Chapter 51: The Story of Hephaestus - (2)

Hephaestus, who had been shedding tears for a moment, raised flames to dry his tears.

Somehow, the flames looked sad, as if filled with emotion...

Is there really no other way...?

Maybe changing his appearance with divine power to suit Aphrodite's taste...

"Ah, how about visiting Apollo? As the god of medicine, he might be able to change your appearance..."

"I've already been to Apollo."

According to Hephaestus,

He went to Apollo wondering if he could change his appearance to Aphrodite's liking.

However, that was also impossible.

It was difficult to change the appearance of a fellow Olympian god, not just an ordinary human...

"When I raise flames for blacksmith work, my face quickly reverts to its original form."

"Ah..."

Even if Apollo's divine power fixed a handsome face,

The flames and power of Hephaestus, the god of fire, reverted it to its original form.

Well, we gods maintain our appearance as we were born...

The reason the blacksmith god is ugly and lame is not because he fell on the island of Lemnos,

But because he was born that way.

"Still, thank you. For listening to my concerns seriously."

"No, I... I'm sorry."

"It's alright. It's all my fault for not being able to win over my wife."

As he finished speaking and was about to leave, flames swirled in Hephaestus's eyes.

What... what are you thinking now, my nephew?

"But I absolutely cannot forgive that Ares!"

"You mean Ares, who had an affair with your wife and bore Harmonia?"

Aphrodite loves Ares enough to have borne Harmonia, the goddess of harmony, from their relationship.

But we can't suppress the goddess of love from loving...

Still, since she bore Harmonia, Hera must have told her to stop now, right?

"Didn't Hera tell Aphrodite to stop the affairs some time ago?"

"Yes, there was such a time. But..."

Hephaestus, unable to bear it anymore, tattled to Hera,

And Hera, feeling sorry for throwing her son to the island of Lemnos, accepted his request.

I heard that the Queen of the Gods quietly admonished the two who had committed adultery.

More precisely, Hermes, who often comes to the underworld, told me.

The Olympian gods are somewhat free-spirited when it comes to love.

But the message must have been to tone it down a bit if they've even had a child from an affair.

In fact, even Zeus rarely engaged in affairs beyond one-night stands.

When a child was born, he would be cautious for a while, watching his wife Hera's mood...

"Even after Mother spoke to them, they continued. I recently caught them enjoying a secret meeting by chance."

Ares, befitting the god of war, has a well-toned muscular body.

And with his handsome face and caring nature towards his children, it must be hard for Aphrodite to give him up.

"How can they shamelessly continue to meet even after having a child, and even after being caught!"

"Hmm..."

"I'm also furious at my wife. Turning a blind eye once or twice is one thing, considering it was a forced marriage..."

"It is a bit excessive..."

"But thanks to coming to the underworld, my thoughts have become clear! Thank you, Great Uncle."

What on earth are you thinking about?

What are you trying to do now... my nephew?

"Apollo is holding an art festival on Olympus for a few days, and I'd like Great Uncle to come too."

"Well, I don't particularly want to go up to Olympus..."

"If you come to Olympus, I'll inspect the Styx Sword, Bident, and Kynee for you."

"...but of course I should go up if it's my nephew's request."

Come to think of it, the Styx Sword did seem to have a bit of rust,

And if he's going to inspect the invisible helmet and Bident too, it's good for me.

Hearing my words, Hephaestus nodded heavily, as if he had made a firm decision,

And said:

"As it happens, I have a splendid piece of art to show at that festival. I'd like to show it to as many gods as possible, so I'd like to invite other gods from the underworld too..."

What on earth are you planning to do?

***

And so, the day of the art festival on Olympus arrived.

It's exciting since it's a festival hosted by Apollo, who has the divine status of art, but...

"I'm going with you to this festival!"

"I want to go too... Styx."

Lethe and Styx, these two goddesses want to accompany me to Olympus.

But only one can leave their post.

If both goddesses disappear from the underworld, the workload for the remaining gods would be too heavy,

So one needs to stay in the underworld to handle the work...

"Are you going to keep doing this?"

"You were secretly hugging Hades without me knowing last time..."

"You're one to talk, Styx, with those big breasts of yours..."

"What did you say?!"

The goddess Styx pouts with her hands on her hips,

But the goddess Lethe, with her arms crossed and lips pursed, doesn't back down at all.

Please... please stop.

"I'll... just go alone..."

"Then let's draw lots."

"Good idea."

The sight of the goddesses quickly deciding my companion through drawing lots...

For some reason, there was a suffocating tension in the air.

"Yay! I drew it! Let's go to Olympus quickly, Hades!"

"Ugh... Tyche, the goddess of fortune, only turns her back on me at times like this...!"

The excited goddess Styx raises the lot high and shakes it, then hugs me.

But if you bury your face like that... Hup!

....#$%@%!

"Eek! Get away from Hades! Styx!"

"No way~"

Another peaceful day in the underworld.

