The Myth of the Greek Heavenly Demon

Chapter 83 – Goddess Of Conquest Eris

Goddess of Discord, Maiden of Conflict, Herald of Jealousy.
Daughter of Nyx, Bearer of War, Eris.

Some worshiped her presence, claiming that it drove craftsmen to create ever more beautiful pottery, and praised her for inspiring warriors to strive for greater glory, pushing them to the ranks of legendary heroes.
Daughter of the Protogenoi, who governs the strongest divine force that arouses all competition and ambition.
That was the Goddess Eris.

Yet, she was not welcomed anywhere.
No one offered gratitude, worship, or burnt offerings to her, and no bard by the roadside sang songs of her praise.
Heroes victorious in war offered thanks to Ares or Zeus, and skilled artisans worshipped Athena’s wisdom and creativity.
Nowhere could one see praise or gratitude directed towards her.
Everyone only wished to be the protagonist who overcame discord and strife to reap the fruits.
No one welcomed discord and strife, and thus, she was not welcomed anywhere.

When the gleaming black wings cast their shadow, humans trembled, begging for mercy so that wrath would not befall them.
When the sweetly shimmering pink hair flickered, heroes hardened their faces and aimed their weapons.
Even the same gods did not invite her to banquets, and there was no place with her name written at any feast.

Only her siblings and the kin of Ares would share drinks and company with her.
No bold hero or mighty god accepted discord and strife as their companion or partner.
Since her birth from Mother Nyx thousands of years ago, she had never been able to spend a comfortable time with anyone, nor could she give her heart to anyone.

Ah, of course, it was not that she dared to complain about her divine duties.

She enjoyed watching the craftsmen compete with sparks in their eyes under her guidance.
Seeing the conflicts she stirred rise into a massive conflagration was her delight.

However, the fact that there was no one who could accept her as she was, and that there would be no one in the future, only made her heart ache.

Perhaps that’s why she played more mischievous pranks and provoked those around her even more.
After all, she was such a god, and if everyone was going to reject her, it was fitting for her to act in a way that warranted rejection.

However, she, too, had a long, long dream she had been waiting for.

Was it hundreds of years ago, or thousands of years ago?
One day, after she and Ares had joyfully rampaged across the battlefield, a grand war erupted, engulfing all of Greece.
It was a time of celebration for her, with her divine power nearly reaching its peak.
Right after the war ended, she had a drinking spree for several days and nights with Ares and his family, with whom she had been running diligently.

And when she came to her senses, she found herself in the middle of dark Tartarus, with her mother looking down on her.
A place that both gods and heroes feared as an endless abyss, an eternal bottomless pit, but for her and her siblings, it was the home where their mother resided and the birthplace where they were born.

And in such an abyss, her mother always looked down at her as if she were adorable, placing her on her palm.
Eris, with her playful eyes and dark, starry hair, just like the night sky.
The image of her mother that Eris, who had nowhere to rest her heart, always wished to resemble.

However, Eris, still under the influence of heavy drinking, committed an outrageous act that she would never have dared to think of under normal circumstances.

Daringly, shockingly, and disrespectfully.
Pointing her finger at her mother, the Goddess of Primordial Darkness, the Ancient Night Mother whom even Zeus feared, and pouring out her resentment.

She doesn’t even remember what she said.
Only the surprised, wide-eyed look of her mother and the faint smile that twitched beyond the hand she slightly covered with was all she could recall.
Eris, who had become even more heated and shouted until her voice broke at that smile, eventually fainted again, and when she regained consciousness, she was still in her mother’s hands.

As Eris whimpered from the hangover like a sick puppy, her mother’s gentle voice whispered to her.

“My small and cute Eris, the child I love. Contrary to what you think, a beautiful destiny awaits you.”

“What?”

The darkness that birthed fate, the goddess who traverses all nights.
Doubting the words of the goddess who determines the future, not one who merely glimpses it, was unthinkable.
Nevertheless, Eris couldn’t help but question her mother’s words, who looked at her with such compassion.

“There are those who are perfectly complete alone, like the Primordial Chaos.”

Just like me!
Nyx affirmed with a triumphant smile that Eris always wanted to emulate.

“However, to the beautiful goddess of this beautiful land, to the goddess of great power born on this night… It makes no sense that there is no suitable companion, no other half to accept all of this.”

