King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 128

The King of the Underworld is Tired – Episode 128 (128/140)

The Fourth Labor – Triton’s Conch (1)

Heracles could immediately tell that the prince who had just arrived was the child of a nymph.

A handsome face and fair skin were rare unless someone had the blood of gods or fairies in them.

The king’s story about not inviting him to the banquet made sense now.

‘The king’s successor is over there drinking, so he must be the child of a concubine nymph,’ Heracles thought.

“Greetings, Heracles! I am Hylas!”

“Hylas…?”

“Yes. I am much younger, so please feel free to speak casually with me!”

It was easy to see why the king hadn’t invited him.

Admiring eyes. Inquisitive questions. Words spoken without a second thought.

He was clearly a young man who was naive and admired heroes.

The king must have been worried that he might be impolite to the hero.

“Lamia? I heard her nails were quite sharp.”

“Oh… indeed.”

King Theiodamas had tried to steer Hylas away, but seeing him talking to Heracles, he remained silent.

If Heracles befriended Hylas, it would be easier to recruit him into the kingdom.

Thus, Heracles had a moderately enjoyable time at the banquet where he was the guest of honor.

The great hero’s body didn’t get drunk no matter how much he drank, but as they say, he got drunk on the atmosphere.

“Now that the banquet seems to be winding down, I will introduce you to Menodice. Hylas! Take this hero to your mother.”

“You wish to see my mother? Please, follow me.”

Thus, Heracles met Hylas’s mother, the nymph Menodice.

He asked her directly about Triton.

“I must meet Triton because of my labor [one of the tasks assigned to him by King Eurystheus]. You are a nymph, so perhaps you know something…”

“Hmm… Unfortunately, I am a Naiad [a freshwater nymph] who lives in a spring, so I have no connection with Triton.”

Even if they are water nymphs, they do not all live in the same place.

Oceanids [ocean nymphs] who live in the ocean, Pegaias [spring nymphs] who are spring fairies, and so on, have different names depending on where they live.

Hylas’s mother, Menodice, is a Naiad who lives in ponds or lakes.

She probably doesn’t know Triton, who lives in a deep sea palace.

Seeing Heracles’s face fall with disappointment, Menodice hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.

“But I do know the location of the beach where the sea fairies, the Nereids [sea nymphs], come out to play at night. If you ask them, you might find out.”

The sea nymphs (fairies), the Nereids, are the daughters of the sea titan Nereus and the goddess Doris.

The more than 50 fairy sisters live in the sea, so they must know Triton.

“Please tell me the location. I will definitely repay you.”

“The repayment is unnecessary. Rather, please accept my son, Hylas, as your servant.”

It was not Heracles who was surprised by this, but Hylas.

It seemed that this had not been discussed in advance.

“Mother?!”

“Hehe. You have always disliked the stuffy palace life. Now that the hero you admire has appeared, follow him and experience the world.”

“…! Thank you…”

Heracles looked at them and nodded.

Having one servant wouldn’t be a big deal.

Since he is not the king’s successor but the son of a concubine, the king might allow it…

The next day, Heracles received permission from King Theiodamas and took Hylas as his servant.

Perhaps Menodice had influenced him the night before, as the king surprisingly readily agreed.

Thus, Hylas and Heracles headed to the beach that Menodice had told them about, where the Nereids often appeared.

* * *

A quiet beach by the sea.

Heracles and Hylas hid in suitable rock crevices, waiting for the nymphs to appear.

But even as the goddess Selene [goddess of the moon] was driving her moon chariot across the sky, the nymphs were nowhere to be seen.

They had been staying in a nearby village and lying in wait here for days…

“Hylas. Could your mother have given us the wrong information?”

“Hmm. Shall I take a look around?”

As they wavered, tired of waiting, a faint singing voice was heard from the sea.

It was dark at night, so humans were not visible, and the direction from which the singing voice came was the empty sea.

Then… it’s the nymphs!

“Girls, what shall we do today?”

“Anelnoi, let’s look for shells! There are definitely many left since humans don’t come around often!”

“Are the humans all asleep again today?”

“Ah~ I’m so tired of seaweed dishes. I want to eat human food!”

“Human food? Shall we sneak into a nearby village and get some?”

Seven or eight women, no, nymphs, wet from the sea, walked out of the water.

Hylas was mesmerized by the sight of the mysterious sea nymphs – young, beautiful, and not human.

