After changing their clothes, the goddesses Styx and Lethe returned. However, their outfits...
"Lady Styx, isn't that chiton the one blessed by Lady Hecate with the magic of tranquility?"
"Yes, it's the dress I received as a gift when I visited Olympus."
Lady Styx wore a chiton with a deeply plunging neckline, and the beautiful black fabric accentuated her beauty.
"And how do I look?"
Lady Lethe approached, wearing a thin garment that revealed her thigh line. I had never seen her in such clothing before.
"I saved it for occasions like today when we go out with Hades. Did I do well?"
"Yes... You look particularly lovely today."
Her face, usually expressionless, now bore a bashful smile, and she looked truly beautiful. Entranced, I left the stronghold with the two goddesses.
But linking arms and clinging to me seems a bit premature, doesn't it? It's getting quite stifling with both of you doing this...
"Cerberus, stay here."
I petted Cerberus, who guarded the entrance of the fortress. Then we crossed the rivers of Forgetfulness, Fire, and Sorrow in sequence and arrived at the River Acheron.
Charon, who was piloting the newly crafted, massive ferry(?), stiffened upon seeing us. As he glanced between Styx, Lethe, and me, the ferryman quietly muttered.
"...So who is the true bride?"
"Me!"
"Of course... It's me..."
There's increasing pressure on both my arms. As I begin to feel an even softer sensation, let's leave it at that...
"Charon, please refrain from saying unnecessary things..."
"Alright, alright..."
Somehow, we managed to emerge into the mortal realm. The fresh air and warm sunshine, which I hadn't faced in a long time as my true form, were refreshing.
The chirping of birds, a sensation of life and the vibrancy of nature, which were hard to experience in the underworld.
"How will you get to Mount Etna?"
"I usually travel by chariot. I rely on the ghostly steeds."
Of course, not only humans but also all sorts of animals and monsters meet their end and come to the underworld.
With a wave of my hand, I summoned a translucent chariot and spectral horses into the empty space. The horses, with blue flames flickering in their eyes, neighed as they materialized, their neighs echoing as they were summoned.
The chariot, crafted by Hephaestus himself, was a masterpiece. Though not a divine artifact, it was incredibly sturdy.
Climbing onto the chariot, I offered my hand to the goddesses, who smiled and accepted it, climbing aboard one after the other.
But... That belt Lady Lethe is wearing seems familiar somehow... As I tried to look closely, Lady Styx urged me.
"Let's hurry and depart, Hades!"
I nodded and steered the chariot toward Mount Etna. The chariot of the underworld, invisible to mortal eyes, moved swiftly.
Near Mount Etna
Except for the snow-covered summit, the surroundings exuded warmth. A vast meadow spread out near the mountain, and various animals roamed energetically.
Yet, due to Typhon's body being buried beneath the mountain, earthquakes frequently occurred here. Hence, I would sometimes come to patrol and enjoy the sights of the mortal realm.
"I've always wanted to visit here. I heard even the goddesses of Olympus often come down to this place."
"Look, there are some nymphs over there."
I stopped the chariot briefly to look around. I saw beautiful forest nymphs in revealing chitons singing nearby.
"Kya-ha-ha!"
"Lady Kore! Come with us!"
"Let's go into the forest next time!"
Hmm... Who's that lively, golden-haired goddess running around? Since I don't recognize her, she must be a newly born deity.
I was about to resume steering the chariot around Mount Etna when Lady Lethe gently tugged at my robe.
"Hades. Hades."
"Yes, what is it?"
"Please let Styx and me down here for a moment."
"We'll look around briefly and return soon. I see a nymph I know over there..."
"Then I'll circle the mountain once. Feel free to explore."
A nymph they know? Well, that could be possible. The goddesses, always confined to the underworld, seemed excited to be out in the mortal world.
"We'll be back after a quick tour!"
"Alright, see you shortly..."
Meanwhile
The goddesses who had disembarked from Hades's chariot ventured deep into the forest. They looked around, seemingly searching for someone.
"Didn't we agree to meet here?"
"Oh, over there..."
Soon they spotted the one they were looking for and walked over with slight smiles. In the heart of the forest stood a goddess embodying beauty itself, with her arms crossed.
"Really, did you actually come out with Hades? That stone-faced man?"
"It was all thanks to the belt Aphrodite lent us. Heh..."
The goddesses of the underworld had been searching for none other than Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. As Lady Lethe approached, she undid her belt and handed it over.
