Blacksmith God -4-
Making the rings after becoming the God of Blacksmiths wasn't something that should've taken Heracles so long. All it involved was melting gold and silver, twisting them into ring shapes, and setting gems matched to Adamantia's blue, Gaia's yellow, and Echidna's emerald green. Ever since becoming a god, my craftsmanship had improved dramatically, so it really wasn't a difficult task.
But the problem was that this work got pushed back so much it ended up taking nearly four days. The first reason was Adamantia, who stuck to me like glue the entire time I was making the rings—what was so great about it that she couldn't leave my side?
"You finally finished them! They're so beautiful, Heracles!"
"Uh, yeah. Becoming a god really seems to speed up the work."
The second reason was her snitch little sister, Thalassa, who followed us around like baby ducklings and struck up conversations at every opportunity.
"Hey, these are really cool. Where'd you get gems like that?"
"Once you become a god, you can do all sorts of things, like changing the color of ordinary crystals."
"Oho, must be because you're the God of Blacksmiths—your handiwork is top-notch."
"Guess so."
"Then how about making one, no, two more blue crystal rings? I want one too—a wedding ring!"
Thalassa, holding up a ring with a blue gem that perfectly matched her own eyes (well, technically it matched Adamantia's eye color, but the sisters had identical shades), grinned cheesily and demanded one from her much younger brother-in-law. Rings like this were rare in this era, and right now, Heracles was the only craftsman who could make them. Even if she described the shape to another artisan, Thalassa had never seen one before, so she couldn't explain it in detail.
"Thalassa! Get away from Heracles!"
"Don't worry, sis. I have zero romantic feelings for my brother-in-law. I'm just after the ring."
"That's why I'm telling you to back off! What kind of attitude is that?"
"Come on, even if he's older in status, the age gap isn't that big. This is fine—what more do you want? It's good for family to get close."
"Thalassa!"
This shameless sister-in-law, whose boldness matched her massive frame, seemed dead set on wheedling a ring out of her young brother-in-law. But Adamantia shot her a fierce glare. It didn't look good seeing Thalassa cling to Heracles so familiarly, and she couldn't tolerate getting a ring like that for free.
"Come on, sis, just one question. You don't want to give your little sister even one ring?"
"No, it's not that. I'd make as many rings as you want."
"But earlier you said no? Make up your mind."
"Heracles is a proper artisan now. Even for family, you can't just get it for free—that's extortion."
"Oh ho, so pay the proper price for the ring?"
"Exactly."
Adamantia adored her sisters, so making something simple like a ring wasn't hard. But since Heracles was the God of Blacksmiths and she was the Goddess of the Forge, she absolutely couldn't allow giving things away for nothing. Heracles didn't really care, but Adamantia was firm.
"Come on, Adamantia, I'm fine with it."
"No. I absolutely won't allow it. You're a real artisan now—artisans must receive fair payment for their work."
"...Alright, fine. If she pays, you'll make the ring?"
"If she pays, then you can make it?"
The sister-in-law and brother-in-law's words overlapped in a bizarre coincidence, and Adamantia couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"Yes, if she pays properly, it's fine. But no lying."
"Great. Then in exchange for making Thalassa a pair of rings, how about she grants me one favor before the year is out?"
"Brother-in-law, are you trying to sleep with me? Hmm, I've never done it for payment before."
"No, not like that. Besides, I'm a married man now."
"Thalassa!"
This sly sister-in-law smiled seductively the moment she heard "favor." The voluptuous beauty with blue eyes and flowing blue hair grinned, pretending to tempt Heracles. He looked flustered, and Adamantia shouted in outrage. Their newlywed reactions were pure entertainment for Thalassa.
"Married men don't sleep with other women, right, Heracles? You serious?"
"With three beautiful wives already, why would I go looking for more?"
"Hahaha, what a hilarious answer! Three women are enough for a man?"
"...I really do think three is plenty."
Thalassa burst into uncontrollable laughter at Heracles' dumbfounded response. For Achaea's most notorious playboy, who'd bedded countless nymphs, goddesses, and even mortals without hesitation, this chastity(?) was utterly mismatched. Thalassa nearly doubled over at this unexpected side of him. Meanwhile, Adamantia, one of the wives in question, looked deeply touched.
"Heracles, you really won't take any more wives?"
"...Honestly, I don't see the need for more, Adamantia. It's not like I want to add any."
"To think you value our bond so much—I'm moved. But don't decide too soon."
"What do you mean?"
"...There are things."
By Achaean standards, where no beauty could escape a man's grasp, Heracles' behavior was downright weird. But as his wife, Adamantia felt a profound sense of security and joy in that trust. Three wives were actually on the fewer side for a handsome god like Heracles. It wouldn't be strange if he took more—in fact, per Adamantia's thinking, it was highly likely. This fearsome goddess harbored ambitions to rule the world, so her mindset was less ambition and more instinct.
"Don't doubt me, Adamantia. I really have no intention of pursuing more women."
"I know. I trust you, Heracles. It's just my circumstances."
"...I really don't get what you mean."
But Adamantia wouldn't force matches on Heracles if he truly didn't want them. She preferred things this way. She just envisioned a future with even greater power. These days, everything made Adamantia blissfully happy. And she completely forgot about Thalassa, who was watching their exchange with clear annoyance.
"Hey, I'm still here—tone it down. Who woos a woman like that?"
"...That's how Heracles wooed me."
"Aigoo, rumors said you banged fifty women a day—not just talk, huh?"
"Eh?!"
Heracles jumped in shock. As a reincarnated Korean with encyclopedic knowledge of Greco-Roman myths, he'd never heard that particular legend about Heracles. But considering who his father was, it was weirder if such tales didn't exist. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he tried steering the conversation back.
"Anyway... excluding anything romantic, how about she just grants my one request?"
"...You're really okay with that? I wouldn't mind including romance."
"Excluding romance, please."
"Hmmm."
Thalassa seemed genuinely surprised that any man would pass up a chance with her. When Heracles firmly excluded it, she dropped a bombshell.
"Fine then. I'll prove my trust too."
"Prove what trust, Thalassa?"
"As thanks to a brother-in-law who truly loves my sister, I'll swear by the River Styx to grant any non-romantic request I can fulfill."
What?!
Heracles was stunned to witness a Styx oath—the staple of Greco-Roman myths—right before his eyes. Adamantia, who knew breaking it meant death for mortals and nine years of comatose helplessness for gods, was utterly shocked that Thalassa would use it for this.
"Are you insane? How can you waste a Styx oath on something like this?"
"But you said pay the proper price!"
"Proper price, yes—but who said throw out something that huge?!"
"Ah, so chatty. The giver decides the price, right, brother-in-law?"
"...Can't argue with that."
"See? He says it's fine."
"......"
What to do with this immature sister? Adamantia could only sigh deeply. But Heracles just found it an amusing spectacle, with no intention of making a big request. Thalassa had sworn believing he was too decent for outrageous demands. Unlike Adamantia's worries, there was solid reason for their nonchalance.
But those carefree thoughts shattered completely at the sound of the Gigantes' war trumpets, shaking the earth and echoing all the way to the island of Sicily.