And Heracles waited for them to come a little closer, then slowly revealed himself from the rock crevices, speaking calmly with both hands raised to show that he had no hostility…!

“Excuse me. Are you the sea nymphs, the Nereids? Could I have a word with you…”

“Kyaaaa!!!”

“It’s a monster! It’s a human! Save me!”

“Father Nereus! Help meee!”

However, despite Heracles’s efforts, the Nereids screamed and ran in all directions.

Many of them jumped into the sea, shouting the names of their parents, Nereus and Doris.

“No…”

Why on earth did this happen?

In fact, the Nereids are not usually very afraid of humans.

To begin with, their parents are Titans and goddesses, and they themselves knew how to wield some mysterious powers.

They often teased handsome young men in fishing villages or rescued humans who were drowning.

But… Heracles was wearing the Nemean lion’s skin.

In addition, there was the golden sword at his waist and the iron club he had ordered after the battle with the Hydra on his back.

He looked like a heavily armed hunter or hero.

And look at that huge physique and muscular arms. They knew very well the boisterousness of Greek men.

Wouldn’t they have to worry about their chastity and lives if they were caught?

Because it was a dark night, Heracles’s raised hands looked as if he was trying to grab them.

And the appearance of him coming out of the rock crevices was like a thug ambushing them.

“Kyaaaa!!!”

“Save meee!”

“Hiiiik! A hunter, it’s a hunter!”

So this situation occurred.

* * *

The hero’s worries didn’t last long, and his judgment was quick.

Heracles’s body moved like lightning, grabbing the arm of the nearest Nereid.

Thump!

“Kyaaaaㅡ!! Ugh. Ugh!!”

“Be quiet for now; you’re being too loud.”

“Ah. No! Let go! You bad guy!”

“Anelnoi!!!”

“Let’s… tell Triton! Quickly!”

Heracles quickly subdued one of the nymphs called Anelnoi.

The screams echoed and gradually disappeared into the sea, and the terrified nymph looked up at him.

‘Damn it, Chiron [a wise centaur and Heracles’s mentor] told me not to harm the weak. I’ve ended up being unnecessarily threatening.’

Heracles released the nymph he was holding tightly with a slightly troubled look.

As if knowing that she would be caught again if she tried to escape in this state, the nymph rubbed her arm and looked at him resentfully.

“…I am Heracles, a human performing Hera’s labor. I won’t hurt you if you just answer my questions.”

“Liar!”

“What?”

“How many guys are impersonating the great hero Heracles! You’re one of them, aren’t you?”

No, can’t you tell even after seeing this lion skin and the golden sword at my waist?

But that’s understandable. Heracles was quite famous in Greece now.

The story of the great hero performing the labors of the goddess Hera had been widely spread for a long time.

The strongest great hero in the world, Heracles!

Even the sight of his iron club makes all monsters tremble in fear!

The golden sword at his waist, obtained by tearing and killing Chrysaor!

The lion skin obtained by beating and killing the Nemean lion!

He didn’t get anything from the Hydra; he just smashed it to pieces!

He had only completed three labors, but his journey was more amazing than anyone else’s.

Among Greeks with little entertainment, the great hero’s life story was more interesting than anything else.

Therefore, it is natural that lion skins sold like hotcakes, requests for iron clubs flooded blacksmiths,

And the number of people who gilded their swords in gold and wore them around their waists increased.

“No, I’m the real Heracles…”

“Liar! Heracles is a great hero who doesn’t touch women! You thug who forcibly grabs a maiden’s arm!”

“Doesn’t it occur to you that I grabbed you because you suddenly ran away?!”

Only the real Heracles, who was suddenly treated as a fake, was going crazy.

He had to somehow persuade them and create a connection with Triton, but they didn’t believe he was real…

Hylas, seeing their argument, approached.

“Heracles!”

“Ah, Hylas.”

“Is there a problem?”

“This nymph doesn’t believe I’m the real Heracles.”

“Hmph! I heard that Heracles always travels alone! You thugs!”

They lost their words at the nymph’s bold reply even after seeing Hylas.

In Heracles’s opinion, this misunderstanding would not be resolved without swearing on the River Styx [a sacred oath].

So, just as he slowly opened his mouth to swear…!

Splash!!!

“Which human dares… try to kidnap the Nereids I protect!”

“Ah, Triton!”

A huge spray of water rose, separating them from the nymph.