King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 163

The King of the Underworld is Tired 164 (163/179)

The Story of the Golden Apple – (2)

Zeus gives me an awkward smile, subtly nudging the golden apple towards me, but I turn my head, pretending not to notice.

His attempt to pass the buck annoys me.

“You seem to have a headache too.”

“Ahem. When it comes to seeking the wisdom of another god, my daughter, the goddess of wisdom, has her eye on the golden apple.”

So, he wants my help as the god of fairness?

He probably thinks that if I make the decision, the three goddesses will quarrel less.

“Isn’t this just passing the buck to me after all?”

“No. I’m saying this because there’s no one else to make the decision. Look over there.”

Following Zeus’s gaze, I see the three goddesses still staring intently at the golden apple.

Judging by the possessive and prideful glint in their eyes, it seems they will never give up.

“Well… actually, I think you, brother, have more credibility than I do. Like with the Ares and Poseidon trial last time. And you are the god of fairness, after all…”

“If we’re talking about a fair method, it would be right to give it to the goddess Thetis, the star of the wedding. Or divide the apple into three pieces.”

“Hmm…”

No. I really mean it.

“Let’s think about it more after the wedding is over.”

“Alright. I’ll look for a good solution too.”

Even if he’s unreliable, Zeus is surprisingly good at making judgments when gods fight.

Like last time with the dispute between Poseidon and Ares, or when all the male gods rushed to win Aphrodite, he resolved it neutrally.

Should I leave it to Zeus for now?

* * *

However, the decision of who should own the golden apple dragged on for a very long time.

Even if the gods’ sense of time is different from mortals, this is too much discussion.

In the meantime, Thetis and Peleus’s son was born,

And I refused Thetis’s request to bathe her son in the Styx River [the river separating the world of the living from Hades, the underworld] to make him immortal…

“Why? Why can’t I? The god of strength was also in the Styx River when he was a baby…”

“It’s not allowed. Heracles [also known as Hercules] was an exception among exceptions. Thetis’s son is not a hero of prophecy.”

I also heard the story of Apollo having an affair with a human princess of Troy.

No one knows if this love will end in tragedy. Oh well.

“Lord Hades. A letter from Olympus.”

Then… Zeus’s letter arrived in the underworld, saying that a decision must now be made, and I went up to Olympus.

Some other gods who knew the seriousness of the situation also came to Zeus to offer their opinions.

“Lord Zeus. How about just giving it to the goddess Hera? There’s the justification of giving it to the queen of the gods…”

“But wouldn’t the other goddesses strongly object to that?”

“I still think it would be best if Lord Hades decided…”

“I agree. It would be best if the god of fairness made the judgment.”

No. Why is everyone trying to pass it on to me?

Zeus, who had been pondering for a moment, opened his mouth. But that guy. Looking at his eyes, something’s not right.

“Hades, brother. Gaia [the primordial goddess of the Earth] told me something like this the other day.”

“Gaia did?”

“Heroes are running rampant on the ground, killing not only monsters but also all kinds of beasts.”

“What?”

“Think about the heroes who caught and offered the Gigantes [giant offspring of Gaia and Uranus] during the Gigantomachy [the battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants] last time. Gaia must be annoyed that they’re rampaging across the land with such power.”

The current Mother Earth has completely acknowledged us.

Although she didn’t come to Thetis and Peleus’s wedding, she sent words of blessing to celebrate her granddaughter Thetis’s wedding.

Even if she doesn’t like it, it means she has completely abandoned the idea of kicking Olympus out.

But… she is the primordial god, Protogenoi [primordial deities].

She must never be ignored. Even Zeus, the king of the gods, has to be mindful of her.

Even though she acknowledged us, if she suddenly changes her mind, something like Typhon [a monstrous giant and one of the deadliest creatures in Greek mythology] might pop out again.

Zeus continued.

“It’s natural for heroes to seek achievements. But do you know how shocked I was when they sacrificed the Gigas in the Plesra Plains last time?”

“So. What are you trying to say?”

“I’m going to use this golden apple to wipe out the heroes.”

“……”

“Of course, I won’t inflict divine punishment like the Great Flood. I’m just going to involve those who are stained with greed and selfishness.”

Greed and selfishness. War, he’s thinking of starting a war.

But war inevitably creates innocent victims.

“And… even if I don’t use this method, there are already signs of war breaking out among humans anyway.”

“I know that too. These days, Dike [the goddess of justice] is telling me about the heroes’ misdeeds.”

“Hermes said that the Greek states are eyeing Troy, which Apollo has marked. War will probably break out in less than half a century. How about bringing it forward a little?”

Wait a minute. I felt something was wrong.

The situation is turning out too coincidentally.

Because the monsters on the ground have been wiped out, there are human heroes seeking achievements.

Mother Earth is complaining about them killing all kinds of creatures, including beasts, and wants them wiped out.

Finally, at just the right time, there’s the golden apple that can create the desired justification.

