I, Samael, Am a Good "Father" 1/2

The grand birthday banquet gradually faded into silence amidst the merriment. The Nymph of the water and the monsters of the Arima's Cave rubbed their round bellies and left in lingering satisfaction.

After bidding farewell to the Chiron the Wise, Samael and Tina, seemingly to demonstrate their respect, personally escorted the Serpent Mother to the nearby Arima's Cave.

As the figure receded into the distance, a slightly tipsy Athena turned around and was surprised to find that the cave was empty and quiet.

In a flash, in the corner, the "Aunt Themis" who had stayed behind to keep him company had already set up the chess pieces, smiled and nodded, extending an invitation.

Athena glanced at the deep, Calamity Jane night outside the door, yawned slightly, bent down to sit down at the chessboard, and listlessly fiddled with the pieces, seemingly somewhat bored.

"There's something I've been keeping from you for so long, and I feel it's necessary to tell you now..."

Themis advanced the chess piece, and through the Black Veil covering her eyes, she looked at the ill-fated child with affection, and gently opened her lips.

"Let me guess, you're not trying to say that I'm not that guy's or Tina's, or your biological child, are you? I've known this since I was seven or eight years old."

After giving a nonchalant remark, Athena focused her attention on the battle and raised her hand to respond.

Themis was slightly surprised, paused for a moment, and then spoke softly.

"It seems you've already realized that your real parents are..."

"King of Gods Zeus, Queen of Gods Metis?"

Athena continued to General's Pawn, a playful murmur escaping her lips.

"Uh, you know all of this?"

The Goddess of Justice, who was gathering her emotions and pondering how to calmly reveal the truth without hurting the child's feelings, couldn't help but look astonished.

The knight in the hands of the Goddess of Wisdom charged deep into enemy territory, then rested her chin on her hand and smiled at the Goddess of Justice opposite her.

"The Authority over the Seas, is that hard to guess?"

Then, Athena glanced at the quiet night outside the cave, pursed her cherry lips, and let out a soft hum without any sign of weakness.

"Well, it seems that guy and Tina won't be bothering us anytime soon."

"I appreciate your consideration for my feelings. I'll listen to what you have to say about my biological parents and my past."

Athena casually placed her piece, continuing what Themis considered a serious and profound topic.

Unbeknownst to Athena, the Goddess of Justice, who had been led astray, was now telling her about her origins from a fair and objective perspective.

After patiently listening to the story, the Goddess of Wisdom stroked her chin and nodded slightly in disapproval.

"Hmm, not much different from what I expected. It's another curse entangled in the King of Gods Bloodline, a game of pursuing power mixed with ethics and kinship?"

"So, for such a trivial matter, he didn't dare tell me to my face and had to ask you to relay it?"

Themis gazed wistfully at Athena, feeling a numbness in the muscles of her face.

Clearly, the Goddess of Wisdom guessed correctly once again.

Then, Athena raised one hand and stroked her slightly flushed face, her smile dreamy.

"Tsk tsk, could it be that he's afraid I'll find out the answer and go to Olympus, abandoning him and running away?"

"Well, at least have some confidence in yourself..."

Looking at the child whose biological parents reacted unexpectedly calmly, but who, while complaining about his adoptive father, revealed a hint of inexplicable smugness between the lines, Themis felt her thoughts were somewhat disordered.

"You really don't care about your parents at all? Although Zeus's malice is real, at least your mother Metis still loves you..."

Athena rolled her eyes coquettishly, interrupting the Goddess of Justice's defense, and decided to be frank.

"She loved me? But between me and my father, she still chose my father."

"Reality is reality. Why make things sound so sentimental?"

As the child unabashedly tore open the wounds sealed by time, Themis was speechless.

Zeus and Metis may have felt the same love a parent has for their child towards Athena, but they loved themselves more.

For the sake of those pursuits, children become indifferent to everything.

Athena noticed Themis's somber expression, paused slightly, rubbed her flushed cheeks, which were slightly hot from the alcohol, and softened her tone.

"Yes, my biological father is dead, and my biological mother is dead. In terms of bloodline, they did indeed create me. Queen of Gods did indeed give me the care and love of a mother. I do not deny any of this."

"That's all..."

The Goddess of Wisdom, with a hint of mischief, brought her right slender white index finger to Themis's face, waving it slightly, her eyes filled with amusement as she murmured and pondered.

"Among Samael's ramblings, I think there are a few sentences with logic, which just fits here."

"He gave birth to me, but then saw me as a threat, which led to my abandonment. At most, I am not on good terms with that Olympian King of Gods. As long as he doesn't bother me, I won't bother with him."

"She gave birth to me and was willing to raise and educate me, but she gave up her responsibilities as a mother due to force majeure. At most, I will try to repay her kindness in the future and free her from her confinement. At worst, I will risk my life to return this flesh and blood that she gave me to her. Of course, the premise is that she herself wants to get out."

"Even though we're not related by blood, they were willing to raise me, teach me, care about my every mood, lull me to sleep, remember my birthday every year, and mediate conflicts between me and the other children..."

As Athena pondered, she counted the trivial memories of her childhood on her fingers, her eyes shining with an unusual light.

Finally, the Goddess of Wisdom looked up with a smile and couldn't help but sigh.

"In Greece, where fathers and sons turn against each other and brothers betray each other, you might not find more competent parents anywhere in the world. I'm quite lucky."

In Themis's silence, Athena paused, touched the side of her cheek, recalled the crisis of the day, and couldn't help but smile and murmur.

"Actually, even if he used me as a bargaining chip during the day and actually threw me to Zeus, I would have no reason to resent him..."

"But he chose to protect me, even at the risk of his own life..."

"So, what should I do, and in what way, to repay this adoptive father?"

Faced with Athena's question, Themis for a moment, frowned and fell silent, finally managing a wry smile, unable to give a definite answer.

"Hmm, actually I don't know either, I'll think about it later!"

The Goddess of Wisdom rested her smooth, jade-like chin on her hand, her lips curving into a smile as beautiful as a flower.

Then, after glancing once more at the silent night at the cave entrance, Athena felt somewhat disheartened.

The girl's listless gaze lingered on Themis, and a playful smile curved her lips.

"Finally, Aunt Themis..."

Athena rose slightly, leaned forward, and whispered softly in the ear of the Goddess of Justice.

"He'd rather you risk negotiating with Olympus than reveal my existence..."

Does this mean that in his heart, I am more important than you?