Goddess of Mint and Thebes – (1)
"Hades, shall we leave now?"
I could almost see a dog's tail wagging behind Mente as she tugged at me.
She seemed very disappointed that our last walk had been interrupted by the Gigas attack.
"I'm sorry for not paying more attention to you. If you had told me, I would have taken you out sooner." "Well... I wanted to, but..."
The Goddess of Mint blushed in embarrassment.
"You wanted to, but...?" "Oh no, it's a curse... I'll be cursed... I'll be trampled…"
Suddenly, she clasped her hands together and started muttering nonsense. What was she talking about, a curse? What kind of nonsense is this?
"Anyway, let's go straight to Thebes, past the hero training grounds. I need to refresh myself and get away from this world." "Yes, Nae... I'll make sure to look pretty enough for Hades, and I'll..."
Mente, who had been happily anticipating the trip, suddenly froze in her tracks and spoke in a small voice. With her back turned to me, I couldn't see her face, but her ears were redder than ever.
"Hades… I think you looked best in that gold-threaded chiton you wore when we first met. It's not my personal taste, but…" "If that's what you prefer, then so be it."
Was that what Mente liked last time we met?
Smirking at her cheeky comment, I changed my outfit accordingly.
I've always been aware of my good looks and popularity.
However, due to my high position as the King of the Underworld, it's rare to find someone who treats me with such affection.
Most mortals fear even the name Hades, referring to me as Pluto. But Mente, the Goddess of Mint, was different.
"Wow...! Hades, you're so handsome right now, hehe... I'll be back in a minute!"
When she first met me, she was not a lesser god but a Naiad, a water nymph... An unusual nymph, whose curiosity and excitement outweighed her fear.
Perhaps that's why she was able to become my priestess, and eventually, a goddess.
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Mente and I passed by the training grounds of Persephone's powerful heroes and soon found Chiron.
The centaur sage was busy lecturing the aspiring heroes, looking more content than ever.
"When you shoot your bow, your feet should be shoulder-width apart, and your back foot..."
Chiron strung his bow and took aim at the bullseye. The heroes sat in a wide circle in the clearing, carefully watching his demonstration.
After Chiron's explanation, they scattered to practice their archery. Chiron walked among them, observing the clumsily drawn bows of the less skilled.
He must have noticed us, for he stopped just far enough from the heroes to address us.
"When did you arrive, Hades? I see the Goddess Mente has come along as well." "Chiron, I see you're doing a fine job training these heroes." "Ah, yes, of course. Didn't you send many heroes here not long ago? Thanks to them..."
Chiron trailed off, turning his head toward a clearing nearby, where heroes were sparring, their weapons raised.
I recognized some of the faces... Bellerophon... Perseus...
Kwadang-tang!
One man barely dodged a flying sword and stomped his foot, sending his opponent crashing to the ground. The fallen man called out to his opponent, clearly frustrated.
"King Perseus, what is a great hero like you doing here?" "What are you talking about? Isn't it a hero's duty to train the next generation?" "No, but it's also the duty of a king to..." "...? Look over there, even Lord Cadmus is training, and I'm nothing compared to him, so stop complaining!"
All sorts of renowned heroes who had completed their trials in life were now training new heroes. When Perseus died and entered the afterlife, Zeus, along with his wife Andromeda, had wanted to immortalize him among the stars.
But Perseus refused, choosing instead to work at training future heroes at Thebes after learning about the Heroic Academy. He was originally meant for Elysium, but as the one who killed his maternal grandfather, he refused to go.
In many ways, he reminded me of Cadmus.
"Their training is impressive, much more effective than what I could have done alone." "I'm glad it's working out. I'll continue to send any future heroes your way."
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Chiron smiled as I turned my attention to Mente, who was watching the heroes in awe.
"Wow... Lord Hades, look at that. Is that the serpent king Python...?" "Mente, if we reveal ourselves to them, it will cause a stir. Let's pass by quietly."
I urged Mente to step outside the space's gap.
Ssshhhh.
"Huh?! There are still more heroes to come... Oh! Lord Hades!"
As we crossed over, we encountered a middle-aged priest who looked bewildered by our presence. He was a high-ranking priest, his devotion evident in his appearance... Yes, I recognized his name.
