Not Happy Ending

[T/N: 2 x Chapter]

'I have a little network in Underworld...'

Obviously, by now, Lamia has gradually gained a more deep understanding of the words 'a little' spoken by Jason.

'You can even directly ask the King and Queen of Underworld for help.'

'Indeed, it is 'a little' network.'

While Lamia is shocked by Jason's casual reply, her pair of snake-like eyes are constantly staring at Jason without being able to pay attention to anything else.

So, looking at the young man dressed in white, walking on the gray plain of the underworld with her, Lamia's eyes gradually began showing complex and strange emotion.

"Hero Jason, could you please tell me...why are you helping me so much?"

So, finally, Lamia was unable to hold back and asked, then recalling what has happened today, her snake tail squirmed to move faster and reach Jason's side from behind, and she added softly: "Now I don't even have a decent reward that I can give to you."

"Because it was the oracle of God that guided me to come to your side."

After Jason replied, he found that Lamia's expression is telling that she is not agreeing with this answer.

"No, Hero Jason, as the former queen of the Kingdom of Lybia, although I have not seen many heroes, it is not like I have not seen them at all."

Then, maybe because Lamia had already been cursed and tortured by a Goddess, to fulfill her curiosity, she didn't bother being too respectful while mentioning Gods and bluntly spoke.

"Every other hero I have seen or heard of till now, don't dare to easily do anything different from what they have been told to do by the Gods, and initially, you were clearly intending to make me live"

"And even if you have been given the right to make this choice, I don't think heroes would have changed their decision just because of my wishes!"

"Moreover, I don't believe any of the great Gods could have possibly told you to fulfill my last wishes, let alone, I have never even heard of any Hero capable of accomplishing this by bringing me here."

"You are different from them."

"Huh?... Isn't that something obvious?" Jason was obviously surprised by Lamia making such a long deduction, still, in a weak effort, Jason smiled lightly and said: "Because I'm not a hero at all."

Hearing this, Lamia couldn't help but look at Jason with an expression that is clearly saying that she is feeling speechless.

And upon seeing this, Jason sighed softly because Jason has naturally guessed what Lamia wants to ask.

Moreover, Jason actually believes that he has been acting a bit nosy today.

Because although Jason himself has decided to please Gods to earn powerful gifts from them, he is well aware that what he is doing now is just way overdoing it.

After all, Jason knows that he could have ended Lamia's matter just this morning, when Lamia made the request to kill her.

Jason thinks that even Zeus would not have blamed him too much for doing that because Lamia herself was the one making this request and Zeus had maintained his silence the whole time.

But Jason didn't do this, because he found out that it really isn't that difficult for him to fulfill Lamia's last wishes.

Indeed, Jason knows that bringing Lamia to Underworld will lead to troubles, and Jason does hate troubles, but he really doesn't think that it will lead to anything serious.

Because Jason does believe and has seen that as petty as Greek Gods can be, they are indeed one of the most generous Gods out there, so with the help of Hecate, Hades, and Persephone, he will get a chance to relatively easily make up for this action.

So, finally, Jason decided to reply truthfully.

"I have once heard a sentence... Although I don't really agree with it, I also don't think it's completely wrong."

Therefore, after a short silence, Jason stopped and turned to Lamia, then replied honestly while looking at her: "A person may need some motives and reasons to kill another person, but for saving another person... it is not needed."

"And at least for me, although I cannot save you, I do have a personal reason for helping you, and I believe, I am at least capable of helping you this once"

Lamia is obviously stunned by such an answer.

"Lamia, I won't claim to understand your pain."

Jason looked at surprised Lamia and said apologetically to her: "But, I am also incapable of saving you...sorry... so, as you have wished for, I will kill you and free you from this life and suffering."

"As for what my personal reason is... If I must put it in words, just think of it as me doing this for the peace of my mind."

"So, I hope that before doing it, I can try to make up for a few of your regrets. "

On the vast gray plain, Jason's dull voice echoed in Lamia's heart.

With her snake-like eyes staring at the young man with blond hair and emerald eyes, and looking extremely handsome to her, after a few long moments, Lamia was unable to bear the urge and reached out to gently stroke Jason's cheek.

But after stroking just once, looking at her hand which have partially turned into claws, Lamia took it back.

However, Lamia still kept staring at Jason, as if she wants to engrave Jason's face in her mind for eternity.

"Really..."

