NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 75: Trial
"If I still don't agree, then what?" Demeter, one of the twelve Olympian gods and the goddess of agriculture, asked Promise again.
"Then I will abandon the matter of taking Persephone, and in exchange for this item, seek a favor from you, Demeter. That is a vow."
"Compassionate goddess, please vow not to let the future of barren earth occur."
Promise's response was without hesitation.
It was clear that he had already considered it in advance.
Thus at this moment, whether it was Demeter or Persephone, or even the gods watching this scene, they all realized.
Promise came to Demeter, not only for his agreement with Hades but mainly because of the future the Fates had shown him—a future where countless lives would be lost.
To change that destiny, he needed to offer the only item that could silently take Persephone away from Demeter.
So, Persephone fell silent, staring at the Helm of Invisibility in her mother's hands, saying nothing more.
Demeter also remained silent for a long time before she sighed softly and said, "I accept this tribute."
As she spoke, her violet eyes reflected the frail youth in front of her. "I cannot hand my daughter over to Hades, but I cannot refuse the tribute you offer me either. And... Hera, you have a fine follower."
The tone of envy made Hera, watching from Olympus, proudly puff out her chest.
"Child, what I give you will not be a favor, but a trial."
A favor would be a vow where Demeter would not allow the earth to become barren or vent her anger on the world.
A trial meant that if Promise succeeded, she would not only fulfill her vow but also let Persephone and Hades meet.
So, even Persephone looked at Demeter in surprise and astonishment.
"My daughter, do not misunderstand. I said I would never accept your relationship with Hades," Demeter said calmly while looking at Promise with a gentle gaze. "I just... don't want to make things difficult for this child."
"Moreover, haven't you noticed? Even as a trial, this child's request is merely for you to meet Hades."
Hearing this, Persephone finally understood.
"Because I have already said," Promise continued, addressing Persephone, "I cannot take you away until Demeter agrees.
But for the sake of my friend, my agreement with Hades, and my vows to the goddesses, I must do this. I know my decision is arrogant, but... I'm sorry, gods, this is my choice."
As he spoke, the boy lowered his head, knowing the gods were watching him, and Hades was likely among them.
But this was the best solution he could think of, using everything at his disposal without the help of gods.
"Lift your head, child," Persephone walked over, her beautiful eyes filled with compassion rather than blame. "You need not apologize. I should be the one to apologize. It's because of me that you suffer so."
"And I assure you, Hades will not blame you!"
Hades, watching, indeed had no intention of blaming Promise, even though he used the Helm of Invisibility as a tribute.
After all, he never thought Promise could truly help him.
Especially seeing the frail boy stand bravely before a major god, risking his life to change the world's fate.
Who could say anything against him?
However, Hades was angry, not at Promise, but at Hera and Athena for their inaction.
"Thank you, Persephone," Promise said sincerely to the goddess who did not blame him.
After all, he had essentially handed Persephone's hope over to her mother.
Persephone smiled and shook her head, indicating it was fine.
Then Promise looked at Demeter, his green eyes reflecting the goddess. "Goddess Demeter, what trial will it be?"
Demeter met the boy's clear, bright eyes, her face showing a struggle.
However, finally, in a somewhat ashamed tone, she said,
"I'm sorry, child. Though I want to see you change fate and fulfill your promise to your friend, for my daughter's sake, the trial I give you will be one you cannot possibly complete!"
Taking a deep breath, she announced the trial she had devised. "You must reach Hades without the help of any gods.
During this journey, as if Persephone has disappeared from the world, all seeds will fall silent in the soil.
On this path, you will lose your hearing and sight, plunging into endless darkness!"
She conceived this trial with Promise's friend in mind.
Orpheus had tried to retrieve his wife from the underworld but failed and was forever melancholic.
Promise had gone to the underworld to change this fate.
As Demeter spoke, before Promise could respond.
"What are you saying, Mother? Do you want this child to die?" Persephone asked in disbelief. "Given his condition, he would be lost to a gust of underworld wind the moment he enters!"
