Chapter 46: The Age of Heroes (2)
Zeus made a “this is a bit much…” face at Poseidon’s suggestion.
There were many reasons, but the main ones were:
- Prometheus had already caused a major incident once.
- The gods had created or nurtured their own races, and the earth was already full of beings who feared and revered them, even without humans.
- There were still a few living humans left on the surface—few, but undeniably present.
- Only Hestia and a handful of gods seemed to care for them.
In such a situation, creating new, obedient humans could mean the existing ones influencing them.
Or worse—should they wipe out the remaining humans first?
These were the kinds of headache-inducing dilemmas that followed.
“This… even for me, it’s not something I can decide alone. Personal feelings aside, this requires an Olympian council.”
Poseidon nodded at Zeus’ words.
Indeed, while many gods disliked humans, just as many missed them.
“Fine. Then hold a council and come back with an answer.”
Watching Zeus leave, Poseidon recalled the day Prometheus had secretly visited him—before being dragged to the mountain for tricking Zeus.
***
— “The one who caused a great uproar has come to my palace.”
— “Haha, don’t praise me too much.”
When Prometheus first sneaked in, Poseidon didn’t welcome him warmly, but he didn’t kick him out either.
From Poseidon’s perspective, this outcome had always been likely.
Though he no longer blindly believed in the myths he knew, he assumed the grand framework still held.
“Hah, you’re still as calm as ever. But this time, you went too far.”
“It’s funny for me to advise you, but no one will approve of this.”
“Yes, I know. But it’s necessary.”
“…”
Poseidon couldn’t help but admire Prometheus’ consistency.
Even in an era where humans were deemed unnecessary, he stood firm.
In a way, he was a remarkable god.
“Well, if the god of prophecy says so, it must be true.”
“I don’t understand your ‘necessity,’ and I’m not particularly curious about the surface.”
“But one thing I can predict—you need something from me. Am I wrong?”
“…”
Poseidon was genuinely indifferent.
To him, earthly affairs were like distant tales from another land.
But the seer, who saw all, had anticipated even Poseidon’s apathy.
Casually, Prometheus reached into his chest and pulled out a small vial of blood.
The blood, though contained in a tiny glass bottle, radiated intense divine energy—the mark of a powerful god.
“That’s…”
“Yes. This is my bargaining chip to shake even the sea god’s indifference. Gaia reclaimed most of it, but I kept a little.”
Poseidon was momentarily overwhelmed by the hidden artifact.
It had been a long time since anything made a god like him feel this way.
It was Uranus’ blood—pure essence from when Cronus severed his father’s manhood with Gaia’s sickle.
“Quite the offering. Now I’m scared of what you’ll ask in return.”
“I don’t want much. Just the unique divine authority you’ve nurtured in Greece.”
“…”
“If you accept, I’ll give you a prophecy Zeus will desperately need—though you may not care for it.”
***
Not long after Hephaestus’ affair, another Olympian council was convened.
With Hephaestus now among them, Olympus looked different.
He had redesigned the thrones of the Twelve and the other gods’ seats into a coliseum-style arrangement.
“Ahh… what fun thing will happen today?”
“Tch, Hermes, I’ve told you countless times to fix that flippant attitude. Still no dignity to be found.”
“Eh, I don’t want to talk to someone dumber at driving the sun chariot than Helios.”
Grr.
Apollo fumed after losing a verbal jab to Hermes.
Having been outwitted by the younger god before, Apollo was determined to best him in trickery, deception, or wordplay—anything.
Artemis, watching from the side, gave her brother a pitiful look.
‘How does he manage to act so embarrassingly all the time…?’
Cursing inwardly, she spotted Athena entering and immediately latched onto her, moving with the speed of someone fleeing a plague.
“Sister! Do you know what today’s agenda is?”
Athena, one of the few Artemis showed affection to, smiled and patted her head.
“No, I don’t. But I heard it’s a proposal from Father Poseidon.”
Artemis let out a startled “Eek!” at the mention of Poseidon.
“Lord Poseidon?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Did we do something wrong? Apollo and I haven’t caused trouble, have we?”
