The Day Olympus Burns
"A headache?"
"Yes. Ever since that day, Zeus has been complaining of a pain so fierce it feels as if his skull is about to split open. Hestia has managed to ease it a little, but the fact remains—he is in no condition to fight."
"Hmm…"
The report Hades gave me about Zeus's condition stirred a memory.
There was one… a story in the myths where Zeus suffered from a splitting headache…
In the original myths, Zeus had suddenly begun screaming that his head was about to burst. And the one who had solved that "agony" had been none other than Hephaestus himself.
Naturally, I knew the "treatment" as well. So I spoke to Hades with complete seriousness.
"There might be something I can do about that, too."
"R-really? If that were possible, it would be a tremendous relief."
"However… after the treatment, he will likely be unable to fight for a while. The method itself is rather extreme."
"What? Just what kind of method are we talking about?"
Even a god whose bones could mend in an hour or two would be out of commission for some time. Hades's doubt was natural. To avoid any pointless misunderstandings, I told him the truth about the "surgical procedure" as a guardian ought to know it.
His reaction was not the protest I expected, but pure astonishment.
"…Wait. Was that truly the correct answer all along?"
"Pardon?"
I blinked at him, and Hades looked faintly embarrassed.
"Well… our eldest sister, Hestia, actually suggested something similar. At the time we weren't certain, and we lacked a proper method, so we abandoned the idea…"
"…"
The fact that someone had thought of it before me—and that someone was Hestia, the goddess I had always pictured simply tending a hearth—left me with a fresh little jolt of surprise.
"Then the course is set. We move at once. Lord Hades, please prepare as well."
"Understood."
A small company of gods rode the clouds Hades summoned, racing toward Olympus.
Hephaestus and Ares, the sea deities Thetis and Nerites, Aphrodite—who had thrown a tantrum until she was allowed to come along—and three death gods whose eyes burned with denser anticipation than anyone else's. Armed far more heavily than they had been on the previous journey into Tartarus, thanks to the spoils of war, they flew as fast as the winds would carry them.
It was not Oceanus's army, yet the force was still formidable. With luck, it might be enough to turn the tide.
Those hopes died the moment they arrived. Despair settled thickly over Hades's and Ares's faces.
"N-no…"
"Olympus…"
"…is burning."
Mount Olympus was wreathed in roaring flame, black smoke boiling into the sky. The citadel on the summit still seemed to be holding out, but its walls looked ready to collapse at any second—an image that conjured the end of the gods themselves.
"Oh dear. Flames are rising even from within the palace," Aphrodite murmured.
"At that rate, the enemy has already poured inside in force," Thetis added.
The outer walls had crumbled; the outer bailey was effectively lost. The inner gate still appeared shut, yet smoke curling from within told them the fortress was moments from falling.
"Hmm… Darling, even if we free Hera now, isn't it already hopeless?"
Keres's question carried more eager curiosity than worry. Hephaestus was silent for a beat, then set his jaw.
"We proceed as planned. Lord Hades—do you know a hidden way into the palace?"
"Of course. Follow me."
"Heh-heh. Perfect. Then we stick to the plan as well…"
Keres's smile was dark and delighted. She looked less like a rescuer and more like someone savoring the chaos itself. At the moment, Hephaestus decided that was not necessarily a bad thing. Across every age and land, those who fought for the sheer joy of it had always been the most terrifying.
"Keh-heh-heh… Well now, who do we have here?"
"Isn't that the famous Queen of the Gods herself—Lady Hera?"
"Kh…"
"Y-you brutes, stand back! Do you even know who this is—Kyaaaaah!"
Titans burst into the chamber, shoving aside the lesser goddesses who served as handmaidens, and advanced with hungry eyes.
"The rumors were true—she's a stunner."
"Worth the risk of charging in early, eh?"
"The man who defiles the Queen of the Gods… what a glorious title that would be!"
"Keh-heh… I can't wait any longer. I'll take the first turn."
Lust twisted their faces as they closed in. Despair flooded Hera's expression.
In full strength she would have blasted the heads from such low-ranking Titans in an instant. But she was still bound to the Golden Throne, divine power and strength sealed, unable even to flee. There was nothing she could do.
