The Goddess of Forgetting, Lethe - (1)

Today, the underworld is peaceful.

It won't be long until the Goddess of Spring returns from the mortal realm.

Persephone... she held deep feelings for me.

As my thoughts drifted to the Goddess of Spring, Demeter came to mind.

"I don't know if you and that child will eventually marry, but if that day comes, please take good care of Kore."

Demeter's request to take care of her daughter.

Though she is my niece... it seems I don't have the luxury to think about Persephone just yet.

Just like the resolute expression of the Goddess Lethe entering my surroundings...

"Hades! C-Can we go to the mortal realm together?"

"Excuse me?"

I halted my thoughts and looked at her, her silver hair flowing in the air.

The Goddess of Forgetting, appearing somewhat solemn, clenched her fist as if preparing for battle.

"Ah... I mean... there’s a festival being held in Olympia in honor of Zeus! I thought it would be nice to go together and see how the mortals are doing..."

The festival in Olympia is a ceremony dedicated to the supreme god, Zeus.

Held once every four years, it lasts for five days and many gods come to watch the Olympia festival.

During the Olympia festival, all acts of war or conflict are prohibited, and even the wars waged by Ares come to a halt.

If any mortal disobeys this, they will face appropriate divine punishment.

It makes sense, as it is a sacrifice offered by mortals to Zeus.

"I apologize. I should have suggested this first. I will prepare quickly and we can leave."

"What? Hades suggested it first...?!"

"I just wanted to spend some time with you, Goddess."

I approached the Goddess of Forgetting, who seemed frozen in surprise, as if she couldn't believe the change.

Looking directly into her mixed blue eyes of confusion, embarrassment, and anticipation, I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"It seems I have been too indifferent lately... but now I want to change."

"Nehe..."

What is love? Will I understand it if I experience a little more?

We ascended to the mortal realm, heading towards the Olympia region where the festival in honor of Zeus was taking place.

This place is entirely under Zeus's domain; I should at least greet him since I stopped by.

A hidden god wandering in the city would not be welcomed by Zeus.

"Let’s go to Zeus's temple first."

"Are you planning to have a chat now that we’ve come this far?"

We entered the interior of Zeus's temple, concealed from the eyes of mortals.

As expected of the temple of the supreme god, the building was enormous, and many people were present.

How would it compare to my temple in Thebes?

Considering that many tourists, merchants, and athletes flock here for the upcoming Olympia festival...

"O great lord of the heavens, in your grace..."

"The cattle here are healthy ones I have raised. I wish to donate them to the temple of Zeus..."

"An eagle, the symbol of Zeus, carved..."

After passing through a long line, we moved deeper inside, past human guards and priests.

We passed a devotee washing their hands and moving incense... and finally emerged into a vast area...

At last, the massive statue of Zeus revealed itself.

The statue of Zeus, sitting on a throne with a lightning bolt in one hand, was as large as dozens of people combined.

We walked past the marble columns on either side and approached the statue of Zeus.

The wooden frame was covered in ivory and gold, and the enormous throne was made of cedar and gold.

The devotees of Zeus had done a remarkable job depicting the throne of Olympus.

Thud.

I placed my hand on the throne of the statue and focused my mind.

This place is one of the areas where Zeus's power is most potent; communication can be achieved in this way.

"... Zeus."

"This voice... Hades?! Why are you in my temple in Olympia?"

"I thought I would come out for a bit to watch the festival mortals offer to you."

"Oh... I see. I will tell my priests to treat you well..."

"No, that's not necessary. I plan to quietly observe and then return."

After chatting with Zeus about various matters, I withdrew my hand from the throne.

With the threat of the Gigantes no longer a concern, he intends to personally attend this festival?

And I also heard news about Persephone.

Though she is his daughter, he asks me to take good care of her... when will the wedding be?

I also heard that Demeter has been relaxing in Olympus lately.

It seems that after talking to Zeus for the first time in a while, he was feeling a bit bored.

At that moment, the Goddess Lethe, who had been standing beside me with her arms crossed, called out to me.

Was it because of the human who had been watching us strangely for a while?

With his white hair, wooden staff, and incense burner in hand, he looked like an old mortal who would soon ascend to the underworld.

But more importantly, he is the high priest favored by Zeus.

"Excuse me... are you a... god...?"

"Shh."

Thanks to the blessing from Zeus, the old man clearly sensed something was off.

Disliking noise, I gestured for him to be quiet, placing my finger to my lips, and he nodded hurriedly.

I nodded back and concealed our presence once more.

