King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 164

The King of the Underworld is Tired 165

The Story of the Golden Apple – (3)

Troy.

One of the city-states in the Anatolian Peninsula [modern-day Turkey].

Once upon a time, Poseidon, Apollo, and Hera rebelled against Zeus.

At that time, the rebellion failed due to Hades’ intervention, and Hera was bound in shackles for a year…

Apollo and Poseidon were forced to work as slaves under a human king for a year.

The one who enslaved them was none other than Laomedon, the king of Troy at the time.

However, this King Laomedon was very audacious…

He had these two gods build the walls of Troy and then refused to pay them.

“Weren’t you working under me according to Zeus’s command anyway? Why would gods need wages!”

“This… This damn bastard!”

“Ha…! Fine. How dare a mere human ignore us? You better be prepared.”

Thus, Troy was punished by the two Olympian gods.

Apollo sent a plague, and Poseidon sent a powerful sea monster to torment the citizens of Troy…

The sea monster was defeated by heroes seeking to build their achievements, but the plague sent by Apollo could not be stopped at all. Even doctors summoned from all over the world expressed their helplessness.

“Haa… Is there really no one who can solve the punishment given by the gods?”

“Your Majesty. We cannot stand against the Sun God. Please make a decision…”

“I have no choice. Summon all the princes and princesses! We must beg Apollo for forgiveness.”

In the end, Troy prepared numerous sacrifices and went to the Temple of Apollo to beg for forgiveness.

King Laomedon and his princes and princesses all bowed their heads until…

Whoosh-

“Ah. Apollo!”

“Insignificant human. Have you finally realized your sins?”

“I have committed a sin worthy of death! I will do whatever you command, so please, take away the plague!”

The radiant one, Phoebus Apollo, descended to this world.

Apollo was indifferent to the numerous sacrifices, but he thought this was enough and was about to withdraw the plague… when he saw the future.

Apollo, the god of prophecy.

Although not comparable to Prometheus or Gaia, his prophecies are very accurate.

Accurate enough to find a woman who would soothe his melancholy heart, as all his proper loves, such as Daphne and Coronis, ended in tragedy.

The finger of the god of prophecy pointed to a prince.

“There. Human prince. What is your name?”

“Me… are you talking about me? I am Podarces! Sun God!”

“Hmm. If you have a daughter later, send the most beautiful woman to my temple. Then I will forgive Troy.”

“Yes? Yes! I understand!”

What Apollo saw was Cassandra, who would be born in the distant future with outstanding beauty.

It was not desirable for prophecy to be used to mark someone he liked in advance, but Apollo acted that way anyway.

Smiling at the thought of the beautiful Cassandra who would be born in the future, Apollo disappeared,

and the plague also disappeared from Troy.

“Haa… Podarces! I will appoint you as my successor!”

“Ah. Father! But I have many older brothers and sisters…!”

“Shouldn’t the one offered to Apollo be a princess to save the god’s face? And the god might suddenly break his promise or something…”

Due to judgments and political intentions that were largely for Troy’s sake,

Podarces, the youngest prince who had to offer his future daughter to Apollo, inherited the throne.

Of course, many princes who missed the throne right in front of their eyes protested, but it was useless.

No one wanted to displease the Sun God, and Podarces’ daughter, who would be born in the future, was destined to be next to Apollo.

The king’s order. Fear of Apollo.

The thought of people that if the one offered to the Sun God was a princess, he might pay some attention to the country…

Podarces, who ascended the throne, declared Apollo worship as the state religion and sent his daughter Cassandra as a priestess to the temple.

The elderly Podarces also had many sons…

“Excuse me? You’re the god Hermes?”

“That’s right. I am Hermes, the messenger of the gods.”

One of them was Paris, the Trojan prince who would receive the golden apple.

* * *

“…So, you just have to give the golden apple to the most beautiful goddess among these three goddesses.”

“Gulp. Goddess Hera. Aphrodite, Athena…”

I watched the young man carefully receive the golden apple from Hermes.

As Hermes claimed, he was the most handsome human on earth, and his appearance rivaled that of a god.

The three goddesses who saw his appearance seemed to agree that he was suitable to be the judge.

The goddesses, who had been watching him for a while, opened their mouths and persuaded him.

“Human. Was your name Paris? If you give it to me, the queen of the gods, I will give you the greatest wealth and power.”

Hera first promised to give him the greatest wealth and power.

“Prince of Troy. If you give me the golden apple, you will never be defeated in war.”

Athena promised victory in war.

“I can give you a beautiful woman. A woman that every man dreams of.”

Aphrodite said she would give him a beautiful woman.

