Valhalla Saga Volume 59 Chapter 3-4

Episode 59/Chapter 3: God of conquest (3)

TL: Tsubak

ED:

Prometheus didn't belong to the generation of Gods that belonged to Zeus. He belonged to the generation before that, so to say the race of Titans.

He was a being that wanted to maintain the world compared to most of the Titans that were born as beings that destroy to maintain the world.

Because of that, as soon as Titanomachy took place he sided with Zeus along his brother Epimetheus and the result of that was that they could keep their seats as God even after Titanomachy.

But actually, the reason he sided up with Zeus wasn't only because he was born as a being that wanted to maintain the world.

It was a truth that wasn't known well in Titanomachy but Prometheus had a strong ability of foresight.

But of course that wasn't absolute. It was a strength that was similar to what the three sisters and the head of Mymir did and Odin read fate through them.

But there was one difference between Odin and Prometheus.

If Odin had gathered several foresights and speculated the probabilities, Prometheus' foresight didn't have a process like this.

That's why his foresight was unstable.

He could make a foresight without any information compared to Odin but he wasn't able to do it everywhere and anywhere.

Even if he saw the same person there were times that it became foresight and times that it didn't.

But regardless of this instability, Prometheus' foresight was still powerful. There were few cases that her performed foresight but what he did foresee became true unconditionally.

So you could say that his preciseness in foresight was higher than Odin even though the requisites were more picky and the targets were limited.

He had foreseen that Zeus would win in Titanomachy and that had actually happened.

He also succeeded in several foresights aside of that and the result of that was that he became an existence like a chicken rib.

Someone that was certainly useful but uneasy.

The words that came out from the foreseer weren't always good ones. Believing only in good foresights and not wanting to believe the bad ones only gave you peace but it wasn't of any help.

Because of that, the foreseer became more hated the more precise his foresights were.

It was also like this with Prometheus.

Zeus didn't like him. He had seen fun in Titanomachy thanks to his foresights but had also sensed the danger it posed.

Prometheus shut his mouth to live under Zeus. He didn't make any foresights after Titanomachy as if his ability had disappeared and acted as a master with excellent handicrafting skills.

Actually, he was the blacksmith God that represented Olympus before Hephaestus was born.

His tragedy started when the humans started to strode out on the world.

The reason the Gods of Olympus had a more perpendicular relationship with the humans compared to the Gods of other worlds was because in the first place the 12 Olympians had created them as their toys and tools.

Prometheus created humans after he received an order from Zeus and he really loved and treasured them. You could say that he treasured them as a parent treasuring his children.

He wanted to gift the humans the most things he could but Zeus was displeased with his wishes. It was because he knew of Erin's case where humans and Gods were on equal standing.

For Zeus humans were livestock like pigs and dogs and he wanted to maintain that relationship.

But Prometheus couldn't understand that thought of his and didn't want to understand it.

He finally determined himself and stole the first fire from the smithy of Hephaestus and gave it to the humans. Hephaestus noticed his doings but he respected him as he was his master and the previous blacksmith God and pretended not to have seen anything.

When the humans got their hands on the first fire, they developed at a fast speed like the humans of the other worlds and there were some heroes that had outstanding strength and wisdom.

Zeus got to know what happened in the ground so he confined him and tied him up in a rock behind a cliff for eternity out of rage

Prometheus also got enraged at his actions that he made his first foresight since Titanomachy.

That Zeus will get his seat taken by his children one day just like what happened with his father Chronos.

Zeus got enraged once again at his prophecy that was close to a curse and added the punishment of having his liver eaten by eagles everyday while he was still alive.

Prometheus was under extreme pain in a state that he wasn't dead nor alive and his pain continued until Heracles passed near that place to accomplish the 12 quests.

"That time should easily last thousands and hundreds of years."

The muse of poetry Calliope said as if singing. Her voice wasn't simply beautiful but it also contained the pain, despair and grief Prometheus should have felt so everyone got depressed after they listened to her story.

"Poor…."

