What's the point of mastering the cosmos if you don't have a Sacred Cloth?
Even if you weren't a Saint, whether you were a Specter or a Marine, you still needed some badass armor to look the part.
Previously, Eros could cobble something together with Material Reconstruction, but those cheap knock-offs would fall apart at the first hit. Total disgrace.
But now, he had the designs, methods, and vision to forge real Sacred Cloths. All he lacked… was a skilled craftsman.
And speaking of craftsmen...
Eros turned his gaze to Athena.
"Athena, you know Hephaestus, right?"
Athena paused while fixing her appearance. A thoughtful expression crossed her face as she caught on.
"You want her to forge these oddly shaped suits of armor for you?"
"Please, show some respect, call them Sacred Cloths. These aren't just any suits of armor."
Of course, technically only Athena's Saints wore "Sacred Cloths", but Eros had shamelessly decided to adopt the term anyway.
"…Fine. So you want Hephaestus to help craft these 'Sacred Cloths' of yours."
Athena's fingers traced over the drawings. Though the designs were peculiar, she hesitated only briefly before speaking.
"There's beauty in your creations, yes… but aren't they a bit too extravagant? Even if made from the finest materials, without divine power or Authority, they're just fancy shells."
Eros wasn't worried in the slightest.
If they were only "fancy," he wouldn't be nearly this excited.
Sacred Cloths possessed their own will, their own life force. For a Saint, they were more than armor, they were extensions of one's cosmos.
And Athena's concerns? Easily solved.
After all, Eros still had a divine essence from Astraeus, the God of the Stars.
He already had a plan, to completely break down that essence and infuse it into the 88 Sacred Cloths, one for each constellation.
He just needed someone capable of executing such delicate divine craftsmanship.
Other than Hephaestus, his only other option was the trio of Cyclopes, those who had forged Zeus's Lightning Bolts: Brontes, Steropes, and Arges.
But those guys were impossible to locate. So Hephaestus it was.
Seeing how serious he was, Athena didn't push further.
"Hephaestus still holds a seat on Olympus, but she rarely stays there. Most of the time, she lives on Mount Vulcan, what we call Olympus's Great Forge. She uses the volcano's heat for her work."
Then, after a moment's hesitation, she added,
"If you do go to her, feel free to mention my name. It might help."
Hephaestus wasn't the most sociable deity. But Athena trusted that Eros would find a way.
Eros glanced at her expression, recalling some old myths between the two.
Such as how Hephaestus once fell in love with his own sister, Athena, and tried to pursue her…
And how Athena used a bundle of wool to wipe away certain bodily fluids, which later gave rise to a new life when thrown to the earth.
Even now, it seemed some awkward entanglement lingered between them.
He didn't press further. He simply noted the location she gave, he'd visit the forge once he returned to the surface.
With their conversation finished, Athena eagerly picked up the divine essence of Pallas again.
"I should return to Olympus and start the fusion process. Next time we meet, I'll thank you properly."
Merging divine essence wasn't a casual matter, Athena would likely need Zeus's help to revise her place in the divine registry.
That was the perk of good parentage: even if Eros hadn't helped her, Athena would've eventually realized her power gap and appealed to Zeus for similar Authority.
"I'll be looking forward to it."
Eros smiled. Every time he met Athena, good things happened. How could he not anticipate their next encounter?
"Same here. I'll be watching over your journey."
Before she left, Athena topped off the blessing on Eros's wrist, just in case he ran into more unexpected trouble.
With that, the ever-efficient goddess swiftly left the Underworld.
The moment Athena was gone, Hypnos, who'd been holding back this whole time, finally let her thoughts fly.
"Big brother, you're shameless. Aren't you afraid I'll call you out for your lies?"
The last time she'd heard him tell this story to Styx, Hypnos had shrugged it off.
But this time? The same lines, slightly tweaked, now directed at Athena?
Hah. Smooth-talking womanizer!
Eros gave her an innocent look.
"Lies? What lies? I only ever speak the truth."