Wait a minute. If you’re going to persuade someone by offering something, isn’t it natural to choose the one with the highest reward?

If this is the case, should I add a word, regardless of who is the most beautiful goddess?

I looked at him for a moment and opened my mouth.

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

“…Who are you?”

“That doesn’t matter. I’m telling you not to be tempted by rewards and to make a careful decision.”

The Prince of Troy, who was looking into my eyes, turned his head back to the goddesses.

The goddesses, of course, had no doubt that he would give the golden apple to them.

In my opinion, the choices Paris can make now are limited.

Dividing the apple into three pieces and giving it away is the worst. Choosing one of the three goddesses is the second worst.

“Choose quickly. Isn’t it an easy choice?”

“Are you going to miss the chance to get a beauty that suits you perfectly?”

“Many people pray to my name on the battlefield. I will bestow that blessing upon you…”

If he prostrates himself, saying that he cannot choose anyone… I can prevent the divine punishment of the other goddesses, so that’s the best.

And Paris’s choice was…

“I will give this to the goddess of beauty and love!”

“Hehe. Good.”

It was to give the golden apple to Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love.

“…You better be prepared.”

“You are responsible for the consequences of this choice. Human.”

In the end, the owner of the apple was decided, and Hera and Athena gave warnings and left with Hermes.

Aphrodite was gleefully holding the golden apple and rejoicing. Paris’s expression was a bit ambiguous.

“I will give you the charm to seduce any woman. No mortal will be able to resist.”

“……”

“When you need it, call my name. Then the woman you have your eye on will be yours.”

“Then… does that also apply to women who are already married?”

Is this guy crazy? Aiming for a married woman?

As my expression naturally frowned, Aphrodite glanced at me and said.

“Of course, but why would you aim for a married woman?”

“Didn’t you promise me? Please! Goddess of beauty and love!”

“…Okay, okay.”

Unless it is before giving rewards or punishments, one cannot interfere with the rewards or punishments of other gods.

This is the tacit agreement of the gods and a law that has continued for thousands of years.

But aiming for a married woman? You said you were Paris of Troy.

Where are you going to die? Let’s see when you come to the underworld.

* * *

Back in the underworld, I immediately looked into the situation on earth.

To see where Paris, who had just received Aphrodite’s blessing, was heading.

He was heading to Sparta.

His path was a straight line, and his steps were heading with a firm purpose.

And he definitely asked about a woman who was already married, right? Then there’s only one.

Helen, the daughter of Zeus and a demigod, who holds the title of Queen of Sparta.

Her beauty is very outstanding, and her brothers, Castor and Pollux, gave up their power to achieve great things, so she received the inheritance rights to Sparta.

So many suitors flocked to take her.

I remember that the result was like this.

Whoever takes Helen will accept it, and if anyone interferes with this marriage, the suitors in this place will join forces to defeat them.

And some hero eventually married her. His name was Mel… something. [Menelaus]

Zeus was always boasting about his daughter’s beauty, so I remember it clearly.

Because there were rumors that her beauty was comparable to that of Princess Psyche, Aphrodite was also interested.

Is that crazy guy thinking of taking such a Helen?

I don’t know if he is aware that he is a prince of Troy. I really don’t know.

Wait. Zeus said that war was inevitable anyway.

There are many next-generation heroes in Greece who have grown up listening to the fame of Hercules and the Thebes Training Camp.

Helen’s suitors were also kings or successors of various city-states.

Of course, I remember that the king of Thebes, where my temple is located, did not participate.

Anyone can guess how the aftermath of touching Zeus’s daughter will spread.

Although I cannot interfere because obtaining Helen is Aphrodite’s reward, what sin have the people of Troy committed?

If war breaks out, Athena, Hera, and Poseidon will all be hostile to Troy.

Most of the numerous Greek heroes who even defeated Gigas [giants] are old and restrained, but if you think about their children… Troy will be trampled in an instant.

A city caught up in the gods’ plan to deal with heroes.

I don’t like Paris very much, but if I put him aside for a moment because he hasn’t touched Zeus’s daughter yet… it seems that justice is slightly leaning towards Troy.

Of course, besides that, it is certain that Poseidon will intervene. Shouldn’t someone balance the other side?

…What Zeus said to Hermes flashes through my mind.

“Whoever that human chooses, there will definitely be chaos?”

After finishing my thoughts, I called Morpheus, the god of dreams.

“Morpheus. I need to give a divine message to the King of Troy in a dream.”

“What should I convey?”

Without any compensation. I can’t help without any justification.

“If you build my temple in Troy, which only worships Apollo, I will help you overcome the coming crisis.”

This will change things a bit.