Chapter 78

Many possess the power of prophecy and foresight.

Prometheus, the prophet;

Apollo, who killed the giant serpent Python and gained the divinity of prophecy.

Hermes, who gains foresight at the crossroads where the present, past, and future intersect.

Hecate, who predicts the future through ancient mysteries.

And, alongside Apollo, Dionysus, who oversees the oracles of Delphi and glimpses the future through drunken visions and ecstasy.

Zeus began to move in earnest during the winter ten years ago, when Dionysus’s prophecy was made.

In the desolate temple of Delphi, without priests, wine, or even pilgrims, Dionysus, drunk and sprawled on the altar delivering oracles, weakly waved his hand when he saw him.

Upon seeing him, Zeus assumed, as he often did, that his son was drunk, had sent his followers away, and called for his father out of longing.

Zeus approached to help him up, thinking it was a simple matter.

But Dionysus, who was hazy with drunkenness, rushed at him and whispered a prophecy in his ear.

“A prophecy of Dionysus?”

“You know how chaotic and confusing the oracles of drunkenness can be.”

If it weren’t for the divine power flickering in those drunken eyes, he would have thought it was just the God of Drunkenness performing his duties and passed by.

He was even about to brush it off as another manifestation of drunkenness.

When Dionysus, as if leaving a final message, uttered a single name before collapsing.

“Prometheus. Dionysus left the name of the prophet and fell.”

The only God of Prophecy who could foresee the future in its true sense, Prometheus.

The prophet above prophets, the creator above creators.

The great titan, who alone could foresee all futures, was bound to the rocks of Mount Caucasus, enduring the punishment of having his liver devoured by an eagle as retribution for stealing the fire of the gods and giving it to mankind.

Zeus had sought to free him in exchange for learning the prophecy known only to Prometheus, but the titan remained silent, asserting his righteousness by enduring millennia of punishment.

No matter how many times Zeus visited to persuade and threaten him, the titan always closed his eyes and kept his mouth shut. But when Zeus brought the oracle of Dionysus, Prometheus finally spoke after thousands of years.

“Even Prometheus, who was bound to the mountain, listened to the oracle of Dionysus, set aside his grievances for a moment, and interpreted it.”

“Even Prometheus?”

Hera’s eyes widened at the fact that the great god, who always maintained his innocence in silence, had spoken.

“Then, has Prometheus been freed?”

“No, it’s…”

Tsk, stubborn old man.

Zeus murmured softly, finding the old man truly inflexible.

“Given the gravity of the situation, he helped interpret it. I told him to share the prophecy and ease up. But he closed his mouth again.”

“Zeus, still…”

“Hera. Let us speak no more of this matter. The fact that he remained silent despite everything suggests that this is an event as significant as that child you cherish. A prophet who withholds prophecy from a pilgrim who must receive it, how can such a prophet be tolerated?!”

Seeing that he had aided in such a great matter, Hera was about to suggest forgiving Prometheus, but Zeus, his eyes flashing with lightning, roared in fury.

-Boom!

In response to the Thunder God’s wrath, lightning streaked across the sky of Olympus, and fierce winds swept over its peaks.

“Ugh!”

“S-Sorry. I got too excited…”

When Hera groaned at the chief god’s sudden display of power, Zeus quickly regained his composure and apologized.

But Hera saw the undeniable anxiety and agitation in Zeus’s eyes.

“Sigh… What’s the use of me saying anything…?”

Zeus, the highest god adorned with thunderbolts and her youngest sibling, often puffed up his chest, pretending to be bold and confident, but in her eyes, he still looked like the young boy who trembled in fear of Kronos on Mount Lycaon.

“Ahem, sorry. Anyway, as a reward for Prometheus’s cooperation, the eagle has been withdrawn for now. Please understand.”

“So what was the prophecy? What could it possibly have said…”

“That… Sorry, I don’t really know either.”

“…What?”

No, seriously.

Making his wife and queen of the gods swear by the Styx.

Even talking about where the oracle came from and then clamming up again?

“Are you trying to start something?”

“C-calm down, woman! It’s just, there’s a reason I can’t speak!”

“If you can’t convince me before I count to ten, one of us will vacate the throne today.

O great king of the gods, mighty Zeus.”

Zeus, trembling with fear, quickly explained to Hera, who warned him calmly rather than angrily huffing and puffing.

“Prometheus said it’s not a fixed prophecy but one that can change depending on interpretation, so he told me never to speak of it!”

“…Hmm.”

Zeus explained the situation as swiftly as the lightning he cast.

A prophecy that paints an uncertain, unfixed future.

It was indeed typical of Dionysus’s prophecies.

But if even Prometheus told Zeus to keep his mouth shut…

If that oracle spread, in the worst-case scenario, not only Olympus but all of Greece could be in danger.