Hypnos rolled her eyes. "You were just saying all that to Styx a few days ago."
"And now? Same story, recycled for Athena."
"Hmph. Trash!"
She'd been around Eros long enough to see right through him. Still, she was proud of herself, for not falling for his act.
Unlike her gullible sister, Thanatos. That dummy would've been swooning by now.
Eros wiggled a finger playfully.
"Hey now, I never told Athena, 'You're the only one I've ever thought of,' or anything like that."
"So accusing me of lying is slander. Careful now, I might have to punish you~"
His teasing eyes swept across her, making the flustered little goddess immediately back away, shielding her backside.
"Ugh! You're insufferable!"
Eros just laughed.
Of course, he didn't really have the energy to mess with this tiny Sleep Goddess right now. He just enjoyed seeing her squirm.
"Hmph! When are you leaving the Underworld? The sooner I escort you out, the sooner I'm free!"
Free?
Eros smiled faintly.
Their contract clearly stated that while he was in the Underworld, she had to assist him in all matters, no exceptions.
But it never said "only during this visit."
Poor Hypnos never considered that he might just come back later.
Still, he let it slide for now.
Just as he was about to leave the room and check in on Hades and Demeter…
The door opened.
Hades stepped in ahead of him, glancing at the now-empty room.
"Athena's gone already? I thought for sure you'd try to keep her here longer."
After two intense soul-bonding encounters, Hades had come to understand Eros quite well.
If he kept Athena around, it wouldn't be for purely friendly reasons.
And yet… she was already gone?
"That's because every dish has its own cooking method," Eros said meaningfully. "If you rush it on high heat, you might burn it. Best to let it simmer slowly."
"Oh? So you grilled me over a roaring fire, huh?" Hades quipped, a sharp glint in her eyes.
Their strange metaphorical exchange left Hypnos thoroughly confused.
"You two done talking nonsense?" Eros asked at last.
Hades nodded. Her expression was calm.
"My sister split off half of her Authority to Persephone, so she could leave the Underworld without being overwhelmed by the Queen's power."
Eros whistled. Demeter really didn't play around.
Giving half her divine domain, likely tied to Spring and Growth, to her daughter? That was intense.
Persephone now held dual roles: Goddess of Life and Death.
And with Hades likely to offload more of her own Authority later, it wouldn't be surprising if Persephone eventually overshadowed her.
Roles reversed.
As they spoke, Hades's eyes drifted toward Hypnos.
Her brow arched slightly, as if weighing something.
"So the daughter of Nyx is still here…"
If Hypnos knew what Hades was planning, she'd run for the hills.
Nothing too dramatic. Just a calculated recruitment plan.
If she couldn't keep Eros around on her own, why not add more goddesses to the mix?
Not as intense as Persephone's "half-a-year stay" deal, but maybe she could keep him here for three months?
Ten goddesses, nine days and nights each… Yeah, that would work.
So far she had herself, Persephone, and Styx.
Add Hypnos and Thanatos, and boom, halfway there.
But Hypnos clearly misunderstood her look.
She leapt up, panicked.
"S-Sorry! Didn't mean to intrude, you two take your time!"
And with that, she bolted.
Hades had been about to try sweet-talking her into the plan, but now all she could do was sigh.
Too bad.
She turned back to Eros.
"You're planning to leave soon, aren't you?"
Everything was wrapped up. And Hades knew Eros wasn't the type to sit still for long.
She was reluctant, but she could accept temporary separation.
"…Actually, I've been thinking about something."
As she spoke, Hades stepped close, pressing against him.
"Oh?"
"I'm thinking... maybe I should take a page from Demeter's book."
She smiled faintly, dark eyes glittering.
"Maybe I'll have a child too, raise them here in the Underworld."
Once again, the quiet black bloom of the Underworld opened its petals before him, inviting and eternal.
✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
For Advance Chapters, please visit and consider joining me on P(a)treon!
p(a)treon.com/Lnee
You can also access my other translated fics on P(a)treon!