The Goddess of Mint and Thebes – (1)
“Hades, shall we leave now?”
I could almost see a dog's tail wagging behind nte as she tugged at .
She seed very disappointed that our last walk had been interrupted by the Gigas attack.
“I’m sorry for not paying more attention to you. If you had told , I would have taken you out sooner.” “Well... I wanted to, but...”
The Goddess of Mint blushed in embarrassnt.
“You wanted to, but...?” “Oh no, it’s a curse... I’ll be cursed... I’ll be trampled…”
Suddenly, she clasped her hands together and started muttering nonsense. What was she talking about, a curse? What kind of nonsense is this?
“Anyway, let’s go straight to Thebes, past the hero training grounds. I need to refresh myself and get away from this world.” “Yes, Nae... I’ll make sure to look pretty enough for Hades, and I’ll...”
nte, who had been happily anticipating the trip, suddenly froze in her tracks and spoke in a small voice. With her back turned to , I couldn’t see her face, but her ears were redder than ever.
“Hades… I think you looked best in that gold-threaded chiton you wore when we first t. It’s not my personal taste, but…” “If that’s what you prefer, then so be it.”
Was that what nte liked last ti we t?
Smirking at her cheeky comnt, I changed my outfit accordingly.
I’ve always been aware of my good looks and popularity.
However, due to my high position as the King of the Underworld, it’s rare to find soone who treats with such affection.
Most mortals fear even the na Hades, referring to as Pluto. But nte, the Goddess of Mint, was different.
“Wow...! Hades, you’re so handso right now, hehe... I’ll be back in a minute!”
When she first t , she was not a lesser god but a Naiad, a water nymph... An unusual nymph, whose curiosity and excitent outweighed her fear.
Perhaps that’s why she was able to beco my priestess, and eventually, a goddess.
nte and I passed by the training grounds of Persephone's powerful heroes and soon found Chiron.
The centaur sage was busy lecturing the aspiring heroes, looking more content than ever.
“When you shoot your bow, your feet should be shoulder-width apart, and your back foot...”
Chiron strung his bow and took aim at the bullseye. The heroes sat in a wide circle in the clearing, carefully watching his demonstration.
After Chiron’s explanation, they scattered to practice their archery. Chiron walked among them, observing the clumsily drawn bows of the less skilled.
He must have noticed us, for he stopped just far enough from the heroes to address us.
“When did you arrive, Hades? I see the Goddess nte has co along as well.” “Chiron, I see you’re doing a fine job training these heroes.” “Ah, yes, of course. Didn’t you send many heroes here not long ago? Thanks to them...”
Chiron trailed off, turning his head toward a clearing nearby, where heroes were sparring, their weapons raised.
I recognized so of the faces... Bellerophon... Perseus...
Kwadang-tang!
One man barely dodged a flying sword and stomped his foot, sending his opponent crashing to the ground. The fallen man called out to his opponent, clearly frustrated.
“King Perseus, what is a great hero like you doing here?” “What are you talking about? Isn’t it a hero’s duty to train the next generation?” “No, but it’s also the duty of a king to...” “...? Look over there, even Lord Cadmus is training, and I’m nothing compared to him, so stop complaining!”
All sorts of renowned heroes who had completed their trials in life were now training new heroes. When Perseus died and entered the afterlife, Zeus, along with his wife Androda, had wanted to immortalize him among the stars.
But Perseus refused, choosing instead to work at training future heroes at Thebes after learning about the Heroic Academy. He was originally ant for Elysium, but as the one who killed his maternal grandfather, he refused to go.
In many ways, he reminded of Cadmus.
“Their training is impressive, much more effective than what I could have done alone.” “I’m glad it’s working out. I’ll continue to send any future heroes your way.”
Chiron smiled as I turned my attention to nte, who was watching the heroes in awe.
“Wow... Lord Hades, look at that. Is that the serpent king Python...?” “nte, if we reveal ourselves to them, it will cause a stir. Let’s pass by quietly.”
I urged nte to step outside the space’s gap.
Ssshhhh.