Artemis frantically searched her memory for any misdeeds, but came up empty.
Athena, finding her adorable, pinched her cheek.
“How many messes have you made to jump to that conclusion first?”
“No! I haven’t done much wrong… just a few things from back then…”
Athena let out an “Ah!” as if remembering something.
“Oh, you mean when Leto spanked you twenty times?”
Artemis, mortified by the memory, clapped her hand over Athena’s mouth and frantically changed the subject.
“So what’s this about Poseidon anyway?”
“Hmm… I heard it’s related to humans…”
“WHAT?!”
Flash!
Artemis’ startled cry coincided with the four highest seats glowing, signaling the start of the Olympian council.
***
Once all the gods were seated and ready, Zeus, at the head of the Twelve, snapped his fingers, revealing today’s agenda.
—The Rebirth of Humanity—
The entire hall buzzed.
After Zeus had deliberately eradicated Prometheus’ humans, the word human had become taboo among the gods.
Zeus nodded, acknowledging their shock.
“I gathered you today because the sea god Poseidon has proposed the creation of humans.”
— “Lord Poseidon?”
— “Wasn’t he the least interested in humans?”*
— “Why suddenly?”
“I don’t know why the sea god brought this up, but as it’s a chief god’s proposal, Hera and I felt it warranted discussion. Thus, this council.”
“Speak freely and share your thoughts.”
***
Meanwhile, while Olympus was in heated debate, the sea was pure tranquility.
There were squabbles between merfolk and fish-people, but nothing that could shake the ocean.
The real chaos came when sea mysteries stirred.
Poseidon, having tossed a massive issue into Olympus, was now lounging among merfolk and mermaids, watching a mermaid dance performance.
“Whoo!”
“So pretty!”
“I want to be buried in that tail…”
“What?!”
One hand held fries, the other a flowery shirt over shorts, sunglasses perched on his nose.
He looked nothing like the god who’d just dropped a bombshell on the heavens and earth.
“Hmm… the skill level’s really improved. Used to be street-performance quality.”
As Poseidon munched on fries, a voice spoke beside him.
“It has been a while since Athena’s time, hasn’t it?”
“Pass me some fries too. I want to taste Demeter’s crops.”
Instantly, the cheering merfolk, fish-people, and dancing mermaids froze as if time had stopped—an impossible sight.
“That’s bad manners, Gaia.”
The voice belonged to Gaia, Poseidon’s wife and one of the Protogenoi who despised Zeus.
“Which wife enjoys seeing her husband cheer for other women?”
“Don’t lie. You only care if they’re not gods.”
“Hehe.”
With Gaia’s laugh, time resumed, and everyone moved again.
Only fries remained where the gods had been.
“So why call me here?”
“Does a wife need a reason to summon her husband?”
“Hah! At this hour, I’d be picnicking with Pontus or Charybdis.”
Gaia smiled, satisfied yet pouty—glad Poseidon knew her so well, but annoyed there were no secrets.
“True. It’s picnic time with Charybdis.”
“Oh, she bragged so much—said I had to be excluded.”
“Hahaha.”
Gaia laughed, imagining Charybdis’ glee.
But she had postponed a picnic with a beloved child for one reason.
“Poseidon, you proposed to Zeus to recreate humans.”
“Knowing what kind of humans come after the Silver Age.”
Her earlier smile vanished, her expression turning ice-cold.
Poseidon remained calm despite Gaia’s sensitivity.
“Yes. The Age of Heroes.”
“Knowing they could strangle my children…”
Poseidon understood her reaction.
The Age of Heroes would birth many demigods who would hunt Gaia’s offspring—monsters.
They’d war or mingle with existing races.
There was no reason to upset his wife, Gaia.
His deal with Prometheus had been fair: give and take, with only a light mention and no further involvement.
Yet somehow, the Seer’s brother had moved his heart.
“Lord Poseidon, please grant my brother’s wish.”
“I beg you too—for my atonement, and for the world you desire.”
“O god among gods.”
The purest desperation, born of innocence, could sway even a god’s heart.
(Perhaps the Seer on the mountain had foreseen even this.)
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