Echidna -1-
For some reason, I had a feeling that a ton of stuff had gone down on Sicily while I was away. But it was probably just my imagination. Yeah, it had to be. Right now, I was in the middle of performing a labor to win the heart of the great Goddess Adamantia. Sure, there was that minor issue that the idea for this labor came from that snakehead Typhon, but the framework was perfect. And above all, the goddess herself had gladly accepted it, so there shouldn't be any problems. Right?
An inexplicable unease washed over me, but I was Heracles now. I could wield Heracles' superhuman strength without issue, and after a year and a half of grueling training to slay beasts and monsters, nothing could go wrong. The only real hitch in this labor was the trek all the way to the distant Black Sea.
"Heracles."
"Hera Goddess?"
"Yes, it's me."
Out of nowhere, with no context whatsoever, a voluptuous, tall beauty with long brown hair and clear eyes called my name. Her eyes were stunning, her black irises drawing people in like magic. Even to me as Heracles, her long limbs, height, and curvaceous figure seemed no slouch—they rivaled Goddess Adamantia herself in beauty... or so the Heracles in my head claimed, calling her Hera Goddess. I nearly messed up big time.
"Why are you so quiet, Heracles?"
"No, Lady Hera. I truly never expected you to come find me in person."
"Hmph, are you implying I'm nitpicking you?"
"Not at all. I was just genuinely surprised."
Hera Goddess was the Queen of Olympus, renowned as one of the strongest goddesses (excluding Protogenoi like Goddess Adamantia or Gaia). She was the root cause of nearly every twist in my life. Poking at her temper was a no-go. I bowed as politely as I could.
Her imposing demeanor softened noticeably.
"You've become strangely courteous. Well, perhaps it's for the best."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. That's my business—you don't need to worry about it. I've heard the gist from the winds. You're heading across the Black Sea to capture Echidna alive, correct?"
"Yes, that's right. There were circumstances that made it necessary."
"Don't hide things from me, fool. Have you forgotten what goddess I am?"
"Ah, right."
Hera was the protector of marriage, family, and women's lives. Naturally, she'd have sussed out something as crucial as matters of the heart between men and women long ago. My thinking had been too shallow. Close call. I bowed my head in apology before she could get mad.
But her reaction was unexpected.
"No need to grovel like that. I'm here to help you today."
"Lady Hera, you're going to help me?"
"Why the shock? I'm a goddess who's sponsored countless heroes."
"I... thought you hated me, Goddess."
"Don't worry—I still do. Just know this is me being capricious."
"Understood, Goddess."
I bowed to Hera again. She seemed to study the top of my head intently(?) before making a surprising proposal.
"I've decided to help, but I can't just do it for free."
"Of course not."
"Fulfill my request, and I'll whisk you to the far side of the Black Sea in an instant. How about it?"
"...I'll do it."
No way. To complete Gaia's labor for Goddess Adamantia (+ snakehead), I had to do Eros's labor, and now to do that, I had to do Lady Hera's? What was this, Matryoshka dolls? Total shit-shoveling training? But I couldn't brush it off, so I agreed readily.
Except the request was downright weird.
"First, carry me across this river. We'll talk on the other side."
"? Understood. No trouble at all."
It was a simple ask. Not much of a labor, but if it meant piggybacking a beauty, I was the one who should be thankful. I hoisted Lady Hera onto my back and splashed across the fairly wide stream. It was noisy, but I took care not to let her get wet.
Then she spoke up.
"By the way, Heracles."
"Yes, Lady Hera."
"You served as Adamantia's attendant for a year and a half."
"Yes."
"Wasn't it humiliating, waiting on a woman?"
"Not at all."
"Why not?"
"..."
We'd crossed the stream. This seemed tied to my actions somehow. I gently set her down and knelt politely on the grass. ...It just felt right. Hey, Heracles—you got this!
"To answer your question, Lady Hera: There was no particular reason."
