The Goddess of Forgetting, Lethe - (2)
Today marks the second day of the Olympic Games dedicated to Zeus.
It is a day filled with events like running, javelin throwing, and chariot racing.
Just like yesterday, I plan to sit with the goddess Lethe and watch the games.
As I climbed the stone steps, searching for a place to sit, I could hear the voices of nearby humans.
"Was the first event running? The last winner was..."
"But isn't it likely that someone with divine blood will win again?"
"It seems that heroes also find it hard to compete unless they have the bloodline of the Olympian gods..."
"Oh! Still, with our human strength..."
In the Olympic Games dedicated to Zeus, both demigods and humans can participate.
However, the gap between those who carry even a trace of divine blood and ordinary mortals is not easily bridged.
Having divine blood grants one great strength, stamina, and perhaps even abilities.
Listening to the conversations of those passing by, the goddess Lethe spoke.
"It seems the humans feel a sense of deprivation..."
"Without divine blood, it's understandable. Their origins are different..."
"Then, isn't it inevitable that a demigod, a descendant of the twelve Olympian gods, will win this competition?"
"Well, who knows..."
Among demigods, those with a higher divine lineage tend to have greater abilities.
But that does not mean the winner of such competitions is already determined.
"The sixteenth contestant is a devoted follower of the moon goddess Artemis...!"
I sat in a suitably high place, listening to the announcer's words.
As the running competition was about to begin, the athletes took their positions, and the audience fell silent.
Dun—
Tat-tat-tat.
"Whoosh—"
"Go for it, Moroklas!"
"How much did I bet on this race!"
"Run faster!"
As soon as the drum sounded, all the athletes dashed forward.
The bare feet of the young Greek men struck the ground with great force.
"Bloodlines certainly play a significant role, but there are cases where individual effort can overturn that."
"I believe there are very few instances where the inherent gap can be bridged..."
The world is inherently unfair.
The differences in bloodlines, talents, innate abilities, and status are not easily overcome by anyone.
"The winner is Deitos! The laurel crown of victory shall be bestowed upon you!"
"Wow!!!"
"A demigod... lost to a human?"
"I knew that guy would win ever since he was running outside the city every day!"
"Who would have thought someone could be faster than the descendant of Hermes..."
But sometimes, there are humans who can overcome such differences.
The author, who won the running competition by defeating numerous demigods, must belong to that category.
"Wow... that's truly impressive. I can see the qualities of a hero..."
"If the author comes to Thebes, he could surely be nurtured in the underworld."
The olive oil filled the terracotta jar depicting the running competition.
A laurel crown, made from branches of laurel and olive trees, was placed upon the winner's forehead.
As I watched the winner lift the terracotta jar and smile brightly, the goddess Lethe spoke.
"Hero... Speaking of which, what happened to the brother that Bellerophon accidentally killed?"
"It seems the grudge has lessened, as he hopes to meet Bellerophon."
After Bellerophon arrived in the underworld, he accepted the mediation proposal I suggested.
If his brother wished, he would meet him directly to apologize.
Thus, when Bellerophon met his brother in the underworld, he knelt and apologized, and fortunately, the victim of fate accepted the apology.
While we were thinking about Bellerophon, a middle-aged man sitting next to us spoke up.
"Hey... wait! Excuse me. Are you two married?"
"Are you talking about us?"
"Yes. You seem to get along well, but a married woman..."
He looked at the goddess Lethe with suspicion.
In the Olympic Games, which is a festival for men, married women are prohibited from attending or watching.
However, if one is a maiden, they are allowed to watch to understand the world of men.
If I simply said that the goddess and I are not yet married, it would resolve the issue.
But... the bold words came from the shy expression of the goddess Lethe.
"Yes. We are indeed married..."
"W-what?! Hey! Guard! There’s a married woman here..."
The man, flustered by Lethe's bold declaration of being a married woman, was about to call for the guards.
But soon, he lost a moment of memory and stared blankly.
The goddess Lethe glanced at me as if to gauge my reaction.
Was it because she just claimed to be married to that man...?
"Goddess."
"What... what is it? Are you... not going to marry me? Hades?"
I swallowed the words that were about to come out of my mouth.
We are not yet married, nor are we in a relationship...
However, I am not a fool who does not know what she wants to hear.
Perhaps now I could give her the answer she desires?
"Mu..."
"Yes? Please say it louder..."
The cheers for the athletes in the next match, the laughter and chatter of humans.
The thunder, a sign that Zeus is watching the games from above with satisfaction...
Amidst all that, the only thing that reached my ears was the goddess's question.
