King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 114

The King of the Underworld is Tired 114

Nyx, Goddess of the Night – (1)

This is the Underworld Training Grounds.

Chiron was staring blankly, unable to take his eyes off one spot.

It was where Heracles, his enthusiasm rekindled thanks to Hades, and Megaira, one of the Furies, were fighting.

A hero and a goddess of vengeance dueling atop a cliff.

Their clashes shattered rocks, sending fragments flying.

Kwaaaang- Kugung!

“Hiss!”

“Heh heh…”

Heracles swung his club at the goddess, charging as if to kill, while the goddess stood still, deflecting his attacks with her torch.

Chiron himself knew that Heracles was stronger than any other hero, but…

“Not even a minor deity like a river god, but to this extent against a Fury…”

The words slipped out of his mouth without him realizing it.

Chiron felt a sense of pressure. A hero who hasn’t accomplished any great deeds yet, standing against a god.

Although the Fury was only receiving his attacks and occasionally counterattacking,

where in the world would there be a human who could exchange blows with a god in the first place?

That monstrous human was his disciple, and the hero Hades had asked him to teach about morality.

The centaur sage felt his shoulders growing heavier today.

Not only Chiron but also other past heroes and aspiring heroes were watching their fight.

“Huh… what am I even looking at right now?”

“I knew Heracles was strong, but was he comparable to a Fury?”

“Is this even possible? I would have thought it was nonsense if I hadn’t seen this with my own eyes.”

“He hasn’t even gone to the Upper World yet, and he’s already reached the realm of a great hero…”

“I don’t think he’s just a great hero. He’s already defeated everyone else except Lord Cadmus, hasn’t he?”

“And without even getting hurt… If he goes to the Upper World, I must never become enemies with Heracles.”

The eyes of the heroes who had been training together until recently were filled with jealousy, envy, admiration, and longing.

The epitome of martial prowess they had dreamed of was unfolding before their eyes.

Kugugu… Kwakwang!

Chiron, turning his gaze from the collapsing cliff scenery, shouted at the aspiring heroes.

He was an educator. He knew well how to draw enthusiasm from the jealousy and envy of those who came after.

“You all must be having many thoughts while watching this.”

“Yes… he’s really amazing.”

“That’s Heracles…”

“Hmm. To think that the power of a hero chosen by the gods is to that extent…”

As soon as he mentioned Heracles, sighs came from everywhere.

Chiron, noticing the dejection and frustration mixed in their voices, diverted their attention.

“So, are you going to give up on becoming heroes?”

“…That’s.”

“But compared to Heracles…”

“Overwhelmed by Heracles’ power, thinking you’re losers, that you can’t reach him no matter what you do?”

There was no answer to that, but Chiron knew that a wall had appeared before the aspiring heroes.

Not an insurmountable god, but the sight of a fellow mortal being so active.

For the heroes who were full of confidence and pride in themselves,

Heracles’ existence was like an absolute mountain that could never be overcome.

“What distinguishes a hero from an ordinary person isn’t just martial prowess, intelligence, or an excellent lineage. But the most decisive difference lies in their mentality.”

“……”

“In the future, when you go to the Upper World [the mortal realm] and carry out your tasks, if you are targeted by a powerful monster like Heracles, will you give up just like that? Comforting yourselves that it can’t be helped because of your lineage and talent… Are you saying you’ll become spirits and come back to this Underworld!”

At Chiron’s cry, those who had been hanging their heads met each other’s eyes one by one.

There wasn’t a single person here who didn’t have a burning desire from the bottom of their hearts.

Those who were careless about their determination to walk the path of a hero…

Were filtered out from the oath of the River Styx [the river that forms the boundary between Earth and the Underworld] before they even crossed over to the Underworld.

The training they had endured here, the memories of fighting mythical monsters or the war god Ares…

And Chiron’s words ignited the ambition and dreams that each of them held like firewood.

The eyes of the heroes who had raised their heads were quietly burning with ambition and fighting spirit.

“…Now you have eyes that are worth seeing. Then, do you have time to be playing around like this?”

“No, we don’t!”

“We showed Chiron-sensei [teacher] unsightly behavior for a moment.”

“What distinguishes a hero from an ordinary human is their mentality…”

The heroes scattered in all directions and began sparring as usual.

More fiercely than ever before.

* * *

I was receiving reports from the messengers on the throne of the fortress.

Reports coming up from all over the Underworld as always. Important matters were often mixed in, so I couldn’t just let them flow by.

Especially if it was a matter related to the Protogenoi [primordial deities], like now.

“Hades. We have word that our mother has succeeded in persuading Nyx-nim. Now, it’s up to Hades.”

