King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 171

The King of the Underworld is Tired 172 (171/179)

Something Strange About the Trojan War – (6)

I returned to the Underworld and watched Thanatos’s avatar drag Paris in.

Soon, the sinner arrived in the audience chamber. As he was about to prostrate himself and lower his head, he saw my face and was greatly surprised.

“H… Huh! P… Plu…”

“Do you finally know who I am?”

“O… Of course! Lord of the Underworld!”

The sinner couldn’t meet my eyes and quickly bowed his head again.

He must have finally realized who I was, remembering the time we met when he was choosing the owner of the golden apple.

Although his memories had disappeared after crossing the River Lethe [the river of forgetfulness in the Underworld], they were restored by the spring water of Mnemosyne [the goddess of memory], and he clearly recognized me.

“Keep in mind that you are a prince of Troy.”

“…Who are you?”

“You don’t need to know that. Just remember not to be swayed by rewards and make careful decisions.”

After clearing my throat, I delivered the judgment on the sinner.

Paris’s crimes were so great that he came directly to me without going through the three judges, the Minos brothers.

“Your sin is using the blessing of the goddess Aphrodite… to steal another man’s wife, ultimately creating the spark for war.”

“…!”

“Tens of thousands of mortals will die in this war. You must pay the full price for that sin.”

“That’s… I…!”

“Silence. You will not be given a chance to make excuses.”

I sentenced Paris, who could only move his lips, having lost his voice.

Imagining a terrible punishment, Paris clasped his hands together and begged me for mercy, but… I am the King of the Underworld and the god of justice.

“Your action was to steal another man’s wife. However, the great war that resulted from this has burdened you with many sins.”

“…!!!”

“Therefore, I sentence you to carry stones in the Underworld for 100 years with your memories erased.”

“Guards! Take this sinner away!”

A crime of coveting a woman who already had a husband and causing a war that plunged countless people into grief.

He will have to pay for his sins for a very long time.

* * *

Meanwhile, King Menelaus, who had beheaded Paris and returned to the Greek camp, said that he would return to Sparta with Helen.

His face, having avenged the resentment of having his wife stolen, seemed somewhat relieved and somewhat empty.

“Menelaus, you should have consulted with me. Shouldn’t we destroy Troy while we’re at it?”

“Brother Agamemnon, I’m sorry. Many soldiers have died and been injured. Of course, I also have a grudge against Troy for raising Paris, but I want to stop now and return with Helen.”

“No… what do you mean?”

“The compensation received from Troy is sufficient, I have received an apology from the heir, Hector, and I have beheaded Paris. I think I will be satisfied and withdraw.”

Soon, several generals began to denounce him.

Just having Menelaus, the ‘victim’ of having his wife stolen, in the Greek army gives them justification…

If he forgives Troy and returns, won’t the Greek army gathered here be seen as looters? The gods wouldn’t look kindly on that either.

And the compensation for taking Helen from Troy was entirely taken by Menelaus.

“King Menelaus! Is this really what you’re going to do? You’ve received enough compensation. You killed Paris and got Helen back, so you’re pulling out?”

“We haven’t gained anything, and you brought us all the way here…”

“Why didn’t you consult with us before making an oath on the River Styx [a river in the Underworld; oaths sworn upon it were unbreakable]!”

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“Isn’t it because you were afraid of the gods who sided with Troy that you made the oath? I didn’t think so, but you’re really a coward!”

“…You’d better watch your mouth.”

Menelaus glared at the last person who insulted him by calling him a coward, then opened his mouth.

His eyes showed an unwavering determination.

“It was a war that was wrong from the start.”

With those words, Menelaus left the camp.

At this, Helen’s brother, Polydeuces (also known as Pollux), and the old general Nestor also spoke to the commander-in-chief, Agamemnon.

“Agamemnon, if Menelaus and Helen return, I also intend to return.”

“Me too. It’s just a war between humans, not monsters. And we know that we were trained at the Pluto Temple, right? It’s hard to keep going against his will, who supports Troy.”

…!!!

“I only participated to bring my sister back, so understand…”

“Wait, Polydeuces. Even if Menelaus returns, can’t you participate in the final battle? Nestor, you too.”

“Hmm.”

“I know that you are veterans of countless adventures, so you are not interested in this kind of war. You must have been reluctant to participate in the war because you didn’t want to massacre the people of Troy.”

Agamemnon is right.

How could Nestor or Polydeuces (Pollux), who have fought mythical monsters, be interested in a war between humans?

