King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 190

The King of the Underworld is Tired 190 (189/193)

Side Story – The Underworld Rebellion (4)

After parting with Epimetheus, I immediately returned to the Underworld.

If I could meet with Prometheus, who likely persuaded Atlas, and finalize the discussion with the Hecatoncheires brothers, we could proceed to Olympus.

As I arrived back in the Underworld, a familiar face greeted me.

A massive giant looked at me with a smirk. It was Atlas, the great Titan who had been supporting the celestial sphere until recently.

He regarded me with a strange mix of emotions.

“Yo, Hades?”

“Atlas.”

“I was really surprised when I heard the story from Prometheus – that Zeus’s loyal servant is plotting a rebellion.”

Zeus’s loyal servant, huh…

“Ha. Yes, I’ve decided to stop being a loyal servant and aim to become the king of the gods.”

“Oho… good. Well, I’ll be satisfied as long as I don’t have to hold up the celestial sphere anymore.”

“Zeus will have to hold up the celestial sphere now.”

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Prometheus, who was watching us from the side, clapped and smiled contentedly.

“Heh heh heh! Good, very good. Did you do a good job persuading my brother, Hades?”

“Epimetheus will destroy the mountain and return to the Underworld.”

“Hmm. Then all that’s left is…”

“I’m planning to persuade the Hecatoncheires brothers [giants with 50 heads and 100 hands] to stay out of the war. Do you have any useful advice or predictions?”

Prometheus chuckled and immediately replied.

Atlas, standing next to him, shrugged, looking indifferent.

“Well? Looking at your face, I don’t think you need my advice.”

“…I don’t think they want to keep guarding the entrance to Tartarus [the deepest abyss of the Underworld] forever.”

“Stimulating their ambition isn’t a bad idea either. Like abandoning hunting dogs after the hunt is over. Heh heh. Do as you see fit.”

I nodded and was about to head down to Tartarus when Prometheus spoke again.

“Wait. If Epimetheus comes to the Underworld, subdue me, tie me up, and send a messenger to Zeus.”

“…?”

“The plan is to bring Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, to the Underworld under the excuse of handing me over to Olympus. Then, infiltrate Olympus under the pretense of escorting me directly when she opens the passage.”

I subdue Prometheus under the pretext that I caught him after he escaped, and then call Iris?

If Iris opens a passage between Olympus and the Underworld, we’ll launch a surprise attack at that moment… Would Olympus really fall for that?

It’s a plan with too many loopholes, but at least it’s more likely than an all-out war.

Since we have to rush in and launch a surprise attack in the first place, it wouldn’t be bad to do as he says for now.

It would be fortunate if they fall for it, and if Olympus doesn’t fall for it, we can just charge in.

Two powerful Titans and a perfect prophet. With this much power, we have a chance of winning.

Epimetheus needs to do a good job. It would be good if the recent conflicts have made the division in Olympus a little more serious.

They would unite if there was an external enemy, but if they didn’t realize I had rebelled…!

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“That’s not a bad idea. Atlas, you should hide for now. Hypnos! Are you outside!”

* * *

The entrance to Tartarus.

The Hecatoncheires brothers, gods with 50 heads and 100 hands, guarding the entrance.

These giants, named Cottus, Briareos, and Gyges, possess power that even Uranus would be wary of.

I always visited them regularly to talk, so as not to forget their hard work in protecting Tartarus.

I often brought them nectar and ambrosia [the food and drink of the gods], so I thought I had become quite close to the three brothers… but how do they see me?

They are the type to never forget a favor, so it would be impossible to ask them to join the rebellion.

However, considering the bond I have with them, I might be able to ask them to condone the rebellion.

“Hmm? Hades?”

“You came a while ago, and you’ve been visiting frequently these days.”

As I continued to descend, I saw the three brothers.

They were leaning against the bronze gate of Tartarus as usual.

“Hecatoncheires. I have something important to say today.”

“Something important?”

“No Titans have left Tartarus.”

“Hmph?”

I cleared my throat for a moment and declared to them.

“I’m planning to rebel against Zeus and become the king of the gods. Can you condone this?”

As soon as I finished speaking, their demeanor changed.

The three brothers stood up abruptly, clearly unable to agree with my words.

“…Sorry, but we can’t do that.”

“We’ve been quite friendly with you, but we would have been trapped in Tartarus forever if Zeus hadn’t released us.”

