Deciding Tribute for the Goddess of Smithing

[T/N: 2.5 x chapter.]

[T/N: Just my suggestion, it would be better if you read this and the next chapter together, like in the chapter of Artemis's tribute, and I have posted the next chapter too.]

"Thank you, great Goddess Hephaestus for your kindness!"

Hearing Hephaestus's words of giving him time for preparing her tribute, Jason felt relieved in his heart.

But, on the other side, when Hephaestus looked at Jason, who is gratefully looking at her, she could not help but quietly look away, while feeling a little awkward and guilty in her heart.

Because, at first, Hephaestus was actually not interested in tribute and had even said to Athena, that she will make Jason leave after giving him gifts without accepting any tribute...

However, after all, Athena's evaluation of Hephaestus is indeed true, which is that in a way, Hephaestus is the exact opposite of Artemis, the most difficult but at the same time the easiest goddess to deal with.

And the main reason for Athena evaluating Hephaestus as the easiest to deal with is that, initially, Hephaestus hadn't at all care about what tribute she will be receiving.

But the reason for Athena evaluating Hephaestus as the hardest to deal with Goddess is that Hephaestus is the Goddess of Smithing.

And as the Goddess of Smithing, Hephaestus can build almost everything she wants and can think of by using her dexterous hands.

Even gods and heroes often ask Hephaestus for help, and actually, she has accumulated such a large amount of wealth because of this.

Therefore, although she is not favored by the other gods like Artemis and is even neglected, ultimately, she is actually the same as Artemis as she does not lack anything at all.

At the same time, because Hephaestus is the Goddess of Smithing, she pursues the pinnacle of forging and crafting, so she will be able to easily detect any and every flaw in the tribute given to her.

Therefore, originally, because Hephaestus had no expectations for tribute, as long as Jason does not make her angry and offered something to her that is not too ordinary and not too casual, there was a high probability that she would have given approval to Jason's tribute, and as a reward, actually, she has already offered every treasure she has in her possession even before receiving a tribute.

But now, obviously, Jason tried too hard in being honest for earning goodwill, so unknowingly, Jason himself cut off the easier path for himself.

At least, fortunately, or unfortunately, Jason doesn't know what exactly he has just done by trying extra hard, again.

"Cough, for now, let's do this, child, you can stay here first." Hephaestus coughed lightly to cover her awkwardness, then said to Jason: "You don't need to worry too much about the tribute, you should have a good rest first. "

After speaking, Hephaestus lightly clapped her hands.

Soon, the three maids, who have received Jason in three rooms, walked in at the same time, then took Jason out of the hall to his room.

Looking at Jason leaving, Hephaestus could not help falling into silence while thinking: 'Pursuing a wish from the past?... But weren't those his parents who have sent him out to get back the throne, so how can they be unaware that he has gone out?... No, but he really hasn't lied even once.'

After Hephaestus thought for a while about the conversation she just had with Jason and his past she has known from Athena, she couldn't help smiling while thinking: 'He is really a very interesting child, no wonder Athena and even many others care so much about him.'

'So little Jason, what kind of tribute will you offer to me?'

When Hephaestus subconsciously thought of this, immediately then, she couldn't help feeling stunned at what she has just thought.

'...Anticipation?'

Then Hephaestus touched her plump bre*sts and said aloud but softly: "It's been a long time... since I have felt this feeling for the last time."

*****

That night.

Athena is in her own temple and observing the temple of Hephaestus in the distance

When she noticed that Jason hadn't come out of the temple even after a long time, the corners of her mouth rose slightly, and she whispered in her heart: 'Sure enough, it led to what I have expected... Hephaestus, are you also anticipating this child's action and want to observe him?'

'Oh, or, should I say as expected of you, little Jason? Gods really do like paying attention to you.'

'Now, among the twelve Olympians, only Ares and Aphrodite are left who still haven't interacted with you.'

'Now, what will you offer to Hephaestus?'

'And what will you gain from Hephaestus?"

Then, in the hall of her splendid temple, under the puzzled gaze of the Nymphs, who are here for serving her, she picked up the harp, that she had secretly taken from Jason and had already been fixed by her, and began happily playing beautiful notes.

*****

At the same time on that night, in the temple of Hephaestus, inside a huge bathroom.

"Master Jason, are you really sure you don't need our service?"

Three dolls dressed in three different styles, princess, female warrior, and queen, looked at Jason, standing at the door with his hands folded in front of him, and asked in the same blank tone.

"It is not needed, I really don't need it!" Jason again shook his head.

"Right... then it is really regrettable."

After the queen-like maid said these words, all three maids left the gate of the bathroom with regret on their faces.

And upon watching them finally leave, Jason couldn't help wiping the cold sweat on his forehead, while thinking: 'Are they really just dolls, not real human beings?... Isn't Goddess Hephaestus a little too skilled of a craftswoman?'

