The Hero Didn't Want to Disturb Them [Bonus Chapter]

Looking at this forceful Queen of Heaven, this strong goddess, making such a gesture—

Not only Thaumas, but even Athena and Hermes found it unbelievable.

They had never seen Hera like this before!

The ever-dominant goddess had actually yielded at this moment, even with a trace of pleading in her voice. Athena and Hermes could not help but be shocked.

If word got out and the gods of Olympus learned of it, what an uproar it would cause!

At this moment, Thaumas showed this goddess no respect at all, giving Hera no chance to catch her breath before continuing:

"My goddess of faith! The goddess Hephaestus is your own child! Yet just because she was imperfect from the very beginning, you heartlessly abandoned her!

And yet, she merely threw a little tantrum. Though that chair caused the Queen of Heaven to lose face, all she ever wanted was an apology from you!

So, Goddess Hera, go in! Face the daughter you abandoned! Apologize to her!"

"No! I can't! You saw how much Hephaestus hates me. I no longer have the face to see her. I am not a qualified mother, and I am deeply ashamed of it."

Hera spoke sorrowfully, tears already glistening in the corners of her eyes. She struggled to hold herself up, refusing to let herself collapse. These emotions had nearly become unbearable for her.

"But what if, Goddess Hera, I were to abandon you one day?" Thaumas suddenly asked.

Athena's eyes lit up, and she stared intently at Thaumas as though she were looking at an unparalleled treasure. Yet Athena said nothing. She did not want to interrupt Thaumas's plan because of herself.

She wanted to see whether Thaumas could use her own wisdom and effort to create a Miracle that even the gods could not accomplish!

Could a mortal make the noble Queen of Heaven Hera lower her head?

"No! My child! You cannot leave me! Otherwise, I will curse you for the rest of your life!" Hera said sorrowfully, even with fury and resentment in her voice. After all, she had poured far too much emotion into Thaumas.

"But Hephaestus was abandoned by you from the very beginning! I will never abandon the goddess of my convictions and faith, but please, Goddess, do not abandon your own child either!"

Thaumas shouted. Then she hugged Hera, gently stroking her back as she comforted her tenderly. "Goddess Hera, I have rarely felt a mother's love. It was only through you that I came to see what a mother was like.

So I imagine Hephaestus feels the same way I do. She hopes to feel the love of a mother!

Goddess Hera, please do your best! Face it bravely! We humans do not run from true difficulties, so as a goddess, please face it head-on as well!"

Looking at Thaumas, Hera was torn. She could not bear to see Thaumas upset, and after a long silence, she finally said, "All right, I promise you. But, child, can you lead the way for me? I have never been here before."

"Of course! It would be my honor, Goddess Hera," Thaumas said happily.

Though she really should not have interfered in someone else's family matters. But since it was a goddess's request, there was nothing she could do.

Besides, she truly could not stand watching any longer.

Thus, Thaumas knocked on the doors of the Hephaestus Temple once again and slowly led the uneasy Hera inside.

Just as Athena and Hermes wanted to follow, the doors closed on their own.

"Tch—" Hermes looked disdainful.

Then mechanisms activated on the bronze doors, and a wisp of flame flew out.

"Ah—!"

The flames burning Hermes seemed to remind this young man not to be so young! See? He had been punished by another god again.

"Athena! Save me!" Hermes struggled.

But no god was destined to pay him any attention. Athena was considering what sort of trial she should arrange for this hero next.

What was this hero still lacking?

Whose fate needed to be changed next?

How exciting.

At this moment, the cheerful little maid was pushing Hephaestus's wheelchair, taking the goddess for a stroll through the garden.

However—

"Goddess Hephaestus!" Thaumas quietly approached the God of Fire and softly said, "Goddess, there is a goddess who wishes to see you."

Seeing that it was Thaumas, Hephaestus was surprised, but not overly so.

After all, Thaumas had just returned after leaving. Returning again after that was not too strange, was it?

"I thought you had forgotten something again. Who wants to see me? If it's someone you know, then it should be Athena, right?" Hephaestus guessed curiously without turning around.

After speaking, she gestured for the maid to slowly turn her wheelchair around.

"Then it is time to reveal the answ... It... Hm? It's you!" Hephaestus froze, scarcely able to believe it.

Seeing that the time had come, Thaumas hurriedly pulled the little maid away and ran off with her, shouting as she ran:

"You two talk. I suddenly got hungry, so I'm taking the little maid to get something to eat!"

"Lord Thaumas, slow down! And my name is Epluto now! Hey! I told you to slow down, don't drag me! You are definitely getting back at me!"

After the "irrelevant people" had gone far away,

Hera and Hephaestus merely stared at each other, neither saying a word.

It was the first time Hera had observed Hephaestus so seriously. The same hair color as hers, noble eyes, and a face almost identical to Hera's own when she had been young.

After a long while—

"You..."

"You..."

They spoke at the same time, as though their hearts were in perfect accord.

Yet neither said anything like "You go first." Instead, both fell silent, as though neither of them was good at communicating.

Then Hera boldly stepped forward, taking on the little maid's former responsibility and pushing Hephaestus's wheelchair.

Just like that, neither spoke again. They quietly enjoyed the scenery and the peace.

As they walked, Hera suddenly spoke:

"Um, I'm sorry, child. Mommy was wrong."

"Mm, I understand."

There was no excessive conversation, nor any dramatic scene of parting and reunion.

They simply spoke lightly, and answered lightly. Perhaps neither of them had expected such a response.

Then, without realizing it, they clasped each other's hands.

From time to time, Hera helped Hephaestus tidy her messy hair.

Step by step, Hera pushed Hephaestus through the entire garden, though in truth, Hephaestus had been the one guiding the way the whole time.

"What a stupid mother. You can't even handle something so simple! You can't even recognize the paths!"

"Eh! Doesn't that just show how clever our little Hephaestus is?"

"Mm."

"...Mm."

How should one put it? It was inevitably a little awkward for this mother and daughter, whose relationship had been poor, to suddenly be together like this. But in any case, everything was moving in a better direction!