CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER 88: HOW COULD I NOT JOIN SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

After tidying herself up and calming the chaos in her heart and erasing the lingering traces on her body, Styx headed off, feeling complicated, to meet her unexpected guest.

There was still unease in her heart.

No one had come to visit her in ages. Why would someone suddenly show up now?

"Styx, it’s been a long time."

Standing before her was a goddess radiating warmth, kindness, and pure motherly grace.

Her hair shimmered somewhere between the color of ripened wheat and the fresh green of spring buds. Her eyes were filled with deep exhaustion and sorrow.

Styx’s expression changed dramatically. She immediately placed her hand to her chest and bowed deeply.

"Lady Demeter, please forgive my discourtesy for not welcoming you sooner."

So it was an old acquaintance, an old comrade who had fought beside her during the Titanomachy for over ten years.

One of Zeus’s elder sisters and one of his wives, the goddess of the harvest: Demeter.

And she wasn’t alone. Beside her stood another goddess, completely concealed beneath a hood and long robe.

Aside from the heavy underworld aura clinging to her figure, Styx couldn’t identify who she was.

"No need to be so formal. Technically, Styx, you’re even older than I am."

"Pfft!"

There was no need to turn around, Styx already knew who was stifling a laugh.

She gave Hypnos a helpless look. The truth was, they were from the same generation. Their actual ages weren’t far off.

But everyone knew how Cronus had swallowed all his children, and they weren’t truly born until Zeus grew up and fought back.

Which made Zeus sometimes the youngest, and other times the oldest, depending on how you counted.

After all, his siblings had been "recycled," so calculating age was tricky business.

"Lady Hypnos, please... stop laughing."

Glancing at Hypnos, Styx felt relieved that Eros wasn’t present.

To avoid embarrassment, she had strongly opposed him joining her in greeting the guests.

But then—

"Pffft, hahaha!"

Styx stormed back through the door in a huff, off to quarrel with Eros again.

"Forgive me. That was very rude of me."

A moment later, Styx returned, cheeks tinged red. Behind her trailed Eros, casually following.

"It’s fine. And this is...?"

Demeter gave Eros a measuring glance, surprise flashing faintly in her eyes.

She had already heard from Hypnos and witnessed firsthand over the past few days that Styx had apparently taken a new lover.

It was a bit unexpected, but not exactly scandalous by Greek standards.

If anything, Demeter was more curious about what had driven Styx to suddenly get herself a boy toy.

But now that she saw him in person... she instantly understood.

Had she not been utterly devoted to Zeus...

"My name is Eros. Just an ordinary human."

Eros was completely calm as he introduced himself, sounding perfectly natural.

So what if people were watching? He’d been to plenty of these parties on the ocean before.

"A pleasure to meet you, Lady Demeter. It’s an honor."

Demeter narrowed her eyes slightly. That name rang a bell...

Ah, now she remembered. The rumors from not long ago, Zeus had suddenly developed a new preference and taken a new lover.

Hera had been so furious over it, she’d been out of sorts for days. And now here he was.

Definitely someone Zeus would be interested in.

But... why was he here in the Underworld? And why was he tangled up with Styx?

Her expression shifted subtly several times, her thoughts written across her face.

Seeing that look, Eros immediately knew what she was thinking.

Why could no one remember anything good about him? Why was it always "Zeus’s boy toy" this, "little lover" that?

Still, Eros didn’t really mind anymore.

A boy toy was a boy toy. Sex was sex. Not much difference either way.

"Lady Demeter, there is absolutely nothing romantic between me and Zeus. Please don’t misunderstand."

Of course, he still felt the need to clarify.

He hadn’t even slept with Zeus yet. His reputation must remain clean.

What if Demeter thought he was some shallow flirt?

He looked her over with interest. She was well-endowed, narrow at the top and wide at the hips—a perfect motherly figure.

He really wanted to "research agriculture" with her. Perhaps study how to "plow and sow" together.

As for the mystery goddess behind Demeter, his instincts told him she was no slouch either.

But since she hadn’t revealed herself, Eros didn’t stare.

Demeter smiled gently. Whether she believed him or not was unclear.

Still, she hadn’t come for Eros. She turned back to Styx and continued chatting.

Their conversation drifted into old memories and small talk. After a few polite minutes, Eros lost interest.

He used the time to review his recent gains.

First came the system rewards from his very in-depth exchange with Styx.

