
It was similar to the festivals held in Olympus, but some gods had been absent since earlier.
Ares, who would be happily drinking nectar, was nowhere to be found, nor was Aphrodite, who should be sitting in a corner, casting sly glances at the male gods.
And above all...
"I came because Hephaestus invited me, but where has he gone?"
"Yes? I heard that Hephaestus had business on Lemnos Island and would be back in a few days."
What does that mean?
At that moment, when Hermes also looked puzzled,
The blacksmith god stepped onto the spacious platform.
"Oh...? I thought Hephaestus had gone to Lemnos Island."
"I believed he would return on the last day of the festival."
Hephaestus sought permission from Zeus for a moment and then opened his mouth.
His booming voice shook Olympus.
"Ahem. Ahem. Everyone! I, Hephaestus, have created a work that can be called the pinnacle of art for the gods participating in the festival!"