Chapter 428

Prince’s Game #4

Paranoi said, “An expedition team supported by the gods and one that even features a great deity in person are extraordinarily different!”

Paranoi mentioned that although Argos’ expedition team was a dream team, combining all sorts of Gold Tier adventurers, they were ultimately bound by the limitation of being mortals.

Therefore, it was considered a grave discourtesy to compare this ragtag team of mortals with the expedition I’d be joining—the one heading to the depths of hell.

Of course, that was just Paranoi’s assertion.

But upon hearing that story, Hippolyte, who had been agitated earlier, began nodding her head in agreement.

“Indeed, now that I consider it, there seems to be some merit in that argument. My journey with Hassan from the start has been full of variables. Whether it’s the marshlands of Kalan, the gorges north of Sodomora, or even the waters near Delphi…”

“Thus-.”

At that moment, Elpride, who had been lying on the bed, half-listening, asked,

“So, when do you plan to set off? We’re still unsure if we have a real map leading to the true labyrinth. All we have is a key. It’s not a good idea to rush into the planning.”

Elpride’s statement was valid.

All I had were three Skeleton Keys. While they were said to help open the true entrance to Pluto’s labyrinth, collecting all three didn’t trigger any dramatic events like a dragon appearing or cryptic words floating into the air.

Everything was still uncertain.

Perhaps I was just too excited to rush forward with the plans.

However, the opportunity to journey to the underworld, which was part of Pluto’s domain—the father I had never met—was a compelling reason.

Apparently, our father owned vast lands. If that was the case, it was only natural for me to dream of exploring them.

I was eager to organize an expedition team and head out immediately.

It seemed Luna felt the same way.

“In the depths of Tartarus, there’s supposed to be a realm of Nox! Maybe I’ll get to meet Nox directly? I’m super excited about it…!”

Luna seemed eager to meet her mother, Nox.

Of course, Luna didn’t know Nox was her mother, but perhaps this was an instinctual desire to get closer to her roots.

However, considering what might happen if Luna were to meet Nox, I hesitated.

Didn’t the Gigas target Luna?

Including her in the expedition to the Underworld worried me a bit. But unaware of my concerns, Luna was enthusiastically jumping up and down, shouting,

“Who knows, maybe the Underworld holds the key to the completion of Nectar? It must be! I, as the greatest potion master of the Small Courtyard, can confirm it!”

“Nectar’s completeness—?”

Hippolyte furrowed her brow slightly upon hearing this.

“Nectar and the Underworld being connected? What do you mean by that?”

“While experimenting with the final ingredients, I mixed in some Menthe flowers. Adding mint to alcohol isn’t unusual!”

Alcohol and mint – was it like adding mint to a Mojito?

Luna added, “Ignoy, after sampling the Menthe flavor, said it reminded them of the nectar created by Bacchus!”

At that moment, everyone’s attention turned to Ignoy, who stood quietly in the corner with closed lips. As usual, Ignoy remained silent, leaving no way to confirm the truth.

I asked, “So, what’s the connection between Menthe flowers and the Underworld? How does it relate?”

“Of course, there’s a connection! Menthe flowers originally bloom in the Underworld. Therefore, there’s a high probability of finding pure Menthe flowers there, and the likelihood of it being an ingredient increases!”

“I’m totally in favor of going to the Underworld!”

Supporting Luna’s bold declaration, Paranoi spoke up.

“Indeed, this is Luna-sama…! The main wife of Hassan-sama, the ruler of Hell, and the mistress of the harem! A most befitting candidate with unmatched boldness! The honorable judge Paranoi grants five points…!”

At that moment, someone struck the hotel floor with a loud “Pang!”

“Main wife? That story isn’t over yet, is it?”

It was Hippolyte. She looked displeased and even a little red with irritation.

“Even receiving five points is unacceptable. You promised to be a fair judge, Paranoi of Nymphs, regardless of how close you are to Noxdotty!”

I didn’t quite grasp the substance of their conversation, but it seemed to stem from discussions the women often had among themselves.

*

That evening,

I was sitting on the balcony of my second-floor accommodation, gazing outside.

