Although the matter had taken a detour, it eventually circled back.
As the sacred celestial horse soared through the Olympian divine realm, numerous beings sensed its presence. When they looked up at the flying horse, they all felt quite surprised.
Who was this? So reckless as to dare fly over the domain of the gods!
Then, when a few beings with keen eyesight discerned the celestial horse flying in the sky and the figure of the youth seated upon it, clad in sacred white robes.
Oh, it was him. In that case, it was fine. No issue at all.
Soon, the celestial horse carried Jason to the grand doors of the magnificent temple, where it landed and folded its wings.
As Jason dismounted from the sacred celestial horse and lifted his head to gaze upon the ancient and majestic temple before him, a sense of embarrassment welled up in his heart.
He had come here again.
To think, this was already the second time.
Just as Jason felt a surge of emotion.
"Ja... Jason?"
From beside him came the startled exclamation of a familiar goddess.
Jason turned his head and saw Zeus's eldest sister, the first child of the Titan king Cronus, the goddess of the hearth Hestia.
At this moment, she stood not far away, her eyes wide open as she stared at him.
"Goddess Hestia, it has been a long time. You are still..."
Before Jason could finish his words, he was interrupted by Hestia, who ran straight toward him.
"It really is you. You actually came. Let me see. I heard your heart was stabbed multiple times in succession. Let me check. Are you alright now?"
Hestia said joyfully while tugging at Jason's clothes.
In the midst of the tugging, Jason's upper body was exposed as a result.
"Oh my, little Jason has quite the fine figure." Rhea, who had appeared alongside Hestia, walked over and covered her mouth with her hand as she chuckled lightly at the scene.
Seeing this, the goddess of beauty Aphrodite also revealed a smile.
Jason, greatly embarrassed by this, hurriedly escaped from Hestia's clutches and said: "Goddess Hestia, I am fine. Truly fine... Lord Hermes, why are you just watching? Come help me!"
The messenger of the gods, Hermes, whistled and then turned his head away, pretending he had seen and heard nothing.
After a bit of commotion and repeated assurances, Hestia finally released Jason with a look of regret on her face.
"The God of the Abyss Tartarus took action and lifted the curse for you?"
Then, in response to Jason's statement, Rhea blinked.
"Yes, thanks to the aid of the God of the Abyss Tartarus."
Under Rhea's gaze, Jason replied through gritted teeth.
Regarding the matter with Cronus, after a brief discussion with Hecate, they had decided to keep it concealed.
Primarily, to hide the affair of the hourglass of time.
Moreover, meeting the former second-generation king of the gods was no small matter.
If they informed Zeus and the others, it might stir up even more trouble.
Because Zeus was actually extremely sensitive about such things.
And this statement was not entirely false; the entire affair had indeed proceeded smoothly thanks to Tartarus.
"Um... So that is how it is."
Rhea looked at Jason and gave him a smile that carried a subtle depth, yet she said no more.
"The God of the Abyss Tartarus... Speaking of which, during the last visit to the underworld for the wedding, I unexpectedly noticed that the lord has a very good relationship with you."
Hermes said as he looked at Jason: "Impressive, kid. Even I feel trepidation in his presence, yet you managed to become acquaintances with him!"
"Um... It is probably mainly on account of Hecate Teacher and the Goddess of Night Nyx."
Jason thought for a moment and replied humbly.
"Let us not speak of these things." Rhea interrupted the two and came to Jason's side. She gently took his hand, her beautiful eyes fixed on him as she said softly: "Child... That child Hera, I leave her to you."
"Great Goddess Rhea, there is no need for such words. I will do my utmost."
Jason shook his head and said to Rhea: "This matter arose because of me, so it falls to me to bring it to an end... And in truth, the fault lies with me from the start.
I betrayed Goddess Hera, and I have concealed it from her to this day.
Thus, no matter how Goddess Hera may reprimand or punish me, I will accept it all without a word of complaint!"
Upon hearing Jason's words, Rhea was momentarily stunned. For a time, she did not know what to say next.
With that, Jason turned around and walked toward the magnificent temple without the slightest hesitation.
"...Hecate and Hephaestus actually allowed him to come here." The goddess of beauty Aphrodite could not help but speak up: "Are they truly not greedy at all? Once that child enters, he will not be able to leave?"
"Those two are his teachers. Though they dote on him excessively, they have never once obstructed his choices in the slightest."
Hermes, who understood the situation well, said this and then paused briefly before continuing: "However, that fellow Jason surely has contingencies left by them on his person. For Hera to keep him here is unrealistic.
As for unleashing divine thunder..."
At this point, Hermes smiled and said: "Does she still have the heart to do so now?
If she truly did, she would not have slunk back in disgrace."
"Is that so?" Hestia blinked beside them.
"...Where is Athena?" Rhea suddenly spoke up: "Where did she go? At such a crucial time?"
"I do not know... But she is surely watching from somewhere."
