King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 135

The King of the Underworld is Tired 135

Argonauts – (2)

The Argonauts: a gathering of renowned heroes.

The citizens watched their every move, buzzing with speculation.

Who would lead this expedition of roughly 50 heroes?

Jason, who assembled the Argonauts? Or Meleager?

Perhaps the mighty Heracles?

“There might be a fight to decide who leads the expedition.”

“Then Heracles will likely command the Argo.”

Contrary to the citizens’ expectations, the decision of who would captain the ship was surprisingly simple.

These companions had been through thick and thin together in Thebes, or rather, in the Underworld.

They knew each other intimately.

“Jason, you take the helm.”

“No objections here. Isn’t this your expedition to claim your throne?”

“From a doctor’s perspective, you’re the perfect fit. If anyone falls ill, send them my way.”

“Heracles, what do you think?”

“I agree, Jason is the right choice. I wouldn’t want to lead anyway.”

The training in the Underworld wasn’t just about battling monsters.

It also involved gaining knowledge, learning etiquette, and participating in mock battles.

Of course, the invincible Heracles defeated everyone, but when he sat out the mock battles…

“Hahaha! Alright, everyone on my ship is under my command!”

Jason’s side always emerged victorious.

* * *

Two days had passed since the Argo set sail from Iolcos.

The sea breeze was fierce, and the cold air bit through the heroes’ clothes as night descended.

The heroes settled into their places on the Argo, preparing to rest.

Amidst the soothing sounds of Orpheus, the hero of music, plucking his lyre, Heracles approached Jason.

Jason was studying a map with a serious expression. He looked up as he sensed someone approaching.

“Heracles? Shouldn’t you be asleep? If you’ve already become a god and don’t need sleep…”

“Becoming a god isn’t that easy.”

“…Isn’t that obvious?”

Jason gave the great hero an incredulous look, as if he thought becoming a god was a simple task.

“It’s difficult enough to become a king, let alone a hero. Look at me, struggling to reclaim the throne my uncle stole.”

“What will you do once you obtain the Golden Fleece and become the king of Iolcos?”

“What will I do… I must govern the people. Why the sudden question? Is it because of your ambition to become a god?”

Heracles nodded, his face slightly somber.

His calm eyes met Jason’s.

“You’re the most insightful in this matter.”

“Ahem! That’s right. Listening to the crew’s concerns is also part of the captain’s role. But I’m a bit surprised. The great hero, renowned throughout Greece, is troubled because he can’t figure out how to become a god!”

“…Don’t tease me. Be serious.”

Jason, who had been laughing and patting Heracles’s back, stopped.

“Um… how can I solve your problem?”

“What?!”

“No, I mean, you’re the closest to godhood on the Argo. How would I know if you don’t?”

Heracles was filled with disappointment.

But Jason wasn’t finished.

“Heracles, what do you have to do to become a hero?”

“…? You have to slay monsters or gain fame with your unique talents, of course.”

“Then what do you have to do to become a king?”

“Like you, gain the support of the people through great deeds and prove your worth, or inherit it through bloodline…”

“Then to become a god, wouldn’t you need something different from what I’ve said so far?”

“…!”

Jason’s casual remark sparked a realization in Heracles.

The tasks he had been undertaking were all… the path of a hero, weren’t they?

To become a god, he needed to walk the path of a god, but he had been walking the path of a hero.

Achievements and power would certainly help, but the key to becoming a god was to walk a divine path.

“Divinity exists to maintain the balance of the world. Simply having that thought alone, no matter how many achievements you accumulate… you will never become a god.”

“You need to interact with humans.”

The advice of the master of the Underworld [Hades] and the wielder of the waves [Poseidon] flashed through the great hero’s mind.

Simply crushing enemies and accumulating amazing achievements would never make him a god.

“Thank you, Jason. You’ve been a great help.”

“Um? Are you becoming a god now? Oh, Heracles, god! Make me king!”

“…Don’t joke around.”

The serious atmosphere vanished, and Jason reverted to his playful self, a sly smile on his face.

Heracles chatted with him for a while before returning to his cabin.

* * *

The next day, an archery competition was held, targeting the flying seagulls.

