Olympos Town's Magnificent Everyday [IV]

[shionstear]

Olympos Town’s Magnificent Everyday

Season 1, Chapter 4 – Hephaestus

Hermes:

Hey Hepha-chan. Is your bathhouse flourishing?

Hephaestus:

Ah, Hermes.

Nothing out of the ordinary. But… you look pale.

Hermes:

You noticed? As expected of my best bud!

Hephaestus:

What happened?

Hermes:

You see… I went through a bitter experience earlier.

I was strolling the market when Ar-chan was about to shoot me.

Hephaestus:

Ar-chan? …ah you mean Artemis.

Hermes:

Yup. I almost got a big hole shot into my body!

Hephaestus:

The Artemis I know wouldn’t do something like that without a reason.

You probably did something stupid again and angered him, right?

Hermes:

Eh? Nooo…

Hephaestus:

Don’t avert my eyes.

Hermes:

I-I didn’t do anything. I’m always working diligently.

Hephaestus:

Hah… Just keep your pranks in check.

Hermes:

Yeah yeah, I know. Anyways, that’s why I’m kinda feeling exhausted today.

So I wanna warm up, please keep the water lukewarm, yeah?

Drawing bow.

Hephaestus:

Well, I don’t mind that, but…!?

Hermes:

Hm, what? What’re you staring at behind of me?

Hephaestus:

Nothing, just looks to me like Artemis is still after you.

Hermes:

…!?

Artemis:

You’re not remorseful after all, are you?

Hermes:

A-Artemis…!? Why… are you here…!?

H-Help me, Hepha-chan!

Hephaestus:

Don’t cling to me.

Hermes:

But… aren’t we best buds?!

Hephaestus:

Why don’t you calm down too, Artemis? What happened?

Artemis:

What do you mean what. Hermes teased Apollon again.

Hermes:

No, I just…!

Hephaestus:

You shut up for a sec. I want to listen to what he has to say.

Artemis:

He lied to Apollon and gave him a junk robot named Faithful Dog Nanawanko, which supposedly has the latest AI.

Hephaestus:

Faithful Dog Nanawanko…?

Hermes:

Oh, I… remembered I had something to do, so I will take a bath another time…

Hephaestus:

Hermes, I too remember hearing that name before.

Artemis:

You know it too…?

Hephaestus:

Yes. I was there with Apollon when he gave him that dog.

To think it was defective… Sorry that I didn’t notice.

Artemis:

It’s not your fault, Hephaestus. The one who’s at fault here is…

Artemis & Hephaestus:

…

Hermes:

Oh deary! Don’t look at me with such scary expressions, you two!

It was nothing more than a passing fancy!

Hephaestus:

Just a passing fancy, huh…?

You felt nothing when you saw how happy Apollon was?

Hermes:

Well, I just wanted him to have some fun.

Hephaestus:

Hm. Wait… Is the “Soothing Paw” you gave me the other day a defective good too then?

Artemis:

Soothing Paw…?

Hephaestus:

He said, just by carrying it around cats and small birds would approach me, yet not even a single insect got close to me.

Hermes:

Oh, it had an insect repelling effect, you see.

Hephaestus:

…

Hermes:

Wait, Hepha-chan… Why the hammer…?

Hephaestus:

It seems you’ve readied yourself, yes?

Hermes:

I-I’m sorry!

It’s just… You looked so happy, it was hilarious---I mean, cute. You looked cute…!

Hephaestus:

You’ve got guts… I’ll turn you into charcoal and beat you into shape from scratch.

Hermes:

P-Please spare me!

You were so serious about wanting to interact with animals, so I wanted to help you! That much is true!

Artemis:

Hephaestus, you want to interact with animals?

Hephaestus:

…! You promised not to tell anyone!

Hermes:

Ah.

Artemis:

Hah… Okay you two, time-out!

Hermes & Hephaestus:

…!?

Artemis:

This is getting ridiculous.

Hermes’ pranks aren’t anything new, he was born like that.

And if we start counting there’ll be no end to it.

Hephaestus:

Hmm, you’re right about that…

Hermes:

Ar-chan…! Hepha-chan…!

Artemis:

But if you do something to make Apollon sad, I won’t forgive you. Just remember that.

Hephaestus:

He’s right. You better apologize to Apollon. I’ll go with you too.

Hermes:

Thanks, you two…

Artemis:

Aren’t you too kind, Hephaestus? You better not spoil him that much.

Hephaestus:

He may be like that, but he’s still a friend. And being with him is fun too.

Hermes:

I love you too, Hepha-chan!

Hephaestus:

Don’t get cocky, good grief…

Artemis, you must be tired. Go warm yourself up. And I’ll give you some coffee milk as an extra too.

Artemis:

That sounds nice. I worked up a sweat too, so I’ll take you up on the offer.

Hermes:

Then a beer for me!

Hephaestus:

What are you talking about? You’re on wood chopping duty.

Hermes:

Noooo…!