The hardworking and uncomplaining Pegasus slowly descended before the temple of the goddess of agriculture Demeter, carrying Jason.
The two huge monsters squatting at the temple gate could not help but stand up simultaneously, casting vigilant gazes.
But when they saw clearly who the visitor was, they were slightly stunned, the hostility in their eyes completely disappeared, and they lay down lazily again.
"Both lords, long time no see." Jason walked toward them and greeted them. After they nodded lightly in response, they narrowed their eyes and continued to rest.
Then Jason came before the grand temple gate, gently knocked on the temple door, waited quietly for a while, and soon saw a nymph fairy serving the goddess of agriculture push the door open and appear before Jason.
The nymph fairy who opened the door looked at the handsome boy before her, slightly stunned, her brows lightly furrowed, and was about to scold this youth who had barged into the temple rashly when.
"Long time no see, Fairy Eunice."
Eunice was stunned.
How does he know me?
Looking at the handsome man smiling before her, gazing at his emerald eyes, after a good while, Eunice's eyes gradually widened.
"Jason... You are Jason, right!"
Looking at the nymph fairy before her who showed a surprised and excited expression, Jason nodded with a smile.
Back then, because of the conditions given by Demeter, Jason had lived in this temple for half a year, so he naturally knew the nymph fairies here.
And relying on his identity as a little shota back then, along with his likable words, Jason was very popular here.
When Jason left back then, not only was Goddess Demeter heartbroken for a long time, but even the nymph fairies felt that the entire temple had become quiet and boring.
"Really you! Come, come, let me take a look... I really did not expect that in the blink of an eye, little Jason, you have grown so big, and become so handsome!"
Subsequently, this nymph fairy excitedly pulled Jason before her, touching here and there.
"Come, quick, come in. If the great Goddess Demeter knows you are here, she will definitely be overjoyed!"
Saying this, she held Jason's hand, brought him into the temple, and excitedly said: "Let me tell you, ever since you left, Goddess Demeter has been thinking of you every day. Even when Goddess Persephone came back, the most Goddess Demeter said to her was complaints.
Complaining why Goddess Persephone did not bring you and that child Medea to play, making Persephone complain to us for many nights, saying that her mother goddess no longer loves her, hee hee..."
"Oh right, little Jason, where is little Medea? She must have grown into an incredibly beautiful girl now, right? Why did she not come with you?"
Saying this, this nymph fairy began to look around everywhere.
"Medea did not come; she went back very early. She has already returned to her own country."
Jason answered her words, hesitated for a while, and then said: "By the way, Fairy Eunice, may I ask something?... Is Sister Persephone in the temple?"
"Goddess Persephone?" Fairy Eunice thought for a moment and shook her head: "No, she is not here now. She said a couple of days ago that she seemed to have gone to play with Lady Artemis, the moon goddess."
"Is that so." Upon hearing this, Jason clearly breathed a sigh of relief and said: "That is great; it seems I arrived just in time..."
Eunice looked at Jason who said this and could not help but tilt her head: "Little Jason, could it be that you... Made Goddess Persephone angry?"
"Ah, no, I did not make sister angry." Jason hurriedly shook his head and explained: "It is just that this time I came, actually I have some words I want to say alone to Goddess Demeter."
Upon hearing this, Eunice felt relieved.
Then under her lead, they passed through the temple until they came to a courtyard growing various rare plants.
Jason saw this and could not help but feel a little surprised in his heart.
Because here was not the medicine field he had once tinkered with...
"Ever since you and Medea left, the thing Goddess Demeter valued the most was these rare plants you and she left behind."
Eunice seemed to see the doubt in Jason's heart and smiled as she explained: "From the time you left, Goddess Demeter comes to clean and personally cultivate every day; even we cannot intervene.
Over these years, this area has expanded several times over, and Demeter has also placed quite a few rare things inside, saying that when you and Medea come back, she wants to give you a surprise."
Upon hearing this, Jason's expression could not help but appear somewhat moved. Looking at the medicine field before him that was so well taken care of, he could not help but feel a trace of guilt in his heart.
And just then...
"Eunice, did I not say that without my permission, none of you can come here?"
Accompanied by a dissatisfied and reproachful soft voice, the beautiful woman Demeter walked out from behind a sacred tree.
She resembled Persephone in appearance; after all, they were mother and daughter, with the same golden long hair tied in a long braid behind, eyes presenting a beautiful amethyst color, and a head adorned with a ring-shaped crown woven from golden wheat ears.
"Sorry, great Goddess of Agriculture Demeter, but... Goddess Demeter, although I did not get permission from you, the great deity, I got permission from the little master of this area."
