Chapter 88: Love and Fire - (3)

"...So you're saying you want to divorce Hephaestus and Aphrodite, and pair them with new partners?"

"That's right. If you help, it'll be much easier to persuade Zeus, don't you think?"

Hera quickly understood it wasn't a rebellion after I calmly explained.

Regaining her composure as the Queen of Gods, she lounged in her chair and crossed her arms.

"Coming to the Goddess of Marriage to ask for help in breaking up a marriage, do you think this is right, Hades?"

"But you know that it was a fragile, unstable marriage from the beginning, don't you?"

Hera's brow furrowed slightly.

"Isn't it the duty of the Goddess of Marriage to find them harmonious new families?"

"Hmm... I suppose it could be seen that way."

"Hephaestus has also given up on Aphrodite. If you find him a new family, he'll shed tears of gratitude for his mother's grace."

Hephaestus was thrown onto Lemnos Island by Hera right after he was born.

Fortunately, she's reflecting a lot on that now.

"I think the fundamental reason for what happened between Hephaestus and Athena is that his relationship with Aphrodite was unsatisfactory. Because of that, he even had a child with Gaia... If Gaia were to appear beautifully dressed before Hephaestus..."

"You mean he might fall for her beauty?"

"Even if not outright betrayal, he might leak information or grant small favors, don't you think?"

Hera quite favors Athena, so this incident must have been quite shocking to her.

Just a little more persuasion...

"And I heard Zeus brought a boy named Ganymedes..."

"Grr! Now he's even going after men! Do I have to be pushed aside by men now too?!"

The Goddess of Marriage's relaxed expression completely changed as she burst out in anger.

Don't tell me he really brought him to Olympus just for his looks...

"Ahem. Anyway... Zeus himself is reaching out to the same sex because of love... I mean, looks, but isn't he suppressing the love between Aphrodite and Ares?"

"That's certainly true."

"And if you help me this time, Aphrodite might be grateful that she can be with Ares and repay you. Which means the Goddess of Love might..."

"She might tell me how to regain Zeus's attention from that human brat?"

"Exactly. If things go well, I'll tell her that your help was significant."

Whether Aphrodite lends her magical girdle, the Kestos Himas...

Or gives advice as the goddess who rules over love, it's beneficial for Hera.

"Alright. I'll add my opinion too."

"Since we're on the subject, let's go right away."

So, together with Poseidon and Hera, we headed towards Zeus, and found the King of Gods taking a nap in his spacious bedroom.

Poseidon approached quietly and spoke to wake Zeus up.

"Wake up, Zeus."

"Hmm..?!"

But as soon as he opened his eyes and saw Poseidon...

"Who... Poseidon, and even you, Hera?"

The God of the Sky immediately stood up with his thunderbolt from his lying position.

In an instant, the massive building exploded, and fierce lightning flashed in his hand.

Flash-Rumble!!!

"...Another rebellion?! Poseidon, if you're thinking of challenging me again, come at me!"

"No, it's a misunderstanding..."

"Sigh... It's not what you're thinking, Zeus."

"...Oh, Brother Hades? So it's not a rebellion..."

In the midst of the storm of divine power swirling around, I held my forehead.

***

"...Divorcing Hephaestus and Aphrodite?"

"Yes, so put down that thunderbolt. If I had come for a rebellion, I would have worn my Kynee!"

Only then did Zeus slowly make his thunderbolt disappear, seeing Poseidon with a sulky expression not drawing his trident, Hera looking exasperated, and me holding my head behind them.

"Well.. ahem! How could I not think it was a rebellion when Poseidon came while I was sleeping?"

"Of course, it could be a misunderstanding, but because it's about Aphrodite, we gathered our opinions a bit."

It feels strange to be having this conversation in a building that's been completely blown away.

I can see the surrounding gods whispering, and Hermes flying urgently from over there...

"Sigh... Let's move to a different place first."

"...That would be best."

So we entered a quiet room.

Poseidon and I, Hera and Zeus sat around a round table.

I earnestly explained to Zeus the reasons for divorcing Hephaestus and Aphrodite.

Hephaestus was so desperate that he tried to rape Athena, at this rate, wouldn't he fall for Gaia if she appeared beautifully dressed...

He even exposed her affair with Ares at the last arts festival, so how bad must it be...

The Goddess of Beauty even bore Harmonia with Ares, and now Hephaestus has given up on Aphrodite...

After thinking for a while, Zeus looked at me and asked.

"But why are you intervening so much in their affairs?"

"...It's pitiful to watch. And my nephew has made many things for me so far."

"That Bident was quite sharp..."

Poseidon brought up the Bident.

That's right, no weapon could match the Bident...

