Chapter 213 – Different Outlooks

Chapter 213 – Different Outlooks

---Good news everyone! My laptop is still buggered but I'm borrowing my sister's for a while so content shall continue! (If you want a little tip, don't buy MSI laptops lol. I guess 4 years isn't terrible for a GPU fan.)

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(Temporary Perspective Change)

“Denver, it appears I may finally have found someth-... really brother? Have you no shame?”

Arriving in my bedchambers, sister Athena greets me with distaste in her eyes when it comes to her seeing the company I’m keeping. I see no problem with this whatsoever, a couple of dwarven ladies to warm these growing bones.

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---AI is offensive to bearded ladies lol. Just imagine he’s alongside these two but they have the bushiest of beards (And the window is fake cave lighting)

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“They’re just here to keep me company sister... I’m fully aware of this body’s age so don’t be looking at me like that!”

‘She’ll never understand the misery of not being able to grow a beard inside a kingdom where even the women can. I swear this child’s body is cursed at times’

Taking a few minutes to help my lovelies find their belongings and leave, get my clothes on and follow Athena to my study, I’m now ready to go albeit slightly disinterested after not being able to finish that grooming session that was going on... by grooming, I mean combing their beards of course.

“Back to being professional... Hephaestus. I’ve may have found a way to find Apollo”

“That’s fantastic, isn’t it? Why the gloomy face though?”

“You haven’t forgotten our main intention down here, have you Hephaestus? We’ve already done enough harm by the phoenixes... involving two random women in this battle defeat the point”

It confuses me a little why my sister, the ex-Goddess of wisdom seems a little down but then again, she’s never been able to differentiate from work and pleasure. I’m not even sure what the problem is considering I was only admiring their beards, honest! I sill fail to see the problem.

You see, most of my work down here in the first place was to get control of that volcano. Since our terrible father can’t get a hold of his go to method of destroying this place now, it’s makes things way more complicated.

Why Apollo is massively important to any side comes down to the fact he is a hoarder when it comes to powerful artefacts. No exaggeration when I say finding him could literally tip the scale of an impossible fight. I would know because I made most of his toys myself!

“Sister, I promise you, my motivations aren’t misguided. Now, can we get to the point? Where is Apollo?”

“That’s the thing, I have a rough estimate... take a look at this”

Placing a map on the table and a device on top that looks similar to a pen but in actual fact was one of Apollo’s earliest creations, a bow that unfolds open, a location in particular lights up that is a huge pain in the ass. This really isn’t great...

“This has to have another meaning, right sister? It’s not something like... the emperor will guide us to where Apollo is?”

“No Hephaestus, this locater is saying he’s in the capital itself. How we find him, you may have to create something that picks him out directly”

“*Sighhh*... that’s what I was worried about. I’ll admit, I’m sceptical... a coincidence this big seems too easy”

This is problematic even for both of us. The capital is one of, if not the most populated city on this planet. This map we have here is just a representation of what Athena is capable of so it’s not as simple as just using a map of the city and finding him that way. It may take me years to create something we can use to precisely find where he’s hiding.

“This is coming from someone who got lucky incarnating down here and on this... you’re unsure? I was supposed to be the logical one and you the lucky one brother”

“Fair point, even if technically that was Tyche herself... when did you start cracking jokes anyways?”

Considering what she said was in fact a joke, she must’ve spent way too much time around the dwarves to be doing something like that. I’d like it if it wasn’t for the fact she has always been so boring when it comes to anything whimsical.

“Clearly, you’ve spent too much time being princess to this kingdom already... are we even sure he’s conscious though?”

There are multiple ways a God can enter these lands down below and one of them is completely losing all memories, only to regain them when you return. Some Gods call it the true mortal experience but if you ever think I’m losing the love of my volcano, beards and smithing, you’re crazy!

“It’s likely, already have a solution in mind for that. For now, please forge something that can help, then we’ll head to the empire when ready...”

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(Temporary Perspective Change)

“I’m still unsure on something... why is it we have a demonic maid guiding us?”

“Dermakvar, are we sure she’s a demon? Excluding the perfumes, her scent isn’t natural”

“Thought the same dear, she smells like a God but looks like that. Maybe she’s going through a stage like little one?”

And so, it’s time for everyone’s favourite God and somewhat important dragons to get a little screen time! If only everyone weren’t so mean to me things would so much rosier! Really should have a long call with Ariza someday, she’s just too nice for her own good really. Also nearly got my next batch sorted so that’ll last her for several years if she’s good... although, to just waste the batch on that brother of hers is tempting as well.

“Heya dragons! I’m Loki and I’ll have you know I’m very important to Ragnarök! Without me, they’d all have been wiped out ages ago! The horns are just a fashion statement really, the dress is my working attire!”

Both of the dragons look at me like I’m making shit up! Boo... this really does feel like home considering how I’m always getting treated.

“You’re part of Ragnarök? And you purposely choose that appearance?”

“Dermakvar, just shut it and let’s do our role. Asmodeus wanted us to take down another pillar. You do know the way Loki, right?”

“That I do! Just keep following me through these portal cycles and we’ll be there in a jiffy! This should be the last entrance, I swear”

Oh yes, it’s time to guide them to the magical pillars that need to be destroyed... that even I have no idea on! These two seem really doubtful of my sense of direction but I’m sure it’s just right this corner... or was it the next left?

By the sounds of it, the pillar I’m supposed to take them to is the one Poseidon abandoned long ago because he grew tired of his own ocean. I shit you not, he created his own aquatic landscape, then got bored with it once he explored the entire thing.

We’ve already travelled through six portals to get to this abandoned part of Olympus and the last is at the bottom of this quarry, the only reason I know of this place is that there’s a certain type of clam here that Hera has to have with her wine. That miserable bitch is gonna work me to death at this rate! At least this is a nice change up, I suppose.