Then, Lamia said softly: "You have really beautiful eyes... Hero Jason, you don't need to be ashamed of doing this, rather this is the greatest honor of my life."

"I am very fortunate that at the end of my life, I can meet you, who is as dazzling as the sun that illuminates everything under the sky."

"But now I am also feeling very unwilling and helpless, because why... have I met you only at the end of my life."

Actually, neither Jason nor Lamia are aware that Hera's curse isn't just this much, rather, due to the curse, once Lamia runs out of children and fails to find more, she would be forced to sed*ce men, then after satisfying her s*xual urges, while still being in her irrational state she would have devoured the flesh and blood of those men to satisfy her hunger.

And even after this, due to this part of the curse, no matter how many times Lamia gives birth to children, regardless of whether it would be Zeus's or someone else's, the curse will again inflict her with irrationality and once again make her kill and devour her own child, so that this cycle can be repeated eternally.

So, Lamia is indeed fortunate that Jason met her before this part of the curse had taken effect while she was living in the ancient forest.

However, now that Jason had stopped Lamia from killing and devouring children last night and once again night-time has arrived, the curse judged that Lamia can't find any more children.

So this part of the curse is starting to take effect, and with Lamia already having a very good impression of Jason, the curse also began targeting him.

That is why, after Lamia finished speaking, she forcefully stopped her hands which again wants to touch Jason, then she even squirmed her snake tail to move back and averted her eyes with sheer willpower.

Because even if Lamia is unaware of this part of the curse, she is feeling afraid that if she continues looking at Jason like this, she will not be able to stop herself from pouncing on Jason and defiling the person, who she believes is going to great lengths for helping her, with her monstrous body.

Therefore, even though Lamia's real feelings and the feelings induced by the curse are rather consistent with each other, ultimately she suppressed her false feeling with real feelings while thinking: 'I am not worthy... I am really not worthy.'

'Such a dazzling existence should not even be touched me, who has now been polluted and turned into the silt, I don't want to tarnish him.'

'I am unwilling to defile dazzling and bright him!' Just when Lamia was repeating this thought over and over to suppress her impulses...

"It seems that the one my brother had taken so many troubles and risks to bring here, is not exactly an unappreciative and ungrateful monster."

Wearing a graceful and luxurious-looking long dress along with a crown representing her identity as the Queen of Underworld, Persephone suddenly appeared in front of Jason and Lamia.

"Sister Persephone."

Noticing this, looking at Persephone, who is looking like the sole beauty adorning the grey plain of Underworld, Jason smiled and greeted her.

Then immediately, Jason was embraced by Persephone.

"You..." After hugging Jason, Persephone lightly squeezed his cheek, and said: "Do you know how much trouble you have caused?"

"The Gods of Death and the three Goddesses of Vengeance were all planning on coming here to preach to you, and if they were not stopped by Hades, you would have been locked in the small dark room for a year and a half."

"And your teacher, Hecate, is really liking the idea of this happening, so it's unlikely that she would have helped you at all."

But just after Persephone said that Hecate would not have helped Jason this time, she saw a few ghost butterflies, invisible to mortal eyes, already flying around Jason and ready to protect him at any time.

Then, Persephone also noticed one of the ghost butterflies flying toward Lamia and temporarily suppressing the mental effect of Hera's curse on Lamia.

So, while Jason was smiling awkwardly and Persephone was wondering just how inconsistent Hecate's words and actions are, Lamia, who can now control her emotions, came to Persephone and lowered her body to salute.

Persephone accepted Lamia's greeting, then stared at her and said in a light and cold tone: "You should be honored that you are able to receive the care of my brother."

"But don't forget, my brother is definitely not someone you can ever taint, don't even think about it, understood? "

Persephone is now obviously feeling a little angry at Lamia because immediately after she arrived here, she found that Lamia, whose thoughts are obviously not shielded from Gods, is thinking of pushing down Jason here and then...

Persephone had obviously discovered that it was mainly because of Hera's curse, but it is still unacceptable to her and if Lamia would have unfortunately failed to control her feelings and urges, Persephone would not have appeared here peacefully.

"Sister Persephone, don't say like this..."

Before Jason could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Persephone, who once aging reached out her hands to Jason's cheeks and began ravaging his face.

"And you too, my dear brother Jason, do you not know that you should be careful while traveling outside?! Next time I find out you have provoked any other dirty woman, believe it or not, I will tie Medea and Atalanta by your side, to keep an eye on you for the rest of your journey!"

