Livia had hoped it wasn’t true.

As she listened to the stories about her father and Iason, she held onto a faint hope that Lete was safely preparing for the next life after death…

But it seemed the witch’s words were true. That witch had indeed stolen her younger sibling’s soul and trapped it in that cold, dark place.

“Please help me.”

It was frustrating that this was all she could say.

Even in despair, she felt a sense of gratitude. There were countless unjust deaths in the world, and everyone cried out to the gods for help. But not everyone had the chance to plead directly in the presence of a deity.

So, Livia was willing to choose the path of humiliation if it meant she could receive help from the ruler of the underworld…!

“Please, help me just this once.”

Livia knelt before the queen, pressing her forehead to the ground. She silently watched her.

“If you wish, I will die and serve as your eternal servant. Command me, and I will do my utmost to fulfill it. So, please. Please…!”

She pleaded desperately, banging her forehead on the floor. Persephone clicked her tongue softly and gently touched Livia’s forehead with her hand.

“This won’t do any good, Livia. I can’t act on personal matters without reason. However, I can give you some time.”

As she spoke, light flowed from Persephone’s hand, revealing a rough hourglass with a pomegranate design.

“Before the sand runs out, search the underworld as much as you like. It’s not a lot of time, but I’ll provide you with an assistant.”

“…An assistant?”

Persephone nodded and smiled as she stood up. Somewhere, the sound of a crow echoed. Looking up at the sky, Persephone’s expression turned slightly chilly.

“I must go now.”

“Wait, please. Who is this assistant you’re talking about…?”

“They’ll come if you wait. Good luck, Kore.”

She brushed off her seat and turned away coldly, as if she had no regrets. Her actions were undoubtedly kind, yet there was an inexplicable chill about them.

It felt like kindness with a purpose.

That chill made her watch Persephone’s retreating figure without daring to stop her.

Livia had the eerie feeling that if she carelessly offended her, she would suddenly transform into a terrifying figure, as if all her kindness had been an illusion.

As she stared despairingly in the direction Persephone had disappeared, she heard the rustling of wings and sensed someone behind her. Turning quickly, her expression froze.

Zagreus…?

It seemed he recognized her as well. Unlike the day in the forest, he was clad in black armor, and his stern face, matching his armor, changed the moment he saw Livia.

Sunlight broke over his somewhat gloomy and dark complexion. Her reflection appeared in his wide, dark eyes.

He approached with long strides and immediately cupped her cheeks with both hands, whispering softly.

“Found you.”

***

A black shark circling around the golden castle spotted another black shark returning from afar and vigorously swam forward, thrashing its tail.

A black shark sped towards the white shark at several tens of kilometers per hour and bit its fin. Although the white shark shook its body in annoyance at the black shark’s persistent nibbling, the black shark held on.

With no other choice, the white shark, Neo, headed towards Triton’s abode with the black shark still clinging to one of its fins.

“Neo, did you find something?” Triton asked as he scratched near the white shark’s belly. The shark then pulled something out of its mouth. At first glance, it looked like the tentacle of an octopus or squid, but it was actually the tail of a black snake.

“You lost the body and only brought back the tail, huh?” Triton remarked.

The white shark bared its teeth, recalling the tiresome and frustrating chase with the black snake. For a usually calm shark to be so irritated, it must have been quite an exasperating pursuit.

Triton, still rubbing the shark’s head in appreciation, shouted without turning around, “Don’t touch her, Sympho.”

Sympho, who had been about to bite Livia, lying on Triton’s bed, froze with his mouth wide open. The black shark, eyeing the situation, reluctantly smacked its lips in disappointment and circled around Livia, unable to let go of its interest.

“You really seem to like that human woman,” Triton said, turning around with a soft chuckle.

Sympho’s playful behavior was a sign of affection. After a few playful nibbles, he seemed to realize that the human woman was much sturdier than he had anticipated and had marked her as his playmate.

Despite its growing size, Sympho was still a young shark, full of mischief. Unlike its always calm sister, the white shark, Sympho had a very different personality, even though they were born from the same womb.

“It’s chaotic here. Go outside,” Triton said, waving his hand dismissively, annoyed by the two creatures circling around. He then fiddled with the black snake’s tail that the white shark had brought back and placed a chair beside Livia to watch over her.

Recently, his hobby had become watching the woman who lay in the sleep of death.

A corpse that was dead but not decaying… the implication was clear.

As he had anticipated, this woman’s soul would not remain in the underworld but would return here.

Triton approached Livia and lifted her wrist. On the inside of her faintly warm forearm was a small pomegranate emblem.

‘Persephone’s emblem.’

For a mere human to inscribe something like this so fearlessly…

Persephone was the goddess who heralded spring, but she was also the queen of the underworld. She possessed the patience and strength to endure until she could sprout what she desired from beneath the earth.

In other words, she was a woman who could endure the darkness to achieve what she wanted. In a way, Livia shared a similar trait. She was willing to do anything for what she desired.

Triton found himself somewhat impressed. For a mere human to dare to attack a god and obtain an emblem from the queen of the underworld… how many had achieved such feats?

“…Shouldn’t this woman be the one to carry the epic of a hero?” he mused.

He had to admit, her courage was commendable.

If this woman had become a warrior, she would have been an extraordinary one. When you think about it, challenging gods, resisting, and undergoing trials were similar, yet some were heroes and others villains.

Considering that most of the latter were women, it crossed his mind that Livia Horn might be known as the villainess Livia in future generations.

Villainess Livia.

The combination of those words wasn’t bad. Triton’s lips curled into a lazy smile as he recalled the green eyes that had glared at him, wet and defiant.

She might not have been an extraordinary beauty, but those eyes alone could captivate many. Clear, firm, and truly warm-looking green.

His cool fingertips touched the eyelids of the sleeping woman. Though the gesture was light, his touch lingered.

Echidna, where did you find something like this?

It was truly intriguing.

Thinking it was Echidna’s doing should have been displeasing, yet he couldn’t feel that way at all.

Perhaps it was because this woman had been sent to his side with that intention in mind, which made it all the more fascinating. Even knowing it was bothersome, he didn’t feel the urge to send her away.

How did you end up in Echidna’s grasp? If only I had gotten hold of you first…

He recalled the woman’s words about exchanging revenge with Echidna. It’s a shame—she won’t be able to achieve that…

About 30 days of the 100 days promised to Livia had passed. During that time, this woman had already died twice and nearly died three times.

Yet, she somehow kept returning to him like a boomerang. Of course, she came back with gritted teeth, vowing to plunge a dagger into his heart, but it was quite refreshing.

Is she truly capable of enduring anything for her goal? Her relentless determination and patience, like a flint enduring long to ignite a fire, were intriguing.

Livia Horn.

How far can you endure? Or rather, how far will you fail to endure?

Triton had to admit it. He was becoming increasingly curious about this human woman. As intrigued as he was, he wanted to keep her within his grasp and toy with her a little more.