Episode 61/Chapter 4: Great Hero (4)
TL: Tsubak
ED: StellarRain
Rescuing Demeter was easier than they thought.
It was because after Poseidon's army was liberated, the monsters reverted to beings who wanted to maintain the world.
In addition, Tae Ho was accompanied by Demeter's blood child, Drakon Ismenios.
"She's over there. I'm sure of it. I can feel the aura of mother."
Drakon Ismenios, who was riding on Sleipnir along with Tae Ho, pointed to a distant place. They could see an island in a vast expanse of water.
"Kugh….I'm excited because I haven't seen mother in a long time, but at the same time a little depressed. For the harmonious ride with master to end here……."
Drakon Ismenios let out a teary voice and embraced Tae Ho's waist from behind.
Tae Ho's skin burst out with goosebumps because of the hug, but if he threw a tantrum here they would only be thrown into the water. He forced himself to calm down by reciting the buddhist scriptures and continued to ride Sleipnir to the island.
Based on the words of Poseidon's former army, Poseidon treasured Demeter so much he hid her deep in the sea where not even his closest allies could reach her.
Even from this far the powerful aura of Poseidon could be felt from the island. The sea released an aura this strong even when Poseidon was already dead, so it seemed like he had set up several layers of barriers.
'They said that Demeter was hidden deep in the sea but looking now there's an island……could it be Demeter's work?'
'Probably. No matter what she's still the current Goddess of grain in Olympus. She wasn't able to share Olympus with Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, but her sacred force should still be transcendent.'
Sleipnir flew diligently forward while Tae Ho conversed with Cuchulainn. Sleipnir was a horse who boasted the speed of light when he released his special power just like Talaria, but he was still fast even if he didn't release his power.
The island that was only a small dot on the horizon gre into the size of a watermelon as Tae Ho and Cuchulainn chatted.
Up close the island was a boulder about 10 meters big with a golden haired woman wearing green clothes standing on the middle of it.
At first, she took a cautious stance but then smiled brightly and waved her hand when she recognized them.
"Drakon Ismenios!"
"Mother!"
Drakon Ismenios answered Demeter's call. Tae Ho quickly landed down on the boulder island. Drakon Ismenios jumped down from Sleipnir and ran towards Demeter.Demeter spread her arms and welcomed her son.
'It's an emotional moment.'
'Right.'
They had heard of what Demeter had suffered through from Poseidon's army before coming to this place, so they the tips of their noses tingle.
Among the 12 Olympians, Demeter must be the one who had lived a life with the most ups and downs.
Demeter tightly embracing Drakon Ismenios was really beautiful. Tae Ho and Cuchulainn felt like they could understand why Poseidon had desired her that much.
Demeter displayed abundant and beautiful golden hair resembling a wheat field. She didn't have a sexy face like Aphrodite but exuded a purity that stimulated your desire to protect her. Speaking honestly, Tae Ho felt that she was more beautiful than Aphrodite.
'Well, your love is really solid.'
If they were to say, Demeter really resembled Idun.
She also looked really young, as expected of a Goddess, and she even looked younger than Drakon Ismenios.
Whatever the case, Tae Ho and Cuchulainn were satisfied by the warm scene.
"Mother! This person is the master of Asgard and my own master Lee Tae Ho-nim. Please greet him."
"Master?"
"Yes, that's right! He's a cool person that likes meetings!"
Drakon Ismenios spoke cheerfully and Demeter tilted her head because she thought that she had heard wrong.
It was obvious that Tae Ho's satisfaction was broken.
'Kya, how honest. Being honest is really the best.'
While Cuchulainn laughed, Demeter tilted her head in confusion a few more times and carefully approached Tae Ho. She then bowed down before him.
"I'm the mother of Drakon Ismenios, Demeter. Drakon Ismenios has been a burden for you."
"Ah, no. I always received help from him. I'm the master of Asgard, Lee Tae Ho."
Tae Ho greeted back awkwardly at Demeter's strange introduction. He was reminded of the parental consultation when he used to go to school.
While the both of them were being awkward, smenios butted in once again.
"Mother, master likes receiving meetings from Goddesses a lot. It's the best thing- no, bribe- no, gift to give him saying to take good care of me."
Drakon Ismenios said and raised his thumb.
But Demeter just glanced at Tae Ho with a face full of confusion and chaos. You could tell what she was thinking of just by looking at her shrinking shoulders.
[Hey!]
Tae Ho hurriedly sent a mystical message with a red face. Cuchulainn couldn't endure it anymore and bursted out with laughter.
'He's not wrong. Yep yep, not wrong at all.'
It was true that Tae Ho liked meetings and that it was also the best thing for him to receive.
Drakon Ismenios flinched at Tae Ho's yell but then winked and started to urge Demeter.
