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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Lore Olympus is owned by Rachael Smythe.

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Chapter 2: There's more of them!


So, this situation can actually get worse somehow.

I mean, I should have expected this to happen somehow but... I'll be honest. I never expected Demeter to be a controlling mother. And quite overprotective of her daughter. And keen to set up ambushes after a nymph or two may have spotted us approach, seeing me as a threat that needed some capturing. But if I have to be honest, I didn't even know Kore was actually Persephone. So I couldn't exactly predict the sheer amount of BS planning made in just twenty minutes. Credit to Demeter to have Fred-level experience when it comes to trap-making.

And here I was, dangling from a rope tied to a very high branch, and staring right at a green-glowing woman and numerous various-color-skinned girls that were nymphs from what Kore had said about them. The description just fit and I was tempted to say something about 'green thumbs' and all of that shit, still going through a joking mood after chatting with Kore, but I decided against death by attempted stand-up comedy. Kore's cuteness was diabete-inducing beyond the naivety she got. It just felt odd to handle a girl her age with that much innocence within her soul. It felt wrong- after years of dabbling in some of the filthiest places in the internet, this felt like some high-grade sinning.

"I am Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest and Agriculture. State your name and business for entering my realm uninvited, mortal."

Well, shit on a stick.

"I... My name is John Bukharin. I would like to know the answer to that question considering I don't know myself."

Her lips twitched in annoyance. "Do you think this is a joke, mortal?"

"If this was a joke, I would be mad. Because from what I can see, I'm not in any position to lie my way out of this situation."

Her eyes narrowed at my rapid reply, but she spared me a long look without reacting too harshly about it. The goddess was deep in her thoughts when I felt something sinister hit one of my yabai spots in my body. Demeter noticed, and she didn't look amused. Not at all.

"L-Lady Demeter, I mean no disrespect as I'm genuinely trying to keep composure despite my circumstances but... I think someone is currently molesting my butt with a wooden branch."

...

Demeter's eyes fully widened at the absurd response, but she actually looked to the side, then glared at the culprit.

"What?" Another feminine voice called, still tempting fate by poking at my buns. "He got a nice butt."

I blinked at the sudden compliment. "Uh, thank you?"

"You're welcome-"

"Hecate! Stop this foolishness at once!"

Demeter's tone interrupted the poking, the branch falling down as the individual behind that molestation walked up to Demeter, a pout on her face. Blue-skinned, golden sclera with black irises, dark hair and... she was wearing a funeral-nun dress. Which really stood out from the rest of people there. Then again, this was Hecate, Goddess of Witchcraft, I doubt she would be the most brilliant and cheerful individual this world could muster considering her obscurity within the Greek Pantheon.

So, Gods. Three to be precise. Kore, or Persephone, was the youngest, then there were Hecate and Demeter. This is quite bad.

"I thought that working with Hades would have made you less inclined to play around serious situations, Hecate."

"Oh, don't call this a 'serious situation'. As far as we know you just caught some unaware explorer that stumbled in your realm," The fellow goddess retorted flatly, shrugging. "It's not like you take time offering mortals a clear grasp of where your realm starts and ends."

Demeter scowled, but Hecate was already glancing at me.

"So, John... Bukharin. Right?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"Odd name. You're not from around," Hecate assumed and I sighed.

"Yes and... no."

She blinked, her eyes widened a fraction. "Explain."

"I live within this area, but, if I have to be honest, I think something happen and I kind of ended up in the past."

...

The nymphs were quick to exchange swift whispers with one another as the claim I just brought up was... well, quite crappy. Not gonna lie, could have worded it better. Even Demeter looked quite confused by what I just said, and yet Hecate merely... gave me a giddy look.

"Oh really? Do you have proof of that?"

I blinked at that question, and it was there in the bag that had dropped on the ground. Deep down I hoped my phone hadn't broken, and as I said what she had to be looking for, I saw an odd look cross Hecate's face. Familiarity, realization, and curiosity all flashing at once as she decided to check for it herself. Crouching down, she was quickly up with the item in question, unlocking it and-

"There's a password," She hummed and actually gave me the phone.

Normally, I wouldn't let a stranger peruse my phone because I was rather protective of my stuff. Let's just say that after getting my PS2 files cancelled three times by my little sister when we were pretty young instilled a sense of paranoia in this kind of situation. Yet, this wasn't normal. this wasn't alright. And it was either that or facing some punishment, death or worse.