Eunice replied with a light laugh.
"Permission from the little master?"
Walking out and basking in the bright sunlight, Demeter said with some doubt in her eyes: "Who... Hmm?"
In the next second, under the collision of gazes.
The beautiful goddess directly froze in place.
"...Demeter godmother, long time no see."
Then, only Jason's soft voice was heard.
And after Jason finished speaking, Demeter, whose mind flashed with a bolt of lightning, almost could not stand steady for a moment because of excessive surprise...
"Demeter godmother!"
"Goddess Demeter!"
Seeing this, Fairy Eunice and Jason were both startled at the same time and hurriedly stepped forward to support her.
And so, after a short while...
In a pavilion in this courtyard.
Demeter sat in it, hands crossed before her body, mouth puffed up, head turned to the side, making "hmph hmph" sounds.
...As expected of mother and daughter; even this angry appearance is similar.
Jason muttered softly in his heart.
Then he cast a seeking-help gaze toward Eunice, but Eunice sneaked a laugh and shifted her gaze away, indicating she saw nothing.
So Jason could only steel himself, step forward to coax Demeter: "Demeter godmother, I am back."
"Hmph hmph!"
"Demeter godmother, I was wrong; I should not have not come to see you for so long. Just forgive me."
"Hmph hmph!"
Jason was helpless and once again cast his gaze toward Eunice, but the laughing Eunice still had no intention of coming to help.
Jason looked around and found that his former shield Medea was not here either, so finally, after hesitating for a while, Jason steeled his heart and came beside Goddess Demeter.
He gently held Demeter's hand and said pitifully: "Demeter godmother, I really was wrong; I guarantee there will absolutely be no next time. Just forgive me this once, please..."
Upon hearing this, Demeter finally turned her head to look at Jason, looking at his pitiful appearance, her heart very unbearable.
But ultimately, she held back the impulse to hold Jason in her arms and love him fiercely, pretending to be angry: "This is what you said, oh; absolutely no next time..."
"Yes yes, no next time, absolutely no next time!" Jason nodded frantically and said: "Then Demeter godmother, does that mean you forgive me..."
"Where is it that simple." Demeter rolled her eyes at Jason, reached out to pinch Jason's face, and then said: "If you want me to forgive you, you must promise me a few things!"
"Demeter godmother, you say; I guarantee I will complete them!"
"I have not even said anything yet..." Demeter pinched Jason's face.
"It is fine; although Demeter godmother you have not said anything, no matter what godmother you say, I will agree." Jason said with a grinning smile: "And godmother, you love me so much; you definitely will not deliberately make things difficult for me, right? Hee hee."
If Hecate were here, seeing Jason like this, she would probably feel uncomfortable all over and want to kick Jason a few times... Shameless!
Of course, whether Jason would take the opportunity to hug her leg is unknown.
But who let the other party be Demeter; she instead felt it very enjoyable. Just look at the happy smile blooming on her face now.
"This is what you said, oh. Then from now on, you cannot leave for several years without coming to see me! And Medea too; why did you not bring her along!"
Upon hearing this, Jason thought for a while and said to Demeter: "Demeter godmother, with my sister's personality, once she returns home, she will definitely pray to you, Demeter godmother, and Teacher Hecate, Sister Persephone, and you all every day. Did you not hear?"
"I heard; little Medea is so obedient, unlike you, a heartless little thing!" Demeter said this and pressed Jason's forehead with her hand.
"But I still hope to see you and little Medea come to see me together."
"Is that so? I understand; next time I will bring her along." Jason nodded and promised: "And I guarantee I will come to see godmother you often!"
"That is more like it; that is my good obedient child."
After Demeter nodded in satisfaction, she said again: "Then my obedient child, have you prepared the tribute for me?"
Saying this, Demeter looked at Jason with a face full of expectation.
Sigh, who knows when it started.
Whenever it is a god to whom Jason has not yet offered a tribute, upon seeing Jason, they always ask such a question and show such expectation.
It has gotten to the point where now Jason is afraid... Well, but he was always afraid of meeting gods anyway, so no difference.
But this time, Jason's gaze did not dodge; instead, after smiling, he replied to Demeter: "Demeter godmother, your tribute... I can say I am prepared, but currently also say I am not prepared."
"Hmm?" Demeter tilted her head and looked at Jason doubtfully.
"For the tribute to Demeter godmother, I have actually been thinking all along about what exactly I should offer to godmother; I have been troubled by this for a long time."
Upon hearing this, Demeter's eyes could not help but light up slightly.