If they were to fully engage in the war, the Trojan army would be slaughtered.

“But just once. Can’t you participate in the battle just once for my sake? I can’t return to my country without any achievements after coming this far. I beg you.”

Agamemnon, with a desperate expression, bowed his head and pleaded.

Of course, he participated because he felt sorry for Menelaus’s situation… but he wanted to gain fame, honor, and wealth through the Trojan War.

Beyond punishing the prince of a foreign country who committed adultery, the achievement of destroying Troy.

At this, they exchanged glances and nodded with reluctant expressions.

“…I will only participate in the battle once and then return.”

“Then I will do the same. If we can’t capture the castle with our strength, then the gods must not want the destruction of Troy.”

Nestor and Polydeuces join the war.

* * *

Although King Menelaus returned to Sparta with Helen, the morale of the Greek alliance was higher than expected.

First of all, Agamemnon, Menelaus’s brother, was still there, having received the oracle of Poseidon…

Hades is siding with Troy? Don’t worry and capture the castle.

“My brother, Menelaus, has mercifully forgiven Troy! But I can’t stand the ruthless Trojans! The blessing of Poseidon will be with us!”

The blessing and encouragement of Athena, who wants to destroy Troy.

“Diomedes, the power of Athena will be with you. Kill all the Trojan generals.”

“Glory to the goddess on the battlefield! I understand!”

And the decisive reason…

Thump, thump.

“The descendant of Zeus, Polydeuces!”

“The heroes of the Argo [a band of heroes in Greek mythology, famous for their quest for the Golden Fleece] are stepping forward. Troy is finished today.”

“We can finally see Nestor’s valor.”

“No matter how outstanding Aeneas or Hector are, they are nothing compared to those two…!”

It was because of one man walking out empty-handed without any armor and one middle-aged old general.

Their appearance seemed humble at first glance, but those who knew their faces all cheered.

Trained at the Pluto Temple, which is famous for creating powerful heroes.

They have dealt with countless monsters and villains.

They played an active role in the famous Argo expedition, surviving fights against dragons.

Finally… heroes among heroes who even subdued the giants, who are said to be comparable to gods.

As they, who had only been watching from behind, showed signs of entering the battle, the morale of the Greek army soared.

Compared to the monsters they had subdued, the Trojan generals were all small fry.

Clang!

The commander-in-chief of the Greek army, Agamemnon, drew his sword and shouted loudly.

“Greek warriors! Let’s end Troy today and return to our homeland!!!”

“Waaaaah!!!”

“Long live King Agamemnon!”

“Let’s destroy Troy and take everything!”

“The goddess of war protects us!”

The veteran heroes stood at the forefront,

The army, with morale soaring to the sky, began to advance towards Troy.

The Olympian gods on the Greek side smiled with satisfaction.

Although there are only two heroes of the previous generation who have built their achievements by killing monsters, if they step forward, Troy is as good as captured.

“…It’s over. The Greek allied forces will win.”

“Isn’t Polydeuces the son of Zeus, who is said to have great Pankration [an ancient Olympic sport combining boxing and wrestling] skills?”

“Hector is too good of a man to die here…”

Zeus, who had the purpose of continuing the war a little longer, stroked his chin and pondered.

When dozens of people like that gather, they even beat down the giants, didn’t they? Even Hector, the greatest hero of Troy, will be subdued in an instant.

Even if the Trojan gods somehow help, the gods who support Greece will not stand still.

Should I tell Polydeuces to step down? Or should I call Athena?

No matter how much he thought about it, it was not something that Zeus, who claimed neutrality, should intervene in.

As he was looking for a way to continue the war, he discovered something.

“…Hmm.”

He leaned back on the throne with a calm expression again.

At this moment, in the underworld.

Amidst the flood of souls, I occasionally looked at the souls, and I saw the Greek army.

To be exact, Polydeuces and Nestor, who stood in front of the Greek army.

No. I brought them to the underworld and trained them to beat monsters, and now they’re trying to capture Troy?

The last time I went to the battlefield to stop Aphrodite, they seemed to be refraining from interfering in the war between humans, so I left them alone.

Let’s see, there is a believer on the Trojan side who can lend me a body to descend to the mortal realm… I have one.

Has the shadow of death increased my followers due to the war?

“I need to borrow your body for a bit.”

“Wh-Which god are you? Could it be!”

Whoosh-

A cold current swirled around Hades’s body as he closed his eyes,

The god of the underworld began to descend on the battlefield filled with death.