Anyone Who Touches Little Oceanus Is As Good As Dead
Flavius Vegetius Renatus, the true alpha male of the ancient Roman Empire, author of the Western version of Sun Tzu’s Art of War, De Re Militari.
He said this:
“If you want peace, prepare for war.”
Simple pleas and reason alone cannot maintain peace.
Peace that relies on the enemy’s mercy and morality will always break sooner or later.
In the end, only the logic of barbaric force remains.
The only way to enjoy permanent, unbroken peace is to hold the power that can protect yourself.
This logic applies equally whether the world is ruled by barbarism or whether one speaks of reason in the modern age.
Of course, no matter how much power one builds, one cannot always claim the seat of the strong.
There is a fundamental difference in strength that can never be reversed between forces and nations.
But even if one cannot escape the position of the weak, there is still a way to obtain peace through strength.
South Korea, my own homeland from my previous life, is already in such a position, having learned a certain survival method amid the clashes of powerful nations.
The so-called poison needle strategy.
No matter that you cannot defeat the opponent, if someone dares to start a fight, you hold the power to send a limb flying.
You cannot claim supremacy, but you are an unignorable military force.
By holding it in one hand and periodically shaking it, you impose a silent threat that says, “Whoever touches the little Republic of Korea just dies. Just dies, damn it.”
This is how Korea maintained the balance of peace even while sitting in the gaps between nations ranked second, third, and sixth in military power in the world.
And this fact applies not only to mortal humans but equally to immortal gods.
“…So, in some cases, we should show them that we can also stab the opponent in the belly… is that what you mean?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm… That does seem rather reasonable.”
Oceanus, who had already shown a rather pleasing demeanor since I told the story of the little hippo, seemed quite sympathetic to the fact that we needed to strengthen our own strength.
Despite still opposing intra-species war, he appeared to fully accept the idea.
Outfitting children and fairies with armor and weapons, training them for war.
It was the exact opposite of his previous appearance that sought only peace, but Oceanus now realized that this was the only sure way to protect it.
“Cronus’s goal is war with the Olympians anyway. If we show him we are not to be trifled with, he will not act rashly.”
“We can also apply pressure on the Olympian side so they do not ignore us.”
Considering that we had once mistakenly sided with Zeus and lost everything, it would be better to show our own strength and draw a clear line.
Oceanus decided to follow my opinion, but one problem still remained.
“But Hephaestus, even if we strengthen our forces as you say, there are only a month left until the meeting. Is there enough time to prepare something meaningful?”
“It is more than enough.”
“Really?”
“Of course. But to carry this out, we will need considerable support.”
“Say what you will. I will spare nothing for something like this.”
“I understand. Then…”
As I said before, our goal is not to start a real war, but to show that anyone who touches us just dies, and thereby maintain peace.
In this situation, there is a useful trick.
A deeper smile spread across Oceanus’s lips.
*
After finishing the conversation, Hephaestus stepped out of the room.
Watching the back of his sturdy uncle who looked even more solid today, a deep smile spread across Oceanus’s lips.
“Eurynome… that child truly has many blessings as a parent. How did she manage to have such a son…”
Oceanus, who had thousands of children, had no child among them that he coldly found satisfactory.
Among the sons, the second son Inachus was slightly better, but honestly, even he was nothing special.
Among the daughters, a few had decent qualities, but they still fell short compared to other high Titans or Olympian gods.
It was clear from the fact that no child among them could give a satisfactory answer to the question of how to solve the current matter.
However, Oceanus’s adopted grandson was different.
Though he was adopted, like Eurynome’s own daughter three years ago, he was accepted as a grandchild and family member.
Though still very young, his solution before Oceanus’s eyes was as clear as day.
Moreover, the skill to instantly forge a steel (or rather) shield that he had always kept at his side, the power that had folded the Titan Epimetheus in a single blow, and most of all, the filial piety that treated his adoptive mother with the utmost respect even though his blood was not mixed.
Imagining this perfect grandson except for his slightly imperfect appearance, a deep smile spread across Oceanus’s lips.
Even knowing it was impossible, as the leader of a force, he felt a thread of regret.
*
A roaring forge.
In this place, I usually used my divine power to stir flames and refined metals to create things.
But right now,
I was refining iron using the so-called “traditional method” that humans normally use, not my divine power.
The roaring blast furnace that swallowed fuel,
and the hot molten metal pouring out from it.
What I was doing was not carefully working with divine power, but simply mass-producing things.
