Chapter 115
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: The Other Side of the Myth
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Someone's talking, and the flow veers into a topic that's awkward for me or runs against my interests.
Blame starts pouring my way because of it?
There was a highly effective solution for times like that.
"Artemis and I had ourselves a tussle."
By smothering the subject with something even more outrageous.
And I was right at the heart of the most shocking, explosive rumor in all of Greece.
"...What?"
His bulging eyes seemed to question whether he'd heard right.
Yeah, if someone up and told me they'd tumbled with my own niece, I'd react the exact same way.
"I-is that for real?"
"Hermes, Ares, and Hera all know about it, but I got off on the wrong foot with the goddess Artemis from the start. Last night, she showed up in the forest while I was meditating, come to settle the score."
The key here was not spilling every little detail.
Honestly, as a man, conquering the goddess of chastity was a massive point of pride.
But Artemis wasn't fully in my grasp yet, and we'd sworn on the River Styx to keep that night under wraps.
Best to gloss over it and move on.
"So, what happened?"
"How could I presume to speak of anything that might tarnish the dignity of a goddess seated on Olympus? For her honor's sake, we've buried what happened last night in the Styx. Please understand."
"Hoo... You tangled with that daughter of Zeus and lived to tell the tale...? Heh heh."
Poseidon's eyes shifted—from the look of a father eyeing the scum who'd cheated on his daughter—to one gleaming with keen interest.
'Perfect.'
I flashed a victorious smile.
In the martial world or here in Greece, honor was sometimes valued more than life itself.
Hell, in this place, Zeus himself oversaw oaths, customs, and matters of reputation.
So bringing up the honor of Zeus's bloodline and invoking the Styx? Digging any deeper would be tantamount to challenging the king of the gods.
Plus, though I hadn't spelled it out, I'd hinted enough for him to piece it together. Just as I'd hoped, Poseidon nodded along and let it slide.
"I heard Zeus—that smug bastard—granted Artemis a domain in his sanctuary. Heh heh, never dreamed he'd do it just to snag my prospective son-in-law."
Poseidon, who'd been flashing daggers with his eyes moments ago, had his anger evaporate in an instant.
"You look like a martial artist. Am I right?"
"Sharp as ever. Made it a real chore going up against a goddess who shoots arrows and dashes through the woods."
"Hmm..."
Honestly, Neri's misunderstanding wasn't entirely off-base.
Artemis was an object of lust and conquest to me—nothing like Neri, a sanctuary to cherish and hold dear.
Right now, the priority was sweet-talking this sea god in front of me to get a shot at seeing Neri.
I put on the air of a deeply faithful, reverent worshiper, bowed low before the god of the sea, and offered a polite salute.
"Better late than never, but greetings. Lord of the seas, bringer of the white-capped waves—I see you, Poseidon."
"Hm... And I'm pleased to lay eyes on the reborn son of the ancient goddess of night."
"Pardon?"
Wait, what'd he say?
I looked up in shock at words I'd never imagined, only to find Poseidon's rugged face grinning back at me.
"What, did you think I wouldn't know the identity of my prospective son-in-law—er, brother-in-law?"
"No way... How did you...?"
My bloodline—the maker of this reincarnated body—was the ancient goddess of night, a fact known only to Hera, Hermes, my sisters Nemesis and Eris.
I'd wondered if it had leaked through Hermes, but Hera had supposedly sealed his lips.
Yet here was a god I'd never met before, seeing straight through my origins at first glance.
Visibly flustered, I watched as the sea god stroked his chin beard, plainly amused.
"We've both got plenty to say, it seems... Throat must be parched. Shall we have a drink and talk?"
With that, he proffered a massive barrel that filled his enormous hand—a bizarre father-in-law welcome ceremony was underway.
Now, think about it.
Say someone gets dropped into the world of Greek myth and receives near-chief-god treatment from the gods themselves.
Then ends up boozing it up with an irate father-in-law—whose precious daughter he made cry—from the perspective of the guilty son-in-law.
How do you suppose that'd feel?
The answer?
Surprisingly fun.
"Ku~ Thought I was a goner back then! Father-in-law chucked a deep-sea volcano right at my head. The war with those damn geezers had only just wrapped—my neck was barely reattached after nearly flying off. Kahahaha!"
"Kuhuhu... Honestly, you figured bro had it coming, right? But a deep-sea volcano?"
"You said it! But Amphitrite was just too damn pretty. What was I supposed to do?"
"Pretty or not, you snatched the bride right there on the spot—gotta figure her dad would clobber you for it. Hell, I'm innocent by comparison. A volcano, though?"
"Crazy bastard. Don't know what 'bosam' means, but I get you insulted a god. Not scared of my trident?"
"God or mortal, if I can't speak my mind, might as well bite my tongue and die. But seriously, hit with a volcano?"
God-provided booze was luxury itself—of course prepping sides was on me.
Luckily, in bountiful Messenia from sea to land, a little legwork netted plenty of grub even from bare ground.
And as a god wielding divine power, conjuring from nothing was child's play. In a flash, Poseidon and I were knocking back drinks over a decent spread.
"That volcano—I can't even look at the thing. Amphitrite stuck it behind her palace as a 'punished hubby' trophy."