What I’m looking at is a letter from Lethe-nim [Lady Lethe], the goddess of oblivion.

Lethe-nim’s mother is Eris, the goddess of discord, and her mother is Nyx, the primordial deity, a Protogenoi.

Even if we nurture Heracles and have him take down the Gigantes [giants]…

Gaia [the Earth goddess] will likely not acknowledge us.

That’s why we prepared a countermeasure.

To persuade Nyx, the goddess of the night, who is Gaia’s sibling born from Chaos and a Protogenoi.

However, Nyx-nim has withdrawn from the affairs of the world and is standing by.

Whether Gaia wins or we win, she has maintained an attitude of indifference for thousands of years, so…

In any way, to change her mind, I asked Nyx-nim’s children.

To arrange a place for me to persuade her directly, even just once.

Nyx-nim’s children who received my request.

In other words… Eris, the goddess of discord, as well as Thanatos [Death] and Hypnos [Sleep], Moros [Doom] and Keres-nim [violent death spirits], etc., took turns visiting her residence.

After a long time, I don’t know what change of heart she had.

Finally, the Protogenoi, who was heavy on the butt, said she would listen to my story.

An opportunity to receive the protection of a primordial god equal to Gaia.

I will never miss it.

* * *

Nyx-nim, the goddess of the night, is darkness and annihilation itself, born from the absolute god Chaos.

She possessed a divine power completely opposite to Gaia, the mother of the earth, who creates and produces everything.

That’s why I thought she would have thoughts somewhat distant from Gaia and set out to persuade her.

It is also why I, who am somewhat familiar with the divine power of the night, must meet her directly.

Turbuk Turbuk.

Nyx-nim’s residence is in Tartarus [the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering], in the most terrifying area there.

However, she is not trapped in Tartarus… When it becomes night, she switches places with Hemera, the goddess of the day and her daughter.

The downhill road to Tartarus.

I ran into Eris-nim, another goddess residing in the Underworld.

“Ah. Hades.”

“Eris-nim. Thank you so much for persuading Nyx-nim for us.”

Goddess Eris, who has a beautiful appearance but wears a colder and more venomous expression than Demeter.

She said to me with an attitude that it was nothing.

“What’s this much? It’s just saying a few words to my mother when my son-in-law asks.”

“Son-in-law…”

“Heung? Are you not thinking of marrying Lethe?”

I quickly changed my words at the sight of her frowning eyes.

“No. That’s not it. Thank you. Mother-in-law.”

“Ohoho! You’ve only gotten more glib after living as the master of the Underworld for so long. Are you going to Tartarus?”

“Yes. Mother-in-law arranged a meeting with Nyx-nim for me, so…”

“If you wait at the entrance without entering Tartarus, she will probably come out. Then, take care.”

Although she is the goddess of discord that others avoid, it seems that occasionally visiting and greeting her has had an effect.

Whenever I invite her to banquets, something suspicious happens and the banquet is interrupted, but…

As expected, you must always bow to the elders first.

“…Please be careful.”

After parting with the goddess of discord, Eris-nim, no, my mother-in-law, I continued to descend.

Little by little… more and more… Fog, which was evidence that I was slowly getting closer to Tartarus, flowed out, and a chilling coldness lingered.

About 300 steps to the bronze gate of Tartarus.

If it’s Nyx-nim, she must know that I have come this far.

Numerous grounds to persuade her and ways to appeal to her come to mind and disappear in my head.

No, no… It will be even more difficult than persuading Prometheus.

No matter what rhetoric I use, it is difficult to avoid the intention of asking her to fight Gaia on our behalf.

The bronze gate is visible, and the three giants sitting side by side in front of it are visible.

The Hecatoncheires [hundred-handed ones] brothers, with 50 heads and 100 hands, are greeting me.

“Oh! Hades!”

“It’s been a while. I heard you met Prometheus last time too?”

“These days, Cronus is quiet. The other Titans are the same. But what brings you here today?”

“Ah, today…”

Saaaaaㅡ

While I was about to answer them about Nyx-nim, the air suddenly became heavy.

A sense of pressure that was closing in. Disappearing light. Far surpassing Zeus, even more than Cronus’s pressure…

There was no one in this place who didn’t know what was happening now.

The Hecatoncheires brothers quickly stood up and straightened their clothes.

I, too, finished preparing to greet the being who would appear in this place and bowed my head towards the place where the energy was gathering.

Soon, the surroundings were covered in darkness, and I felt an immense presence in front of me.

At the same time, a sweet, beautiful voice was heard.

“Oh my, isn’t it uncomfortable to bow your head like that?”

Nyx, the goddess of the night and the primordial Protogenoi, has descended.