I had always preferred to work alone when forging, but given the situation, I had no choice but to borrow the hands of others.
“Should I just leave this here?”
“Yeah. Has the coal arrived?”
“The black stone I saw before?”
“It should be coming soon. I’ll look into it and bring it after this work is done.”
Nerites stacking the iron ore sent by Oceanus.
Aphrodite checking the arrived raw material list.
And Thetis performing final processing on the completed items from one side.
Until a while ago, they had been playing as cousins who came to visit the relatives’ house, but now they looked like day laborers.
“It’s hot. Be careful.”
“Don’t worry, even though I look like this, I’m a sea goddess. This much fire is nothing… whoa, it’s hot!”
“Pull yourself together, Thetis. What if you really get hurt?”
Steam spurting out while cooling the iron.
Nerites, who said something while watching Thetis lightly burned, but only a few hours earlier he had also gone through the same thing, I felt again that the two of them were truly siblings.
“Everyone really can’t be this careful. I worry you might make a big mistake halfway through.”
“You’re the one who messed up the calculation and brought twice as much iron ore instead of coal. You don’t get to complain.”
“Hmph… it’s fine even if I make a mistake. This young and beautiful body of mine can afford it.”
“I’m young and beautiful too, you know?”
“Stop fighting and just work. If this goes wrong, our whole family will be ruined!”
That was how the forge was running in a blur of small accidents among the new workers.
The iron ore, coal, and the coke I had stacked in the warehouse in between were all being used.
The molten metal drawn from the furnace hardened into solid iron, and then, through my hands, it was reborn as spears and armor.
But even though I was somehow running the production line optimized for this, at this moment, even the god of smiths, me, felt my hands were lacking.
For now, the small tasks of carrying items, checking quantities, and simple assembly were being helped by Nerites, Aphrodite, and the nymphs Oceanus had sent.
Honestly, the work still did not look reliable, but compared to doing nothing, it was far better.
However, even with all the help, only I could refine the iron and create something here.
Thanks to the long-term helper standing by my side, only Thetis could help a little with the final process, but even so the goal was still extremely precarious.
‘As expected… I’ll have to secure professional smiths somehow soon.’
For now I could manage, but considering the future, it was clear I would need proper smiths.
With that fact tucked away in one corner of my mind.
After today’s work ends, I should check whether the training is going well.
Swinging the hammer in my hand, I continued working.
It was one week before Cronus’s summoning day.
*
Mount Othrys.
Another pillar supporting Olympus and the world.
The Titans’ main base.
As befitting its reputation, countless Titans from around the world had gathered at this moment.
In the deepest part of Mount Othrys, an obsidian throne made of black iron.
The man sitting there was
the master of this mountain.
A being that had once ruled this world.
A man with hair like jet black, a beard of pure darkness, and eyes the deep blue of the abyss.
Cronus.
Once the Titan King sitting on Olympus’s golden throne, but now a man who had been driven out by his children and dreamed only of revenge.
Before him, kneeling humbly, was
a young Titan.
“How has it gone?”
“It has all proceeded exactly as Cronus-nim wished.”
As always,
Prometheus, the Titan speaking with a smile that did not vanish from eyes or mouth.
Cronus slowly swirled the cup in his hand and said.
“Oceanus? Is it certain he is coming?”
“That is correct. After sending a scout ahead, he will arrive soon.”
“Fortunately, we avoided the disaster of eliminating one brother from the start.”
After saying that, Cronus took a sip from the cup he had been holding.
While watching this, Prometheus maintained his unchanging smile and spoke in a calm voice.
“There is no need to worry about anything. Did I not say that the winner of this war would be Cronus-nim?”
“Yes, it should be so. What is there to fear when you, who can see the future, have guaranteed it.”
Cronus spoke in a voice full of expectation and excitement.
At the same time, from his tightly clenched fist, an emotion that could be called volcanic fury before it erupted flowed out.
While watching this,
Prometheus again opened his mouth in a calm voice, hiding his true feelings inside his smile as always.
“Then you should begin to leave soon. When Oceanus-nim arrives, the real meeting will begin.”
“I understand. Then right away…”
At that moment.
“Cronus-nim!!”
“Hm?”
A voice calling urgently.
Before the two who had sensed something strange, a Titan came running hastily.
Atlas, Prometheus’s younger brother.
Cronus, who felt the commotion outside, and Prometheus whose smile on his lips had slightly dimmed for an instant.
Atlas said in a panicked voice.
“Cr… Cronus-nim. W-we really should come outside!”