This is the entrance to the underworld, where the dead pass the guardian of the boundary and head towards the River Acheron.
“Oof.”
The messenger god Hermes stretched as he landed on the ground lightly covered in mist.
He tilted his head and let out a sigh.
“I’ve searched everywhere in the living world…”
Hermes had been looking for Kore, searching every nook and cranny.
But even after scouring the entire mortal realm, there was no sign of that woman.
“…Hmm.”
Hermes furrowed his brow as he absent-mindedly scratched his back.
The events from just a few hours ago came to his mind.
He had been frantically searching everywhere in the mortal world but couldn’t find Kore. Just then, he discovered her mother Demeter in a city to the northwest.
Hermes brightened up.
‘Could Kore have already returned to Demeter?’
‘If so, perhaps I could arrange a meeting between Hades and Demeter, and have Hades smoothly compensate for the damages to resolve the situation?’
…With such hope in mind.
“Hermes, you couldn’t find her either?”
But when Hermes descended to Demeter, he was taken aback.
“The sun chariot has crossed the sky many times, yet that child still hasn’t returned home. What am I to do? I fear she may be dying somewhere…”
It was because Kore had not returned to her mother, and even Demeter herself could not find her daughter.
Dark circles had formed under Demeter’s eyes, as if she had been searching day and night.
The plants around her, be it flowers or weeds, had long since withered.
It was truly desolate.
Even the playful Hermes nearly succumbed to Demeter’s destructive gloom.
“Weren’t there many nymphs there?”
“Yes. Cyane was there. But she cried so much she turned into water. I couldn’t communicate with her. It will take a long time before she returns to a state where we can talk.”
Hermes clearly saw her arm holding the torch trembling subtly.
“Helios, have you seen Demeter’s daughter by any chance?”
Unable to bear the sight, Hermes raised his index finger to the sky and called for the sun god, Helios.
…And then that tactless sun god glanced at him and said:
“Wasn’t she abducted by the King of the Underworld?”
“…What?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but I saw the Underworld King’s chariot through the crevice where that child fell.”
He just had to spout such nonsense.
And in front of the mother searching for her missing daughter, no less!
“Hades, I’ll…!”
“No, Helios must have seen wrong! You bastard, come here right now and explain yourself! You must have seen me talking with Lord Hades!”
“I won’t allow such a forced marriage! Even if he comes and bows his head before me, it won’t be enough!”
“Aaah! Don’t grab my hair, Lady Demeter! I’m not Hades!”
After barely subduing Demeter, who was threatening to usurp the throne of the Underworld, Hermes had no choice but to explain everything that had happened between Kore and Hades to her.
It was for the survival of his luscious, luxuriant hair… rather than for Hades’ honor.
Hermes rubbed his still aching scalp.
“Geez. Why did he have to open his mouth when he ‘wasn’t entirely sure’… He sure talks a lot… Maybe I should have beaten him to the punch.”
The sun god probably wanted to help the earth goddess who was in distress, but Hermes just wanted to pluck out all of that guy’s hair.
“Next time we meet, I’ll transfer the sun’s fire and make him bald.”
Planning to create a second sun, Hermes scanned the dead crossing the boundary.
He briefly observed their pockets and sleeves to check if they had the ferry fare, then suddenly pursed his lips.
‘By the way, if I find Kore, who should I take her to first?’
The one who first requested to find Kore was Hades.
But Kore’s missing mother was Demeter.
In terms of fairness, he should go to Hades first, but considering desperation, there was no reason he couldn’t go to Demeter first.
After pondering for a moment, Hermes smiled and raised his arm.
“Ah, whatever! I’ll decide later!”
First, he had to find Kore to do anything. There was no use worrying about the whereabouts of a woman he hadn’t even found yet.
If it really became an issue, he could just ask Kore herself directly. Who she wanted to go to first.
Humming a tune, Hermes kicked off the ground again.
It was while he was leading the dead like a sheepdog that he spotted Hades’ aide.
Hermes’ gaze, wandering between the riverbank and the castle walls, turned towards Hydra.
‘Why is that one, who’s usually inside the palace, all the way out here?’
Thanatos was beside the water serpent as well.
“Hydra? Thanatos?”
Sensing something unusual, Hermes touched down again. The eyes of Hydra and Thanatos also flew to the guide of the Underworld.
“Hello, Lord Hermes. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“What brings you here? You practically live in the palace office. What are you doing with Thanatos?”
Hermes spread his arms towards Hydra, then frowned at the bundle of papers that came into view. His finger pointed at the papers.
“And what’s that? Some kind of furniture list… or something?”
“It’s a list of things to put in the bride’s room.”
Hermes’ eyes hardened at Hydra’s innocent voice. He slowly raised his head.
“…Bride?”
“Ah, we’re supposed to call her ‘Your Majesty the Queen’, but since she hasn’t had the wedding ceremony with Lord Hades yet, we’ve been calling her ‘the bride’ among ourselves.”
Hydra scratched her cheek with an embarrassed look.
The stunned Hermes blinked in confusion.