Nidhogg said while embracing Hydra and Hydra also nodded. The two people felt sympathy to the ones that had been confined for a long time.

"Nothing much happened after he got released?"

Bracky asked with a compassionate voice. He got moved at the punishment of the Gods that were on a different scale.

Calliope put a faint smile and nodded.

"Yes, he just lived quietly. In addition, he also told Zeus the method to avoid the last foresight."

"Did he tell him who was the mother of the one that would defeat him?"

Siri gave out an answer after a while of pondering. It was because that was the only way to avoid the foresight.

Calliope smiled brightly.

"That's right and that person is Thetis. The mother of the Great hero Achilles, the sea nymph."

The reason Zeus gave up on Thetis like Poseidon and made her marry a human was to avoid Prometheus' prophecy.

Siri put a weird expression as she had already heard things about Achilles but there were some that were putting up disliking expressions.

And the one that was putting that expression was none other than Hermes.

"Hermes, what's wrong?"

Bracky asked as he couldn't endure things he was curious about so everyone turned to look at Hermes after that. Hermes frowned even more and spoke.

"I don't like him. I was the one that heard how to avoid that foresight which Calliope spoke about…..but he merely listened to me after he tried all sorts of things. Is stubborness is really great."

Hermes had visited Prometheus thousands of times in the time he was imprisoned. It was because Zeus was that afraid of his foresight.

"Hermes,how do you look at him putting aside the personal likes and dislikes?"

Hermes frowned for a moment at Tae Ho's question and then shrugged his shoulders and said.

"Well, he is skilled indeed. He was also the previous blacksmith God before Hephaestus hyung-nim. Foresight is a really useful thing in war."

In addition, they were facing against Zeus and the other 12 Olympians. There was the probability he would help them with all his strength as much as the grudge he had towards Zeus.

"Calliope, tell him that we will meet him right now."

"I will."

Calliope expressed etiquette gracefully and left the room. And after some minutes passed. The time they had to wait was short as Prometheus had already come to look for Tae Ho.

"Prometheus greets the master of Asgard."

"Nice to meet you."

Tae Ho sat on a throne while being accompanied by Siri, Bracky, Adenmaha, Nidhogg, etc at his side and greeted Prometheus.

He was a Titan but it seemed like he was a small Titan like Loki that he was seen as a tall person had a really sharp impression. His eyes were especially strong and it was burdensome to face him directly.

But he couldn't evade his eyes because of that. Tae Ho faced Prometheus for a moment and Prometheus put a smile not long after that.

"Indeed."

He spoke briefly and erased his smile. He spoke while still maintaining his sharp eyes.

"The fate of Olympus is split and the one that will decide that fate is you."

He could know that it was a foresight as soon as he heard it.

But Hermes snorted and said.

"Are you kidding? I should also be able to say that much. That's a really obvious thing."

"Um, that is indeed the case."

Bracky also added.

Because it was really obvious just like Hermes had said.

If Tae Ho hadn't been here Olympus would have already fallen to the hands of the beings wanting to destroy the world.

Was there a meaning to say that Tae Ho would be the existence to decide the fate of Olympus?

Prometheus didn't get shaken at all even at Hermes' critique. He continued speaking with a confident voice.

"Your fate is connected with many people and the one that has the strongest connection among the ones gathered here is that one."

Prometheus raised his hand and pointed at one side.

"Me?"

It was to Adenmaha that was standing right next to Tae Ho. She got surprised at the sudden marking out and Prometheus nodded.

"That's right."

"Hehehe……"

Adenmaha's face loosened in an instant. She lowered her head trying to hide her red face but anyone could notice that she was smirking.

"What about Nidhogg? Is Nidhogg also connected to Tae Ho master?"

Prometheus opened his eyes sharply at Nidhogg's question and then nodded.

"You are also connected."

"Really? How fun."

Nidhogg also started to smile like a fool. She didn't lower her head like Adenmaha so you could clearly see that she was really happy.

'Hey, isn't he just throwing random stuff? To increase people that will side with him.'

It was when Cuchulainn spoke with a doubtful voice.