"Mother! Quickly, the meeting!"
It seemed like he had misunderstood Tae Ho's anger with pressuring.
"No, even if you say that……"
"You just have to face him and say that you have come to meet him. Hurry!"
Tae Ho grew distracted at Drakon Ismenios' continued attacks and thought of how he should control this situation. However, he was just standing still in a shock and couldn't do anything.
"I, it's a meeting."
"Uh..yes. Tha, thank you."
They exchanged awkward greetings once again.
But Drakon Ismenios wasn't satisfied with that.
"Now, mother! Next comes the blessing!"
"Blessing?"
"W, wait. Drakon Ismenios."
Tae Ho barely regained his wits and tried to stop Drakon Ismenios. Tae Ho's face flushed and his voice trembled as he was really uncomfortable.
Because of this Drakon Ismenios ended up misunderstanding once again.
He turned to look at Tae Ho and Demeter with a surprised face and then spoke while covering his mouth with two hands.
"Huk, is it that you don't want the blessing of mother…..I'm sorry. I'm really slow to catch on things……"
"N, no. It's not that. I really want to receive it."
'You real thoughts are starting to come out.'
Cuchulainn clicked his tongue and Tae Ho bit his lips.
'It's a misunderstanding!'
Tae Ho hurriedly turned to look at Demeter while trying to act like a parent dealing with a student but it was too late. Her green eyes were really warm.
'It's all your retribution, retribution.'
Cuchulainn spoke about retributions even when he wasn't from the Temple.
And meanwhile, Drakon Ismenios who became excited, clapped in joy.
"Certainly! Now, mother! Quickly! You just have to place your lips on master's forehead!"
Drakon Ismenios pulled on Demeter's arm and urged her. Demeter let out a sigh at the actions of her son and turned to face Tae Ho. Her eyes lost its warmth.
"I, I will grant you a blessing."
"Th, thank you."
The lips of Demeter was really soft but Tae Ho felt really pitiful. He now understood what the saying of wanting to hide in a rat hole meant.
[Saga: The warrior that had a Goddess meet him]
[Classification: Olympus]
[Goddess of earth Demeter]
She was added to his Saga.
Right, it should be done with this.
It was a good thing, right?
Tae Ho tried to comfort himself but it hadn't yet. The attack of Drakon Ismenios hadn't ended yet.
"Whew, mother. Now you just have to have meetings with master every time you can. Kugh, if I was also a Goddess I would do it everyday….."
Drakon Ismenios' eyes reddened in regret from his imagination.
The only thing Tae Ho could do now was to apologize.
"I, I'm sorry Demeter-nim."
"No, he was originally like that…….I'm the one that should be sorry."
The two people- no, Gods were deeply bowing to each other.
"Ah, anyways. Uh, um. I will go to the main topic."
'What, wasn't receiving the blessing the main point?'
'Cuchulainn!'
'Right, I will stop here. I already got cursed at a lot.'
Cuchulainn shutting his mouth in consideration was truly hateful.
Anyways, they should really start discussing more important topics. Tae Ho checked his surroundings and said.
"Demeter-nim. We should move places for now."
Continuing to speak in the middle of an island in the middle of the sea was not possible. The sunlight was hot and there were no shadows to hide under.
Tae Ho called down Sleipnir and extended his hand to Demeter.
"It's the fine horse of Asgard, Sleipnir. Just for a moment will you ride on him together with me?"
Demeter examined Sleipnir. It seemed like she was interested in the eight legged horse of Asgard.
"I will. But won't it be too small for three people to ride on it?"
"I will summon Drakon Ismenios when we arrive."
This would make speaking more comfortable.
It looked like he was neglecting someone, but it seemed like Demeter didn't mind. Demeter laughed and embraced her son.
"I will see you later."
"Yes, mother."
Drakon Ismenios smiled brightly and waved his hand as Tae Ho flew up to the sky with Demeter sitting in front of him.
"Demeter-nim, I will first tell you about the situation."
While they flew across the sea, Tae Ho started speaking. He didn't know how much Demeter knew, so he recounted his entire experience since arriving on Olympus.
By the time they arrived on land, the story came to a conclusion. Demeter carefully turned around to look up at Tae Ho and nodded.
"Indeed, that's why you need a way to contact with Gainim?"
"Yes, reinforcements from Asgard have arrived but this is still war between Olympus and Asgard. We certainly need Gainim's help to know why the Protogenoi joined the enemy and how many old gods have turned."
'You also want to receive receive her blessing.'
'Ugh really, Cuchulainn!'
'Why, you aren't going to receive it when you meet her? Huh? She's a primeval God!.'
'No….it's not that.'
'Child, throw away your mask and be honest with yourself. Look at me, how good is it if you are honest like me?'
