“This should be good enough.”
Hephaestus led Athena to a secluded corner, then pressed a spot on the wall with his free hand.
Only then did he confidently release Athena’s hand and say to her, “Alright—this way we won’t be overheard or seen.”
Athena looked at her wrist, which Hephaestus had released without a trace of reluctance, her beautiful eyes flickering slightly.
But then, the expression on her face turned serious.
“Hephaestus—you were too reckless just now.
You shouldn’t have treated Zeus that way.”
Athena said very earnestly to Hephaestus, “You acted far too eager and too decisive just now.
Such behavior will cause that old scoundrel to harbor suspicion—and that suspicion will evolve into apprehension.
By then—”
“What Hephaestus?!”
Before Athena could finish her serious words, Hephaestus impatiently reached out and took off the goddess’s helmet, directly placing his large hand on her head.
While rubbing it, he scolded her irritably, “Is ‘Hephaestus’ what you can call me?
Call me Uncle!”
“?!!!”
Athena was stunned by Hephaestus’s actions.
It took her a while to react, and her normally fair face instantly flushed red.
Then came all sorts of struggles, as she tried to break free from Hephaestus’s large hand while shouting in shame and anger.
“Who—who wants to call you Uncle!
You are clearly just my older brother!”
Although Athena tried very hard to break free from Hephaestus’s hand, no matter how she twisted her body, that seemingly not very strong or thick hand seemed to be stuck firmly to her head, unable to be pulled away even a millimeter.
“Nonsense—your mother is my older sister, so I am naturally your Uncle!
I don’t acknowledge any relation on Zeus’s side!”
Hephaestus looked at the goddess who had just been so imposing but was now trying to dodge under his large hand.
Seeing the expression of shame and anger on her face, which was seven or eight parts similar to Metis’s, yet she was helpless against him—Hephaestus’s lips curved into a strange arc.
“Quick!
Call me Uncle!”
Hephaestus shouted with some excitement.
No—it feels like something is awakening inside me.
But this feeling is truly wonderful!
Unconsciously, Hephaestus’s breathing became a little heavy.
“Hephaestus—that’s enough!”
Finally, when the Wisdom and War Goddess, having been teased for a while, could no longer bear the shame and anger and was about to fight back—Hephaestus unexpectedly withdrew his hand first.
This feeling—like finally seeing the crucial scene in a comic on a certain pink app, only for the network to suddenly disconnect at the most exciting moment—almost made Athena burst with frustration.
“Emmmm, little one—you’re still a bit too green.
You’re three thousand years too early to contend with your Uncle!”
Hephaestus crossed his arms, sizing up the Wisdom and War Goddess, who was breathing heavily, her chest heaving, and her face flushed red, looking as if she had just finished a warm-up.
The corners of his mouth turned up wildly, and the smile beneath his mask was proud and arrogant.
“Hephaestus!!!”
Upon hearing Hephaestus’s words, Athena instantly bristled.
Just as she felt her rationality was about to be consumed by rage, and she was preparing to disregard all consequences and beat this scoundrel until she was satisfied—Hephaestus suddenly raised his hand.
“Alright, stop fooling around.
Let’s talk about serious matters.”
Who’s fooling around?!
Athena almost blurted that out, but she ultimately held back.
However, her gaze toward Hephaestus was clearly very displeased.
“You—you are still too young.
After all, you’ve just been born and haven’t seen much of the world.”
Hephaestus ignored Athena’s pouting gaze and said with feigned seriousness, “You must know that every action I take has a deeper meaning.
Just like how I so decisively blew up Zeus’s head—there was a reason behind my consideration.”
“What consideration?”
Seeing Hephaestus finally become serious, Athena temporarily put her annoyance aside and became curious.
Looking at Athena’s engrossed expression, Hephaestus’s lips curled slightly.
He cleared his throat and said earnestly, “My consideration is—”
“Is what?”
“—it’s that doing so feels incredibly satisfying!”
“!!!”
Looking at Athena, whose eyes were wide and mouth slightly agape—Hephaestus finally couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.
“Hahahahaha~~~”
“Hephaestus!!”
Athena finally erupted.
