Chapter 50: The Story of Hephaestus - (1)

Recently, after finishing the aftermath of King Oedipus's rampage in Thebes...

I was distributing my power to those who had newly become my priests.

"May Hades' blessing be upon you..."

"O guardian deity of Thebes..."

Even though my temple was once in danger of being destroyed by Oedipus,

Has their faith in me grown stronger because I descended directly, unlike Dionysus who only sent a divine beast?

"Dionysus sent a divine beast, but the Lord of the Underworld came in person!"

"Almost everyone in Thebes is his follower now."

"Of course, how many people in Thebes haven't received Pluto's grace?"

Because of this, only the temple priests became busy.

Managing the people who come every day, verifying those who want to become new priests...

Even Penedeia, who became the new high priest after the previous one stepped down, is complaining of fatigue.

But among those who newly became priests...

I saw someone very familiar.

"Hehe... Handsome and almighty Lord Hades..."

With bright, pale blue-green hair... a water nymph, Naiad.

Menthe, whom I met near Mount Etna last time?

She was praying to me.

Surprisingly, her faith was strong enough that I could manifest through her body.

"Menthe, how did you become my priest?"

"Ah! Lord Hades!"

When I casually spoke in her mind, Menthe was startled.

Seeing Menthe's reaction, other followers' gazes gathered.

"Did you hear Lord Hades' voice?"

"As expected of the one who created mint..."

"You must be favored by Lord Hades..."

The Naiad, who had moved to a quiet place for a moment, smiled brightly and clasped her hands again.

"I heard there was a temple of Hades in Thebes, so I came all the way here!"

"Aren't you a nymph from near Mount Etna? How did you come all the way to Thebes...?"

Nymphs are beings that can be described as spirits dwelling in nature or objects.

If the place they dwell in is destroyed, the nymph also dies.

That's why most nymphs usually don't stray far from where they dwell...

"It's because I want to serve Lord Hades! There are goddesses, but even in the mortal world..."

Is this because I spread mint widely and made it my symbol?

That's just fair compensation and the treatment you deserve.

"If you don't protect your source, you could suddenly be in danger. Even so..."

"I'm fine! I asked other nymphs to help!"

Even if she asked nearby friendly nymphs to protect her source,

Isn't this like leaving your heart behind and traveling far away, in human terms?

As I was at a loss for words, Menthe said with a bright smile.

"Um... I heard that Lord Hades sometimes manifests in the bodies of priests..."

"That's right...?"

"Then if you manifest in my body, I'd become one with Lord Hades... Kyaaa!"

For a moment, I saw a glimpse of Zeus in Menthe's face.

As expected of a Greek spirit, she's a bit strange in the head too...

"Next time you manifest, please use my body...!"

Isn't she afraid of me...?

Not only other nymphs but even gods tremble when they see me...

Well, even when I revealed my identity at Mount Etna, she asked to spend time together as a reward...

Maybe it's because she heard the rumors of the merciful god, Pluto, that spread in Thebes.

Well, she's cute in her own way, so it's fine.

***

After cutting off the connection to the mortal world, I took some time to do my work.

I had already informed Olympus that Gaia had corrupted Oedipus, the hero of Thebes.

I explained well to Dionysus that it was because of Gaia...

I finished patrolling Tartarus and Mount Etna last time.

There are no more serious criminals that are difficult for Minos to judge...

Can I finally rest a little?

Just as I thought that and was about to lean back comfortably on my throne,

The goddess of oaths entered, opening the door.

"Hades. Are you free right now?"

Lady Styx?

"What's the matter? Has Thanatos run away again or..."

"Hephaestus is at the entrance of the underworld, saying he has something to consult about."

"Hephaestus, you say? Well, let him in."

What consultation could Hephaestus have for me?

Is there a human among the dead souls that Hephaestus cares about?

After waiting for a moment, soon the lame god with a simple face, Hephaestus, entered.

The world's greatest blacksmith god, for some reason, didn't look very happy.

"Great Uncle Hades, thank you for meeting me despite your busy schedule."

