King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 64

The King of the Underworld is Tired – (1)

Another day, another headache in my office with Menthe, tearing our hair out.

The issue? Charon’s complaints that most of the souls arriving from the mortal realm reek of mint.

“Ah, Hades, you ask me about it now… My nose has been…”

“I see. I apologize. I should have asked sooner…”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that your symbol smells bad, or that I dislike it… It’s just… well…”

“…I will discuss it with Menthe and resolve it quickly.”

Athena mentioned before that there’s too much mint being harvested before reaching the Acheron River [one of the rivers of the Underworld].

So, I checked from the entrance of the Underworld and asked Charon, and the result was…

“There’s more mint scent than I thought. It’s understandable that some would dislike it.”

“Lord Hades, wouldn’t spreading mint as food actually increase the amount of mint used in funerals?”

“Even so, humans wouldn’t waste a plant used for food on funerals…”

Mint is a plant with exceptional reproductive and survival capabilities.

Is it because it was born with the power of Menthe, who was originally a nymph [a mythological spirit of nature]?

But a long time ago, in my previous life, there were no nymphs…

While talking with Menthe, looking at the mint leaves on the desk,

I suddenly wanted to drink a refreshing mint tea.

“Lord Hades?”

“Just a moment…”

I briefly got up and brought the Cornucopia [horn of plenty, symbolizing abundance].

Putting my hand inside the broken horn, I imagined a yellowish fruit, a lemon.

Thud.

“Wow… This is the Cornucopia… It’s my first time seeing it.”

“There’s no need to eat food, but it’s a useful item when you want to cleanse your palate.”

I floated the lemon that came out of the Cornucopia in the air, peeled its skin, and mixed it with mint leaves…

“Does something a bit sweet suit your taste?”

“Of course! I love honey. There are bees near Mount Etna that received Pan’s grace…” [Pan is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature of mountain wilds, rustic music and impromptus, and companion of the nymphs.]

When I turned the Cornucopia over and imagined honey, a golden liquid slowly flowed out.

I caught an appropriate amount in the air, mixed it well, and put it in a golden goblet…

Soon, lemon honey mint tea was completed.

“This is mint tea made by Lord Hades himself…!”

The subtle yellow tea in the golden goblet was complete.

I offered it to Menthe, who was sparkling her eyes, and I also took a few sips.

Slurp-

The perfect combination of ripe lemon’s moderate sourness, refreshing mint scent,

and the sweetness of the finest honey I had imagined created an excellent flavor.

“Wow… This is incredibly delicious. Humans would love this taste.”

“If there are any gods who are free right now, I should call them over and share this.”

“I’ll go. Lady Styx was resting in her room earlier…”

Menthê, who had already finished her tea and was smacking her lips, left the office.

* * *

I sipped the tea, waiting for her return.

Increasing the types of mint to encourage humans to consume it in various foods would be a good idea…

Ah, since there are many who dislike the scent of mint, I should tell them not to oppress those who do?

Personal preferences for food vary greatly, so I should issue a decree that even among my followers, those who dislike it may avoid it…

Thud.

“Hades. Menthe called me here.”

“What are you trying to share this time?”

“Is it a reward for working hard until now…”

“Mint tea? Isn’t that a plant used during human funerals?”

Lady Styx entered the office with Menthe.

And Moros and Keres, who symbolize destructive death and inevitable death.

I offered them seats and made the lemon & mint & honey tea again.

A subtle and sweet scent filled the office, tickling everyone’s noses.

“It’s a tea made with mint to spread in the mortal realm. Everyone, please try it.”

“As you said before, is this to spread it to the mortal realm as an ingredient because of the souls’ terrible mint scent?”

“Hmm… It’s like looking at Dionysus’s wine.”

“Mixing honey, mint, and lemon… How about adding other spices?”

“It’s super delicious!”

Soon, a yellowish tea was placed in front of the gods,

and I took out lamb skewers that go well with mint tea from the Cornucopia.

Well-cooked lamb skewers sprinkled with herbs and spices.

Watching the juices slowly seep out along the grain of the meat, I offered it to everyone.

“Um… munch munch… Meat and mint go well together.”

“Humans make bread with grains blessed by Demeter [goddess of the harvest], and this mint tea with hard bread…”

“Wouldn’t mint also go well with fish dishes? It seems like it could be used as a spice.”

Watching them enjoy the food of mortals, I took out various dishes from the Cornucopia.

Grilled dishes with rodents, beans, and figs, salads with tomatoes and cucumbers…

After taking out so much, a feast was set up in no time.

“Hmm… It’s not as good as Ambrosia [the food of the gods], but it’s still edible.”

“…Should I call other gods?”

“Umm. Gulp. I saw Hypnos earlier…”

The place to hear impressions of mint tea has suddenly turned into a meal.

I can’t help it; I’ll have to discuss mint with Menthe separately later.