[Dried-Up River of Oaths]

The Goddess of Oaths broke her own rules, and the River Styx dried up in response. In your presence, the meaning of oaths becomes meaningless.

Effect: Ignores all River Styx oaths.

"Dried up? What dried up? It was overflowing just fine!"

Eros grumbled to himself. But in truth, it was a useful effect.

Now he could swear all the fake oaths he wanted without fear of backlash. Just... probably shouldn’t overuse it.

[You’ve achieved Friend+ status with Styx, the goddess of oaths and hatred. You may now use the skill: Flamebearer.]

[You’ve acquired the skill: Complete Memory.]

Oh, this one he could already do ever since awakening his Cosmos.

Humans were capable of remembering everything they saw and experienced. They just buried most of it in the subconscious.

Ever since awakening his sixth sense, Eros had full control over his brain.

Still, the Flamebearer achievement was just a bonus skill, nothing too thrilling.

The real win was the massive boost in his magnetic field power. Surprisingly, his Cosmos didn’t advance much.

Emotional surges caused by the River Styx enhanced his magnetic field greatly, but it didn’t help ignite his Cosmos.

Still, his magnetic power skyrocketed to 500,000 horsepower—a threshold that had stalled the Earth’s warriors for over two thousand years.

Of course, once you reached that level, brute emotion alone wasn’t enough to break through again.

While Eros pondered these thoughts, Demeter and Styx had just wrapped up their exchange.

"Styx, I came today because I need your help with something very important."

After all the pleasantries, Demeter finally got to the point.

And Styx, knowing their long-standing friendship, didn’t hesitate to agree.

"My daughter, my poor, sweet Persephone has been taken."

Demeter’s face twisted with sorrow and rage. Styx nodded, immediately feeling sympathetic.

If her own daughter had been kidnapped and pulled into bed by Eros, she’d definitely be furious too.

But who would dare try this?

A monster from Gaia? A Titan loyalist? Someone rebelling against Zeus?

That was Zeus’s daughter. Were they insane?

"Don’t worry. I’ll help however I can."

An easy win. Who wouldn’t take it?

"I already know who took her."

"It was my sister, Hades."

Demeter’s eyes burned with fury, her normally warm face now cold as ice.

Styx fell silent. Eros jolted upright in shock.

What? They were already at the point where Hades kidnaps the queen of the Underworld?

How could he not be involved in something that juicy?

"A dignified ruler of the Underworld, kidnapping her own niece... what a heartbreaking, shameful scandal!"

"As a man of justice, how could I possibly sit back and watch?"

"So, when you go confront her... can you take me with you?"

Eros immediately forgot about saving poor Io. That could wait.

Demeter and Hypnos stared at him, dumbfounded. Styx buried her face in her hands in embarrassment.

This guy... why was he always drawn to the most dangerous things?

Didn’t he see how she hadn’t said a word?

It wasn’t out of fear. If it were anyone else, even Cronus, Styx would still help Demeter.

But Hades...

This was technically a family matter. Though to be fair, everything in Greece was a family matter.

Still, Hades kidnapping Zeus’s daughter while Zeus said nothing, and only Demeter went searching?

That hinted at something deeper. Styx realized that only after hearing the name "Hades."

But Eros didn’t care in the slightest. He just wanted in on the chaos.

"Well... I don’t think it’ll come to a fight," Demeter said, frowning.

Hades usually had a gentle temper. Why had she suddenly snapped and taken Persephone without a word?

It probably wasn’t anything serious. If she had that much guts, she wouldn’t be hiding right now.

But if it did come to a fight, Demeter’s sickle wasn’t just for harvesting crops.

"Back to the point. Even though I know Hades did it, her whereabouts are a mystery. I only know she returned to the Underworld recently... but I don’t know where."

"In that case, why not ask the son of Nyx—the one and only Sleep Goddess, Lady Hypnos?"

Styx immediately tossed the responsibility away. Not out of malice. Just honesty.

She was a loner. No way she’d know anything like that.

"Hey, hey, keep Olympus’s drama away from us night gods!" Hypnos said, raising her hands as everyone turned to her.

She had said some bold words earlier, but this sounded like real trouble. If her mother found out, she’d definitely scold her.

She’d much rather just watch from the sidelines.

An aunt kidnapping her niece? What a thrilling story!

However...

"I think you should help out," Eros said cheerfully, flashing her a warm smile.

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