Hephaestus's Story - (3)

Did the Olympian gods say they were going to Lemnos Island for a few days and then participate in a festival?

Something smells suspicious...

First, I looked at Hephaestus on the platform.

"If everyone would just follow me for a moment, you will be able to appreciate my masterpiece!"

"Masterpiece? A work made by the god of blacksmiths..."

"Hephaestus makes weapons well, but what about art?"

"Is it a rather large piece?"

As the gods whispered with curious expressions, Zeus, who was eating ambrosia, spoke to him.

"Hephaestus, since you are so confident, can we expect something great?"

"Of course, Father. Even Apollo cannot surpass my work!"

What on earth has he created to say such things, my nephew? Surely he hasn't made a weapon like my trident...

His confident yet outrageous claim that he has a piece that can surpass the god of art only stirred up more murmurs from all around, but Apollo seemed more curious, wearing a smile of intrigue.

"Is that so? Since you say so, shall we go take a look? Lead the way."

"Yes, Father. Anyone who wishes to see, please follow me!"

Zeus stood up, and Poseidon, intrigued, walked out as well.

While Hephaestus wanted to gain fame as a blacksmith, he had no intention of doing anything in the field of art...

As I pondered for a moment, the goddess of the Styx approached and whispered to me.

"Hades, Hephaestus is saying that. Let’s go see."

"Something feels off... Yes, let’s go."

The gods who followed Hephaestus arrived at his dwelling in Olympus.

Could there really be an artwork in his own residence?

Soon, Hephaestus stood before his chamber and turned to look at us.

After loosening his neck for a moment, he grabbed the doorknob and spoke.

"This is modern art, no, Greek art. The title of the piece is [Love and War]!"

At that moment, the door swung wide open...

And the artwork revealed itself.

Inside Hephaestus's chamber, what was visible was...

Surprisingly, two naked figures tangled together on the bed, as if they had just engaged in an affair.

Aphrodite and Ares.

"Ah... No!"

"Hephaestus...?! You clearly said you were going to Lemnos Island..."

The two naked figures, caught in the act of infidelity, tried to flee upon seeing Hephaestus, but failed.

A thin bronze net surrounded their bodies, preventing their escape.

"W-Why isn't this breaking...?"

"Ugh...."

"What do you think of my artwork? Isn’t it enough to surpass Apollo?"

Everyone was left speechless, staring blankly at the scene.

Even the mighty god of war, Ares, could not easily escape the bronze net...

But the sight of Aphrodite beneath him was simply mesmerizing.

The beautiful body of the goddess of beauty, tangled nakedly with Ares.

Every inch of her soft skin and her struggles to break free from the net.

The strange flush on her face, filled with guilt and embarrassment for displaying such an affair before many gods.

Avoiding eye contact with anyone, she desperately tried to cover her chest and lower body.

All of this showcased her absolute beauty.

Clap.

Suddenly, following the sound of applause, I saw Apollo clapping his hands in a daze.

Golden ichor, the blood of the gods, flowed from his nose.

Unlike humans, our gods do not bleed from excitement...

It seemed that his artistic ideals had been shattered, leaving him in great shock.

"I must admit, Hephaestus. I can never catch up to your art."

"Hmm. If you try, it is certainly possible."

Now no longer the god of art, Apollo could not take his eyes off Aphrodite's form, wiping beneath his nose while acknowledging Hephaestus.

"Ha... This is insane..."

The other gods seemed to finally regain their senses, adding their comments one by one.

"Didn’t Hera say last time... to stop the infidelity?"

"Even after having Harmonia..."

"This is quite a sight fitting for a festival of art."

"What do you think, Zeus?"

"Well... they should have some moderation. Tsk tsk."

Apollo, who had been clapping in a daze, spoke to Hermes, who seemed frozen in shock.

Yet both gods could not take their eyes off Aphrodite.

"Hermes, are you envious of Hephaestus? Or are you envious of Ares?"

"Brother Apollo, what do you mean by that?"

"Are you envious of jealous Hephaestus... or of embarrassed Ares?"

"Of course, I envy both. I wish the net was much tougher so I could be trapped forever..."

Hearing their conversation made my head hurt even more.

Do the humans who worship us in the underworld know of such sides of the gods?

"Ugh... This is disgusting...!"

The face of the goddess of the Styx next to me seemed ready to burst, and she hurriedly left the scene.

Seeing her retreating presence, it seemed she rushed back to the underworld.

"Ares, Aphrodite. Now that you have had Harmonia, isn’t it time to stop?"

Zeus sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Poseidon, with a very displeased expression after discovering the affair, spoke to the god of blacksmiths.

He too seemed reluctant about the whole affair.

"Hephaestus, I will take responsibility and ensure those two give a proper apology and compensation, so please let them go..."

But even Poseidon could not tear his gaze away from Aphrodite's body.

"Yes... Well, since you say so, I will stop here."

As Hephaestus approached the bed and manipulated a few devices, the net naturally loosened.

It seemed he had spread false rumors, predicting that Aphrodite would call for Ares if he left for a long time.

