The Queen of Heaven Was Worried About a Hero

"Athena! What exactly did you do?"

On Mount Olympus,

Hera stormed into Athena's temple, her entire body radiating the Queen of Heaven's imposing aura as she angrily questioned the Goddess of Wisdom.

If the Goddess of Wisdom failed to give her a reasonable explanation, Hera would tear down Athena's temple at once.

Athena smiled when she heard that. "Don't worry, Queen of Heaven.

Thaumas is fine.

"It's Hermes you should be worried about. If you don't put him down soon, something really will happen to him."

Hearing this,

Hera finally remembered the unlucky thing she was still holding. With a flick of her wrist, she casually tossed Hermes to the ground, making him howl in pain.

Hermes, his face battered and bruised, sat up resentfully and rubbed his hands and feet, swollen red from Hera's Whip of the Queen of Heaven.

Then he protested, "You clearly said you wouldn't hit me if I confessed! How could you do this? Queen of Heaven, you lied!"

Then, with a smack, Hermes received another lesson from the Queen of Heaven's whip.

After that, he did not even dare cry out in pain.

Athena's face darkened as she smiled. "Oh~ So it's Hermes! Long time no see. We'll have a nice chat later."

Oh no! She wants to beat me up, doesn't she? She definitely wants to beat me up!

This is bad. The teammate I sold out found out!

Thinking of how Athena held authority over war as well—and over victory, no less—Hermes felt that his future was pitch-black.

But neither Athena nor the Queen of Heaven paid him any more attention. Hermes was not worth their concern.

"Athena, tell me.

"You clearly know that Thaumas is my most loyal believer and my most beloved child.

"And yet, you still sent him to Hephaestus. What exactly are you plotting?" The Queen of Heaven said angrily, barely suppressing the surging rage in her heart.

Then Hera vented the anger she had nowhere else to release on Hermes, raising her whip and lashing him hard again.

"Ah—! Athena, save me! Ah——!"

What did their argument have to do with Hermes?

Besides, had Hera not been the one boasting among the gods every day that she had a child she was proud of?

Even Hephaestus, who had long been away from the holy mountain, had heard about it. Was that not Hera's own fault?

Why was she whipping him? He had only led the way, at most played a tiny little part...

Athena watched Hera quietly, carrying herself with all the poise of the Goddess of Wisdom. Completely unafraid, she ignored Hermes on the floor and spoke.

"Queen of Heaven, what are you talking about? Wasn't this what we agreed on from the beginning?

"Thaumas will become a hero. Since he is a hero, he must undergo the trials he deserves.

"And right now, he is undergoing the God of Fire's trial. Father permitted it as well."

"Zeus? Even so, I will not allow Hephaestus to bully my child!

"My poor Thaumas must be going hungry, poorly dressed, living in fear day and night, praying for me—the god he believes in—to save him!" the Queen of Heaven said mournfully.

"If that is the case, Queen of Heaven, you can go bring him back yourself," Athena suddenly said slyly.

"You—you know perfectly well that I won't go see Hephaestus!" Hera laughed in fury. If she dared to see Hephaestus herself, would she have come here to pressure Athena?

To put it bluntly, Hera's goal was to make Athena step in and bring Thaumas back for her.

Overcome by anger again, she lashed Hermes once more.

"Ah—" It was hard to imagine what this young man would become after suffering such torment.

"Then there is nothing I can do, my honored Queen of Heaven.

"Hephaestus has declared that she will not see any god, including you.

"But if it is you, she will probably care a great deal. Perhaps then she will let Thaumas go," Athena said with a touch of regret.

This innocent Queen of Heaven was actually very easy to manipulate. Though she looked like a venomous snake, she was nothing much after all.

The Goddess of Wisdom had victory in hand. This time, she would win again.

"Ah—!"

Hera said nothing. Helpless, she viciously bestowed another lash upon Hermes before leaving outright.

After Hera had gone far away, Hermes let out a breath of relief and quietly got to his feet, hoping to sneak away.

But then,

A slender, fair hand grabbed his shoulder.

Then came a demonic whisper.

"Where are you going, Hermes? I seem to recall saying that I wanted to have a good chat with you."

"No, don't, please don't, Goddess of Wisdom. I'm already miserable enough..."

Hermes was on the verge of tears. Why was he so unlucky today?

Then,

"Ah—"

It seemed this day was destined to be unforgettable for the young man.

Inside Hephaestus's temple,

Thaumas, whom Queen of Heaven Hera feared was "going hungry and poorly dressed," was leisurely basking in the sun and enjoying the services of a doll maid.

"Lord Thaumas, how is this pressure? Is it alright? Should I use a little more force?"

The little maid diligently massaged Thaumas and asked earnestly.

After all, as a creation of divine technology, she was very strong, while Thaumas, who had not yet become "impervious to blades and spears," was merely a mortal.

If she used too much strength and crushed him to death, Lord Hephaestus would probably dismantle her too. She had no choice but to be careful...

Thaumas had long declared that one day, he would teach this little maid a harsh lesson. Every day, her attitude was so terrible!

As for why he could be so leisurely now,

That went back to what had happened a few days ago, when Hephaestus had told him to learn how to forge divine artifacts.

After trying it a few times, he had already managed to forge something "usable."

Even he had been surprised at the time. Besides music, he was apparently quite talented at forging as well.

This had greatly surprised Hephaestus, so she had ordered the little maid to look after him.

Then she shut herself inside the forge and began refining Hera's Golden Bracelet. Since then, she had never come out.

Therefore,

"Use a little more force, but not too much! Oh, and today's meal needs to be different too. I'm quite knowledgeable about cooking as well.

"If I find out otherwise, I'll tell Goddess Hephaestus that you're neglecting your duties!" Thaumas threatened.

"Y-yes! I understand!" the little maid hurriedly replied, helpless as she looked at the "villain" before her.

Master Hephaestus had only told her to take care of him, then never came out again.

This guy kept using that to threaten her. Oh, heavens!

What if he wanted to do that kind of thing? What was she supposed to do?

Master, are you done yet? I miss you!

Compared to constantly living in fear by your side, I hate this man's awful character even more!

Could someone please save her?