King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 17

The King of the Underworld is Tired 17

Story After Typhon – (1)

Whine! Eeeeee! Squeak!

What am I supposed to do with this?

I stared down at the three-headed dog, desperately wagging its tail and showing its belly.

It’s a little cute when I look at it like this… well…

“Lord Hades, shouldn’t we get rid of this monster spawn? It’s strong enough as it is…”

It’s already strong enough to withstand Pan’s casual attacks, so I’m a little uneasy about what might happen.

But according to Pan, its survival instinct seems to be stronger than its aggression.

“Alright, follow me to the Underworld.”

Eeeee! Screeeee!

The monster foams at the mouth and goes wild as soon as I finish speaking.

The short tail is swinging around like a windmill, and tears stream from the eyes of the three heads.

“I am Hades, King of the Underworld. I don’t intend to kill you, I’m just taking you away…”

Squeak! Woof woof!

“It says it will give you its complete loyalty…”

The tears have disappeared, and the monster is wagging its tail around me – a classic case of bullying the weak and kowtowing to the strong.

Pan cautiously translates, with a dumbfounded look on his face.

I don’t know, this monster seems like it would betray you at the first opportunity.

* * *

I headed to the Underworld with the three-headed dog I named Cerberus.

I thought it might run away on the way, but it followed me obediently.

I was wondering what to assign to this guy, but I think it would be best to use him as a guard dog.

Because there are often souls who escape the Underworld and try to return to the mortal realm.

“Bite any souls that try to sneak out. You can even eat them.”

Grrrr…

Cerberus nods its heads, understanding my words.

Its body is also dark, quite grotesque, strong, and its teeth are poisonous, so it’s a fitting guard dog for the Underworld.

“I’ll give you a tour of the Underworld for now. Keep following me.”

“Huff, huff!”

The three heads move busily, eagerly examining the surrounding scenery. The atmosphere of the Underworld doesn’t seem too bad for Cerberus, who is a monster.

Now, all that’s left is to cross the River Lethe [River of Forgetfulness] and the River Styx [River of Hatred] to return to my fortress.

“Hades is coming… not coming… com…”

But what is that sound again?

Who dares to sit blankly muttering in the sacred River of Forgetfulness… Goddess Lethe?

“Hah… Hades…”

Goddess Lethe, who was squatting and muttering by the River Lethe, finds me and runs over.

Thump.

The soft skin of the goddess touches my chest.

If you hug me so suddenly… Cough!

“I think I’m going to die now.”

“Ah… I’m sorry!”

Because I’m a god, I’m immortal, and I’m just a little sore from being hit by Typhon.

Especially my chest hurts a lot, but if you could move away a little… Keuk!

“I… Ichor [the ethereal fluid that is the blood of the gods] is coming out of your mouth…!”

* * *

And so, I returned to the fortress of the Underworld.

I was sitting on the throne, receiving reports on what had happened while I was fighting Typhon.

The area around Olympus was completely destroyed while fighting Typhon, and many lives were lost.

As a result, the workload of the Underworld also temporarily increased.

The workload is increasing, but I, the top decision-maker, am not around, so the gods’ fatigue is only increasing…

In the end, Goddess Styx with her hollow eyes came to complain to me.

“How could the chief god, the King of the Underworld, go directly to the battlefield…”

Olympus should take care of their own affairs… There was no need for me to participate in such a dangerous battle. If it was a battle that would make me spit out ichor, Zeus should have taken care of it… I had already saved face by restoring his strength, and wasn’t that enough? Even if he is my brother, I should make sure to get proper compensation…

Ah… It’s not because she’s busy. I appreciate her concern for me, but…

My ears were hurting from her constant nagging, and my face was turning pale.

Yes, yes… I’m sorry. It’s all my fault.

“…Hoo.”

Did she finally stop?

“Still, I’m glad you’re safe. You don’t know how worried I was here… Heuk.”

Goddess Styx’s face gradually turned red, and she covered her mouth and turned her head.

Clear, transparent liquid came out of her eyes and flowed down her cheeks.

No, why are you crying again?

Unable to bear the stinging gazes around me, I got up from my seat and comforted Goddess Styx.

“Heo… Hades, you shouldn’t make your wife worry like that.”

“To anger the mistress of the Underworld, what divine boldness. I can’t possibly keep up…”

“I think you should take a look at the other side too…”

Goddess Lethe is looking at us with a sulky look, but I wish everyone would just be quiet.

I’m a god who doesn’t even have a girlfriend, let alone get married. Why are they so interested in other people?

But Thanatos, don’t you have any close goddesses?

“What’s with that look? I have a bad feeling about this.”

It’s nothing.

“More importantly, Lord Hades, why did you bring that monster here?”