As soon as Jason heard these words, Jason immediately turned silent and showed that he is willing to confess his mistakes.

But at the same time, Jason also felt aggrieved in his heart while thinking: 'Why would I provoke any woman? If it wasn't for Zeus, I possibly wouldn't even have known that she exists.'

"Although I don't know who Medea and Atalanta are, Goddess Persephone is saying this for your own good, Hero Jason, you really should act more vigilant while traveling."

Under Jason's wide-eyed gaze with disbelief written on them, Lamia actually continued Persephone's words and said: "Because this can really prove to be very dangerous... Hero Jason, after you go out this time, you must remember to exercise precaution on the way."

While Jason was mentally complaining about him being the last person who should be taught these things, not expecting to hear these words from Lamia, Persephone glanced at her in surprise.

At the same time, because of these words, Persephone removed her hostility toward Lamia.

Because, after thinking about it carefully, Persephone concluded: 'That is indeed normal, after all, there aren't many women out there who won't be tempted by Jason after he has done so much without asking anything in return.'

"Let's go."

Immediately then, Persephone took Jason's hand and walked along the gray plain with Jason and Lamia until they reached the Garden of Truth.

This place is called the Garden of Truth because this place is filled with blooming spider-lily flowers and this garden is the place that leads to Asphodel Meadows, Elysian Fields, and Tartarus, so here, the souls of the dead are judged by the three Judges of Underworld before sending them to one the three places.

Souls of distinguished individuals are sent to Elysian Fields, souls of those who have done grave wicked actions are sent to Tartarus, and moderately wicked and innocent souls are punished for their crimes and allowed to pass time peacefully, respectively, in Asphodel Meadows.

However, the three Judges are currently not here and have gone to meet the King of Underworld.

Next, Persephone brought both of them to a small pavilion at the entrance of Elysian Fields.

In the pavilion, Lamia finally saw her own child, as well as the souls of other dead children brought here by Persephone, which obviously includes those killed by Lamia.

"Sister Persephone, Lamia, she will finally go to..."

"She will be punished." Persephone obviously guessed what Jason wants to ask, so she answered indirectly.

Hearing this, after being silent for a while, Jason didn't ask anymore and nodded lightly.

But seeing this, Persephone rubbed Jason's head again.

*****

A long while later, Lamia drove her half-snake body to arrive in front of Jason waiting outside the Garden of Truth.

Then, after expressing her gratitude to Jason with the highest etiquette, Lamia looked at Jason, and with a faint smile on her face, she said: "Please do it, Hero Jason, it's time to end this."

"...You can go back."

Just when Jason was silent, Persephone suddenly said calmly: "Actually, everyone had thought this to be the case at the beginning, otherwise, because it is my brother who had brought you here, if they had known you will soon be joining Underworld, they all really wouldn't have come to me and Hades."

Hearing this, Jason was stunned for a moment, because once again Greek Gods showed him that they can be really generous when they want to be, although, the Gods of Underworld have allowed this partly also because they have sensed Hera's curse on Lamia and have guessed who has sent Jason.

"No, thank you for this offer Goddess Persephone, but I won't go back, I've already caused a lot of trouble for Hero Jason, and..."

While saying this, Lamia looked at Jason and said with a smile: "It is my greatest honor and happiness to be finally extricated by the hands of Hero Jason."

"It's just... Hero Jason, if there is a next life, I hope, I can get to meet you again, so that I can offer my everything to you."

Jason looked at Lamia, who is saying this while looking at him with a smile, and noticed that this is the first time he has seen a smile appear on Lamia's face in which he can't find even a hint of sadness.

Then, the next second, Jason took out a normal dagger from the silver bag and swiped it swiftly on Lamia's neck.

"You can sleep now."

Then, Jason hugged Lamia's body and said softly while being completely unaware that Hera's curse is so strong that it won't stop affecting Lamia in the slightest even after she dies and becomes a soul: "From now on, you can sleep in peace."

But someone else heard Jason's wish, so just a moment after Jason's voice fell, all the ghost butterflies flying around Jason, gradually gathered and surrounded Lamia while still being invisible.

The next moment, Lamia's body, which Jason has already laid down, began to burn with a ghostly blue flame.

And under this flame, Hera's curse on Lamia was finally broken, and before getting completely burned, her body finally returned to her human form.

Then, in the form of a human soul, Lamia's soul appeared in front of the three-headed hell-dog Cerberus guarding the Gate of Underworld.