Chapter 89 - 66: The Golden Apple, the Seer, and the Afterthought (+1 Moon Vote)

Chapter 89: Chapter 66: The Golden Apple, the Seer, and the Afterthought (+1 Moon Vote)

Translator: 549690339

The Divine King fathered a child, and regardless of their attitudes, all the gods sent envoys bearing congratulatory gifts.

Essences and gemstones from the sea, star cores left after celestial bodies shattered, and unique minerals nurtured in the Underworld—some delivered personally by deities, others by nymphs. All in all, they were transported to the Mount of the Gods, becoming part of the Divine King’s collection.

However, for the gods, these trinkets only seemed useful. They contained potent energy, but the gods did not know how to utilize them.

Or, to be more precise, even if they did, there was no need to use them. In the presence of divine power, such meager energies were hardly noteworthy.

Atop Mount Othrys, it was uncertain whether the gods’ envoys felt disappointment while watching the harmonious Divine King and Queen of Gods, as usual. The attendance of Moanda, the servant of Mother Earth, only made the banquet livelier.

Previously, Mother Earth’s attitude had been an enigma, but now it was clear: at least on the surface, Gaia did not yet intend to make an enemy of the Divine King.

“Your Majesty, I am here following the command of the Mother of All Gods to congratulate the birth of the two goddesses,” Moanda said with neither subservience nor arrogance, standing in the middle of the great hall under the gaze of numerous deities.

“Welcome, envoy of Mother Earth,” Cronus nodded with a smile, “Please take a seat. Today, I permit you to join the assembly of gods.”

Other envoys who had come to offer congratulations were seated in a side hall, but as the messenger of Mother Earth who also brought information Cronus desired, Moanda was made an exception.

Despite some gods feeling dissatisfied, believing that the nymph had no right to sit amongst them, they held their tongues due to the presence of the two most powerful beings—the Divine King and Mother Earth.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty. But before I take my seat, I have a gift for the respected Queen of Gods, the keeper of elapsed time, to convey Mother Earth’s greetings,” Moanda said.

With a modest bow and upon receiving permission, Moanda extended her hand. The gods’ eyes were drawn to her, for they saw something both familiar and unfamiliar.

Familiar, because many had seen it before. Unfamiliar, because they had never possessed it.

The fruit, imbued with pure life force, stirred a profound longing in them, as it was a rare treasure that could help deities quickly accumulate divine power and heal their losses.

“A Golden Apple?”

Rhea recognized it too. Some surprise flickered across the Queen of Gods’ face as she stepped forward and personally received the legendary Divine Artifact. Her breach of etiquette was overlooked because of the charm of the Golden Apple.

As the world’s first created being, the Divine Tree growing from the Seed of All Things, the fruit of the Golden Apple Tree was, to a certain degree, a manifestation of the Law of Life.

Had the Golden Apple Tree possessed wisdom, then the Life Vase might not have become a Divine Artifact belong to Gaia. For in comparison to Mother Earth, the Seed of All Things was intrinsically bound to the vase from the start.

“Yes, Your Majesty has borne offspring, for which Mother Earth has sent me with this treasure,” Moanda said with a slight smile, offering the Golden Apple with both hands.

If it weren’t for the fact that it had little effect on beings of great divine power, Gaia wouldn’t have given away such a precious item.

But since it was of no use to her, it was merely an ordinary treasure. Over the years, there had been more than one occasion when the Golden Apple Tree bore fruit; this apple was just one among them.

“Please convey my gratitude to Mother Earth.”

Rhea was excited but more ashamed. She thought that after diluting Mother Earth’s power with the birth of her daughters, Gaia would not show her a friendly face.

Yet, contrary to her expectations, Mother Earth not only did not hold a grudge but also sent a Golden Apple as a gift.

In the eyes of Atlas, he himself was a second-generation Titan to whom the Divine King had great expectations, endowed with strong Divine Power, while his father Iapetus was simply unworthy of the title of first-generation Titan. Consequently, he seldom stayed with his father and brothers.

“Regardless, you are a mighty True God.”

His thoughts fleeting, when the God of Speech returned to his senses, the beautiful nymph across from him was raising her cup, smiling at him with words of praise.

“I am left with only the title of a True God.”

Shaking his head, although he self-deprecated with his words, the God of Speech was still pleased. In the past, apart from the humans on Earth, few lives had so praised him. And so, he and the nymph serving Mother Earth, a guest invited by the Divine King, engaged in back-and-forth conversation.

Due to his own lack of strength, Iapetus’s relationship with his niece and wife, the Goddess of Renown, Clymene, had grown increasingly distant. Influenced by her Godhood, Clymene did not fancy modesty or silence, and the God of Speech had not been without quarrels with her in the past.

But now, he felt that the nymph before him truly understood his thoughts, every word striking at his heart.

After an unknown stretch of time, as the two left the Temple together, Epimetheus, who was at the side, picked up a cup and poured himself some nectar.

He drank alone for a while and then turned to look beside him at Prometheus.

“Brother.”

“Hmm?”

Called by Epimetheus, Prometheus turned with a puzzled expression.

His younger brother seldom spoke, so when he did, the Forethinker always listened to what he had to say.

Although most of the time Epimetheus would say some strange things, pose unnecessary questions, Prometheus was still willing to listen.

“If you encountered a situation where turning a blind eye could avoid disaster, but would leave an existence you value worried and disconcerted; attempting to change it not only has uncertain outcomes but also requires a price to be paid, would you still go through with it?”

Seeing his brother turn towards him, Epimetheus asked earnestly.

“... Probably, with my abilities, I can always think of a way to solve the problem,”

Although he didn’t know why his brother suddenly asked such a question, Prometheus still answered.

He was always proud of his intelligence, and even if he fell short in strength, he believed his superior wisdom would secure him a position in the future.

“Is that so,” Epimetheus nodded thoughtfully, “but I wouldn’t.”

“My abilities are limited, and I know there are many things in this world that I cannot change with my strength. Since I cannot change them, I’d rather be an observer.”

“It’s okay, you still have me,” Prometheus assured, though puzzled as to why his brother suddenly pondered such questions.

“There’s no problem in this world without a solution; if there is, it’s just that the right method hasn’t been found yet. Even the so-called destiny from legends can’t necessarily be unchangeable.”

Perhaps he heard, or perhaps he did not, but Epimetheus returned to his former, dazed appearance.

In this world, the only two known destinies are the succession of the Divine King and the birth of Silver Humanity.

Epimetheus felt that, for both these predicaments, Prometheus’s much-prided Wisdom couldn’t change either.