“Since it’s come to this, let’s just hold a banquet. Everyone has been working hard lately, right?”

“Oh! That’s a good idea!”

“We can rest for about a day.”

“The work in the Underworld has also decreased a lot…”

“It’s not bad to eat this after only eating Ambrosia or Nectar [the drink of the gods] all the time.”

I should call all the gods this time.

And invite the relatively free managers and the judges, the three Minos brothers, to the banquet.

“Herald! Tell Lady Lethe, who is working in the souls’ residential area, that I am looking for her, and…”

* * *

The gods who gathered in the office moved to the Underworld banquet hall.

The gods, who were summoned by sending heralds here and there, began to arrive, and I turned the Cornucopia over.

Skewered and herbed bird skewers, salads with small rolls of bread and vegetables with cheese and olive oil.

Wine with beautiful colors, though not as good as what Dionysus makes himself.

“Wow… The Underworld banquet is splendid.”

“Hehe. Menthe. This place may not be as good as Olympus, but it’s not inferior to the banquets in the sea palace, you know?”

“In the first place, the food from Lord Hades’ Cornucopia can’t be bad…”

Dishes made by mixing and stir-frying well-aged cheese with tomatoes and peppers.

Wraps made by rolling meat and peppers in cabbage leaves, yemista [Greek stuffed vegetables] filled with meat in tomatoes or pumpkins, etc…

Numerous dishes were set up in the banquet hall, and the gods anticipated the upcoming banquet and cleansed their palates with wine.

Squeak-

The Erinyes sisters, not Nemesis, also walk into the banquet hall.

With bronze wings and snake heads, they were looking around cautiously with an awkward expression,

“Ahem… Is it really okay for us to participate in the banquet?”

“Hello! I’m Menthe, the goddess of mint who was born recently!”

“Ah. A newly born god. The nymph who created mint?”

“Yo. Tisiphone, long time no see. Has the number of adulterers in the mortal realm decreased lately?”

“…Thanatos.”

Fortunately, they seem to be blending in well.

I’m proud that my efforts seem to be bearing fruit.

It was a good idea to often take the gods to the dark caves on the outskirts of the Underworld where they reside.

The aversion to their terrible appearance fades away after meeting them for a long time.

“…Subordinate god Medusa greets Lady Alecto (Unceasing Anger).”

“Actually, I was thinking of visiting you.”

“Is that so…”

“If you still harbored anger in the Underworld, I was going to hold the gods accountable.”

“Even those two gods…?”

I was a little surprised by the conversation between Medusa and Alecto.

In fact, the goddesses of revenge do not appear often to strong gods.

Even if Hera is the goddess in charge of the household,

she cannot harm Zeus, just as she would kill a raped woman.

Alecto sighed and continued to speak to Medusa, who was bowing her head.

“Poseidon and Athena did terrible things to you. You may resent the gods a lot, but…”

“Yes…”

“I hope you know that not all gods are like that.”

The gazes of the two goddesses who were talking turned this way, so I turned my head.

Ahem… It’s not that I’m a good god, it’s just that the other guys are all somehow strange…

Fortunately, Medusa and Menthe, who had newly ascended to the position of gods, were also getting along well.

It was worth educating the other gods so thoroughly.

I hoped that there would be as little discrimination as possible based on low position and humble status, so my efforts…

“When should we start?”

“Huh? Lord Charon? How did you get here?”

“Tsk tsk. Am I not allowed to come? I temporarily entrusted it to an avatar to whom I gave my power. But I have to go back soon.”

“Morpheus. Why do you send dreams right before I completely put them to sleep?”

“I must have dreamed…”

“The residents of Athens mistake it for an oracle. Be careful next time.”

“Ugh… Hades, start quickly. I think everyone’s here…”

Lady Styx called me, looking drunk on Nectar even though the banquet hadn’t started yet.

No, even if your work is hard, shouldn’t you drink too much Nectar?

Everyone’s eyes were on me, and I slowly looked around the crowd.

Lady Lethe, Lady Styx, Medusa and Menthe who seemed awkward, Thanatos who is still suffering…

In addition, countless gods and managers of the Underworld… Thankful people who always help and support me.

I hope today’s banquet will be a small reward for them.

“Ahem. Ahem.”

After getting up from my seat, I slowly raised the golden goblet filled with Nectar and opened my mouth.

The other gods also raised their glasses filled with Nectar, following me.

“Then, let’s start the banquet of the Underworld! It’s more modest compared to Olympus, but I hope everyone enjoys it as much as possible today!”

Ugh… The “ha-o” style is awkward.

Zeus of Olympus rules with strong authority, so he may be used to it,

but the Underworld is somewhat horizontal…

After I finished speaking, Thanatos, one of the oldest here, started the conversation.

“Olympus… Glory to the Underworld!”

“””Glory to the Underworld!”””

Thus began the uneasy banquet that might be interrupted at any time…