Her small finger, fidgeting as if she had gathered quite a bit of courage to ask this one question.
Her slightly quivering red lips, her trembling eyes.
"... Hades?"
Yes, like the goddess of Styx...
I stopped what I was about to say and leaned closer to where she was sitting.
Though I flinched at her approaching face, the goddess of forgetting did not avert her gaze.
I concealed my form with an illusion so that the eyes around us would not be drawn to us.
Even the Olympian gods would not be able to see us.
I had done this once before.
Skillfully, I moved my hand to gently grasp the back of the goddess's head and pulled her toward me.
I hoped that my answer would reach her.
Chirp.
This was the second time.
As Helios drove his sun chariot, time passed, and darkness fell upon the city of Olympia.
In the calm night streets, the goddess Lethe and I walked slowly, arm in arm.
Thud thud.
Perhaps it was because of that brief kiss earlier.
I kept becoming aware of the soft sensation I felt in my arm.
"He..."
The beautiful goddess leaned her head against me as we walked arm in arm.
This fluttering feeling in my chest was not unwelcome.
As we wandered the streets for a while, my transcendent senses caught something.
"Ugh... a knife... blood on the body..."
A groan came from inside a brick house.
There was an old man, perhaps a soldier who had participated in the war, having a terrible nightmare.
With his eyes closed and cold sweat dripping, that poor soul had yet to escape the battlefield.
Usually, such matters fall under the domain of Morpheus, the god of dreams.
But the goddess beside me was also well-suited to ease his suffering.
As if she had sensed my thoughts, the goddess Lethe stopped walking and looked at me.
"... I'll be back shortly."
As our eyes met and I nodded, the goddess vanished.
Soon, the power of forgetfulness enveloped the house, leaving only the faint sound of small breaths behind.
The one who had suffered the pain of war would gradually find that terrible moment fading away.
In an instant, the goddess of forgetting returned, a tiny smile on her lips.
How she had changed from the goddess who was once sad for not being welcomed by others...
"You’ve brought a little peace with you."
"Yes... I dislike seeing humans suffer from memories that bind them to the past."
That is what forgetting is.
It hesitates to touch precious and important memories, yet wishes to bless those that are terrible and painful.
It feels almost like the underworld.
As mortals grow older and draw closer to death, they are more likely to become believers in me.
On the other hand, the young, who are far from death, cheer for Ares, Apollo, and Zeus.
"It’s nice to be out with Hades after a long time and see such sights..."
I have seen enough of the Olympic Games, a sacrifice made by humans to Zeus.
I cannot leave the underworld empty for too long, so I must return.
Finally, I raised my hand and pointed to the high hill.
"Shall we go up there one last time?"
Thus, I climbed the hill with the goddess of forgetting.
The sounds of insects filled the air, and beautiful fireflies danced around.
Buzz—
In a place filled with black darkness, I looked down from the highest point of the hill.
The vast city and sanctuary of Olympia came into view at night.
And... the goddess with silver hair, fluttering in the strong wind, opened her mouth.
Though her gaze was fixed on the city, it felt as if she was looking directly at me.
"Hades."
"What is it?"
"One day, will the many mortals living in that city... fully accept my blessings?"
Even a god with an unyielding spirit cannot escape the blessing of forgetfulness.
Memories of the distant past gradually fade and sometimes are forgotten behind other memories.
Let alone mortals, who forget even yesterday's memories partially.
"As the goddess of forgetting, I must bestow a little blessing upon everyone."
"There are no exceptions for Zeus or me. Not even for you, goddess Lethe."
Just as the goddess of love falls in love, the goddess Lethe also falls into the abyss of forgetfulness.
With a faint smile, she looked this way again.
"But I don’t want to forget today’s memories..."
"... I feel the same way."
"Could you help me once more, so that I won’t forget today?"
As the goddess finished speaking, a longing appeared in her eyes before quickly disappearing behind her eyelids.
I too approached her and slowly closed my eyes.
Tilting my head slightly to the side... at the same time, embracing her soft form as our lips met.
"Willingly."
I slightly parted my lips and brushed her lips with my tongue.
A small gap formed, creating a connection between the two beings.
The first thought that came to me was that it was sweet and warm.
At the same time, what crossed my mind was the desire to continue this softness.
Our intimate parts intertwined, yet it was not unpleasant at all.
Rather... this desire to connect a little more.
My hands, lost and searching for a place, finally regained their senses and pulled away.
A long silver thread appeared and vanished between us.
The sweet taste of peach lingered in my mouth.
"Ah..."
Even if the flow of time brings forgetfulness upon me,
I shall never forget this moment.