158 Chapter 147

If you to read the completed novel you can go ahead to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

The novel is complete, back to daily updates! Sorry the auto auto update thingy didn't work and just noticed

UwU!

——————————————————————————————-

I looked at Hephaestus and shook my head, "I respect your choice, but I won't kill you… and not because of moral reasons, I have many times done things morally dubious, but I refuse to be a part of what by all means it's a suicide," I had stood low, but not that low, not yet.

Hephaestus looked at me for a hard long second, before he started to chuckle, "I see, well… the fates were right, you are still struggling with the thing inside you," the thing inside what?

"I will ask you to elaborate on that," I pressed him, if he had any information about me that I myself didn't have, I wanted it.

"Hm, well, you are the side one coin, the good side depending on the glass you use to look at it, the other side… is the part of you that wants to kill, to maim, to inflict suffering… two parts of a singular entity, you," Hephaestus explained, "It's… complicated, but in a way, you suffer from the same condition we suffer, but in a different way," he sighed, taking a seat in front of me.

"Same condition?" I was honestly lost, what condition did he or rather them suffered that I know also suffered, "I didn't quite understand that,"

"Hm," Hephaestus paused, taking a sip on f his drink, "Kid, the Roman situation,"

I didn't have that, I mean… I would know, Hestia knows, everyone knows about their alter egos, why would I be the exception, "I don't think I suffer from that particular condition,"

"Not in the way you think," Hephaestus replied, "For you… the real war is within,"

"Within," I muttered, "I… are you saying I have another Adam inside me or something?" I… maybe I was stupid, but I wasn't getting it. At all.

"In a way, I suppose… but more accurately I would say, the parts of you… those parts you so desperately try to repress, well… they are there," he pointed to my head, "and one day, boom… you will be the one in the passenger seat,"

That… was rather… ominous, "And… the fates told you this?" I asked, wondering why the fates would go to Hephaestus of all gods to tell him this.

"Well, not all at once, I continued to visit them… and little by little they told me about the man that was supposed to be my executioner, I was curious… I guess," Hephaestus sighed, pouring more alcohol into his glass, "Some of those prophecies… Zeus heard them, but like always… he forgot over time, too many… woman on his bed to remember the son of Nyarlathotep was coming,"

I suppose that worked out for me in the end, "I see," I sighed, "Well… so now what?"

"I will do what most gods wanting to die do… make the world forget about me, it will take a few hundred thousand years…. But I will eventually end this painfully full existence I call life," Hephaestus chuckled.

"That's depressing," I chuckled, "Hey, how about you let me do something for you, I mean… you helped me, not exactly in the way I wanted when I came here… but alas, you helped me,"

"I appreciate the effort, but…" Hephaestus started but I stopped him mid sentence.

"Look, we both know life sucks… believe me, I know… my father is a monster that literally enjoys the suffering of humans and his peers… my brother wants to kill me because apparently I am dad's favorite son… news to me by the way, and I have a war to win… and no fucking idea how…" I sighed, taking a deep breath after, "I've been winging my way around hoping stuff works… and it scares me, that one day I will fail because I lack something I don't know…"

"It's your plan making me want to die faster, cause I'll be honest, it's working," Hephaestus said, his eyes carrying an old sadness that blinded the old god.

"No, the point is… that if I were alone… I wouldn't be here… at least not like I am right now, so I think… I can help you get out of that depressive state," I finished with a smile.

"How?" Hephaestus asked, sounding not interested at all.

"Well, you need friends… real ones, so… I know just the place for you, a place where the entire population does what you do," I grinned, "Give the place a try… I'm sure you will feel at home there, no humans…. only big forests and you know… smithy stuff,"

"Fine," Hephaestus sighed, "But remember… I won't fight for you in this war… nor I will help Zeus or mother…"

"That's fine… though, would you take commissions, not for the war with Zeus… he is the least of my problems right now," that he was, he went from being my worst nightmare to meh.

"I suppose," Hephaestus nodded, "What is it that you want?"

"An army of golems capable of fighting things like the things that… attacked all the pantheons a few days ago," I answered.

"I have never done golems of that caliber…" Hephaestus hummed, "I find this idea exciting, count me in…"

"You know… if you want you can visit Hestia… she loves everybody… and that includes you," I added, "She would love to have you in one of our movie nights…"

"You're a good kid," Hephaestus smiled, "I am vexed how you went from being ready to eat my soul, to be worried about my life… I wonder, which of you is the real Adam, the one that wants me dead… or the one that wants me alive?"

"I… option B?" I… had no idea how to answer that dark… question.

"Sure, I will go with you… all I have is time right now, time until the world forgets about me, so… don't worry, you can tell aunt Hestia, I will visit," Hephaestus chuckled, taking another sip of his drink, "Lead the way to that forging paradise you speak of," did… did he not know of Svartalfheim? That shit was common knowledge…. nah, maybe he's just playing with me, it's hard to tell with his depressed state clouding the rest of his emotions.

"Alright," I chuckled, teleporting us to Svartalfheim.