Because one cannot lie to gods.
Therefore, Demeter happily stroked Jason's head and said: "Is that so... But child, you actually do not need to be so troubled, because no matter what you give me, I will definitely be happy!"
"No, the tribute offered to Demeter godmother, how can it be child's play."
Jason shook his head very seriously and said to Demeter: "So I really was troubled by this for a long time and finally said... Demeter godmother, incompetent me seems unable to offer you anything in formal terms.
I cannot imagine what exactly you need... But Demeter godmother, I know you are a great mother; you care about your child more than anyone, care about Sister Persephone!"
Listening to Jason's words, Demeter could not help but be slightly stunned, her eyes showing doubt, clearly not knowing why Persephone was suddenly mentioned.
Jason then looked at her and continued: "Actually, this time, after Sister Persephone came back, I have been preparing... Preparing a wedding.
That is the tribute I am offering to Brother-in-law Hades, the king of the Underworld, and Sister Persephone... But some time ago, when I learned from Teacher Hecate that originally the gods are not absolutely unable to go to the Underworld, just the conditions are extremely harsh, I had a new idea...
So I convinced my teacher Hecate; she helped me meet every Underworld god in the Underworld, while I went to meet those three great primordial deities, the god of darkness Erebus, the god of the abyss Tartarus, the goddess of the night Nyx.
Obtained permission from them... They agreed that on the wedding day, that is, the day Sister Persephone returns to the Underworld.
The gods who receive the wedding invitation can enter and exit the Underworld and attend this wedding!"
"You... Convinced all the Underworld gods?"
Demeter's eyes gradually widened, looking at Jason in shock, and said: "Child, you... How did you do it, and you even met those three primordial deities, and they agreed to you?!
This... This is too unbelievable!"
"I took a shortcut and barely managed, Demeter godmother... And the reason I suddenly chose to do this, besides wanting to do my utmost to make this wedding the best.
Actually, it is also because I thought of you, Demeter godmother..."
"...Thought of me?"
Demeter pointed to herself, her eyes full of incomprehension.
"Demeter godmother, do you still remember the original matter between us?... Speaking of it, everything started with that incident."
Recalling the past, Jason smiled lightly to Demeter: "I needed the help of a god controlling the divine power of life, thus starting the journey.
With the help of the gods, I secretly took Sister Persephone away from you, godmother..."
"Yes." Mentioning this, Demeter could not help but laugh too and said: "At that time, I was really very angry... Speaking of it, I should properly thank Hestia.
If not for her, I had already made up my mind to make you pay the price when I saw you."
Upon hearing this, Jason stuck out his tongue and continued: "At the same time, because of this incident, I deeply realized what a great mother Demeter godmother you are.
So I thought, if Demeter godmother you cannot be in the wedding hall, give your daughter the mother's blessing, and walk your daughter through the marriage hall, that would undoubtedly be the greatest regret for you.
At the same time, I also thought that if on the wedding day, Demeter godmother you could see the gods of Olympus blessing Sister Persephone, you would definitely be very happy..."
"...So you went to find those three primordial deities and sought permission from them?"
At this moment, Demeter finally understood Jason's words.
"You did all this... Everything for me?!"
"Yes... Not entirely; also for Brother Hades and Sister Persephone."
Jason honestly said to Demeter: "But the biggest reason I went to seek the Underworld gods was indeed hoping that on that day, Demeter godmother you could take Sister Persephone into the marriage hall.
To personally witness the happiest day of Sister Persephone's life, witness the blessings Sister Persephone receives...
The matter between us can be said to have started because of Sister Persephone.
And after long consideration, finding myself unable to offer Demeter godmother you anything, I thought of this...
Demeter godmother, on that day, will you take Sister Persephone into the marriage hall?"
The last sentence, Jason said to Demeter with a probing tone, because he actually was not completely sure whether Demeter had already accepted Hades...
But even so, Jason knew very well.
Any mother, on the day her daughter or child gets married, absolutely longs to stand by their side, protecting them.
Let alone Demeter, who loves her child so much!
And just as Jason finished saying these words to Demeter, in the distant Underworld, in Hecate's temple.
Reaching out, only to see a beautiful underworld butterfly perched on her fingertip; at this moment, on Hecate's peerlessly beautiful face, a faint smile could not help but appear.
"I see... No wonder with that smelly wicked disciple's personality, he would suddenly do something so reckless; this way, everything makes sense."
Cerberus beside obviously also heard what Jason said and now could not help but look at Hecate with an adoring gaze: "Goddess Hecate, so you knew long ago, that is why you went to help that guy."