"Kahahahaha! Then, to the deep-sea volcano that bashed noble Poseidon's head..."
"Cheers!"
Clunk! The massive jars collided with a hearty thud.
White foam erupted volcano-like from the sloshing brew.
Beneath sprawled fresh sashimi and a bubbling spicy fish stew.
A dead ringer for fishermen's fare.
(Spices courtesy of Poseidon—prodded him about Mediterranean trade ships, and out poured heaps of the stuff.)
The sea god, thrilled to finally use his tribute pile, was icing on top.
"Ku... Wine's fine, but for men, this ale's the king. Crisp, tangy—nothing beats it."
"Kuh~ First ale around here. Been craving the taste."
Huh?
One minute it felt like all hell breaking loose, next I'm pounding drinks with bro—father-in-law?
When did I start calling one of the big three—lord of the seas—bro?
(Well, Neri's sis is Amphitrite, her hubby's Poseidon—bro fits better than father-in-law...)
"Hey, punk. Stew's done, ain't it?"
"What's it matter if it's not? Neither of us keeling over from bad grub."
Screw it.
Fun's what counts.
Started off awkward, guilt over Neri had me on edge.
"...So the emperor blocked the princess's secret meet with her master—Jangcheon charged the palace alone, spear in hand. Doors dwarfing Athena's temple swung open, ten thousand troops marching on him."
"Ooh... Swear on Styx it was really ten thousand? How so many soldiers?"
"Pop's way bigger here. No patchwork kingdoms like Greece—why call it empire? Anyway, spear storm scatters troops like leaves in wind..."
My memorized tales of the Twelve Demons—no, Twelve Divine Demons—or murim exploits.
"Know Antaios? My pride and joy.
Struck out solo, built a kingdom. Hangs a golden skull for monthly wrestling tourneys.
Beat him, take the skull. Lose, skull to me and Gaia's temples—you join his army.
Never left his turf, though."
"Huh, so it's a gold skull prop, not real human..."
"Oi, kid! Think Zeus lets heads roll as tribute these days? Swing by sometime. You're no slouch—bet he'll welcome you arms wide."
"Yeah, heard in the forest. Stays put as high priest of Gaia and Poseidon.
Step out, Greece flips. Got a list post-forest."
"Kahaha! Hero stock runs true—good eyes. Hey, know his army names?"
"Spill. Kinda guessing..."
"Defense: Gaia's Shield. Offense: Poseidon's Spear! Kahaha! Ain't he a son to beat all?"
Myth truths I knew, juicy backstage from Poseidon.
Booze loosened tongues—guards fully down between us.
Potent ancient ale, powers dormant, both shitfaced quick.
"Ku... Tasty? Spicy—prime fishing stew."
"Prime ingredients. Fish super fresh."
Paused endless drinks and yarns for breather.
Sore jaw from yapping, scorched throat from chugging.
We tucked into sides slow.
"Ugh... Bro."
"What? Face says it all."
Munching god-sized mystery sashimi, he snorted.
"Uhhh... About Neri. She cry a lot?"
"Kuh, figured you'd mess with goddesses, human girls too—Neri'd suffer like Amp. Surprisingly straight-laced."
"No, Artemis that wildcat..."
Stung bad inside, but couldn't call it toying with chastity goddess—tried glossing.
Poseidon slammed empty jar down—thunk!
"Heh, swapping stolen cow for pig trotter?"
Adam's apple bobbed as he one-shot another ale, glaring in disbelief.
"Young demigod, son of Nyx. This Titan-era god a joke to you?
Zeus's wild filly loses duel and slinks off?"
Ha! Rather say Cerberus leashed for earth walk. Bullshit—Poseidon shook head.
"Styx-sworn can't spill. But Artemis the nutcase loses fight—no sunbeams or bolts on your head? Must've done something to zip her lips.
Man tangled? Light-lipped sort? Ninety percent nasty deed."
Right?
His eyes signaled over raised jar—I shut up.
Chief-god insight. Or scandal veteran's savvy.
"Ahem, w-well, see..."
"Huh? Not scolding—wanna praise ya."
"Huh?"
What now?
"Surprised? Backing you over Artemis."
"Y-yeah?"
She's your niece, right? Ditched Neri for another woman—figured no easy pass.
Instead, Poseidon chuckled low, picking at sides.
"Kuhuhu. Shall I bare my heart? Hell, wanna reward you."
-Crack!
Mediterranean-blue eyes churned with fury, bottle cracking in his grip—pure rage.
But unlike before, not aimed at me—someone else.
"Artemis, Apollo. Those green punks' seats weren't theirs by right."
"Pardon?"
What the hell?
Sudden mood flip, wild tangent—I set my jar down, all ears.
"Radiant Olympus, dazzling Olympus. Twelve thrones at center. Two belonged to my kids—not some daddy-backed twins!!"
Sea stilled as if echoing wrath, clouds blanketed bright sky, gale-force storm brewing.
-Shwaaaa...!
"Charybdis, my lovely daughter. Antaios, my proud son.
Fierce storm goddess, savage quake avatar—those were the children meant for Olympus seats!"
"O..."
Myth's hidden underbelly.
The gods' tales unveiled by gods themselves.