King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 129

The King of the Underworld is Tired 129 (129/140)

Fourth Task – Triton’s Conch (2)

Herkules examined the figure that appeared amidst the violent spray.

Its entire body was covered in scales, and instead of feet, it had something resembling a dolphin’s tail…

He could sense an intense power emanating from the blue eyes staring at him, enough to guess at its divine status.

“Lord Triton! That giant seems to be an imposter pretending to be Herkules!”

“I’m glad you’re safe. I will deal with that human myself, so you may leave.”

‘That nymph just called him Triton, right? So, that bizarre figure is the eldest son of the Sea God [Poseidon]?’

‘First, I need to clear up the misunderstanding that I was trying to kidnap the nymph.’

“Are you truly Lord Triton, son of Poseidon?”

“If you mean Triton who commands the waves, that is me. What audacity do you have to try and kidnap a Nereid [sea nymph]?”

“I swear on the Styx River, I had no intention of kidnapping the nymph!”

Serious misunderstandings among Greeks are resolved more easily than one might think.

Swearing on the Styx River [the river that forms the boundary between Earth and the Underworld] is something everyone avoids. Therefore, forcing it upon someone else is also incredibly rude.

However, if one is truly innocent, they can prove their innocence with an oath on the Styx River.

“…Really? Then you being Herkules is also…”

“Yes, that’s right. I am merely here because of Hera’s task to retrieve Triton’s conch…”

As the oath on the Styx River came from Herkules’ mouth, Triton softened his stance.

Taking this opportunity, Herkules explained the task.

“…Hmm. Hera gave you such a task, you say. You must know how important this conch is to me… So, you’re saying you want to borrow it for a moment?”

“I will return it after verifying it at Hera’s temple.”

Triton, who had been pondering for a moment, looked at Herkules with curious eyes.

“Anyway, it was a misunderstanding. It seems I was mistaken, so I apologize.”

“……”

“But you’re really that Herkules… Hmm.”

“Is there something you wish to ask me?”

“I know that you fought against the goddess Megaera, one of the Furies [goddesses of vengeance]. Although she may have held back a lot, you must have been able to contend with a god thanks to your outstanding abilities.”

Triton extended his hand towards the sea, and the waves responded with a great crash.

The god before Herkules is Poseidon’s eldest son and the one who commands the ocean.

“I want to see that ability of yours, said to be the greatest among human heroes. Let’s spar a few rounds.”

Another opportunity to approach a god!

This too is a challenge, a task, and an ordeal!

“…It would be an honor! Hylas, stay far away!”

“Hmph. Give it your all.”

Herkules grinned fiercely, raised his iron club, and charged.

* * *

The great hero rushed at the god before him with all his might.

First, his reliable friend… the iron club of shock and terror was swung.

“…Oho!”

A strike aimed at the head.

Triton lightly twisted his body to avoid it, but the hero continued to press him.

The power that shattered the monster’s regeneration in the battle against the Hydra [a serpentine water monster]. If he poured out hundreds, thousands of strikes…!

Whooong— Kwaaang!

Triton responded to all these attacks by dodging, creating barriers of water, and receiving them with his body.

The moment the god’s solid flesh shattered the iron club, scattering fragments… Herkules threw a punch.

Thwoong—

The hero’s and god’s fists collided in the air, creating a shockwave.

The surrounding sand scattered, and the waves approaching them burst apart.

They continued to fight without regard for their surroundings. A faint smile hung on Triton’s lips.

Before he knew it, the golden sword from Herkules’ waist was rampaging through his hands, sweeping in all directions, and Triton’s fingernails were receiving each attack.

“Oho. Not bad. Not just a hero who blindly relies on strength…”

Triton’s exclamation. But Herkules could not be satisfied.

What he truly wanted to hear was not admiration, but astonishment and recognition.

Triton still didn’t seem to be using his divine power properly, at least not even once!

“Huk… Haa. How is Lady Megaera so fast? Evading my attack at the last…”

“This is divine power… You too will probably understand if you become a god…”

More. Move faster. Cutting through the wind towards the target.

Even if I don’t have that divine power, that authority…!

Whooong—!!

“Haaap!”

As Herkules’ attacks grew more and more fierce over time, a strange light flickered in Triton’s eyes.

In that instant, reflected in his eyes was Herkules’ fist flying towards his face.

With this, I can surely reach that god.