"What about me? Do I also have a strong connection with master?"

When Drakon Ismenios asked in a really excited state, Prometheus frowned and shook his head.

"Um, sorry."

"What are you sorry about! Sob sob sob."

'He wasn't just throwing random things.'

Actually, almost everyone in this room was connected by fate with Tae Ho. There were only differences in how strong the connection was and the one with the strongest connection was Adenmaha and Ismenios had the weakest.

Prometheus spoke once again while Drakon Ismenios lamented by himself.

"Master of Asgard. The reason I came here to find you is to save the humans I love."

The humans didn't serve Prometheus that hadn't only created them but also sent them the fire knowing that he would get a heavy punishment.

There wasn't a shrine for him no matter where you went in Olympus while Zeus and the other 12 Olympians did.

But Prometheus didn't care about that. He still loved the humans. There were always conditions on a love of a parent.

"The biggest threat right now should be Poseidon. He's actually advancing to the south so you must clash with him in not too long."

A week had already passed since they defeated Artemis. Poseidon was slowly but certainly advancing towards the polis of Apollo.

"If you have an advice I will gladly listen to it."

Prometheus took a breath as Tae Ho spoke with etiquette. You could see that he was quite bewildered. It seemed like he hadn't thought that the master of Asgard would treat him with this much respect.

Prometheus looked at Tae Ho with still sharp eyes but that now had hospitality in it.

"You, the master of Asgard, are certainly strong. But you won't be able to defeat Poseidon in your current state. I assure you."

He wasn't simply speaking because Poseidon's divine power was stronger than Ares or Artemis.

He had split Olympus into three and divided it between Zeus and Hades.

Because of that, his sacred force was different to the other Gods of Olympus that were based on the polises. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Olympus itself was their sacred force.

Destroying the nucleus of the sacred force and weakening him just like he did with Artemis wouldn't work.

It was also impossible to isolate him like Ares as he could bring out unlimited strength from his vast territory, the sea.

A frontal battle was the only way to win.

Prometheus' words weren't wrong. Poseidon's power surpassed Tae Ho, that had just become the master. Even if he transformed into the World dragon, his probabilities to lose were higher than his probabilities to win.

But Tae Ho didn't lose his composure. It was because he had already checked Poseidon's strength several times.

"If there was no way to win in the first place, you wouldn't have spoken like how. What do I have to do to win?"

If he was telling him to give up because there was no way to win, he wouldn't have even come to look for him.

Prometheus showed a smile as it was like Tae Ho had thought and  then spoke after approaching Tae Ho.

"We need Hephaestus' assistance to defeat Poseidon. Only he can make a weapon to defeat Poseidon."

"Do you know where he is at?"

The one that reacted first was Hermes. It was an obvious reaction as he had roamed several places looking for him.

Prometheus turned to look at Hermes for a moment and nodded.

"I do but I can't rescue him alone. I need your strength."

"I will listen to you."

They were planning to rescue Hephaestus anyways. But now they would have to rescue him for certain if he was able to make a weapon that could defeat Poseidon.

Poseidon drooped his shoulders as if he relaxed at Tae Ho's positive reaction. He let out a sigh and spoke with an eased voice.

"The place Hephaestus is captured at is Cyprus. The base of APhrodite."

< Episode 59 - God of conquest (3) > End

TL note: Thanks for reading~

Episode 59/Chapter 4: God of conquest (4)

TL: Tsubak

ED:

"It's embarrassing to tell this to the master of Asgard….but I wish to explain the relationship between the 12 Olympians. It won't last that long."

"As you wish."

Prometheus started to explain as soon as Tae Ho agreed.

"Aphrodite and Hephaestus are a married couple. But the relationship between the two of them is really bad as Zeus forced them to marry. They are a couple just by words, they look at each other as if they were a cow or a chicken."

Prometheus' way of speaking became more polite.

Tae Ho was speaking the way he usually did but Prometheus couldn't not speak politely when the master of a foreign world was.

