#1179 The Mightiest Anti-Mint Party

And so, a few days after that trend started catching on at my farm...

An unusual guest showed up.

A deity.
And not just any deity—a goddess.

The Mother Earth Goddess Demetersephone had been hastily summoned by Sensei and descended upon our farm.

“...”

Um...?
But even after being summoned, Demetersephone doesn’t say a word. The air around her is brimming with a strange, tense energy.

That tension alone is enough to make the whole place feel like it’s on a knife’s edge.

I’ve never seen Demetersephone give off this kind of threatening vibe before.

She’s the mother of all things that sprout and grow here on earth...a true Mother Earth Goddess, someone whose very nature is supposed to be gentle and serene.
Even when she appears together with her husband, Hades, she’s always the one calming things down.

Now that I think about it, it’s unusual that Hades, who’s almost always summoned alongside her, isn’t here.
That’s yet another odd turn.

It’s one irregularity after another, so what on earth is about to happen?
Seriously, the tension’s so thick it’s suffocating.

"Mine husband is currently possessed by a King-level poverty god and doth weep and wail. Therefore, his eyes stray not toward what transpires here on the surface. ’Tis convenient for me, as well…"

Huh…
What? Since when is it even possible for a poverty god to possess the God of the Underworld? And if it happened, isn’t that something that can be exorcised pretty easily?

Meanwhile, Demetersephone is still just brimming with this prickly aura.

“So, um…what brings you here today?”

I only asked because I couldn’t stand the oppressive tension.

Maybe she wanted more food again?
Could be sweets?

If that’s the case, this might be perfect timing. We recently developed a brand-new treat…!
…Although it might be one of those that only appeals to certain people...!

"Saint, I have heard thou hast crafted a new sweet delicacy?"

!!!
So that’s what brought her all the way down from the divine realm!

Her ears are sharp!
I’m impressed by how quick Demetersephone caught wind of it, which makes me thrilled.

I never imagined a goddess herself would come down, specifically to ask about choco mint!
I mean, being summoned only to talk about choco mint? That’s gotta be it, right?

So, there are choco-mint lovers among the gods, too!
As a proud choco mint devotee, I’m overjoyed to welcome another comrade!

"…I hate mint."

Huh?

"Make no mistake. I am here to mete out divine punishment. Mint is the foulest of all crops, and using it in a sweet is the highest sin. Saint, I once held thee in high regard, and yet thou hast betrayed the gods in this most unforgivable way…!"

Gogogogogogogogogogo…!

And just like that, Demetersephone’s anger level starts shooting through the roof.
Up until now, that tense sensation felt suffocating, but now that the air around us crackles, I can plainly tell that the oppressive atmosphere is pure rage.

But…why?
Well, I guess it’s obvious at this point.

Demetersephone absolutely loathes mint!
That’s why she’s mad at me for using mint in sweets, going so far as to descend in person just to condemn it.

Mint is powerful enough to make even a goddess this furious!
I knew mint was divisive, but I never expected it to reach these levels!

“P-Please wait a second! Demetersephone, do you not like that minty, cooling taste? Or is it because you think it’s like toothpaste?”

I’ve said it a hundred times, mint isn’t toothpaste. Toothpaste is mint-flavored!
And on top of that, toothpaste adds a minty flavor so that we can brush our teeth more comfortably. Without mint, toothpaste would taste too nasty to even put in your mouth!

In other words, whenever we brush our teeth, we’re relying on mint to help us!

So, calling it toothpaste flavor and hating it is, if you ask me, pretty ungrateful!

"I care not about such details."

Huh?

"Thou truly hast no understanding, Saint. There is a far more valid reason why I abhor mint! If thou wouldst but hear my tale, surely thou wouldst grasp the justice in my anger!!!"

So…she wants me to hear her out, huh?

Well, not like I have a choice. Guess I’ll listen quietly…

"First, let me say this: Mine own husband, Hades the Underworld God, is a truly wonderful deity. Even though I myself am a goddess, I feel so lucky to have married such a fine husband."

Huh?
Is this turning into a doting-husband speech?

"After all, most of the male gods in this world are the worst kinds of philanderers. Zeus is the absolute worst scum of them all, and Poseidon, though not on Zeus’s level, still fools around with countless women. Compared to them, my husband is…"

Demetersephone lets out a long sigh…
It’s like she’s exhaling her frustrations.

"From the moment our vows were spoken, his devotion hath been fixed upon me alone. He hath eyes for no other woman and loveth only me. He is earnest to his core. Besides governing the earth, he also manages the Underworld, a colossal responsibility that neither Zeus nor Poseidon could handle. I like that diligent, steady side of him as well…"

And on and on she goes, bragging about her husband.
Where does mint even fit into this?

"But there was one time Hades…strayed, so to speak. He once caught sight of a nymph named Menthe. Now, I suppose she wasn’t altogether lacking in beauty. I saw Hades, mind own Hades, fix his gaze upon that woman with an expression quite unlike his usual self. ’Twas most definitely an affair!"

…
Wait.
So…he only looked at her?!

And that’s automatically cheating?! That’s pretty strict…
I guess since Hades is so devoted, the mere thought of him showing interest in anyone else was too much for her.
But don’t you think Zeus’ or Poseidon’s wives might have given her a serious talk by now about letting trivial things go?

"And that nymph was so infuriating, too…! She went around taunting me, like, “My apologies, O Mother Earth Goddess, that my bosom be so blessedly large,” with that cutesy act… Gaaaaahhhh!!!"

She’s clearly reliving the fury of that old memory as though it happened just minutes ago. And each time she remembers, she probably stokes that anger all over again.

…So.
At last, we’re getting to the point, right? She’s about to tie it back to mint?

"That Menthe was a nymph of the mint plant!"

Ah...

"Hence do I loathe mint. Every time I behold it, the memory of that insolent wench resurfaces…! Aaaaaaaaargh!!! It makes me so furious! I want to wipe mint from the face of this world!"

Please don’t go around talking like that guy who cursed the fig tree for being out of season and made it wither…

Anyway, after sticking it out and listening, I finally understand why Goddess Demetersephone hates mint.

It’s basically just a personal grudge, so it’s got nothing to do with the taste or toothpaste comparisons.

If she’d just try a spoonful of choco mint ice cream for herself, she’d see how amazing it is!
Come on, Goddess!
Take a bite of choco mint!

"Thou suggest that I, Demetersephone, Mother Earth Goddess, willingly partake of that detestable mint? That mint which I loathe with all my being…?!"

Demetersephone’s face contorts in a scowl.

But in front of her is not plain mint—it’s choco mint ice cream, infused with mint extract and studded with crushed chocolate chips.

She’s familiar with how tasty our farm’s ice cream is, so despite herself, she reluctantly dips a spoon into the choco mint and brings it to her mouth.

"...”

In that moment, the goddess must have felt it.
That cool, fresh sensation spreading from her mouth to her nose.

"This taste…! ’Tis different from any ice cream I’ve eaten before! The mint element plus the genuine chill of ice cream combine for a double whammy of freezing freshness! Then the sweetness of the chocolate chips strikes home! This flavor is unlike anything I have ever had beforeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!"

Heh, got her.
Now she’s hooked on choco mint. There’s no way she’s going to talk about eradicating mint anymore.

"Blast it all! ’Tis delicious! And yet…am I to be defeated again by that mint wench? Urghhhhhhhh!!!"

And so, my efforts to kick-start a mint revolution in another world apparently ended with my choco mint ice cream short-circuiting the mind of a goddess.

Choco mint is delicious.
Everyone should give it a try!