Before the temple of Hephaestus,
accompanied by a gust of wind, two figures landed like shooting stars.
It was a grand and towering temple, but strangely enough, despite resting at the foot of a volcano, it was startlingly white, looking entirely out of place in its surroundings.
In ancient Greek mythology, Hephaestus was not only the god of fire and smithing, but also a deity of sculptural art.
She had designed and forged the temples of nearly all the Olympian major gods.
For example, Demeter's temple, blooming with flowers and brimming with life and vitality, and King of the Underworld Hades's grand, pitch-black, dark and profound Underworld temple, and so on.
Such craftsmanship truly befitted divine technology.
Functioning as an existing "armory" of a warship, she was an entity that the gods dared not provoke lightly; though she had now become a pure concept god, she remained immensely powerful.
Hermes slowly set Thaumas down, then calmly busied himself tidying his appearance, and the winged boots he had lent to Thaumas returned to his own feet.
He gently tapped the grand doors with his staff, muttered a few incantations under his breath, and after a moment, said to Thaumas:
"Kid, I have business to attend to, so I won't be going in. You're on your own now.
I'll be cheering for you, oh!"
With that, ignoring Thaumas entirely, he flew straight off without even looking back, making it quite clear that even he was unwilling to face this goddess Hephaestus.
What an absolute piece of work. You're great for watching the show, but nowhere to be found when trouble hits; sooner or later, you'll get what's coming to you.
Next,
the gates of the temple slowly opened, and a beautiful woman walked out.
Huh? Is this the god of fire?
Why does she look a bit different from Hera? Could Hera have been cheated on again?
Wait, that's not right—wasn't Hephaestus supposed to be in a wheelchair?
Ah, he understood now. Could this be Hephaestus's god-crafted technology?
Just like the dolls of the modern Einzbern family, only Hephaestus's technology was far more powerful.
It certainly looked lifelike, but there was an inexplicable sense of wrongness to it.
Not just in appearance, but in feeling.
"Please come with me, Master Hephaestus has been waiting for a long time." Before Thaumas could even open his mouth to ask, the maid busied herself with speaking.
Then, under the maid's urging, she grabbed his hand and dragged him forward, giving him no opportunity to speak at all.
Hey, hey, hey!
Seriously,
can you slow down a bit! Where's the fire?
After they left, the temple gates closed automatically.
Thus,
before a pure white door inlaid with various gems, many pots of flowers were placed. This was Hephaestus's room.
Without a word, the maid began tidying his clothes and appearance, sprayed him with a bit of perfume, and then earnestly exhorted him:
"Once you go in later, you must remember to maintain respect for Master Hephaestus. Don't speak too softly, but don't speak too loudly either. More importantly, you must remain humble..."
The maid rattled on with one instruction after the other, but Thaumas listened very intently; this was the wisdom of someone who had been there before, and he had no choice but to listen.
Yet immediately he regretted it,
was she really going to keep talking like this?
This maid chattered on incessantly, showing no intention of stopping whatsoever.
Fortunately,
just as he was about to reach his limit,
"What is the meaning of this! Where is he, why hasn't he come in yet!" Hephaestus roared angrily, then opened the door herself, slowly wheeling herself over in a wheelchair.
"Master—" The maid wore a panic-stricken expression and immediately hurried behind Hephaestus to push her wheelchair.
Upon learning what had happened, Hephaestus reiterated fiercely:
"If I didn't lack the time to forge another, I'd dismantle you right now."
"Y-Yes! Master, I was wrong." The maid answered weakly, like a startled white rabbit, not daring to talk back.
Having finished disciplining her disobedient toy,
Hephaestus turned her gaze back toward this newly arrived toy:
"What is your name?"
"Beautiful goddess, my name is Thaumas.
I have come this time to request your help in forging a divine artifact for me, and to help me forge a body invulnerable to blades and spears," Thaumas said respectfully.
"Beautiful? You actually think I'm beautiful!" Hephaestus said viciously.
Was the focus really on that?