“Huh?! There are still more heroes to co... Oh! Lord Hades!”
As we crossed over, we encountered a middle-aged priest who looked bewildered by our presence. He was a high-ranking priest, his devotion evident in his appearance... Yes, I recognized his na.
“Vesiledis, I believe. You never miss a day of prayer, and your piety is truly comndable for a priest.” “You rembered my na...? I’m honored! Oh... breathe...”
Please don’t suddenly collapse and start crying. I was only acknowledging your dedication to your morning and evening prayers.
The cold stone floor isn’t the place for this—he should rise.
“It’s uncomfortable to see my priest prostrate on the cold floor. Stand up.” “But... how can I...?” “It’s an order.”
The priest cautiously rose to his feet.
“You must not tell anyone that the Goddess of Mint and I have traveled to Thebes.” “Of course! By the River Styx, I swear—” “...There’s no need for such oaths.”
Hearing the na of the Styx made stop for a mont.
Swearing an oath by the River Styx was unnecessary, wasn’t it a little too much faith?
If nte and I stayed any longer, the situation might get out of hand, so we quickly moved past the overly devout priest and concealed ourselves as we entered Thebes.
However, as soon as we left the temple connected to the Underworld, we were greeted by a sight...
“The rightful wife of the god Pluto must be the goddess Styx!” soone cried. “Your argunt is weak! She was pierced by a golden arrow from the god Eros, and it was the goddess Persephone...” “That golden arrow was never even ntioned by the priests of Pluto's temple, so stop speculating!” “And how do you explain that Lethe-sama’s statue is placed right next to Pluto’s?”
A crowd of Thebans was fervently debating my marital status. So were arguing passionately, while others seed more amused.
And the size of the crowd... There were more than enough people filling the square in front of the temple. I glanced at nte, and she gave a puzzled look.
“The Goddess of Mint was originally a nymph, then beca a lesser god. Clearly, it’s a sign of Pluto’s affection for her!” “No, she simply made mint, a symbol of Pluto! It doesn’t an love!”
It seems that nte’s story has made the rounds. I wonder if it was really love that turned her into a lesser goddess... or just a reward?
Cao Cao.
At the sa ti, I felt a small hand gently grab mine. I turned to find nte’s gentle touch shyly holding my right hand.
“Hades... I... I’ve been wondering, too.” “nte.” “What do you think of ...?”
It was a question she asked as soon as we stepped out into this world. nte’s face was flushed red, but she looked straight in the eyes as she spoke.
There was a hint of anxiety in her gaze, as if she was asking a question she had always wanted to ask. Surely, it was Zeus, not , who made nte a lesser god.
But as for the question of whether or not I love nte...
“...Hades?”
Her shining turquoise hair and clear eyes. Even as a water nymph, she boasted a beauty that rivaled the goddesses, and now, as a lesser god, she was even more radiant.
Sensing my hesitation, nte quickly spoke again.
“I... I don’t expect to be your consort, not even your concubine...” “nte.”
I raised my hand slowly, gently stroking her hair, and she stopped talking. In the past, I might have avoided this situation, but not anymore.
From the mont I first t nte as a nymph...
to the day she beca a priestess in my temple...
to when she fell in love with and entered the Underworld as a goddess.
Through all her trials, she never lost her smile, her cheerfulness shining through even in the afterlife. Sohow, the Goddess of Mint had found her way into my heart.
“...You don’t have to beg. I don’t hate you.” “Oh...”
nte’s eyes widened, and then she embraced tightly. Her fresh, minty scent filled my nostrils.
I savored the softness of her turquoise hair, but sothing caught my eye behind her.
“I love you, ledipos.” “I love you too, Alkeios.”
Two n, both in their twenties or thirties, were embracing each other. Even the other Theban citizens seed to find nothing unusual about it.
“That’s true love.” “Love with a woman is not a pure form of affection—it’s only for procreation.”
I was taken aback by the sight and quickly glanced around... Hundreds of n, all similarly dressed, were making love in the middle of the street.
Who dares poison my Thebes with this madness?
“...ha. Hades?”
Reviews
All reviews (0)