Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: The Queen's Lament
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Tadak, tadadak—.
In the highest temple, Hera gazed at the flames that still refused to die.
There was no grand reason for staring at the fire. It was simply that whenever she looked into it, she seemed to see the face of her husband, who had perished within.
"When you were alive, I hated looking at you so much."
Zeus.
What a loathsome name.
He was the first and last man Hera had ever loved. Romantic and tender, warmer than anyone else.
But at the same time, he was a filthy philanderer.
Hera despised him. He had bedded countless women, fathered children left and right, driving nail after nail into her heart over the years.
So she had thought his death would bring her satisfaction.
"Whether alive or dead, I hate you just the same."
Yet when she learned Zeus was truly gone, it felt like the last remnant of her sky had crumbled away.
Was it love, or affection?
The death of the husband she had loved—her first and last—had painted her world in shades of ash.
Standing there, staring into the unquenchable flames, Hera shed silent tears.
"Why didn't you treat me better when you were alive? Now my pride won't even let me cry in front of others."
What if it had been the other way around? Would he have grieved for her like this?
Probably. No, he surely would have mourned far more intensely than she was now. Zeus had always shed tears as freely as he gave love.
But it would have been the same no matter which of his many wives had died.
That was why Hera hated Zeus. Hated him, yet missed him.
A filthy philanderer.
But warmer and kinder than anyone. The first and last man she had loved.
Hera wiped her tears. As if he might be alive to hear her, she spoke to him.
"This seat feels so heavy now that I'm sitting in it. It must not have been easy for you either."
She had thought him nothing but a carefree playboy when he was alive.
But in truth, he had shouldered a far greater, heavier burden than she had realized.
"Everyone wants this throne. Fools. They have no idea how grueling it is."
Hades and Poseidon. Athena and Ares. Even Apollo.
The gods, who had cowered under the weight of the name Zeus for so long, were now stretching their limbs. Olympus teetered on the brink of war, as if it could erupt at any moment.
The master of the lightning had to appear, and soon. Only then could Olympus reclaim its peace.
"You loved them all. Even the humans."
Hera wondered if perhaps that master might be human.
The human who had come with Thor.
For some reason, he gave off a vibe reminiscent of Zeus.
Even though there wasn't the slightest resemblance.
"I hate humans. Especially that one. He reminds me of you."
Tadak—.
A spark leaped toward Hera's face.
It felt almost like it was saying, 'Then you should like him!' Hera let out a small chuckle.
"Maybe... you knew all along."
Her gaze drifted far off, toward Zeus's chamber where the lightning bolt was embedded.
The returning Hermes was far more talkative than expected.
"Shall we start with a meal upon your return? Olympus has this dish called souvlaki—skewers of marinated meat..."
"Enjoy sightseeing? The scenic views of Olympus after a meal are breathtaking."
"Do you partake in wine? Ah, not a fan? Then how about tea? There's a brew made from sideritis herbs..."
Hermes didn't just talk—he actually guided the two to a restaurant.
"Come now, let's eat before you go. It's on me."
A restaurant with an old-world ambiance.
Caught off guard and now sharing a meal, Soo-hyuk and Thor exchanged glances.
It was blatantly suspicious no matter how you sliced it.
'Is he stalling for time?'
It was too obvious. Blatantly so.
What would they have thought without meeting Heracles?
Even then, they would have found it odd. But grasping the intent would have been tricky.
Thanks to the unexpectedly chatty Hermes, the meal passed without awkwardness. He seemed particularly curious about Thor.
"How did the two of you become friends?"
Thor had ignored all prior chatter. But this question, he couldn't let slide.
"Can't we be friends?"
Evidently still displeased with Hermes, Thor's reply was curt.
Hermes waved his hands frantically.
"No, no, nothing like that. Just curious."
"Do you know something?"
"Pardon?"
"You've been talking only to me the entire way here."
Thor's flashing eyes seemed to ask if Hermes found humans unworthy of conversation.
Realizing his blunder, Hermes gave an awkward laugh. He truly hadn't noticed.
The more gods Soo-hyuk met, the more remarkable Thor seemed.
At first, he thought Tyr's open hostility toward humans was unusual. But the more he encountered, the more it felt like most gods shared Tyr's disdain, making Thor the outlier.