Hecate beamed as I was done with the tiny task, instantly browsing through the device and frowning. And frowning more.

"Quite... interesting."

"I don't see how this works as proof for the stupidity this mortal is bringing up," Demeter argued, failing to see the situation. "He could have stolen it from one of the denizens from Olympus and-"

"No."

Demeter paused, stunned by Hecate's rigid tone as she no longer appeared as warm as before with her looks. "W-What?"

"This isn't a device from Olympus. Definitely not a prototype, but I could see Hephaestus finding it a fascinating 'advanced' piece well beyond our current standards," The goddess elaborated her curt answer. "This is actually proof, but... not of time travel. No, there are some elements that don't make much sense. Nonetheless, I think he is right. He is a native of this region, but not within this realm."

I was a bit confused since there was something that didn't make sense in that statement. How would an ancient Greek, deity or not, browse comfortably around Arabic numbers

"...And?" Demeter inquired, still grasping at what she just heard.

"Trespassing wouldn't apply, not with these circumstances. But I suppose there's one last thing to address," Hecate remarked calmly, turning to a certain pink goddess which had remained quiet and listening to this whole matter and... looked fairly upset for herself. And I had a distinct feeling of why she was reacting like this. "Well, why don't you tell us something about it, Kore? How did you find Mr. Bukharin and do you believe he did something to you which you would wish to accuse him of?"

Demeter looked ready to hear her daughter give confirmation to her suspicions, but what they got was silence. And unease. I felt frustrated at this circumstance as I felt to blame in this regard. The girl had been so nice to me, and I could tell it was tough trying to do the best thing out of this situation without getting accused of one thing or another. And as much as this sounded stupid for me to think and do, I knew that it was for the best if I said something else.

"Kore."

My voice came through a bit louder than planned, and it did a bit more than just draw her attention. Hecate looked back, but so did Demeter as she bestowed me with an angry look. She expected me to say something to sway her daughter to 'lie' or something close to that. Sadly, I had to disappoint her immensely with what I had to tell the girl.

"However this goes, I will not pin any blame on you," I remarked without hesitation, her eyes widening at that. "I know that you are unsure what to say, but I will tell you what your mother is already asking from you. Tell the truth, no sugarcoating, no lying, nothing but the truth. No one here will tell you what to say, except the truth. Do you understand?"

... "Y-Yes."

I offered a smile and then looked away as the girl finally started to narrate how her morning started, why she was out of her mother's realm to bathe and how she ended up 'finding me'. She was reluctant to go through the whole first interaction we had due to how damning it would feel for Demeter. But much to her surprise, and mine, the goddess actually chided her daughter for approaching a stranger in that state of undress for a 'silly prank' when I could have been a bad person. In the end of that exposition, the older deity seemed to have reached a verdict, with Hecate winking at me for some reason.

"I suppose you have not committed any heinous crime against my realm," Demeter judged with a serious tone, her gaze as piercing as terrifying to keep staring at for too long. It reminded me a lot of when mom was angry and... well, she was trying to make ends met in some heated discussion. "But you will be subjected to a punishment for finding Kore. She is my treasure, my most hidden gem- and the fact you found her leaves you with a crime I can't ignore."

What? What the fuck!?

Before I could rebuke to that BS accusation, I was surprised of what came next out of Demeter's mouth.

"You will become a worker of the land, a servant of my will when it comes to creation and a loyal member of this community. Your freedom shall be decided upon years of good work, of proper handling of this job and... for dedication in the task given to you."

...Was she giving me shelter with that? Shelter paid with work from my part, but still shelter. There wasn't exactly much I could do or say to sway the situation in anything better and I had to nod at this circumstance.

"I'll accept this punishment, Lady Demeter."

The ghost of a smile appeared on the older goddess, and soon I was freed. That freedom from restraint was brief as I was suddenly pulled me in that tight hug by Kore which... didn't seem to leave her mother much pleased. Yet, despite the closeness between us, she decided to let me be in this regard. And as I shifted my focus on returning the embrace, I noticed, just barely, that Hecate was staring at me with interest.

Of which kind, I had yet to discover.


AN

Next up, working the land, dealing with a curious Kore and then handling a very forward goddess such as Hecate. She is quite lonely, but not thirsty enough to force herself onto anyone.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c
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