Death Knocks on Hell’s Door Chapter 42

Chapter 42 Birth

Hephaestus remained rooted to the spot, stunned, for a long while after learning that Venus was pregnant.

……He was going to be a father?

The feeling was so surreal that it took him some time to regain his bearings. When he saw Venus wake up, he snapped back to reality, his face once again clouded with concern. More than the child, he was worried about Venus’ health.

“Why does he have a stomach ache?” Hephaestus asked, his fingers curling up.

“The child inside him is absorbing his divine power. It seems to have been going on for some time now,” Apollo said with a tinge of bitterness. “During pregnancy, one must avoid excessive intercourse. All his divine energy is being used to nourish the child, leaving his body weak. But he can’t just lie in bed all day either. He should get out and move around to strengthen his body.”

Apollo went on to give a long list of precautions. Although not an expert in obstetrics, he was somewhat familiar with the subject due to his sister Artemis’ role as the Goddess of Childbirth.

Hephaestus silently absorbed every word, guilt welling up in him. He realized that, in recent days, everything he had done seemed to violate those very precautions.

This was indeed an area where his knowledge was lacking. But for Venus’ sake, he would soon seek out Artemis to learn everything about the complete set of “Pregnancy Guidelines” and “Postpartum Care for Gods.”

The ways gods were born were diverse and varied, far from the human practice of a nine-month pregnancy. Some gods could be born in an instant, while others might take decades to arrive. The timing of divine birth was utterly unpredictable. Many gods didn’t even need to be nurtured in the womb. Like Venus, he had emerged fully formed from the sea foam, born into the world as an adult.

Venus was not so much carrying a child as he was nourishing a new divine essence with his own power. When the time came for the newborn to arrive, this divine essence would emerge directly, manifesting as a new god. The child could take the form of an infant, a young child, a teenager, or even an adult. The mother’s belly would not expand, nor would they suffer the pains of childbirth.

However, the pregnancy was still far from easy, as it required him to use his own divine power to nurture the child’s essence. Although he could regain that power after giving birth, it did little to change the fact that the process was grueling.

After seeing Apollo off, Hephaestus carefully pressed his ear to Venus’ flat abdomen, struggling to believe that a new life was already growing inside him.

A joyful smile spread across his face as his gaze softened to the utmost tenderness.

“Venus, I’ll take care of you and the child,” Hephaestus promised solemnly.

He vowed never to be like his father, Zeus, who had been careless in his affections, fathering countless children with different mothers, only to show little regard for any of them.

Affection within the lineage of the Greek gods pantheon was notably weak. Beyond the fact that Zeus had so many children that he could scarcely keep track, there was also a curse circulating within the family of the King of the Gods.

Gods possessed immortal lifespans. Unless something unforeseen happened, the throne would never pass down through hereditary succession, because the first ruler could never die. Every ruler of Olympus had been incredibly greedy for power, unwilling to abdicate, thus causing many conflicts.

The first King of the Gods, Uranus, had been overthrown by his son Cronus. The second King of the Gods was in turn overthrown by his son Zeus. When Cronus was driven from the throne by Zeus, he issued a curse to the third generation god, “You too will be overthrown by your own son.”

As a result, Zeus had no love for his sons. He saw them as threats, preferring the company of his daughters, Athena and Artemis. Although he publicly praised Ares and Apollo for their talents and the admiration they garnered from the other gods, secretly, Zeus was always on guard against them, even considering eliminating them.

Hephaestus didn’t care who would be the next ruler of the gods. It certainly wouldn’t be him. He had no interest in power struggles. All he wanted was to live a peaceful life with his wife and child.

He had never been loved by his parents, never felt the warmth of a family, but now, he had a cozy little home of his own. Everything he had missed, he would pour into his child.

Venus, too, stared at his flat belly, lost in thought.

He was wondering whose child this was.

Apollo had said the baby had been growing for some time, but he couldn’t say exactly how long. The list of potential fathers included Adonis, Hephaestus, Ares, and Hermes……

Deep down, he secretly hoped it was Adonis’. His first love had tragically died, leaving behind no soul, and if this child was his, it would be the only way he could hold on to his memory.

If it wasn’t, then it didn’t matter whose it was.

“How about a walk?” Hephaestus asked. Recalling Apollo’s advice, he quickly added, “It might do you good.”

