King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 150

The King of the Underworld is Tired 151 (150/179)

Gigantomachia – Premonition

Today is just another busy day, no different from any other. Daily life in the Underworld is as repetitive as a treadmill.

As I, the one who governs this peaceful Underworld, was going about my duties, someone came to visit…

It was Hypnos, the god of sleep, who goes around spreading slumber to all beings in the world.

“Hades, have you heard the news?”

“What news are you talking about?”

“The rumor that the goddess Thetis has been meeting with a human lately.”

I stared at Hypnos, who was chuckling as if something interesting had happened, and then spoke.

“She was looking for a husband through a tournament held in the human realm, but so far, no one has caught her eye, has she?”

She wanted to get married, yes. But for the beautiful goddess of the sea, it would be difficult for anyone who isn’t a god or demigod to meet her standards.

Especially since Zeus, who is sensitive to power, was likely applying some coercion.

“Of course! They aren’t gods or demigods. But who would have known? That there would be someone who barely met the picky goddess’s standards!”

“…?”

“I heard that in a recent hunting competition, a human hero caught more than half of the released prey and won the championship.”

“That alone wouldn’t be enough to pique the goddess’s interest, would it?”

The goddess Thetis is considered the most beautiful of the Nereid [sea nymph] sisters.

There are even rumors that her beauty surpasses that of Amphitrite, Poseidon’s wife, so her standards are very high.

If we’re talking about the standards of the gods, who are overflowing with handsome men and beautiful women, then no matter which man you bring, she won’t be satisfied, right?

“Since he won the competition, he would have been given the opportunity to propose to the goddess, but…”

“Do you know what that human said in a private meeting with the goddess? He asked if she could give him more achievements! Hahaha!”

“…?!”

“Of course, Thetis wouldn’t have stood still when that human wasn’t swayed by her beauty, right? She ordered him to catch all sorts of sea monsters… and surprisingly, he beat them all up and said he wanted to accumulate more achievements. Hehehe!”

Wait a minute. I’m reminded of the heroes who were catching the Calydonian Boar [a monstrous boar sent by Artemis to ravage Calydon] not too long ago.

If they are humans crazy about trials and achievements… could they be one of the heroes training in the Underworld?

“After that happened several times, do you know what the goddess Thetis said to the human because there were no more tasks to give him?”

“Why do you know so much about it? Could it be that you’re not working and just sightseeing in the mortal realm…?”

“Ahem! I’m not Thanatos [the personification of death], so how could that be? I just heard the story from another god. Anyway, they said they had this conversation.”

I listened carefully to what Hypnos was saying for a moment.

I was curious to know how he had won the goddess’s heart.

“I caught one of the offspring of Keto [a sea monster goddess] you mentioned. Please give me the next task!”

“…There are no more trials for you to take.”

“Yes?”

“Except for one thing. An achievement that even great heroes could not easily accomplish.”

“Hmm…! Anything is fine. Please tell me! Surely it’s not about catching a dragon…”

“Marrying me, Thetis, the goddess of the sea. Marrying a goddess as a wife is an achievement that only great heroes could achieve, so you can be proud.”

“…!”

So that’s what happened…

The goddess Thetis fell in love with the human hero who was not swayed by her beauty and bravely completed his tasks?

It seems like he learned something wrong in the Underworld… Well, anyway, it’s a good thing, so it’s okay.

“So what’s the name of that hero?”

“I heard it’s Peleus. The wedding will be held after they wipe out the Gigantes [giants in Greek mythology who fought against the Olympian gods].”

I’ve heard that name somewhere before.

* * *

Not long ago, Zeus sent news to the Underworld.

He told us to be careful so that the Gigantes or Gaia [the Earth goddess and mother of the Titans] wouldn’t notice that he was about to start a war with the Gigantes.

Perhaps he’s planning to attack the Phlegra plain [the battlefield of the Gigantomachy] when they’re off guard?

Of course, he said that he was considering a full-scale war because Gaia’s ability to predict the future was a concern.

“I feel bad for Heracles [also known as Hercules], but it will be a short honeymoon.”

“We have no choice since we need the god of strength to win. Still, I think he and the goddess of youth will be a good couple.”

“Well. Let’s keep an eye on the Phlegra plain as you were doing. If the Gigantes move first, we’ll have to respond.”

As I watched Hypnos nod and leave, something caught my senses.

Numerous people in the mortal realm cheering my name. The faith I feel. Numerous sacrifices offered to the name of the god.

Was the Mint Festival being held in Thebes? I closed my eyes and looked at the mortal realm, and I could hear the voices of the believers.

It’s Thebes, as expected. What’s going on this time?

