Hydra, who had been pondering deeply, tilted her cheek.

“Even though I let it slide since Hades is my superior, honestly, it did seem a bit strange to me too. When I asked who the room was for, he just said it was for someone he knew and changed the subject.”

[I told you so. I said I was right.]

“Then will that bride be coming to the Underworld soon?”

[She’ll certainly arrive within a few months.]

It was when the silhouettes of the two chattering figures reached the Acheron after passing the Cocytus River.

Charon, the ferryman of the Underworld, came into their view.

Charon, who was always working, was lying leisurely in his ferry boat.

“Charon, are you done with work already?”

Hydra, blinking her eyes, approached Charon who was lying down with his legs crossed.

That’s when she raised her voice.

“Oh my, what’s that? Grain? Flowers?”

Upon closer inspection, he was holding some flowers in his hand.

Even Thanatos, who rarely showed any change in expression, couldn’t help but be surprised.

Not only was the color of the flowers very vibrant, but it was also a species that could never be found in this area.

Observing the alien bouquet, he approached Charon.

[Charon, where did you get those flowers? They don’t seem to be a type that grows along the riverbank.]

At Thanatos’s words, Charon abruptly sat up and glanced at them. He seemed wary, as if afraid they might snatch the flowers away.

[I’m not asking to see them. I’m simply curious about their origin.]

Thanatos gestured to Charon as if beckoning him to come closer.

[As a subordinate and colleague of Hades, I oversee the fate of death, which means I must also uphold the rules of the Underworld.]

Thanatos symbolized the death that all humans must inevitably face, so his very existence was the rule and truth.

[This matter cannot be overlooked. Even if you, my brother, cherish those flowers.]

“……”

[Tell me who gave them to you.]

However, Charon thought that Persephone, who had shown him a beautiful sight, had paid enough to cross the river of the Underworld.

Being loyal, he shook his head despite Thanatos’s urging.

After a moment of contemplation, Thanatos opened his mouth with a [Hmm.] [If you won’t answer, I’ll have no choice but to suspect that you went somewhere unknown to Hades to pick these flowers.]

“…!”

[In that case, I’d have to report to Hades that the ferryman of Acheron has been negligent in his duties.]

Charon’s ears flushed red with embarrassment. He turned his head with a creaking sound.

The flowers and grain bundle were still preciously held in his arms and hands.

Thanatos shook his head as if regretful.

[It’s alright, Charon. I will find not only you but also the being who gave you the flowers and bring them before Hades.]

As Thanatos finished speaking, shadows gathered around him, and a greatsword and scythe appeared on his back.

Within just ten minutes, Charon abandoned his loyalty and wrote with his staff.

[It was given by the woman Hades is looking for, in exchange for returning to the surface.]

Though hastily scrawled due to urgency, it was a sufficiently legible sentence.

Hydra, who had been crouching blankly, suddenly opened her lips.

“…It must be the person who’s going to marry Hades.”

[Then it means the bride has escaped.]

At that moment, Hydra and Thanatos simultaneously shut their mouths.

Hydra’s words just now were, from any angle, a jab implying that there was no reason for a goddess of the bountiful surface to fall for a male god of the Underworld.

Swallowing a sigh, Thanatos furrowed his brow.

The image of a goddess leaving Hades behind bloomed in the minds of Thanatos and Hydra.

[Do you know of ‘Kore’? That person gave me this bouquet.]

At that moment, Charon wrote in small letters in the corner.

Thanatos, who had been slightly frowning, brightened his eyes.

[“Kore,” you say.]

“You know her?”

[Yes, I do.]

He quickly continued.

[Recently, Lady Demeter gave birth to a daughter. That daughter’s childhood name is ‘Kore’. I don’t know her real name though.]

Thanatos, with a determined face, pointed at the ground.

[Charon, can you perhaps describe that person’s appearance? And lend me a messenger bird as well.] [This is the timeline separator]

Beyond the Acheron River. The outermost wall of Hades’ domain.

“…I must be the only one crazy enough to do this multiple times.”

Persephone had once again become a rock climber.

She had safely left the Acheron River after building a ‘friendship’ with the ferryman.

After returning even the messenger bird to the ferryman, she ran without looking back once, allowing her to reach the outer wall so quickly.

But regardless of that, gripping and climbing up and down the stones was no easy task.

She stared into space with an exhausted expression.

Right. Don’t seeds grow even through cracks in cliffs? Then rock walls were quite a decent domain to oversee.

Just as Persephone smiled wryly at this pointless thought,

“Who goes there!”

A guard shouted loudly from below her.

Persephone’s body stiffened.

‘I’ve been caught.’

She clicked her tongue softly.

Oh well, it couldn’t be helped.

Persephone obediently climbed down the wall for now.

As she turned towards the guard after setting foot on the ground, he barked out a question.

“Who are you?”

“……”

“You don’t look like someone I’ve seen around here. Identify yourself!”

The man, who was easily a head taller than her, pointed his spear at Persephone.

Persephone crossed her arms without answering. Unlike her indifferent gaze, a whirlwind of emotions raged inside her.

‘…The Underworld people are scarier than I thought!’

Persephone trembled inwardly.

While the ferryman had looked different from humans, he was still a being she could communicate with, but the guard before her didn’t seem like that at all.

He gave off the impression of being no pushover, literally.

Since he didn’t seem like he would dissipate like a spirit, he was probably a lesser god with a physical form…

‘Can I win against him?’

Persephone swallowed hard.

If she didn’t attempt to lie, getting captured was certain.

It was only natural that she had to do something!

“I asked who you are! If you don’t answer, I’ll−”

“−You don’t know me?”

Just as the guard was about to strike her elbow with his spear shaft, she raised her head.

The guard who had been yelling suddenly hesitated.

As he was about to be flustered, Persephone’s seemingly arrogant voice fell sternly.

“Really?”

“……”

“You, can you truly take responsibility for those words?”

The guard’s eyes wavered slightly.

Persephone barely managed to hold back a smirk.

Not yet. If she carelessly showed joy now, she would fail to completely remove the veil of suspicion. She had to be cautious.

The guard, furrowing his brow, replied stiffly.

“Responsibility or not, I don’t know you. It’s only natural to be suspicious.”

“Huh, not a very welcome response.”

Persephone twisted the corner of her mouth as if angry.

Frowning as if displeased, Persephone crossed her arms. She gathered divine power tinged with the color of abundance at her fingertips.

“As you’re a god too, you should know well that I am also a god. Not some mortal fairy, but a real god who knows how to use proper power.”

Even as she spoke, her mouth felt a bit strange, but that didn’t bother her much.

Persephone, disrupting her divine aura, brushed back her hair.

“I can’t guarantee your safety if you block my path like this.”

“…You still need to reveal who you are. Otherwise, I can’t let you pass.”

Persephone, narrowing her eyes, placed a hand on one cheek.

‘At least I’ve risen from informal speech to formal address.’

How could she get this guy to come over from here?

After a long standoff with the guard, she let out a deep sigh as if she had no choice.

“To think a subordinate would do their job so well, Hades must be blessed.”

“…Pardon?”

“As a servant of Demeter, I’m dying of envy. My master runs around everywhere with a sickle, sleeves rolled up. Do you know how much I struggle to maintain the dignity of a god?”

At the same time, she gave the guard a look as if he was truly admirable.

She asked in a calm tone.

“Have you heard of Hecate, Demeter’s aide?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if you’ve heard of her.”

Persephone casually impersonated her mother’s assistant!