Chapter 4
When I narrowed my eyes and focused, I saw a man holding the reins.
So completely was he wrapped in a cloak that it was hard to believe he could see ahead at all. Around his neck, as if he were raising a pet serpent, lay a golden snake draped like a scarf.
Though I could not see his face, I recognized him instantly.
The Cornucopia that boomed with thunderous sound. Black horses drawing a golden chariot. And even a snake.
They say speak of a tiger and it will appear.
Hades…!
Lord of the Underworld. One of the three great Olympian gods.
And… the very one who, in the original myth, turned me into a silver-white poplar tree.
My body froze solid. I needed to run—right now—but I could not move. As I stood there, the distance between us closed.
The pressure of a high god was enough to freeze even the breath leaving my lungs.
Then, with the sharp snort of the horses, the chariot came to a halt.
“How does a lowly goddess dare block the path of the Lord of the Underworld?”
I flinched. The snake around Hades’s neck slithered down, hissing as it fixed its gaze on me.
“I-I’m sorry.”
I hurriedly stepped aside. There was no point being shocked by a talking snake—this place was already crawling with far more bizarre monsters. What mattered now was staying out of Hades’s sight.
“That’s enough.”
A heavy, low voice.
Cold as winter frost, the sound settled atop my head. It felt as though my entire body were freezing over.
“What is your name?”
At that moment, I wished I could become a pebble. A worthless little stone—small enough to escape Hades’s notice, mouthless so I would not have to answer his question.
“You there! His Majesty has asked you a question!”
That damned snake.
Lowering my head, I ground my teeth. I really didn’t want to say it. There was nothing good that could come from telling him…!
“L-Leuke.”
I forced the words out, as though swallowing poison. My voice was so small I wondered if it even carried.
But Hades nodded as if he had heard clearly.
“You may go.”
Thank goodness. Just as I let out a sigh of relief—
“Your Majesty! Now that you know her name, you must not let her rudeness go unpunished!”
The snake, apparently born without a shred of tact, shook its head wildly and made an enormous fuss.
I clenched my teeth. That wretched little serpent—just wait until I see you again. I’ll pickle you in snake liquor.
“The beings of the surface keep disrespecting Your Majesty. This would be the perfect chance to trample them thoroughly—”
“Enough.”
Gasp—!
The sudden, low voice sent chills racing over my skin. My heart dropped with a heavy thud.
The raw, undisguised pressure crushed my breath.
So this is why he stands alongside Zeus and Poseidon as one of the three great gods… My body trembled like a leaf.
The snake immediately went limp, sagging as it bowed its head toward Hades.
“I-I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”
“That’s enough.”
“Haaah…!”
Only then did I finally release the breath I’d been holding. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the ground.
Fate had been that close. For hundreds of years, I hadn’t seen or even heard of Hades once.
And now he had seen my face. Learned my name.
My heart pounded as though it might burst. I scrambled to my feet and fled.
—
Leuke, was it?
Hades recalled the woman he had just seen. For some reason, her afterimage lingered in his mind.
Silver-white hair fluttering in the spring breeze. Clear, golden eyes. A slender body that looked as if it might collapse at any moment. Skin so pale it bordered on bloodless white.
She was very small. Very white.
Leuke.
A white woman.
It suited her.
Hades thought she resembled a little white fluff ball Cerberus used to play with—though the three-headed hound of hell actually played with skulls. It was simply one of those moments when he indulged in a fond illusion.
“I-I was presumptuous, Your Majesty… sniff.”
The small golden snake sniffled as it apologized. With a sigh, Hades patted his subordinate’s head.
“I understand why it upsets you that those on the surface do not regard me kindly.”
Ophion’s pearl-like tears fell in heavy drops. Hades scolded him firmly, as though tears were no excuse.
“But you went too far with that woman earlier. That was excessive.”
“Sniff… y-yes, I’m sorry…”
“When you see her again, you must apologize properly. One must know how to admit fault and reflect in order to grow into a fine adult.”
Cerberus had matured enough not to cause such trouble anymore, but young Ophion, a fledgling snake god, was particularly prone to mistakes. As Hades soothed the dejected Ophion, the chariot came to a stop. The Lord of the Underworld had arrived at the threshold of Olympus.
“Open the gates.”
As he straightened his attire, Hades thought to himself.
That he hoped to meet that goddess again. That, strangely, he wanted to see her once more.
Next time, I hope she won’t be afraid of me.
—
I hurried up the hill and arrived at Athena’s temple.
“H-Haa…”
“Lady Leuke?”
“Aunt, what brings you here so early?”
Pallas and Athena greeted me at the entrance. Wiping away my cold sweat in secret, I answered as casually as I could.
“We said I’d start learning weaving today, didn’t we? So I came early.”
“Ah, but… what should we do…”
Athena scratched her temple, looking troubled.
“I just remembered that Artemis asked me to go hunting together today.”
That explained why the nymphs serving Artemis were gathered in front of the temple. I nodded.
“All right. I’ll wait here, then.”
“I’m really sorry, Aunt.”
“It’s fine. Just bring back a tasty wild boar when you’re done, okay?”
“Of course. I’ll catch a big, high-quality one.”
“Then I’ll hunt a fox and make a fur cloak just for you, Lady Leuke!”
Pallas peeked out from behind Athena, grinning as she made the promise. Seeing her smile eased the tension that had seized my body after meeting Hades.
Athena and Pallas left to prepare for the hunt, and I let out a relieved sigh—just then, from afar, the younger attendants of Persephone approached.
“Why are only you here? Where’s Kore?”
Iante answered as she brushed sand from her chiton.
“Lady Persephone won’t be leaving Sicily for a while.”
Everyone nodded.
I understood Demeter’s feelings all too well, but Rhodeia stepped closer and whispered,
“You remember how you said you fainted and saw that ecstatic vision?”
“I do.”
“I don’t know what happened that evening, but Olympus was in an uproar. That’s probably why Lady Demeter reacted so strongly.”
“Really?”
“Of course! I heard it directly from Lady Demeter’s attendant.”
Hmm. It seemed that the vision from the previous day wasn’t something that could simply be brushed aside.
“And…”
Rhodeia hesitated, then beckoned me closer.
When I leaned in, she whispered,
“They say Lord Hades, who has remained underground all this time, has come up to the surface!”
“I’m so scared…”
Watching Rhodeia shiver, I swallowed hard. My thoughts were tangled.
What had happened earlier resurfaced in my mind.
Still, it was a relief to hear that he hadn’t come to do anything to Persephone or me. Perhaps our encounter had been nothing more than chance.
Please, let it remain chance—never again even by accident.
Just as I thought that, someone suddenly stepped forward.
“I know exactly what happened.”
It was Phaino, the official gossip source of the Oceanids.
She grinned mischievously and launched into her spiel.
“As you know, I’m a Nephelai—a nymph of rain and clouds—so I fly around everywhere and hear all sorts of things.”
“Get to the point.”
“Then let’s dive right into it.”
Anticipation sparkled in Phaino’s eyes, the look of a true dopamine addict.
“Something strange seems to be happening on the Protogenoi side.”
“What?!”