“However, one thing is certain: the child you’re watching is related to that oracle.”

Zeus was more meticulous and thorough than Hera had ever imagined.

Well, if he had merely followed his father’s precedent of ruling with sheer force, he would have been dethroned long ago.

However, to think that he kept such a monumental event, perhaps an even more significant prophecy than the great prophecy, to himself and even reached out to Dianes before her, sending him to the Forest of Heroes.

“At least it’s fortunate that the child has a cordial relationship with you. I’m grateful, Hera.”

“…Really?”

“There’s no way I would lie to you.”

What was her brazen husband saying now?

“I would greatly appreciate it if you could just keep your mouth shut. Almighty god.”

“Uh… um…”

“Anyway, I understand your sincerity. Somehow, I thought it was strange that Hermes hadn’t said a word even after interrogating him, but now it makes sense.”

“Eh, come on~ It’s not like I knew everything. But since you care so much about that child, I’m paying special attention, too.”

Even while looking at Zeus approaching with ridiculous cuteness with contemptuous eyes.

Hera could understand why Zeus was supporting the hero she was backing, even sending Ares along, despite the hero not being of his own lineage.

A secret prophecy, one he could not even share with her.

And somehow, a young hero who had gained the favor of three of the twelve Olympian gods at a young age, and clashed with two, it was likely deemed best to keep him under the glory of Olympus.

“Who knows about this…?”

“Up until now, it’s just me, Dionysus, and Prometheus. Now including you, it’s four.”

“What about Apollo?”

“Dionysus revealed the prophecy to me alone and then immediately left Delphi.

It seems he doesn’t even remember the prophecy himself since he was drunk.”

“Why did you send Ares?”

“Hmm… Considering your trust and the child’s disposition, it seems like Ares would get along well with him. Besides, Ares also seemed very interested in the child. I sent him to get acquainted with the gods who favor you.”

“Hmm…”

There were still a few, no, very many unclear points.

One thing was certain: Zeus was the king of gods of Greece, and his devotion to this land was genuine.

The fact that he had remained silent despite Hera’s anger indicated that he truly could not divulge more.

If nothing else, the threat to leave the throne vacant and see it through to the end was not an act, given how pale his face had turned.

“Not to mention, there are also reasons for training the child.”

“Ugh… Ahem, that’s true as well.”

Surely, the child’s culture, wisdom, and strength were already complete.

It would be no exaggeration to say that there was nothing for the child to learn in the Forest of Heroes.

Thus, Zeus took Hera’s plan to seek Chiron’s consent and have Nemesis and Eris lay the groundwork for the child as a god while staying in the Forest of Heroes, a step further by having Ares confront the child.

“So, you’re saying you also support the idea of this child becoming a god?”

“…That’s right.”

At this point, Hera could begin to grasp Zeus’s true intentions.

Zeus was preparing something.

Even Dionysus, with his drunken mumbling, and even Prometheus, who refrained from speaking, couldn’t decipher that unknown prophecy.

“Hmm… Alright. Let’s move on. I also like that child. I’m looking forward to seeing how much more the child will reveal his true worth when leaving the forest.”

“Uh… Hera?”

“Yes?”

As Hera smiled softly and turned to leave, Zeus’s eyes twitched nervously.

“Th-that child, do you like him that much…?”

Oh my?

Hera, ever sharp, caught on to Zeus’s reaction and hid her smile beneath her gaze.

“Well… it’s not just anyone, it’s the son of Nyx, and the brother of Nemesis and Eris.

Not exactly a stranger, right?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Why is that?

Hera slowly turned around, trying to leave the place.

Zeus was flustered and at a loss for words.

If Hermes had seen this, he would have found a spot to sit and enjoy the spectacle, wondering what on earth was going on.

“No, it’s not that I have other intentions, it’s just that you rarely show interest in demigods…”

“Ah…? Well, it’s not every day you see a child of a high god. He shows respect for goddesses and seeks wisdom while also being a promising young hero and a future god… I can’t help but be concerned.”

“Reeeeeally?”

Crack! With the sound of lightning sparking behind her, the Queen of the Gods descended the peak with elegant steps.

‘Child. For those who seek the ancient secrets, hardship is a necessity.’

Born with an extraordinary vessel, and with a soul that holds boundless potential.

The small trials that the queen may present—may you overcome them well.

“Ugh?!”

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

“Pardon?”

-Thud!

The crimson fist of the War God was swung unexpectedly, and the boy flew through the air, his black hair trailing behind.

In the midst of their fierce clash, the balance was suddenly broken.

The boy was hit squarely by a reflexive strike aiming for an opening.

He was flung away, smashing into the cliff on the opposite side, his life in jeopardy.

Nevertheless, he casually cleared the debris and stood up, gazing blankly at the sky.

“Huh? Wh-what is this?”

No.

What unbearable event was about to happen now?