High above the heavens, in Olympus, many exalted gods had gathered. The Twelve Olympians were all in one place.
The reason such gods, who would not ordinarily meet so readily, had assembled was...
"What nonsense is that? They already follow me!"
"Hah. It would be a waste to leave that land as it is."
"You were never interested in it even once... and now you dare show such greed?"
"All of you, quiet. *Sigh*... Very well. Let us begin today's council regarding the 'Guardian Deity of Eirene.'"
The subject was Eirene, a nation that had been growing at a startling pace of late.
Due to this rapid expansion, several gods had already begun to covet the position of Eirene's guardian deity.
Athena, who had long held that role, reacted with fierce opposition.
As the conflict escalated, Zeus, unable to stand by any longer, summoned the gods who coveted the seat—including Ares and Hermes—along with Athena.
With the parties gathered, he opened the council concerning the fate of Eirene.
"If they wish to expand their borders in grand fashion, serving me is the far better choice!"
"What use is land alone? One must also tend to the internal affairs, such as the economy. Therefore, as the god of commerce, I..."
"What are all of you talking about! From the very moment of its founding, Eirene has served me!"
However, because they were all gathered in one room, the meeting failed to proceed properly; instead, it devolved into a shouting match.
"*Sigh*..."
Watching the chaos, Zeus let out a deep, weary sigh.
"Um... Lord Zeus..."
"...Can't you see that I am busy right now?"
A lesser god had approached Zeus to speak, and the King of the Gods did not hide his displeasure.
"Th-that is..."
The lesser god hesitated before finally speaking.
"Lord Hades has sent a messenger."
"What?"
Zeus looked taken aback that Hades, the ruler of the underworld, had sent a representative.
"Let him in."
"Yes."
After a brief moment of consideration, Zeus admitted the messenger.
"So. What is the matter?"
"Lord Hades, upon hearing that a council concerning Eirene was being held, ordered me to urgently deliver this letter."
"A letter? What could be so urgent?"
"That is..."
The messenger hesitated, then handed the letter to Zeus and spoke.
"The primordial gods of the underworld, Lady Nyx and Lord Erebus, recently visited Eirene."
"Those two?"
At the mention of the primordial deities, Zeus and the surrounding gods stared at the messenger with expressions of utter shock and bewilderment.
"Yes."
"What business could have moved those two to act?"
"They went to Eirene and met privately with the king, a man named Astellon. And... it is said they have taken Astellon as their adopted son."
At this unimaginable revelation, Zeus, the Twelve Olympians, and all the other gods fell into a stunned silence.
"A human became their adopted son?!"
"Wait! Then what are we supposed to do now?"
It was rare for the gods of Olympus to react with such singular unison, but the reason for their panic was deeply troubling.
"Is that... truly true?"
Zeus asked, his voice trembling.
"Yes. Lord Hades said he heard it directly from the children of Lady Nyx—Thanatos, Moros, Hypnos, Nemesis, and the others."
"Heh... what in the world..."
Before the incident.
Before Nyx heard the news of her granddaughter and departed for Eirene.
After visiting Eirene and adopting King Astellon, Nyx returned to the underworld and summoned her children.
At her call, Thanatos, Moros, Hypnos, Nemesis, and the other divine offspring gathered together.
"You have all come."
Once her children had assembled, Nyx appeared before them.
At her arrival, her sons and daughters rose from their seats to offer their greetings.
"I have wonderful news, which is why I called you all here."
Looking over her beloved children, Nyx spoke with a bright, high-spirited smile.
Seeing her in such a mood, her children exchanged glances, wondering what could be happening.
"What is it, Mother?"
Nemesis, the goddess of judgment, stepped forward as their representative to ask.
"Fufu. Well, you see..."
Nyx chuckled, as if she had been waiting for this exact question.
"You have a younger sibling! I have recently gained a new youngest son!!"
"...Pardon?"
The children doubted their own ears.
Their mother had shown no signs of pregnancy, nor had there been any word of such a thing. To be summoned suddenly only to be told they had a new baby brother was a massive shock.
