(Greek Mythology) The Abyss
Chapter 57
A message was sent for Danes to come to the Abyss Temple. Although Tartarus was always a cold and unapproachable superior, he didn't have a penchant for forcing women into prostitution (?). At this moment, he decided to ask Danes for her own wishes.
Charon waited anxiously and expectantly for Danes' arrival, but unexpectedly, he was greeted by his father and mother gods first.
With the help of his father and mother gods, the possibility of his wish being fulfilled would be significantly increased, and Charon's heart was practically soaring.
"Brother, Eros is actually going to marry Aphrodite!" Nyx's tone was indignant.
A bucket of cold water was poured over his head. The bad news came too suddenly, and Charon felt he needed to calm down.
"Mother Goddess..." Charon tried to get his attention.
"Shut up. I know about your affairs. Anyway, it's not important. Let's put it aside for now and talk about it later." Nyx indicated that she didn't have time to deal with Charon's trivial matters right now.
...Not important...Let's put it aside...we'll talk about it later...
Three sharp arrows shattered Charon's fragile heart. He desperately wanted to ask, "Mom, are you really my mother?"
With only two younger brothers and over twenty nephews/nieces, was there even a question of who to choose? Tartarus decisively resolved the issue with a single sentence, "If you like her, show some sincerity. If she's willing, I have no objection."
After a pause, Tartarus added, "Don't disturb Denise's work."
Watching Charon suffer was amusing, but affecting himself wouldn't be good, so it was necessary to clarify beforehand.
If she were willing, why would I even bother with you? Charon silently complained in his heart.
Also, Your Majesty Tartarus, I know you're cunning and have a wicked sense of humor, enjoying seeing others suffer, but could you please not unleash your cunning at a time like this? This is a matter of life and death for your nephew, Your Majesty! Charon was about to wail.
"Okay, you can leave now. Go play somewhere else." The second most cunning of them all, Ai Miye, delivered the finishing blow, hitting the bullseye, and patted Charon on the shoulder, signaling him to get out of the way and stop getting in the way.
Charon, his health bar empty, retreated dejectedly. Being surrounded by such cunning people was unbearable! Didn't they have any sympathy?!
Denise, who had just arrived at the Abyss Temple, looked at the temple gate, then at Charon, who had been kicked out.
Huh? Seems like this is none of my business *^_^*
With the resolve not to become a roadblock unless necessary, Denise quickly retreated, her swift and decisive action delivering another blow to Charon's already wounded heart.
Standing at the door, shivering in the cold wind, Charon lamented his broken heart once again, declaring that he needed some peace and quiet. Don't ask him who "peace and quiet" was.
"Eros, Aphrodite isn't a good girl," Erebus earnestly tried to persuade his younger brother. "What's wrong with Aphrodite? I'm going to marry her anyway." In pursuing love, Eros was far braver than Charon; his once clear eyes were now filled with stubbornness and determination.
"She's no good at anything. Who knows how many gods she's been involved with? And you still want to marry her?" Nyx was nearly driven mad by his younger brother. Of all the goddesses out there, why choose Aphrodite, a scheming woman entangled with many gods? Who knew if she truly loved Eros or was just after his status?
"It was all out of necessity, not Aphrodite's own choice," Eros explained for Aphrodite.
Even though this transmigrated version of Aphrodite was completely different from the original, the flirtatious goddess of love and beauty, and also wanted to remain chaste, her stunning beauty, lacking the corresponding power and backing, always left her with many unavoidable circumstances. Even after becoming one of the twelve Olympian gods, she couldn't escape some unpleasant troubles.
"Even if it's unavoidable, it won't work." Nyx didn't care what Aphrodite's reasons were; she was definitely not a good choice.
What a melodramatic, feudalistic family drama of parents forcing a star-crossed couple apart! If only he weren't being asked to make decisions.
Under the watchful eyes of his younger siblings, Tartarus felt incredibly annoyed. Couldn't they just stop coming to him with everything?
Only at times like this did Tartarus genuinely feel that Chaos's absence was a good thing. These kinds of problems should be left to Chaos, the father god, to worry about.
"Are you sure you really like her?"
"Really," Eros answered without hesitation, his tone firm. He then added, emphasizing, "Really more real than pearls."
Really? I really wanted to say really. Eros, you didn't need to add that last sentence. It ruined the atmosphere, you know?
"No regrets?"
"No regrets."
"Since you don't regret it, then marry him."
"Big brother!!" Knicks looked at Tartarus disapprovingly, not understanding why he had given in so easily.
"Eros isn't a child. He has his own choices, and we have no right to make decisions for him," Tartarus calmly explained to Knicks's confusion.
"Second Sister, I am the God of Love and Desire. I've witnessed far too much love—intense, tranquil, heartwarming, sorrowful… I've seen all kinds of love, yet I never truly understood what love was until I met Afu. When she's happy, I'm happy too; when she's sad, my heart aches. Before, I was always restless, always running around, but now, just having her by my side, even just sitting quietly, makes me content. Second Sister, I truly love her."
The former God of Love didn't understand love; to him, love was nothing more than a golden arrow formed from divine power. But after experiencing it firsthand, he understood that some things cannot be simply summarized. Divine power can ignite feelings, but when the power fades, those feelings disappear. Only love from the heart not only doesn't fade with time, but grows richer and more profound.
Growing up sometimes only takes a moment. For tens of millions of years, Eros remained exactly as he was at birth, lively and mischievous to the point of being a headache, lacking any of the composure expected of the first gods.
Now, the deity, whose appearance lay somewhere between a boy and a young man, spoke earnestly, each word deliberate. The childishness of the past had faded, replaced by a newfound composure, truly revealing his unique brilliance.
Looking at Eros like this, what could Nyx say? Although they were born around the same time, she had genuinely raised her youngest brother as her own son. Eros, who had never grown up, had caused her much worry before. But now, Eros understood what he wanted, and she no longer needed to make decisions for him. It was time for her to let go.
"Alright, I agree." With a sigh, Nyx reluctantly conceded, pausing before adding, "But don't expect me to like her."
Eros was overjoyed but also felt a pang of guilt. "Second sister, I'm sorry for causing you all so much trouble before."
Eros was a complete troublemaker, the kind who was particularly prone to causing problems. He'd instigated the two gods, Erebus and Erebus, to shoot Tartarus with the Golden Arrow of Love; he'd caused trouble on Earth and been disciplined by Gaia; he'd uprooted all the flowers Nyx had planted, infuriating Nyx to the point of chasing after his younger brother with a sword; he'd researched until his body disappeared, terrifying his older siblings… the list of troublesome incidents was endless.
Not only the maternal Nyx and Gaia, who shared the land with Eros, but even Tartarus, living in the abyss, had their share of worries about this younger brother. They didn't just raise Eros as a younger brother; they raised him like a son.
So even though Eros didn't need his older siblings' consent to marry Aphrodite, he still told them and tried to persuade Nyx, who disapproved.
Nyx gently stroked Eros's hair, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Fine, what can I do? I'm your sister."
"Second sister..." Eros was moved.
Tartarus, turning his head away from the sight of the two goddesses (sister and brother) so affectionately, found this sentimental scene somewhat unbearable and couldn't feel moved at all.
Also, didn't you guys notice the almost tangible jealousy and resentment emanating from Erebus around you? You're completely ignoring your surroundings, aren't you?
But seriously, so many years have passed, Erebus, how come you're still so jealous? Jealous of your own brother? Can you please stop ruining your image? It's embarrassing for you, but it's also an eyesore for us to watch!
Chapter 57