Death Knocks on Hell’s Door Chapter 50

Chapter 50 Freedom

Venus looked at the uninvited guest, frowned and said irritably, “You certainly don’t have that honor. Get out.”

At that moment, he was in a foul mood. Naturally, Cetus, having walked right into the line of fire, wasn’t about to receive a kind word from Venus.

Cetus: “……”

What was going on? Wasn’t it supposed to be easy for any man to share a bed with the God of Pleasure?

To be fair, Cetus had taken on an attractive form. He was simply a lecherous soul, and Venus, the embodiment of beauty, naturally caught his eye. So, the attraction wasn’t entirely off-putting.

Given Venus’ tendency to tire of things easily, he would surely be eager to try a new dish after hundreds of years of only eating Poseidon.

But right now, he had no appetite. Not only did he not want to get close, but he also felt an overwhelming repulsion.

He had grown accustomed to Poseidon’s exquisite delicacy. He didn’t even want to smell other dishes, let alone try them.

It wasn’t just that. Venus had recently experienced the sting of jealousy and possessiveness. He had come to understand that love and lust were inseparable. His love for Poseidon ran so deep that he couldn’t stand the thought of Poseidon desiring anyone else. Likewise, he could no longer bring himself to indulge in pleasure with someone he didn’t truly love.

People encountered all sorts of individuals in their lives. It was unrealistic to expect desire to remain fixed on just one person forever. Such a notion defied human nature. However, once in a committed relationship, staying faithful and finding fulfillment in intimacy with that one person was a matter of responsibility. If the bond was meant to last a lifetime, so too should the commitment and loyalty.

That was the responsibility of marriage.

At first, Venus found it hard to accept that Poseidon had more than one lover. But that was all in the past now. Poseidon had long since sworn an oath to the laws, promising him half of his honor, the same status, and a lifetime of loyalty.

Now, Venus finally understood the weight of those words.

Life was short, and even a lifetime of loyalty could be hard to maintain. But gods were immortal, and a lifetime of loyalty was the heaviest commitment.

So, despite his anger, Venus would never be childish enough to seek petty revenge by randomly finding someone to sleep with just to provoke Poseidon.

Because that would be irresponsible.

It was Poseidon who had taught him the meaning of responsibility. From the moment he understood, he knew he would honor it completely.

Seeing that pretending to be a gentleman wasn’t winning Venus over, Cetus dropped the act. He lunged forward, attempting to kiss him forcefully.

Venus: “???”

Was this another Ares?

That God of War had always enjoyed taking what he wanted by force.

Cetus’ true form was that of a powerful sea monster. The God of Beauty was no warrior. Venus briefly defended a few times, wanting to call for guards, but he suddenly remembered that he had dismissed the guards and maids outside when he was angry and wanted to be alone.

When it rains, it pours.

Cetus pressed forward, trying to embrace Venus. After regaining his composure, Venus stepped back, dodging his advances each time, leaving him to grab at air.

Cetus wasn’t in a rush. There was no one else in the room, and his prey couldn’t escape his grasp. A confident smile spread across his face as he forcefully pushed Venus toward the bed.

As Venus was cornered against the bed, Cetus eagerly lunged at him. But suddenly, Venus rolled with surprising agility. In an instant, he pressed a hidden switch at the head of the bed, and a luxurious golden cage dropped from the ceiling, trapping Cetus inside. The cage was adorned with beautiful red roses.

Venus stood outside the cage, letting out a cold laugh. “How does it feel to be trapped in a cage made by the King of the Sea himself?”

Cetus: “???”

Why would there be such a thing in the Queen of the Sea’s bedroom? Were these royal families so paranoid with security?

—

“Your Majesty, I really saw the Queen of the Sea in bed with a man……” Medusa led Poseidon into the palace.

She had timed it perfectly. Venus was definitely rolling around in bed with Cetus by now. Even if Venus wasn’t interested, Cetus would force it. So she had pretended to be a maid who stumbled upon a secret affair and rushed to inform the King of the Sea, expecting him to catch them in the act.