She angrily summoned her golden spear and was about to thrust it at Hephaestus—when the spear transformed into chains, directly binding her with a flick of his wrist.
“Eh eh eh?!!”
“Tsk tsk tsk—little girl, you’re still too naive.”
Hephaestus wagged his finger, looking at Athena, who was bound like a zongzi and couldn’t break free.
He took off his mask, revealing a profound and enigmatic smile.
“Did you really think I would give your mother weapons without any preparations?”
“!!”
Athena was startled.
It was only then that she realized that from the very beginning, she had fallen into his rhythm—completely led by the nose.
To be able to toy with her, who had inherited her mother’s wisdom, to such an extent—Hephaestus was truly terrifying!
Recalling Hephaestus as she had seen him in her mother’s womb, and thinking of his obedient, well-behaved, and sensible appearance in front of her mother—Athena felt a chill run down her spine, and her gaze toward him became strange.
Unaware of Athena’s gaze, Hephaestus waved his hand, releasing the chains on Athena.
The golden chains transformed back into a spear and returned to Athena’s hand.
“Get up.”
Hephaestus extended his hand to Athena, who was still on the ground.
“…”
Athena looked at Hephaestus’s fair hand for a while before finally grasping his palm and being pulled up by him.
“In the future, if you have anything, come to me.
If you have nothing, you can also come to me.
You don’t need to swallow your anger here.
If you encounter anything—I will stand by your side.
Here, no god can threaten you—not even Zeus.”
As Hephaestus pulled Athena up, he said very seriously, “Now that your mother is gone—I will protect you.
Back then, I was too foolish and didn’t realize Zeus’s ambition, which led to your mother being deceived by such a fellow.
Now, if he still tries to bully you, his daughter—I, Hephaestus, will absolutely not allow it!”
“!!”
Athena heard Hephaestus’s words.
Her ears twitched slightly, her face was expressionless—but a feeling of sudden realization dawned upon her heart.
So that’s how it is—so that’s how it is!
She understood!
Who would have thought that this Hephaestus, who seemed so honest and dutiful in front of her mother, was actually not honest and dutiful at all!
Recalling Hephaestus’s obedient appearance in front of her mother, Athena felt she had discovered the truth.
This Hephaestus actually harbored jealousy toward Zeus—and all of this was because he had always harbored affection for her mother!
He wanted to overthrow Zeus and then snatch her mother away from Zeus’s side!!
Athena recalled the details of what had just happened and suddenly felt that everything was clear.
The reason he had so decisively blown up Zeus’s head seemed to establish a persona of a simple, honest, and blunt person.
But in the eyes of intelligent gods—he was actually expressing his disdain for Zeus and his defiance of Zeus’s authority.
His indifferent attitude from beginning to end was essentially telling the other gods that he thought Zeus was an incompetent god!
At first, the gods might not react much.
But in the days to come, as Hephaestus gradually began to display his power, the gods would naturally connect this to the incident—and then those who were dissatisfied with Zeus would naturally approach Hephaestus.
These gods would become Hephaestus’s followers, and his power would gradually grow.
Once he was strong enough—he would be able to overthrow Zeus in one fell swoop!
It’s chilling to think about!
This Hephaestus.
It’s just a pity his methods are still a bit crude.
And is Mother really that good?!
She should be far more excellent than Mother!
No, no—why would she think that!
She clearly has no interest in this crude fellow at all?!
Looking at Athena, whose expression changed in various ways, Hephaestus couldn’t help but have a “?” appear in his mind.
This child—could she be… mentally challenged?
Hephaestus couldn’t help but wonder if he had hit her too hard just now, turning the perfectly fine Wisdom and War Goddess into a silly and War Goddess.
Thinking of this, Hephaestus’s gaze toward Athena couldn’t help but carry a hint of pity and guilt.
“Let’s go—I’ll take you to your mother’s temple.
That will be your temple from now on.”
“Huh?”
Athena, brought back from her thoughts by Hephaestus, was stunned for a moment and subconsciously said, “But Zeus hasn’t—”
“I say the temple is yours, and it is!
What Zeus says doesn’t count—what I say counts!!!”