Of course, Samael's decision wasn't simply to sell the little ones of the Arima Caverns to Olympus—it was a form of disguised protection. From what he knew of the records, the King of Monsters was cunning and violent, yet also deeply suspicious and patient.
In history, Typhon possessed unmatched strength, long capable of challenging the Olympian gods. Yet he deliberately waited until Zeus was with his lover Europa, seizing that chance to steal the Thunderbolt Scepter. Only then, fully prepared, did he launch his attack on Olympus.
Now, with the King of Monsters eyeing Medusa and Athena within the Arima Caverns, there was no way he would give up so easily. If their true situation were exposed, Samael, the Mother of Serpents, and Themis might still protect themselves when Typhon returned. But the little ones would likely lose their lives.
Weighing the pros and cons, the Ancient Serpent decided to exploit Typhon's suspicious nature, crafting a plan that would create the illusion of collusion with Olympus. Since Zeus was his real nemesis, Samael would draw the Arima Caverns' people back slightly, hiding them behind Olympus as a shield, letting the two god-kings face each other head-on. With these recent bluffs and scare tactics, the not-yet-fully-grown Typhon, wary of falling into a trap, would avoid bothering the Arima Caverns for now.
The Ancient Serpent paused, stroking his chin, half-serious, half-melancholy.
"But truth be told, monsters sit at the bottom of the divine hierarchy. Entering Olympus like this, they're bound to be bullied—maybe even lose their lives.
I've watched these little ones grow up with my own eyes. Before they take their posts, I'll need to go with Ana and the others, pull some strings, and smooth things over."
This guy… could he really have a conscience? Gilgamesh watched Samael's fatherly, overprotective expression with deep suspicion.
"Pull strings? Who are you going to approach?"
Samael snapped back, flashing a crooked smile as he counted on his fingers.
"Right now, behind Typhon is Tartarus, representing the divine authority of the Abyss…
Zeus's inheritance should be the Uranus line, representing the sky; the Pontus line, representing the sea; perhaps also Eros, or even Fate itself…
If you want to pull strings, you need someone of equal standing."
The King of Heroes' eyes lit in realization, and he murmured.
"Mother Earth… Gaia?"
Samael clapped lightly, a smile tugging at his lips.
"The three Hecatoncheires, the three Cyclopes, the sea nymphs who raised Zeus on Crete, the earth goddess attendants who taught him…
Gaia's already been generous, filling Olympus with her people. One more family from the Arima Caverns won't make a difference."
By bloodline, the Mother of Serpents was indeed a creation of the Earth Mother. With Echidna as a third-generation Earth Mother Goddess, and Themis holding her status among the Titans of Mount Othrys, they had the right weight to approach Zeus, negotiate cooperation, and pledge allegiance. Such representatives carried enough influence to secure idle posts for Typhon's offspring, letting them coast rather than serve as cannon fodder.
And with these two figures standing at the front, drawing Olympus's gaze, some of the children of the Arima Caverns could safely take up positions, allowing Athena and Medusa to hide among them. Zeus, ever the cunning one, longed to consolidate all divine authority under Olympus alone.
Themis's value went without saying, and Echidna's standing as a third-generation Earth Mother Goddess was just as useful. All the more since the Mother of Serpents was an incomplete creation, posing no threat to Zeus. That made her the perfect symbolic figure, a harmless Earth Mother's representative—an ideal mascot.
At any rate, tagging along with Olympus for a while was better than facing a future purge, getting ambushed and killed by the hundred-eyed giant Argus Panoptes, wasn't it?
"Stirring up a power struggle among the four major Origin God factions? I see."
Gilgamesh nodded slightly, his brow easing. Though the risks were considerable, as Samael had said, if they could weather the initial wave of suspicion, the subsequent struggles among deities of equal standing would leave them—mascots symbolizing the stability of Olympus' divine authority—with more symbolic weight than actual power. That very status would make them the safest.
"Be careful not to overreach. And since you plan to use Olympus as a shield, put in the effort. Build good relations with some of the Twelve Olympians."
The King of Heroes offered a calm reminder.
A single sentence jolted him awake! Samael slapped his forehead, and the haze clouding his thoughts instantly cleared.
Right! When Zeus overthrew Mount Othrys, he had divided and co-opted, reducing the opposing Twelve Titans to just three. Likewise, even if Samael needed Olympus' divine authority, he didn't necessarily have to crush all twelve Olympians. Divide and co-opt—how could he have forgotten this tactic?
It was the same method he had used to resolve the three great storms that once engulfed the Mesopotamian world. Yes, this was familiar ground. Which meant finding a way to undermine Zeus and indirectly elevate Athena wasn't impossible.
The ancient serpent grew increasingly delighted as a cascade of schemes sprang to mind.
...
As dawn's light crept in, the divine core embedded in the Magecraft array exhausted its Ether, dissolving into a drift of crystalline dust. The spirit-particle transmission began to flicker and distort, the voices breaking intermittently.
At parting, they each said their farewells, then dispersed in small groups, leaving the hall as if nothing had happened. Tacitly, they left the final moments to the two goddesses.
Seeing no one around, Ere placed her right hand on the snake's shed skin wrapped around her left wrist. Gathering her courage, her cheeks flushed as she spoke, like a wife comforting her husband.
"Samael, take care of the Mother Goddess. Take care of Ana. And take care of yourself."
"The problems here, everyone can handle them. I'll wait for you in Mesopotamia."
Though she was no longer alone, certain figures held irreplaceable places in her heart. If only… if there were time, an opportunity… it would be best to stay in touch...
But in the end, the goddess of the underworld pressed her lips together, swallowing the words buried deep inside.
Before her elder sister could step back, Ishtar stormed forward, waving her fist and grinding her teeth.
"Samael, you bastard! You actually teamed up with that Gold-glitter guy to screw me over! He already confessed—you were the mastermind! You owe me thirty percent of the mineral treasures from the Babylon Gate. When are you paying up?"
"He's the real culprit, okay? The Babylonian Treasury is overflowing with wealth—why are you coming after a broke guy like me?"
"Bullshit! If I could break in, I'd have emptied it out ages ago! You're the one who ditched your job and ran off! Being Shepherd King was perfect—everything in there was supposed to be mine! This time I lost big! Bottom line: I don't care! You're paying!"
"Wait, wasn't it only twenty percent?"
"You toyed with my feelings and then kicked me aside. No interest for emotional damages?"
"Hey, hey, hey! What did you say? The signal's too weak. Can't hear you, can't hear you."
Samael shook his head quickly, gesturing as he spoke. Then, just as Ishtar flailed furiously in outrage, the beam of light flickered out completely.