Clang!
Clang Clang!
Clang Clang~
The rhythmic clanging echoed through the Fire God Temple as usual.
In front of the furnace, Hephaestus—who had removed his mask—wielded his hammer like a diligent old farmer, striking repeatedly.
After a while, he finally stopped hammering and used iron tongs to place the small, circular object from the anvil into a bucket nearby.
As a puff of smoke rose, the circular object rapidly cooled.
Hephaestus then took the small item, polished it slightly, and embedded a polished sapphire into it.
The moment the gem was perfectly set, a faint, ethereal glow appeared on its surface.
“Hmm—done.
You try it on.”
Hephaestus inspected it up and down, nodded with satisfaction, and then handed the newly crafted sapphire ring to Athena, who was watching from the side.
“Tsk.”
Athena looked disgusted.
Although she wanted to refuse and not continue being a tool—acting as a model for jewelry—she couldn’t.
Hephaestus’s craftsmanship was simply too superb, making it impossible for her to decline.
So she could only obediently take the gem ring and place it on her left middle finger.
The moment she put it on, something strange happened.
She was still Athena, and she was still wearing the same clothes—but the feeling she gave off became somewhat seductive.
That kind of subtle, alluring feeling was like an illustrator upgrading to a master artist—it was simply irresistible.
“What kind of lewd ring is this?!”
Athena saw herself in the mirror, her face instantly flushing.
She took off the ring as if electrocuted and threw it fiercely at Hephaestus.
“Hey, hey, hey—don’t just throw it!
This is the result of ten minutes of my hard work!”
“Heh.”
Athena crossed her arms over her chest, the white fabric over her bosom made even more prominent by her arms.
Hephaestus’s opinion on this was: not bad, still room for growth—needs improvement.
“So—why did you agree to make these things?”
Athena glanced at the ring in Hephaestus’s hand, half-disgusted, half-envious, and asked curiously.
Hephaestus had been very busy lately—because many goddesses, some she knew and some she didn’t, had come to commission him to make jewelry.
As for why these goddesses were flocking over like this, Athena knew perfectly well.
Her mother’s disappearance had left the position of Queen of the Gods vacant, causing these goddesses to stir—each one eager to ascend to that supreme position and share glory and authority with the King of the Gods.
Don’t ask why—even after knowing what Zeus had done to Metis, so many goddesses still rushed in like moths to a flame.
Power moves hearts—even gods are no exception—let alone the Greek gods, who were even more human than humans.
“That goes without saying—it’s fun~”
Hephaestus wiped the alluring ring—which was modified from a skull ring prototype—and gave Athena an unexpected answer with a smile.
“Fun?”
Athena frowned, puzzled by Hephaestus’s words.
“Yes—it’s fun.”
Hephaestus put away the ring and said with a chuckle, “I just realized recently that I seemed to have been too repressed before.
I always felt like I should be this way or that way—so I often went against my true inner thoughts to do things.
But now, I suddenly see clearly.
Being a god—the most important thing is to be happy~”
Hephaestus truly felt this from the bottom of his heart.
After all the struggles in his previous life—in this life, he just wanted to live happily and smoothly.
Of course—if anyone didn’t want him to be happy and smooth—then he would smash that guy’s dog head.
Smash one if there’s one—smash a pair if there are two—smash ten if there are ten—smash as many as there are.
Of course, this was based on absolute strength—and now he had enough confidence.
Thinking of this, Hephaestus smiled even more happily.
He looked at Athena and suddenly asked, “Hey—my lovely little girl Athena—do you know what that scumbag Hera has been up to lately?”
“Don’t call me little girl!”
Athena subconsciously retorted—then her pupils slightly widened, and her gaze at Hephaestus held a hint of surprise.
“You mean—”
“Hehehe~~~”
Hephaestus laughed happily.
“That scumbag goddess has been very restless lately—constantly making little moves—single-mindedly thinking about ascending.”
“But isn’t Zeus currently hovering between Demeter and Leto?”
Athena frowned—then suddenly realized.
“You made jewelry for them?!”
“Of course.”
Giving Athena a knowing look, Hephaestus chuckled and said, “Hera wants to ascend?
It’s not that easy!
I want to see her reaction when she suddenly discovers that all her rivals are stronger than her—and she suddenly becomes weak, pitiful, and helpless.”
“What’s the meaning of that for you?”
“That goes without saying—it’s fun!”
Hephaestus said matter-of-factly, “As long as I see that scumbag Hera unhappy—I’m very happy.”
“You’re getting worse and worse—you really are.”
Athena looked at Hephaestus, both annoyed and amused.
Through their time together, she had gained a completely new understanding of him.
He was very capable, and his mind held many strange and wonderful pieces of knowledge—but she always felt that his way of thinking wasn’t on the same wavelength as normal gods—making conversations with him quite perplexing at times.
“Hehehehe~~”
Hephaestus, far from being ashamed of Athena’s complaint, laughed gleefully—taking pride in it.
This also made Athena unconsciously reveal a schadenfreude-filled smile.
Watching a good show—not to mention humans—even gods couldn’t resist.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, feeling a presence rapidly approaching Lemnos Island, Hephaestus and Athena’s expressions changed.
Hephaestus put his mask back on and then touched his belt.
“You’re foolish, but he’s very capable You’re foolish, but he’s very capable”
Accompanied by an inexplicable, stirring melody—under Athena’s deadpan gaze—Hephaestus completed his transformation in a flash of light, donning the armor that concealed his figure.
“Every time I see it—I feel like that music you play is off.”
Athena complained.
Hephaestus, however, was fearless about this—he sang it because he was happy!
Soon, the presence landed in front of the Fire God Temple.
With a dazzling golden light, a beautiful goddess with red robes, golden hair, and blue eyes appeared in the front courtyard.
Her mature and beautiful face showed a hint of exasperation.
She calmed her rapidly heaving chest and, trying to sound composed, called out to the temple, “Hephaestus—I know you’re in there.
Come out.
I want to talk to you—in the name of your mother.”