Chapter 54 - Taking Hand

Joren could already feel that he was about to sweat bullets.

'I thought we were friends?'

He inwardly cried. But to his surprise, Megaera shook her head.

"No, this is the first time I've seen this man in my life."

"Ah…"

Thanatos could only slowly nod. Meanwhile, Joren wanted to cry tears of joy.

Seeing that the little exchange from the three had finished, Hades reinitiated the conversation.

"Earlier, you said you have some personal matters to speak with Allecto."

"Yes," Joren replied and nothing else.

This made the others look at each other thinking-

'Does he not understand the Lord wants him to speak that matter with everyone or does he prioritize his privacy rather than obeying the Lord?'

They are thinking if either Joren is dense, disobeying, or has really some private matters to say.

But what could that private matter be when Allecto doesn't even know him?

Ah…

"You're here for your soul, half-dead?" Allecto finally talked to him with an attitude. Earlier, she was shy since she didn't know who the guest was but upon knowing it was just a 'nobody', she can't see him as a guest at all.

Joren glanced at Megaera, who seemed to be connecting the dots, before replying.

"No, it's not about that."

"Then, what?" Allecto raised her eyebrow. She went so strong on saying what she was sure earlier that being denied made her blush.

"It's a private matter. If possible, I want to speak with you about it alone."

"..." Allecto didn't reply, she just glanced at Hades before sitting down. Meanwhile, Thanatos could be seen having an uncomfortable smile. He haven't finished his food but he stood up and said.

"Then… I'll be going now…"

"Stay"

Hades's stern voice echoed within the dining hall. This made Thanatos quietly sit down.

'My friend, the Lord is already so generous by letting you in his palace and giving you a feast with the presence of two Furies, you should rethink your position.'

He wanted to say to Joren but couldn't under Hades' stare.

But, actually, Thanatos didn't need to say it. Joren already knew what's happening. He offended Hades by disregarding the Lord's wishes.

This was forcing him to change his direction. Joren is thick-skinned and is always charging forward but he's not an idiot who stays on a sure-doomed path.

"Actually…" he stood up and walked to Allecto. He doesn't know what this will yield but it's better to gamble instead of continuing to be stupidly headstrong.

From what he knows from what Megaera had been talking saying to him, he chose this route.

"I am here to court Miss Allecto and hope to be his partner for all eternity."

He kneeled down like a prince wooing another kingdom's princess, startling Allecto and the others.

A lesser undead have the guts to ask for a Goddess' hands in marriage? That's unheard of!

'He doesn't know his place!' Thanatos knew that this was the end of Joren, 'Forgive me, my friend, but even if I do everything in my power, what you're doing is very stupid.'

Megaera stood up in shock too, thinking-

'How did it come to this?' the dots that she was trying to connect all crumbled down. She realized she doesn't know a thing about this man who has proclaimed to be Gyges.

Joren avoided being associated with his soul and going against Hades. Megaera was still in the dark whether what kind of being Joren really is. She clearly saw him leave Tartarus. That's a fact she cannot deny.

What other possible explanations could there be? That he's just a lesser undead who walked into the cave to sightsee then walked out without harm?

That's the case but Megaera couldn't wrap her head around the possibility.

Even Zeus issued to have Tartarus' realm be separated from Hades, locking the Hetanchoires inside in fear of the possibility that hell might let loose someday.

Hades only agreed as this would benefit him as well. If the Titan were to rise and initiate their revenge, Hades would be their first target, being that he's the closest before climbing Mount Olympus and preying on both Zeus and Poseidon.

For that reason, one escaping Tartarus will never mean good. Megaera knew this but was also pressured by the guilt of being an accomplice to the injustice they gave to the guardians of Tartarus, the three Hetanchoires.

'But he had his promise with his mother's name, Gaia, on the line.'s

This shouldn't be a scheme, right?

While Megaera was thinking of hell letting loose and an end-of-the-world scenario, Joren just wants his half-soul back.

After a brief pause, a slow clapping could be heard.

"This is wonderful, Allecto, what do you say?"

Hades said with a less frown on his face.

"Lord? How can you even consider it?" Allecto was stupefied. She didn't need to explain the problem of a Goddess marrying a lesser undead.

"It's fine. I just hope for your happiness. If possible, Joren can take the three of you sisters as his wives."

"What!? Don't rope us into this, Lord!" Megaera said in protest but soon realized she raised her voice after a glare from Hades.

"No offense to Joren but this is what you get for being cooped inside your rooms all the time! Can't you go out and meet love? Do you know how happy I am with Persephone? Or do you just plan to spend the rest of your eternity with your… phones?"

Hades argued with them.

Hearing this, Allecto and Megaera looked at each other. After that glance, Allecto came forward and confessed.

"Lord, actually, I have already found my love."

"Hm? Who?" Hades excitedly raised his eyebrow. Although they don't say it, he's like the father figure to them and he really treats them like daughters. It would be weird to officially say it since Hades is literally their nephew. The abundant time that had passed buried that thought into them and they stayed to what they are comfortable with.

Since Hades is the most mature, he's the head just like how Zeus became the Gods of Gods even though he's the youngest of the siblings. Furthermore, he's the strongest in the UnderWorld which couldn't be denied.

Joren wasn't unfamiliar with this concept. The number one example of this was Ness. He sometimes thought that Ness was his little sister or something. Of course, except for the time she transformed into the adult form.

Allecto gave a proud smile and quickly went through her phone before putting it on the table.

"His name is Alexander Great. He first came to the UnderWorld after saving the world once. There's even a time when he defeated Hercules. Then, he was also offered by Zeus to take the throne but Alexander denied it as he just wants a simple life. Not only that but his face is cute, totally my type!"

This shocked everyone in the room. There's such a person?

"Let me look at that."

Hades hurriedly took the phone and looked at Alexander's profile while Allecto was proudly lifting her chin.

"Why didn't I hear the name of Alexander Great? This person is too magnificent! But… why are his eyes closed here?"

Hades showed to Allecto and pointed at the profile picture. Joren inevitably saw this picture too since he's kneeling behind Allecto.

'What…?'

Joren found this face familiar, however, he was not sure.

The picture shows his sleeping face. Joren has never seen himself asleep so he doesn't know. He must've been pictured during the times he was asleep in UnderWorldLand.

"Of course, his eyes are closed. It's all about as aestheticism and poetry, Lord, you wouldn't know about it."

Allecto proudly explained before Megaera entered the scene and snatched the phone away and took a look.

"Don't be so jealous now, Megaera." Allecto knew well that Megaera is the Enriye (Fury) of Jealousy, basically the Goddess of Jealousy as she is the Goddess of Anger.

"No, that's not it. This guy is a poser." Megaera pointed.

To this accusation, Allecto's face contorted into a frown, "Last time, you said that same thing. Are you picking a fight again?!"

"And I was right the last time. Even though I was right, I was the one who have to apologize to calm your anger. Now, I'm telling you that this is another poser as well. Have you two seen each other yet? When did you two meet? Do you have any proof that what this guy's been saying is the truth? Why didn't we get any news about this guy then?"

Megaera kept poking Allecto's delusions.

"That's… true…" Hades muttered and then asked, "If that guy is lying with Allecto, I will send him to Tartarus! Contact him right away! I want to meet him if he's real or not!"

"Alright! Alright!" Allecto gave in, "You think I'm being fooled again!? Okay, I'm going to video call him right now! Be ready to be in wrong this time!"

Allecto was about to push the dial button but hesitated.

"Just tap it!" Megaera helped her.

"Hey, wait! This is the first time we will call each other, I'm still not ready!"