However, when she entered the room, what she saw was not the scene of passion she had imagined. Venus stood before the bed, fully clothed, while Cetus was…… trapped inside a massive cage on the bed.

Medusa was stunned.

Why wasn’t Venus engaged in an affair? That didn’t align with his divine nature!

Thinking quickly, Medusa suggested, “They must have finished and gotten dressed already. Your Majesty, you also saw that the Queen of the Sea sent all the guards away from his bedroom. He did this just for such a vile and shameful act.”

With the King of the Sea’s possessive nature, what did it matter if he hadn’t caught them in the act? Wasn’t it enough that the two were alone together? The King of the Sea would never allow his property to be tainted by anyone else, and surely, he would begin to distrust Venus.

Poseidon strode up to Venus, taking his hand gently and asking in a soft voice, “Are you hurt?”

Venus shook his head and pouted. “It’s all thanks to this cage. It’s the first time I’ve ever been grateful for it.”

Medusa gritted her teeth.

Why didn’t the King of the Sea care? That didn’t align with his divine nature either!

“Your Majesty, are you really going to forgive the Queen of the Sea’s infidelity—” Medusa’s words were cut off as Poseidon swiftly turned and grasped her throat, lifting her off the ground.

One moment, Poseidon’s gaze toward Venus had been soft, but in the next, his eyes turned icy and merciless as he looked at Medusa, as though she were nothing more than an inanimate object.

“Do you think I’m like that idiot Hephaestus? Just because Venus was in a room with some trash, you think he would lower his standards?” Poseidon spoke with a chilling tone.

“This is the sea, and nothing can escape my sight.”

Poseidon had been occupied with another important matter recently, and nearly overlooked the situation beneath the sea. Thankfully, Venus was clever enough, and he had arrived just in time.

Medusa’s face turned pale as she realized her mistake. Their conspiracy had long since been exposed in the King of the Sea’s eyes.

Just as Medusa’s fragile neck was on the verge of snapping, believing she was about to be strangled to death, Poseidon suddenly released her and threw her to the ground. She hit the floor, coughing violently. As she caught her breath, she froze. Her beautiful long hair had transformed into terrifying snakes. Frantically, she turned her head and saw that her once-proud beauty had twisted into a hideous, monstrous form.

She had become a true monster.

“Your ugly appearance is the punishment for your wicked heart. Anyone who looks into your eyes will turn to stone.” Poseidon raised his hand, and the King of the Sea’s royal guards immediately took Medusa and Cetus away. Even Scylla wouldn’t be spared.

“No!” Medusa felt a deep despair. She had always relished the attention her beauty attracted, but now she had lost it. Worse, she had lost the right to be looked at directly by others.

Poseidon’s vengeance was terrifying. He had already delivered his judgment — Medusa would be slain by the hero Perseus, Cetus would be turned into an unmovable stone for gazing into her eyes, and Scylla would be transformed into a cliff in the Messina Strait.

But none of this needed to be known by Venus. Venus was kind-hearted, and might feel guilty for their pitiful fate, thinking he was somehow to blame. But Poseidon would never allow any creature that threatened Venus to go unpunished.

Including Zeus and Ares. He had not forgotten them either.

—

After dealing with the Medusa incident, the palace was once again left with only Venus and Poseidon.

Venus listened to the full account of events and learned that Medusa had been involved in the scheme. But he didn’t feel any satisfaction at Medusa’s fate. Venus remembered Medusa saying that she had once been one of Poseidon’s favorite lovers, and if Poseidon could treat her so ruthlessly, would he one day do the same to him?

Seeing Venus’s hesitation, Poseidon considerately said, “If you have any questions, just ask.”

But Venus didn’t know what to ask.

Should he ask if Poseidon really had many lovers in the past? But that was all in the past. What was the point of asking? It would only make him seem like he cared too much…… Well, he did care. But he was the God of Pleasure, and he too had his lovers. If he suddenly started caring about this, it would seem ridiculous. Venus had always been stubborn with Poseidon and didn’t want to admit that the God of Pleasure had begun to make him question such old matters. It felt like admitting defeat.

