The Goddess of Mint and Thebes - (2)
"...ha. Lord Hades?"
Mente called out to me urgently, noticing my stiffened face, but I couldn't focus on her right now.
The Sacred Band? Homosexuality as true love? What kind of nonsense is this? There’s no way Dionysus would dare pull something like this, but could this really be a naturally occurring cultural shift?
Could this be an influence from Zeus taking the Trojan boy Ganymede to Olympus? Or perhaps...
"Wait, I need to ask something."
"Oh, are you a foreigner by any chance?"
I temporarily revealed myself to the humans and grabbed the arm of a boy who was running by.
The boy, accustomed to encounters with strangers, didn’t seem surprised that an unfamiliar man had approached him.
It was a good sign for Thebes that many people flocked to the city under my rule, but for now, understanding this bizarre situation was my priority.
"Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve visited Thebes... What is this Sacred Band?"
"The Sacred Band? Oh, that’s our elite force! It was formed not too long ago."
"What I mean is... why was a force like this created, with men behaving this way?"
I tried to avoid looking at the hundreds of men exchanging affectionate gestures with each other, while I threw my question at the boy who was looking up at me.
"Well, you see, all the clever philosophers have been saying so!"
"Philosophers?"
"Yes! After months of debating love in the public square, do you know what they concluded? That [love between men is pure love, free from the purpose of procreation]. Ahem!"
Wait, what...?
"There was no oracle or divine command behind this? No other reason?"
The boy now looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Huh? But wouldn’t the gods also approve of it?"
"This?!"
"We in Thebes realized a truth before any other city did. The theologians and priests even said that the gods also favor love between men..."
It seems like Zeus’ influence is indeed at play...
Come to think of it, theologians have been around for a while now. They’re not priests, but they document stories and genealogies of the gods. And even these scholars arrived at such a conclusion?
"Mente... Let’s find a quieter place."
"Lord Hades..."
I watched the boy run off happily after receiving a few drachmas for answering my questions, and I rubbed my temples. Is this what Dionysian madness looks like to humans? I should have paid more attention to Thebes. I’ve been rather busy lately, but still, to let Thebes slip into this state...
Godly authority exists for times like these. After this date with Mente, I’ll have to appear in the dreams of the Theban king or high priest to deliver an oracle.
Ordering the immediate disbandment of the Sacred Band or throwing all homosexuals into Tartarus would only cause chaos... Something as simple as "The god Pluto does not favor homosexuality" should be enough to stop them.
Putting those thoughts aside, I turned to Mente, who had been quietly watching me. I took her right hand.
"Oh...!"
"I’m sorry, Mente. I got lost in thought for a moment."
"It’s alright! As long as you weren’t thinking of other goddesses, I’m fine!"
"There seems to be some sort of festival over there. Shall we go?"
I held Mente’s hand and walked in the other direction. At least I no longer had to look at those strange men from the so-called Sacred Band.
As I suspected, today must be some festival in Thebes, with people walking around with bright smiles on their faces. But what caught my attention was... the mint leaves in the people’s hair?
"Certainly looks like a festival with so many people... I should get a mint leaf for myself."
"Yes, here you go."
A man bought a mint leaf from a street vendor and tucked it behind his ear.
It seems that wearing a mint leaf shows one's intent to participate in the festival. Could this festival be in honor of Mente?
"For the next three days! We’re selling mint oil at a discount! It’s great for baths and for rubbing on the body!"
"Is it better than olive oil?"
"This is the famous mint perfume that lets you see Elysium, and right now..."
"As expected of a city that worships the god of the Underworld, they’re even holding a Mint Festival."
"It’s amazing that they worship that terrifying lord of the Underworld..."
"Shh, don’t say such things here, you’ll get cursed! Most Thebans are devout followers of Pluto, remember?"
"Even the priests of the Apollo temple in far-off Lydia recognized the medicinal benefits of mint..."
"The god of healing, Phoebus, is said to favor mint as well."
"It clears the mind, lowers fevers, and more..."
These people are all gathered, celebrating my chosen symbol and holding a festival for it. Everyone is praising and thanking the gods for their blessings.
A heartwarming and rewarding sight, no matter how often I see it. Mente, too, had a cheerful smile on her face as she followed along beside me, holding my hand.
"Hehe... Lord Hades, humans really love mint!"
"It’s all thanks to you for creating it. It was a great achievement worthy of becoming a god."
