King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 119

The King of the Underworld is Tired 119 (119/140)

Herkules’ Task

After informing Olympus of the situation, I immediately descended to the Underworld and headed for Tartarus [the deepest abyss of the Underworld, a prison for the Titans].

As I approached Tartarus, the familiar black darkness descended, and Nyx [the primordial goddess of the night] appeared.

“Welcome. Did you bring the token of Ouranos [the primordial god of the sky]?”

“Yes. He granted me a strand of his hair.”

Looking at her face, as beautiful as the night sky, I took out the silver thread from my chest.

Swish.

“Judging by the scent of the deep sky, it is indeed Ouranos’ hair.”

“Then will you help us now?”

To my question, the Goddess of Night responded with a playful smile.

“Hehe… but how are you still in one piece? I thought Ouranos would start throwing punches right away…”

“The sky turned against me for a moment. But he took pity on me, so I was able to pass the test safely.”

A scene that made me realize once again how important it was to persuade Nyx.

Zeus can create storms with the wind between the stars. Poseidon and I are also capable of attacks of that magnitude.

But only the Protogenoi [the first-born gods] can casually conjure such disasters with a light gesture.

No matter how much humans praise us Olympian gods as absolute beings, the only true absolute being in this world is the Primordial God, Chaos [the first being, representing the void from which everything else emerged].

Since Gaia [the primordial goddess of the Earth] and the other Protogenoi are the closest to him by blood, the might of their power is only natural.

“Hmph… Since you brought Ouranos’ token as I said, I must keep my promise.”

“…!”

“If you defeat those Gigantes [giants born of Gaia] and Gaia appears, I will help you then. However…”

The Goddess of Night trailed off.

The darkness around her seemed to deepen, and voices were heard from all directions.

“If you are pushed back and defeated by those Gigantes and seek my help, I will punish you instead of Gaia.”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

The thickly veiled darkness disappeared without a trace, ending Nyx’s words.

The corners of my mouth, looking at the spot where the Goddess of Night had been, were surely forming a confident smile.

* * *

A worldwide holiday, known to the humans of the Surface as ‘Thanatos’ Day’ [a day dedicated to Thanatos, the god of death].

Once a month, a day to avoid death and enjoy rest. The impact of this day on the Underworld was quite significant.

Oracles from various temples erected throughout the world designated that day as an official holiday.

For just one day, executions were prohibited, and disputes were discouraged.

The gods of war also laid down their weapons for a while, and the goddess of peace exerted her power.

Naturally, the number of dead coming to the Underworld was reduced by more than half…

Accordingly, an unusually harmonious atmosphere spread widely.

“…There’s no way things can end this quickly, right?”

“Even if it’s the first holiday since the oracle was given, there are too few dead.”

“Perhaps humans are avoiding death because it’s Thanatos’ Day?”

Overall, leisure time has increased significantly, creating a peaceful feeling.

Even the gods are refraining a bit and enjoying the day, so there were hardly any humans who died from divine punishment.

According to the news Hermes [the messenger god] brought,

The goddess of peace, Eirene [the personification of peace], is very grateful to me.

“However, I also feel like resting a bit. Uncle…”

“…Iris [goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods] and you are still suffering.”

“Even if I’m not as busy as Charon [the ferryman of the Underworld] or Thanatos [the god of death], I’m still having a hard time…”

Of course, some gods like Hermes, Charon, and Thanatos, who still couldn’t rest, were exceptions.

I should say that their work has decreased a little, making it easier?

Actually, that goes for me too.

My work has decreased a little… but I can’t rest completely.

Still, this is something. It wasn’t long ago that I was on standby every day, let alone once a month…

There were times when I was worried that a war would suddenly break out on the Surface even during a banquet…

If an epidemic ever broke out, everyone would curse Apollo, the god of disease and medicine.

Anyway. There is plenty of time now. That means…

Slurp… Mmm…

“…Rest a little, Styx [goddess of the River Styx].”

I can also spend some sweet time with the goddesses.

When the goddess Styx, who had finished all her overtime work, brought me nectar [the drink of the gods] while I was closing my eyes on the throne and tried to set the mood, she suddenly head-butted me with her lips. I was embarrassed, but fortunately, I was able to respond quickly with divine reflexes.

That sweet time ended… or rather, it should have ended. She wouldn’t get off my lap.

Her hand gently touching my chest and her face smiling seductively, followed by the plump and soft sensation clinging to me.

Even feeling intoxicated by the increasingly heated atmosphere… the goddess’s words reached my ears.

“Hades. I…”

“…?”

“Can we… continue? We have time today…”

What? What… continue?