His body loved Poseidon, his heart loved him too, but he wouldn’t admit it aloud. When they played their games and he was teased too much, he still called him a pervert. That was how they interacted.

But did Poseidon love him?

Suddenly, Venus wasn’t so sure. Poseidon was sometimes gentle, sometimes domineering. Those were his ways of showing affection toward him. Love could be like this, and so could obsession.

Did Poseidon truly love him, or did he simply desire him because he was perfect enough to meet Poseidon’s expectations of a perfect lover?

Do you love me?

Venus couldn’t bring himself to ask.

This question felt even more pretentious than the last one!!!

Venus was used to being bold and unrestrained in matters of lust, but when it came to real love, he became so cautious.

Even asking the question required a great deal of courage.

He didn’t have the courage to accept the answer if it were a rejection.

So instead, he asked a more mundane question. “What have you been busy with lately?”

He could sense that Poseidon had been occupied recently, their time together growing increasingly scarce. But Poseidon still made an effort to spend time with him. Venus didn’t mind too much. He had his own work, and Poseidon had his own affairs. They didn’t need to be constantly together to prove their love.

But in that moment, he couldn’t think of anything else to ask.

However, Poseidon didn’t answer. “It’s a secret. I’ll tell you when it’s done.”

Venus didn’t press further, but the doubts in his heart only grew.

Part of him thought that Poseidon was just trying to surprise him.

But another part wondered why Poseidon wouldn’t share everything with him if he truly loved him. Maybe Poseidon only had a need to control him.

The thought filled him with fear.

He no longer had the chance to ask Poseidon anything. Poseidon was growing busier, and their meetings became fewer. They were both so occupied that they didn’t even have time to play their usual games. However, Poseidon left him a pile of toys, telling him to use them if he wanted to.

Venus nearly considered divorcing him. Was he being looked down upon? The God of Pleasure reduced to relying on toys?

Venus found himself growing bored under the sea. When Poseidon was with him every day, he found it annoying, but when Poseidon was away, he missed him a little.

One day, he encountered a few unexpected gods beneath the sea.

“Hermes, Dionysus?” Venus exclaimed in surprise. “What are you two doing here?”

Hermes responded, “We’re here to get you out. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

“What opportunity?” Venus didn’t have a chance to ask further, as he was suddenly knocked into by a small figure.

“Waaaah! Father, I finally found you!” The blonde boy burst into tears.

“Cupid!” Seeing his son cry so pitifully, Venus couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.

He wasn’t a good father. Back then, he had been so immature. Although he had a child, he had no understanding of fatherhood, treating Cupid more like a playmate. During those early years underwater, he had completely forgotten that his son was still up on the mountain.

He had learned so much beneath the sea.

“Let’s leave quickly while Poseidon’s away,” Dionysus said. “Hephaestus is waiting outside.”

“Hephaestus is here too?” Venus was delighted. This truly felt like a reunion with old friends.

“Of course. We wouldn’t have been able to infiltrate the palace without him diverting attention. He’s grown incredibly powerful,” Hermes replied.

Hephaestus had originally said he would go to the sea realm to bring Venus back, but then he disappeared for centuries. They all thought he had perished beneath the sea. Then, recently, Hephaestus suddenly returned. Not only had he become much stronger, but his appearance had changed drastically, and his leg injury was healed.

Dionysus asked, “Venus, how have you been these years? Has Poseidon been treating you well?”

The mere thought of Poseidon made Venus feel frustrated. “He almost bullied me to death.” Poseidon had bullied him during their games, and recently, he’d been so busy that they barely saw each other. Venus felt wronged.

“Sorry we’re late. Hephaestus insisted on coming to rescue you,” Hermes said with sympathy. “I have to admit, we haven’t been as dedicated as he has.”