"Master?"
Demeter invertened. She resembled Idun when she tilted her head and looked at him with worried eyes.
Tae Ho hurriedly regained hold of himself and shook his head.
"Ah, I'm sorry. Someone from Asgard contacted me."
Bragi's rune worked diligently today as usual. Demeter opened her eyes widely and asked.
"Is something urgent?"
"No. Anyways….the current situation is like this. I know that it's impolite to ask you this when I have just rescued you but I hope you can help us."
When Sleipnir reached the shore Tae Ho jumped down first and helped Demeter dismount from Sleipnir. He then silently looked at her.
Demeter glanced atTae Ho for a moment and smiled.
"It's a matter of Olympus so the Gods of Olympus should take the lead. I'm just grateful for the help of Asgard."
She stopped speaking and then stood on her toes and kissed Tae Ho on his cheek.
"Let the blessing of the earth accompany you."
This wasn't a simple blessing. Tae Ho felt a part of Demeter's divine power enter him. There was also knowledge contained in that divine power.
The location of Gaia.
The only one roaming the world freely among the Protogenoi.
"It's a secret only you should know."
Demeter whispered in Tae Ho's ear and Tae Ho nodded.
And he also understood why Demeter hadn't been able to ask Gaia for help before.
The ancient God of earth, Gaia.
Her territory was the furthest away from the sky, the territory of Zeus who she disliked the most It was located in the deepest part of the sea.
However, there was only five days until the promised day with Odin.
< Episode 61 - Great Hero (4) > End
TL note: Thanks for reading~
Episode 61/Chapter 5: Great Hero (5)
TL: Tsubak
ED:
Tae Ho escorted Demeter and returned to Mesena for now.
Only one day had passed since the battle with Poseidon so most of the people like Echidna couldn't shake off the after effects of the battle but the forces of Mesena had to move to Delphos so the preparations to move was still going on even though it was late in the night.
"Demeter."
"Athena. You have gone through a lot. I can know it looking at your face."
"You have been through more things than me. I'm glad, really glad."
Athena embraced Demeter and said. It was an action that didn't suit her as she was usually stiff and hard headed so Demeter opened her eyes roundly out of surprise and embraced Athena.
Even if that wasn't the case Hestia that was the one that comforted her had lost consciousness and wasn't able to wake up and Hermes, her only companion, lost his legs along his motivation so Athena had also become quite depressed.
In addition, the forces of Asgard made her feel more complicated.
They were certainly glad to see but Olympus could only lean and depend on their good will. It wasn't an equal allied relationship but a one sided one.
She couldn't not feel glad when one of the 12 Olympians, Demeter, appeared quite safe. While they were embracing each other Athena even shed some tears.
"Hephaestus is also safe."
"The master of Asgard told me. He said he also accomplished a great deed."
"He did. I'm proud of him as one of the 12 Olympians."
When Athena smiled brightly, Demeter opened her eyes roundly once again and then laughed.
It was a bit weird to say this but she liked the current Athena more than the previous one.
In the other hand, Athena flushed at Demeter's smile and then turned to look at Tae Ho.
"I'm really grateful to you for having rescued Demeter."
When she expressed her thanks politely Tae Ho, that was looking at the warm reencounter of the two Goddesses shook his hand and said.
'Of course, of course. For real. If you deny that you aren't a God and even a person.'
Tae Ho ignored Cuchulainn's words that scratched his conscience and thought why he was being like this all day and Demeter laughed just like Idun.
"I also came to meet you."
Demeter spoke brightly and approached Tae Ho. She then kissed Tae Ho in his cheek like how she did in the shore.
"Let my blessing accompany you."
"Th, thank you."
As Tae Ho's face turned red completely, Demeter laughed once again. Athena didn't laugh that boldly but looking at how she was trembling while having turned around, it seemed like she was trying not to laugh.
"Anyways…..enjoy your encounter."
Tae Ho left the place for the two people.
And the next morning.
"Hm hm hm."
Adenmaha hummed because of what she heard last night before going to sleep. She really looked like a child that was about to go to an excursion.
"You are feeling good?"
"Hm hm hm."
Adenmaha hummed once again at Tae Ho's words and then gathered her lips and looked at her surroundings with expectant eyes.
But she couldn't see what she was looking for no matter where she looked at.
'Uh, huh?'
Adenmaha got flustered and turned to look at Tae Ho after blinking a few times and Tae Ho tilted his head as if asking if there was something wrong.
"Adenmaha, transform. Let's fly quickly."
"Um….we aren't going to ride on Sleipnir?"
Drakon Ismenios had boasted about it a lot.
Adenmaha had resoluted herself expecting that he would do the same for her!
"Sleipnir, wait nearby."