“And... we’re here! See? I was right about the sea being here”

<Hmph... the God is going on your back darling>

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As soon as a couple of the potions land, the woman begins to scream as the acid begins to melt her stony cursed skin. The scene Is truly horrifying especially when a certain dragon seems to be enjoying the disgusting gore.

“Hahahahahaha... fuck!”

<Dermakvar! Quiet! Loki... you okay?>

The entire world begins shake from the dragon unable to hold back his laughter from the sight. It’s so overwhelming in fact, I nearly lose consciousness.

“Yeah... jeez, I think I’m okay. Just what in Ragnarök was that?”

<Dragon tongue Loki. He just needs to get this out of his system, he has always been a master of speech after all. It also doesn’t help my Dermak was born sinister but had to go through a great deal to turn good>

Surprisingly enough while the male dragon continues to throw more potions to the still screaming gorgon, the female I’m on top seems to be enjoying his excitement. I’ll be honest and say I wish I wasn’t here right now!

Despite looking away, I can already tell my potions of melting flesh have done the trick as the black dragon returns to us after melting that poor gorgon to the bone. Let’s just be looking away from all that because these potions are not funny in the slightest! It even required a special glass to house them, not going to be expensive to replace in the slightest. Guess I’ll have to work some more shifts serving that bitch again...

<I cannot let that slide darling. I’m... good? What part of the hundreds of years we’ve spent together gives you that idea? >

<Really Dermakvar? Have you no idea how much you’ve mellowed out after having children?>

<Hmph... I put on an act for little and littlest ones, I’ll have you know. I’m still bad to the bone and I’ll live and die that way...>

While the badgering-dragon complains to the tsundere-dragon, you can thank Ariza for my knowledge of that word, I still just sit here waiting for us to round this up. Poor gorgon Medusa, she’s definitely seen better days. Think she’s dead now but I’m not sure that statue form was alive to begin with.

“Are we finished with this then? We’re not supposed to bring back the corpse, are we?”

My brothers when it comes to collecting trophies would sometimes bring back grotesque things so I’m hoping these two dragons aren’t the same.

<Assume we’re finished fake demon. We’ve still got one more task to accomplish so it’s on you to do what you were assigned with>

<We’ll split when we get back to the portal Loki. Asmodeus has left us with instructions as well>

“Right right, I know my task! Maybe I’ll finally get some days off next week...”

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(Continuing Loki’s Perspective)

“Bah, what is the meaning of this!?! You mean to tell me in the space of several days... four of the heavenly pillars lay in tatters? What fucking terrorist is doing such a thing!?!”

Having just been arrived back at Zeus’s palace, I’m extremely late for my shift and for good reasons. All that work with the dragons and I’m positively flushed now. Medusa was bang out of order, boo...

(Demeter) “Five now... you can’t really blame them when security was this lax on the first few, can you brother?”

(Hera) “This clearly seems like a big deal... told you should’ve just killed the rebellion. We can always have more kids if they’re part of the problem”

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---The two women aren't on the AI art chapter yet hence why I'm reshowing them. I'll just assume your memories are better with appearances than mine going forward lol.

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Like usual, Zeus is surrounded by the only people he can partially trust, that being Demeter and Hera. The more logical one is his sister and the bitch is of course Hera.

“Bah! Answer me Ragnarök whore! Who the hell is responsible!?!”

“Heya grumpy guy! Don’t electrocute the messenger! My contact gave me a note with a creepy grin, then left!”

Before any of you silly Billie’s say anything about this, Asmodeus himself wanted me to rely the message! I really don’t know why he enjoys pissing people off so much, I actually worried Zeus’s forehead vein will pop and I’ll get blood on my makeup! Not like I’ve already ruined my mascara during that last fight, I was sweating my ass off!

“Bah, who is this contact of yours and can they be trusted? Of course they can’t be trusted you idiot, no one can if this how things are going...”

(Hera) “Just relax my husband! We can always just defend the last two and the rebels will know no better! It’s not the end of the world”

“Bah, you don’t understand the importance of those things Hera! If the rebels are now targeting the pillars, this can only mean one thing. It’s over for all of us”

(Demeter) “These younglings really have no idea what they’re doing... gotta give them credit for rallying together though. It would be interesting if it didn’t involve the destruction of everything”

Surprisingly enough, Zeus almost seems afraid of the words Demeter speaks. Once again, I have no idea what’s going on! These pillars are supposed to be important but no one ever shares what they actually do!

“Think Zeus, think! We could go about rebuilding them in a timely manner... but that would leave the last two undefended, you idiot! Do we defend what little we have, go on the offensive, or rebuild?”

‘He’s even talking to himself, truly a sign of insanity. It’s totally not like I do the same exact thing!’

“You could just ask your brothers help if you’re really desperate. I’m sure Poseidon, even Hades would be willing to listen to reason considering this affects all Gods”

From depression to logical thinking, to now sheer anger, is this really surprising with how temperamental the grumpy guy is?

“The one thing I don’t do Demeter is ask for help! If either that ocean obsessed or graveyard keeper want to lend a hand, I’ll be here anytime... but I never ask for help!”

...

Sensing tensions are now running really high, I wonder if I can make this a better working environment? I was supposed to be working today after all...

“Let’s just put aside all that scary stuff for now... can I get anyone a drink!?”

...

Looking at me like I’m an idiot, I swiftly get ignore while the three of them quietly ponder to their selves. Someday, I swear I’m going to the human lands to get away from all these horrible Gods, boo...

‘Asmodeus probably knows what he’s doing. Oh well, I’m borrowing the lab if no one wants anything! My incarnate needs her womanly fix so let’s get going...’