Venus felt like his friends had misunderstood something. Life under the sea hadn’t been so miserable for him that he’d need a rescue……

But he did feel like it was time to temporarily leave the sea.

He had long wanted to know if Poseidon truly loved him or if it was simply obsession. Poseidon’s need for control over him was too strong. He never allowed him to leave the sea. To have an equal conversation with Poseidon, he needed to free himself from his grasp.

He also needed to calm down completely, and this was a perfect opportunity.

Venus followed them out of the palace and encountered Hephaestus, who was waiting outside.

“Hephaestus, your leg and your face……” Venus exclaimed, shocked to the point where he almost couldn’t recognize him.

Standing before him was a wildly charismatic man dressed in red, his face now unmarred by a birthmark. His features were breathtakingly handsome, and he moved with remarkable agility.

“Surprised, aren’t you? We were just as shocked when we saw him. His face and legs are completely healed. Who knows what kind of adventure he had out there,” Hermes said, full of envy.

Hephaestus looked at Venus deeply. “This isn’t the place to talk. Let’s get to shore first.”

After years of survival and trials in the Nordic ruins, Hephaestus was no longer the man he once was. The only thing that hadn’t changed was his heart toward Venus.

Venus surfaced, breaking through the water, and as soon as he did, he breathed in the fresh air from the shore.

He paused mid-air, turning to gaze at the shimmering surface of the sea.

Poseidon, goodbye.

He was finally free!!!

“Mount Olympus isn’t a safe place to return to right now, but my forest is still secure for the time being. How about Venus comes back with me for now?” Dionysus suggested.

Venus asked, “What happened at the divine mountain?”

Hermes answered, “It’s a bit complicated, but basically……”

“Venus,” Hephaestus interrupted Hermes, his gaze intense, “Do you want to come with me?”

Venus froze for a moment before shaking his head. “I’d rather not. Since I can’t return to Mount Olympus, I’ll take Cupid and travel to other pantheons.”

He had no intention of rekindling any old relationships. He was married now, and although he was currently in a spat with Poseidon, he still had responsibilities to fulfill.

The world was so vast, and Venus had longed to explore it. He had heard so many stories and was filled with curiosity about the outside world. The East was especially appealing, and he couldn’t let his Chinese studies go to waste. It was time to put them to good use.

Venus decided to go immediately to Pisces to apply for a visa. Pisces was the embodiment of the image of him and Cupid as twin fish from back in the day. As the masters of the Pisces constellation, he and his son would have the visa approved in no time.

This was a place of trouble. It would be best to distance himself from it as soon as possible.

However…… Venus stole a quick glance at Hephaestus, only to find him gazing at him with deep, sorrowful eyes. Startled, Venus quickly averted his gaze.

He truly felt guilty toward this ex-husband.

He had been young and thoughtless, treating marriage as a game, not knowing how to repay the emotional debts he had accumulated.

No longer giving hope was the only thing he could do.

“I’m sorry, Hephaestus,” Venus said sincerely.

Hephaestus paused, a bitter smile on his face. “So I don’t have a chance anymore?”

Venus nodded. “Yes.” I can’t give you any hope.”

Hephaestus nodded, his voice calm. “Then I wish you happiness.”

Venus replied, “Thank you.”

……

After Venus left with Cupid, Dionysus and Hermes followed suit. Only Hephaestus remained, standing on the surface of the sea, gently touched by the breeze.

Hephaestus lowered his eyes and stared at the rose ring on his finger, which was a pair with the one he had made and given to Venus back then. The rose symbolized marriage and love, while the thorns represented the responsibility that came with both.

In the perilous Nordic ruins, where death had seemed inevitable, it was this ring that had kept him alive, supporting his belief time and again.

He had once let his insecurities push Venus further and further away. Now, he had the strength to fight for him, but he had already lost his chance.

He understood what love was, and he could see it in Venus’ eyes when he said goodbye to the sea. That look was pure love.

He stood quietly for a long time, then smiled softly, removing the ring and tossing it into the sea.

“The things I couldn’t teach you, he taught you.”

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