King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 167

The King of the Underworld is Tired 168 (167/179)

Something Strange About the Trojan War – (2)

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After a long voyage, the allied forces decided to deal with Troy’s allies first.

They invaded nearby small countries and obtained many spoils, including gold, silver, jewels, land, and… beautiful women.

Achilles, the son of Peleus, the hero who married the goddess Thetis.

In accordance with the prophecy that he would become greater than his father, he grew up to be a hero surpassing his father.

When the allied forces invaded the allied countries near Troy, he was at the forefront, fighting and achieving many feats.

“Agamemnon, I have obtained two beautiful women named Briseis and Chryseis. I will give Chryseis to you.”

“Oh, very good. An absolute beauty…”

Achilles took one of the two beautiful women he had brought from invading Troy’s allied countries and gave her to Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief.

However, a problem arose here: Chryseis’s father, Chryses, a priest of the Temple of Apollo, pleaded with Agamemnon to return his daughter, but was driven away.

Harboring resentment, Chryses prayed to Apollo, whom he served, to punish the Greek army…

Apollo, who was already on Troy’s side, readily spread a plague.

Eventually, due to the soldiers dying from divine punishment, Agamemnon had to return Chryseis to her father, along with many treasures.

Harboring resentment, Agamemnon took Briseis from Achilles.

“Agamemnon! Why are you taking my Briseis!”

“Enough, Achilles! Didn’t you deliberately offer me the daughter of a priest serving Apollo? And the best spoils should rightfully belong to me, the commander-in-chief!”

“What? That’s absurd! Fine, if that’s how it is, I won’t fight anymore!”

Achilles, furious, returned to his camp.

Naturally, the generals tried to persuade Agamemnon. They had personally witnessed Achilles’s incredible prowess.

Polideuces, a respected hero of the previous generation, spoke first.

“Hey, Nestor, why don’t you try to persuade that angry young man? And Agamemnon, let’s talk.”

“Hmm?”

“A beautiful woman is not comparable to honor. That young friend Achilles seems far superior to Peleus in his youth. Antagonizing such a person is not the way to win the war.”

“I agree, brother. We can always capture Troy and obtain beauties then, can’t we?”

“I concur.”

“Let’s not fight over spoils unnecessarily.”

Other generals agreed with Polideuces. They did not want this expedition to gain honor and wealth to end in failure.

In the end, Agamemnon could not overcome the generals’ opinion and promised to return Briseis.

“Hey, Achilles.”

“Nestor? What brings you here?”

“Your father, Peleus, was truly great.”

Achilles, who had returned in anger, was being persuaded by Nestor.

Achilles seemed willing to listen to the words of the old general and hero, who was respected by everyone.

“The Thebe Training Camp. Are you familiar with it?”

“How many people in Greece wouldn’t know about it?”

“There were many great heroes like Jason and Hercules, but do you know that your father, Peleus, was not far behind? Winning the hunting competition hosted by the goddess Thetis and hunting powerful sea monsters one after another for even greater achievements, he was truly heroic.”

Achilles also knew his father well.

After leaving the Thebe Training Camp, he participated in the Argonaut expedition and the Calydonian boar hunt. And eventually, he overcame the goddess’s trials and married an immortal.

Wasn’t Achilles also participating in the Trojan War because he wanted to be like his great father?

“I heard that you were hiding, dressed as a woman, according to your mother, the goddess Thetis? But seeing that you didn’t beat up the messengers and run away when that fact was revealed, but came here…”

“…That’s right. I came here because I wanted to be a hero like you.”

“Then why are you so attached to a mere beauty? Peleus aimed for a goddess by accumulating achievements, but his son is blinded by a mere human woman and refuses to participate in the war.”

“Th-that’s not it! It’s because Agamemnon…!”

“Agamemnon was wrong, that’s true. But he will soon realize his mistake and ask for reconciliation. Don’t you want to make a name for yourself? Please put aside your personal feelings for now.”

“……”

Soon after, Agamemnon’s envoy brought Briseis and many treasures.