"Vesiledis, I believe. You never miss a day of prayer, and your piety is truly commendable for a priest." "You remembered my name...? I'm honored! Oh... breathe..."
Please don't suddenly collapse and start crying. I was only acknowledging your dedication to your morning and evening prayers.
The cold stone floor isn't the place for this—he should rise.
"It's uncomfortable to see my priest prostrate on the cold floor. Stand up." "But... how can I...?" "It's an order."
The priest cautiously rose to his feet.
"You must not tell anyone that the Goddess of Mint and I have traveled to Thebes." "Of course! By the River Styx, I swear—" "...There's no need for such oaths."
Hearing the name of the Styx made me stop for a moment.
Swearing an oath by the River Styx was unnecessary, wasn't it a little too much faith?
If Mente and I stayed any longer, the situation might get out of hand, so we quickly moved past the overly devout priest and concealed ourselves as we entered Thebes.
However, as soon as we left the temple connected to the Underworld, we were greeted by a sight...
"The rightful wife of the god Pluto must be the goddess Styx!" someone cried. "Your argument is weak! She was pierced by a golden arrow from the god Eros, and it was the goddess Persephone..." "That golden arrow was never even mentioned by the priests of Pluto's temple, so stop speculating!" "And how do you explain that Lethe-sama's statue is placed right next to Pluto's?"
A crowd of Thebans was fervently debating my marital status. Some were arguing passionately, while others seemed more amused.
And the size of the crowd... There were more than enough people filling the square in front of the temple. I glanced at Mente, and she gave me a puzzled look.
"The Goddess of Mint was originally a nymph, then became a lesser god. Clearly, it's a sign of Pluto's affection for her!" "No, she simply made mint, a symbol of Pluto! It doesn't mean love!"
It seems that Mente's story has made the rounds. I wonder if it was really love that turned her into a lesser goddess... or just a reward?
Cao Cao.
At the same time, I felt a small hand gently grab mine. I turned to find Mente's gentle touch shyly holding my right hand.
"Hades... I... I've been wondering, too." "Mente." "What do you think of me...?"
It was a question she asked as soon as we stepped out into this world. Mente's face was flushed red, but she looked me straight in the eyes as she spoke.
There was a hint of anxiety in her gaze, as if she was asking a question she had always wanted to ask. Surely, it was Zeus, not me, who made Mente a lesser god.
But as for the question of whether or not I love Mente...
"...Hades?"
Her shining turquoise hair and clear eyes. Even as a water nymph, she boasted a beauty that rivaled the goddesses, and now, as a lesser god, she was even more radiant.
Sensing my hesitation, Mente quickly spoke again.
"I... I don't expect to be your consort, not even your concubine..." "Mente."
I raised my hand slowly, gently stroking her hair, and she stopped talking. In the past, I might have avoided this situation, but not anymore.
From the moment I first met Mente as a nymph...
to the day she became a priestess in my temple...
to when she fell in love with me and entered the Underworld as a goddess.
Through all her trials, she never lost her smile, her cheerfulness shining through even in the afterlife. Somehow, the Goddess of Mint had found her way into my heart.
"...You don't have to beg. I don't hate you." "Oh..."
Mente's eyes widened, and then she embraced me tightly. Her fresh, minty scent filled my nostrils.
I savored the softness of her turquoise hair, but something caught my eye behind her.
"I love you, Meledipos." "I love you too, Alkeios."
Two men, both in their twenties or thirties, were embracing each other. Even the other Theban citizens seemed to find nothing unusual about it.
"That's true love." "Love with a woman is not a pure form of affection—it's only for procreation."
I was taken aback by the sight and quickly glanced around... Hundreds of men, all similarly dressed, were making love in the middle of the street.
Who dares poison my Thebes with this madness?
"...ha. Hades?"Goddess of Mint and Thebes - (2)
"...ha. Lord Hades?"
Mente called out to me urgently, noticing my stiffened face, but I couldn't focus on her right now.
The Sacred Band? Homosexuality as true love? What kind of nonsense is this? There's no way Dionysus would dare pull something like this, but could this really be a naturally occurring cultural shift?
Could this be an influence from Zeus taking the Trojan boy Ganymede to Olympus? Or perhaps...
"Wait, I need to ask something."