"Aphrodite cheated with Ares and had some children with him. This means that she had a relation with Ares before she transformed into a being wanting to destroy the world."

Tae Ho nodded slowly. There were some children of Aphrodite among the ones that were mixed with Ares' children.

'That was too much. To not have any children with his husband but had many with her lover.'

While Cuchulainn mumbled, Prometheus glanced at Hermes with sharp eyes and said.

"Hermes and Aphrodite also had a child."

At that moment everyone turned to look at Hermes. He started to hiccup unconsciously and played dumb.

"Uh…um….well….mm. That's a thing of the past. The past. Should we say that it was playing with fire?"

Prometheus snorted at pitiable excuse and continued speaking.

"It was indeed a play with fire in Hermes' case but her relationship with Ares was quite serious. Hephaestus couldn't endure it anymore and put them to shame."

That was when Hermes and Aphrodite got to pay with fire but there was no need to explain it in a long way.

"The important thing is that Ares and Aphrodite disliked Hephaestus even before they turned into beings that wanted to destroy the world."

Their personalities became extreme just like Ares and Artemis had shown them.

If they originally disliked someone, it would have become hate by now.

"Ares has imprisoned Hephaestus as soon as be turned into a being wanting to destroy the world and handed him over to Aphrodite. And Aphrodite placed him deep in her palace."

There were two reasons they didn't kill him.

The first one was because of his abilities and the other one was to inflict him pain for a long time.

"I infiltrated the palace of Aphrodite because I have some debts with Hephaestus but the guards were so solemn I could only hide nearby."

Prometheus spoke to that point and held his silence. He spoke with a lowered tone as if he had remembered something terrible.

"The screams and cries of Hephaestus were heard from a deep place of Aphrodite's palace. I'm sure he's suffering something that can't be compared to normal torture…..something really terrible."

Nidhogg and Hydra trembled at the same time. It was because they were feeling empathy towards Hephaestus and ended up imagining themselves getting tortured.

Bracky frowned and asked.

"If this man Hephaestus is at the deepest part of Aphrodite's base, doesn't that mean that we have to clash against Aphrodite one on one?"

It would be better than facing against Poseidon head on but even this wouldn't be easy. In addition, it would be more so if the fighting place was on the base of the enemy.

But Prometheus shook his head.

"There won't be a need. We just have to rescue Hephaestus and escape. Aphrodite isn't really a battle God. She won't risk herself to chase after us when we take Hephaestus with us."

Not all of the 12 Olympians were proficient in battle.

Prometheus glanced at Hermes as if asking for agreement and he frowned.

"I also agree but…..Aphrodite is dangerous in another meaning."

"What meaning?"

"She's the Goddess of beauty and love. In addition, her genealogy is at a high place so her divine power is overwhelming. She can't fight well but her divine power is right below Zeus-nim and Poseidon."

Aphrodite, that was born from Uranus' penis, could be said to be Zeus' aunt so she also had the highest genealogy among the 12 Olympians.

"Is it a similar case with Freynim and Idun-nim……"

They can't fight well but instead have a strong divine power.

Siri mumbled in a low voice and Hermes spoke while still frowning.

"Anyways, her beauty and overwhelming divine power are one of the best in Olympus. She can seduce men and women indiscriminately."

"So she had a seducing power?"

Hermes nodded immediately as Adenmaha asked with an uneasy face.

"It's not an exaggeration to say that it's the end for you if you approach her to a certain range. You can fall over her completely just by looking at her eyes."

"So what happens if you get seduced?"

It was Siri this time. Hermes shrugged his shoulders at her question and said.

"You become Aphrodite's slave. A slave whose life purpose is to make Aphrodite happy."

In other words, it was the highest ranked type of seduction.

"Wait a moment. Then, what happens with her daily life in that state? Hermes-nim um…..you know right?"

Adenmaha dimmed her words and smiled awkwardly. Hermes also smiled awkwardly and explained with an embarrassed face.