Tae Ho spoke like that and then spread the wings of light at his back and held Adenmaha's waist with one arm.
There was a deep and black sea below them. If it was like Demeter had said, the deepest trench in the world should be below them.
Adenmmaha spread her arms while clinging on to Tae Ho and brought up her divine power.
She had become the Goddess of beauty and love of Erin but she was still a Goddess of sea.
"Power of the sea!"
She didn't split the sea below them and instead a thick and transparent barrier covered them in a round way.
It was impossible to split thousands of kilometers down the sea even if Adenmaha's divine power had been strengthened.
Tae Ho added some runes on the transparent barrier Adenmaha made. It was to reinforce the barrier to be able to endure the overwhelming pressure of the sea.
When the task ended, Tae Ho retrieved his wings and embraced Adenmaha from her waist. The transparent barrier was formed with Adenmaha as the center and because of that Tae Ho was the one that got to hang on her.
Adenmaha flinched when Tae Ho embraced her by the waist and then spoke with courage.
"Master, grab more tightly."
"More?"
"A bit more."
'Do it with moderation, moderation. Master, I want to see you.'
Tae Ho listened to Cuchulainn's teary voice and entered the sea with Adenmaha. One of the runes Tae Ho had engraved started to shine and drove away the darkness.
And after some time passed.
When they were starting to get afraid of driving away the darkness at their surroundings because they got able to see the strange creatures living deep in the sea.
The pair finally arrived at the floor of the sea.
"It's a shrine."
Adenmaha opened her eyes roundly and spoke. It had a complicated structure maybe because it was deep in the sea but there was certainly a shrine with Olympus' peculiar shape in front of their eyes.
The shrine was really huge. Even Delphos, that was the biggest shrine Tae Ho saw in Olympus, was small compared to it. He was just guessing but he didn't think that Delphos was even half the size of this.
Tae Ho reinforced the transparent barrier once again and glanced at Adenmaha. She then made the barrier advance to the insides of the shrine.
There was nothing inside of the shrine besides pillars. When they kept advancing forward they saw stairs connecting to the underground and when they kept going down hundreds of stairs they passed the surface of the water at some point.
Tae Ho and Adenmaha looked above them with surprised eyes. They could see the surface splashing as if the world had turned upside down and they could see a really deep sea beyond that.
Adenmaha turned to look at Tae Ho and he nodded. When Adenmaha dispelled the transparent barrier, a bright and cold air welcomed them.
"I will take the lead."
Tae Ho started to go down the stairs carefully and then, the walls that were filling their surroundings disappeared at some point. A vast and white space appears and a huge woman was lying down below the stairs.
It was a woman that had black hair and light brown skin. She was wearing clothes that were similar to Echidna but the color of her clothes was white so the skin and the color of the hair of the woman showed even more.
'Hey, you will die by getting blessings from her.'
Cuchulainn spoke with a dumbfounded voice. That was because the woman- the primeval God of earth Gaia, was too huge. There was still some distance between them but they felt like they would get overwhelmed at her size.
It seemed like she easily surpassed a 100 meters and she felt even bigger than that perhaps because she had the appearance of a woman.
Adenmaha gulped dry saliva and grabbed Tae Ho's sleeve. Tae Ho walked down the stairs with calm steps to calm her down.
The face of Gaia that was sleeping was a bit different to Demeter's or Hestia's. Her face gave a sharp and scary impression compared to the other two that gave a soft and gentle feeling.
Actually, the one that resembled Gaia the most among the 12 Olympians was Hera but Tae Ho still hadn't met her yet so he thought of Scathach, the one that gave the sharpest impression among the ones he knew.
He finally reached the end of the stairs and at that moment, Gaia opened her eyes when Tae Ho placed his feet in the floor.
The huge green eyes observed Tae Ho and Adenmaha. Her eyes didn't seem like she had just woken up but emanated light as if she was already awake.
She, that was lying down in one of her arms, looked at Tae Ho and Adenmaha that stopped by reflex. She opened her eyes a bit sharply and then fixed her posture.
She just raised her head from her arm but just with that small motion the reach of her eyes increased by ten meters.
[You are unexpected guests.]
Gaia said. The voices of the Gods spread into the white and vast place.
But it wasn't loud. It did vibrate a bit but the tone was just right to listen and her voice was also soft and clear.
"I'm the master of Asgard Lee Tae Ho. I greet the ancient God of Earth."
"Adenmaha, a Valkyrie of Idun's legion and Erin's Goddess of love and beauty, greets the ancient God of earth."
Gaia smiled with her eyes as Tae Ho and Adenmaha expressed etiquette first.
[Nice to meet you Gods of a foreign world. I would also like to stand up and express etiquette but the difference in height of our eyes will become too big. Sorry that i'm lying down.]
