The Story of Hephaestus - (3)
Hephaestus had told the Olympian gods that he would be spending a few days on Lemnos Island, only to suddenly appear at the festival? Something about this seems suspicious...
I observed Hephaestus as he stood on the podium.
“If you all follow me for just a moment, you’ll be able to witness my masterpiece!”
“A masterpiece? Made by the god of blacksmithing...?” “Hephaestus is good at crafting weapons, but art?” “Is it something large in scale?”
As the gods whispered curiously, Zeus, who was enjoying his ambrosia, addressed him.
“Hephaestus, you seem so confident—should I expect something great?” “Of course, Father. Even Apollo won’t be able to surpass this work of mine!”
What exactly did you make, nephew? Surely it’s not a weapon like my bident...
Hephaestus’s boast, saying his work could surpass even that of the god of the arts, was so self-assured that it bordered on arrogance. The murmurs among the gods grew louder, but Apollo only smiled with curiosity.
“Very well, since you speak so confidently, let’s see it. Lead the way.” “Yes, Father. Anyone who wishes to see it, please follow me!”
Zeus stood up, and Poseidon, intrigued, also began to walk forward.
Although Hephaestus is renowned as a blacksmith, he’s never shown much interest in creating something in the field of art...
As I hesitated, Styx whispered to me.
“Hades, Hephaestus seems serious. Let’s go see what he’s made.” “Something feels off... Yes, let’s go.”
The gods who followed Hephaestus arrived at his residence in Olympus. Was his artwork inside his chambers?
Hephaestus, standing before his quarters, turned to face us. He cleared his throat and grasped the door handle, preparing to speak.
“This is a modern masterpiece, or rather, a true Greek art piece. The title is Love and War!”
With those words, he flung the door wide open...
And the artwork was revealed.
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Inside Hephaestus’s chamber, behind the opened door...
Were two figures entwined on a bed, seemingly caught in the aftermath of passionate lovemaking. It was Aphrodite and Ares.
“What... What is this?!” “Hephaestus...?! Didn’t you say you were going to Lemnos...?”
The two, naked and tangled in bed, tried to escape upon seeing Hephaestus, but they couldn’t. A fine bronze net was cast around their bodies, preventing their retreat.
“W-Why can’t this be broken...?” “Ugh...”
“What do you think of my masterpiece? Doesn’t it surpass even Apollo’s art?”
Everyone was stunned, left speechless by the scene before them.
Even more astonishing than the fact that Ares, the god of war, couldn’t break free from the bronze net was the sight of Aphrodite’s breathtaking form, caught in the act.
The goddess of beauty, entangled naked with Ares, displayed an incredible elegance. Her smooth, flawless skin, her attempts to escape the net, the subtle blush on her face from the shame of being caught committing adultery in front of so many gods—all of it highlighted her unparalleled beauty.
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of clapping suddenly echoed, and when I looked, I saw Apollo standing there, absent-mindedly applauding. Golden ichor, the blood of the gods, was trickling from his nose.
Unlike mortals, we gods don’t bleed from excitement, so it seems the shock to his divine essence from seeing his artistic ideals shattered had triggered this response.
“I concede, Hephaestus. I can’t possibly surpass your art.” “Hm. With effort, you might get there someday.”
Apollo, now seemingly dethroned as the god of art, couldn’t tear his eyes away from Aphrodite’s form, his hand still wiping at the blood under his nose. Watching this gave me a headache.
“Haa... This is madness...”
Other gods seemed to come to their senses as well, each adding their own comments.
“Didn’t Hera tell them to stop this affair?” “Even after they had Harmonia...” “It’s quite a sight for an art festival.” “Zeus, what do you think?” “Well... They should have known better. Tsk, tsk.”
Apollo, still dazed, turned to Hermes, who looked equally stunned, unable to avert his gaze from Aphrodite.
“Hermes, are you envious of Hephaestus, or of Ares?” “Brother Apollo, what do you mean by that?” “Are you jealous of Hephaestus for being the one to catch them, or Ares for being in the net with her?” “Of course, I’m envious of both. I wish that net was even stronger so I could stay trapped forever...”
Hearing their conversation made my headache worse. I wonder if mortals who worship us are aware of this side of the gods...
“Ugh... What a disgrace...!”
Styx, standing beside me, looked like she was about to explode before she hurriedly left the room. Judging by the distant sound of her steps, she must have fled back to the underworld.
“Ares, Aphrodite. You’ve already had Harmonia, isn’t it time to stop?”
Zeus sighed, rubbing his forehead.
With a rather displeased expression, Poseidon spoke to the blacksmith god. He didn’t seem particularly thrilled with the situation either.
“Hephaestus, I’ll ensure they give you a proper apology and compensation. Now release them.”
But even Poseidon couldn’t take his eyes off Aphrodite’s body.
“Well... Since you put it that way, I’ll stop here.”
