"So obedient."
When Jason sweetly and decisively called her "Sister Goddess," Persephone could not help pulling Jason into her arms and rubbing her cheek against his!
Well, no matter how much inner monologue Jason had, his current appearance was still that of a tender shota of only about twelve years old.
The child who cries gets milk, and the sweet-talking child gets the same treatment.
Especially a sweet-talking, sensible, and adorable shota!
Just look at how well Jason got along with his fellow disciples under Chiron. And now he was facing a goddess who already had a good impression of him!
"U-um… Sister Persephone?" Medea, seeing that even Jason had called her sister, timidly followed suit and called out softly.
Hecate watched as Persephone happily hugged both of her students, gleefully rubbing cheeks with them, and could not help shaking her head.
Hecate naturally would not be fooled by Jason. They had known each other for nearly half a year now; she was well aware that Jason was a cunning little fox who did not act like a twelve-year-old child at all.
"So good, little Jason, little Medea!"
Persephone happily hugged the two of them and said, "I'm sorry big sister left in such a hurry this time and didn't prepare any gifts for you. Next time, definitely next time, big sister will bring you lots of nice things!"
"Enough already," Hecate could not help saying when she saw this. "Persephone, don't spoil them too much. And… they are my students!"
As she spoke, Hecate could not resist glaring at Jason.
You're already calling her sister…? Not bad, kid!
If you call her sister now, are you going to call Hades big brother when we meet him later?!
Jason did not notice Hecate's gaze. He was currently admiring his own cleverness!
As expected, blindly avoiding things is useless. People need to learn to adapt flexibly. Even survival rules have to be updated according to the situation.
Look, just one "big sister" and he had already secured a divine artifact.
I really am a genius!
"What does it matter? Your children are my children too, aren't they?" Persephone released the two and walked over to Hecate with a smile. "Or… are you jealous?"
"I am not jealous at all!… Fine, let's not talk about that. Since you're already here, we might as well begin."
Hecate changed the subject. Although she would never admit to being jealous, watching Jason and Medea being so close with Persephone…
"Alright." Persephone noticed Hecate turn her head away, clearly a little upset, and secretly smiled.
Hecate truly had never been this intimate with anyone, because both Jason and Medea only showed her respect… at least for now.
"But wait a moment. Jason seemed to have something he wanted to say to me earlier."
"Yes, Sister Persephone."
Jason nodded, then cautiously asked Persephone, "What I wanted to ask is… Sister Persephone, do you hate Lady Demeter?"
At those words, even Hecate's brows furrowed.
She clearly had not expected Jason to bring up such a sensitive topic!
She opened her mouth, about to say something, when her eyes suddenly spun and she realized this might actually be a perfect opportunity!
This matter had to be resolved sooner or later, and right now Jason happened to be Persephone's "little brother" and was still just a child.
The location was good, there was no one else around, and Hades was not present either.
Thinking this, Hecate looked at Jason with surprise.
He chose the timing… quite well!
Jason's Survival Rules Update #1: When faced with unavoidable people or matters, resolve them as quickly as possible!
If they cannot be resolved, turn big problems into nothing and never procrastinate.
Because the longer you drag things out, the more likely unexpected complications will arise!
"This… Of course I hate her!"
"Really, Sister Persephone…? Sister Persephone, do you truly want your relationship with Lady Demeter to remain this strained forever and never see her again?"
Jason's follow-up question clearly caught Persephone off guard. She instinctively looked at Hecate beside her, only to find Hecate also watching her and waiting for an answer.
"This matter will have to be settled eventually, Persephone," Hecate said to her. "There is no one else here, so you don't need to hide anything from me. The child seems to have some ideas. You can listen to him.
And… you don't want anything to happen between your mother and Jason, do you?"
At that, Persephone visibly wavered. Looking at Jason before her and remembering how much Demeter had doted on her…
Persephone let out a sigh.
