Demeter pinched Thaumas's cheeks, curiously "playing" with the little guy.
"What is it about you, anyway? You carry the aura of so many gods! It's such a chaotic mix, yet unexpectedly pure. They really do like you!" Demeter exclaimed.
Then her eyes lit up, as though she had discovered some little secret.
"Wow! It's Apollo! So you're his lover! 'Shine upon the one I love'—Apollo, honestly, he left you such a blessing! He never told us, not even Hera knew!"
"Lady Demeter, I am not Lord Apollo's lover. I respect him very much," Thaumas said solemnly. He had always been serious about this matter.
"Mm! So it's Apollo's unrequited love! I see, I see! Hahaha! No wonder he refused to brag about it to me!" Demeter said with a laugh.
"Little one, what did you come to see me for?" After her laughter died down, Demeter questioned Thaumas again.
"Lady Demeter, I believe you already know what I have done. I humiliated Lord Hades, the King of the Underworld, but because the gods pleaded for me, I was given a chance to atone.
I want to offer the King of the Underworld a tribute. The Underworld has always been so desolate and dark. I want to bring life to the Underworld!
To bring a sliver of Miracle to that world of darkness!" Thaumas declared.
"Oh? So that was why you came to me? What if I said I couldn't do it? What would you do then?" Demeter said teasingly.
"If it is the goddess of earth and harvest, then I believe in her ability!
If she says she cannot do it, then it must mean 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, then I will seek out that glimmer myself, because I will bring Miracle to the Underworld! I am a hero! This is a promise that must be fulfilled!" Thaumas said firmly.
Changing what he wished to change—that was the meaning of becoming a hero!
"Mm, not a bad idea. But I simply won't give it to you," Demeter refused.
"Then, could I trouble you to tell me why, Goddess?" Thaumas asked.
"What do you mean, why? There is no why! I don't want to give it to you because I don't want to. What, child? Are you planning to take it by force?" Demeter teased.
Nearby, Athena watched the scene curiously as well. She wanted to see where this hero's limits lay—whether he could complete this challenge without the Goddess of Wisdom's help, relying solely on himself.
Perhaps...
Even if Demeter had been willing to agree, Athena would have made her refuse!
She loved seeing heroes challenge the impossible, so when Thaumas spoke of that glimmer of hope...
She believed Thaumas would surely bring about a Miracle. That was Wisdom's intuition!
Then show them, Thaumas!
Smash this so-called "impossible" to pieces, just like that Hell Gate said to be indestructible. Pierce through every last one of them with Miracle!
"In that case, I was presumptuous. Let me put it another way." Thaumas rose to his feet, walked before Demeter, and respectfully said:
"Honored Lady Demeter, would you be willing to make a bargain with me?"
"A bargain? What bargain? What could humans possibly possess that gods would desire? What do you have to trade with me?" Demeter said disdainfully.
"It concerns your daughter, Persephone. Are you sure you do not wish to hear it, Goddess?" Thaumas asked.
Demeter rose as well, her face expressionless. Thaumas had touched her reverse scale.
"If you cannot give me a satisfactory explanation now, then you will bear the wrath of two gods at once! Death will not be your release."
"Of course, Lady Demeter," Thaumas said with a smile, looking exceptionally confident.
"Speak. Do not waste my time!" Demeter said coldly.
"I was born with a certain degree of prophetic ability. Though it is beyond my control, I can occasionally glimpse the future for a brief moment. Thus, I saw some misfortune that would befall Persephone."
This was a lie!
But at that moment, Thaumas trusted Hera's Bracelet without reservation!
Miracle was something one had 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 bargain. I will tell you what I saw, and you, Goddess, will help me create a Miracle in the Underworld. What do you say? Are you willing?" Thaumas asked.
"Hmph! How do I know you are not trying to get something for nothing?" Demeter snorted, 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 tell us what you saw. Once it is confirmed to be valuable and true, Demeter will certainly give you her help, won't she?" Athena said at this moment.
"Right, Demeter!"
"Mm, I accept this bargain." Demeter nodded, then added:
"Athena, get out. You are not allowed to eavesdrop!"
"Eh—how could you do this!" Athena protested. She had helped the hero make this bargain precisely so she could watch the show! Besides, did Thaumas possess Future Sight? How had she not known?
But protests were often ineffective. Athena was taken to a side hall.
Then...
"All right, you may speak!" Demeter's eyes turned golden. Her power was fully unleashed—there would be no lying!
"As far as I know, Lord Hades will abduct Persephone and make her the Queen of the Underworld!" Thaumas answered truthfully.
He had not told the whole story, but neither had he lied. It was the truth, and with only that short sentence, Demeter went berserk!
Confirmed: these were words of truth!
"Ha! Des!" Demeter roared in fury, each syllable dripping with rage.
I'm sorry, Lord Hades. Though I have already forgiven your disrespect toward me, a small retaliation now should not be a big deal, right?
Taking advantage of Demeter's rage, Thaumas secretly put on the Bracelet again and thought this.
"Here is the Authority you wanted. Take it! From today onward, my temple will not open. Leave quickly! Thaumas, you are a good child! So do not look upon me in this ugly state."
A green light rose from Demeter's hand and entered Thaumas's Bracelet.
Since he had already obtained what he wanted...
Then...
"Farewell, Lady Demeter. I wish you happiness!"
With that, Thaumas left.
Demeter's meaning had already been very clear. She intended to confine Persephone! She absolutely could not allow her to meet Hades.
A strict yet doting mother, and a spoiled yet rebellious daughter.
This mother-daughter pair was practically the complete opposite of Hera and the others!
But it had nothing to do with Thaumas for the moment. Even if he had to resolve this matter, it would have to wait.
He truly had many tasks ahead of him.
First, he had to obtain the King of the Underworld's forgiveness. After that, there was Athena's request as well. Lady Persephone, you will have to suffer a little longer!
Please!
P.S.
There are still many typos. I really can't catch them all, and it is hard for me to notice them myself. I can only trouble my readers—leave a comment, and I will fix them when I see them.
Lastly, good night. It's the weekend at last, so I can finally get a good night's sleep! So happy!
Also, regarding bonus chapters...
My original rule was to add a chapter whenever someone gave a monthly vote. That has always been the rule, counted by the number of people. But recently, too many people have been voting, so I need to revise the rules. This little brother really can't keep up anymore.
Before you continue