To that human, it must have looked like Lethe and I had completely vanished.

Would rumors spread that other gods had visited the temple of Zeus?

Dum.

"Greetings to all! We are here to commence this festival..."

Lethe and I entered the vast circular arena.

To be precise, we were seated in one of the spectator stands of the arena where the Olympia festival was being held.

"First, we will conduct a ceremony in honor of the great god Zeus! The offerings for Olympus this time include over a hundred lambs and..."

The circular arena was filled with a crowd, and the announcer was speaking non-stop.

Lethe and I watched while munching on pies filled with fruit and dried fruits.

"Um..."

Lethe, mumbling, picked up some dried fruit, looking somewhat dissatisfied.

Perhaps it was too noisy around us?

"Goddess."

"Please don’t give me this..."

"What do you mean?"

"... Ah."

I offered her a small piece of cheese, and the Goddess of Forgetting closed her eyes and opened her mouth.

She looked like a baby bird waiting to be fed, so I placed the cheese inside.

But if she has eaten the cheese, shouldn't she let go of my finger?

"Umm... Hades too..."

The Goddess, who had taken either the cheese or my finger, opened her mouth slightly and then offered me a pie.

Her face was flushed, and her hands trembled, yet her eyes remained vacant.

The Goddess of Forgetting, one of the rulers of the five rivers of the underworld and the granddaughter of Nyx, showed little change in expression.

Such is the nature of the power of forgetting.

Whether it be burning sorrow, raging anger, or love that seems eternal...

When one loses the memories that encompass all those emotions, they fade away like extinguished flames.

The faintness of emotion in the expression of the Goddess of Forgetting is likely due to this.

"What are you doing... hurry... Ah~"

But that is merely the surface.

As we spend more time together, I realize that she possesses a sensibility akin to that of a spring maiden.

Though she addresses everyone in a monotonous tone and expressionless manner...

When did I come to realize that she was a little different with me?

Was it when we gods seized control of the world, and I still bowed my head to greet her?

Or perhaps it was because, unlike my reckless brothers, I did not covet the goddesses?

Or was it when I first directly judged a human intertwined with a god and granted them favor?

Or maybe it was...

"Ugh... my arm hurts..."

"I remember the first time I met you."

"...?"

"It was not long after I became the lord of the underworld. At that time..."

I closed my eyes and recalled the past.

A very long time ago, I was surveying the five rivers surrounding the underworld.

Having won the war against the Titan gods, I needed to learn about the underworld I would rule.

During that time, I encountered a goddess by the river of forgetfulness.

The silver-haired goddess, with her head buried in her knees by the riverbank.

As I approached her, I could sense the power of forgetting radiating from her.

"Nice to meet you. I am Hades. Are you perhaps the Goddess of Forgetting..."

"... Please go away."

Though our first encounter was not pleasant, my persistent visits led to many conversations with her.

Creatures that forget their own memories even when they remain still.

The oblivion that consumes the history of mortals.

The Goddess of Hunger, Limos, drives all creatures around her into hunger even when she remains still.

Gods can resist, but that too is predicated on the continuous expenditure of power.

In a similar manner, the Goddess of Forgetting instills fear in mortals and is not particularly welcomed among immortals either.

It seemed she herself was trapped in despair.

Yet, as I kept visiting, she began to respond...

"Our gods can resist the power of forgetting, can't we? It would be better for you to stay in the underworld..."

"... Why do you keep doing this?"

"Because it troubles me to see you always alone here."

"It is rare for a busy god to come to visit me..."

So what did I say back then...

Ah.

Did I just blurt it out in frustration?

"This is also my duty."

"What do you mean...?"

"Helping a gloomy goddess with a despised power is something the lord of the underworld ought to do."

For the first time, her head lifted slightly, revealing a hint of emotion.

"There is no creature that enjoys forgetting. Just leave me be..."

"... I like you."

"What did you say?..."

From that day on, the Goddess of Forgetting began to reside in the fortress of the underworld.

Returning to reality, I gazed at the Goddess Lethe.

I could feel a smile filled with my emotions naturally rising to my face.

"Why... why are you smiling, Hades?"

Her face, looking at me, also seemed to brighten slightly.

The change in her expression was truly different from the first time we met.

Perhaps it was due to spending a long time in the underworld...

No, no.

I shouldn't avoid it.

I know why she is acting this way.

It must be because of love, an emotion even Aphrodite would find hard to define.

"... I just can't help but smile when I see you, Goddess."

"Ugh... eat more of this."