"You, who made the Bident for me, are welcome in the underworld anytime."

I called a servant to bring nectar and offered it to Hephaestus.

He emptied the golden cup in one go and then spoke to me.

"Aphrodite is too cold to me... Great Uncle..."

"Ah..."

Aphrodite is famous for having relationships with other male gods despite being married to Hephaestus.

Hephaestus must know this fact...

"No matter how much effort I put in to win the heart of the goddess of beauty, she doesn't even pay attention to me. Would you believe that I haven't been able to share a bed with her even once since our marriage?"

***

Not even once in bed?

My goodness... Was it that bad...

I know he gave her the Cestus, a magical seductive girdle,

And made everything Aphrodite asked him to make.

"But why are you consulting me about this? If you want a popular male god, wouldn't Apollo or other gods be better?"

Hephaestus glanced at the goddess Styx beside me and said.

"Well... Great Uncle, you're busy day and night, but aren't you very popular among goddesses?"

"Uh..."

"Even on Olympus, there are many goddesses who want to be embraced by Great Uncle Hades once."

Is he talking about all those young ones who are my nieces and grandchildren?

Actually, I think many goddesses are attracted because of my position as one of the Big Three.

"And above all...!"

"...?"

"There were rumors that my wife wanted to spend a night with Great Uncle, even coming down to the underworld... Of course, I trust you, Great Uncle..."

Hephaestus's muscular body and round eyes drooped sadly.

Don't worry... Unlike a certain King of the Gods, I don't engage in affairs...!

"Yes, thank you for trusting me. I swear by the River Styx that I have not had relations with your wife."

"I knew you would say that! As expected, the famous iron wall of the divine world..."

Iron wall... what...?

I glared at Hephaestus with a bewildered face, and he cleared his throat and bowed his head.

"Ahem. I'm sorry. I meant the noble lord of the underworld..."

"Stop saying strange things, anyway, you wanted advice, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

Let's think about why Aphrodite dislikes Hephaestus.

First of all... it's probably his appearance.

When Hephaestus was born as the son of Hera and Zeus,

He was born so ugly and lame that the disappointed Hera threw him down from the clouds.

After that, Hephaestus fell for 9 days and crashed on the island of Lemnos, later taking revenge on Hera and reconciling with her...

Anyway, compared to other prominent gods, his appearance is not competitive.

As I quietly organized my thoughts, disappointment gradually settled in Hephaestus's eyes.

His head lowered more and more until he looked like he was about to gain the divine status of depression.

He looked so down that I thought I should say something...

Ah...! An idea came to mind.

"Well... How about trying a different approach?"

"What...?"

"Rather, make Aphrodite regret treating you poorly and become obsessed with you..."

Hephaestus loves his wife even though their relationship is bad.

That's why he made everything she asked for and gave her the Cestus.

"So if you start rejecting Aphrodite's requests and act indifferent towards her from now on...!"

Just as I said this,

Lady Styx, who had been listening quietly beside me, interrupted.

"Hades! You can't do that!"

"Then do you have another way to make Hephaestus's family harmonious, goddess?"

"Well... First of all, that method won't work! If you do that, wouldn't Aphrodite be happy and meet even more male gods?"

She'll be happy about it, what nonsense...

They're still a married couple, surely there's not that little affection...?

The goddess Styx steps forward with a confident face.

Unlike me, she's a goddess like Aphrodite, so she might have a solution.

"How about asking Hera for help, since she's the goddess of family?"

"Lady Styx... Of course I've tried that method, but it was of no use."

"Then how about making something that moves the goddess's heart, like the Cestus..."

"I already have dozens of similar items in my forge..."

"Then... then!"

"No. You don't need to say more. There's no solution..."

The stubborn blacksmith god sheds tears sadly.

Despite his position as one of the 12 Olympian gods and his reputation as the world's greatest blacksmith,

"My ugly face... my lameness... must not be to Aphrodite's taste..."

"Ah..."

Now he's just a pitiful man who can't win the heart of the goddess he loves.

Styx and I couldn't bring ourselves to say anything more.