'After designing hundreds of dolls with different styles, who can satisfy any fantasy, she has even taken care of creating storage bags that can be used to carry them...'

Upon thinking of this, Jason hurriedly shook his head and throw out these thoughts.

'No, if I really continue thinking about it, once I indulged myself, I don't think it will be easy to walk out of it!'

'But, then again, if Hephaestus is so skilled, what can I offer her?... Romantic situation?'

'No, she is not the same as Goddess Artemis in this aspect, although, she should not be completely uninterested, but... it is obviously not the best choice.'

'Still, doesn't Hephaestus pursues perfection too much? Compared with the dolls Hephaestus has made, and that too in such a large quantity, I feel like teacher Hecate's puppets are too perfunctory...'

Jason, who is currently soaking in the water, even after thinking for a long time, wasn't able to think of any tribute that Hephaestus will definitely like.

After all, the time for which he has known Hephaestus is still too short.

'I won't make any progress like this... I should ask them about this."

Thinking like this, after leaving the bathroom, Jason took the initiative to find those dolls and asked about Hephaestus.

But afterward, although these maid dolls answered every question asked by Jason, finally, Jason wasn't able to get any really useful information from their mouths.

Still, while talking to those maids, Jason found out that according to many puppets, Hephaestus has not gone out of the temple in a long time, and more than half of the puppets have even said that since they have been born, they have not seen Hephaestus go out of the temple even once.

And even for answering the summon of the God-King Zeus, Hephaestus uses a puppet to visit Olympus in her place.

'Is it because of inconvenience in her legs?'

Thinking of Hephaestus in a wheelchair, Jason naturally had such doubts at first, but he immediately denied it.

After all, Jason believes that as the Goddess of Smithing, even if the injury on her leg cannot be cured, Hephaestus can surely create something similar to a mechanical foot for herself and he won't really feel surprised even upon learning that she had already created one.

Therefore, Jason concluded that Hephaestus is somewhat similar to teacher Hecate and that both are Hikkimori goddesses...

'It is just that one studies magic, while the other studies smithing.'

*****

So while Jason was busy with this, soon, three days have passed since he has begun staying in the temple of Hephaestus.

And during these three days, Hephaestus has met Jason only at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

And the rest of the time, Hephaestus has basically stayed in her smithing workshop.

Seeing this, Jason increasingly felt like Hephaestus is quite similar to Hecate.

'Both are quite similar in this aspect, they like to stay in their laboratory or workshop, and have handed over even all the daily care and tasks to the puppets they have made.'

However, even after three days, Jason still wasn't able to think of a tribute that he should offer to Hephaestus.

Jason has examined everything in his possession and found that there is nothing good enough that can be offered as a tribute to Hephaestus, which along with passing days has made him feel so worried that at some point he couldn't help but have a momentary thought: 'After all, I can't just resort to giving up the virginity of this body...'

Jason just isn't able to think of anything that Hephaestus lacks, and also isn't able to think of anything that will satisfy Hephaestus upon being offered as a tribute.

Even if Jason has repeatedly tried to figure out the meaning of the oracle given to him by Athena, it had proved to be fruitless in such a short period of time.

*****

And just like this, a whole week passed.

So, four days later, in the morning.

When Hephaestus was again quietly dining with Jason, she suddenly said: "You don't have to stay here, Jason."

Under Jason's slightly stunned gaze, Hephaestus said to Jason in a soft voice: "I'm not in a hurry to get your tribute, so you can come back to me when you're ready... After all, outside, there are still people waiting for you."

Upon hearing Hephaestus's words, Jason looked at Hephaestus and found that her amber eyes are unusually calm.

Jason noticed that Hephaestus's eyes have a kind of calmness that is saying that she will wait for his tribute as long as it takes but without any expectation...

Actually, if Hephaestus had said this a week ago, then Jason might have also thanked Hephaestus for her kindness and left from here.

But during the time of this week, they have met at least three times every day, so even if they haven't talked much, Jason obviously isn't someone so dense and ignorant that he hasn't even noticed that Hephaestus was clearly anticipating his tribute.

'It's only that, now she has concluded that this will not result in anything, so she is allowing me to leave...'

'Now, I understood, she was anticipating it, but not holding any hope.'

When Jason thought of this, suddenly, he subconsciously recalled the oracle given to him by Athena.

'So Jason, listen carefully... If Artemis is the goddess who has everything, is loved, and therefore is the easiest but also the most difficult to deal with...'

'Then Hephaestus is the goddess who has nothing, is snubbed, and therefore is the most difficult but also the easiest to deal with!'

After recalling the oracle again, Jason finally understood and found the key detail in it.

'has everything'

'has nothing'

'That's right, Hephaestus doesn't care!'

'So, I was wrong all along... I never found a tribute because I subconsciously thought of Hephaestus's situation as that of teacher Hecate's!'

At this moment, Jason suddenly realized that he has reached the wrong conclusion from the start.