Unceremoniously, she snatched the bracelet Hera had given him, examined it closely in her hand, and delicately traced the patterns upon it.
"You really are favored by her, to have even been given this bracelet."
Hephaestus said in a somewhat dazed tone, but her words suddenly shifted,
"Yet you shouldn't lie to me! Even she—my own mother—thinks I am so hideous! And you actually call me beautiful! Answer me, human individual named Thaumas!"
The angry goddess was struggling to maintain her sanity; envy made her rage burn, jealousy distorted her features, and "deception" ignited her hatred!
Her eyes bore such a striking resemblance to Hera's, but the light within them was masked by negative emotions.
Blazing flames ignited in her eyes, and she was invoking her privileges as a deity!
Even if the fury consumed her, she wanted to know the answer for herself, and then tear this lying human to pieces with her own hands!
"What is this? Eh..." Thaumas sighed, letting out a breath of relief.
"If that's all it is, I can tell you quite clearly, Goddess: you really are quite pretty. Even with this pattern on your face, it's actually rather interesting, you know?
Rumors really aren't very reliable; you aren't ugly at all. You've got plenty of your own style—a unique kind of beauty, perhaps?"
With that said, then, she would simply take this tiny human's life. A follower of Queen of Heaven Hera, the child she favored—the price of lies was death!
Hm?
Wait, tr—true words...
Does he genuinely think I'm beautiful?
Ah... th—this...
No, the damned liar! He even dared to attempt to deceive a god's authority; his crimes are unforgivable...
I must—
"Goddess Hephaestus—? Goddess!"
At Thaumas's call, Hephaestus finally snapped out of it. She felt no shyness or the like; such things belonged to young maidens, not to her.
She was simply astonished. Even her good friend Athena had never spoken such words to her.
"Human, you have transgressed against me!" Hephaestus stated thus.
Hearing this, the maid behind her immediately drew a weapon, glaring hostilely at Thaumas. At a single word from Hephaestus, she was ready to help Thaumas become a Heroic Spirit.
However, Hephaestus waved a hand, signaling the maid to stop, and then conjured a pure white chain out of thin air.
This was taken from the very chair once offered to Queen of Heaven Hera—a chain that had once bound the Queen of Heaven, an ultimate divine creation.
Its strength was presumably on par with the Chains of Heaven, and possibly even greater—though that was merely a guess, seeing as she had never inspected them personally.
What was the meaning of this?
Was she going to tie him up? Bondage play? You've got to be kidding me, bro?
Hephaestus simply tossed the chain in front of Thaumas and said coldly:
"Put it on yourself. Around your neck. From this day forward, you are no longer Hera's follower, but a guard dog of mine, Hephaestus!"
"Eh—can I not?" Thaumas attempted to struggle.
"Of course. My servant will escort you out, but by the same token, don't expect to get anything from me ever again." Hephaestus's cold smile chilled him to the bone.
"Then, Goddess, can I wear it on my arm instead?" Thaumas negotiated.
"Hmm—" Hephaestus pondered for a long time before finally speaking:
"Very well. However, remember your place—you will call me Master."
If only for the sake of your honesty.
Training a dog was a persistent endeavor that had to be done step by step.
And you, Hera? Will you feel anger once more? Will you come to see me for the sake of this lovely little follower of yours?
With that, she turned to the maid and instructed: "During this time, I will see no one. No matter which god comes, leave them waiting outside."
The maid repeatedly acknowledged the command, listening respectfully and fearing she might miss a single detail.
"Oh, and if Hera comes, don't let her in either. Make her wait outside the door, but you are to come and inform me."
Hephaestus added.
ps: I wrote two versions of what comes next. Considering this is Qidian, I'm posting the normal version. If any gentlemen out there are actually desperate to read the other, should I be fortunate enough to get serialized, I'll post it in the group chat.
I am genuinely baffled that this kind of novel hasn't been banned on Qidian yet. I can only say I am in awe—how on earth has Great Love Immortal Venerable, the Fairy Is a Yandere managed to avoid the banhammer?
Before you continue