"Well, I am also one of the 12 Olympians and I took quite solid preparations. And just like you say, Aphrodite also seals her seductive powers because it troubles her daily life activities. But she's not so nice as to do that against an enemy. In addition she should have become stronger as she turned into a being wanting to destroy the world. Honestly speaking, i'm not confident to shake away her seduction if she is determined to do it."

It was dangerous even when his sacred force was fine so there was nothing to speak about now that his sacred force had disappeared.

"So the key point should be a battle of speed."

Siri spoke in a low voice. Rescuing Hephaestus the fastest they could and getting out before they faced Aphrodite was their best option.

Tae Ho, that was listening silently, asked Hermes.

"Hermes, you are able to move to Cyprus right?"

"Well….of course I can. If I draw a magic circle we will be able to enter quite deeply."

Siri spoke seriously as Hermes laughed awkwardly and replied.

"You can't infiltrate directly. You may be able to face Aphrodite as soon as you enter."

"Mmm."

Hermes turned his head and Tae Ho turned to look at everyone. He looked at Prometheus lastly and spoke.

"Let's make a plan."

&

Hephaestus raised his head.

No, he couldn't do it. He couldn't even move one finger because his body was chained up solidly. He just felt like he raised his head.

He couldn't know what day was this and how much time had passed. His sense of pain got blocked besides when he got tortured so he felt like he had been thrown into a world of nothingness.

But it was different this time. His senses were weak but still alive.

He could feel some divine power that was quite well hidden. It crossed the place filled with Aphrodite's divine power carefully but quickly.

Hephaestus held his breath. He concentrated his senses that had started to return slowly and tried hard to check his surroundings.

He felt a vibration and a sound was heard far away.

Screams, cries, battle cries.

Hephaestus barely guessed the situation outside without needing to calculate anything.

A battle was taking place outside the palace.

But who was it? Was it Athena?

Hephaestus felt his heart beat. He felt like tears would flow down just by looking at the figure of the beautiful Goddess of warfare.

But at the same time Hephaestus realized one thing. And that's why he trembled. He tried to yell towards the one that was approaching him.

'Hermes!'

It was him. He was certain this divine power belonged to him.

You were safe. You remained as a being that wanted to maintain the world. But why did he come here? Did he come here alone? Or was he with Athena?

But it was still good. That wasn't the important thing. He had to tell Hermes the fastest possible.

Light shone at that moment.

Hephaestus realized that he was opening his eyes. It wasn't that bright but Hephaestus felt like he would turn blind because he had been stuck in darkness.

He closed his eyes by reflex and the silence got torn. Voices reached his ear, that were concentrating on the distant sound.

"Hephaestus!"

"It seems like he still hasn't noticed."

"This crazy. The chains won't break."

"Ask the main God. It's impossible for you alone."

Several voices were heard at the same time and he knew these voices clearly.

One was Hermes and the other one was Prometheus.

But main God?

Who was he talking about? Could it be Zeus-nim?

Hephaestus opened his eyes again.. He saw a dark blue divinity. He felt the aura of a dragon and the smell of Asgard.

The chains binding his arms broke. Hephaestus lost his balance and this time, the voice of a woman was heard.

"His injuries are too serious. It's impossible to move immediately."

Her voice was teary. It was clear she was saying that while looking at the injuries in Hephaestus's body.

Ah.

Hephaestus held his silence. He could barely get a hold of himself in the middle of the chaos. He lied on someone he didn't know who he was and opened his mouth to yell something.

It's a trap!

But no words came out. He couldn't form a word with his cut tongue. What he managed to make was close to a roar.

But Hermes reacted and Hephaestus opened his mouth again. At that moment he felt a strong shock in their chests.

Hephaestus rolled in the ground with Prometheus. It was the same for Adenmaha that was next to them.

The one that pushed them hurriedly was Tae Ho. Hermes, the only one that escaped with his own strength, held his scream at the scene in front of him.

Aphrodite!

She surged up from the ground with the burst of divinity from the ground and was holding Tae Ho. No, that wasn't all. She was kissing him.

How?

Hermes could know the moment he spoke.