"Hmm? What are you saying, Cerberus."
Hecate, who had satisfied her curiosity, waved her hand to disperse the underworld butterfly in her hand, and after not continuing to eavesdrop, said somewhat lazily to Cerberus: "I really did not know about this... My wicked disciple probably was not sure if Demeter would accept this tribute either, so he did not say it clearly."
"Ah." Cerberus was stunned: "Then Goddess Hecate, why did you agree so decisively that day..."
"Did I not say? Because it felt very interesting." Hecate said matter-of-factly, paused slightly, and then said: "And this wicked disciple, although really very troublesome, always bringing back a body full of trouble for me to clean up, but... He is ultimately my student."
Hecate said this, the corner of her mouth curving up slightly: "And how could my, Hecate's, student possibly be bad!"
Simply put, it was actually trust.
Although Hecate called him wicked disciple one after another, and often complained about wanting to expel this wicked disciple from the sect.
But in her heart, she trusted Jason immensely.
Even to the point of unconditional.
Therefore, even if she would be angry afterward, huff and puff and kick Jason, but facing Jason's requests, she had never refused...
Hecate often complained about the other gods, saying they spoiled Jason too much and should let him suffer more hardships.
But actually, in the eyes of the gods, Hecate had no right to stand out and say this; if she did, people would feel.
She was actually just showing off, showing off her child Jason!
Therefore, every time Hecate said this, look, which god would pay attention to her; the gazes looking at her were instead full of speechlessness and disdain...
...
...
"You went to seek those three primordial deities; although I do not know what you paid, but you ultimately convinced them.
And at the same time convinced all the Underworld gods, obtained permission for the Olympian gods to go to the Underworld that day.
And on that day, let me take my daughter to the marriage hall, witness her happiness... This is the tribute you are offering me, right, child?"
Hecate understood what was going on.
Then Demeter naturally also understood the reason.
"...Yes." Jason hesitated for a while, then under Demeter's gaze, gritted his teeth and nodded.
"Sorry, Demeter godmother; was I too presumptuous like this..."
Subsequently, before Jason could finish his words, Demeter could no longer hold back and pulled Jason into her arms.
Hugging him tightly, for a long time without speaking.
And at this moment, the only nymph fairy standing beside watching was even moved to wipe a trace of tear from the corner of her eye.
"Um... Demeter godmother?" Jason, who was hugged, after a good while, could not help but carefully say: "Are you crying?"
"Yes... But this is because I am too happy."
Demeter slowly released Jason, reached out to wipe the tears from her face, then looked at Jason before her, showing an extremely gentle expression, and softly said: "Now I am certain of one thing... Child, actually you really need not offer me any tribute.
Because meeting you is the best tribute I have received in this life!"
This was the evaluation from Demeter, the goddess of agriculture among the twelve main gods of Olympus, who possessed the power to wither the earth and decay all things.
But the nymph fairy standing beside did not feel that this great deity's words were exaggerated at all.
"I will go that day, child... Thank you."
"No, Demeter godmother, you do not need to thank me, because this is what I should do... Actually, to be honest, I was still very afraid; I thought Demeter godmother you would be very angry." Jason said softly.
"Why?"
"Because Demeter godmother, you actually have not forgiven Brother Hades yet, right..."
"How could I." Demeter smiled and said extremely firmly: "How could I forgive him... Absolutely impossible in this lifetime!"
Upon hearing this, Jason could not help but shrink his head.
"But forgiving or not is another matter... Just as you said, child, as a mother, how could I not hope to personally witness my daughter's happiest moment... Originally, I thought in this life, I would forever have no such opportunity.
So thank you, child... You are the best tribute I have received."
"Is that so... That is great." At this point, Jason finally breathed a sigh of relief and said: "To be honest, I was really afraid Demeter godmother you would be angry... But I really envy Sister Persephone, having a mother like you, Demeter godmother."
"What are you saying, child."
Demeter indulgently stroked Jason's head; her beautiful purple eyes gazed at him and said in an extremely gentle tone: "You do not need to envy Persephone at all, because you are also my child, Jason.
Or... Are you just calling for fun, toying with my feelings?"
Saying this, Demeter made a very hurt appearance, scaring Jason to hurriedly indicate no.
Looking at Jason's panicked appearance, Demeter could not help but laugh very happily.
And then...
"Demeter godmother..."
"Hmm?"
"I... Can I really be your child?"
Demeter looked in surprise at Jason before her, who after hesitating, carefully said this to her, then laughed very happily and said: "Of course!"