Atalanta, the only female hero on the Argo, displayed her remarkable skill by firing over a dozen arrows in a row, winning the competition.

“Atalanta, your archery skills are as sharp as ever.”

“Hmph. I am the best archer in Greece.”

“Look, there’s an island over there. Let’s resupply there!”

They soon reached the island.

A fairly large island that appeared to be inhabited.

However, even as the Argo approached, no people were visible.

“It’s a big island, but are there no inhabitants here?”

“That can’t be. There are houses over there…”

Puzzled, they ventured deeper into the island.

There, they witnessed an astonishing sight.

Before a woman with mysterious, water-colored hair, a man who looked severely beaten was groveling.

Around him, others trembled in fear, bowing their heads to the woman.

“Are you going to beat passersby to death again?”

“N-No! I’m sorry! Goddess Rhode!”

“If I hear any more rumors about you reaching the depths of the sea… no matter what my father says, I will send you to the Underworld.”

Jason and the heroes of the Argo were momentarily bewildered.

But they quickly understood the situation from the mysterious woman’s words.

“Are you the heroes seeking the Golden Fleece? I only punished this one for tarnishing the reputation of the sea, so there is no need to worry.”

“W-Wait a minute! Are you perhaps a god? Who might you be…”

“I am Rhode, the daughter of Poseidon [god of the sea].”

The goddess with water-colored hair vanished in an instant, and the man who had been groveling slowly stood up.

He approached the expedition with glazed eyes and cautiously spoke.

“Perhaps… is there anything you need? Just ask.”

“…Why were you being punished by the goddess?”

At Jason’s question, the man looked embarrassed and revealed that he was King Amycus.

He confessed everything, including his status as a demigod, son of Poseidon, and that the goddess Rhode had intervened because he had been killing travelers with his fists.

The expedition obtained supplies from the island with wary eyes and set off again.

* * *

The Argo expedition, having set sail once more, encountered a king named Phineus on another island.

He had incurred the wrath of Zeus [king of the gods], lost his sight, and was starving because harpies [mythological creatures with the body of a bird and the face of a woman] would swoop down and devour his food whenever he tried to eat.

“Zetes! Calais! You can fly, so chase away the harpies!”

“Understood, Jason!”

Fortunately, Zetes and Calais, the twin sons of Boreas [god of the north wind], were part of the expedition, and they were able to drive away the harpies.

“Now that you have driven away the harpies, I will tell you about the dangers that await you in the future.”

Based on the king’s advice, he also explained how to navigate the Symplegades [clashing rocks] and provided various landmarks.

Thus, the expedition of heroes from all over Greece continued.

There was an incident where Heracles’s servant, Hylas, suddenly disappeared on an island they landed on during their journey…

“Damn it. Let’s set off. We’re on a tight schedule, and we’ll have to return later to find Hylas.”

“Um? Is that okay, Heracles?”

“It can’t be helped. We have to retrieve the Golden Fleece quickly.”

“No… I thought you and that servant were close…”

Heracles looked dumbfounded at the question from Telamon, one of the expedition members.

He was from Thebes, worshiping Pluto [Roman name for Hades] as his main god. Naturally, his values were a bit different from those of the Greeks.

“Thebans don’t approve of homosexuality.”

“Ah… ah. That’s right. Ahem! My apologies.”

The Argo expedition sailed surprisingly smoothly.

The monsters they encountered were no match for the heroes trained in the Underworld, and they were also blessed by various gods.

However, there was also someone who did not welcome this journey.

A god whom heroes revered and feared. Among them, the Protogenoi [primordial deities] at the pinnacle of divinity.

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The Earth [Gaia] thought.

This was the last chance.

Unless she sent the Gigantes [giants], there were no monsters capable of killing Heracles.

Attempts to kill him with the help of gods, assassination by poison, and attacks by Chrysaor [giant in Greek mythology] and Lamia [monster in Greek mythology] had all failed…

That hero of prophecy was clearly a divine weapon destined to destroy her and the Gigantes.

If she couldn’t kill the great hero Heracles, she would be defeated.

Drawn to the edge of the cliff, she decided to accept some sacrifices.

Even though she embodied the Earth Mother, cherishing life… her resentment towards Olympus was no less.