“Anyway, Lord Hades is going to renovate the palace for her, the bride. Didn’t you hear about it, Lord Hermes?”
“…Lord Hades is getting married?”
“Well… It doesn’t seem to be going very well, but he does seem to like the bride at least? We were just about to go look for her.”
“…”
Hermes’ eyes shook violently.
What is all this nonsense?
‘So Lord Hades is going to hold a wedding ceremony right after causing a traffic accident?’
Hermes was a god who had come straight to the Underworld after receiving the request from Hades and meeting Demeter.
For him, Hades’ behavior of holding a wedding ceremony in such a chaotic and complicated situation was beyond strange.
‘No, does he even have the mindset for that? What kind of schedule is this?’
There was even a hint of madness befitting the restless King of the Underworld in his determination to hold a wedding ceremony despite causing a traffic accident.
Hermes’ voice turned displeased.
“So who is this bride? Is she a goddess, a nymph, or don’t tell me she’s human? I haven’t heard anything about Lord Hades getting married.”
“Huh, really? I heard she’s Demeter’s daughter?”
Hydra added with a puzzled tone.
At that moment, Hermes’ face turned pale.
‘What is this nonsense now.’
Demeter’s daughter was the victim hit by Hades’ chariot, but that victim is marrying the guy who hit her with his chariot?
“Wasn’t she abducted by the King of the Underworld?”
Just then, Helios’ ramblings flashed through Hermes’ mind.
“…”
Ominous imagination also spread through his mind.
Hermes slowly spread his trembling fingers.
His fingers, slowly curling one by one starting from the thumb, glistened with cold sweat that had already formed.
‘In fact, Hades intentionally hit Kore with his chariot. So that she couldn’t resist.’
‘Kore, having seen through Hades’ sinister intentions, desperately ran away from him.’
‘Hades, having regrettably lost Kore, asked me, Hermes, to find her while hiding his true intentions.’
‘Since I am the fastest god in this world, I will find her faster than Demeter or Hecate or even the nymphs.’
‘Thus, I unknowingly fall into Hades’ scheme…’
If all this is true…
“Oh my.”
Hermes would have to give up his title as the god of lies.
Hermes, who had been curling his fingers alone and suddenly looked aghast, must have seemed strange, as Hydra tapped his shoulder.
“By any chance, have you seen a woman similar to her on your way here? We thought she might still be in the Underworld, so we were looking for her.”
“…About this search.”
“Yes? Yes.”
“Did Lord Hades order it?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then why are you looking for Kore?”
“…Oh.”
Hydra glanced towards the Acheron River and slightly lowered her head. She whispered in a hushed voice.
“I think she doesn’t like the Underworld. I heard she gave Charon some flowers and a few ears of grain as payment.”
“…”
“So we were going to find her and… well, ask what the problem was, maybe beg her to come back saying we’ll treat her well, and we were discussing how to persuade her.”
Hermes smacked his forehead.
‘Lord Hades sure has loyal subordinates. Alright, I get it.’
“Isn’t this completely insane?”
Hermes, who had inadvertently blurted out his true thoughts, kicked the ground. His shoes were heading towards Hades’ palace standing tall on the distant hill.
[This is the timeline separator]The center of the Underworld, Hades’ palace.
Hades, who had been handling his work more swiftly than usual, suddenly raised his head at the scent of wind wafting in.
“Ah, yes. Hermes.”
He greeted the messenger god before him and stood up from his seat.
“…”
But strangely, there was no response from Hermes.
Hades tilted his head. Looking around the office, he pulled a nearby chair and pushed it towards Hermes.
“You look a bit thinner than when we last parted. Did I ask too much of you?”
Hermes avoided Hades’ eyes. Then, as if he had made up his mind about something, he raised his gaze straight.
“I’ve come to declare war on the lord of the Underworld.”
“…What?”
Hades’ eyebrows twisted.
“You know my old senses can’t handle your nonsense. If it’s too bothersome, just tell me whether you found that child or not.”
“…I think I found her.”
“Really?”
A hint of joy mixed into Hades’ expression.
Watching this, Hermes slowly shook his head.
“But I won’t bring her to you, Lord Hades. I fear my baldness more than I fear you.”
“Why so suddenly. Did that child threaten to pluck out all your hair if you brought her to me?”
“That’s not it, but…”
“Then why are you hesitating? Hurry and bring her. Tell her I’ll just compensate for the damages and send her back.”
Hermes, who had closed his eyes as if hesitating, hardened his expression.
He raised his right hand solemnly as if making a vow.
“First, raise your right hand like me, Lord Hades.”
“Why suddenly the right hand?”
“…”
Hermes, who had opened his eyes again, silently stared at Hades.
Unable to bear it any longer, Hades finally raised his right hand.
“Fine. I’ve raised it.”
“Good. Now place that right hand over your heart.”
Hermes took a deep breath and seriously placed his hand on his chest.
“Now, it’s time for atonement. From now on, ask yourself the questions I’m about to ask, honestly.”
“…”
“These days, have I… become trash who wants to possess a woman even if it means deceiving others?”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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