Looking at her with trembling eyes for a moment, she seemed to have understood it as permission, and her hand reaching down…

“Lord Hades, this is a regular report from the sage Chiron [a wise centaur and trainer of heroes]. Heracles is heading to the Surface… Oh…!”

“Ah.”

* * *

“Why… why at that moment! Ugh… the mood is ruined!”

“The news about Heracles was a regular report, so there was nothing I could do…”

I barely managed to stop the goddess of the Styx River, who was furious and threatening to punish the messenger who had grasped the situation in the audience chamber at a glance and bowed his head.

Her face was flushed red, and there were even small tears in her eyes.

Her clenched fist trembled. You’ll bleed if you bite your lip like that…

Swish.

I reached out my rough hand and carefully wiped away the beads that had formed in her eyes.

Then, the goddess, who pouted for a moment and sighed, came even closer… another kiss?

I flinched, thinking that the lip headbutt from before would be reproduced, but her lips headed towards my ear and whispered a sweet voice.

“Let’s continue next time. Okay?”

“…Yes. Let’s do that.”

It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

The slightly sulky goddess left the fortress, and I revisited the report of the messenger who had almost suffered eternal torment just now.

The story that Heracles had gone to the Surface meant that he had been recognized by the goddess Megaira [one of the Erinyes, or Furies, goddesses of vengeance].

I can’t beat the goddess of revenge, but did I give her a punch in my own way?

As soon as I headed to Chiron’s hero training camp, I saw a deeply carved valley pit.

The size of a giant’s fist slamming down. A trace of destruction that I couldn’t believe was caused by human power.

Goddess Megaira was waiting for me in front of it.

The snake hairs, which I hadn’t seen in a long time, hissed and greeted me.

“Indeed, did Heracles make that pit?”

“Yeah…”

After listening to the goddess of revenge for a while, I could clearly see how much Heracles had grown.

“At first, he just pushed with brute force, but when he wasn’t sparring with me, he was always with Chiron…”

“He couldn’t beat the goddess with strength, so he learned technique.”

“His talent was amazing. Now I know why Hades dropped him into the Styx River…”

Of course, it was impossible to injure the goddess of revenge until recently… but the time he endured the attacks she threw in between increased.

Instead of being hit and enduring with skin strengthened by the power of the Styx River, he deflected the attacks and countered with technique.

“I’m thinking of watching him go to Hera’s temple, would you like to watch with me?”

“Hera won’t give him divine punishment, right?”

“…Maybe.”

I told her that, so she wouldn’t kill him, right?

* * *

The Surface. Heracles, who came out to Thebes, took a deep breath of fresh air.

How much has happened in the Underworld so far.

He met many friends who were not afraid of him, served the sage Chiron as a teacher,

He had talked with the great master of the Underworld, and sparred with one of the goddesses of revenge.

“Hoo…”

Heracles had gone through so many hardships, but he was a little afraid of Hera’s divine punishment that would come in the future.

As Lord Hades said, he had to go to Hera’s temple and ask for forgiveness…

The power of the gods he felt in the fight against the goddess Megaira was truly great.

Not the god of the river or the god of the forest, but one of the three goddesses of revenge. Then how strong would be the power of Hera, the queen of the gods?

But the task she would give would be of great help to his journey to become a god.

Having made up his mind, Heracles arrived at Hera’s temple.

He was about to enter the temple and ask for forgiveness in front of the goddess’s statue…

“My name is Heracles, and I came from Thebes to ask the goddess for forgiveness.”

“Wait a moment, please. You cannot enter.”

“No. Why can’t I go in?”

“There was an oracle from Hera that you must never be allowed in.”

Of course, his attempt to enter the temple was blocked by Hera’s oracle, who had noticed this.

Judging from the stubborn eyes of the priest who blocked his way, is it really an oracle?

“Then did she also say not to stop me from begging for forgiveness outside the temple?”

“…She didn’t say anything about that.”

Having heard the priest’s words, Heracles knelt down on the ground in front of Hera’s temple and prostrated himself.

It looked like he was asking for forgiveness from Hera’s temple, so the priest didn’t say anything…

Four weeks later, Heracles felt a serious crisis.

He had a trained body comparable to a god and skin tempered by the Styx River, but…

Thud. Thump. Splat.

“Ugh…! The smell! What is that?!”

“Leave him alone. He’s a sinner who committed something wrong and is repenting to Hera. It’s been four weeks already.”

“Then what is that? All the birds and beasts around are defecating on that!”

“Shh! Shh! That must be divine punishment.”

“Ugh… the smell. The disgusting smell even comes from inside the temple, is this right?!”

“I have to pray to Hera that the sinner seems to have repented of his sins. I can’t stand the smell…”

“No, what sin did he commit…”

He hadn’t trained his sense of smell at all.

‘Damn it.’