"You've caught the attention of a troublesome Athena!"
When Hecate said those words, Jason was momentarily stunned before his expression twisted into one of utter despair.
Me... what did I do to deserve this? Why is this my problem now?!
Jason couldn't help but feel frustrated.
Yet, he didn't doubt Hecate's words. After all, he knew full well just how petty the Greek gods could be.
After a moment of silent misery, Jason noticed Hecate smirking at him. His eyes flickered with an idea, and suddenly, a dazzling smile spread across his face.
In the sweetest, most obedient voice he could muster, he said, "Lady Hecate, you see, I'm your student, your most devoted and faithful follower..."
"Oh, knock it off." Hecate rapped Jason lightly on the head, rolling her eyes at his pitiful expression. "I have no interest in getting involved. I moved to the Underworld just to avoid them. This mess is your own doing—figure it out yourself after you graduate!"
"But wasn't it you who told me to find Lady Persephone in the first place..."
"Hmm?!" Hecate's voice rose slightly as she squinted at him.
Jason immediately shut his mouth.
"Tell me, have I been too kind to you lately?" Hecate mused, pinching Jason's cheek lightly. "I feel like you're getting more and more disrespectful..."
Well, yes, he was getting a bit less respectful—but at the same time, he felt much closer to her.
It had been nearly half a year since he became Hecate's apprentice. In that time, he had come to understand her personality fairly well.
Despite often giving off an unreliable vibe, Hecate was quite dependable. The reason she seemed so indifferent to most things was simply that there weren't many matters she truly cared about.
In terms of power, status, and wisdom, she was undeniably exceptional.
But what had truly allowed Jason to shed his initial reverence toward her was that late-night conversation they'd had.
Hecate had made it very clear: the gods were nothing but trouble!
A kindred spirit!
Granted, she was a god herself.
"So, Lady Hecate, aren't we leaving yet?" Sensing that the conversation was heading in an unfavorable direction for him, Jason quickly changed the subject.
"Hmm..." Hecate released him and thought for a moment. She glanced at Jason before finally shaking her head slightly. "Never mind. I had originally planned to take you away once this was all over, but since you've made it this far..."
With that, Hecate raised her right hand, and a beautifully crafted magic staff materialized in her grasp.
It was the first time Jason had ever seen her wield a staff. Normally, she relied on divine speech alone to cast her spells.
But this time, she was about to deceive gods—Olympian gods, no less—so, naturally, she had to take things more seriously.
Murmuring an incantation, Hecate cast protective magic on both herself and Jason before teleporting them to a shadowed area under the moonlit sky, not far from where Hermes and the golden-horned deer were waiting.
As they arrived, Hermes seemed to sense something, glancing around cautiously. However, even he couldn't pierce through Hecate's concealment.
Just as Hermes furrowed his brows slightly in suspicion, Persephone arrived, propelled by the divine power of her winged sandals.
With Hades' Helm of Invisibility shrouding her, she effortlessly bypassed the barriers Demeter had set up, slipping unnoticed from the mountains under her mother's watchful gaze.
And the moment she appeared, pulling off the Helm of Invisibility, the earth trembled and split open, swallowed by an abyss of endless darkness!
Startled, the golden-horned deer beside Hermes tensed up in panic, while Jason instinctively flinched. But with gods standing beside them, neither was truly in any danger.
As Jason steadied himself, preparing to ask Hecate what was happening, he suddenly heard the sound of galloping hooves.
Then, from the fissure in the earth, he saw them—four jet-black horses wreathed in Underworld flames, pulling the chariot of the King of the Underworld himself!
"Did you think Apollo, Artemis, and Athena were all intervening just to cover for you?"
Hecate's voice murmured in Jason's ear.
Jason stiffened.
Then, as he watched the chariot come to a halt, realization dawned upon him.
Hades had arrived.
The King of the Underworld had personally come to escort his queen home.
In hindsight, it made perfect sense. Only an event of this magnitude could justify the combined efforts of four Olympian gods to shield it from divine scrutiny.
And almost at the same moment Hades appeared, atop the heights of Mount Olympus, Demeter—who had been distracted dealing with Athena, Apollo, and Artemis—suddenly froze.
She turned sharply toward the place where Persephone had been hidden, her expression shifting subtly.
"That presence just now... Hades?!"
As the goddess of agriculture, grain, and harvest, Demeter was no weakling.
Oh, and by the way, she was also the sister of Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus.
Otherwise, the King of the Underworld would've just taken Persephone outright...
Wait, you're wondering who Persephone's father is?
That would be Zeus, of course.
Yep, classic Greek mythology.
"Why would Hades suddenly appear... wait—another divine presence? Persephone?!
Impossible! How could she have left the temple unnoticed? And why did this happen right when I was away?!"
Demeter's eyes widened in shock as she rapidly pieced together the situation. Her expression darkened instantly.
Realizing what had happened, she shot a furious glare at the three gods before her.
But Athena, Apollo, and Artemis merely averted their gazes, studiously avoiding eye contact.
"You... you lot... I am absolutely livid!"
By now, Demeter had no doubts about what had transpired.
Without hesitation, she turned and left, rushing toward the scene.
The others didn't try to stop her.
After all, by this point, Hades had already extended his hand to Persephone, and the outcome was inevitable.
"So... it's over?" Artemis asked curiously once Demeter was gone.
"Yes, it's over," Athena confirmed. "That child succeeded."
Apollo added, "The divine energy I left in his sword has been sealed off. Hecate must have already retrieved him—he's safe."
"So that means... everything's settled?" Artemis tilted her head slightly.
"Yes, quite smoothly," Athena replied with a smile.
Then, she turned toward Artemis, her smile widening even more. "Which means... Artemis, it's time to settle our score!"
"Settle what score?" Artemis blinked in confusion.
"You really thought I wouldn't figure out that you were the one who told that child about me?" Athena ground her teeth. "I specifically warned you! Do you have any idea how much I was looking forward to it? He made me fail over ten times!"
"Wait, wait! How do you even know it was me who told Jason?!"
As Artemis yelped in protest, Apollo simply shook his head, picked up his lyre, and quietly left.
Meanwhile, as Hades helped Persephone onto the chariot, he spared a glance toward Hecate's direction, nodded slightly, and then drove his chariot into the Underworld.
The fissured earth closed once more, leaving only silence behind.
"Alright, we should leave too," Hecate said, ruffling Jason's hair. "Now... it's time for you to reap the rewards you've earned."