Chapter 192
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: The Beginning of the Divine Power
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A new god was about to open its eyes.
The first to notice this was, ironically, the goddess who always kept her eyes closed.
Nemesis, who could see more precisely because she did not rely on her eyes, sensed the budding presence of this new divinity faster than anyone else—like a sprout pushing through the soil on a spring day.
This was probably because that divinity did not stem from the brilliant lineage of Uranus and Gaia, passed down through Cronus, but from the same fragment of the Abyss as her own.
It was the divine power originally bestowed by her mother, the Primordial Night Mother, upon her own priestess.
Now, the divine power once held by Hera, queen of the gods and protector of humanity, was acknowledging a new master and beginning to awaken.
'We absolutely cannot leave this in the hands of Olympus.'
Olympus was not a place for gods who loved and embraced everything.
They were gods who benefited humanity and protected it, receiving offerings and respect in return.
Yet the heroes of their bloodline branded all other races and different forms as monsters and hunted them down.
If their young sibling were to ever seek refuge in Olympus, his fate was as clear as day.
He would be banished to some remote corner like Hephaestus or bound by Zeus's influence, withering away his own divine power like Hera.
A sibling of Nyx's bloodline, the first in thousands of years, and such a precious connection—they could not allow that to happen.
Eris, sharing her sentiment, had thrown herself in harm's way to shield their young sibling's divinity, just as Nemesis had said.
And Nemesis had openly declared that he belonged not to the radiant Olympus, but to Nyx's Abyss.
Nemesis realized her judgment had been correct and inwardly wiped away cold sweat.
Her young sibling had stirred up countless incidents, and at some point, he had even drawn the full attention of that Aphrodite.
To top it off, there was a token on his wrist marking him as Athena's magistrate.
She worried he might yearn for Olympus like the other demigods and seek shelter there.
"...Hahaha! Even the Goddess of Strict Judgment cherishes her brother no differently from any other sister!"
Poseidon, who had kept some distance from her since the Orion incident, boomed with laughter to lighten the mood.
Aphrodite chuckled along, but her blue eyes never left Nemesis.
Like Dianes, Aphrodite was at the top of Nemesis's list of utmost threats.
Her divine power—love and justice's polar opposite—was the number one cause forcing Nemesis to spread her wings and intervene daily.
There was nothing to be done about Aphrodite's nature, but the troubles Nemesis had endured because of that promiscuous goddess were beyond words.
Especially when she had been summoned to the scene of Aphrodite's affair with Ares, despite Hephaestus being her husband...
'But now she's setting her sights on our brother too?'
She absolutely could not stand for that.
Judging by her character, it wouldn't even be a proper bond or marriage—just using her young sibling for a fleeting pleasure. The thought made Nemesis seethe inwardly.
Her brother enjoyed many lovers but had a fulfilling romantic life. Nemesis knew all too well that Aphrodite planned to drag Eris into it and stir up trouble.
"...."
"...."
Perhaps sensing the vibe,
Nemesis smiled quietly at Aphrodite, who slipped off her lover Ares's lap and glanced between her and Eris.
Aphrodite stared at the smile for a moment, then turned her head, wrapped her arms around Ares's neck, and whispered something.
"...Really?"
"Yeah~ I can't hold back anymore."
The conversation was clear enough without hearing every word, and as Nemesis flushed, Ares scooped up Aphrodite and shot to his feet.
"Ahem! W-We seem to have drunk a bit too much... We'll be going now!"
With that, Ares and Aphrodite vanished without a trace, leaving only the Poseidon couple, who sidled closer.
"Ahem, youth really is something, eh? Don't you think?"
"Who knows. Are they even young?"
"If they haven't crossed blades—or bombs—with Father Cronus, they're still kids."
At Poseidon's gesture, the table they had gathered around expanded to accommodate everyone.
'What on earth is with these siblings...'
It had been less than half a year since arriving from Pasos, yet finding an Olympian god without ties to him was now the challenge.
"Come now, Lady Nemesis. No need to be so guarded—have a seat. I have many favors to ask of your young brother too. I won't harm him or give cause for suspicion."