The reaction was quite fine. Tae Ho and Adenmaha got relieved unconsciously and then turned to look at themselves and then looked at Gaia again.
"Ancient Goddess of Earth Gaia, we came to find you because we have something we want to ask you."
[I can feel the power of Demeter from you. And also the power of Athena and Hestia. You also have the power of that incredule Echidna….how strange. In some meaning you are worse than Zeus.]
There was a bit of displeasure in Gaia's voice. For her, thinking about Zeus, was not pleasing at all.
Tae Ho hurriedly activated the rune of Bragi and continued speaking.
"The Goddess of soil Demeter told me where you were at."
[Right, I can see that looking at the power of Demeter in you. It's not forced. That child judged it herself and told you. That means that you came to find me because of something really important.]
The eyes of Gaia became a bit sharper. Tae Ho took a deep breath and then spoke about what had happened to Gaia.
[It wasn't the time to be sleeping comfortably.]
Gaia spoke in a low voice after she listened to everything. But it somehow didn't give off a feeling of motivation. It was rather felt like she was feeling desperate.
[Master of a foreign world, what is it that you wish? What do you want to know?]
"The reason why the primeval Gods turned like this and their situation…..and the method to beat them."
Gaia closed her eyes for a moment at Tae Ho's request. She read the memory of Mesena aside from Tae Ho's story and then opened her eyes while twisting her eyebrows.
[I think that I will have to explain about us, primeval Gods, first.]
[You have already experienced the power of the Protogenoi….us, ancient Gods as Poseidon had the power of Pontus in him.]
The reason Poseidon could pull an overwhelming amount of sea water deep inland was because of the power of Pontus. Tae Ho could clearly feel a different kind of divinity compared to the other Gods as he had actually fought with Poseidon.
[Pontus and I are different. I'm an ancient God that has been personalized and materialized. I obtained flesh and freedom of movement and obtained an ego to be able to think and act by myself but I have been weakened due to that.]
Gaia slowly raised the arm she was placing in her waist. When she rolled her finger in the air, the power of the Earth manifested in her hand but what was drawn in Gaia's face was a bitter smile.
[Pontus is a concept God. He is the sea itself and his power is really overwhelming. The two of us are ancient Gods but he should be a dozen times more powerful than mine. But he doesn't have a consciousness and that's why he can't have hostility or hospitality. Poseidon brought up and used the power of Pontus but Pontus doesn't oppose you. Not having taken revenge on you even when Poseidon died at your hands is proof of that. If he really had the will to take revenge on you, then how is it that you were able to cross the sea and meet me?]
In other words it means that Pontus did aid Poseidon with his strength but he hadn't dazzled him.
"Are you saying that the one that is bewitching Zeus is an ancient God like Gainim that has obtained flesh?"
Gaia shook her head at Tae Ho's question.
[It's different. The only ancient Gods that obtained flesh are me and Uranus. There exist personality Gods that hadn't been able to obtain flesh but still have a will and are in the middle between me, a personality God and Pontus, a concept God.]
Gaia looked to a distant place. Her face was one that was thinking of her old acquaintances.
[The one that is bewitching Zeus should probably be Nyx. She, that was born with me, has desired for a long time to return to the void of Chaos. I'm a bit doubtful as to why she acted so suddenly but it's not that i'm not able to understand her actions.]
It was similar to what Echidna, Athena,etc. had guessed.
The Goddess of night Nyx.
The Goddess of darkness that gave birth to death.
Adenmaha, that had been listening silently, raised her hand and asked.
"Gainim. If Pontus is a concept God with no will…..then can we also borrow his power just like Poseidon did?"
[That's impossible. The ruler of the sea Poseidon has been able to use his power because he is his proper successor.]
Nyx wasn't the one that connected the power without a will. It was an authority of Poseidon itself.
[The ruler of the sky Zeus is able to use the power of Uranus. On top of him, Nyx and his other supporters are also able to obtain power from him. The personality Gods that have a will are able to support others with their own strength.]
That was the reason Odin sought to attack the mount of Olympus directly. Even if that wasn't the case, they had to stop the already strong Zeus from becoming even stronger by obtaining strength from the ancient Gods.
[But the biggest obstacle is Heracles.]
Gaia frowned and said and started to speak about things Tae Ho and Adenmaha didn't know of.
[The Gigantes entered Olympus. They are heading to the mount of Olympus. This means that Heracles has turned into a being wanting to destroy the world.]
Athena's guess was wrong. Heracles had turned into their enemy and in addition he had joined the Gigantes.
[Master of the foreign world. You won't be able to evade having the decisive battle on the mount of Olympus. In the end, if you aren't able to defeat Zeus in that land the battle won't end. But it won't be easy and perhaps impossible.]
