Chapter 81: Apollo and Artemis
Chapter 81: Apollo and Artemis
Not only did it startle Hades, but it also startled Promise.
After talking for a long time, she reluctantly agreed to stay.
Eurydice, who was observing the scene from the side, had a very subtle expression on her face.
She wanted to speak but hesitated, not knowing what to say.
"Additionally, esteemed Lord of the Underworld, because of my promise to the agricultural goddess Demeter, I will return in ten days to escort the goddess Persephone."
Before leaving, Promise turned back to remind Hades.
The latter nodded, readily agreeing without making things difficult for him.
After all, he now deeply understood that if he dared to do otherwise, Persephone would definitely pack up and leave immediately!
"So, who is that goddess...?" After leaving the temple, led by the nymphs, Eurydice couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and asked Promise.
"She is the goddess Persephone, the daughter of the main goddess Demeter," Promise replied, notably not referring to her as the Queen of the Underworld.
"Oh... so what is your relationship with her?" Eurydice asked, blinking her eyes in curiosity. "We have a very ordinary relationship."
After Promise answered, he saw Eurydice looking at him with a disbelieving expression.
"It really is just an ordinary relationship... Oh, by the way, you must not secretly tell this to the goddess Persephone later!" Promise said, addressing the nymphs leading the way.
This elicited a round of giggles from them.
Amid the laughter, Promise suddenly noticed a goddess in a black dress and veil approaching.
Seeing this, his eyes lit up and he immediately went over, and said, "Beautiful goddess, long time no see."
As soon as Hecate saw Promise, she instinctively turned to leave.
Then, recalling her task, she reluctantly turned back.
Before Promise could continue speaking, she took out her staff and lightly tapped it on the ground, causing a magic circle to appear, enveloping Promise and Eurydice.
"I'll fetch you in ten days," she said, and the next moment, they were suddenly surrounded by an emerging swarm of underworld butterflies.
When they opened their eyes again, they had returned to the human world, standing at the same fork in the road outside the small town where Promise had first entered the underworld.
And it was now early morning, with the first light of dawn just illuminating the entire world. "...Did I really return to the human world just like this?" Eurydice reached out her hand as if trying to grasp the dawn, staring at the beautiful world before her in disbelief.
"Let's go, Eurydice," Promise said with a smile. "We need to tell Orpheus that the nightmare... is finally over."
"Orpheus, I am here to seek revenge!"
In the small town, as the morning sunlight illuminated the reunited Orpheus and his beloved Eurydice, who were crying tears of joy, Promise stood beside them, holding a small notebook.
At this moment, completely ignoring the romantic atmosphere, he loudly declared to them, "Orpheus, about a year and three months ago, you and Eurydice came to bid me farewell. I asked for your help, hoping you would take me down the mountain with you.
You two agreed on the surface but then played your lyre to make me fall asleep and carried me to Chiron's room that night.
As a result, I got scolded by Chiron for the entire morning the next day!"
Having finished speaking, Promise closed the notebook and looked at the two stunned individuals with her green eyes, huffing, "So, Orpheus and Eurydice, you two must now accept my revenge immediately!"
"Promise, what kind of revenge do you want?" At that moment, a gentle male voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
"Let me think..." he frowned and tilted his head, pondering.
Thus, he didn't notice the surprised and incredulous expressions on Orpheus and Eurydice's faces as they looked behind him.
"Got it!" Promise quickly looked up at the two and said, "Your punishment will be to work for me without pay!
Both of you must board the ship with me, and our ship still lacks a departure song. I'll compose it and call it... Binks' Sake!"
With Chopper already onboard, and now having a musician as well, Promise felt quite satisfied and nodded cheerfully.
"Does little Promise like to drink?" a pleasant voice called out from behind.
"Not really, and Chiron has always forbidden me to drink..." Promise was answering when he noticed the odd expressions on his friends' faces.
They kept glancing behind him and signaling with their eyes.
Just as a puzzled Promise was about to turn her head, he felt an arm wrap around his neck.
And then, a familiar, soft laugh followed, accompanied by a warm embrace. "Then don't drink, because you won't be cute if you do... Oh, wait, if little Promise's face turns red and he stumbles around after drinking, that might actually be really cute!"
Promise froze, realizing who had grabbed him.
While his body remained tense, trying to understand why she was here,
"Yes, it would be very cute," the gentle male voice echoed.
The radiant god of light, Apollo, came into Promise's view.
Trembling slightly, the boy looked at Apollo, who was smiling as he approached his, and then glanced at the moon goddess Artemis, who had him in a hold.
Seeing her pure, sky-blue eyes,
Promise felt his heartbeat slow.
'Why are you?'
"Hee hee, I've come to see you, little Promise. Are you happy? Happy?"
Then, with Orpheus in shock and Eurydice's expression turning odd as she recalled the events
in the Underworld, Artemis nuzzled Promise's face.
Apollo, standing nearby, merely smiled, not only did he stop her but he actually seemed a bit
pleased.
The atmosphere suddenly became very cheerful.
Except for Promise, whose green eyes gradually lost their sparkle.
Oh my god, how did these two end up together!
Although they were siblings... having them here together was just too terrifying!
Suppressing the urge to scream, he forced a polite yet awkward smile at Artemis, trying to
gently break free from her embrace.
But to his despair, he found that his weak strength was utterly incapable of moving her arm
wrapped around his neck!
Where's Athena?
Oh right, Athena has no more golden apples.
What about Hera, my dear Clotho, where are you all? Save me!
Even Pegasus would do, where did that guy go to graze now!
"Honored Father and beautiful Goddess Artemis, long time no see," Orpheus finally spoke up
after regaining his composure.
Eurydice, also having recovered, quickly bowed respectfully to the two.
At that moment, they became the most adorable saviors in Promise's eyes!
Apollo nodded with a smile, looking at them warmly.
Artemis also nodded in response, but she wasn't really paying attention to them; her eyes
were fixed on Promise.
Just as she was about to continue interacting with him, Apollo finally intervened, "Alright, Artemis, let Promise go. He just came back from the Underworld and is as delicate as a flower; we must handle him with care."
Hearing Apollo's gentle words, not only did Promise himself shiver uncomfortably, but even Orpheus and Eurydice couldn't help but shudder.
Although Artemis pouted unhappily, she probably didn't want to genuinely hurt Promise, so
she obediently released him.
After she let go, the boy fought the urge to run away immediately and forced a smile at the
goddess.
Without giving her a chance to speak, he suddenly acted as if he remembered something, took out the lyre, and stepped back a couple of paces.
With an apologetic look, he said to Apollo, "I'm sorry, honorable god of light Apollo, I used
the lyre you entrusted to me to give to Orpheus without your permission. I'm willing to accept
any punishment for that."
"No, child, I've seen everything you've done so far with my own eyes. How could I punish you?" Apollo responded gently, his eyes soft as he looked at Promise.
He then glanced around, realizing this wasn't the best place for a conversation.
So he smiled and waved his hand.
The sudden burst of dazzling light made everyone instinctively close their eyes.
When they opened them again, they found themselves in Apollo's sanctuary.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
By a clear, mirror-like pool, a silver laurel tree was trembling.
Upon seeing her, Promise's eyes lit up.
"Goddess Daphne, long time no see!"
A kindred spirit at last, someone to share the attention with!