Chapter 115

I got goose bumps as I heard the words that came out of the constellation’s mouth . Those who were crazy about stories ate the stories . This was the nature of constellations .

[Death is the end of the story . Just as a cow that has become a steak can’t revive, the dead can’t revive . Their story is finished . ]

“I know there are exceptions . ”

[They are false folklore . There are no exceptions . ]

It was a lie . There was a saying for this in Greek mythology . “Can you swear on the Styx River?”

She naturally couldn’t swear . For the first time, anger filled Persephone’s expression .

[…The soul you believe in is just a crude lump of a story . ]

“I want that crude lump of a story . ”

[A person who looks backwards in the Underworld will feel regret . You need to understand that the time has passed . ]

If she was taking such a hard line then I had to use the trump card I had saved .

“Queen-nim . Time isn’t necessarily about ‘going forward . ’ I thought you knew that . ”

At this moment, the world turned grey . A vast killing intent filled the whole hall . For a moment, I felt that I had seen Persephone’s essence . My mouth didn’t open but I wanted to scream .

Souls didn’t exist? Wasn’t it my soul that was feeling creeped out right now? Sweat dripped down my back as the killing intent disappeared .

Persephone smiled like nothing had happened . [Huhu… how interesting . As expected from the child that Olympus calls a singularity . ]

Her small was subtly different from before . I could feel it without speaking . From now on, I could get to my goal .

“I know it isn’t just that . I have seen the Giant Soldier in development in Tartarus . If you make a deal with me, you can shorten the time it takes to use it…”

[That is the story . Gigantomachia is an important issue but the Giant Soldier can be completed on time without your help . ]

I was speechless for a moment . She was a truly formidable goddess . It was Persephone’s turn .

[However, I might consider this deal if you tell me how you know the information…]

“It is difficult . To be honest, I don’t know how to explain it . ”

I felt sorry for Shin Yoosung but this wasn’t possible . My plans for the future were finished if I revealed this . Persephone gazed into my eyes to gauge the truth of my answer . Then she muttered in a strange voice .

[Indeed, ■■■ ■■■…]

…What? The next second, the messages of the constellations exploded in my ears .

[The constellation Prisoner of the Golden Headband is doubting his ears . ]

[The constellation Demon-like Judge of Fire’s eyes have widened . ]

[The constellation Scribe of Heaven points out the Queen’s rashness . ]

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is immersed . ]

Persephone frowned .

[The uninvited guests should stay quiet . ]

I asked with a shocked expression,

“What did you say just now?”

[Ah, it isn’t a big deal . ]

I was really confused .

…■■■?

I couldn’t pronounce it properly but her words sounded like filtered information . It generally happened with information not made public yet in the scenario . However, the filtering wasn’t triggered if a person already knew the information .

It didn’t make sense . There was information I didn’t know despite reading all of Ways of Survival? No, maybe…

[I’m sorry but I’ll end the entertainment here . I have no reason to make the deal with you . I can use other methods to find out your information . ]]

The light reflected in a creepy manner off the knife . I didn’t feel like knowing why .

[I keep thinking this but… you look delicious . ]

Persephone suddenly approached and grabbed my chin . I refrained from pushing back my chair and smiled .

“Will you be able to handle the storm that will occur if you harm an incarnation in the middle of the scenario?”

[Hrmm . You are disrespectful . Do you think I can’t afford this probability?]

“The constellations watching me also won’t tolerate it . ”

Persephone laughed . [Do you think the king will be afraid of such trivial constellations?]

Of course, Hades deserved to be this arrogant . Still, the word ‘trivial’ shouldn’t be used in such a way .

[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ swings his rod as if he has been provoked . ]

[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ pulls out her sword with cold eyes . ]

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is excited and encouraging the situation . ]

Persephone also pulled out her power .

[I see . Do you want to try it now?]

The ceiling of the hall started to fill with dark clouds . Red and blue sparks occurred like a thunderstorm and white flames spread throughout the banquet hall . This was the battle between constellations .

A huge aura rose from Persephone’s symbolic body . I would explode if this continued .

I calmly opened my mouth . “You said you liked stories . ”

The atmosphere of the constellations softened for a moment at my words .

“Then how about a different deal?”

[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is listening to your words . ]

Persephone stared at me .

“If you help me, I will show you the most interesting story in the world . A story that is incomparable to the steak you just ate . ”

[Does that mean I can eat it?]

“If you like gourmet meals, I think no more meals are needed . This story will be enough . ”

Persephone noticed what I was trying to say and laughed .

[…Are you planning to take the money without letting me eat?]

“I will let you have a taste . However, if you eat me now, you will regret it for the rest of your life . ”

[Why?]

“You would think it would’ve been more delicious if I hadn’t eaten it . ”

Persephone looked intrigued .

[…How can you be so sure?]

“I can stand against time-defying beings without a sponsor . ”

Persephone’s eyes shook lightly .