The unexpected arrival of this child had shattered Hephaestus’ plans for seclusion. Venus possessed a magic that made anyone want to keep him all to themselves, but in the end, Hephaestus couldn’t bring himself to carry out that plan.

Venus was stunned.

So it turned out that being pregnant meant he could go out?

This child had truly arrived at just the right time.

Love and lust were the primal forces within Venus’ divine nature. The attribute of lust would constantly generate desires in him, and if he didn’t relieve them in time, they would build up and make him feel physically uncomfortable. But now, all his divine power was being used to nurture the child in his womb, which in itself was a large enough consumption, leaving no extra energy to spend on other men.

Venus had unexpectedly spent a long period in abstinence without feeling the slightest bit of dissatisfaction, as his body had already been drained by the child.

It had even reached the point of excessive depletion.

He didn’t even know what kind of god this child would be, but it was like a bottomless pit, constantly drawing in Venus’ divine power.

This little one was surely going to be a powerful god.

Hephaestus, noticing Venus’ pale complexion, felt a pang of heartache. One day, unable to bear it any longer, he pulled Venus to the bed and closed the bedroom door.

Venus lay there like a salted fish. “Hephaestus, I don’t want to.”

It was hard to imagine that one day the God of Pleasure would utter such words. It was all this child’s fault for being so greedy. Venus truly had nothing left to give.

“Be good,” Hephaestus murmured, his voice rough. “Let me transfer some of my divine power to you.”

He couldn’t bear to let Venus bear the full weight of the burden of raising their child alone. It was too much for him.

In the East, there was a term for this, known as dual cultivation. But at this moment, it wasn’t a mutual practice to enhance both gods’ powers. It was entirely Hephaestus’ unilateral effort, transferring his divine power into Venus’ body to help nurture the divine essence of their child together.

Most of the goddesses on the divine mountain didn’t want to bear children, as every pregnancy drained them. The male gods were mostly scumbags, seeking only to enjoy the goddesses’ bodies without sharing the burden of pregnancy. Venus, born as a male but symbolizing beauty that blurred the lines between genders, was also in charge of the cycle of life and procreation, which gave him the ability to conceive. Many gods desired to have a child with Venus, but Hephaestus was the first to willingly share his divine power with him.

Venus whispered softly, “Thank you.”

Hephaestus gently stroked his hair. “You’re going through all this because of me. What I’m doing now is nothing.”

Venus wanted to say that it wasn’t necessarily just because of him that he was enduring so much.

But after a moment’s hesitation, he chose to keep it to himself. He didn’t even know who exactly was responsible for the difficulty. After all, the identity of the child’s other father was still a mystery.

Perhaps when the child was born, they could see who the baby resembled, and the mystery would be solved.

With the help of the God of Fire’s divine power, Venus’ condition improved greatly.

Hephaestus dared not overstep during the pregnancy. Each time, he was careful, only transferring divine power, more gentle and cautious than ever before. The wild, uncontrolled state from that one month felt like a distant dream, and since then, he had never again displayed such chaotic behavior.

Hephaestus had also made a bunch of toys for the unborn child, such as little wooden horses, dolls, tiny bows and arrows, all of it.

“If it’s a boy, I’ll give him a bow and arrow. If it’s a girl, I’ll give her a doll,” Hephaestus said, sharing his hopes and dreams with Venus.

Venus said, “Artemis is going to scold you when she hears this. The Goddess of Hunting will say, ‘Why can’t girls like bows and arrows? You’re discriminating against girls.’”

Hephaestus: “……”

Artemis was indeed a goddess with a strong personality. While other goddesses asked him to craft jewelry, the Goddess of Hunting would request bows and crossbows with greater range. As a virgin goddess, she didn’t get along with Venus. Venus was just teasing him when he mentioned her.

Hephaestus, who had never been good with words, didn’t try to argue. He simply said, “Whether it’s a boy or a girl, these will be for them.”

Venus looked at the tiny toys that were clearly meant for a child. “How do you know the baby will be a child? What if it’s like me and is born an adult?”

Hephaestus smiled. “Then I’ll just make a larger set for them. The small ones will be for you.”

Venus: “……So, in your eyes, I’m still a child?”

Hephaestus dared not say “yes.”

Despite Venus’ mature body and stunning beauty, his personality remained innocent and simple, like that of a child.

Hephaestus had already crafted an entire nursery, filled with toys and everything a child could need. Everything was ready. It was just waiting for the birth.

But still, there was no sign of movement from the child.