"Oh, are you a foreigner by any chance?"
I temporarily revealed myself to the humans and grabbed the arm of a boy who was running by.
The boy, accustomed to encounters with strangers, didn't seem surprised that an unfamiliar man had approached him.
It was a good sign for Thebes that many people flocked to the city under my rule, but for now, understanding this bizarre situation was my priority.
"Yes, it's been a while since I've visited Thebes... What is this Sacred Band?"
"The Sacred Band? Oh, that's our elite force! It was formed not too long ago."
"What I mean is... why was a force like this created, with men behaving this way?"
I tried to avoid looking at the hundreds of men exchanging affectionate gestures with each other, while I threw my question at the boy who was looking up at me.
"Well, you see, all the clever philosophers have been saying so!"
"Philosophers?"
"Yes! After months of debating love in the public square, do you know what they concluded? That [love between men is pure love, free from the purpose of procreation]. Ahem!"
Wait, what...?
"There was no oracle or divine command behind this? No other reason?"
The boy now looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"Huh? But wouldn't the gods also approve of it?"
"This?!"
"We in Thebes realized a truth before any other city did. The theologians and priests even said that the gods also favor love between men..."
It seems like Zeus' influence is indeed at play...
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Come to think of it, theologians have been around for a while now. They're not priests, but they document stories and genealogies of the gods. And even these scholars arrived at such a conclusion?
"Mente... Let's find a quieter place."
"Lord Hades..."
I watched the boy run off happily after receiving a few drachmas for answering my questions, and I rubbed my temples. Is this what Dionysian madness looks like to humans? I should have paid more attention to Thebes. I've been rather busy lately, but still, to let Thebes slip into this state...
Godly authority exists for times like these. After this date with Mente, I'll have to appear in the dreams of the Theban king or high priest to deliver an oracle.
Ordering the immediate disbandment of the Sacred Band or throwing all homosexuals into Tartarus would only cause chaos... Something as simple as "The god Pluto does not favor homosexuality" should be enough to stop them.
Putting those thoughts aside, I turned to Mente, who had been quietly watching me. I took her right hand.
"Oh...!"
"I'm sorry, Mente. I got lost in thought for a moment."
"It's alright! As long as you weren't thinking of other goddesses, I'm fine!"
"There seems to be some sort of festival over there. Shall we go?"
I held Mente's hand and walked in the other direction. At least I no longer had to look at those strange men from the so-called Sacred Band.
As I suspected, today must be some festival in Thebes, with people walking around with bright smiles on their faces. But what caught my attention was... the mint leaves in the people's hair?
"Certainly looks like a festival with so many people... I should get a mint leaf for myself."
"Yes, here you go."
A man bought a mint leaf from a street vendor and tucked it behind his ear.
It seems that wearing a mint leaf shows one's intent to participate in the festival. Could this festival be in honor of Mente?
"For the next three days! We're selling mint oil at a discount! It's great for baths and for rubbing on the body!"
"Is it better than olive oil?"
"This is the famous mint perfume that lets you see Elysium, and right now..."
"As expected of a city that worships the god of the Underworld, they're even holding a Mint Festival."
"It's amazing that they worship that terrifying lord of the Underworld..."
"Shh, don't say such things here, you'll get cursed! Most Thebans are devout followers of Pluto, remember?"
"Even the priests of the Apollo temple in far-off Lydia recognized the medicinal benefits of mint..."
"The god of healing, Phoebus, is said to favor mint as well."
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"It clears the mind, lowers fevers, and more..."
These people are all gathered, celebrating my chosen symbol and holding a festival for it. Everyone is praising and thanking the gods for their blessings.
A heartwarming and rewarding sight, no matter how often I see it. Mente, too, had a cheerful smile on her face as she followed along beside me, holding my hand.
"Hehe... Lord Hades, humans really love mint!"
"It's all thanks to you for creating it. It was a great achievement worthy of becoming a god."
Mente looked at me with a beaming smile. Was the fresh scent coming from her, or from the humans enjoying the Mint Festival?
"Um... I have something I've been curious about."
"What is it?"
"It's about when we first met. You mentioned that you'd make mint your symbol because of a 'lost memory.'"
"...?"
"Could you tell me what that means? Why would you choose a plant I just happened to create as your symbol?"