"Always fretting over your son like the sea's tides."
"Young god. Have kids of your own someday. Zeus is the heartless one—how can he sire them and not even glance their way?"
"True, Zeus's children have suffered plenty because of Lady Hera. Explains their tempers..."
"Sister, you too. Zeus goes too far. It chills me when my brother-in-law sires kids outside, but at least he looks after them—that's commendable."
"Oh, really? Neri? Then why the constant swordplay over his flings..."
"Th-That's how Poseidon has produced great warriors among his bloodline! Especially Antaeus of the Gaia Grand Temple—they say he rivals Heracles!"
"...Wow, young god. You've snagged nothing but clever, beautiful lovers. Here! Allow me the honor of sharing my drink!"
"The honor is mine!"
And with that, he casually clinked glasses with Poseidon as if it were natural.
Even though this man had indirectly ruined his son, seeing Poseidon restrain his rough nature and treat him so warmly left Nemesis stunned.
This was practically like stealing Aphrodite's girdle.
Whatever spirit they wrapped up in, the boisterous afterparty ended appropriately due to Nemesis's unusual demeanor.
Poseidon usually went until the sun rose, whether clashing swords or bombs—a historic moment indeed.
"Then I'll head to my sisters~"
"Me too, to prepare Kianes's enlistment..."
"Alright, I'll send word later."
Honestly, with the goddess of beauty and love setting a sultry mood before leaving, I hadn't wanted to let them go.
But my prospective sister-in-law's glare was ominous, so I swallowed tears and saw them off.
"So, what's going on, sis?"
"Hmph! Hmph! Am I invisible?!"
Indeed, Nemesis and Eris's attitudes during the afterparty had been blatantly off.
Aphrodite eyed them warily, insisting I would never belong to Olympus—like a child afraid of losing a toy.
In other words, jealousy and wariness.
From Nemesis, of all people?
Eris made sense, but the Nemesis I knew was the goddess farthest from petty emotions.
'She said Nyx's bloodline is scarce. Overprotecting her young brother?'
Glancing back, Nemesis hung her head, perhaps embarrassed—wings twitching, ears red as ripe fruit.
She looked just like a scolded child, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Oh? Hey, hey. Don't tell me this lecher's eyeing even Sister Nemesis?"
"...Ah, I let her loose at Sis's request, and she's at it again."
I'd untied her because Nesneria and Atalanta complained it was uncomfortable.
But this damn jam goddess started cackling and chattering away again.
She couldn't even stand still—flitting about restlessly.
It was maddening.
"Aaaah~ What to do. If she's next after you, sis, then surely me~ To offer my virginity to this lecher~"
"That's it. Time for a beating!"
"Kyahaha! Not falling for it twice!"
Nemesis watched our now-daily bickering with Eris, sighed softly, and got to the point.
"Brother. Your divine power is beginning to awaken."
-Freeze!
I, half-draped over Eris's waist and dangling, and Eris, red-faced and giggling while holding me, both froze and turned to Nemesis.
"...My divine power?"
Nemesis nodded silently, and Eris's eyes widened as she quietly stepped down.
Stunned by her confirmation, I stared at my innocent hand.
My divine power... was awakening?
"But why don't I sense it?"
The first quest tied to my divine power: Oedipus of Corinth, burdened with the Curse of a Thousand Deaths.
I was awaiting news of his arrival in my homeland, yet here was Nemesis discussing my divine power's activation before me. How could I not be shocked?
"It's just a tiny crack in the seed right now. That's why I came."
From time immemorial, the seed of divine power was an immensely potent and precious force.
Hermes had awakened his innate divine power through a burnt offering to himself, while Apollo and Artemis hunted the giant serpent Typhon to claim theirs through that feat.
"I don't know the details either. But sensing your divine power's presence means your arrangements are starting to bear fruit."
That made this moment all the more dangerous and crucial. If things fell apart at the end and my feat came to naught, who knew how long until another chance to awaken it.
"Then..."
"Yes. Make haste. Go at once to where your divine power guides you—the place where your feat awaits."
With the stern Nemesis's words, the moment my first journey was decided arrived.