"That is why you will follow him," Demeter replied calmly, looking at Persephone. "I allow you to light the underworld lantern and follow him. I will not seal your powers; you can save him at any time. But know that when you intervene, the trial ends."
Hearing this, Promise understood,
As did the gods watching.
On Olympus, Hera, who had nearly rushed out to stop this farce, sat back down.
The trial ensured Promise's safety but made the task nearly impossible.
After all, without hearing or sight, how could Promise reach Hades?
Just Persephone following behind him was already an extremely unstable bomb.
"Demeter never intended to let Promise complete the trial. Her real intention was to use this opportunity to let Persephone see the underworld clearly."
Hermes saw through Demeter's thoughts at a glance.
Even though he was bruised and battered, he still did not forget his nature of eating melons as he spoke: "And Demeter also knows that with Persephone's character, she will definitely take action when Promise is in danger.
And if she takes action, it is equivalent to giving up the opportunity to meet Hades with her own hands."
Hearing the words, Athena glanced at Hermes.
She didn't object to what Hermes said, but she was thinking that since he was speaking so bluntly, it seemed that she had hit him too lightly just now.
"It seems that even Demeter likes Promise, so she doesn't intend to let him be in real danger." Apollo, the God of Light, couldn't help laughing.
"Who wouldn't like him?" Artemis nodded, recalling the painting that night.
Hearing this, the gods present did not refute.
After all, they gathered here because of Promise.
Only Hermes secretly curled his lips at this moment.
After all, he had just been severely beaten by Athena because of this boy.
But even if time could go back, Hermes would probably... no, he would have definitely made the same choice.
After all, these melons were really delicious!
"That's great." Queen Hera, whose beautiful golden curly hair flowed out from under the crown, finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "In this way, the child is finally safe..."
But before she could finish her words, Athena beside her sighed heavily.
Her golden eyes stared at her in confusion as she said, "So, Hera, you should give up your position as soon as possible. You... don't understand that child at all!"
Without waiting for Hera, who was glaring at her with wide eyes, to say anything, Athena continued, "Because even with such conditions and such an impossible trial, that child would never give up.
Not only because this is the path he chose to become a hero, and this is the oath he made to us, but also because it is impossible for that child to let go of the fate that is entangled with him.
Therefore, if he fails, there is only one possibility... that is, his blood will bloom like flowers on the road to the underworld."
After saying this, she ignored Hera, who was stunned, and even Apollo and Artemis, who were also stunned beside him.
Instead, she tilted her head and looked at the goddess of fate who had arrived here at some point and said, "Am I right, Clotho?"
Hearing this, the eyes of the gods present naturally and subconsciously gathered on Atropos.
But different from a few moments ago when she was standing alone; at this time, beside her was her sister Clotho, holding the crystal ball as usual.
That's right, at this time, Clotho had already walked out of the temple of destiny, and she no longer continued to look for the possibility of Promise's destiny.
Because they had already met before Promise went to the goddess Demeter.
And when she came here, it meant that the number of people...were finally together.
The four gods whose fate was intertwined with Promise.
"Clotho?!" Hera also looked at her in surprise and said, "When did you come... Oh, by the way, Clotho, I heard that you have been observing the fate of that child. What kind of future did you see..."
Hera hadn't finished her anxious words yet.
"Just as the respected Goddess of Wisdom said." Clotho replied slowly in her tender voice: "His bright blood, like the most beautiful flower in the world, bloomed in the underworld."
Yes, this was the destiny that Clotho had always seen in the Temple of Destiny, and it was the destiny she wanted to change.
"No, how is this possible?!"
Hearing this, even Apollo couldn't help but frown, retorting, "Persephone is not that kind of goddess. She would not watch the child die in front of her."
"Under normal circumstances, that would be true." Clotho didn't refute but nodded slightly and said, "But he will personally cut off the possibility of survival!"
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