"You waited on a woman with no reason at all?"
"To be precise, the reason wasn't a big deal. I can't smelt iron, so I'd just be a hindrance in the forge. Thinking it over, the only thing I could do was attend to Goddess Adamantia. So that's what I did."
"...That's truly all?"
"Yes, Lady Hera."
She looked genuinely shocked at my answer—eyes wide, mouth slightly agape in an amusing expression. She stared blankly for a while before asking again.
"I can't quite grasp it. What kind of man waits on a woman for that reason?"
"I simply did what I could. No shame in it."
"...An interesting reply. Suppose you married Goddess Adamantia. Could you do it every day?"
"Every day might be tough, but I could manage it while she's pregnant."
"What?"
What? Did I screw up? Lady Hera was staring at me like I'd lost my mind.
"You'd truly wait on your pregnant wife?"
"Yes."
"...You wouldn't hit Adamantia or the child?"
"Hit Goddess Adamantia? Perish the thought. As for the child... I hope it never comes to that."
"..."
Lady Hera fell silent for a good long while after that—long enough that my shoulders itched from the awkwardness. But regardless, she kept staring right through me, pondering what labor to give, saying nothing.
How much time passed? Finally, she spoke.
"Very well. Off you go, Heracles."
"Pardon? Weren't you going to give me a labor?"
"The labor... consider this conversation your labor. Your words pleased me."
"I see. That's good, then. I'll head to the Black Sea no—"
"Where do you think you're going? This is Scythia already."
"Pardon?"
We'd only crossed one stream, and we were already in Scythia? What the hell?
"Heracles. As promised, I've brought you to the land where your labor awaits."
"...Thank you, Lady Hera!"
"By the way, Heracles, your answers sparked one curiosity. I have a question."
"Ask away, Lady Hera."
She paused, then opened her mouth.
"What do you think a wife is?"
"What I think a wife is?"
"Yes. Tell me your thoughts."
Hmm, tricky one. The Heracles in my head wasn't helping. Screw it—I'll just say what I think.
"I see a wife as a lifelong companion."
"Companion?"
"Yes. Someone you protect and cherish for each other... adapting to one another as you live life together."
"Protect and cherish, eh."
What now? Her expression turned to "this guy's nuts" again, this time with a hint of unease. Was that such a weird answer? It's what my dad told me back in my old life. But Lady Hera wasn't done with the Q&A.
"What does that protecting and cherishing entail?"
"Well... nursing her when she's sick, making sure she eats, giving heartfelt gifts on birthdays, spending time together, living joyfully—that sort of thing."
"You're serious, Heracles? You're not just saying you'd actually do that for a wife?"
"? Of course, I may not achieve it all perfectly, but that's the mindset I'd live by, Lady Hera."
"..."
How many times had she gone quiet today? Was I really that off-base? Cherishing loved ones was the same in this era, wasn't it?
"Fine. I've decided."
"Pardon?"
"Heracles, do you know the meaning of your name?"
"Hera's Glory, given by Lord Zeus, as I understand."
"Correct. It means my glory. One more question: Do you know why I hated you?"
"Because I was born from an affair?"
She snorted.
"If I hated heroes for that alone, I'd have cursed every hero in Achaea to death. It was one reason, but not all."
"? Then what?"
"...It hurt. It was embarrassing."
"...?"
What? She hated me because it hurt her?
"I'm telling you now because you've grown on me."
"Really?"
"Of course. You are now Hera's Glory. My glory. That name shall be blessed. I guarantee it, Heracles."
"Thank you! Lady Hera."
As I bowed again in thanks, she chuckled softly, waved dismissively, and vanished into the sky on a rainbow. I had no idea what sorcery that was, but Lady Hera seemed to like me now. Yo, this was a total jackpot.
"Awesome!!! Time to wrap this up and head back to Sicily!!!!"
I resolved myself. I am Heracles. Now, Lady Hera's blessing was with me!