He was sure APhrodite knew since the beginning. She had waited in the place filled with her divine power just like hiding a tree in a forest.

Prometheus.

He hadn't betrayed them. He was also as surprised. His eyes when he fell down was filled with shock, guilt and failure.

Aphrodite discovered Prometheus' traces when he infiltrated but she just left him be. The stubborn Prometheus would certainly return.

Having come here wasn't easy at all. They had barely reached this place after overcoming several difficulties while Nidhogg, Rolo and Ismenios were making a fuss outside the palace.

And all of that was a well prepared trap.

"Master!"

Adenmaha yelled. There was no way it would reach Tae Ho. He didn't only meet eyes with Aphrodite but was kissing her. They were still embracing each other while their skin touched.

Hermes thought.

What did they have to do now?

Did he have to take Prometheus and Hephaestus and escape?

His movements were followed by his thoughts. Hermes charged the ground but then collapsed. That occurred as he hurriedly dodged the sword Tae Ho swung.

Aphrodite laughed. She stroke Tae Ho's cheek and then kissed him again.

Tae Ho received her kiss with an enchanted expression.

Everything ended.

Hermes thought. In the end, the master of Asgard was also a man.

It was when that thought was subsiding. A desire of wanting to see Aphrodite's face surged up from Hermes.

It certainly was a crazy thing.

Hermes thought with the small rationality he had. Infiltrating the center of the sacred force where the enemy could release their strongest power was a really foolish thing.

"Master!"

Adenmaha yelled anxiously again and Aphrodite laughed at her eagerness. She looked down at Adenmaha as if laughing at her and stroke Tae Ho's chest.

Aphrodite was beautiful. It seemed like her white gold hair that seemed that was made by melting the stars and the starlight was emitting light by its own. Her white skin without flaws was really bright and fresh, and her body that was covered by a thin pink cloth that revealed almost everything was perfection itself.

She had seduced Tae Ho. She possessed the only hope of Olympus.

Aphrodite kissed Tae Ho again. Hermes felt jealousy and malice appeared in Adenmaha's eyes.

Tae Ho grabbed Aphrodite's thin waist and surged up his dark blue divinity on the sword that he grabbed his free right hand.

And he said. He whispered his wishes as a slave to her master.

Aphrodite giggled at that whisper. She bit Tae Ho's ears as if it was quite a special fetish and then spoke with a sweet voice.

"It's a meeting."

"Yes?"

Adenmaha opened her eyes roundly and thought that she had heard things wrongly.

And Cuchulainn said.

'Nasty bastard.'

Kwagang!

The dark blue divinity exploded and the pink divinity also burst out.

Hermes, that was half bewitched, raised his head and checked his surroundings with his cleared head.

Tae Ho was standing there. He couldn't see Aphrodite but he could feel her divinity. She was releasing her malice after receiving a big injury.

How?

Just why!

[Headband of resistance]

[Tear of the dark elf]

[Promise of the succubus]

[Immovable armor]

[Hermes' steps]

Known as the mental resistance setting.

This wasn't all. He used five mental resistance runes and five resistance runes as the successor of Odin. He brainwashed himself with Bragi's rune and strengthened his own love.

But regardless of that, it was true that he had been seduced for a really short moment. Because of that, Tae Ho got a hold of himself and decided to make this an opportunity.

[Saga: The warrior that had a Goddess meet him]

[Content's classification: Olympus]

[Athena]

[Hestia]

[Echidna]

[Aphrodite]

She certainly got added.

'Do you like it? Huh?'

Tae Ho didn't answer to Cuchulainn's question. He just grabbed Arondight firmly that still had blood in it while everyone was looking at him.

"How?"

It wasn't Aphrodite this time but Hermes. Tae Ho swung his sword widely and broke the aura of Aphrodite that was filling the surroundings.

The other reason he could endure Aphrodite's seduction.

"Freya is prettier."

The Goddess of beauty of Asgard and not Olympus.

That was it.

Men are blind with their own causes.

< Episode 59 - God of conquest (4) > End

TL note: Thanks for reading~

Chapter end