"If Hephaestus has given up on the Goddess of Beauty... Morally, it might be right to divorce them. But..."

"Are you worried that other male gods will fight over her?"

"That's the concern, and if I go back on my decision and change my words..."

The weight of the King of Gods' words would diminish.

That's why he hasn't divorced them until now.

Of course, there's also consideration for Hephaestus's contributions, and maybe hope that the affairs would stop someday...

Various circumstances are mixed in.

"Then we can help a little. Right, Poseidon?"

"Well, if it's just showing some agreement..."

"I allow it too. They never had a happy family life even once..."

Zeus strokes his beard again, pondering.

"Can we really suppress the opposition of numerous male gods?"

"...Send the ones with severe complaints to the Underworld. I'll educate well those who've gone mad over the goddess."

"Is that okay? Isn't it pushing too much work onto the Underworld..."

"Pushing work? Rather, I'm reducing it, aren't I?"

In reality, I don't think there will be many such gods.

Who would dare to openly express dissatisfaction when I, Zeus, Poseidon, and even Hera are making threats?

"...Alright. Let's do that. Then call Hephaestus from the Underworld for a moment, I'll summon the Olympian gods too."

"Good, you've thought well."

***

"...After careful consideration, I've come to think it's right to end the relationship between Hephaestus and Aphrodite at this point."

Zeus announced their divorce in the presence of most of the gods.

Let's see... Aphrodite showed undisguisable joy, while Hephaestus sighed and stood silently.

"Hephaestus, I'll introduce you to a new wife. How about Aglaea, the Goddess of Splendor?"

"Yes. I'll follow Father's will..."

Aglaea, the Goddess of Splendor.

She's one of the three goddesses born between Eurynome, daughter of the Titan Oceanus who rules the ocean, and Zeus.

A very beautiful goddess with teal hair waves at Hephaestus.

The God of Blacksmiths looks at her face and seems moderately satisfied.

Although she doesn't match Aphrodite, she's still very beautiful...

Aglaea slips through the gods, links arms with Hephaestus, and smiles.

"Lord Hephaestus!"

"Hmm. Yes..."

"The necklace you made for me last time was really beautiful!"

Hephaestus is not only the God of Blacksmiths but also has the divine status of fire and volcanoes, so he has a very high divine rank.

No matter how ugly his face might be... there's no way an Olympian god and Zeus's firstborn son would lack suitors.

Aphrodite and Ares were rather happy...

The problem, as expected, was the male gods. It started with Hermes's question.

"Um... Father. But didn't you say last time? That Aphrodite's husband is Brother Hephaestus..."

At those words, Zeus frowns fiercely and glares at Ares and Aphrodite.

"Those two are in a die-hard relationship... Tsk! They even bore Harmonia and Eros, didn't they?"

Despite Zeus's glare, Ares and Aphrodite showed no signs of discomfort.

Rather, they shrugged as if they were willing to endure this level of criticism.

"It was my mistake to force unwanted love! However, if anyone causes excessive strife trying to make advances on Aphrodite, they will face Zeus's thunderbolt!"

Rumble!

Zeus's strong threat, and beside him, Poseidon, me, and Hera were watching the gods.

Now the lesser gods probably won't fight to claim Aphrodite.

I should tell Aphrodite to moderate her seduction of male gods...

Although Ares can't be helped, the seeds of discord should be controlled.

However, as expected... the problem is some high-ranking gods who have gone mad over the Goddess of Love's beauty.

"Aphrodite, if you ever get tired of Ares..."

"Hermes. Apemosyne, Minos's granddaughter whom you forcibly had relations with, is in the Underworld... Shall I bring her here?"

"What?! No, that's..."

"Ahem, Great-uncle Hades. Unlike Hermes, I can make Aphrodite happy..."

"Apollo, Daphne, who became a tree because of you, must be wailing in the Underworld."

"That was because of Eros's arrow... No, never mind."

Poseidon has given up... And another one with a suspicious look..

Ah, there's Dionysus.

Glare-

...::;;

As I glared and sent a silent signal, Dionysus slightly turned his head away from me.

That's right... The Underworld is full of those who died going mad because of your frenzy festivals.

"Ahaha..."

Ares... well, he's already had children with her, so let's just let that pass... I looked around at the other gods one last time.

Let's see, the wind gods, or the river gods, or those under Demeter, the Earth Goddess...

Wait, aren't most of these just rascals who do whatever they want?

Starting with Zeus, the King of Gods himself...

"...Ahem! Ahem! With this, I'll end the meeting for now! Hephaestus and Aglaea's wedding will be held in Olympus..."

There are so many Olympian gods, but why are there hardly any normal ones?