“Livia!”

Without hesitation, Triton caught the small body collapsing into his arms. Then he trapped the faintly dispersed poison in the air within streams of water to protect her.

Though the poisonous mist that could even blacken a god’s skin cleared instantly, Livia’s body had already been dissolved by the toxin, with pus and blood pooling and flowing.

“Ugh….”

“Damn it, Livia! What gives you the right to interfere!”

Triton burst out in anger while urgently pouring his water power into her.

Seeing Livia instantly covered in blood from head to toe made Triton’s heart pound violently.

This small thing had foolishly and fearlessly interfered in a fight between gods.

With this fragile body that would shatter just from falling from a height…!

He had bound her well and thrown her in a corner so she couldn’t interfere recklessly, but how did she get free and rush in? Though he wanted to find the culprit and rage immediately, there were more important matters at hand, so he held back.

The sea’s power, feeling cool to the point of coldness, enveloped Livia’s entire body and regenerated her dissolved skin.

“Livia…!”

Zagreus, who had belatedly changed from beast to human form, tried to run toward Livia with a pale face, but ice blades suddenly rising from the ground blocked his way.

“How dare you.”

Triton, eyes full of murderous intent, reached out toward him.

“How dare you try to approach.”

As if all the killing intent shown until now had been child’s play, a terrifying aura rose sharply around his massive body holding Livia.

The pressure was so vicious that even Zagreus, who had never felt fear in his life, hesitated. His hunter’s instinct urged him to avoid what he couldn’t hunt.

This damned….

His teeth ground together at the terrible humiliation. The frustration that consumed the darkness made his heart burn hot.

Zagreus glared at Triton through clenched teeth. Though he hated to admit it, he couldn’t defeat this being with his current power. Moreover, this was the surface world. A place where he couldn’t even use half his power.

‘…But could I have defeated him even in the underworld?’

It was a meaningless hypothetical that he shouldn’t have considered. An indescribably massive sense of defeat weighed down on Zagreus.

By now, the ice blade had become a barrier blocking his path, and beyond the translucent screen, Livia lay groaning in the sea god’s arms.

Both the fact that his poison mist had caused her such pain, and the situation where he couldn’t approach the fallen Livia, delivered a massive shock to Zagreus.

If only I had been stronger.

If only I wasn’t just a half-being but complete.

Then I wouldn’t have been pushed back so helplessly….

As thoughts bred more thoughts, his youthful challenging spirit burned bright red.

Though he hadn’t been particularly satisfied with his circumstances of living as if he barely existed, he had never been pessimistic about it. But now was different. An indescribable emotion boiled up inside Zagreus’s heart.

At that moment, his eyes met with Persephone’s, who had been observing the situation from a step away.

“……”

The queen looked straight at Zagreus and quietly shook her head.

It was a signal not to move recklessly. The mother who wouldn’t even properly look at him despite being nearby was now facing him directly. Her expression, glimpsed briefly, seemed almost worried about him.

While he was distracted by this strange feeling, Livia regained consciousness and opened her eyes with a weak groan.

“Triton….”

Though the wounds and pain had disappeared, her voice trembled weakly from the lingering effects of the agony.

Triton wanted to silence this detestable voice and strangle that slender neck, but he barely controlled himself.

He couldn’t punish Livia here and now. He couldn’t let her pay for betraying him with just that much. He would drag her to the deep sea and make her wail.

He would make her cry until her voice was hoarse, until she could no longer make any sound, so she couldn’t shake him with such a soft voice.

“Don’t say anything. I said I don’t want to hear it.”

He ground his teeth and threatened in an ice-cold voice.

“I… ugh… begged, I begged him.”

But this damned human absolutely refused to listen to his words.

Triton glared at the woman collapsed in his arms with furious eyes.

With a face that showed he genuinely wanted to kill her.

Though the small body in his arms trembled as if sensing his murderous intent, she opened her mouth resolutely with a pale face.

“I begged that one to help. He came because he was granting my request. Taking such risks…. So blame me, the root cause of all this, Triton.”