Mente looked at me with a beaming smile. Was the fresh scent coming from her, or from the humans enjoying the Mint Festival?
"Um... I have something I’ve been curious about."
"What is it?"
"It’s about when we first met. You mentioned that you’d make mint your symbol because of a 'lost memory.'"
"...?"
"Could you tell me what that means? Why would you choose a plant I just happened to create as your symbol?"
"I said I would grant you one wish as a reward for bringing back a forgotten memory."
Mente looked at me with sparkling eyes. But... even if I told her that there was a time long ago when I wasn’t an immortal, she wouldn’t believe me. The reincarnation of mortals is managed by various gods of the Underworld, after all.
The world of science from which mint-related food was created, and the daily routine of enjoying its unique aroma after meals to keep my mouth fresh... Mente couldn’t know about any of that. So my answer was...
"That mint was a plant I already knew of."
"Huh? But it didn’t exist in the world until I accidentally created it..."
"A very long time ago, in an age you do not know... Mint was always by my side."
Mente’s face softened with an expression of wistfulness. I didn’t know what she was imagining, but I continued speaking.
"The moment I smelled its refreshing and distinctive scent, I realized that you had recreated the plant I once knew."
"Oh..."
"That’s why I made mint my symbol."
As the humans continued to chatter around us, with mint leaves adorning their heads... While to other gods it may just be a plant with a distinctive scent, for me, it was a reminder of long-lost memories.
A precious plant that reminded me that there was once a time when I was not an immortal. That was mint. And the one who made it... was Mente.
I brought my hand to Mente’s cheek as she gazed at me. Instead of shying away, she leaned into me, her hair carrying that refreshing scent.
"I’m always grateful to you, Mente."
"Oh, please... I’m just a nymph, and the blessings I’ve received from you..."
"No, you brought back a memory for me that is irreplaceable."
I had everything—strength, status, honor. Reincarnated as a powerful god, there was nothing more I could want. Though it’s hard to recall exactly, I must have sought such things in my past life as well.
What I cannot grasp now... What I distinctly remember but see slipping away is the memory of my previous life.
"...Sometimes, I have dark thoughts. I find myself thinking... like those reckless gods I despise, looking down on mortals."
"You, Lord Hades? The god mortals revere as the god of mercy...?"
Not just any god, but one of the three great gods, even Zeus cannot treat me lightly. Most gods are younger than I or rank lower.
And my domain, the Underworld, is the one mortals fear most.
I am the ruler of the underworld, with position, wealth, and power. It would be a lie to say that no arrogance ever arises within me.
"As the ruler of the Underworld, there are times when I feel arrogance is justified... that I must show my authority."
"Lord Hades, you’re known as the fairest and most merciful of all gods."
"That’s because I strive to be. It’s not my natural disposition."
They call me the god of mercy... But when I sentenced Tantalus recently, I had to suppress the more cruel punishments that came to mind. I also resisted the urge to hand down the most severe sentence without offering any chance for defense.
Much of that urge came from my anger toward the man who murdered his own son, but... There was also a faint resentment at the audacity of a mere human daring to mock the gods.
"The lord of the Underworld, who should be the fairest of all, is, in truth, a flawed god who wavers. Has your view of me shattered, Mente?"
"No, no... not at all. The Lord Hades I know..."
I smiled as I looked at Mente’s face. I could see tears welling up in her clear turquoise eyes.
I reached out and gently wiped them away, placing my hand softly on the back of her neck. Seeing her smooth, fair skin up close stirred my heart. It seems I’m starting to feel the same as she does.
"You’re the one who holds me steady when I waver."
"Me...?"
"Yes, every time I recall the scent of mint... I reflect on my actions."
As the passage of time wears away at my view of mortals, it is my memories as a human that keep me grounded. In my past life, the scent was nothing special, something I encountered daily...
But as the god of the Underworld now, Mint reminds me that I was once a mortal.
"And for creating that mint, I am always thankful to you."
"Th... then... What else?"
"...I believe I share your feelings, Mente."
Mente, who had been gazing at me pleadingly, turned bright red. Looking at her as if she might burst, I slowly pulled her closer by the back of her neck.
Like a magnet drawing iron, the goddess moved closer without resistance. In the intoxicatingly strong scent of mint... I kissed her.
"Ha..."
This sweet, refreshing sensation...
It reminded me of... peppermint candy.
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.