"A-are you saying... we have a younger sibling...?"
"Huh... what on earth...?"
"...This is confusing."
"Wait, all of a sudden?!"
"Yes, yes! Why? Aren't you happy?"
"...While the manner of this announcement is startling, if it is good news, then it is indeed good news."
Among the bewildered siblings, Nemesis was the first to compose herself.
Nyx looked at Nemesis with fond amusement.
"We... knew nothing of this, so we are quite overwhelmed."
"That is only natural. After all, your youngest brother is a human who possesses no divine blood."
""What?!""
"W-what do you mean by that, Mother?!"
"A human...? No, how is that possible?!"
"Ah. Wait... I'm so confused. I can't process this..."
Nyx's revelation struck her children like a second bolt of lightning.
"Do you mean... an ordinary human was taken in as an adopted son?"
"Yes. But he is far from ordinary!"
"What kind of human is he?"
"He is the king of a nation called Eirene. And while he has human wives, he has also married Hecate, the goddess of magic, and Thetis, the sea goddess."
"No, what now?!"
"A human... took two goddesses as wives...? What the hell! What is happening?! What kind of situation is this?!"
"Ah. Hold on. My head hurts..."
As they pressed for more information, Nyx cheerfully explained that her new son was a human king who had managed to wed two prominent goddesses.
The children were once again left in a state of total shock.
"Something is very wrong with today."
"...Have my ears rotted? Perhaps I've spent too long in the underworld."
"No, how can a human possibly be Mother's adopted son?!"
"That is because that child is the Vessel. The one who will contain our power. Our successor."
"What? What did you say?!"
"...Hypnos. I think I've finally lost my hearing."
"Moros. Your hearing is perfectly fine."
"...Damn it...!! No! This can't be happening!"
"Haa... my heart can't take any more shocks today."
The mention of a 'Vessel' sent a new wave of horror through the siblings.
The Vessel of Nyx and Erebus.
These were not words to be taken lightly.
The Vessel was a figure foretold long ago by the Moirai.
The one closest to the gods, yet farthest from them.
A human born without divine blood.
Yet, the sole heir who would achieve deeds greater than any other, and the only being capable of fully inheriting the power of the primordial darkness of Nyx and Erebus.
That was the Vessel.
Knowing the prophecy, Nyx's children began to think furiously, their minds racing to process the implications.
Unlike most divine families, Nyx and her children shared an incredibly deep bond.
Beyond the relationship of parent and child, the siblings themselves were closer and more affectionate than any other gods in existence.
They were each other's best friends and most trusted comrades, always looking out for one another.
To any other god, the arrival of a 'Vessel' would be a threat to be neutralized or a tool to be manipulated. But to Nyx's children, the only question was how to treat their new youngest brother—how to care for him, how to support him, and how to protect him.
They began earnestly planning how they would exact revenge on anyone who dared to lay a finger on him.
Observing her children's reactions, Nyx said with a beaming smile, "Fufu. I'll arrange a meeting soon to introduce you. Our youngest son is very handsome and absolutely adorable!"
Among all the gods, Nyx loved her children more than anything. While she could be cold to others, she became incredibly gentle whenever her children were involved.
Knowing this, the siblings spent the time after her departure in a heated debate, seriously discussing when they would visit their brother and what the perfect first gift would be.
Hades, who happened upon this scene, asked Hypnos what was happening and was told everything.
Hades was equally shocked and began to ponder how to handle this development.
As time passed, Nyx's children remained deep in their deliberations.
Meanwhile, Hades, still worrying about the boy, was startled to learn that Olympus was holding a council regarding Nyx's youngest son and his kingdom. He hurriedly penned a letter and dispatched a messenger to Olympus.
"I must stop this no matter what...!!"
If the gods of Olympus were to harm Nyx's youngest son, Nyx and Erebus—who loved their children with a terrifying intensity—would not stand idly by.
Furthermore, Nyx's children would certainly not forgive Olympus for touching their baby brother; they would seek a devastating revenge.
Tensing at the thought, Hades prayed desperately that his messenger would not be too late.