Chapter 56 She's Growing Up

His daughter had unknowingly gathered such an astonishing force. At this moment, his gaze toward Hebe changed. For the first time, he clearly recognized that his daughter was no longer the third-rate goddess of youth, deemed useless by the other gods. She was no longer the cupbearer who could be summoned and dismissed at will. The one who had once looked at him with reverence, hoping for his favor and protection, now resembled a soaring eagle, revealing her sharp eyes and formidable talons. She was Hebe, the goddess of life and reincarnation, the holder of a principal god position on Mount Olympus, a being that could subtly challenge him. If he did not know that the prophecy foretold a male would overthrow his rule, Zeus might have genuinely believed that Hebe was the prophesied child. 'Hahahahaha! My daughter, the beautiful and noble Hebe, as your father, I must say I am deeply gratified that you have gained the authority of reincarnation. You have grown up…" 'Thank you for your praise, my great father, the supreme ruler of the divine mountain. I owe my achievements today to your nurturing." Who couldn't say a few flattering words? Zeus's gaze collided with Hebe's, and both deities understood the deeper meaning behind their exchange. The wise king of the gods maintained his expression, appearing genuinely delighted. His smile grew wider, and he raised his hands, his voice booming like thunder throughout the temple as he announced, 'To celebrate your appointment, Hebe and Hermes, by the two primordial gods, I will host a banquet on the divine mountain to commemorate this joyous occasion!" The softened attitude of the king of the gods relieved the other gods present. Having grown accustomed to a stable life, they were genuinely fearful of inadvertently igniting another divine war. But since Zeus had said so, the gods put on matching smiles, praising the greatness and wisdom of King Zeus while continuously offering congratulations to Hermes and Hebe. As for what they truly thought in their hearts and how sincere they were, only they knew. With the king's decree, the nymphs on the divine mountain naturally dared not be negligent. They fluttered their transparent wings, carrying fine wine, meats, and the freshest fruits as they moved back and forth across the plaza of Olympus, serving their masters and watching them laugh and indulge in pleasure. The protagonists of the banquet, Hebe and Hermes, naturally attracted much attention. Especially Hermes; since his birth, he had never received such treatment, and the flattery from the gods made him feel a bit lightheaded, causing him to be less resistant to his identity as the guide of the dead. As for Hebe, her status on the divine mountain was now exalted. As a high-ranking goddess with the power of a principal god, she would only grow stronger after the establishment of reincarnation. After expressing her preference for tranquility, the other gods dared not disturb her peace, yet even so, she remained the center of attention among them. Athena held a golden cup filled with intoxicating wine, but as it touched her lips, it felt rather bland because her thoughts were elsewhere. She gazed at the focal point of the banquet, the purple-eyed goddess who had repeatedly created myths, her silver-gray eyes flashing with contemplation. If only she could help me, perhaps... 'Your Majesty Hades, the master of wealth and souls, I greet you." Hebe raised her cup and approached her mysterious uncle, the god of the underworld, Hades, who was clad in black. '...The ever-living Hebe, it truly surprises me that you would come close to a deathly god like myself." Hades's green eyes looked at Hebe, seemingly taken aback by her sudden approach. 'Life and death are merely two sides of the same coin. Death grants tranquility to all things and deserves respect in return." Hades's eyes lit up at Hebe's words. He raised his cup in a toast to the golden-haired goddess. 'Your perspective is quite unique, but you didn't come to me just to discuss the mysteries of the world, did you?" He had observed the earlier commotion and could vaguely guess the purpose of Hebe's visit. Hebe smiled faintly, not beating around the bush, and directly stated her purpose to Hades: 'The primordial gods have entrusted me with the authority of rebirth for the souls of the dead. I believe it is necessary for me to discuss the details with the underworld and the underworld gods." Hades raised an eyebrow. This goddess was clever, realizing that she had offended the imperious king of the gods and sought refuge in the underworld. However, it didn't matter; the details of souls being reborn indeed needed to be discussed. Moreover, while others feared his kingly brother, he did not. If someone wanted to invade his underworld, they should first consult the three primordial gods behind him to see if they would agree. Helping this goddess would also benefit him. 'In the name of the lord of the underworld, where the daffodils and poplars grow, silently invoke my divine name in your heart, and the gates of the underworld will open for you." Upon hearing this, Hebe broke into a stunning smile and clinked her golden cup with Hades's in gratitude for his generosity. In a corner of the banquet, the silver-gray-haired, beautiful, and pure-faced Artemis sipped her wine, her expression gloomy and despondent. She looked at Hebe, who was laughing and chatting with Hades, her feelings complex. The jealousy she once felt had long since vanished; when someone surpassed her by so much, that jealousy only made her seem ignorant and ridiculous. At this moment, she was simply disheartened by the chaotic, lightless future that lay ahead of her. 'Artemis…" The radiant sun god appeared behind her. As twins, he could naturally sense his sister's emotions. 'Apollo." Artemis lifted her head, her gray-blue eyes filled with melancholy. 'You have obtained the authority of the sun, while my authority over the moon remains far out of reach. Selene is too cautious; she has never been wrong. If this continues, what am I to do…" 'Artemis." Apollo interrupted her words, pulling his sister into his embrace. He gazed into the banquet, where the full moon goddess Selene was speaking with his sister Eos, a dark glimmer flashing in his eyes. 'Soon, Artemis, very soon you will obtain the authority of the moon…" The gods continued to revel in their festivities. Such was the nature of the divine; they possessed boundless energy and nearly eternal life. While a mortal feast might come to an end in a few hours, for the gods, two or three days was merely the beginning, ten days or eight days was just the height of their enjoyment, and half a month or a month was about when they had had enough. However, Hades did not have that much time. After granting Hebe permission to enter the underworld, he rose and left Olympus, as there were numerous affairs awaiting him in the Hall of Hades. After Hades departed, Hebe sought out another goddess, one who spoke little but stood up to support her aunt and mother figure, Hestia, the goddess of the hearth and home, under the pressure of Zeus in the main temple. 'Great Hestia, who embodies selfless love and kindness, I have not yet had the chance to express my respect and gratitude to you. Thank you for your support and help on so many occasions." Although there was a blood relationship among the gods on the divine mountain, they were all somewhat related. Hebe was not particularly familiar with this goddess, but today Hestia was supporting her unconditionally, and Hebe felt it was essential to repay this kindness. 'If you have any wishes, please tell me, and I will do my utmost to fulfill them," Hebe offered her promise, expressing goodwill. On one hand, it was a way to repay a favor; on the other, she wanted to cultivate a good relationship with this goddess and bring her onto her side. 'You don't need to thank me, Hebe of life. My assistance to you is not motivated by any desire for reward; I always act according to my own heart," replied Hestia. The goddess of the hearth and home, Hestia, wore a simple chiton, her deep brown hair hidden beneath a hood. Her dignified and serene face was complemented by warm orange eyes that resembled a burning hearth, radiating a warm yet pure beauty. She smiled gently at Hebe, seemingly indifferent to the benefits promised by the younger goddess. The reason Hestia chose to help Hebe was partly due to her genuine admiration for this goddess, who had climbed to her current position through her own efforts. Hebe was different from other deities; Hestia could sense that she possessed a heartfelt love and respect for life and humanity. This was a form of goodwill that was unrelated to self-interest, which was quite rare. As for the other reason… Hestia couldn't help but sigh inwardly. She did not want to see her brother Zeus continue to sink deeper into the mire of desire. As the eldest daughter of the previous god king, Cronus, she had witnessed her father, cursed by the god king's fate, consumed by his obsession and madness for power, devouring each of his siblings one by one.