Demeter's Love (Chapter 7)
After the playful water fight between Perseus and Demeter ended, they were drying their bodies in the center of the sacred forest under the sunlight. Demeter's worshippers had brought food. Since the bandits had dwindled and the grape supply issue was resolved, she had asked them to share some as a small task while bestowing her favor. The devotees who received her blessing all looked overjoyed as they accepted it.
“Does this suit the body well? I don’t quite understand it myself.”
“You, being healthy like you, won’t feel its effects much. But for an old man, it extends life significantly. Someday, it will prove useful.”
“Oh?”
Demeter had let Dionysus grow it and planted it. Those who ate the grapes recovered their health quickly, even the elderly. They finally understood why the thieves had risked their lives to steal it. But for Perseus, it was about preserving his life, not health, so he never fully grasped their desperation. He soon left the scene as the sun began to set.
“You’re leaving again today?”
“Yes.”
“Please take care tonight as well. You must return safely without injury?”
“Of course. Just leave it to me.”
Perseus used the silver owl feather he had received from her to fly away. The Spartoi who had wandered far off had dispersed after their midday nap, along with the rest of the temple guards. Achilles was there too. The only ones left were the nymphs and Demeter herself.
“What should I do? What should I do? How am I supposed to handle this?”
Under the dark night sky, she fidgeted like a virgin. The sight was so amusing that the nymphs, who had trembled in fear of intruders during nights before, were now giggling and snuggling around Demeter. They stroked her arms and shoulders playfully, flattering her with their efforts. It was extremely cunning.
“What is it?”
“Your complexion looks unwell.”
“What happened with Perseus?”
“That’s… this is… um… I don’t know if I should say this because of Perseus…”
“Was it something that happened in the morning?”
“Ugh…”
The nymphs, knowing everything, laughed mischievously at Demeter. Though she was no ordinary goddess, since she was close to them, she accepted it without anger and opened up about her inner thoughts.
“Do you remember what I said this morning?”
“Yes. You mentioned that Perseus became an adult.”
“It was similar to what Achilles said last time.”
“But… how is he made that you say that?”
“How is he made? ……”
Demeter briefly recalled the scene. A black-haired youth washing his body quietly by the sunlit water. She didn’t know how it touched her heart, but his face had turned bright red even in the night, which she could see clearly.
“Did I… perhaps get hit by Eros’s arrow…?”
“How is it that you said that?”
Demeter, who barely cared about anything except her daughter or crops, and especially after the incident with Poseidon and Zeus, had no interest in men. Now she finally showed interest in a human male, and the nymphs’ ears perked up.
“Unlike the heroes lately… he is very… beautiful… His skin was smooth, with no rough features… I suppose you could say he had a non-violent aura…”
“Oh my…”
“His black hair reached down to… and bathed in sunlight… from his wet appearance… Even the way he gently conversed with me as usual was very… good… ah…”
“Mommy mommy…”
“Demeter-nim…”
“That’s…”
“Don’t tease her like that!”
“Kyahaaa~!”
The nymphs suddenly cried out in high voices and spun around Demeter in a circle. Whether it was teasing or blessing, Demeter’s embarrassment grew, and she tried to flee, but the nymphs chased after her, digging out her true feelings until the end.
“You girls are working hard, yet you’re still chattering away.”
“Demeter-nim mentioned it first!”
“But! Shh! Quiet, quiet! Don’t speak carelessly. I have no intention of repeating the tragedy like Iasus.”
“You still hold a grudge?”
“No. I bore two children with him, so I am satisfied. Though the tragedy was painful, and it was only natural for Zeus to look down on it. I thought there was no man’s luck with Poseidon or Iasus, so I ignored it as much as possible… It was truly difficult…”
“But Perseus is a good man.”
“Yes. He worked hard for us, and now we reap the fruits.”
“This time, if I ask Zeus formally for permission, he won’t refuse?”
“They say the gods like him.”
At those words, Demeter waved her hands in refusal. Although her heart fluttered at Perseus’s appearance, the past wounds were too deep.
“He is just beginning to shine with his name and value. No matter how lovely, with such experience, I cannot let my greed ruin his future. Besides, he already has a wife. Hera would never forgive that.”
“But Hera doesn’t seem to like him.”
“If you truly like him, perhaps it would be good to confide in Hera and tell her the truth.”
“Yes. Perseus doesn’t know Demeter-nim’s true feelings yet. Even if he looks bad, the gods won’t punish him.”
