King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 89

Tantalus’s Story – (1)

Zeus said he would allow the marriage only after the blacksmith god finished his punishment in the underworld.

Thus, Hephaestus and Aglaia’s wedding was unfortunately postponed.

Hephaestus, feeling gloomy again, returned to the underworld, and I was warning Aphrodite.

“I’m telling you again, every time you seduce a god, think of it as creating a crack in Olympus…”

“Yes… yes… I understand. You’ve given up on unwanted marriages too, so I can try my best, right?”

The goddess of beauty grumbled with a slightly sulky expression.

And Eros, standing next to his mother, was fiddling with his bow.

The reason Eros, who should be in the underworld, is here is…

I thought he had reflected enough, so I switched him with Hephaestus.

“I will never shoot arrows recklessly again…”

“I can’t force the god of love not to spread love, but please refrain from shooting randomly into the air.”

Now he will practice archery on a designated target.

If he shoots arrows randomly into the air one more time…

“Eek!”

Eros flew behind Aphrodite and hid.

If he really does that one more time, I might have to spank him.

The goddess of beauty and love, who was stroking Eros’s head behind her, looked at me and smiled.

It wasn’t the enchanting and flirtatious smile she always wore, this is…

“Thank you sincerely for persuading Zeus, Hades.”

“…I just felt sorry that the goddess of love couldn’t love freely.”

Her eyes and attitude seemed to come from a sincere heart.

Did she hate Hephaestus that much? Well, she was forced to marry him, so it’s understandable…

I glossed over it, mentioned that Hera was a great help in this matter, and turned away.

I should go down from Olympus now…

“Hades, brother.”

“Zeus. Do you have something to say to me?”

I was about to return to the underworld when Zeus called out to me.

Judging by his tone, he probably wants me to come to another dinner or banquet, or Hephaestus’s wedding.

“There’s a human who wants to invite our gods to a big banquet; would you like to come with us, brother?”

“Wouldn’t my presence only spoil the atmosphere at such a banquet?”

“The one who wants to treat us is my son. He’s also the king of Lydia. He’s a very admirable human in how he serves the gods, so I want you to get to know him.”

Ah, he was Zeus’s son.

Then I understand why Zeus wants to invite me to the banquet.

He’s his son, and he wants a human who serves the gods so devoutly to receive some convenience in the afterlife.

Zeus’s son is also my nephew.

Since he’s the king of Lydia, the banquet won’t be boring… then should I stop by for a while?

“It’s difficult to give a good position in the afterlife just because someone is polite to the gods… but I will attend.”

“Hmm. Good idea. You might find my son quite endearing once you meet him, brother.”

Zeus suddenly hardened his face and looked at me with serious eyes.

“That’s the superficial reason for inviting you, brother…”

There’s another intention?

* * *

The gods going to meet the king of Lydia, Zeus’s son, totaled seven.

Me, Zeus, Hermes, Dionysus, Demeter, Poseidon, and Hera.

I heard that all twelve Olympians were invited, but…

Athena was busy rebuilding her temple, which had been destroyed by the Chimera [a fire-breathing hybrid creature of Greek mythology], Hephaestus was in the underworld, and Aphrodite and Ares were busy making love.

The Apollo and Artemis siblings… must be out hunting somewhere.

We flew with them on clouds and arrived at a palace in the mortal realm.

Ornate clothes and a crown decorated with gold thread, is that Zeus’s son and the king of Lydia?

“It is a great honor to have such great beings come in person!”

“Tantalus, we can look forward to today’s banquet, right?”

“Of course, Zeus. I will present the best cuisine to the gods of Olympus!”

My nephew, named Tantalus, greeted each of the gods.

Indeed, as Zeus said, his words and actions were unusual.

“Oh. Praise the queen of the great gods. Thanks to Hera, I am always harmonious with Dione [Aphrodite’s mother in some accounts].”

“Hmph…”

Hera only gave Zeus’s illegitimate son a displeased look; he must be in high favor with Zeus.

“Lord of the sea, the development of Lydia’s maritime trade is all thanks to Poseidon’s grace.”

“Alright.”

Tantalus, who turned his gaze to me next, spoke politely.

His hands were clasped and his back was bent, not making eye contact; he seemed quite accustomed to dealing with gods.

“Um… may I ask which god you are and hear your esteemed name?”

“Pluto.”

“…! It is an honor to meet the father of the dead, Lord Pluto.”

He rattled off various flowery words.

Thanks to the blessing of wealth in Lydia, the people are enjoying a prosperous life, etc.

My symbol, mint, has spread a lot in Lydia…

He finished his praise at just the right level, not too excessive, and bowed to guide us.