"I said I would grant you one wish as a reward for bringing back a forgotten memory."
Mente looked at me with sparkling eyes. But... even if I told her that there was a time long ago when I wasn't an immortal, she wouldn't believe me. The reincarnation of mortals is managed by various gods of the Underworld, after all.
The world of science from which mint-related food was created, and the daily routine of enjoying its unique aroma after meals to keep my mouth fresh... Mente couldn't know about any of that. So my answer was...
"That mint was a plant I already knew of."
"Huh? But it didn't exist in the world until I accidentally created it..."
"A very long time ago, in an age you do not know... Mint was always by my side."
Mente's face softened with an expression of wistfulness. I didn't know what she was imagining, but I continued speaking.
"The moment I smelled its refreshing and distinctive scent, I realized that you had recreated the plant I once knew."
"Oh..."
"That's why I made mint my symbol."
As the humans continued to chatter around us, with mint leaves adorning their heads... While to other gods it may just be a plant with a distinctive scent, for me, it was a reminder of long-lost memories.
A precious plant that reminded me that there was once a time when I was not an immortal. That was mint. And the one who made it... was Mente.
I brought my hand to Mente's cheek as she gazed at me. Instead of shying away, she leaned into me, her hair carrying that refreshing scent.
"I'm always grateful to you, Mente."
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"Oh, please... I'm just a nymph, and the blessings I've received from you..."
"No, you brought back a memory for me that is irreplaceable."
I had everything—strength, status, honor. Reincarnated as a powerful god, there was nothing more I could want. Though it's hard to recall exactly, I must have sought such things in my past life as well.
What I cannot grasp now... What I distinctly remember but see slipping away is the memory of my previous life.
"...Sometimes, I have dark thoughts. I find myself thinking... like those reckless gods I despise, looking down on mortals."
"You, Lord Hades? The god mortals revere as the god of mercy...?"
Not just any god, but one of the three great gods, even Zeus cannot treat me lightly. Most gods are younger than I or rank lower.
And my domain, the Underworld, is the one mortals fear most.
I am the ruler of the underworld, with position, wealth, and power. It would be a lie to say that no arrogance ever arises within me.
"As the ruler of the Underworld, there are times when I feel arrogance is justified... that I must show my authority."
"Lord Hades, you're known as the fairest and most merciful of all gods."
"That's because I strive to be. It's not my natural disposition."
They call me the god of mercy... But when I sentenced Tantalus recently, I had to suppress the more cruel punishments that came to mind. I also resisted the urge to hand down the most severe sentence without offering any chance for defense.
Much of that urge came from my anger toward the man who murdered his own son, but... There was also a faint resentment at the audacity of a mere human daring to mock the gods.
"The lord of the Underworld, who should be the fairest of all, is, in truth, a flawed god who wavers. Has your view of me shattered, Mente?"
"No, no... not at all. The Lord Hades I know..."
I smiled as I looked at Mente's face. I could see tears welling up in her clear turquoise eyes.
I reached out and gently wiped them away, placing my hand softly on the back of her neck. Seeing her smooth, fair skin up close stirred my heart. It seems I'm starting to feel the same as she does.
"You're the one who holds me steady when I waver."
"Me...?"
"Yes, every time I recall the scent of mint... I reflect on my actions."
As the passage of time wears away at my view of mortals, it is my memories as a human that keep me grounded. In my past life, the scent was nothing special, something I encountered daily...
But as the god of the Underworld now, Mint reminds me that I was once a mortal.
"And for creating that mint, I am always thankful to you."
"Th... then... What else?"
"...I believe I share your feelings, Mente."
Mente, who had been gazing at me pleadingly, turned bright red. Looking at her as if she might burst, I slowly pulled her closer by the back of her neck.
Like a magnet drawing iron, the goddess moved closer without resistance. In the intoxicatingly strong scent of mint... I kissed her.
"Ha..."
This sweet, refreshing sensation...
It reminded me of... peppermint candy.Goddess of Mint and Thebes - (3)
"The ruler of the Underworld, who must be the most just of all, is, in reality, a god who sometimes falters like this. Has your illusion of me shattered a little, Mente?" "No, no... not at all. The Hades I know is..."