'Hephaestus is different from Teacher Hecate... completely different!'

'Although Hephaestus and Hecate are both Hikkimori Goddesses, Hecate has become a Hikkimori by her own choice, and she really has no interest in the outside world.'

'Just like teacher Hecate says, even if the world is destroyed, she will feel too lazy to take a look at it!'

'But in this case, although Hephaestus has also become a Hikkimore, she has become one due to her circumstances'

'Moreover, even if she doesn't go out much, she is still holding the position of one of the main gods of Mount Olympus, and whenever heroes and gods ask her to build something, she has almost always answered them!'

'So, in fact, she is looking forward to...'

'But she has failed just too many times, so even after having expectations, she has stopped holding any hope for it.

'As Athena had said, she... has nothing!'

Simultaneously, at this moment, Jason also figured out one more thing, something he has wondered about soon after he started living in this temple.

Soon after being allowed to live in this temple, Jason wondered why Hephaestus has created puppet maids in so many different styles.

Jason believes that making them so exquisite and just like real people is the result of Hephaestus's pursuit of perfection, but still, he feels that there are just too many of them and each is built differently.

And even if Hephaestus really needs these many puppets, then Jason believes that if Hephaestus really just want to use them as tools, then even if she pursues perfection, she wouldn't have made each one of them differently.

'It is almost like she has been trying to build...'

'It's just that, at the end of the day, puppets are puppets after all, even if Hephaestus has spent efforts in spreading them all over the temple, I still felt that this temple is rather deserted.'

'Therefore, Hephaestus is indeed completely different from Teacher Hecate.'

'Hephaestus has nothing, but he still has expectations in her heart, but at the same time, she has stopped hoping because she has long been used to the existence of failure.'

'So, at this moment, I have finally understood a little bit, what kind of tribute I should offer to Hephaestus, a tribute that will make her feel most satisfied.'

*****

So that night...

'Jason should have left.'

Hephaestus, who has just come out of the forging room, thought like this, but when she left the forging room and entered the hall, she saw Jason who had been clearly waiting for her.

Hephaestus was stunned for a few moments, but then she said to Jason: "Why haven't you left yet?... You shouldn't continue to waste your time with me."

"I didn't leave because I haven't offered a tribute to you, Goddess Hephaestus."

Hearing this and sensing something, Hephaestus asked curiously: "Have you thought of what you are going to offer me?"

"No." Jason shook his head without hesitation in denial.

"..."

Hephaestus speechlessly frowned at Jason, because she detected that this is the first time Jason has spoken a lie to her and that too a direct lie.

"Goddess Hephaestus, I cannot offer you anything right now, because I am well aware that none of them will satisfy you."

Jason said softly to Hephaestus: "You are not even interested in treasure, weapons, or gifts in my hands I have received from other gods."

"So Goddess Hephaestus, I hope you will promise me one thing. "

"Tell me." Hephaestus said lightly: "As long as I can do it, I will promise you."

"Then, Goddess Hephaestus, I hope that starting today... you can accept me as your student!"

When Jason said this in a serious tone, Hephaestus was stunned for a few long moments because she really sensed sincerity in Jason's words.

And immediately after reacting, she looked at Jason with a slightly surprised expression because apparently, she has guessed what is the tribute Jason has prepared for her.

But obviously, this is one tribute Hephaestus really hadn't expected at all, so she asked again.

"What did you... just say?"

"Goddess Hephaestus, I hope you can accept me as your student."

Once again in a serious tone, Jason repeated his request to the wide-eyed Hephaestus: "And teach me your forging skills!"

Jason obviously knows that as the Goddess of Smithing, she can build almost everything, but he has also personally seen that there is only one thing she has failed to build even after trying hard many, many times.

And this one thing is the ethereal emotion.

Because even as the Goddess of Smithing, she alone can and has reproduced the body of Pandora, but she failed to build the emotions, a miracle every God has performed together to turn the lifeless body of a woman built by Hephaestus into the first living human female.

Therefore, Jason concluded that, just like in Artemis's case, he should not give something materialistic to Hephaestus.

But Jason discovered that the paradoxical point here is that, at the end of the day, Hephaestus is the Goddess of Smithing, so her tribute naturally must also be something materialistic that is exquisitely built.

Therefore, Jason had to even scrap the idea of giving something or knowledge to Hephaestus from his era that doesn't exist in this era.

Because at the end of the day, Jason wasn't able to find an effective way of associating this with ethereal emotions, that will make Hephaestus feel satisfied.

And now, Jason has found a way of offering a tribute that includes both...

"...Are you sure?" Hephaestus widened her amber eyes and looked at Jason: "Are you sure...you want me to be your teacher?!"

"Yes." Jason nodded and said seriously to Hephaestus: "And I hope that when I learn something that is at least enough to not disgrace your name, Goddess Hephaestus, as your student."

"The first item I craft... I hope you will accept it as a tribute to my teacher!"