It was the girdle of allure crafted by Hephaestus himself, the Kestos Himas. Receiving her belt back, Aphrodite looked puzzled.
"The belt I lent you worked?"
"Yes! For the first time, Hades, who always used to brush us off, came to the mortal world with us!"
"This is all thanks to Lady Aphrodite."
While the goddesses beamed brightly, Aphrodite wore an expression of surprise and disbelief.
"Hmph... He always seemed so indifferent when I wore it..."
"...Did he? He was especially kind today."
"Maybe it was because it was worn incorrectly..."
Aphrodite's face twisted slightly, feeling her pride wounded. She held her head and cried out, the goddess of beauty seemingly vexed.
"No way! I'm the goddess of beauty and love, after all... Ugh, how frustrating!"
After fuming for a moment, Aphrodite pouted again, folding her arms. She was about to summon a cloud and return to Olympus when Styx called out.
"Um... Aphrodite."
Updat𝓮d from frёewebnoѵēl.com.
"What is it...?"
"Didn't you also like Hades before? Why did you lend us the belt then?"
Lady Lethe gazed curiously at Aphrodite, echoing the question.
It was common knowledge among the deities in the underworld that Aphrodite had followed Hades there. Even those who were clueless could sense the goddess's interest in him. But why would she lend her girdle of allure to a love rival?
Aphrodite chuckled softly as she answered their puzzled inquiries.
"I only wanted a night. Anyway, it's not unusual for someone like a major god to have many consorts, is it?"
"Then, how about Poseidon or Lord Zeus..."
"They aren't my type. Besides, Lady Hera keeps a keen eye on Zeus..."
Watching the goddesses nod in understanding, Aphrodite whispered in a low voice. Even her mischievous expression seemed enchanting as the goddess of beauty.
"Once he experiences the joys of marriage, won't he stop looking elsewhere?"
"I don't think Hades is fond of goddesses who commit adultery."
"Ahh! Quiet! It's not like I chose to marry Hephaestus willingly..."
However, her expression crumbled at Lethe's remark. Now it was Aphrodite's turn to question the goddesses of the underworld.
"Aren't you worried about the burdens of marriage? Marrying the lord of the underworld means dealing with many responsibilities and the weight of being the wife of a major god..."
Hades, as a god, was quite popular among the goddesses. As one of the major gods, with a handsome face, albeit a bit gloomy, and a character different from his brothers. However, some goddesses hesitated to become his official consort.
With great power comes great responsibility. Living in the dark underworld instead of Olympus, or managing the numerous tasks as the lady of the underworld, could be off-putting.
"I don't mind any of that."
"There's a lot of work already..."
But the goddess of oblivion and the mistress of the Styx had no such concerns. Their answers came without a moment's hesitation.
Aphrodite briefly recalled Pygmalion, a mortal who touched the heart of the goddess of love with his sincere devotion to love.
"...Thanks to the blessing of the goddess, I lived a life without regret with my beloved wife!"
Pygmalion achieved love through the blessing granted to his statue, yet the goddess of love herself had not experienced the love she desired.
"Oh my... To be so beautiful, you must be mine, Poseidon!"
"Uncle Poseidon, please yield her to me."
"You are more enchanting than anyone I've ever seen..."
"My goddess, I have composed a poem praising your beauty."
"Enough, enough! If this goes on, there'll be an internal strife among the gods. I, Zeus, shall decide who Aphrodite's husband will be!"
Her beauty, so alluring that all gods coveted it. To prevent strife among the Olympians, the supreme god Zeus forcibly decided on her husband.
"The lame Hephaestus? Why should I..."
"Father, this is too much..."
"Uh? But..."
"To let Aphrodite decide would be..."
Crack! Boom!
"No more objections! From now on, the husband of the goddess of beauty is Hephaestus!"
Thus, a marriage was forced upon her. Her husband, Hephaestus, tried his best to please her. He created whatever she desired and gifted her the magical girdle, the Kestos Himas.
However, she couldn't bring herself to love him, leading to numerous affairs. She even bore Harmonia, the goddess of harmony, with Ares and had relations with many gods.
The more one tries to suppress it, the more fiercely love burns.
The goddess of love's smile was tinged with a hint of sadness. She sent her blessings to the two women embarking on their quest for love.
"...Well, that's what love is. I, Aphrodite, wish you luck. Do your best."
Meanwhile, Hades was...
"What did you say your name was?"
"I am called Menthe, sir."
...conversing with a nymph whose presence evoked nostalgia from the past.