“Great Hephaestus, I am here to convey Zeus’s command.”
Just as Hephaestus expected, he didn’t have to wait too long.
After he leisurely idled for about half a month, Zeus’s summons finally arrived.
The beautiful nymph respectfully conveyed the command from the supreme King of the Gods to Hephaestus.
“Zeus commands all gods to Mount Olympus to relieve him of the headache that has troubled him for a long time—to free him from this terrible torment.”
“Understood.
Let me get ready first.”
Hephaestus nodded knowingly, picked up his most commonly used iron hammer, tucked it into his waist, and then said to the nymph, “I’m ready.
Let’s go.”
“Eh?”
The nymph looked at the calm Hephaestus with a bewildered expression, then at the iron hammer at his waist—a huge question mark almost visible on her face.
To this, Hephaestus offered a very reasonable and proper explanation.
“As the God of Flame and Forging, isn’t it perfectly normal and logical for me to carry my tools with me?”
“……”
The nymph gave Hephaestus a strange look, her expression a bit constipated, but she said nothing and obediently led Hephaestus at full speed toward Olympus.
Upon arriving at Olympus, which he had been away from for a year, the moment Hephaestus stepped onto the floor tiles of the Hall of the Gods, he clearly sensed that the atmosphere was off.
Unlike the previously relaxed atmosphere, now the air was filled with panic and fear.
Everywhere he looked, the nymphs and lesser gods serving as attendants—though trying their best to appear calm—all had a hint of fear deep in their eyes.
Of course, there were also some individuals who looked excitedly impatient.
These were, without exception, beautiful goddesses who were considered outstanding even among the gods, where handsome men and beautiful women were everywhere.
For them, the absence of a Queen of the Gods meant they also had a possibility of ascending—however slim that possibility might be.
But what if?
Regarding such individuals, Hephaestus remained calm.
After all, dreaming was their freedom—how could he stop others from dreaming?
Following the nymph, Hephaestus walked into the hall under the complex gazes of the gods, which mixed mockery, pity, indifference, and concern.
“Ah Ah Ah Ah”
As soon as he entered, Hephaestus heard a slightly foul wail.
He saw Zeus, occupying the main seat of the round table that took up a large part of the room, clutching his head.
His handsome features were scrunched together, looking particularly comical—making one feel a burst of uncontrollable laughter.
If not for his good self-control, Hephaestus felt he might have laughed out loud on the spot.
“Zeus, I have obeyed your command and come from Lemnos Island.”
Hephaestus stood on the carpet, bowing slightly to Zeus, his voice noticeably colder than usual.
“Hephaestus—it’s good that you’ve arrived.
Please take a seat first.”
Zeus didn’t seem to mind Hephaestus’s obvious aloofness.
He waved his hand weakly, and the sight of the veins bulging on his forehead brought great pleasure to Hephaestus’s heart.
He said nothing, calmly walking to the seat closest to the door and sitting down.
Hephaestus looked around.
Most of the twelve Olympian chief gods were present—except for a certain King of the Underworld.
The Titan gods, led by the Sun God Helios, all sat with their eyes closed, resting, completely ignoring Zeus’s pained expression, appearing entirely detached from the world.
The reactions of the new gods, led by Poseidon, were quite varied.
Although Sea King Poseidon tried hard to appear serious, his constantly twitching lips deeply betrayed him.
Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth, clearly showed concern for her brother—but her gaze toward Zeus also carried a hint of blame and apprehension.
Demeter, the Goddess of Abundance, was simpler—only worried about Zeus, looking as if she wished she could take her brother and lover’s place.
As for a certain scumbag mother—there’s not much to say.
Although she tried hard to portray herself as a caring older sister to her brother, the joy emanating from her bones already revealed her true thoughts.
The so-called myriad forms of life probably looked like this.
Taking in the expressions of all the chief gods, Hephaestus remained silent, simply toying with the iron hammer at his waist, considering what posture would look best for later.
“My dearest friends—my brothers and sisters!
I appeal to you.”
As Hephaestus took his seat, Zeus’s voice, filled with suppressed pain, echoed through the room.
“My mind is as if pierced by a thousand needles—and ten thousand war drums are beating.
My soul feels like it is being torn apart—and endless pain fills me.”
Listening to Zeus’s seemingly pitiful lament, Hephaestus felt no sympathy in his heart—in fact, he even wished for it to be stronger.
You deserve this!
Instead of living a good life, you insisted on these crooked ways.
If you don’t suffer, who will?!
“Therefore, I implore you, my brothers and sisters—help me.
Release me from this pain.”
Zeus pleaded earnestly with the chief gods.
He was truly in unbearable pain now, and his heart was filled with unspeakable remorse.
Starting three days ago, his plan had been going smoothly.
Through sweet talk, he had tricked Metis into transforming into a drop of water to enter his body to see his “true heart,” and then he took the opportunity to devour her—making her wisdom and knowledge his own.
Initially, the progress had been indeed excellent.
As he merged with Metis, he gradually began to understand everything.
However, just as the situation was looking great—the backlash came.
His soul and his body could not bear Metis’s wisdom.
He felt like a large vat that was already full, but the gushing water kept pouring in—making him feel completely messed up from soul to body.
He had originally thought he just needed to endure it, and it would pass quickly.
Unexpectedly, as time went on, it only intensified.
Unable to bear the pain any longer, he finally had to put aside his dignity as King of the Gods and ask the chief gods for help.
Unfortunately—he put aside his dignity, but the chief gods all remained silent.
“My brothers and sisters—help me!”
Zeus once again pleaded earnestly with the chief gods.
But all he received in return was silence.
Are you kidding?
At this point, who the hell knew what to do?
The more you do, the more mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make; do nothing, make no mistakes.
No one present was foolish enough to want to get involved in such a messy situation.
“You… Ah!!”
Zeus saw the chief gods all remaining silent and felt a sudden rush of blood to his head.
Before he could say anything, the intense pain in his head made him cry out in agony, his features twisting into a horrifying mess.
The severe pain even blurred his consciousness, and he began to babble incoherently.
“Ah, ah, ah!!
My head!
Smash my head!!
Smash my head!!”
“Oh.”
Suddenly, a calm voice sounded—and then the gods saw a red blur.
THWACK—
A crisp cracking sound suddenly rang out—and then red and white flowers bloomed on the divine throne, splattering everywhere.
The gods stared dumbfounded at Hephaestus, who had appeared beside Zeus without them noticing—or more accurately, at the iron hammer in his hand, stained with red and white matter.
“What are you looking at?
He asked me to hit him.”
Facing the gods’ gazes—which seemed to be looking at a madman—Hephaestus said with an innocent expression, “I’ve never seen such a request in my life—so of course, I could only fulfill it.”