Hades’ eyes trembled with shock. The gazes of Hydra and Thanatos were not much different.

As if unsure of what they had just heard, they shook violently.

“…What?”

What exactly did she mean by visiting?

However, Persephone tilted her head as if she didn’t understand why Hades was questioning.

“You used to visit at night before, didn’t you?”

This time, Thanatos and Hydra gave her astonished looks.

‘No, no, that’s…!’

Hades’ mind was filled with the desire to escape somewhere.

Should he lie, or admit the truth while asking if that wasn’t what he meant?

Both were unsatisfactory options.

The former would be irresponsibly denying it ever happened, while the latter would be pressing for a proper explanation.

“Ah, I suppose Hades needs to sleep at night too?”

Fortunately, Persephone continued chattering.

“I tried to see you once, but you seemed to be working in the morning, afternoon, and evening, so it didn’t seem like you had any time.”

“…That’s right.”

Hades moistened his lips.

He didn’t sleep at night either – it had been decades since he’d been to his bedroom – but he managed to utter a lie.

“I do need to sleep. Yes, that’s right.”

I’ve fallen so low…

Hades, who had been scolding himself for his impurity, slowly raised his head that he had lowered in self-loathing.

“By the way, what business did you have…?”

“I wanted to ask about the kitchen. I need a place to cook.”

“…Ah.”

Hades’ mouth opened.

Kitchen, right. The kitchen.

Hades’ gaze fell as he sank into the back of his chair. His voice continued in a low tone.

“I thought you would be reluctant to eat or drink anything in the underworld. Since you’re trapped here because of Asclepius’ healing spring.”

“…”

“But I really didn’t think there wasn’t a kitchen where you’re staying now. Except for the meal with you, even I haven’t eaten in a long time.”

He wondered if perhaps Persephone had prepared the ‘drink’ for him because she knew part of his circumstances.

Rubbing his wrist, he nodded.

“…I’ll have everything cleaned up tomorrow. You should be able to use it starting the day after tomorrow.”

“Ah, thank you!”

A radiance of joy shone on Persephone’s face.

As she kept bowing her head in gratitude, Hades waved his hand dismissively.

“You don’t need to be so grateful. It’s my fault for not considering the needs of a living being. …Well, you can go now. I hope your field yields good results over the next six months. This time… I’m truly thankful.”

Hades, after rambling on, quickly ushered Persephone out of his office.

“Then, take care!”

She waved her hand as she passed the corridor corner.

A deep thoughtfulness suddenly clouded Hades’ face as he had been smiling gently.

‘To have such thoughts when hearing she would visit at night…’

He was about to sigh deeply.

“…”

【…】

Hydra and Thanatos were sitting in a wooden box meant for discarded documents.

“…What are you two doing?”

“We’re reflecting on ourselves for thinking like trash after hearing Persephone’s innocent statement.”

【Same here. We are non-combustible trash.】

“…”

So they had thought the same as him upon hearing Persephone’s words.

After staring at them for a long while, Hades crossed his arms.

“…Could you make room for me in that wooden box too?”

Since I’m no different trash…

[This is the timeline separator]

Thanatos glanced at the Lord of the Underworld sighing deeply beside him.

‘…How surprising.’

Honestly, he never thought Hades would eat Persephone’s cooking so easily.

To Thanatos, who had observed him for a long time, the inability to eat itself seemed like a symptom of an illness.

When Hades had a body equivalent to a newly-of-age human, he participated in the war Gaia waged against the divine king.

And because of the loss he suffered in that war, he became unable to eat food anymore, and went through growing pains.

It was the result of those growing pains that gave him his current mature male form.

A god’s physical form somewhat reflects their mental age.

So when Thanatos watched the Lord of the Underworld grow into a full adult at the time, he worried if Hades had been mentally worn down, but.

Fortunately, he seemed much more generous now than before.

“…Hydra, is there anything else we can give Persephone tomorrow besides the managerial position?”

“Huh? I think the manager position should be enough?”

“No, it’s insufficient. I feel like giving her something more would make it perfect. For instance… a warehouse or something.”

“…”

Just seeing how he was making a fuss – no, ‘solemnly’ declaring – about giving something more to Persephone who had provided him with food, proved that he had gained the leisure to reflect on his daily life.

Although the being who made Hades reopen his kitchen was a goddess he had to part with in six months, and was related to the loss he had experienced…

It should be fine.