After the whirlwind of events from yesterday and today, I needed a moment of rest.

Life had taken on such density and intensity after I became aware of my divinity, that I was surprised I hadn’t experienced burnout if I were a regular person.

But my body, at Level 45, simply couldn’t afford to collapse from fatigue.

Still, my senses, shaped by a carefree, modern upbringing, longed for some mental respite, so I carved out this uninterrupted, quiet time.

The chilly night air was welcoming as I exhaled a small puff of breath that formed a mist in the cold.

“Breath of d*ath—.”

Hooo—

Amidst the playful exhale, the cityscape appeared blurred between the steam rising from my breath.

The city lived up to its name, “Royal Street,” with its dazzling lights illuminating even the night, making for a captivating view.

It was a quintessentially cold urban scene.

At that moment,

Sshhh—

Something obscured my forehead and eyes.

It was likely someone’s palm. Warm, soft arms and a certain texture on the cheek and side conveyed that it was unmistakably her.

“Wow, to come without a sound. You’re impressive, Luna.”

“Wow, Hassan, good job guessing—it’s me! I used the crowfoot voodoo spell!”

Sshhh.

Only then did Luna uncover my face. Turning my head, I saw Luna looking down at me, wearing a white bathrobe as she sat in the chair.

Her face was flushed, and steam seemed to rise from her body—she had just gotten out of the bath. It made her appear warm and inviting, like a freshly steamed roll.

“How did you know it was me?”

“You’re the only one who cleans with Menthe oil.”

“Right! That’s impressive! That means you can remember me by my scent alone!”

Evidently feeling refreshed after her bath, Luna seemed in high spirits, like someone who had just enjoyed a drink. Her energy lifted my mood, which had been solitary and wintery.

“What brings you here, Luna?”

“I had something to say to Hassan. Were you thinking about something earlier?”

“How do you know?”

Actually, I hadn’t been thinking of anything. A line about melancholic men being popular came to mind and inspired my contemplative stance.

But Luna replied,

“Oh, now I see! You weren’t thinking about anything!”

Hmm. How did she know?

“How did you guess?”

In response, Luna swept her hand across her forehead.

“When Hassan is lost in thought, he gets these wrinkles between his eyebrows. No wrinkles means you weren’t thinking about anything, right?”

“You’re right.”

In some ways, Luna understands me better than I do myself. It’s a testament to how much time we’ve spent together.

Squeak—

“Cold air is refreshing—! Having a balcony is completely awesome!”

Luna pulled another chair beside me, evidently eager to share a few words.

As I reflected, it had been a while since we had a private conversation. Things had been so busy lately, and we hardly found time for just the two of us. When was the last time we spent time like this? Frankly, I couldn’t remember.

Our lives had been so hectic.

Shhh—

Luna extended her palm to me.

“Hassan, how about we hold hands? It’s winter, so your warm hands will keep me warm.”

“Sure, that sounds fine.”

Recalling the summer, I realized my body temperature was quite high. In this world without air conditioning, it must have been tough for Luna to handle my warmth during those months. As a result, we couldn’t often hold hands.

I didn’t mind the heat much either.

Reflecting on this, the cold Gaia winter didn’t seem all that bad.

Shhh—

Gently, I took Luna’s small hand. It was warm and soft. As I’d always noticed, Luna’s hands were delicate and feminine. I wondered how such fragile little hands could accomplish so much.

At that moment, Luna spoke up.

“Hassan, you have a wrinkle between your eyebrows. What are you thinking about?”

“Just noting how winter is here.”

“Ah, I thought maybe you didn’t like holding my hand anymore.”

“Eh?”

I was surprised by her comment.

“Why would you think that? Not at all—it’s an unexpected remark, and it confuses me.”

“Well, Hassan has been less proactive about holding my hand lately, and you’ve avoided certain… intimate gestures since you became a god. I wondered if your feelings had changed.”

Luna’s response was hesitant but revealing. It made me realize how focused I’d been on my own tasks lately, neglecting the people around me.

I reassured her, “No, it’s not that. It’s just been busy. This whole year has been hectic if you think about it.”

