A Hero's Deal (Bonus Chapter)

Demeter pinched Thaumas's cheeks, "fiddling" with the little guy in pure curiosity.

"Tell me, what exactly is so special about you? You carry the aura of so many gods! It's messy, yet unexpectedly pure. They really do love you so much!" Demeter exclaimed.

Her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had discovered some tiny secret.

"Wow! It's Apollo! So you're his lover! 'Shining upon the one I love'—Apollo, honestly, leaving you with a blessing like that! He didn't even tell us; not even Hera knows!"

"This, Goddess Demeter, I am not Lord Apollo's lover. I respect him very much." Thaumas said with a stern expression; he was always very serious about this matter.

"Hmm! So it's unrequited love from Apollo! That's how it is! Hahaha! No wonder he wouldn't brag about it to me!" Demeter said with a laugh.

"Little one, what did you come here to find me for?" After her laughter subsided, Demeter asked Thaumas again.

"Goddess Demeter, I believe you already know what I have done. I caused King of the Underworld Hades to lose face, but thanks to the intercession of the gods, I have been granted a chance at atonement.

I wish to offer a tribute to the King of the Underworld. The Underworld has always been so desolate and dark; I want to bring life to the Underworld!

I want to bring a glimmer of miracle to that world of darkness!" Thaumas said.

"Oh? So, you came to me? What if I say I won't do it? What will you do then?" Demeter asked playfully.

"If it is the Goddess of Wisdom—no, the Goddess of the Harvest, I believe in her power!

If she says she cannot do it, then it must be that I have failed to persuade her!

But there is always a glimmer of hope in all things. If you are unwilling to help me, Goddess, I will still seek out that sliver of hope, because I will bring a miracle to the Underworld! I am a hero! This is a promise that must be fulfilled!" Thaumas said firmly.

Changing what he wishes to change—that is the meaning of becoming a hero!

"Hmm, not a bad idea, but I just won't give it to you." Demeter refused.

"This, could you trouble yourself to tell me why, Goddess?" Thaumas asked.

"Why what? There is no 'why'! I don't want to give it, so I won't. What? Are you thinking of stealing it, child?" Demeter teased.

On the side, Athena was also watching this scene with curiosity. She wanted to see the limits of a hero, to see if he could complete this challenge relying solely on himself without the help of the Goddess of Wisdom.

Perhaps, Even if Demeter were willing to agree, Athena would have made her disagree!

She loved watching heroes challenge the impossible, so when Thaumas spoke of that glimmer of hope, She believed that Thaumas would surely bring about a miracle. This was the intuition of wisdom!

Then, show me! Thaumas!

Smash the so-called "impossible" to pieces! Just like that Hell Gate that claims to be indestructible—use a miracle to pierce through them all!

"Since that is the case, it was my presumption. Let me rephrase my request." Thaumas stood up, walked before Demeter, and said respectfully:

"Respected Goddess Demeter, would you be willing to strike a deal with me?"

"A deal? What kind of deal? Is there anything a human has that a god would pursue? What do you have to trade with me?" Demeter said with disdain.

"It concerns your daughter Persephone. Are you sure you don't want to hear it, Goddess?" Thaumas said.

Demeter stood up as well, her expression blank. Thaumas had touched her reverse scale.

"Now, if you don't give me a good reason, you shall bear the wrath of two gods at once! Death will not be your release."

"That goes without saying, Goddess Demeter." Thaumas smiled, looking very confident.

"Speak. Do not waste my time!" Demeter said coldly.

"I, in fact, was born with a certain degree of precognition. Although it is not under my control, I can occasionally catch brief glimpses of the future. Because of this, I have seen some misfortune befall Persephone."

This was a lie!

But at this moment, Thaumas trusted Hera's Bracelet implicitly!

A miracle is something you have to gamble on!

"What did you say? Future sight! Tell me what happened to my daughter Persephone!" Demeter demanded.

"As I said, this is a deal. I tell you what I have seen, and you, Goddess, help me create a miracle for the Underworld. How about it? Are you willing, Goddess?" Thaumas asked.

"Hmph! How do I know you aren't trying to trick me?" Demeter snorted, remaining wary of Thaumas.

"Then what do you think should be done, Goddess?" he asked slowly.

"It's simple, Thaumas! Just take off your bracelet and say what you saw. Once I confirm it is valuable and true, Demeter will surely grant you her help," Athena said at this moment.

"Right, Demeter?"

"Hmm, fine. I accept this deal." Demeter nodded, but then added:

"Athena, get out. No eavesdropping!"

"Ehh—how could you!" Athena expressed her dissatisfaction. She had helped the hero facilitate this deal just to watch the show! Besides, does Thaumas really have future sight? How come she didn't know!

But protests were usually ineffective; Athena was led to a side hall.

Then, "Alright, you may speak!" Demeter's eyes turned golden, power fully unleashed—don't even think about lying!

"As far as I know, Lord Hades will abduct Persephone and make her the Queen of the Underworld!" Thaumas answered truthfully.

He did not say everything, but he did not lie either. It was the truth, and with just that short sentence, Demeter went berserk!

Appraisal: This is the truth!

"Ha! Des!" Demeter roared, her fury palpable as she spat out each syllable.

My apologies, Lord Hades. Although I have already forgiven you for your rudeness toward me, a little bit of petty revenge now surely shouldn't be a big deal, right?

Taking advantage of Demeter's rage, Thaumas secretly put on the Bracelet and thought to himself.

"This is the authority you wanted, take it! From today on, my temple will not be opened. Leave quickly! Thaumas, you are a good child! So do not look at this ugly state of mine any longer."

A green light rose from Demeter's hand and sank into the Bracelet of Thaumas.

Since he had already obtained what he wanted, then, "Farewell, Goddess Demeter. I wish you a pleasant time!"

After saying this, Thaumas left.

Demeter's words had made it very clear: she intended to place Persephone under house arrest! She absolutely would not let her meet Hades.

A stern yet doting mother, and a spoiled yet rebellious daughter.

This pair of mother and daughter were simply at the opposite extreme from Hera and the others!

However, it had nothing to do with Thaumas for the time being; even if he were to resolve this matter, it would have to wait.

He had a great many tasks ahead of him.

First was to obtain the forgiveness of the King of the Underworld, and then there was the request from Athena. Goddess Persephone, I am afraid you will have to suffer for a while!

My apologies!

PS:

There are still many typos. It is truly impossible for me to check them all; I find it very hard to notice them myself, so I can only trouble the readers. Please comment, and I will fix them when I see them.

Finally, goodnight. It is the weekend, and I can finally get a good night's sleep! Happy!

Additionally, regarding bonus chapters, The original rule for bonus chapters was to add one whenever someone cast a monthly vote. It has always been done this way, calculated by the number of people, but recently there have been too many voters, and I have to reformulate the rules. I really cannot keep up.