“Yes. Zeus released us. You should give up on the idea of rebelling.”

“Can you listen to my story a little more?”

The logic to persuade them was prepared in advance. They are really old Titans.

They don’t have any particular thoughts about mortals, so it would be meaningless to tell them that the Olympian gods are tormenting humans.

“I am always grateful to you. You helped us in the Titanomachy [the war between the Titans and the Olympian gods], and now you are voluntarily taking on the task of firmly guarding this Tartarus.”

“…?”

“But what has Zeus done for your dedication?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t even mention that he took you out of Tartarus. Wasn’t that repaid by taking our side in the Titanomachy? What I’m saying is… you’ve been suffering from guarding this place for so long, has Zeus even cared about you?”

The three brothers stopped moving.

Eyes began to roll busily in a total of 150 heads.

But no matter how much they think about it, they will come to the conclusion that I am right.

“Zeus is no longer interested in you. To be exact, you have outlived your usefulness.”

“What?!”

“Has Zeus ever come here to see you even once?”

“…No.”

“Then, after the Titan War, have the Olympian gods rewarded you or praised you for your hard work?”

“Not even once…”

“Then why are you still on Zeus’s side? Great Hecatoncheires.”

They seemed speechless.

They were just looking at each other.

This is clearly Zeus’s mistake.

No matter how strong his power is, he must pay attention to continue to gain the support of others.

The Hecatoncheires had clearly been favored by Zeus.

However, thousands and tens of thousands of years of neglect were enough to dilute that favor.

“I never asked you to take my side in the first place. I’m just asking you to watch.”

“Hmm… is that so?”

“Hades is right. When was the last time we saw Zeus?”

“Even if Tartarus is far from Olympus, he should come at least once.”

“Think carefully. Who cares more about you, me or Zeus?”

* * *

I succeeded in getting the Hecatoncheires brothers to agree not to interfere in my rebellion.

Their powerful strength is a sufficient variable, which further increases the possibility of the rebellion succeeding.

I immediately returned to the audience chamber and reviewed the plan with several gods.

Thanatos, Lethe, Styx, Hypnos, Atlas, Prometheus, etc. Many gods’ opinions added substance to the future plan.

“We sent a letter to Olympus, so Iris will definitely come.”

“I went to check the sea while I was on my way to deliver dreams to the mortals earlier.”

“What is Poseidon doing? Even if Atlas, Epimetheus, and Prometheus have joined, Poseidon’s existence is a variable…”

“Is there a chance of winning…?”

“If Hades uses that tricky Quineae [likely a powerful artifact or ability] and ambushes Zeus first, we can win.”

“Atlas is right. Hades, you have to aim for Zeus, who is off guard. Then the rest will support you…”

Finally, I turned to Epimetheus, who had safely removed the rocky mountain and returned to the Underworld.

“When you came to the Underworld, were you spotted by the Olympian gods or anyone else?”

“I saw Hermes in the middle, but fortunately, he was far away and didn’t recognize me.”

“Demeter may look at the memories of the earth, so we must quickly invade Olympus. Epimetheus, you must help us then.”

As we were discussing the rebellion to overthrow Zeus,

A voice calling for me was heard from outside the audience chamber.

“Lord Hades! Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, is at the entrance to the Underworld…”

The time of rebellion has come.

“…and Athena, the goddess of wisdom, has arrived!”

“Athena?”

“Did she sense something, as befits the goddess of wisdom?”

“Have we been found out already?”

Everyone was agitated by the attendant’s words.

Whether the reason Athena came to the Underworld was Zeus’s warning, or her own suspicion.

I have no choice but to meet them myself for now.

“If we were really caught, they wouldn’t have come to the Underworld. I think there is a high possibility that Zeus sent Hermes to check the atmosphere of the Underworld after I got angry at him and chased him away a while ago. Atlas and Epimetheus, go outside and hide, and when the passage to Olympus opens and the gods start to cross over…”

I told the messenger to let them into the audience chamber, then sat on the throne and waited for Athena and Iris to arrive.

If they show any signs of noticing something… I’ll have to subdue them here.

Squeak.

“Uncle Hades. Greetings.”

“Greetings to the lord of the Underworld.”

I smiled bitterly as I looked at them cautiously entering the audience chamber.

Because Athena was wearing full armor, equipped with a shield and spear.

Well. Either way, it doesn’t matter.

Once you enter the Underworld… you are nothing more than a rat in a jar, not a worm in the heart.