Worry spread in Gaia's face and the tone of her voice had dropped a lot.
[Zeus is certainly the king of Gods. He possess strength stronger than all the other 12 Olympians gathered together but he isn't the strongest one of Olympus.]
"Are you saying that….Heracles is stronger than Zeus?"
Tae Ho asked in surprise and Cuchulainn also got flustered at the unexpected truth.
[It is like that in the mount of Olympus.]
Gaia took a breath and then looked to a distant place.
[Heracles is a being that was born to protect Olympus from Gigantomachy…..the final war. You could say that he's the real protector of Olympus. Because of that, he's invincible when he is protecting the path going to the mount of Olympus. His strength surpasses Zeus when he gets assisted by all of Olympus.]
"Are you saying that he can take the entire world as his own sacred force?"
Tae Ho interpreted Gaia's words in his own way. There was bitterness and joy showing in Gaia's face at the same time.
[That's right. Heracles is an existence like that in the mount of Olympus. In addition, he doesn't need such things like belief. He simply gets assisted by the power of the world itself.]
The protector of Olympus.
The being that becomes immortal when he protects the path leading to the mount of Olympus.
"Master….."
Adenmaha grabbed on Tae Ho's sleeve and expressed fear. Tae Ho gulped dry saliva and then raised his head.
"Oh Gaia, I have something to request. Can you listen to me?"
[Do you want my help? If you do, I can support you with a bit of my strength but you won't be able to beat Heracles in the mount of Olympus.]
Tae Ho also understood that. It wasn't that Gaia was looking down on him at all. Gaia knew about the strength of Tae Ho really well as she could read the memory of the earth. But regardless of that, she was still saying that he won't be able to beat Heracles in the mount of Olympus.
"I know that. What I want is something else."
The thing that popped up in his head when he heard about Gaia's story.
The conquest method made by his senses and base as a progamer to win a battle that is close to impossible to win.
Tae Ho said and Gaia listened. And at the end of his story she feigned a laughter. But that feigned laugher soon changed into a refreshing one.
[I will do that. I will fulfill your wish. I won't save any assistance you want at all.]
Gaia affirmed. She rose half of her upper body and then extended her big hand towards Tae Ho and Adenmaha.
[And this is an extra.]
What she could know because she had read the memory of the earth regardless of the promised assistance.
[It's a meeting.]
Gaia said while smiling and Tae Ho got on her palm while expressing embarrassment and happiness at the same time. While Adenmaha was letting out a troubled sigh, Gaia's huge lips blessed Tae Ho.
And the morning after four days.
All the forces heading to the mount of Olympus gathered in Delphos.
< Episode 61 - Great Hero (5) > End
TL note: Thanks for reading~
Episode 61/Chapter 6: Great Hero (6)
TL: Tsubak
ED:
The distance between Delphos and the mount of Olympus wasn't that far.
If they took into account the time the Goddess of Earth Demeter would take to tidy up the path, four to five days was enough.
In addition, if Athena blessed the march of the army as the Goddess of warfare and Hermes added the blessing of the swift runner, the marching speed would become much faster.
But of course, arriving fast wasn't always the best thing as it was meaningless to arrive in the middle of the night.
They also needed time to rest after arriving and there were also many things besides that which they had to take into account.
And the conclusion Odin came up with after taking into account all of those things was that he would use four days on the march.
The warriors of Valhalla gathered in their legions and advanced.
The big legions acted independently but the small ones joined with each other just like what Tae Ho experienced in his first expedition.
"So Gaia won't step forward by herself."
Thor listened about Gaia from Tae Ho and Adenmaha and spoke in a regretful tone.
They were riding on a big carriage being pulled by six horses and Odin was seated next to Thor.
Odin, that was reading a book filled with recorded runes, closed it and then buried his body in the back of the chair and said.
"I wanted to see her at least once."
"Well, you have never seen an ancient God before. She was really big but also really beautiful….."
There were beautiful beings among the giants of Jotunheim but the huge giants that reached a hundred meters all had the appearances of monsters. But they said that Gaia was really beautiful regardless of her size so it was impossible to not get interested in her.
And actually, Thor was really curious about the existences called the ancient Gods. It was because they were beings that he couldn't even think of in Asgard.
Odin closed his eyes. His only eye that could see through all things grasped the biggest reason that Thor mentioned.
"All the ancient Gods of Asgard are dead. You already know that the soul and flesh of Ymir has become the base of Asgard, Midgard and the several worlds right?"
"I do. The ancient God Audhumbla has also perished."
The cow Audhumbla that was born with Ymir was also the creator of the Aesir race.
She raised Ymir with her milk and licked on a wall of salt to give birth to the Aesir race but one day she disappeared without any words.
Thor was bothered at the part that Odin was affirming that Audhumbla had died but he didn't say it out loud.