Just as Herkules’ punch was about to touch Triton’s nose, the smile on the god’s lips deepened even further.

Along with it, an explosively bursting deep blue energy.

– Paaaat!

He was instantly blown away, rolling across the sand.

A stinging pain was felt from his Styx-enhanced body.

Realizing that he had been swept away by an intense energy the moment he was about to land a punch on his face, Herkules spat out the sand that had entered his mouth.

As expected of Poseidon’s eldest son. Not one of the Twelve Olympians, but…

Clap. Clap. Clap.

What came into Herkules’ eyes as he stood up again was Triton clapping and looking at him.

The god spoke in a slightly excited voice.

“As expected of the hero of prophecy! There will be no match for you among mortals. At this rate, you won’t die even against that guy…”

“…That guy, you say?”

“If you take on one troublesome task for me, I will lend you my conch.”

“What is it?”

“To educate Polyphemus, my half-brother and a Cyclops [a member of a race of giants with a single eye in the middle of their forehead], a little!”

He said half-brother, so he must be the son of the Sea God, but a Cyclops?

Are they talking about the one-eyed giants famous for their brute strength?

* * *

Polyphemus.

He is a demigod born between the sea god Poseidon and a nymph.

Polyphemus originally liked a sea nymph named Galatea and chased after her.

But she hated Polyphemus and… fell in love with Acis, the son of Pan [god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature of mountain wilds, rustic music and impromptus, and companion of the nymphs], the god of nature and shepherds.

“Ugh… Uaaaah! You’re all going to die!”

Kuuung!

“Keuheok!”

“Kyaaaak! Polyphemus! Are you crazy?!”

Naturally, Polyphemus, enraged, picked up a huge rock and threw it at them…

Galatea quickly fled into the sea and survived, but Acis was hit by the rock and died.

Since then, he had been throwing rocks at passing ships and…

He was living while enjoying cannibalism.

Triton’s eyes were filled with bitterness as he explained this story to Herkules.

“My father, Poseidon, doesn’t pay much attention to his children. But he has changed a little since that scoundrel died last time.”

“…?”

“There was a scoundrel named Halirrhothius. Never mind if you don’t know him. Anyway, around that time, my father told me to keep a little discipline.”

He had never heard of a person named Halirrhothius, but had the god Poseidon been unable to tolerate his son’s atrocities?

So, he told his eldest son, Triton, to manage his siblings…

“So, all I have to do is stop that Cyclops, Polyphemus, from cannibalizing?”

“That’s right, and tell him to stop throwing boulders at ships passing by. Don’t worry about the retaliation that comes from harming the son of the Sea God.”

“I’ve heard that Lord Poseidon cherishes his children very much.”

“You really don’t have to worry about my father’s wrath. As long as you don’t kill him outright or blind him, he’ll let it slide, probably?”

Herkules took a breath and tried to organize his thoughts.

If he could educate Polyphemus, Poseidon’s son and a demigod, to stop his misdeeds, he could receive Triton’s conch.

But education, huh. If it’s education…

For a moment, Herkules’ memory went back to the past.

“Aaaak! Teacher Chiron [a centaur known for his wisdom and teaching skills]! I was wrong!”

“You still have the energy to talk, so you’re not repenting at all.”

“Aaaaak! Please stop hitting me!”

Thwack! Thwack!

“Hmm… Before coming here, you committed atrocities in the mortal realm? Good, get down on your stomach.”

“Yes? What’s wrong with beating up a nasty bastard… Keuaaak!”

“Get down!!!”

No matter how much he thought about it, he could only remember his teacher Chiron holding a switch and educating him.

Of course, no impact came to his body that had fallen into the Styx River, so he reasoned with them well,

But he didn’t do that to other aspiring heroes.

The teachings of Chiron, where strict education on character was accompanied by switches and various physical punishments.

Wait, now that I think about it, couldn’t I do that much myself?

Just beating and educating them if they don’t listen… well.

Triton spoke to Herkules, who was lost in thought.

“Are you done pondering? If you don’t want to go to Polyphemus…”

“I will do it.”

“Oh. So, you’re confident in facing a Cyclops giant. Very good. I’ll tell you the place where he lives.”

Herkules was told the location of the island where Polyphemus lived by Triton, who was smiling with satisfaction.

That he lives in a cave raising sheep, and that he lives a little apart from other Cyclops.