I’ve felt this way several times.

For example… like when we fought against the mighty Titan gods, and the conditions for our victory were being met one by one.

“Could it be, fate?”

Zeus nodded at my words.

“To be precise, it’s the fate that war will break out in this world. It might be possible to twist it a little by force… but the heroes are annoying, so why would I bother?”

Justification. Profit. An opportunity to gain the trust of Mother Earth?

Zeus’s last words weighed heavily on my heart.

* * *

The fate of the Titan gods handing over the world’s power to Olympus.

The fate of Typhon and the Gigantes being defeated by us.

The fate of King Oedipus and King Perseus’s tragedies occurring.

A law that lower deities can’t even recognize, and only the twelve Olympian gods can even attempt to change.

In some ways, it could be said to be a higher concept than prophecy.

“Do we really have to start a war? Countless mortals will be sacrificed because of it.”

“I can’t listen to you this time, no matter what you say, brother. It’s a decision I’ve made as the king of the gods.”

That’s how it would be from Zeus’s or another god’s perspective.

Just by slightly igniting the spark of a war that will happen someday…

An opportunity to gain Gaia’s trust and eliminate the heroes who are threatening to the gods.

“…Zeus. In the sense that I respect your authority, I won’t say any more.”

“Hmm. I appreciate that.”

“But I can’t just stand by and watch. I’ll intervene in this world to some extent in my own way.”

But I can’t just give up because it’s fate.

There’s definitely a way to twist it a little, like how I alleviated King Perseus’s tragedy.

I leaned against a nearby pillar, stepping back a little to show that I wouldn’t offer any more opinions.

Hermes, who was watching me with my arms crossed and my head turned, quietly approached Zeus and spoke.

“Um… Father.”

“Hermes. Do you have an opinion too?”

“Hades has also condoned it, so if you’re going to start a war, please leave it to me.”

“Tell me in detail.”

Hermes cleared his throat for a moment and opened his mouth.

“You know that I travel around this world often, Father. And I’ve seen some very interesting humans.”

“Hmm.”

“If you’re going to use the golden apple to start a big war, you should use someone who has a high position among humans and attracts attention.”

Is he going to use a king from some country?

“How about bringing Paris, the prince of Troy, who is praised as the most handsome man among humans right now, and having him choose the goddess to give the golden apple to?”

“The prince of Troy…”

“Surely everyone, including Hera, will make him offers. Athena would offer him victory in war or wisdom… and Aphrodite would probably offer him a beautiful woman…”

“Whoever that human chooses, it will definitely be a mess?”

The other gods nodded at Hermes’s words.

“Indeed. There was such a method.”

“Depending on that human’s tendencies, there will be enough justification no matter who he chooses among the three.”

“If there are no signs of war breaking out, combine it with oracles and…”

Is that even a thing to say? To grab a human and have him choose one of the three goddesses.

And then start a war. I still don’t like it.

But I can’t step in again since I’ve stepped back in respect for Zeus’s authority.

Then… that human was said to be the prince of Troy, right? Maybe I’ll briefly intervene later at the place where he chooses the goddess to give the golden apple to.

If he’s a human with his head screwed on right, I’ll protect him even if he gets glared at by the goddesses.

He’s said to be the prince of a country, so the possibility of him having strange thoughts is low, but.

“Hermes! Then go to the three goddesses and have them entrust the judgment to the prince of Troy.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Wait. I’ll go with you too, Hermes.”

“Yes? Yes, sir!”

Let’s just say it one more time.

* * *

The three goddesses readily agreed after hearing Hermes’s opinion.

The look in their eyes showed that they undoubtedly believed that the human named Paris, who was said to be the most handsome on earth, would choose them.

“Then let’s head to that human right away.”

“Good. Since he’s said to be the prince of Troy, he’ll be able to make a wise choice among mortals.”

“Hmph… Even if he’s a prince, he’s still a man. Of course, he’ll choose me, the most beautiful.”

Before their war of nerves continued any further, I briefly intervened.

Athena and Hera are already firm, so Aphrodite is the only one who might listen to me.

“Aphrodite. Just a moment.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t I divorce you from Hephaestus last time? Think about it one more time. Do you really have to fight like this?”

“I’m sorry. No matter what Hades says, this is related to my divinity, so I can’t just let it go.”

“…Athena. Do you feel the same way? Hera. How about you?”

“I still think I’m the goddess who deserves the golden apple the most. Even if this is my father’s will.”

“I feel the same way too. I know what Hades is worried about, but does it matter?”

Athena and Hera. It seems they’re guessing why Zeus didn’t directly decide the owner of the apple and entrusted it to a human.

But even so, they won’t back down… huh.

“Ha. Okay. I understand.”

Gods can’t arbitrarily interfere with punishments or rewards given by other gods.

But if it’s before it’s given, it can be reversed.

If the human prince Paris makes a wise choice, won’t the aftermath be reduced?