Compared to Olympus, that was being influenced by the ancient Gods, all the ancient Gods of Asgard were existences of the past that had already disappeared.
"And son, she didn't step out directly but…..Gaia has promised plenty of assistance and she is actually performing it."
"I know."
Thor also knew. She had promised to assist Tae Ho with her own strength and would also assist a lot of strength in the most important strategy.
She didn't fight directly but her assistance was already more than enough.
But regardless of that, Thor was still putting an unsatisfied expression. Odin laughed out loud and then put on an ill natured expression as if teasing him.
"It seems like you have complains that it isn't you."
"Rather than complains….it's regret."
The one fighting against Heracles was Tae Ho, not himself.
This was already something that was decided and they couldn't change it.
Odin closed his only eye and said.
"It's unavoidable. Compared to Tae Ho, you are a pure Aesir. It's impossible to receive the power of an ancient God from a foreign world completely. In addition….the only one that can accomplish this strategy is Tae Ho."
Heracles was a being that became immortal when he guarded the path leading to mount of Olympus. It was impossible for even the strongest battle God of Asgard to defeat him.
The only strategy to defeat him.
Thor couldn't conduct it. Just like Odin had said, it was something only Tae Ho could do.
"My way to think magnanimously resembles father's."
Thor shook his head as if shaking away his regret and spoke with an admiring voice.
Just like Odin had said, he felt regret that he wasn't able to fight with Heracles but he didn't feel any remorse towards Tae Ho besides that. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that he rather liked it.
Odin nodded slowly.
Thor didn't show any complaints just like when Odin chose Valdur as his successor. He rather supported Odin saying that being king suited Valdur more.
Thor knew well that he was a warrior. That's why he didn't feel envy towards Tae Ho when he became the successor of Odin.
And Odin was grateful towards that Thor.
"He's my successor. Just like you possess strength and courage that surpasses mine, I hope he also surpasses me."
The size of this battle was a really huge one where the Gods of Olympus, the Gigantes, countless monsters and warriors of Valhalla participated in but in the end, the ones that would decide victory and battle of this battle were Heracles and Tae Ho.
"Will we be able to succeed?"
Thor spoke in a low voice. He was someone that didn't know what fear was when he went out to battle but he couldn't participate in this strategy actively. The only thing he could do was pray for victory.
"We have to make it so that it succeeds."
Odin smiled and answered. Actually he was also uneasy. He knew better than anyone else what would be the results if they lost this battle.
But Odin was accustomed to fighting with fear. Even the promised destruction couldn't bend his will.
Odin looked out the window and Thor did the same. The place the eyes of the two Gods reached was the carriage Tae Ho was on.
&
"Um, Adenmaha is certainly prettier."
Tae Ho looked at the two Goddesses that were sitting in front of him and pretended to think in a really troubled way and spoke without even wondering about it.
The face of Adenmaha became bright as a blooming flower at Tae Ho's decision and Freya's face contorted a lot.
"What a one sided judgement. What did Cuchulainn say?"
"That Scathach-nim is the prettiest."
"Damned bastards."
Freya pouted her lips in unsatisfaction. At first she did that as a joke but it seemed like it scratched her pride as she was still the Goddess of beauty.
But she was also the Goddess of love. Because of that, she knew better than anyone else how powerful was the power of love.
"But you are still prettier than Aphrodite."
Freya snorted as Tae Ho spoke carefully.
"Leave it."
She was snorting but looking at her eyes and lips, it seemed like she felt a bit better than before.
"Anyways, I don't know what Idun and Heda like about you. The same goes for her."
When Freya pointed at Adenmaha with her chin, Nidhogg that was sitting while embracing Hydra raised her head and said.
"Nidhogg also likes Tae Ho master."
"Alright, like him as much as you would. And let her go. Doesn't she feel hot?"
"Hydra, are you hot?"
Hydra, that was dozing off, shook her head as Nidhogg asked her while blinking.
"I'm not."
"She says she's not."
Nidhogg smiled brightly and embraced Hydra even tighter and Freya shook her head.
"This time too, anyways…..it seems like the general preparations had ended. You just have to rest comfortably until we arrive. That's the only method to increase our chances to succeed even by a little more."
The carriage Tae Ho and the group were on was different to the traditional ones. It was a square space that had no seats and had a solid floor with runes and magic circles filling it up.
In the first place, the reason Tae Ho and Freya got on the same carriage wasn't to exchange jokes.
There was something she had to do with Tae Ho.
"Thank you."
Tae Ho looked at the rock that was the size of a watermelon placed between himself and Freya. The rock that was filled with rune magic didn't only contain Tae Ho's and Freya's divine power but also Odin's, Echidna's, Athena's, etc. the divine powers of several Gods.
