Chapter 85
Today is the second day of the Olympian Games dedicated to Zeus.
It's a day of running, javelin throwing, and chariot racing events.
Like yesterday, I plan to watch with Goddess Lethe from the stadium seats.
As we climb the stone steps looking for a place to sit, we overhear nearby humans talking.
"Was running the first event? The previous winner was..."
"But won't someone with divine blood win again anyway?"
"Indeed, even heroes find it difficult unless they're descended from Olympian gods..."
"Hey now! Still, with human strength..."
The Olympian Games dedicated to Zeus allow participation from both demigods and humans.
However, the gap between those with divine lineage and ordinary mortals is not easily bridged.
Having divine blood itself can grant strong power, stamina, and perhaps even abilities.
Goddess Lethe, listening to the people passing by us, said:
"The humans seem to feel deprived..."
"It's understandable if they're not of divine lineage. Their origins are different from the start..."
"Then won't demigods, descendants of the 12 Olympian gods, win these competitions anyway?"
"Well..."
Even among demigods, there's a difference in abilities depending on how directly they're related to higher deities.
However, that doesn't mean the winners of these games are predetermined.
"The 16th contestant is a devout follower of Artemis, the goddess of the moon...!"
We sat in a suitably high place and listened to the announcer.
The runners are taking their positions as the race is about to start, and the crowd falls silent.
Boom-
Tap tap. Pitter-patter.
"Whoo-"
"Go, Moroclas!"
"Do you know how many drachmas I bet on this?!"
"Run faster!"
As soon as the drum sounds once, all the contestants dash out.
The bare feet of young Greek men powerfully push off the ground as they sprint.
"Lineage certainly plays a big part, but there are cases where individual effort overturns this."
"I thought instances of overcoming innate differences were very rare..."
The world is inherently unfair.
Differences in lineage, talent, innate abilities, and status are not easy for anyone to overcome.
"The winner is Daitos! The victory laurel wreath will be awarded to you!"
"Waaah!!!"
"A demigod... lost to a human?"
"I told you I saw potential in that guy when he was running outside the city walls every day!"
"To think there was someone faster than a descendant of Hermes..."
But occasionally, there are humans who overcome such differences.
The one who won the running race, beating numerous demigods, must be one of those.
"Wow... that's really amazing. He seems to have the qualities of a hero..."
"If he comes to Thebes, he'd be worth nurturing in the Underworld."
The terracotta amphora depicting the running race is filled with olive oil.
A laurel wreath made of bay and olive branches is placed on the winner's forehead.
As we watch the winner lift the terracotta amphora with a broad smile, Goddess Lethe speaks:
"Hero... Come to think of it, what happened to Bellerophon's brother whom he accidentally killed?"
"It seems his resentment has diluted quite a bit, as he also hopes to meet Bellerophon."
After Bellerophon arrived in the Underworld, he accepted my proposed mediation.
He agreed to meet and apologize to his brother in person if the latter wished.
When Bellerophon met his brother in the Underworld, he knelt and apologized,
and fortunately, the victim of fate accepted the apology.
As we were thinking about Bellerophon's case, a middle-aged man sitting next to us spoke:
"Excuse me! You there. Are you two perhaps not married?"
"Are you talking to us?"
"Yes. You look close, but if she's already married..."
He was looking suspiciously at Goddess Lethe beside me.
The Olympian Games, a festival for men, prohibit married women from attending or watching.
However, virgins were allowed to watch to understand the world of men.
This problem could be solved by simply saying that the goddess and I are not yet married.
But... a bold statement came from the lips of Goddess Lethe, who wore a shy expression.
"Yes. We are married..."
***
"Wh-what?! Hey! Guard! There's a married..."
The man, flustered by Lethe's bold claim of being a married woman, tried to call for security.
But soon he lost a moment of memory and his eyes became dazed.
Goddess Lethe glances at me as if checking my reaction.
Is it because of what she just told that human about us being married...
"Goddess."
"Wh-why? Won't you... marry me, Hades?"
I swallowed the words that were about to come out of my mouth.
That we're not married yet, and we're not even dating...
However... I'm not a fool who doesn't know what she wants to hear.
Perhaps now I can give the answer the goddess desires?
"Wha..."
"Yes? Say it louder... please..."
The cheering for the athletes in the next event, the laughter and chatter of humans,
The sound of thunder, evidence that Zeus is watching the games satisfactorily from above...
Cutting through all that, all I hear is the goddess's question.
I could see her small fingers fidgeting, as if she had mustered considerable courage to ask this.
Her red lips slightly parting, her eyes trembling.