He had a feeling that the sprout called Persephone would soon grow into a lush tree.

The two would become good friends.

Thanatos smiled slightly, so small that no one could see it.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next day.

“Hmm, hmm hmm, hmm hmm hmm!”

Persephone hummed a tune as she took feather-light steps.

‘I succeeded!’

Honestly, she had worried a lot about what dish to bring in such a short time.

Fortunately, thanks to Hydra’s timely related story, she was able to have a change of perspective.

‘While it’s important to serve delicious food, I needed to make an interesting impression with the food itself to capture Hades’ attention first.’

So she added expensive herbs like silphium and other herbs, hoping to make him chuckle at least…

“Alright, you made me laugh so I’ll eat… no, I’ll drink it all.”

‘Wasn’t that a pretty good reaction?’

There was something a bit off about it, but she felt proud for making him laugh.

Thinking this, she crossed the palace’s backyard to head towards the field she had claimed as her domain, and kept walking.

It was when she reached the edge of the field.

“Lord Hades?”

A tall man as black as Thanatos was pacing in front of a log and a large flat stone.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah, you’re here.”

Hades, raising his head, pointed to a cut log.

“I thought you might need a warehouse.”

“What?”

Before Persephone could ask why a warehouse, the darkness lurking in his body writhed like octopus tentacles.

The surrounding logs were fixed to foundation stones like temple pillars.

Horizontally tilted logs were neatly fitted between the pillars firmly fixed to the ground.

A precisely triangular-cut roof was placed on top with a thud.

‘…Wow.’

It was a structure that fit together naturally without needing any adhesive.

“Is the location of the warehouse inappropriate?”

“Ah, what? No, it’s not.”

Persephone, shaking her head, slightly raised her body.

“But why a warehouse…?”

“Well, the room I gave you wouldn’t be enough to store farming tools and seeds. And there was yesterday’s incident too.”

“…Oh.”

Just as Persephone opened her lips.

“And take this too.”

Hades handed Persephone a gold-plated nameplate.

[Manager – Goddess of Seeds, Persephone (Περσεφόνη)]

“What is this?”

“Managerial authority.”

Persephone’s eyes widened like grapes.

“Use that nameplate when you need to easily prove your identity.”

Hades brushed his index finger over the description right below the name.

[Persephone, daughter of the earth goddess Demeter and the god of fields and sowing Iasion, is hereby ordered by the King of the Underworld to manage the path between Asphodel and Tartarus for 6 months.

– The Unseen One, Hades -]

“Why are you giving me this? Could it be that I’m incredibly competent, and this is the king’s heart wanting to recruit me as a subject in advance?”

“That’s not it. It’s a temporary position.”

Hades rather coldly cut off Persephone’s joke.

Embarrassed, she scratched her cheek.

“You didn’t have to say it so bluntly.”

“…No, I mean, this isn’t saying you’re not competent…”

“It’s okay, I understand what you mean. I’m generous so I’ll forgive you.”

“…Right.”

Hades chuckled and pointed to the nameplate.

“Anyway, this nameplate will help with any difficult situations that might arise due to your name being less known. If anyone asks you to introduce yourself, you can just show them this.”

“Aha, so this is power that I can use to shut down anyone who tries to pick a fight with me?”

“…Well, something like that.”

Hades nodded with a subtle expression.

After checking once more if the warehouse was sturdy, he dusted off his clothes.

“I’ll be going now. Let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

At that moment, as if suddenly remembering something, Hades earnestly implored Persephone.

“Oh, right. Just in case, absolutely do not think about repaying this.”

Persephone blinked her eyes as if asking if that was really okay, but Hades firmly waved his hand.

Soon, darkness enveloped Hades’ body like mist, but not long after, he reappeared as if a fairy had jumped out of a lake. He pointed to the nameplate again.

“And don’t use that for anything strange, understood?”

“Yes!”

Persephone shouted even louder as if to say not to worry.

After Hades disappeared, Persephone held the nameplate up to the sunlight and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow, the quality is good even though it’s for a temporary position.”

The nameplate was entirely black, with only the letters embossed in gold.

Especially the borders and the intaglio of the letters were so intricately crafted that it could pass as a decorative item.

Tucking the nameplate into her bosom, Persephone entered the newly built warehouse.

At that moment, great bewilderment settled on her face.

“…What, what is this.”