I've Possessed Persephone (9 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 16
“I’m going crazy. What even is this?”
Persephone groaned, rubbing her flushed face and letting out a sigh.
But she couldn’t say anything to Demeter. After all, not a single word in her nagging was wrong.
Since childhood, Persephone had been a brat and a troublemaker.
She often got hurt, and whenever she bled, she never cried—so Demeter usually only noticed the wounds once they’d already scabbed over.
That was precisely why her overprotectiveness made perfect sense.
Thinking it was just her own karma, Persephone affected nonchalance and scratched the back of her head.
“Ah, but I didn’t get hurt that badly anyway. Strangely enough, I feel overflowing with energy here.”
“What did you say?”
“I already told you earlier—I made flowers and ears of grain sprout, and then even trees grew from them.”
“…”
“Normally, my power only managed to grow a few ears of grain. Now that I think about it, that seems kind of odd, doesn’t it?”
Demeter blinked several times, then let out an “Ah!” in realization.
“So your divine power has actually grown stronger in the Underworld.”
“Do you know why that is?”
“I’m not entirely sure myself. But I suspect it’s because your name has risen in prominence down here.”
“Huh?”
Persephone tilted her cheek sideways in confusion.
Gods inherently possessed immense power, yet they could grow even stronger through offerings and praise from mortals.
‘Could this be similar to what Mother mentioned before?’
While she was still puzzling over it, Hermes cut in, unable to fully suppress his amusement.
“While we were searching for you, Lady Demeter built a temple. Quite a few humans have begun genuinely venerating her.”
“Really?”
“Why tell you when you can see it for yourself?”
Persephone quietly assessed the power shimmering within Demeter.
‘It’s true. Her strength has grown richer.’
Until now, Demeter had never had a temple dedicated to her.
She was the kind of goddess who confidently believed she could govern and nurture the vast earth with her innate power alone.
Yet now, some shift had occurred within her—her name had risen in stature due to mortal worship.
Demeter gave a faint smile.
“So it really is thanks to you making a name for yourself in the Underworld, Kore.”
“…Hehe.”
Persephone chuckled awkwardly.
Though the Lord of the Underworld stared persistently at the mother and daughter, Persephone easily ignored his indignant gaze.
“But Kore, you must be careful when using your power.”
Demeter lowered her eyes.
“Why?”
“Because you might shatter under the weight of strength you can’t yet fully control.”
Hades answered in place of Persephone.
“Your soul and body are already slightly worn from exerting power beyond your current capacity. If you keep pushing yourself to the limit like this, your ‘existence’—though it won’t die—will still be utterly ruined while you’re still so young.”
Hades tapped lightly on the table.
In short, her body was now as fragile as a glass cannon.
Persephone shrugged.
“Wouldn’t it regenerate before it’s truly ruined? Is that really such a big problem?”
“Don’t say scary things like that. Spiritual resilience needs time to adapt. You’re still very young, and you’ve just spent a massive amount of power all at once. At this rate, you won’t even be able to use the power you naturally possess.”
Hades shook his head firmly.
“And ‘Kore’—that’s just a childhood nickname or alias, right? You have a proper name as well?”
“Yeah… I guess so. I’ve been called that since I was little.”
“It’s actually a bigger problem than it seems that well-connected gods like Thanatos or Hermes don’t know your true name.”
“…”
“To wield your power steadily, you must also elevate the ‘standing’ of your name while refining your divinity. That’s the fastest path to a virtuous cycle.”
In other words, don’t use all your power at once in such a short time—like these past few days.
‘So he means I should use it in small doses, more frequently?’
Persephone glanced toward Demeter, as if seeking confirmation of Hades’ advice, but she offered no further explanation.
She merely gave a subtle glance.
Persephone’s gaze shifted from Hades to empty space.
“…Alright.”
* * *
Having finished their discussion, the gods stepped out of the reception room.
Hermes excused himself, claiming he was busy, and left through the window. Only Demeter, Persephone, and Hades remained.
Demeter, arms full of Persephone’s luggage, suddenly turned toward Hades.
“I thought you’d finally lost your mind, junior. A kidnapping marriage, really?”
“…It’s a misunderstanding, elder sister.”
“Yes. At first, I was furious too—but I know your temperament well enough.”
Demeter nodded.
“But for some reason, looking at your face now makes me oddly annoyed. Come on, as my junior, carry some of Kore’s bags. My child’s wrists are going to break.”
“Oh, yes.”
As if he’d been waiting all along, Hades took the bags Demeter handed him as though it were only natural.
Even though his share was twice as heavy as what either Persephone or Demeter had carried, he didn’t utter a single complaint or sigh.
Persephone, watching them, rolled her eyes from between the bundles.
An authoritative older sister and an obedient younger brother.
‘Not so bad, actually.’
Secretly reconciled to their relationship, Persephone blinked in surprise when Demeter abruptly stopped walking.
“Mom? What’s wrong?”
Demeter stood midway down the corridor, alternately looking at Persephone and Hades.
“…”
After a long silence, she finally spoke.
“Seeing you two like this… it just feels somehow unpleasant.”
Persephone glanced around with bewildered eyes.
‘What on earth is bothering her?’
There was nothing unusual to see—just her and Hades standing side by side, each holding similar loads.
Demeter muttered darkly,
“It’s not like you’re setting up house together or anything…”
“…?”
Persephone couldn’t understand what she meant.