"You're right, Hecate. I cannot let this child come to harm… I do hate my mother, but… she is still my mother."
"So that means, Sister Persephone, you don't actually want to never see your mother again, right?"
Persephone nodded.
"Then, Sister Persephone, I heard from Teacher Hecate that the reason your mother has always refused to let you come to the Underworld is because she fears she will never see you again, correct?"
Hecate looked at Jason in confusion.
Strange, did I say that…? Why don't I remember?
"My mother… Everyone else cannot live without their mother, but with my mother, it feels like she cannot live without me!"
Just mentioning Demeter gave Persephone a headache.
"Then if that is the case… I have a suggestion."
Jason said to Persephone, "Right now the earth is gradually withering because of Lady Demeter's power. This cannot continue.
So I think that since Lady Demeter is only resisting because she fears she will never see you again, Sister Persephone, then as long as she knows she can still see you, everything will be solved!
For example, let her be able to come and go from the Underworld freely, or have you promise to return to the surface every once in a while!"
Jason remembered this part of the myth.
When Persephone became Queen of the Underworld, Demeter was so heartbroken at losing her daughter that all growth on earth ceased and everything withered into desolation.
In the end, Zeus had to intervene. Hades made Persephone eat six pomegranate seeds before leaving, representing six months.
What Jason did not expect was that after he spoke, Hecate and Persephone exchanged a glance and both sighed at the same time.
"Don't you know, Jason?" Even Pyrrhia could not help saying, "Not just anyone can enter and leave the Underworld… Not even the great God-King Zeus himself!"
"Huh?" Jason blinked. "Is that so?"
"You probably never noticed because you have always been with Hecate," Persephone replied helplessly. "Hecate is special. She lives in the Underworld because she hates trouble and does not want to be disturbed.
And she has Cerberus guarding the gates, so the other Underworld gods turn a blind eye to your comings and goings.
If my mother or I could freely enter and leave the Underworld, she would not have kept me locked away and never let me out."
Ah, that…
Jason scratched his head. He really had not known that!
Ever since becoming Hecate's disciple, he had been hopping back and forth between the Underworld and the surface world like it was nothing…
"It is not entirely impossible, though," Hecate said thoughtfully after a moment. "But that would require…"
"But that would require both my agreement and Zeus's."
A voice filled with dignity suddenly rang in everyone's ears. A black-haired, black-eyed man dressed entirely in black walked over from the side.
"Lord Hades!" Upon seeing him, Pyrrhia hurriedly bowed.
Even Hecate gave him a slight nod of respect.
"Why are you here?"
"I noticed you were gone, so I came looking."
The stern expression on Hades's face softened into a faint smile the moment his eyes met Persephone's.
Regardless of how their relationship was described in myth, Jason could tell that the two before him… probably truly loved each other.
"This child is right, Persephone. The matter with your mother… Demeter's matter must be resolved eventually."
"So you heard everything… You agree?"
"This is currently the best solution." Hades nodded. "And I believe Zeus will agree as well… Persephone, go speak properly with Demeter."
"But the moment I appear in front of Mother Demeter, she will definitely drag me straight back!" Persephone said helplessly.
"Then… how about I go instead?"
Jason, who had been keeping his head down, suddenly spoke up cautiously.
"You?"
Persephone and the slightly stunned Hades both turned to look at him.
Even Hecate gave Jason a surprised look.
Normally he would be trying to hide as fast as possible. What was wrong with him today? Did he hit his head or eat something strange?
Then Hecate glanced at Hades and gave a tiny shake of her head.
Because now Hecate finally understood… she understood a few things.
Even if Jason had not stepped forward today, the final outcome would still have been exactly what he suggested.
Because this was a scheme set by Zeus. He was… weakening Hades's power!
"Hm… That does seem like a good idea."
Hades thought for a moment and nodded. "And since you are the one who brought Persephone here, it is only right that you be the one to resolve it."