It's over… my rank, my life… everything…
How had it come to this? Once she had shone brightest of all as Queen of the Gods. Why was she now reduced to this nightmare?
Abandoned by her children, abandoned by her family, about to lose even herself. And she knew the reason better than anyone.
If only… if only she had shown Ares a little warmth, loved the boy as he was instead of demanding more…
No—if only she had never cast aside the newborn Hephaestus in the first place…
None of this misery would have happened.
I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… Ares… Hephaestus… Forgive this worthless mother…
The apology she could never speak aloud echoed inside her head as the Titans' filthy hands reached for her. A single tear slipped down her cheek—the price for a goddess of the hearth who had failed even to be a proper mother.
"Keh-heh-heh… I wonder what color the queen's undergarments a—"
In that instant—
"…Huh?"
—thud.
A Titan's wrist dropped to the floor and rolled. Before the others could even register shock, two figures exploded into the room behind them.
"Gyaaaaaaah!!!"
"Wh-what are these brats—Ghurk-k-k-k!!!!"
Throats were severed mid-sentence; faces were skewered by twin spears. In a heartbeat the Titans who had invaded the chamber were reduced to twitching wreckage.
When Hera saw one of the faces, astonishment flooded her features.
"A… Ares? H-how are you… here…"
"…Haaah."
Ares let out a heavy sigh at her stunned expression. Then he pressed a golden key against the back of the Golden Throne.
—click!
"Ah!"
The bindings released. Hera rose, tasting a rush of freedom—only for her gaze to lock onto the one who had saved her: her son, the child she had thought she might never see again.
"Th-thank you… Ares… and… I'm truly sor—"
"Don't get the wrong idea."
"!"
He cut her apology short, voice cold and flat. He tossed her the armor hanging on the wall.
"I still haven't forgiven you… Mother. I came back for one reason only—to save Olympus."
"…B-but…"
"And right now, the only thing that matters is fighting."
"…Y-yes…"
Unable to form a proper reply, Hera hurriedly buckled on her armor.
"Looks like another pack is coming," Nerites said from the doorway, twin spears ready, voice icy.
Ares raised his sword and moved to join him. Watching them, Hera steeled herself. There was still so much she wanted to say—but her son was right. For now, the only task was to end this chaos.
She drew her blade. It was time to stop being a sinful, foolish mother and become Hera the warrior once more.
"Perses… look at my thing. What do you think?"
"What the hell are you babbling about?! Let go of me right now!"
"Say it's big and beautiful! Hurry!"
"A-aagh, damn it!!!"
"…"
"Ahem. In any case, they're subdued. Let's move quickly. It's just ahead."
After entrusting Hera's rescue to Ares and Nerites, Thetis, Aphrodite, and I followed Hades at a run toward the chamber where Zeus lay.
Any Titans we met along the way were "handled" by Aphrodite, who insisted on demonstrating her power. From a spectator's standpoint, simply taking their heads might have been cleaner, but cold logic said her method was better for tying up the endless stream of reinforcements. After a hard charge, stumbling onto familiar faces engaged in an enthusiastic "fireman's game" would stop anyone in their tracks.
Spreading a certain radioactive charm through the corridors, we finally reached Zeus's bedchamber—only to find an unexpected figure waiting outside the door.
"! You—"
"Prometheus…"
He stood alone before the entrance, looking as though he had only just arrived. Aphrodite instantly nocked an arrow, but I stopped her.
"Easy. He's on our side."
"Huh? What do you mean…"
She looked puzzled, but instead of explaining I addressed Prometheus directly.
"Is there something you can help with?"
I referenced our earlier conversation. Prometheus's expression turned awkward.
"Well… yes, in a manner of speaking. But even I don't know exactly what to do."
"Is that so… even you."
"Indeed. Olympus is already overrun by Titans in every quarter. Even for you, reversing this will not be easy. If you somehow managed to bring down Cronus it might be different—but right now even approaching him is nearly impossible…"
His face still wore its usual smile, yet genuine concern underlay every word. Listening to him half-resign himself, a sudden idea sparked in my mind—one situation from the present crisis that might still be turned to our advantage.