Half a month later, Eros finally set out on his journey back from the Underworld.
The soil and water of the Underworld weren't actually bad. In fact, the Blessed Fields, flowing with milk and honey, were both soft and sweet.
It was just... a bit too hard on the waist. Farming that land had been exhausting.
Minta may have dodged the fate of becoming mint... but couldn't escape being turned into mugwort.
At some point, Eros wasn't even sure when, Hades had coaxed Minta into bed as well, all sweet words and sly persuasion, and Eros had ended up putting in overtime.
It wasn't until every last trick and position had been thoroughly explored that Hades, still reluctant, finally let him leave.
But before returning to the surface, Eros had one more person to find.
With Hypnos impatiently prodding him along, Eros pulled out Hecate's scepter.
Hecate was said to dwell in the Underworld as well, though not deep within. Her domain lay closer to the entrance, on the boundary of life and death.
The scepter pulsed with a silvery crescent glow, guiding Eros through the mists.
"Fresh off a goddess's belly and already hunting for the next one..."
"Tch. What a damn scumbag."
Hypnos muttered behind him. She spoke under her breath, but Eros heard every word clearly.
Still, he didn't have the energy to argue, he was lying on the boat, exhausted.
No other reason. He was simply too tired.
He needed something new, something fresh, to reignite his spirits.
Hypnos, now all cautious and guarded, wasn't as fun anymore. She needed to be left to marinate for a bit.
Following the direction of the scepter, Eros headed upstream until he reached the River Acheron, the River of Pain.
This was the first river encountered by souls entering the Underworld, meaning the exit was close.
He glanced around, hoping to spot the infamous ferryman of the dead.
No luck.
Probably summoned by Hades to handle other duties, Eros guessed, lowering his head with a sigh of disappointment.
After crossing the Acheron, he arrived at the Land of Twilight.
This place, caught between life and death, marked the threshold of the Underworld.
It was also where the Goddess of Daylight, Hemera, and the God of Aether, Aether, passed through each day.
Nyx had instructed Aether to cast a radiant atmosphere above the earth, parting the veil of nighttime with Hemera's help.
Only when they did so could light return to the world above.
The two took turns entering and exiting the Abyss, maintaining the eternal cycle of day and night.
As Eros wandered the twilight land, he saw scattered souls drifting like lonely fireflies. The Underworld was still far less crowded than it would one day become.
The scepter in his hand shone with crescent light, piercing through the layers of illusion and concealment.
Finally, it revealed to him a tiny witch's hut, nestled at a fork in the road, Hecate's hidden dwelling.
Eros straightened up and adjusted his clothes.
Goddess Hecate, huh? All cold and indifferent, is she?
Not this time.
He wasn't leaving until something came of it.
Once he felt ready, he stepped forward and knocked on the wooden door.
"Goddess Hecate, I've come to keep our appointment."
His tone was gentle, his smile radiant, voice magnetic, and with his otherworldly good looks that could charm gods, mortals, and beasts alike...
He really didn't see how Hecate could resist.
Even if she swung the other way, he'd "correct" her course.
But as soon as he knocked, a crash echoed from within, followed by a clatter of objects falling.
"Goddess Hecate?"
Puzzled, Eros apologized politely and reached for the doorknob.
"Wait, don't come in!"
Her voice rang out from inside, clearly in her maiden form. But it was too late, Eros had already pushed the door open.
The witch's cottage wasn't filled with glittering treasures, just bundles of herbs and handmade trinkets.
The place was a beautiful mess, like someone playing a game for charm points and just tossing objects everywhere.
The clattering sounds had come from an overturned table, now lying on its side with various magical ingredients strewn across the floor.
And there, no longer cloaked in black robes, dressed in a thin, sheer gown, stood the real Hecate, finally revealed before him.
Eros had seen her full triune goddess form before, three faces, similar yet distinct, exuding sacred mystery.