“I have destroyed a returnee and prevented disasters without the help of the god of this world . And so far, only five scenarios have passed . ”

Persephone’s bit her lower lip in a tantalizing manner .

“As a living soul, I entered the Underworld and encountered you like this . Aren’t you curious about what I will do in the future?”

[You speak very well . But…]

Persephone lowered her gaze and continued .

[It doesn’t seem to be a deal?]

“You can call it a courtship . ”

[…Huh?]

I smiled .

“I’m serious . I’ll show you stories you have never seen before and stories that you can’t endure wondering about . ”

Maybe it was wrong to think about making deals with constellations . They were those bound by eternity . They couldn’t make serious deals with trivial incarnations . If so, it was better to say ridiculous and far-fetched things . At the very least, it would make an impression .

Like all myths, the gods were more moved by a handful of sincere words than a hundred words of deceit . In fact, Persephone’s expression wasn’t bad at all .

[Hrmm, it is difficult . This is why males are…]

“Of course, it isn’t courting you but courting the Father of the Rich Night . ”

Persephone’s eyes widened at my words and she burst out laughing . She stepped away from me and slowly crossed her legs to sit on the table . Her coy eyes swept over my body .

[How interesting . ]

It was frightening that she was posing like this with Yoo Sangah’s body . Persephone stared into the dark air and slowly closed her eyes . It was only a moment but it felt like hours of heavy silence . I was about to choke on the weight of the silence when she spoke .

[I’ll give you a task . ]

It finally came .

[You want to show me an interesting story? If you succeed, I will let you find the soul you want . ]

Then a system message popped up .

[A new hidden scenario has been activated . ]

There were a few myths that came to mind when I heard her words . That reminded me, Hercules performed something called the ’12 Tasks . ’ Persephone’s eyes shone .

[I want to see it once . The children of Olympus often do it but I haven’t been able to watch it since meeting my king . ]

“What task is it?”

[Your task is to cut off the head of the snake . ]

“…Snake? Do you mean the snake with multiple heads?” I asked in a slightly timid voice .

It was because ‘that snake’ was a 2nd grade monster . Persephone shook her head .

[I’m not talking about the hydra . Only Hercules can kill it . The snake you have to kill is somewhere else . ]

“However, I can’t go far because of the scenario . ”

[Don’t worry . The snake will be wherever you go . ]

Persephone lightly flicked her fingers and a screen popped up in the empty air . There was the message that the channel was connected and I realized what this screen was .

…Was this how the constellations watched us? A vast green forest filled the entire screen . It wasn’t long before I figured out what this place was . It was the stage for the sixth scenario that was about to start . Wait a minute . What was this?

「 Ahjussi, pull out some of the wood over there and make a place to rest . Aren’t you good at that? 」

「 I’m not good at clearing land . Dumb female . 」

I stared at the screen . The two people were the missing Gong Pildu and Han Sooyoung . How was this possible? The sixth scenario hadn’t started yet? I could feel Persephone staring at me .

[How about it? Do you want to try it? It might be hard but it is a worthy task . ]

I recovered my spirit . I could sense the ‘snake’ that Persephone wanted me to kill . I slowly nodded .

***

The incarnation left and darkness came to the hall .

Persephone remained alone, staring at the rest of the feast before opening her mouth .

[Clear it away . It doesn’t taste good . ]

Hands appeared in the darkness and quickly took away the plates . Persephone watched as the food went straight into the garbage can . Sword master, SSS-grade hunter, 10th circle magician…

She was already tired of these delicious tastes . Then a voice came from the darkness .

-Persephone . Why did you do that?

It was like the space itself was talking .

[Oh, my shy husband is finally talking . ]

-I asked you why .

[Hades, you wanted this . ]

-I never said that .

Persephone stared into the darkness .

[You rarely like incarnations . I think you particularly like that child . Am I mistaken?]

-Why do you think so?

[It was because you didn’t kill him when he entered the Underworld . ]

The darkness was silent for a moment .

[You always felt envious that Zeus had Hercules . This time, I read a bit of your mind . ]

Persephone looked down at her hands for a moment before making a fist .

[Honestly, it was amazing . There were some constellations I couldn’t afford to go against . They are all chasing after one incarnation…]

A screen appeared in the darkness . However, the channel’s signal was unstable and the video didn’t appear immediately . The darkness gazed at the screen and opened its mouth .

-There will soon be signs of the later days .

The later days . Persephone listened to these words and opened her mouth with a mixture of distrust, doubt and anxiety .

[…Will the later days really come?]

-Perhaps .

[You will still be with me at that time right?]

Hades didn’t answer . The warm darkness just carefully wrapped around her symbolic body . Persephone felt the darkness and said .

[I am very excited to see what story that kid will show me . ]

Her eyes watched as Kim Dokja moved through the darkness to leave the Underworld . Kim Dokja moved forward without looking back .

Persephone laughed lightly, as if he was cute .