“Please follow me this way. Food suitable for the gods is being prepared, so please wait a moment!”

“Hmm. Shall we go in?”

Following Zeus, who was taking the lead, we entered the palace of Lydia.

Servants and maids guided us to a moderately large room.

“We will wait in front of the room. If you ever call us…”

Soon, all the other servants left, leaving the gods alone, and I briefly recalled Zeus’s words.

“He treated the gods very politely, and when he brought him to Olympus to taste ambrosia [the food of the gods] and nectar [the drink of the gods]… he dared to take some of the gods’ food!”

“…Tantalus did?”

“Yes. The reason he invited us to this banquet may be to apologize for that. The reason I specifically called you, brother, is…”

Well, isn’t the reason obvious?

“Because he’s your son, you want me to reduce his sins in the underworld? To a guy who dared to steal ambrosia and nectar? Aren’t you the one who is merciless in these matters, Zeus.”

“Still, he has served the gods well so far… and his wife is also the daughter of the Titan Atlas, so I will decide on his punishment after seeing this reception. If he reveals everything, kneels, and apologizes, I will forgive him with appropriate punishment, but if not…”

He married the daughter of the mighty Atlas…

Atlas is a Titan with great power who resisted us until the very end during the Titanomachy [the war between the Olympian gods and the Titans].

The reason that giant, who is now being punished to support the celestial sphere forever, is staying still is… because he did not hold his beloved daughter and children accountable.

Zeus is now worried that if he punishes Tantalus, it might lead to a rebellion by Atlas through his wife, Atlas’s daughter.

With Gaia’s threat not yet over, there is no need to risk Atlas throwing down the celestial sphere he was supporting and trying to fight us.

Just the pretext of stealing a little ambrosia and nectar once is not enough to impose a heavy punishment on Atlas’s son-in-law. Moreover, he is even Zeus’s own son, so there must be some familial affection.

Unless he commits a more definite act of disrespect, such as insulting all three chief gods…

After waiting for a while, Tantalus came back in.

He had servants serve stew in large dishes and bowed to us.

“You have waited a long time, gods. The stew with rare meat is now complete, so please enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

It seemed true; a good aroma wafted from the stew.

All kinds of herbs and spices were well mixed in the stew, giving it a beautiful color.

But…

“You want us to eat this?”

“……”

The meat in this stew is human flesh?

* * *

There was no god in this place who did not notice the stew containing human flesh.

Even a lower god would notice the strange signs and not eat it, let alone the gods in this place who possess the highest divine status.

Someone who gives human flesh while saying they will treat the gods is not a normal human.

Looking at Dionysus with suspicion, he had a blank face and was on the verge of going crazy.

The expression seen just before the god of madness goes berserk.

So it wasn’t caused by Dionysus’s madness…

The other gods were also holding back their anger without touching the stew.

Because the king of the gods, Zeus, closed his eyes as soon as he saw the stew.

No one tried to eat the food and sent a cold expression to Tantalus, who opened his mouth with a straight face.

This is the first time in my thousands, tens of thousands of years of divine life that I’ve seen a human so out of his mind.

“Gods, why aren’t you eating…”

“You villain! Tantalus! Have you truly gone mad!!!”

Flash- Krrrr! Kwa kwa kwang!!!

Interrupting Tantalus’s words, as if he were mocking us, Zeus roared in anger.

Lightning fell from the sky at his anger, blowing away the entire palace.

Kugugugu… thud.

The huge palace was instantly turned into ruins, and countless humans were groaning under the rubble.

Judging by the number of dead souls, there were many who were caught up in the aftermath.

“Keueuk…”

“What’s going on… G.. God?!”

“Your Majesty…?!!”

There were humans groaning everywhere, but Zeus didn’t care and floated the stew in the air.

Pieces of human meat flew through the air and gathered, and he temporarily entrusted it to Demeter.

He must be trying to revive the human who became human flesh later.

I should erase only the memories of the underworld and let the poor human, who was killed by his father and almost eaten by his grandfather, live.

No matter how strict the laws of the underworld are, I should make an exception this time.

Soon, Zeus, who forcibly suppressed his anger, gestured…

Tantalus, covered in blood and sprawled out, was dragged away, clutching his neck as if he had been caught by something.

“Keo.. Keok!”

“You dare to make a dish out of humans and try to feed it to us? Who is the dead human and why did you do this?”

“Keo…”

“Answer me.”

Lightning flashed in Zeus’s eyes, emitting a strong pressure.

In front of the wrath of the chief god, a weak mortal would only be able to tell the truth.

And the words that came out of his mouth were beyond imagination.

“To test… whether the gods are wise… that is my son…”

To test whether the gods are wise…

He killed his own son and made him into a dish to serve?