He wanted to tear apart those pretty lips spewing excuses he didn’t want to hear.

Those soft lips and gentle tongue that had pleased him just hours ago now provoked him terribly.

“Even in this situation, you’re still protecting that bastard.”

“No, no! That’s not it…!”

Livia desperately grabbed him and spoke pleadingly while exhaling trembling breaths.

“I don’t want to ruin the banquet any further. This wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t come…. Please. Let’s return to the sea. Blame me there, punish me there. That would work, right? Hmm?”

The more Triton listened to Livia’s words, the more he felt his mood sinking into filth. ‘Outrageous’ wasn’t enough to describe it.

I called you cute, called you cute… and this is how you stab me in the back?

He had wanted to shower her with affection. He had thought he wanted to give this small human whatever she desired. He thought there was nothing he couldn’t give her as he imagined them swimming together in his sea, sharing joy and prosperity together.

Even if it meant his heart….

You seemed no different from those humans I so despised.

Just like those who pollute, exploit, and contaminate the sea – the source of countless lives – merely for their selfishness and greed, despite the sea being the source of life just by existing.

Were you also just thinking of using and betraying me?

When was it?

Just when did you start planning to secretly meet that damned black beast here at Demeter’s banquet?

Yes, probably then. In that dream… Yes. Was that when you two lovers started planning to deceive my eyes? Was I fooled by Livia’s innocent and blind eyes?

“Ha….”

If so, how ridiculous must my words about cherishing you and sharing immortality have seemed to you?

The thought that Livia had betrayed him made nausea rise from his stomach. With a feeling like his heart and internal organs were turning black with rot, he laughed fiercely.

“Fine. If that’s what you want, Livia.”

Triton stood up while holding Livia. Tiny water droplets began gathering around his mountain-like massive body. And as the gathered droplets began freezing solid with sharp clinking sounds, they formed a pointed small mountain above his head.

“…I regret ruining the banquet, Demeter.”

Triton spoke while looking at Demeter and Persephone while holding Livia.

“But… you both share some responsibility, don’t you?”

His chilling voice mixed with disbelief and irritation. His gaze toward the goddesses was also fierce like a raging typhoon.

“You must have known to allow that bastard who should be underground to be here.”

Triton twisted his lips into a smile as he met the eyes of the two goddesses who simply watched silently without answering.

“So, let’s say we share the responsibility for this incident equally.”

There was no rebuttal. Probably because there wasn’t much wrong with his words.

‘I was the only fool.’

As Triton bitterly mocked himself, the pointed ice mountain above his head began spinning, then shot up at fierce speed toward the veil created by Demeter and Persephone covering the sky.

The sound of sharp objects shattering and the thunderous noise of the double barrier breaking rang out simultaneously.

“…!”

Ice fragments rained down like snow above their heads. Demeter, with a startled face, quickly raised the earth to protect herself and Persephone. In Persephone’s eyes, as she deflected the ice fragments passing overhead with her hands, she saw a massive star twinkling in the sky above.

One of Olympus’s greatest stars and Zeus’s only true wife. Hera’s eye….

‘No.’

With a face showing sudden realization, she quickly reached out toward Zagreus. Vines that instantly crawled up from underground wrapped around Zagreus, disguising him as a tree. Before all the ice fragments had fallen, Triton and the human woman had vanished.

“That damned sea god….”

He had clearly caused a big commotion while leaving on purpose. After noticing what Persephone was trying to hide this place from.

Curses burst involuntarily from Persephone’s lips at his cunning and irritating scheme.

However, the troublemaker had already disappeared, and those remaining had to deal with this commotion.

“…The guests are coming, drawn by the noise, Persephone.”

Demeter pressed her head, looking very tired, straightened her back and walked toward where footsteps could be heard approaching. Just before opening the door, she turned to her daughter and whispered softly.

“I’ll take care of them, you deal with your son here.”

To Persephone who hesitated, Demeter smiled gently and whispered.

“Just as some flowers bloom after their season passes… Some hearts also bloom late, my daughter.”

—

T/N: THIS CHAPTER IS MAKING ME FEEL THINGS