The preparations for the strategy.
This was everything Tae Ho had to do but there were still many things Freya had to do. It was something on she could do as the Goddess of magic.
"It's my honor i'm able to be of help for the master. It's also a necessary thing….right, there was still one more thing I could do for you."
Freya dropped her shoulders with a slow posture and then clapped her hands and started to crawl towards him.
"It's a meeting."
She then grabbed Tae Ho's cheeks and gave him the best blessing.
"Let my blessing accompany you."
Freya licked her lower lip as if she had eaten something delicious and said. Tae Ho put a dumbfounded expression at her warm breath and eyes and Freya got satisfied with that. She giggled and continued to say.
"I'm also going to do it tomorrow so you can be expecting it. It will be fun if I bring all the Valkyries and do it in turns. I should record it and show it to Idun. Tomorrow is a meeting-blessing parade!"
Freya laughed like an aunty that liked such things and got out of the carriage without Tae Ho being able to grab her.
A meeting-blessing parade.
Tae HO imagined that scene unconsciously and got absent minded once again and Cuchulainn, that imagined the same thing, spoke in a low voice.
'Hey Tae Ho, can I stab you once?'
'Please don't. I will die if you stab me with Gae Bolg.'
'I was planning to do that to kill you.'
It was when they were exchanging nonsense like usual.
"Um…master?"
"Tae Ho master?"
Adenmaha and Nidhogg grabbed each of Tae Ho's arm. Adenmaha reflected earnestness and a competitive feeling in her face as if she couldn't lose and Nidhogg was as bright as always.
'I should really stab you.'
Cuchulainn said and Rolo and Sleipnir that were flying above the carriage shook their heads at the same time as if they agreed to before hand.
&
The trip to the mount of Olympus was smooth.
It seemed like the enemy was also planning to have the decisive battle in the mount of Olympus that they didn't show any will to obstruct their path.
That's why the four day trip was peace itself.
Excluding the time when Cuchulainn controlled Gae Bolg to try to stab Tae Ho because Scathach gave Tae Ho the best blessing.
And when the sun was setting and night approached.
The alliance of Asgard and Olympus arrived at the mount of Olympus.
&
The mount of Olympus wasn't a simple place.
It was a place that connected the mortal and Godly world and at the same time the central axis that maintained the world called Olympus.
They could only approach the world of the Gods and the residence of the 12 Olympians through the mount of Olympus.
The had to pass the path of the mount of Olympus to arrive at the king of Gods Zeus.
Heracles sat in the path of the mount and looked at a far place.
A base of the alliance of Asgard and Olympus was being set up near the mount of Olympus in a place that he could start the battle in the afternoon if he departed in the morning.
Heracles didn't attack. He was planning to wait for them to attack first.
The protector of Olympus.
The being that is immortal when guarding the path of the mount of Olympus.
It was actually like that. Heracles could feel the power of the world being transmitted to him endlessly from the sky, the ground and everywhere else.
Heracles was invincible and at the same time immortal.
Nothing at all could inflict an injury on him if he was on the path of the mount. In addition, even he couldn't inflict an injury on himself.
He would massacre the enemy in this land.
As time was on their side.
Heracles raised his head and looked at the night sky. The countless beings that emanated dim and weak light were shining the sky along the stars.
They were the souls of the dead ones.
The souls that couldn't enter the underworld after Hades sealed it had gathered at the holiness of the mount of Olympus.
The more the battle prolonged, the number of lost souls would increase. And the change that got induced to do that wouldn't be satisfying for the enemy. The crumbling of the balance of the world was like a nightmare for the beings that wanted to maintain the world.
Heracles looked inside of Olympus. Aphrodite was seducing Dionysius and the Gigantes that came from the end of the world were desiring for battle in several places of the mount of Olympus.
The heroes of the Argo also prepared for the battle that would take place tomorrow and were doing their own things.
Heracles stood up. He then walked on the path slowly and looked at the path that connected with the world of the Gods that was completely sealed. He then looked down on the Goddess that was chained up and scattered in front of him.
The queen of Gods Hera.
She wasn't dead but was in a state that was no different from that. She got her divine power plundered by Zeus without stop so she couldn't even lift a finger.
The glory of Hera.
Heracles.
Heracles muttered his name once and smiled bitterly. He looked beyond Hera, the subject for his love and hatred, and then looked at the connecting path that lead to the world of Gods. White light was gathering like fog and taking up the appearances of pillars.
"Father."
The king of Gods Zeus.
And the existences that transmitted his voice to Zeus.
Heracles turned around and looked below the mount of Olympus.
The night was deepening.
And the morning for the decisive battle was approaching.
< Episode 61 - Great Hero (6) > End
TL note: Thanks for reading~