Mente stammered, trying to deny Hades' words. The Hades she had seen was... indeed a god among gods.
Unlike the other Olympian gods, he was a compassionate god who cared for mortals and delivered fair judgments. He was like a father to all souls who reached death.
But now, knowing the true feelings of Hades as he revealed them to her, something naturally welled up in her eyes. Even the resolute lord of the Underworld, as strong as iron, had such worries.
How hard must he have worked to hide these feelings from everyone until now? Just imagining it made Mente's heart feel like it was about to break.
As her tears welled up, he gently touched her face, wiping away her falling sadness. Hades, smiling softly, extended his hand and brought it to the back of her neck.
"Ah... wait... Is this... could it be a kiss?"
Mente, an inexperienced goddess, had no experience with men. As a nymph, she had no interest in men, and after becoming Hades' priestess, no one dared approach her. Then, after becoming a lesser goddess of the Underworld... she was subtly treated as Hades' consort.
As her heartbeat grew louder, realizing that what she had only known through knowledge was happening to her, the lord of the Underworld she revered spoke.
"You are the one who holds me back sometimes." "Me...?" "Yes, every time I recall your scent of mint... I reflect on my actions."
Ah, what a gentle person he is. Such sweet words. Even the whispers of the god Apollo couldn't sound sweeter than this.
"And I am always grateful to you for creating mint. I feel indebted to you." "And... what else...? Please, tell me more..." "...I think I feel the same way as you."
Thump.
The same way. This means...
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Hades' hand, which rested on the back of Mente's neck, gradually tightened. As if mesmerized by a siren's song, Mente's body drew closer to him.
Like a sculpture made by Pygmalion, his handsome face drew nearer... and finally, their lips met.
"Haah..."
It was a brief kiss, like a fleeting dream.
As the short kiss ended, Hades looked at Mente, who stood dazed, unable to regain her senses. The Goddess of Mint had a dreamy expression, as if she were still in a reverie.
"Hehe..." "Mente? Are you alright...?" "Just one more... one more time, Lord Hades!"
Smooch.
"Uh, wait... just a moment..." "Just... a little longer...!"
As she threw herself at him in excitement, Hades gently pushed her away, wiping his lips. Watching them from the side, an old man with a cane clicked his tongue as he passed by.
"Hmph... Indecent love in the middle of the street... Disgusting. Move aside."
So, kissing Mente must have broken the illusion. From the way he mentioned 'indecent love,' that old man must be a philosopher.
Wait a second, so pure love—homosexual love—is acceptable on the streets? Sigh... should I punish Thebes for this...?
"...Why has such a culture spread?"
No, never mind. Even now, Mente, who clings to me, is calming me down with her familiar scent from a past life.
I'll send an oracle when I return to the Underworld and put an end to this.
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Afterward, Hades and Mente spent more time wandering around Thebes. They enjoyed grilled skewers from street vendors, placed mint leaves in each other's hair... It was truly a joyful time. Each time he saw Mente's smile, the fatigue from his duties in the Underworld seemed to melt away.
As evening came and they returned to the Underworld, the first thing Hades did was...
"...Are you currently the High Priest of my temple?" "Gasp... Lord Hades! What brings you to me?!"
He set out to change the strange culture that had spread in Thebes.
Then, he contacted Orpheus to relay his will to the king of Thebes and asked other gods for help in sending oracles to the mortal world.
"So, they're engaging in homosexual love? Won't that reduce the number of new humans being born?" "It might be because Zeus took that human boy... what was his name? Ganymede, perhaps?" "...If Lord Hades says so, I'll inform my followers as well."
With a more relaxed heart, Hades drifted off to sleep. Though sleep wasn't necessary for an immortal god, it was a good hobby for clearing the mind.
Meanwhile, in Thebes, chaos erupted as the gods of the Underworld, led by Pluto, began sending oracles.
"Lord Hades has expressed deep concern about 'true love between men'...!" "...Why?" "Didn't Lord Zeus also promote true love?" "It seems the ruler of the Underworld disagrees, and the gods themselves may not be in agreement..." "We must have misunderstood something...!"
Most of the people of Thebes were followers of Pluto. The High Priest of Pluto's temple quickly spread the word throughout the city.
