I've Possessed Persephone (9 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 7

Hydra, deep in thought, tilted her cheek.

“Lord Hades is my superior, so I let it slide—but honestly, even I thought it was a bit odd. I asked him, ‘For whom is this room?’ and he just said, ‘Someone I know,’ and changed the subject.”

【Right. Didn’t I say so? My words were correct.】

“Then, will that so-called bride be coming to the Underworld soon?”

【She’ll surely arrive within a few months.】

Just as the two were whispering like this, their figures had already crossed the river Cocytus and reached the Acheron.

At the far edge of their vision appeared Charon, ferryman of the dead.

Charon, who was always busy with work, was now lounging idly on his ferryboat.

“Charon, are you already done with your duties?”

Hydra blinked and approached the lounging Charon, who had one leg crossed over the other.

It was then she raised her voice.

“Oh my, what’s that? Wheat? Flowers?”

Upon closer inspection, she saw he was holding some unfamiliar flower.

Even Thanatos, whose expression rarely changed, couldn’t help but be surprised.

Not only was the flower’s color intensely vivid, but it was also a species impossible to find anywhere around here.

Observing the incongruous bouquet, he stepped closer to Charon.

【Charon, where did you get that flower? It doesn’t seem to be a species that grows along the riverbanks.】

At Thanatos’s words, Charon abruptly sat up and shot them a wary glance, clearly afraid they might try to take the flower from him.

【I’m not asking to see it. I simply want to know its origin.】

Thanatos gestured for Charon to come over.

【As both a servant and comrade of Lord Hades, I oversee the fate of death—which also means I must uphold the laws of the Underworld.】

Thanatos embodied death itself—the inevitable destiny of all mortals—thus his very existence was law and truth.

【This matter cannot be dismissed so easily. Not even if you, my own brother, hold that flower dear.】

“…….”

【Tell me honestly from whom you received it.】

But Charon believed Persephone had already paid ample toll for crossing the river of the dead by showing him a pleasant sight.

The loyal-hearted ferryman shook his head despite Thanatos’s urging.

After a brief pause, Thanatos opened his mouth with a 【Hmm.】

【If you refuse to answer, I’ll have no choice but to suspect you went beyond the places Lord Hades permits to pluck this flower.】

“……!”

【In that case, I’ll be forced to report to Lord Hades that the ferryman of the Acheron has been neglecting his duties.】

Charon’s ears flushed crimson with panic, and he jerked his head away with a creak.

He still clutched the bundle of flowers and grain protectively in his arms and hands.

Thanatos shook his head regretfully.

【It’s fine, Charon. Since I’ll find not only you but also the one who gave you those flowers and bring them both before Lord Hades.】

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

Within ten minutes, the once-loyal Charon had renounced his loyalty and wrote with his staff:

[It was given by the woman Lord Hades seeks, as she returned to the surface.]

Though hastily scrawled in urgency, the sentence was clear enough to read.

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

“……So she’s the one who’s going to marry Lord Hades.”

【Then it means the bride has run away.】

At that instant, both Hydra and Thanatos clamped their mouths shut.

Hydra’s words had unintentionally sounded like a reproach—implying that the bountiful goddess of the earth had no reason to fall for a god of the Underworld.

Thanatos suppressed a sigh and furrowed his brow.

Both he and Hydra pictured the goddess leaving Hades behind and walking away.

[Do you happen to know someone named ‘Kore’? She gave me this bouquet.]

At that moment, Charon quietly scribbled a small note in the corner.

Thanatos’s face, which had been slightly strained, brightened.

【……‘Kore,’ you say.】

“Do 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 true name, though.】

Thanatos, expression resolute, pointed at the earthen ground.

【Charon, could you possibly describe her appearance? I’ll even lend you my messenger bird.】

* * *

Beyond the river Acheron. At the outermost wall of Hades’s domain.

“……I must be the only one foolish enough to do this repeatedly.”

Persephone had once again become a rock climber.

Having built a ‘friendly rapport’ with the ferryman, she had safely crossed the Acheron.

After even returning the messenger bird to him, she ran without looking back once—and thus reached the outer wall so quickly.

Yet, regardless of that, scrambling up and down the rocks was far from easy.

She stared blankly into the air, utterly exhausted.

Right. Even seeds manage to sprout through cracks in cliffs, so a sheer rock face wasn’t such a bad jurisdiction after all.

Just as Persephone, with an enlightened look, chuckled at her own foolish thought—

“Who goes there!”

A guard bellowed from below her.

Persephone’s body instantly stiffened.

‘I’ve been caught.’

She clicked her tongue quietly.

Well, nothing to be done about it.

Persephone obediently climbed back down the wall.

As soon as her feet touched the ground and she turned toward the guard, he barked a question.

“Who are you?”

“…….”

“You don’t look familiar around these parts. Reveal your identity!”

The man—easily a head taller than her—thrust his spear toward Persephone.

She crossed her arms without uttering a word. Though her eyes appeared indifferent, inside, a storm of emotions raged.

‘……People of the Underworld are scarier than I thought!’

Persephone trembled inwardly.

The ferryman, though not human-looking, was at least someone she could communicate with—but this guard before her seemed entirely different.

He gave the distinct impression of being anything but easy to deal with.

He didn’t seem like a wisp of a soul about to vanish; he was likely a lesser deity with a solid form……

‘Can I defeat him?’

Persephone swallowed hard.

If she didn’t attempt some deception, capture was inevitable.

Of course she had to do something!

“I asked who you are! If you don’t answer right now—”

“—You don’t recognize me?”

Just as the guard was about to jab her elbow with his spear shaft, she lifted her chin.

The guard momentarily froze mid-shout.

Before he could regain his composure, Persephone’s haughty voice rang out sternly.

“Really?”

“…….”

“Are you truly prepared to take responsibility for those words?”

The guard’s eyes flickered slightly.

Persephone barely restrained a smug smile.

Not yet. If she showed too much satisfaction now, her act would utterly fail. She had to stay cautious.

Frowning, the guard replied stiffly,

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

“Hmph, that’s hardly pleasing to hear.”

Persephone twisted the corners of her mouth as if annoyed.

Frowning further in feigned displeasure, she crossed her arms again and gathered divine power imbued with the hue of abundance at her fingertips.

“As a deity yourself, you surely know—I am also a god. Not some mortal sprite, but a true god who wields genuine power.”

Though her mouth felt a bit odd as she spoke, it didn’t truly bother her.

Persephone tousled her hair, deliberately disturbing her divine aura.

“I can’t guarantee your safety if you continue to block my path.”

“……You must reveal who you are. Otherwise, I cannot let you pass.”

Persephone narrowed her eyes and rested a hand against one cheek.

‘Alright, at least he’s shifted from casual speech to respectful address.’

Now, how could she get past this fellow?

After a long standoff with the guard, she finally sighed deeply in resignation.

“To think Lord Hades has subordinates so diligent—it must be a blessing for him.”

“……Huh?”

“I, as a servant of Lady Demeter, am utterly envious. My mistress runs everywhere with her sickle and rolled-up sleeves. Do you have any idea how hard I work just to maintain divine dignity?”

At the same time, she gave the guard an affectionate, approving look.

In a calm tone, she asked,

“Have you heard of Hecate, advisor to Demeter?”

“Huh?”

“I asked if you’ve heard of her.”

Persephone brazenly impersonated her own mother’s chief advisor!