Hephaestus approached the bed and manipulated a few devices, causing the net to release them. He must have suspected Aphrodite would call for Ares the moment he left, so he spread a false rumor.
No wonder the Olympian gods seemed so surprised when they thought Hephaestus had gone to Lemnos...
Once the bronze net was released, Ares fled to his temple in Thrace, and Aphrodite left for the island of Cyprus.
On Cyprus, there is a spring that can restore a woman’s virginity with just a bath. She probably intended to soak in it to regain her virginity.
But isn’t that pointless if she’s just going to lose it again?
Afterwards, I followed Hephaestus, who had promised to inspect my weapons, to his forge. As I watched him work, examining my bident with focused concentration, I couldn’t help but comment.
“Hephaestus, won’t today’s events make Aphrodite dislike you even more?”
The blacksmith god’s shoulders trembled.
“I’ve... I’ve mostly given up. Ugh...” “In that case, why don’t you find another goddess? You could talk to Zeus...”
At this point, their marriage was effectively ruined.
Even though their wedding had been overseen by Zeus himself, after today’s events, I wonder if Zeus’s perspective on this might change.
Perhaps if I add my voice to the matter, and if both of them wish for a divorce, it could be possible. If there’s concern about other gods fighting over Aphrodite, I could step in...
“But a part of me... still sees Aphrodite’s beautiful figure...”
Ah...
“I desperately want to win her love, but the future seems bleak. Aphrodite has already given herself to Ares and borne Harmonia! I’m left with nothing but this ugly face, abandoned by my wife, reduced to seeking revenge like this...!”
What should I do with this situation? Should I arrange a confrontation?
“One day... I’ll burn Ares’s face in the flames!”
This is definitely going to lead to trouble over a woman. I can’t just stand by any longer.
“Let’s go see Aphrodite together.” “What...?” “Wouldn’t it be better to hear from her directly what it is about you she dislikes so much, to make her turn to Ares?”
The only solution is to push them to have a sincere conversation.
As soon as my weapons were inspected, Hephaestus and I headed straight for the island of Cyprus.
We had one of Aphrodite’s nymph attendants inform her that we were waiting, and after a short time, the goddess of beauty emerged, having just finished her bath.
I nudged Hephaestus, urging him to speak, and he stammered as he began.
“What exactly is it that makes you so unhappy that you keep turning to Ares?” “Ha... What makes me unhappy? Isn’t it obvious? This marriage itself!”
Aphrodite’s face twisted with displeasure.
“I wanted to marry someone I loved! From the start, this marriage was against my will!” “You agreed to marry me by your father’s command, yet you had a child with Ares and still carry on like this? Isn’t that too much?” “You, on the other hand, are always so absorbed in your forge work that you rarely come home! How could I possibly develop any affection for you?”
Aphrodite’s behavior isn’t entirely justified, but... shouldn’t a husband pay more attention to his wife?
“I’m the god of blacksmiths—I can’t help it. But ever since we married, I’ve made efforts, haven’t I?” “Hmph...”
Aphrodite turned her head slightly, as if she felt a bit guilty. Even though Hephaestus is often busy with work, forging items for the Olympian gods day and night, he did try to spend time at home after marrying the goddess of beauty.
Of course, it seems this wasn’t enough for Aphrodite...
“But how can you ignore me even at official gatherings, only to seek me out to save face? Your attitude proves that you only married me for my looks!”
“What?! Is that all you have to say? And you—you only come to me when you need something crafted...!”
Their conversation grew more heated, even though I was standing right there. Their tempers were rising, and I knew that once the tension boiled over, the island of Cyprus would begin to shake.
It was time to intervene.
“That’s enough.”
I stepped between Hephaestus and Aphrodite, disrupting the growing tension.
Amidst the smell of burning and the sweet, seductive fragrance in the air, the cold aura of the underworld seeped in, chilling everything.
“Hephaestus, no matter how busy you are with your work, it’s important to pay more attention to your wife. If other gods complain, tell them to come see me in the underworld.” “Yes... Understood.”
Hephaestus calmed down, stepping back a little. Now it was time to address the goddess of beauty, who stood with a fierce expression.
With a sigh, I placed a hand on Aphrodite’s shoulder and met her eyes.
“Aphrodite, aren’t you the goddess of love? How is it that you can’t grant a simple request from a man who loves you? Even after having a child with another god, Hephaestus still loves you.”
“...I...”
Aphrodite tried to retreat, but I knew that this was the only way to truly address their issues.
“I can’t force the goddess of love to love, but at least try to act like a wife in public.”
“Ugh... Fine... I’ll try...”
With tears welling in her eyes and her face flushed, Aphrodite hurriedly left the scene. It seemed like things might finally start to improve after this conversation, so I turned back to Hephaestus...
Only to find him more heartbroken than ever, tears streaming down his face.
“Apparently... looks are all that matter in this world... Oh, Father Zeus...”