"If we don't follow the oracle, will we face punishment after death?" "But... isn't he a merciful god?" "Have you forgotten what Pluto's other name is? The lord of the Underworld, Hades... Ahem." "Not all who engage in homosexuality will be sent to Tartarus, right?"
That very day, Thebes' pride, the Sacred Band, was disbanded. The king, who had received a terrifying oracle from the god Morpheus in a dream the night before, raged.
Summoning his advisors, the king announced his decision...
"Disband the Sacred Band immediately! Also, as part of royal decree, homosexuality is hereby banned..." "Y-Your Majesty! But the philosophers..." "Imprison all those philosophers! Their crime is spreading nonsense in Thebes and angering the god Pluto!"
Fortunately, thanks to the advisors' intervention, none of the philosophers were imprisoned, but their influence was severely diminished. No mortal wanted to anger the god of the Underworld, the god of Thebes, one of the Three Great Gods.
It didn't help that many gods Hades had requested sent their oracles as well.
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"Goddess Lethe, Goddess Styx, Hypnos, and many others have sent oracles to their followers..." "A long time ago, didn't the Sphinx come to Thebes because the gods were angered?" "So now, because of the Sacred Band, will another monster like the Sphinx appear?" "A monster would be a mercy! Do you know what kind of punishment awaits you after death?"
"The mistake was trying to interpret the gods' will according to human desires. The story of Zeus and Ganymede is just one example..." "I never liked that Sacred Band anyway." "Hmph... I better keep a close eye on my household. We can't afford to offend the god Pluto."
In just one day, Thebes underwent a major transformation.
After finishing his date with Mente and sleeping off his accumulated fatigue, Hades turned his attention to the mortal world.
Focusing his thoughts, he tried to assess how well the mortals had interpreted the oracle he delivered to Thebes the day before...
"You wretched philosophers! Will you take responsibility if I can't rest in peace after death because of you?!" "What? True love between men? You're spouting nonsense..." "Those who planted strange ideas into the king's head and created the Sacred Band are walking around with their heads held high..."
Thud! Crash!
"Did Lord Pluto declare this isn't true love because he rules the Underworld?" "It seems he's worried humans won't have descendants, but due to his divine mercy..." "Maybe he was struck by one of Eros' arrows and fell in love with Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld?" "What?! Are you... a supporter of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld?! How dare you! What about the Goddess of Oaths, Styx?!" "Ha! How much has the Goddess of Forgetfulness, Lethe, done for our people in Thebes?"
There was a crowd cursing the philosopher who supported homosexuality, trying to figure out my intentions as the god of the Underworld. I even witnessed the group beating up the philosopher who had been the most passionate supporter of 'true love between men.'
Honestly, I wasn't particularly interested in whether that philosopher was actually a homosexual...
Even the soldiers from the royal family stood by, simply watching the beating without intervening. They took no action.
Listening to their conversation...
"We don't interfere. Helping someone who angered Pluto might bring divine punishment upon us." "But, Captain, I believe that the merciful god wouldn't do such a thing. He cares for mortals more than anyone..." "You fool! This is the first time Pluto has ever delivered an oracle about our culture! He's angry!" "But still..." "If the god who never interfered in human affairs is now angry, they won't find peace even in death."
Hmm, so it's about the gods of the Underworld again. His divine mercy is well-known, but this oracle's direct interference in culture is what caused all the trouble.
I might have made a small misstep with this oracle. Despite knowing how many mortals distort the gods' will, I made a mistake in pushing my personal preferences too strongly.
I'll need to clarify my intentions through the High Priest...
Shortly after, a new oracle descended upon Thebes. The people quickly reacted to the news from Pluto's temple.
"It is the new oracle from Lord Pluto! He does not view love between men favorably, but he has declared that it is a sin to harm or exile them solely for that reason!"
"See? I tried to stop it..." "What did I tell you? Lord Pluto is a merciful god, and he urged restraint." "But still, we should be cautious. He doesn't favor such love, after all." "Of course. Isn't Pluto the god of Thebes?"
Upon hearing the oracle, the people finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that the merciful god, Pluto, hadn't been deeply enraged.
After that, a new culture developed in Thebes where homosexuals were somewhat looked down upon, and those who fell in love with the same sex were seen as poor souls who had fallen victim to the tricks of the god Eros.