He and It Chapter 149: The Serpent of Pharisee (15)

Chapter 149: The Serpent of Pharisee (15)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

 

Xie Ning, a modern person accustomed to smartphones and electronic entertainment, couldn’t help but grow bored despite Echidna’s company. However, the interactive and engaging recreational activities around him piqued his interest.

As a male university student, Xie Ning had a knack for pulling pranks. It didn’t take him long to poke fun at all six of the king’s sons as he chatted with Echidna, which turned the event into a hilarious spectacle. The program was so entertaining that even the queen herself, seated on her throne, couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

While Xie Ning and Echidna reveled in their merriment, others in attendance weren’t as delighted. King Kostas sat on his throne, his face twisted in a grimace. Beside him, the queen was breathing heavily as she tried to contain her amusement. Her bosom heaved as she suppressed her laughter.

It was known that during grand gatherings the Gods often kept a watchful eye. Yet, the king’s sons seemed to face a string of mishaps. Some stumbled over discuses, while others tumbled and bled on the track. Even the king’s favorite, his youngest son, took a tumble during the chariot race, rolling a dozen times before finally coming to rest at the field’s edge. Secret laughter rippled through the crowd, mocking the young prince’s unsteady grip on the reins.

Could this series of unfortunate events be an ominous oracle? A warning of impending disaster? After all, all the runners who had fared so poorly were the king’s heirs.

The king beseeched Apollo, “Apollo, among all the gods, you know that I hold the highest respect for my father, Poseidon, the God of the Seas and Storms, but I revere you no less. If I possessed the voice of Orpheus and his lyre that makes stones weep, I would fill my heart with eloquent passion. I’d make you sigh with pity. Alas, I lack such gifts. Instead, I shall point to the rock where Cilicia bathes in the sun daily. I implore you to answer: What have we done wrong?”

In the heavens above, Apollo appeared grave, surrounded by other gods. He responded slowly, “Normally, I would not tolerate such disruptions during my rituals. But I am entirely powerless to address the one responsible.”

Dionysus, the God of Wine, chuckled, reveling in the scandal that had unfolded at the expense of the princes. 

“My brother, do not be angry,” interjected Pallas Athena, the wise one, with her shield in hand and her sea-blue eyes. She coaxed him, “We know that this is the work of Echidna, the god of demons. You are well aware of the power of love. For the sake of this young man, Echidna could have torn out their hearts and livers. However, he has refrained from such actions, even though it stemmed from the princes’ mischief. Can’t you forgive him?”

Dionysus, who was enjoying the moment, added, “Besides, you, dear brother, are their matchmaker. Your oracle led Iolcus to send the boy to Arima. None of us expected that Echidna would fall in love with him!”

Apollo remained silent, which prompted Athena to probe, “I’ve heard that this boy is as skilled in painting as if a Muse herself had nurtured him. Since his departure, the people of Iolcus have been in anguish, lamenting his absence. Is it true?”

Dionysus, with a sly grin, stirred the pot further. “Indeed. Thanks to Hermes, I’ve seen his mortal portraits. They are as vivid as if he’d gazed into a mirror. I believe even Apollo would be envious.”

Apollo’s brow furrowed, his displeasure evident. He retorted, “Brother, refrain from such talk. You and I are well aware of the fate that befalls mortals who, in their arrogance, compare themselves to the Gods. Let me not make an adversary of Echidna for now, so I ask that you do not provoke trouble because of this boy. His talents originate from a time millennia hence, and how he paints on Earth is as the same as the way an adult lord might bully a limbless child. Is that something to be proud of? Be grateful he behaves well and hasn’t sought to make a spectacle of himself, or I might have plunged him into a miserable tragedy.”

Dionysus ceased speaking, while Athena smiled knowingly. Neither of them could see the future of Dorus, nor could they consult the Goddess of Fortune. Athena and Apollo shared similar concerns about the young man who had somehow arrived in their time.

“Perhaps we should not dismiss him so easily,” Athena mused. “Echidna obeys his every whim, and human nature’s inherent greed cannot be ignored. What if he decides to incite the Demons to resurrect the war against the banner of Olympus, aiming to become the new Lord of Heaven and bask in everlasting glory? This boy’s future remains uncertain. If we do nothing, is that not a  risk?”

Apollo remained silent for a prolonged moment. He finally said, “Then you may approach Zeus and present your proposal. Among the gods, you are His most favored daughter, and He has consistently disregarded our suggestions.”

Athena nodded, leapt onto a golden cloud, and departed in the direction of Olympus.

While the gods were conversing in the sky for an extended period, only a moment had passed in mortal perception. As soon as the king concluded his prayers, Apollo, having taken on the form of a venerable old man, appeared by the king’s side. He placed an encouraging hand on the king’s shoulder.

“Son of Poseidon, why the melancholy? Know that Apollo has never faulted a man for his devotion. As for your sons, rest assured; the cause of their misadventures was their eagerness to make a spectacle of themselves. Allow them to enter the palace to tend to their wounds and abandon their quest for laurel glory.”

With those words, Apollo vanished and left the king bewildered. He scanned his surroundings but found no trace of the speaker. Recognizing that the Gods’ will had been expressed, he rose to his feet, and ordered his wounded sons to be carried into the palace for treatment. Simultaneously, he summoned singers and dancers to entertain the Gods with their joyous performances.