Achilles headed to Agamemnon’s camp and reconciled with him.

“Hmm, I had a narrow-minded side. I want to apologize now, will you accept it?”

“No, I also have a fault for not offering proper spoils to the commander-in-chief…”

Thus, with the persuasion of experienced heroes, the conflict between the allied forces was temporarily patched up.

* * *

The Olympus Divine Palace above the clouds.

Zeus, the king of the gods, summoned all the gods of Olympus.

“As the gods who are interested in the mortal realm know well, a great war has broken out.”

All sorts of gods, filled with interest and curiosity at finding an enjoyable pastime, and worry, looked at him.

Some, including Athena, suspected that Zeus was behind this war.

“Troy and the Greek allied forces… Gaia said last time that there were too many heroes. We should take this opportunity to reduce the number of human heroes. All gods are free to support whichever side they want.”

“Isn’t Hector, whom you cherish, a prince of Troy?”

Hera pointed out, expressing her curiosity at Zeus’s declaration.

If the king of the gods intervened in the war in the mortal realm, the help of the gods on the opposite side would be meaningless.

“Hmm, hmm. Hector is quite outstanding, but I will remain neutral, so feel free to do as you please.”

“Hmph. Really? Then you really don’t care if Troy is destroyed?”

“Of course not, Poseidon. You are free to support Troy.”

Zeus casually brushed off Poseidon’s words, who was full of resentment towards Troy.

Of course, it would be unfortunate if Hector really died, but he took the attitude that it didn’t matter because there were many gods who would side with Troy.

‘Hades, who was pessimistic about the war, seems likely to side with Troy.’

Poseidon’s intervention will not break the balance.

* * *

The Greek allied forces finally set foot on Trojan soil.

For some reason, the Trojan army was only encamped in front of the castle and did not attack even when the Greek allied forces landed.

After briefly guarding against a surprise attack, the Greek allied forces slowly moved.

They disembarked from the ships in an orderly manner, established a base, and began to survey the direction of Troy.

Sensing something strange, Agamemnon approached Menelaus.

“Hector, the commander-in-chief of Troy, shouldn’t be a foolish man who doesn’t know war.”

“I also heard that he is the most outstanding hero in Troy. Something is suspicious.”

“Hmm… Since they waited for us to land, we should declare war on them.”

“That would be good. Hey! Bring me my horse and spear! I’ll go see that Paris’s face!”

The purpose was to remind the soldiers of the justification that the war was caused by a suitor who had his wife stolen, and to boost their morale.

It would also demoralize the Trojan side and appeal to the gods of Olympus for justification.

Clatter.

Menelaus gripped his spear in one hand, spurred his horse, and headed towards the Trojan camp.

An army lined up in front of the magnificent castle in the distance. Surely, the one wearing a helmet that gleamed in the sunlight and standing on a horse was the commander.

“Listen! I am Menelaus, King of Sparta! Where is that Paris who dared to steal my wife hiding!”

Even as the King of Sparta made this provocation, he did not expect Paris to come out.

That’s because wars and conflicts between countries cannot be resolved by justice alone, can they?

No matter how much the prince of his country committed adultery and caused a war, he would not readily return Helen… Huh?

Menelaus, who was about to continue his provocation, froze on the spot.

Because an all-too-unexpected sight unfolded before his eyes.

First, the one wearing the gleaming helmet spurred his horse forward and spoke.

Clatter.

“You must be the renowned King Menelaus of Sparta. I am Hector, the commander-in-chief of Troy.”

He had guessed that the one wearing the gleaming helmet was either Hector or a general with some status.

But the two figures walking out weakly behind him were…!

“We acknowledge that the cause of the war lies with us. My father, King Podarces, has ordered that Helen be returned immediately.”

Hector’s polite bow did not reach Menelaus’s ears.

What was reflected in his eyes was…

“……”

“…Ah.”

The face of his enemy, Paris, whose eyes were bruised blue as if he had been beaten to a pulp and who was limping, and…

His beloved wife, Helen, shedding tears and looking at Menelaus.

“Are you mocking me now? Hector?”