Hermes shrugged and replied: "She can set aside any matter now, but the only thing she cannot ignore is Jason's affairs!"
The primary reason Hecate and Hephaestus felt at ease was precisely as Hermes had said.
If Hera truly harbored any malicious intent, the one who would react most vehemently now would undoubtedly be Athena!
After all, there had already been one such incident.
...
Entering the magnificent temple.
The temple at this moment felt extraordinarily serene.
The nymph handmaidens who had originally been bustling within the temple had all recently been driven out by Hera's divine power.
And just as Jason stepped into the temple alone and hesitated over whether to release the dolls in the next instant.
"Who?! Did I not say not to come bother me anymore? I will see no one, especially Zeus. Tell him to get lost..."
The words of furious rage that shook the entire temple had not yet finished.
"It is I, Jason, great Queen Hera... May I, your noble goddess, enter?"
In the instant Jason's voice rang out, the furious words ceased immediately, and the temple ceased shaking.
"Jason, is that you? How... How is this possible? How could you possibly come here..."
The angry voice vanished, replaced by Hera's flustered and off-kilter words reaching Jason's ears.
"I have come to seek your forgiveness, great Queen Hera.
You, who are great and merciful, would you grant this humble one such an opportunity?"
Jason continued.
This time, the angry voice disappeared, and the flustered voice disappeared as well.
The entire temple fell into utter silence once more.
There was no response for a long while.
Seeing this, Jason hesitated for a moment.
He placed his hand on the silver pouch, which contained the dolls given by Hephaestus. According to her instructions, he should take them out now.
But... In the end, Jason did not do so.
Lowering his hand, Jason steeled his resolve and stepped forward alone into the temple.
Since it was his second visit, Jason did not get lost and easily reached the temple hall.
Upon entering, Jason saw Hera with her back to him, arranging the lofty golden throne while also tidying her attire, repeatedly adjusting her exquisite crown and her beautiful golden curls.
"Damn it, why did they all leave? I have not even had time to comb my hair. My eyes seem to have dark circles too. That child is about to come in. What to do? What to do!"
In the quiet temple hall, Hera's mutterings were exceptionally clear.
Jason blinked at this.
He recalled the scene of his first meeting with Hera.
At that time, she had sat elegantly upon the golden throne, exuding a dignified yet gentle aura, appearing so sacred...
Um, should I quietly slip out and come back in later?
Jason, who had guessed the reason for Hera's prolonged silence, began to consider retreating.
And just as he tiptoed, preparing to turn and leave.
Whether she sensed his gaze or something else, Hera inadvertently turned her head, her beautiful eyes glancing toward Jason.
Their gazes met.
Hera blinked twice.
"Um, that... Great, beautiful, and noble Goddess Hera, it is an honor to see you once more!"
Clearing his throat, Jason bowed stiffly to Hera and said.
In an attempt to divert the topic.
But...
"When did you come in?"
Hera did not cooperate at all. Her eyes widened slightly, her expression somewhat rigid as she said.
"Um... Just now."
"...You saw it all?"
Jason lowered his head, appearing exceptionally obedient and innocent.
He would very much like to say he had not seen, but one could not lie to a goddess!
"...I did not tell you to come in!"
Having received the answer, Hera raised her voice and said: "You, you child, how could you just enter without a word? I did not tell you to come in!"
"But Goddess Hera, you did not tell me not to come in either. I asked several times, and you did not answer, so I just..."
"You, you could not wait for me?! I am not prepared yet. You... You child, you came here on purpose to anger me. You did it deliberately to anger me, did you not!"
Hera shouted, even throwing a little tantrum and stomping her feet.
"Um, Goddess Hera, I truly did not..."
"You did. You absolutely did!"
"Um, I really did not..."
"I say you did, so you did. You came deliberately to anger me. You did it on purpose. Only you, only you make me falter at every turn. I am the queen of the gods. I am Hera. But you never listen to me. You always mock me, teaming up with them to bully me!
I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you the most!
Get out. Get out of here. Get out!
I do not want to see you again. I never want to see you again!"
"Understood, Goddess Hera..."
The head-lowered Jason turned to leave obediently.
Seeing this, the wide-eyed Hera grew anxious again and said: "You, you, you... Where are you going? Come back. Come back!
Who told you to leave? Who allowed you to go!
Come back. Did you hear me? Come back right now!"
Hearing this, Jason could only reluctantly return.
As he lifted his head to look at Hera, preparing to say something.
"Do not look. Lower your head. I am not ready yet... Lower your head. Do not look. Did you hear? Do not look!"
...It was unclear if it was due to excessive shock or something else.
Hera had become somewhat self-abandoned.
But after Jason obediently lowered his head and no longer looked at Hera.
He pondered for a moment with his head down. After thinking of something, Jason once again drew out that golden dagger.
And in the instant Jason produced the golden dagger.
"What, you are doing it again?!"
Hera's wail rang out in perfect timing, and her panic caused the entire temple to shake.