"...Hades?"
Yes, just like with Goddess Styx...
I abandoned what I was about to say and moved closer to where she was sitting.
The Goddess of Forgetfulness flinches at my approaching face but doesn't avert her eyes.
I concealed our appearance with an illusion so as not to draw attention from our surroundings.
So that even most Olympian gods couldn't see.
Something I've done once before.
Skillfully moving my hand to gently grasp the back of her head, I pulled her towards me.
Hoping this would convey my answer to her.
Smooch.
This is the second time.
***
As Helios drove his sun chariot past,
darkness fell upon the city of Olympia.
On the quiet night streets, Lethe and I were walking slowly, arm in arm.
Step, step.
Perhaps because of that brief kiss earlier.
I keep being conscious of the soft sensation on my arm.
"Hee..."
The beautiful goddess leaning her head on me, more than just linking arms.
This ticklish feeling in my chest isn't unpleasant.
As we wandered around the area for a while, looking around,
something caught my transcendent divine senses.
"Ugh... the sword... blood on my body..."
Groans heard from inside a brick house.
An old man having a terrible nightmare, perhaps a former soldier who participated in war.
That poor soul with closed eyes and cold sweat hasn't escaped the battlefield yet.
Usually, this would be the domain of Morpheus, the god of dreams,
but the goddess beside me is also perfect for easing his pain.
As if reaching the same thought, Goddess Lethe stops walking and looks at me.
"...I'll be right back."
I nod as our eyes meet, and the goddess disappears.
Soon, the power of forgetfulness envelops the house, leaving only small, wheezing breaths.
The one who experienced the pain of war will gradually find those terrible moments fading.
The Goddess of Forgetfulness returns in an instant, with a tiny smile on her lips.
To think that the goddess who once sorrowed over having a domain unwelcome to others has changed like this...
"You've delivered a small peace."
"Hmm... I don't like seeing humans suffering, bound by memories of the past."
That's what forgetfulness is.
While people are reluctant for it to touch precious and important memories, they wish for the goddess's blessing on terrible and painful ones.
It feels similar to the Underworld.
The more mortals age and approach death, the more likely they are to become my believers.
On the other hand, young people far from death cheer for Ares, Apollo, Zeus, and others.
"It's been nice to come out and see good sights with Hades after so long..."
We've seen enough of the Olympian Games, the sacrifice humans offer to Zeus.
We should return to the Underworld soon, as we can't leave it empty for too long.
Finally, I raised my hand to point at a high hill.
"Would you like to climb up there for the last time?"
So we climbed the hill with the Goddess of Forgetfulness.
The sound of insects can be heard from all around, and beautiful fireflies wander about.
Chirp chirp-
From the highest point of the hill filled with dark shadows, we looked down.
The night streets of Olympia, a vast city and sanctuary, came into view.
And... the goddess with silver hair fluttering in the strong wind spoke.
Although her gaze was fixed on the city, not looking this way, somehow it felt like we were facing each other directly.
"Hades."
"Why do you call?"
"Eventually... all those countless mortals living in that city will fully accept my blessing, won't they?"
Even for gods with unbreakable minds, there are none who don't receive the blessing of forgetfulness.
Memories of the distant past gradually fade and sometimes slip to the back of one's mind.
Mortals forget even more easily.
Humans partially forget even yesterday's memories.
"As the Goddess of Forgetfulness, I must bestow my blessing little by little on everyone."
"I know that even Zeus and I are no exception. Even to yourself, Goddess Lethe."
Just as the Goddess of Love falls in love, Lethe also falls into the swamp of forgetfulness.
Lethe looks at me again with a faint smile.
"But today's memory... I don't want it to disappear."
"...I feel the same way."
"Will you help me once more, so that I won't forget today?"
As she finished speaking, desire rose in the goddess's eyes before disappearing behind her eyelids.
I too approached her, slowly closing my eyes.
Tilting my head slightly to the side... and at the same time, embracing her soft body as our lips meet.
"Gladly."
I gently parted my lips and tapped her lips with my tongue.
A small gap forms, creating a connection between two beings.
My first thought was that it's sweet and warm.
Simultaneously, the desire to continue this softness flashed through my mind.
The intimate parts inside intertwined and tangled, but it wasn't unpleasant at all.
Rather, this desire to continue... a little more.
My hands, lost for a place to go, fumble around before finally regaining reason and pulling away.
A long silver thread appears and disappears between us.
A sweet peach flavor lingers in my mouth.
"Hah..."
Even if forgetfulness overtakes me due to the passage of time, I will never forget this moment.