It was just that the time hadn’t come yet.
But as Discord and Strife desired her other half, the time was already approaching.

“Wh-who?! What hero would hold the hand of a maiden who always brings discord? What god would embrace a goddess who brings conflict?”

Her mother’s words were as good as fate itself, for they were the words of the Primordial Night.
Yet, the overwhelming bitterness of past rejections made Eris bite her lip and protest.

For a moment, the face of Ares flashed by, but Ares felt more like a close friend of the opposite sex than a lover.
They were so similar and fitting that, ironically, they didn’t match well personally.
But who could accept her, unless they were a war maniac like Ares?

And as if seeing through her daughter’s agony, the Night Mother just smiled softly and gently stroked her.

“Even I don’t know that. Whether it will be tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or hundreds of years from now. But what is certain is that if he comes, your body will recognize it first, and then your soul will recognize it.”

“…..”

Her mother’s words, so filled with certainty, made an uncontrollable sense of anticipation and happiness surge in her chest.
But as the Goddess of Discord, who had never been accepted by anyone, she found it hard to easily believe her mother’s words.

“Hmph! Mother, you’re just trying to tease me again, aren’t you?”

“Huhuhu~ Who knows~?”

Eris, wanting more clues or hints, tried pouting for no reason.
Her mother, seeing right through her, merely smiled mysteriously.

In the end, the conversation with her mother ended without further progress, and she was nearly beaten to death by Nemesis for her insolence.

Nevertheless, her mother’s whisper that day remained a small hope known only to Eris.

Who could it be? What kind of person?
A man? A woman?
Would they be handsome? They must be handsome, right?
They’d be very strong too. As the partner of the goddess who initiates all wars and turmoil, they must be strong.
Maybe even stronger than those annoying playboy gods.
So, would they be a playboy, too? It doesn’t matter. Actually, I like it.

Imagining the lover who would fill the empty seat beside her was her long-standing hobby.

And today.
A man naturally took the seat next to her, a place she had only imagined.

“What to do, what to do, what to do…?”

The full moon brightly shining with the power of Nemesis.
The soft black hair and the black eyes that looked down at her below it.
Those eyes that held neither rejection nor fear toward her pierced her heart like a hot blade.

Endless darkness and blazing madness.
Pure reason and steadfast dizziness.
Confusion that could never be called human eyes.
The cycle of imperfection that couldn’t be said to belong to a god.

The eyes, more alluring than any gem, did not look at the Goddess of Discord or the Maiden of Strife, but simply at Eris, the woman.

The moment she faced those eyes head-on, Eris realized her mother’s words were not lies.

Cautiously approaching, fearing he might turn pale and run away.
She stroked the black hair that flowed gently like her mother’s, and the hand that had been stroking his hair gradually moved down to caress his white neck.
She savored the warmth that flowed through a human body, not the blood that always soaked the ground or the cold flesh that had cooled.
Even though she had approached that close, the demigod, named Dianes, still did not reject her touch.
Though he ignored her as if annoyed, his body was honest, becoming silently embarrassed every time she pressed her proud body against him.

My goodness.
The strong warrior, who had wielded extraordinary power, almost matching Ares and unseen throughout her long rebirth, had meekly entrusted his body to her.

Looking back, although there had been numerous contacts over the past few days, for her, who realized her mother’s prophecy and her own heart, that time and those sensations were profoundly intense and rich.

“Heeee…”

The Primordial Chaos, the Father of All Things, personally descended into her mind, and she could not maintain her sanity amidst the torrent of chaotic thoughts.
Her body had already recognized what he was to her and rushed forward, but her soul, accustomed to long years of waiting, only now realized who he was.

“What… should I do now…?”

If she hadn’t known, as always, she would have shown the creations made with her powers and teased him as he struggled, finding it amusing.
Then, avoiding his anger, which flared up impulsively, she would scurry away, and when she felt his anger had subsided, she would quietly approach, pat his head, and slowly embrace him.

“Wow… Wowowow!!”

Thinking about it, wasn’t she just like the lovers she had been endlessly jealous and envious of all this time?
She couldn’t understand why she only realized this now and why she felt so embarrassed.
These feelings were unfamiliar, confusing, and somewhat frightening, but they were also so sweet and addictive that she couldn’t possibly give them up.

She wondered how she should face him tomorrow. No, she wondered if she could even face him at all.
Without finding any answers, Eris just continued to traverse the endless night.