***

And so, I came to Olympus with the goddess Styx.

From outside the Olympian palace, I could hear boisterous laughter and music.

Many instruments like the lyre, kithara, and aulos create harmonious melodies.

"Oh...? It's Lord Hades."

"And the one beside him is... Goddess Styx? Could it be..."

"I hadn't heard that the Lord of the Underworld had married?"

It's been a while since I've heard gods whispering as I pass by.

No matter how much you try to block the sound with your divine power, I can hear it all, you youngsters...

"Wow... Hades, look at that."

The goddess Styx, clinging to me with her arm linked in mine, points somewhere with her other hand.

There, a weaving competition was being held with many goddesses gathered.

"Oh... Their handiwork is impressive."

"Does weaving require wisdom too?"

"To see which goddess is the best weaver in Olympus..."

Weaving beautiful patterns into cloth is also a form of art,

The participants are... Athena, Hera, and Hestia.

Swish. Creak. Thud.

On Athena's cloth was Zeus sitting on his golden throne.

It depicted numerous gods fighting Typhon, and Athena herself bestowing blessings upon humans.

Hera showed a peaceful scene of a happy human family.

The portrayal of a woman's face, happy while holding a child, was exquisite.

Hestia had woven her hearth illuminating the dark night into her cloth,

Creating an illusion as if her warm energy was flowing from the pattern.

"As expected of Lady Hera..."

"Lady Athena is the goddess of wisdom, but she's good at weaving too."

"It's hard to choose, but... Athena's cloth has the most elaborate pattern..."

"I think so too. Does the divine status of wisdom include dexterity?"

The surrounding gods added their comments while looking at the completed cloths of the three goddesses.

Even to me, Athena's cloth seemed to have the most elaborate and well-made pattern.

"Athena, you're amazing as always."

"It's just a small skill, Lady Hera."

"You've depicted us fighting Typhon well..."

Athena's cloth depicting the Olympian gods during the Typhonomachy.

There was even an image of me holding Scylla in one hand and Kynee in the other.

As I was slowly examining the cloth, I heard someone calling me.

"Lord Hades."

"Dionysus."

A male god with golden curly hair resembling Zeus, exuding a strong grape wine scent.

It was Dionysus, the god of wine and madness.

He shook a golden cup filled with nectar once, and its contents changed to a deep red wine.

"Please try this. I've made it with the most popular taste among humans."

I took the cup and slowly drank it.

A bitter yet sweet taste, the rich grape aroma delighting the tongue.

Of course, nectar tastes better, but I think Dionysus's wine is a delicacy in its own right.

As I put down the emptied cup, the god of wine sighs and speaks.

"Sigh... Because of the recent incident, my faith has greatly diminished in Thebes."

"You mean when King Oedipus went mad."

"The temple was burned, followers fled, it seems difficult for my faith to grow again in Thebes now."

But in Thebes, when you first spread your faith,

You instilled fear by even killing the king, so the followers' loyalty? faith doesn't seem that deep...

"I have one request, Great Uncle."

"Go ahead, speak."

"I understand Gaia can't be helped, but couldn't you give a harsher punishment to that human, Oedipus?"

That can't be done.

Even if it's my nephew's request, I can't arbitrarily change the laws of the underworld.

"A judgment once made cannot be changed. And I judged that level to be appropriate."

"But that human also killed my beloved leopard."

"I fully understand your circumstances. But I'd like you to remember that human is also a victim."

"I see... Yes, I understand, Great Uncle."

Dionysus bows his head with a bitter smile and quietly retreats.

I explained well how his punishment was decided last time,

But it seems he still can't let go of his resentment towards Oedipus.

"Great Uncle Hades is still lenient towards humans. To even refuse a nephew's request."

"Hermes."

"And, could I have a word in private..."

Hermes approached me with a grinning smile.

Why in private... Does he have some secret to tell?

"Hehe... Actually, isn't it because Dionysus isn't a cute female niece that you refused his request?"

"Stop talking nonsense, but has there been a war somewhere?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Despite it being a big festival, I don't see some of the gods. Ares isn't here either."

It's like the usual festivals held on Olympus, but I haven't seen some gods since earlier.

Ares, who should be enthusiastically drinking nectar, is not here,

Aphrodite, who should be sitting in a corner leering at male gods, is not here,

And above all...

"I came because Hephaestus invited me, but where has he gone?"

"Huh? I heard that Brother Hephaestus had some business on the island of Lemnos and would be away for a few days."

What's this about?

Even Hermes looked puzzled, when at that moment,

The blacksmith god appeared on the wide platform.

"Huh...? Wasn't Lord Hephaestus supposed to be on the island of Lemnos?"

"I thought he was coming back on the last day of the festival."

Hephaestus briefly asked Zeus for permission and then opened his mouth.

His booming voice shook Olympus.

"Ahem. Ahem. Everyone! I, Hephaestus, have created a work that could be called the pinnacle of art for the gods participating in this festival!"