As I reflected, the past year came flooding back.

My liberation from slavery in spring. And the temple cleaning on a warm day when I first met Luna.

“By the way, I thought you were strange when we first met, Luna. You had that huge mask on, gathering honey from bees. I thought you were a cultist.”

“Really? Did you think that?”

“But then when you took off your mask, I saw how beautiful you were, and that erased the thought. Back then, I used to lie on the ground, stargazing while sleeping outdoors, whereas now, here we are, discussing things on a hotel balcony.”

To which Luna pouted and countered,

“I knew from the first moment I saw you that this would happen. I could see it in your luminous soul—you were bound to be someone extraordinary.”

“Is that so?”

On reflection, Luna had always said things like that from the time we lived together in a cabin. She claimed that I would live in a grand palace full of treasures, and thousands would bow in reverence to me. Then, I thought she was just boosting my spirit, but now it seems most of what she predicted is coming true.

Reflecting on this, Luna stretched her body and said,

“It’s fascinating when you think about it. Together we built totems in the warehouse storage and hunted alligators in the swamps.”

“You went after deer that stole your money and then fought the deer as well. You were totally crazy that day. Do you remember?”

At my question, Luna shivered.

“Uh, I don’t remember exactly! Anyway, after that, we fought in wars, attended noble feasts, and battled cultists. Wow—thinking about it now, we’ve experienced so much.”

“Exactly.”

“More than enough to surpass my lifetime’s worth of karma.”

Revisiting our memories was unexpectedly delightful. If only I had a phone to document these moments.

If Luna had a smartphone, she’d probably have taken hundreds of photos by now and maybe even posted them on Instagram, where they’d surely look great.

Just then, Luna added,

“Thinking about it now, we’ve come such a long way. Now we’re about to embark on an expedition to the Underworld. The world won’t believe it when they hear that Luna Noxdotty signed up for an expedition to the Underworld. Isn’t that wild?”

“You’re right.”

I nodded along. Then, I noticed that Luna’s body was shaking—not just from the balcony’s cold winter air.

“Luna, are you scared? About heading to Pluto’s underground labyrinth and the kingdom beneath?”

“Of course, it’s terrifying. Heroes have never conquered that place, you know.”

True.

She must be scared despite putting up a front of bravado in front of everyone. After all, venturing into Pluto’s kingdom is akin to contemplating d*ath itself.

“Still—.”

Hearing her unfinished sentiment, I leaned in closer to listen.

“Still, I’m more scared of Hassan leaving me behind.”

“Hmm?”

“Every time you went to war, every time you ventured into the abyss, I had to stay behind and wait. I don’t want to do that anymore. I’ve become strong, strong enough—!”

Jingle—.

Luna jingled the silver necklace around her neck.

“I can really be by your side now! It’s supposed to be a party anyway!”

“That’s right. You truly can.”

“Mmm, sure, I might not be as helpful as Hippolyte or Elpride, but this time, I really want to come along. Please don’t leave me behind…”

Luna’s confidence had faded rather quickly, but it was typical of her.

However, I believed that in this expedition to hell, Luna could make a significant contribution more than anyone else.

Our destination was the deepest abyss of Tartarus, said to be a place where even the great gods trembled in fear. This was, after all, the residence of Nox, Luna’s mother.

And not only that—Luna had been quietly practicing and training daily. Her potential for significant contributions was undeniable.

Thus, I encouraged Luna,

“Believe in yourself. You have the most potential among all of us.”

“R-really?”

“Yes. I swear on it. You know I don’t make promises lightly.”

Shhh—.

At that, Luna’s trembling began to subside. I took the chance to bolster her confidence further,

“And we’re not setting off immediately. We need to use the Skeleton Key to find a secret warehouse or something. No one knows how long that will take—it could be days, months, or even—.”

Perhaps a lifetime, but it seemed better not to mention that possibility. Satisfied with my reassurance, Luna released my hand and clapped.

“Oh, right! That was what I wanted to tell you! Among the nymphs I take care of, there’s one who knows something about that Skeleton Key!”

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