“Even so…”
Demeter glanced up at the night sky. Her eyes showed worry that someone might be watching her. But this was the forest where her supportive nymphs gathered. When she didn’t want to be seen, the sky was hidden by grass and branches, so no one could peek.
“No… that’s very dangerous…”
With no eyes on her, she told herself she shouldn’t have bad thoughts and continued walking through the forest with the nymphs.
“Demeter-nim~?”
“Where are you planning to go~!”
“My story is over, let’s enjoy the breeze.”
“If you go any further, you’ll reach the edge of the forest~!”
“It’s fine. Those children are protecting us, and the bandits’ footsteps have stopped. What’s there to be afraid of?”
“Eek…”
“I know it’s embarrassing…”
“Mommy mommy, you girls are something else! This story ends here! —Hmph!”
Initially, it was a quick move to shake off the nymphs who had their eyes on romance. But as they went deeper, the speed increased, and they ran around like enjoying the night air. A white beauty with golden hair leaped like a young deer, and the nymphs chasing her were also beautiful. Suddenly, a strong gaze pierced them, as if someone was watching.
“Mom, what is it?”
“Are they perhaps Perseus’s soldiers?”
“They traveled this far to help us again today.”
For the nymphs, Perseus was like an angel, just like Spartoi and Achilles. If they were nearby, they wanted to encourage them. Following the gaze from somewhere, they quietly approached the bush, where one nymph realized something odd.
“Those people were wandering the outer edges?”
Of course not.
“Hah!”
With a nymph’s startled gasp, a huge shadow shot out.
“Kruh, got you! I got you! Kruhuh!”
“Kyaahaaaah!”
By the time the nymph’s scream rang out, the filthy giant had swiftly snatched Demeter into his arms. Thinking no one would suddenly appear, Demeter, as a goddess, was too shocked to show her divine form and panicked like an ordinary woman. The nymphs shouted in panic.
“Impudent!”
“Do you know what you’re doing right now?!”
“Release Demeter-nim right now!”
But the opponent scanned the surroundings with uneasy eyes, as if chased, then pointed the axe’s sharp blade at the nymphs. Most of these nymphs were Dryads, so their memories of axes were nonexistent, and their reactions were extremely fierce.
“What are you trying to do right now!”
“Put it down! Hurry!”
“Kruh, kruh, don’t come closer! Uh, don’t come! I just want to leave this forest!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?!”
“You impudent bastard! I’ll let you go if you release Demeter-nim right now!”
“No way! No way! Who would believe that? How many died because of that?”
“What?”
“I got lucky! I got Demeter here! My comrades are all dead, but this way I can survive! Kruhuh, kruhuh, kruh~!”
The giant, shivering as if he didn’t know what he was saying, was full of disgust from the nymphs. Demeter, held by him, felt the same. She didn’t know why he was doing this, but her rage was so evident that she thought she might kill him if necessary.
“D-don’t make Demeter-nim angry!”
“Let go of that hand!”
“No! I won’t let her go until my life is guaranteed!”
“You don’t even realize your own life is in danger!”
The nymphs knew what happened when Demeter got angry, but eventually her fury exploded. If no one stopped them, the entire area would be wiped out. In the midst of it, a flapping sound came from far away.
『You impudent fool!』
Flap flap flap flap!
“Uwa! Uwaaaah! This wild beast has gone mad! Even the stupid owl!!”
The silver owl that fell from the moon spread its wings wide and sharpened its talons, biting the giant’s nose and eyes. The giant swung his axe wildly to shake off the owl stuck to his face, but when he loosened his hold on Demeter, panic struck.
“No! I want to survive from here-?!”
That was his last words.
Clang-!
Perseus 2 transformed into an adult and swung his mace with all his might, blowing the giant’s head clean off. He could no longer speak human language.
“Ouch.”
“——Ah.”
Perseus lightly swung his mace, then pulled Demeter out from the giant’s embrace with his other hand. Demeter, naturally nestled in a man’s arms, became meek like he had never been angry before. She looked like a very young, newly born goddess.
“Are you hurt anywhere, Demeter-nim?”
“I-I’m fine…”
“I’m sorry. I tried to handle it quietly today because the goddess dislikes killing, but he ran away.”
“It’s fine… it’s fine… more importantly… your posture is very……”
“Ahaha.”
Perseus loosened his waist, and Demeter covered her face with the back of her hand and stepped back hurriedly. How virgin-like she looked. The nymphs, who had been shouting loudly until then, all sent envious glances. Perseus, unaware of Demeter’s heart, kept his dazed expression until they disappeared.