Xie Ning couldn’t get enough of the festivities. His cheeks ached from laughter as he reclined in Echidna’s embrace, indulging in sweet, oversized grapes. It was a day so delightful that even the Gods might envy it.

“No more fooling around,” he told Echidna, holding down the snake demon’s hand. “Let’s watch the talent show.”

Following the king’s directive, the singers and dancers gathered in the center of the assembly.

The singers strummed their harps and plucked lyres. Their songs, though devoid of perfect technique, stirred the heart with pure emotion. One sang of a content life, while another praised the Gods. Their voices resounded with infectious enthusiasm. However, one singer stood out, captivating the audience with a tragic love ballad. The strains of the lyre echoed like springwater, her golden hair glistened in the sunlight, and her performance moved the audience to tears. Even Xie Ning felt a lump in his throat.

“She sings beautifully,” he whispered to Echidna. “Is she a renowned singer?”

Echidna responded with a sulky poke of his forked tongue, a tad miffed that Dorus had praised someone else.

“Perhaps,” he said, as he lashed his tail. “I haven’t heard many singers, so I can’t discern good from bad.”

Xie Ning believed him and offered an apology, and from then on avoided any sensitive topics.

After the singer was honored, the dancers returned for another round of performances. Agile and graceful, the men and women danced with light and joy, as they tossed ribbon-adorned balls to each other with incredible skill, which evoked images of butterflies in flight. Their deftness made it appear as if the balls weighed nothing at all.

“Wow, acrobatics!” Xie Ning’s eyes sparkled as he exclaimed. “That must require a lot of practice, right?”

A pang of jealousy had ignited in Echidna’s heart as he watched the captivating dancers. He gazed at their beauty, feeling his interest wane. The snake demon pursed his full lips in displeasure, his golden tattoos twisting into a cruel lightning bolt. His insatiable desire for exclusivity had grown immensely during his time with Xie Ning. Now, he wished for these performers to disappear from their sight. Yet, he didn’t want to dampen Dorus’s enjoyment, which left him churning in his conflicting emotions.

Echidna sulked. He curled his tail like a heavy sack of potatoes, while Xie Ning watched the performance with interest. However, something seemed amiss, so he wriggled in Echidna’s embrace until he managed to break free.

Xie Ning raised an eyebrow and scrutinized the snake demon’s expression. “What’s bothering you?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood. “Is another god causing trouble?”

Echidna gazed at him, and admitted his jealousy-induced frustrations. “You praised the beauty of others,” he confessed. “And that’s why I’m not happy.”

Xie Ning was taken aback but quickly understood Echidna’s jealousy. He could relate. If a professor praised one of his works in class, he felt delighted. But if the professor also praised the work of someone better than him, he’d feel a pang of disappointment. Yet, in this case, it was the “work” being praised.

“I understand,” Xie Ning said, sympathizing with Echidna’s feelings. He reached out to pat Echidna’s shoulder, finding the muscles beneath impressive. “However, no one else can match you. In my heart, you’re the best.”

Pushing further, Xie Ning added, “You’re number one, the champion. Regardless of what anyone else says, I won’t think anyone is better than you.”

Echidna’s eyes widened, deeply moved by Xie Ning’s unwavering support. His emotions surged and sent shivers throughout his body. The tip of his tail crackled and trembled as he gazed at the teenager before him, unable to speak.

Dorus…Could you be a god residing in my mind, possessing the uncanny ability to read thoughts? How is it that your words hold such power, calming my restlessness and bringing tranquility like a hibernating bear?

“Alright,” Xie Ning said with a proud smile. “You can enjoy the show now, okay?”

The snake demon enveloped the teenager in his embrace, and covered Dorus with his long black hair. Perhaps, I’ll never truly comprehend how precious you are, Echidna mused. Your value is immeasurable.

Meanwhile, Athena descended from the golden cloud and proceeded directly to Zeus’s palace on Olympus. She recounted the entire story to her father.

The Chief of the Gods agreed with his daughter and admired her foresight. However, he issued a cautious warning to Athena, “My daughter, your wisdom has always been a source of great pride for me. Among the gods, you epitomize wisdom and composure. Do as you see fit. Yet, I must caution you against defying the three ancient goddesses in matters of destiny. Know that the Fates treat me as severely as I treat you.”

Athena took her father’s advice to heart and left to seek counsel from her siblings.

“We cannot allow a mere mortal to wield such influence over Echidna,” Athena asserted. “Is it not perilous to entrust Zeus’s thunderbolt to a mere child?”

Apollo, still frustrated by Echidna’s disruption of his sacrifice and the young man’s comparison to him, proposed a solution. “Let him who was brought together in love be separated by love. Prepare a fair woman, skilled in eloquence, and adorn her with the golden charms of the Goddess of Beauty ¹, the honeyed words of Hermes, and the courage of Herakles. Send her to the underground palace. Echidna has long suffered from loneliness. Just as Epimethius welcomed Pandora with great joy, he will surely greet this woman with equal enthusiasm.” ²

Athena agreed with Apollo’s suggestion. “You speak wisely. So be it!”