Morpheus pointed to Cerberus, who was sitting obediently and waiting for my command.

Well… let’s see. I’ll have him guard the gate to the underworld.

Now, no souls will escape from the underworld.

“But that’s a monster. A dangerous guy like that will betray you someday if he thinks he’s strong enough…”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that.”

I gave Cerberus some of the power of the underworld, turning him into something closer to a divine beast than a monster.

Although the ferocity of the monster remains, he will not escape the underworld or disobey my orders.

“But what happened to Typhon?”

Goddess Lethe asked with her arms crossed.

Zeus personally sealed Typhon’s body in Mount Etna.

And I threw his severed head into Tartarus [the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked].

“Hades! You damn rat! Where is my body!”

“Under the bottom of Mount Etna.”

“Kuaaa! You can’t attach my head to my body right now… Aaaagh!!!”

I’m a little worried that Typhon’s body buried under Mount Etna will cause trouble,

But it doesn’t matter if I occasionally patrol to see the mortal realm.

The gods of Olympus in the sky are also watching the place where Typhon is buried, so his body can never be released.

At best, he’ll just cause trouble and damage the ground.

“Oh my… his body is buried in the mountain and his head is in Tartarus…”

“When I see you like this, you really seem like the god of the underworld… But why sometimes…”

What are you talking about sometimes…

Thanatos, who met my eyes, subtly avoided my gaze.

“Ahem. Ahem. Hermes’ wounds have healed and he’s about to return to Olympus. He wants to thank you, so why don’t you stop by?”

That’s right, Hermes.

* * *

When I entered the place where Hermes, who had collapsed at the entrance of the underworld, was being treated, I saw the messenger god, fully healed and smiling.

As expected of a god, he had already recovered and was waiting for me.

“Uncle Hades, I heard the story about you defeating Typhon!”

“Your body seems to be all healed now.”

With the caduceus staff [a staff with two snakes intertwined] and winged sandals, he was finally the Hermes I knew.

When he was brought in covered in blood…

“Thank you so much for helping Olympus. My father will definitely give you a great reward!”

“No, I don’t need a reward. Take this Scythe on your way.”

I have to return it to Zeus, but I accidentally brought it to the underworld.

“Ah… this is the Scythe. I’m seeing it for the first time.”

“Zeus will know what to do when you deliver it to him.”

Hermes receives the Scythe with both hands and touches it as if it were amazing.

He’s a young god, so he wouldn’t have had a chance to see Olympus’ strongest weapon made of Adamas [a substance only found in the realm of the gods].

“But aren’t you going to use it yourself, Uncle?”

“It’s not mine in the first place.”

Unfortunately, the scythe doesn’t suit my hand.

Of course, I can use any weapon after experiencing the long war with the Titan gods, but I feel like a sword or spear suits me well.

No matter how good and strong a weapon is, it’s hard to unleash its full power if the user’s skill is low. Zeus should use this.

I shook my head roughly and gestured with my chin, and the messenger god prepared to leave the underworld.

“Haha. Then I, Hermes, the messenger of everyone, will be on my way. Next time I come to the underworld again, I’ll prepare a gift for you, Uncle…”

Yes, go ahead. Your son is worried about you too.

I was looking at Hermes floating in the air when a soul soldier ran to me.

“Lord Hades, the goddess of the rainbow, the messenger of Olympus, has come to the entrance of the underworld!”

Iris comes often these days.

Since Hermes was injured and lying in the underworld, Zeus had no choice but to send Iris.

After waiting for a while, the goddess of the rainbow with beautiful wings came in.

“I see the master of the underworld again. Lord Zeus has told me to tell you that he would like Hades to come to Olympus to repay him for participating in the battle against Typhon.”

He wants me to come to Olympus?

I wish he wouldn’t bother me to come and go. I’m not Zeus’s servant.

When I frowned, Iris added an explanation while sweating.

“Hephaestus said that in order to make a weapon to present to you, you have to customize it directly at the dedicated smithy… And since you defeated Typhon, a victory banquet will be held in Olympus. Please attend and grace the occasion…”

Zeus ordered Hephaestus to make a weapon for me, but I already have the Styx Sword.

And the banquet in Olympus, this is a bit tempting?

It’s not bad to go up to the clouds and enjoy a banquet for the first time in a while.

Something might happen in Olympus where most of the gods gather, so it’s good to go and check out the atmosphere.

I’m a little worried about the work in the underworld,

But compared to when the great flood occurred, the system is well-established and has entered a stable period, so I can leave my seat for a while.

“Alright, I’ll go right now.”

“Then I will escort you, Lord Hades.”

Iris asked for permission and created a rainbow, creating a passage connected to Olympus.

It’s really an ability that I envy no matter how many times I see it.