"The meal was enjoyable. We must be off—we're busy."
Thor abruptly stood. Hermes, flustered, rose to follow.
"Where to?"
"Back to the queen, no? Mission accomplished."
"Isn't it too late? Night has already fallen."
Sure enough, peering out the window, darkness had settled.
Hermes had deliberately kept them until this hour. He continued with his transparent excuses.
"Let's go together at dawn tomorrow."
"Tomorrow morning?"
"Yes. Ah, uh—what do you think?"
Mindful of Thor's earlier point, Hermes belatedly addressed Soo-hyuk.
As awkwardly as possible.
"I..."
Soo-hyuk pondered Hermes's words before replying.
"Doesn't sound bad. Visiting so late would be rude anyway."
"Right? See, you get it."
Not clever, but having thoughts. Hard to tell if it was praise or an insult.
But Soo-hyuk wasn't offended.
After the meal, Hermes returned to his temple. Soo-hyuk and Thor headed to the lodgings Hermes had recommended.
A terrace with a panoramic view of Olympus's summit.
Thor returned from downstairs with beer bottles in both hands.
"Care for one?"
Soo-hyuk rarely drank. But under the crisp night air and moonlit Olympus vista, the mood struck him.
"Don't mind if I do."
Clink—.
As Soo-hyuk took the bottle, Thor toasted immediately.
Thor downed his in one go. Emptying the bottle with relish, he smacked his lips satisfyingly.
"Olympian beer is so watery. No flavor."
"You sure drank it down easy for something so bland."
"I'll treat you to Asgardian mead later. It'll blow your mind."
"I'm not really into booze to begin with..."
"Fair enough. A friend who doesn't drink might find Asgard's brew too strong anyway."
For some reason, Thor chuckled heartily. He shook out the last drops from his empty bottle and said,
"It'll be dangerous."
Because of Heracles, perhaps? He didn't tell them to give up.
"If it's dangerous, we'll face it together."
"You sure you're okay with that?"
Soo-hyuk nodded.
In truth, he wasn't. The Hydra fight had been tough enough, but the next one felt truly daunting.
And so...
"Thor."
"Yeah?"
"Why don't you just head back?"
Unnecessary words slipped out, ones he didn't really need to say.
After speaking, Soo-hyuk realized the viewers felt exactly as he did.
By status or strength, Thor was the most reliable ally imaginable. Hermes had dismissed Soo-hyuk outright, yet even Queen Hera of Olympus wouldn't dare treat Thor lightly.
Regretting words right after saying them was rare. But that didn't make the suggestion any less sincere.
I know I respawn if I die... but he might not.
Soo-hyuk's resolve differed from Thor's.
For a Player like him, this place wasn't real. Trials could be retried on failure; lives lost were just points.
But not for Thor.
What happened if this realm's Thor died? Would he respawn like data, or vanish?
Soo-hyuk couldn't be sure if this Thor and a trial-restarted one would be the same person.
Yet...
"You're talking nonsense."
To the gravely serious topic, Thor replied without a hint of hesitation.
"When a warrior starts dodging the place of his death, his body may live, but his spirit dies."
A firm refusal. No room for persuasion.
Of course, Soo-hyuk had no intention of pushing further. If anything, this eased his mind.
"Thanks."
"Just repaying a debt."
Ting—.
The empty bottles clinked with a clear ring.
"Didn't I say it? Friend, you pulled me from hell."
Back in his room at the lodgings, Soo-hyuk sat bathed in moonlight streaming through the window.
The broadcast was still live, but at some point, he had shifted focus from streaming to the trial.
Soo-hyuk checked the skill he had acquired in this trial.
Immunity to All Poisons.
If he had gotten this sooner, the fight against Dang's army would have been far easier. It was that absolute against poison-wielding foes.
Of course, if that were all, even a high-rank skill would feel underwhelming.
Immunity to All Poisons was impressive, but only shone against poison users. Useless in most fights.
But...
With this, it was a different story.
Thick, oily purple mass billowed smoke. Just looking at it screamed deadly poison.
Normally, even touching it would be risky. Eating it? Unthinkable.
After all...
The Hydra's lethal venom had originated from this very core.
But with Immunity to All Poisons...
Under the moonlight, Soo-hyuk unhesitatingly brought it to his lips.
Wardak—.