But today, many citizens were out on the streets.

The atmosphere was like a festival, but it wasn’t the regular Mint Festival.

“Is today the day that the princess of Arcadia and the prince of Calydon are getting married?”

“But why are they holding the wedding in Thebes? Why not in their own country?”

“It’s obvious that they’re making an excuse because they want to form an alliance with Thebes. His Majesty thought it was a good idea for the three countries to form an alliance, but I…”

“Hmm. I don’t think so. There’s a rumor that they trained together at the Temple of Pluto. Could that be why?”

“Princess Atalante of Arcadia serves the goddess Artemis, doesn’t she?”

“Hahaha! Anyway, isn’t it a good thing for us! Tourists from other cities are overflowing!”

“If you can’t make a profit this time, you’re not even qualified to be a merchant.”

“Everyone’s heard of those names. Aren’t they famous heroes? They’re also friends with the kings of Athens and Iolcos…”

“Hey. I’m from Arcadia… by any chance, that mint tea…”

“I’m from Calydon. The scenery of Thebes isn’t too bad.”

Perhaps they took into account that the two heroes became close while training together in the Underworld through my temple in Thebes.

Arcadia, Calydon, Thebes. They may be promoting an alliance between these three countries, and holding the wedding in Thebes as the opening ceremony.

But from that far away to Thebes… No. If monsters appear, they’ll be happy to call it an achievement.

I hope they don’t bring monster skins as wedding gifts…

“Oh…! There’s Prince Meleagros of Calydon! He’s coming this way with the Calydonian soldiers!”

“Wow. Is that well-dressed giant the prince? But there’s something on the soldiers’ shoulders?”

“They’re bringing a monster corpse! Is it a harpy [a winged, monstrous bird with a woman’s face]? I can’t see it well from here.”

…They really did encounter a monster on the way and beat it up.

* * *

The wedding held in Thebes this time was not an ordinary political marriage.

It had the meaning of a union between three countries, so some gods and many surrounding countries were paying attention to it.

The king of the Underworld, whose name is feared and called by another name.

The rumor that the abilities of those who have trained for a long time in the Temple of Pluto far surpass those of ordinary heroes has long spread throughout Greece.

Even Heracles, the hero of heroes, who has been missing for some time and is rumored to be the most powerful, was in the Thebes training camp, wasn’t he?

“Oh… there’s Princess Atalante! They say she’s a fierce woman, but she’s incredibly beautiful?”

“Not as much as the goddess Aphrodite, but she’s not inferior to the heavenly goddesses…”

The fact that Princess Atalante, who made a name for herself as an archer among the heroes from Thebes, and Prince Meleagros, a master of the javelin, are marrying each other.

This made many royal families and heroes of various countries think that the times were changing.

There were even rumors that the King of Thebes told them first that it would be a good idea to get married in Thebes.

Surely he was trying to get a foot in the alliance between the two countries under the pretext of the heroes’ wedding, wasn’t he?

Thebes is already seeing great advantages in trade between countries as a mint production area,

If they gain a strong ally through the three-country alliance…

Bbiririri~

“Prince Meleagros is entering from that side!”

“Master of the javelin! His Highness the Prince of Calydon!”

“Wow!!!”

After the wedding, the blind prophet Tiresias [a famous seer in Greek mythology], stroking his long beard, approached the newly married couple.

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He had come to Thebes in advance, as if predicting the heroes’ wedding. He had been blinded for siding with Zeus in the argument between Zeus and Hera, but in return, he received the ability to prophesy and a long life.

Meleagros and Atalante, who recognized him as the most famous human prophet in Greece, asked him a question.

“Lord Tiresias, what do you think about the marriage between Atalante and me?”

“Hmm…”

Everyone looked at the mouth of the most famous human prophet in Greece.

What will this prophet say?

Tiresias cleared his throat for a moment and said calmly.

“I see you raising children well. Your future will be very bright.”

“Phew… Thank you, Lord Tiresias!”

“Thank you so much.”

The blind prophet, receiving the couple’s thanks, set off on his long wandering journey again.

But perhaps it was the prophet’s intuition. He had a feeling that their future would not be smooth.

Meleagros, who died by his mother because he killed his uncles, Atalante, who turned into a lion and died as a result of incurring the wrath of the goddess after marriage…

He brushed off the memory of a fleeting dream-like illusion he had experienced in the distant past and smiled.

Because in the future he sees again now, he saw them holding a child and being happy.

Perhaps there was something he had misseen. Isn’t that what prophecy is all about?

But if that’s not the case, then it’s the intervention of divinity…

‘Huh… which merciful god is taking care of the heroes?’

The world is run by heroes.

Now is the age of heroes.