No wonder the Olympian gods were flustered, thinking Hephaestus had gone to Lemnos Island...

As the bronze net loosened, Ares fled to Thrace, where his temple was located.

The goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite, departed for Cyprus.

On Cyprus, there is a spring of maidens that can restore a woman's virginity just by immersing oneself in it.

She must be planning to immerse herself there to regain her virginity.

But if she engages with another man, her virginity will be lost anyway.

Is there any meaning in that?

For now, I followed Hephaestus to the forge, promising to check his weapons.

As I watched him turn his back to me, focusing on examining my trident, I spoke up.

"Hephaestus, but if you keep causing incidents like today, won’t Aphrodite dislike you even more?"

The back of the god of blacksmiths trembled slightly.

"Honestly... I’ve half-given up. Ugh..."

"Then why not look for another goddess? Perhaps talk to Zeus..."

At this point, it was as if his marriage was already in ruins.

No matter how much Zeus presided over the wedding, wouldn’t he have some change of heart after witnessing today’s events?

If both spouses want a divorce, wouldn’t it be possible?

If the problem is the gods fighting over Aphrodite, I could actively intervene...

"But half of me... is still captivated by Aphrodite's beautiful form...!"

Ah...

"I want to somehow win Aphrodite's love, but I foresee a future where that seems impossible! Aphrodite has already gone to Ares and even had Harmonia! I am left plotting revenge just because I am deemed ugly by my wife...!"

What on earth should I do?

Should I arrange a three-way meeting?

"Ugh! That Ares will one day burn his face with fire!"

It seems that things will really get messy because of this woman issue.

I can no longer just sit back and watch.

"Come with me to meet Aphrodite."

"What?"

"Why don’t you find out what it is about you that makes her keep meeting Ares?"

There was no choice but to encourage an honest conversation.

As soon as the weapon inspection was over, I headed straight to Cyprus with Hephaestus.

After telling the nymph, Aphrodite's attendant, that we were waiting, we waited for a moment until the goddess of beauty walked in after finishing her bath.

As I gave Hephaestus a nudge, he stammered out his words.

"What is it that you are so dissatisfied with that you keep calling for Ares?"

"Hmph... What am I dissatisfied with?"

Aphrodite's face crinkled.

"Of course, it’s this marriage itself. I wanted to marry the person I love from the start!"

"You married me according to your father's wishes, yet you have a child with Ares and still act like this. Isn’t that too much?"

"Hephaestus, you are the one who is so absorbed in your forge work that you hardly come home! Is it reasonable to expect feelings to develop?"

While Aphrodite was not entirely in the right...

Shouldn’t he at least pay some attention to his wife?

"I am the god of blacksmiths, so I can’t help it. But since marrying you, I have been trying my best."

"Hmph..."

Aphrodite seemed to have some guilt, slightly turning her head away.

Though the god of blacksmiths was busy making items requested by the Olympian gods day and night, he had been trying to spend time at home since marrying the goddess of beauty.

Of course, it seemed that this did not satisfy Aphrodite...

"But how can you avoid me even in official gatherings like the council of Olympus? Last time, I asked you, but you didn’t even pretend to hear! Everyone knows you and Ares are in love, so are you doing this on purpose?"

It seemed that both had accumulated a lot of grievances, and even with me present, their words grew harsher.

But this was a matter that had to be addressed.

"You only seek me out in such situations to save face. Isn’t this proof that you married me just for my looks?"

"What?! Is that all you have to say? You only ask me to make things for you when you need them...!"

Their emotions were escalating, and their powers clashed.

The island of Cyprus shook, and the divine power that captivated all life around them spread in all directions.

Flames erupted from beneath Hephaestus's feet, heating the space.

If this continues, the life on the island will perish, so I must intervene.

"Stop, that’s enough."

I stepped in between Hephaestus and Aphrodite to diffuse the tension.

Amidst the scent of burning and allure, the cold energy of the underworld disrupted everything.

"Hephaestus, no matter how busy you are with your blacksmith work, you should pay more attention to your wife. If other gods express their grievances to you, tell them to come to the underworld."

"Yes... I understand."

Hephaestus calmed down a bit, stepping back.

Now it was the turn of the goddess of beauty, who wore a fierce expression.

I sighed, placing my hand on Aphrodite's shoulder and meeting her gaze.

"Aphrodite, aren’t you the goddess of love? Yet you can’t even fulfill a simple request from a man who longs for your love? Even though you have brought another man into your bed and had a child, there is a god here who loves you, Hephaestus!"

"That’s... I..."

Aphrodite tried to step back slightly, but

This time, I had to speak firmly to reduce their conflict.

"I cannot force the goddess of love to love, but at least if you are married, you should try to act like a couple in official settings."

"Ugh... Yes... I understand..."

For some reason, tears welled up in her eyes as she hurriedly left the scene, her face flushed.

Thinking that I had properly addressed the issue, I turned back...

"Ugh..."

Hephaestus was shedding tears with a face more sorrowful than ever.

"Indeed... the world is all about looks... Oh, Father Zeus..."