Hermes

Two days later,

Under the afternoon sun,

Inside the sacred realm of Moon Goddess Artemis, the Queen of Olympus Hera was sitting with the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena, in a pavilion.

As for Artemis, amid the contemptuous looks of the two goddesses, she happily presented the painting in her hand to her attendants and nymphs for their appreciation, and felt extremely satisfied under their admiring and envious gazes.

But to be honest, you two goddesses are not qualified to look down on her, right?

After all, Artemis's current actions are not much different from when one of you flaunted a painting before the gods and the other boasted about a prophecy.

"Hera, why haven't you left yet?" After scorning Artemis and suppressing her jealousy, Athena revealed her standard elegant smile and turned to Hera, saying, "You must have many things to do, right?"

"Athena, don't think I don't know what you're up to!" Theler glared at her with her amber eyes and said, "You want to take advantage of my absence to make a move on that child, right? Well, think again! I'm telling you, don't even think about it!"

"But that child has already made a vow with me. I will help him grow into a hero who will resound across the world, becoming a dazzling star in the heavens."

Facing Hera's wary gaze, Athena remained calm, still smiling warmly: "And don't forget, Hera, that becoming a hero is your lovely devotee's dream. He longs to become a hero and yearns for a grand finale...

Are you really planning to ignore all that and obstruct him?"

"No way, no way. Hera, do you really dislike him that much? You always say you are his goddess."

Ah... how infuriating!

Watching Athena blinking innocently, feigning surprise while her lips curled up uncontrollably, Hera felt her fists clench.

Knowing this schemer harbored no good intentions and coveted her lovely devotee, yet unable to defeat or outargue her, she could only seethe with rage.

It even felt more painful than catching Zeus in an affair!

Seeing Hera's discomfort, which greatly satisfied her and diminished her hidden jealousy, a delighted Athena finally spoke again: "Come on, Hera, let's not fight anymore.

That child's respect for you is not false, as you saw. He always puts you first, even making a vow that you will be the first goddess he truly portrays."

"So you don't need to worry too much, at least... for the short term."

Hera's expression had not yet relaxed completely when she frowned and said, "Wait, what do you mean by 'for the short term'?"

Athena did not answer her question but continued, "There's no point in continuing this standoff. It won't be long before the child sets off on his journey again.

Do you really want to stop that child's wish, not wanting to see him become a famed hero of ancient Greece? Do you think he doesn't deserve it?"

"How could that be possible." Hera shook her head decisively and proudly said, "My child, how could he not have such qualifications? Moreover, he is second to none, even better than everyone else!"

Upon hearing this, Athena had not yet had the chance to respond.

"Right, right, right, Little Promise is really excellent!" Artemis quickly chimed in, nodding enthusiastically.

However, Athena and Hera completely ignored her.

"So, as the goddess of that child, you can't let him be disheartened. So, Hera, go do your work quickly. His paintings and brushes are still waiting for you, the great goddess, to meet Hephaestus."

Upon hearing the name Hephaestus, Hera's body involuntarily stiffened.

Seeing this, Athena could only helplessly change the subject, saying, "Or perhaps the wedding of Hades... it seems that has been delayed for a while now, hasn't it?"

"Stop talking about it." Hera said with a gloomy face, "It was that guy who said he wanted a marriage, for which I found so many goddesses for him, and even sent Hermes to bring them to him.

I even sent Aphrodite there once, but he didn't like any of them and sent them all away!"

...There's a reason why Hephaestus hates you.

Athena looked at Hera speechlessly, even imagining the scene where Hephaestus would close the door in her face or kick her out when she visits.

Thinking about this, she couldn't help but laugh again.

However, after laughing, Athena felt this wasn't a solution.

Although she enjoyed seeing Hera get rejected, not giving her something to do meant she couldn't make a move on Promise.

So after a moment's thought, Athena said, "Hera, have you ever thought about why Hades brought up marriage to you?"

"What's there to think about? He wants a partner... among our siblings, he's the only one without one, so he must be desperate!"

Watching Hera confidently say this, Athena struggled to hold back the urge to facepalm, saying, "Could there be a possibility that Hades seeking a marriage from you is not for finding a partner but simply for the sake of marriage?

For example... he might have already found a partner for himself?"

Upon hearing this, Hera first paused, then a look of realization crossed her face, followed by even more surprise as she looked at Athena, saying, "Are you saying that gloomy guy finally smartened up and found someone he likes?!"

"I didn't say that, you did, Hera."

As she spoke, Athena reached out and pushed away Artemis, who had come closer at some point with curiosity written all over his face.

"So that's it, that's what it was all about. I'll go ask him now, who that person is!"

An elated Hera had just stood up to leave when she suddenly tilted her head, frowning, then turned back and looked at Athena, saying, "Wait, I just realized it's no use asking him; that gloomy guy definitely won't tell me directly who it is!"

"It's simple," The latter smiled again, "You just need to return to Olympus, gather all the goddesses, and ask who is willing to go to the underworld to become Hades' bride. The most eager one, obviously, is the one Hades wants."

After all, not many deities are willing to go to the underworld, shrouded in darkness and desolation.

"You mean…"

"Hera, you should know Hades better than I do. Do you think he would seek marriage from you without the other party's consent?"

At this, Hera finally understood.

After understanding completely, Hera couldn't help but laugh, saying, "That guy Hades, really, if there was such a thing, why didn't he say so earlier!"

With that, Hera left.

As she departed, Artemis predictably followed right behind her.

After they had gone, Athena waved her hand to dismiss all the nymphs nearby, then crossed her arms in front of her chest and leaned against the pavilion saying, "Alright, come out Hermes, you've been hiding there long enough... tell me, what do you need?"

At this, Athena paused slightly, then turned her head to look at the handsome blond man emerging from the bushes, dressed in light green casual clothes and wearing a feathered hat, and said more precisely, "Or rather, what do you need from the child, Promise?"

Hearing this, Hermes, squinting his eyes, took off his feathered hat, gave a slight bow to Athena, and said with a smile, "You really can't hide anything from those eyes of yours, wise goddess, but... to be precise, this is not a task given to me."

After putting his hat back on, the squint-eyed Hermes continued with a smile, "This is a mandate from our great father god."

"Father god?" Athena raised her eyebrows slightly surprised.

After a moment of silence, she looked up and continued to ask Hermes, "What for?"

"To save someone, a woman," Hermes smiled. "To be exact, a woman who has been turned into a cow!"

Her name is Io.