“Never mind. Let’s just go.”
After muttering a few more times, a deep shadow fell over Demeter’s face.
With a troubled sigh, she led Persephone forward.
When they’d nearly reached the staircase leading to the palace guest chambers, Demeter glanced back again.
A sigh slipped from her lips.
“Haa…”
“What’s the matter?”
Demeter held out her hand toward Hades.
“Just give those back to me.”
“Huh?”
“Hurry up! I can’t bear to look at it anymore!”
* * *
For some reason, faced with Demeter’s sudden intensity, Hades meekly handed over the luggage and left.
Demeter piled even more bundles onto her shoulders and carried the boxes into Persephone’s guest room.
Once all the luggage was arranged,
only the mother and daughter remained in the room.
“…Huh.”
Demeter exhaled slowly, staring out the window for a long while.
From Persephone’s view, her mother’s profile looked strangely subdued.
How much time passed?
“Kore.”
Persephone lifted her innocent eyes at Demeter’s call.
“What is it?”
Her calloused hand stroked her daughter’s hair.
Though clearly affectionate, there was undeniable hesitation in the gesture.
“I have something to tell you—would that be alright?”
“What is it?”
“…About why I reacted so violently this time… and why you absolutely must be careful down here in the Underworld.”
“…”
Instinctively sensing her mother’s grave mood, Persephone perched herself on a nearby box.
Demeter, seated opposite her, spoke in a low, solemn voice.
“After you were born, I received a prophecy.”
Persephone’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit’s.
She knew very well what a prophecy was.
Especially how powerfully binding it could be in Greek and Roman myths.
Olympus had maintained its dominance in wars against other factions largely thanks to prophecies—enabling the King of Gods to learn the conditions for victory in advance.
And fate, the very foundation of prophecy, was said to be as sharp as a blade—not even gods could escape it…
“So?”
Persephone feigned calm, arching an eyebrow. A silly smile tugged at her lips as she shrugged.
“What, am I going to die or something?”
“It’s possible.”
Persephone froze instantly, as if doused in cold water—her usual playful demeanor evaporating.
Her trembling emerald-green eyes met her mother’s deep jade gaze.
“I’m not lying.”
Demeter smiled bitterly.
“The prophecy I received back then foretold that someone I love would die.”
Persephone’s pupils shook uncontrollably, as though shattered. Uncharacteristically, she folded her hands demurely in her lap.
“…Ah, haha…”
“…”
“I… I see.”
“Yes.”
Persephone pursed her lips and slowly averted her gaze.
Demeter simply nodded gently—clearly, this wasn’t just another of her usual anxious lectures, but the truth.
“But gods are immortal. I won’t die, right?”
“You might fall into a tragedy equivalent to death—like being trapped in a coma for eternity.”
“…”
“How is that not death?”
In other words, the “death” in the prophecy might be metaphorical.
‘Wait—so all this time, everything Mom did to protect me was because of that prophecy?’
Good heavens—was that the whole reason?
“Do you understand now?”
“…Y-yes.”
Persephone nodded vigorously, her expression blank.
Though this backstory wasn’t in the original texts and felt unreal, the prophecy itself was clearly a grave matter.
“I never told you this crucial truth before because I was confident I could protect you well enough on my own…”
Demeter’s gaze drifted away into empty space.
“But now, it’s become impossible for me to watch over you.”
Her brow crumpled like thin paper.
“So Kore, you absolutely must take care of yourself.”
“O-of course!”
“You might ‘die’ here in another sense. Remember my words well.”
“I will!”
Persephone forced a smile, tensing against her stiffening lips—but Demeter’s expression instantly shifted, as if doubting her.
It was the look of someone thinking, ‘Who knows what reckless thing she’ll do next?’
“…If there’s anyone I dislike, I’ll crush them to bits!”
Unable to stand it, Persephone clenched her fist tightly.
A hollow laugh escaped Demeter’s lips. She ruffled her daughter’s hair affectionately.
“Yes. You’ve always been the type who won’t feel satisfied unless you smash obstacles out of your way.”
Then, a warm kiss landed gently on Persephone’s forehead.
“See you again in six months.”
Persephone, who had been fiddling with her fingers, flinched slightly.
But she quickly flashed a confident smile, as if to say, ‘Don’t worry.’
“Yes, Mom!”
* * *
Demeter left.
Now Persephone was alone.
Idly tapping her fingernails, she suddenly hopped onto the windowsill.
Far off, a moon-like blue glow illuminated the room—but it wasn’t the real moon.
It was merely the minimal source of light meant for the Underworld.
“…This is exactly the kind of moment that calls for a glass of wine.”
Persephone’s eyes drifted toward one of the boxes.
Normally, one would dilute wine with water—it was the refined thing to do, or so they said.
But Persephone, being far from refined, was debating whether to just open the box and drink the wine straight.
‘To drink, or not to drink?’
Just as she swallowed and reached for the box,
knock knock.
A sudden knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Kore.”
Hades’ low voice came from beyond the door.
Persephone leapt up with a clatter.
“Y-yes?”
“I have something to discuss—could you spare a moment?”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
Oh my God, poor, pitiful Hades! I hope he finds happiness with Persephone.
Oh, poor Hades! He’s so sweet. Why doesn’t anyone like him? I hope Persephone likes Hades and brings spring into his world.
Poor Hades, how can a little child be hungry? How sweet, how his expression changes upon hearing Persephone speak.