The gods of Olympus couldn’t help but speculate about what divine powers Venus’ child might possess. Excluding the gods born directly from the earth, it was generally believed that the longer the pregnancy, the more powerful the divine essence would be.

On the tenth year of Venus’ pregnancy, the divine essence within her finally showed signs of movement.

……

When Hephaestus returned to his temple, he found a large and a small figure facing each other, locked in a gaze.

Venus sat on the carpet, his beautiful eyes filled with confusion as he stared at the little boy in front of him.

The boy had golden hair, blue eyes, and delicate features, looking like a mini Venus. A golden halo rested atop his head, and a pair of small, white wings sprouted from his back, making him look incredibly adorable.

Venus couldn’t tell, just by looking at him, who the child’s other father was.

The child’s appearance was clearly all Venus. Hearing the movement of Hephaestus entering the house, both Venus and the little boy turned their heads in unison.

“Father God!” the little boy exclaimed, flapping his tiny wings as he quickly flew into Hephaestus’ arms.

The boy had already received both Venus’ and Hephaestus’ divine power while still in the womb, so he instinctively felt a strong connection to them.

Hephaestus fumbled a bit but managed to catch the little one in his arms.

He hadn’t expected to miss the child’s birth by just stepping out for a short while. Hephaestus’ expression was a mix of regret and joy as he held the small boy in his arms. The feeling of becoming a father was both unfamiliar and wonderful.

Venus said, “You should give him a name.”

“Me?” Hephaestus looked at the child in confusion, then shook his head. “He’s your child, Venus. You should be the one to name him.”

Venus pointed to his head. “I really don’t feel like thinking right now.”

“Then……” Hephaestus paused, thinking carefully for a moment. “How about Cupid?”

What kind of god was Cupid?

Looking at the boy, it was hard to tell. Apart from inheriting Venus’ beauty, he didn’t seem to resemble anything specific.

“Cupid.” Hephaestus gently carried the child to the already prepared playroom. “Which toy do you like the most?”

Cupid was dazzled by the array of toys, struggling to choose. “Do I have to pick just one?”

“Of course not.” Hephaestus smiled. “This entire room is a gift from your father.”

Cupid’s eyes lit up when he spotted a cute and finely crafted bow and arrow. Excitedly, he flew over and grabbed it.

He held the bow and arrow in his hands, completely captivated by it, as if he couldn’t bear to let it go.

Seeing this, Hephaestus said, “I’ll teach you how to shoot.”

His archery skills weren’t the best, but teaching a small child was more than manageable.

Cupid shook his head, ignoring Hephaestus entirely as he effortlessly struck a perfect archery stance, nocking an arrow and aiming it out the window.

Was Cupid a god related to hunting?

Before Hephaestus could process the thought, he noticed Hera and Zeus standing not far outside, engaged in an argument.

The golden belt had failed to prevent Zeus’ infidelity. He had recently found a new lover, and Hera was both heartbroken and furious. She accused Zeus of betraying his vows, recalling how he promised to love her for life when they married, while Zeus stood with an impatient expression, clearly tired of hearing her complaints.

Cupid aimed his arrow at Zeus.

Hephaestus’ expression changed instantly. “Cupid, stop!”

As much as he despised that father of his, they couldn’t afford to make enemies of the King of the Gods. Zeus wouldn’t spare Cupid just because he was his newborn grandson.

But the fearless little rascal had already let go of the arrow.

Hephaestus could only watch helplessly as the arrow, enveloped in a red light, struck Zeus’ body and vanished, leaving him unharmed.

Venus panicked as well. “Cupid, stop!”

But Cupid, caught up in the fun, mischievously shot another arrow, this one surrounded by dark energy, and it flew straight into Hera’s heart.

Hephaestus “……”

He had the distinct feeling that their family was about to be doomed.

Wait…… the arrows he crafted were just ordinary ones, but the red and black lights seemed to be Cupid’s powers. He didn’t yet know exactly what effect those powers had.

Soon they would know.

Zeus, who had been exasperated just moments ago, suddenly became tender and affectionate. “Hera, I’m sorry. I’ve made many mistakes over the years, but the truth is, I only love you.”

Meanwhile, Hera, who had just been trying to win Zeus back, slapped him hard across the face. “Go die, you scumbag! I’ve put up with you for long enough!”

Venus covered his mouth, stunned by the scene before him.

His son was clearly a god destined for great things.

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