But now, this was Hecate not as a great deity, but as a flustered girl.
She had the same quiet grace as Nyx, but softer, more delicate.
Her panicked expression made her seem even more vividly alive.
Was this really the same Hecate who barely gave me the time of day before? Eros wondered.
"S-s-sorry! Let me just clean up! One second!"
Flustered and stammering, Hecate scrambled to gather up the spilled bottles and jars.
Eros pieced it together, this must be her maiden aspect. A different state than the cold, aloof version from before.
Bending down with a smile, he began helping her gather the items.
She's vulnerable right now. Perfect time to strike deep into her heart.
"No need to panic, Goddess Hecate. Let me help you."
"...Mmm."
She let out a small, embarrassed hum and didn't say more, her face flushed as she continued tidying up.
As he assisted her, Eros surveyed the room.
The chaotic layout revealed that Hecate wasn't very particular about order.
There were jars and ingredients like belladonna, rabbit tails, and elderflower scattered everywhere.
Thanks to his Potion Brewing skill, Eros could immediately identify them as ingredients for magic potions and spells.
Hecate also seemed to be a bit clumsy. Was that just this version of her? Or were all her forms like that?
His thoughts wandered.
Unintentionally, their hands brushed as they both reached for the same fallen vial.
The instant their fingers touched, Hecate recoiled like she'd been shocked.
That reaction again? Eros thought. She'd done something similar the last time they bumped into each other.
Noticing her tension, Eros lifted the bottle and smiled gently.
"What kind of potion is this? Would you mind enlightening me, Goddess Hecate?"
People with hobbies usually couldn't resist talking about their passions. It was the easiest way to open up a conversation.
Even the most introverted would become chatterboxes if you hit the right topic.
Talk to an introvert about billiards? Nothing. Talk to them about anime girls? Now you're speaking their language.
So, Hecate being a goddess of magic and witchcraft, potions should be her thing.
But when she saw the vial in his hand, her expression froze, and turned bright red.
"T-that one is…"
She mumbled awkwardly, unable to get the words out.
Eros, curious, uncorked the bottle and sniffed it, trying to deduce its ingredients by scent.
With his brewing skill, he was practically a half-fledged alchemical master.
"Belladonna… apples… nightshade…"
The ingredients were familiar. Wait, weren't these used for…
"It, it's a Love Potion."
Hecate whispered, struggling to hold back her shame and embarrassment.
Eros nearly dropped the bottle.
A love potion?!
This stuff was dangerous. Eros would rather drink poison than mess with one of these.
There were all kinds of love potions, some made you obsess over the first person you saw; others killed you if your love wavered; some turned people into hopeless simps with tragic endings.
Among all legendary brews, love potions were top-tier threats.
Other curses had countermeasures, but love? Love was a curse without a cure.
Love was unsolvable.
Carefully, Eros sealed the bottle and memorized its color and texture.
But why had Hecate made one? And judging by the label, it was freshly brewed.
This thing was his mortal enemy. He had to take it seriously.
"Goddess Hecate, if you're not using this potion, may I… have it?"
Better to keep it close than risk someone else using it on him.
One day, he would make sure the recipe for this thing disappeared forever. He wanted to live without constantly fearing every snack might be spiked.
"Huh? …Okay."
Still flustered, Hecate nodded reluctantly, clearly disappointed.
She'd worked so hard to brew it, and now the plan was aborted before it even began.
"Goddess Hecate?"
Eros waved a hand in front of her face, snapping her out of her daze.
"S-sorry! My apologies!"
She turned quickly, rummaging through a cabinet for something to serve her guest.
Her slender figure beneath the sheer gown was hard to ignore, and as she bent down, even the barely ripe peaches of her curves showed through.
Eros smirked, enjoying the view.
Now this is nice. All those days with her hidden under a cloak, what was I even supposed to look at?
But still, something was off about her attitude.
Could she have multiple personalities?
He needed to observe her more closely.
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100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
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