King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 28

The King of the Underworld is Tired – Episode 28 (28/82)

The Story of Phaeton – (2)

“…I will show some mercy.”

Mercy to someone who killed thousands, maybe tens of thousands of lives?

What is this nonsense?

“Those who die and come to the underworld can never escape. It’s even more impossible for a heinous criminal like you. But…”

Phaeton focused all his attention, trying to hear what would come next.

“If you wish, I can invite the god Helios to the underworld for one last meeting.”

The living world and the underworld are strictly separated.

Although the gods are free to come and go, it is impossible for Phaeton, a heinous criminal who caused great damage to the living world, to meet him.

He didn’t even expect mercy in the form of reduced punishment.

“I sent a messenger to Olympus and found out that the god Helios is in seclusion, grieving over your loss. But if he could meet you, he would rush to the underworld.”

“Thank… you.”

Thick drops of water welled up in Phaeton’s eyes and fell.

If he could see his father one last time… to say he was sorry…

“This isn’t just about taking your circumstances into consideration. If the god Helios remains in sorrow for too long and doesn’t move the sun, the world will fall into chaos.”

That’s what Hades said, but Phaeton knew.

If the sun doesn’t move and only night continues, the number of deaths will increase, and Hades’ power will grow even stronger.

The more lives that die in the living world, the more beneficial it is to the lord of the underworld.

This was definitely mercy.

* * *

Helios’s Sun Palace.

The sun god Helios, despondent over the death of his son, was not leaving his palace.

As the palace’s owner did not drive the sun chariot, darkness continued to prevail in the living world.

“Why doesn’t the sun rise today either…”

“God Helios! Please have mercy and give us light!”

“Zeus…”

“Ah… At this rate, all the crops will die…”

The living world was filled with the pleas of all living things.

Eventually, Zeus came to find him in person.

Zeus, who had been clearing his throat outside the palace, called out to Helios.

“Helios! Are you inside?”

However, the father who lost his child remained silent.

“I am sorry that I had to throw lightning at your son, but I had no choice.”

Zeus continued to speak, not knowing if the god Helios was listening.

“The world is a mess because you are not driving the sun chariot. I understand the sorrow of losing a child, but can’t you fulfill your duty again?”

However, the palace’s owner remained silent.

Even if Zeus, the one who threw the lightning, said that, Helios’s feelings would not change.

“Hoo…”

Zeus briefly considered kicking down the palace door, but he shook his head.

He thought that his rash actions might worsen Helios’s seclusion.

“Father! You were here after all!”

“Hermes, what’s going on?”

What approached Zeus, who was suffering from the sun god’s strike [referring to Helios’s inaction], was the messenger god.

Hermes opened his mouth with a confident expression.

“Uncle Hades says he will let you meet Phaeton one last time. If you tell this to Helios well…”

“What? My brother is letting me meet a dead soul…?”

Before Zeus could finish speaking, the door to the Sun Palace opened.

And a male god rushed out from inside.

A god with splendid golden hair and golden robes reminiscent of light, and eyes with the heat of the sun burning.

The great sun god, Helios, came out after hearing Hermes’s words.

Looking very urgent, he approached the messenger god and shouted.

“Hermes! Is that true?! Hades is letting me meet my dead son!”

* * *

Bright light enters the underworld.

But it is different from the rampage of the sun chariot that Phaeton drove.

Because this light is coming from only one person, no, one male god.

“Hades! Let me meet my son!”

The god Helios arrived in the underworld not long after a messenger was sent to Olympus.

The more intense his emotions became, the more the energy of the sun emanated from his body.

Mortal souls had already retreated far away from the energy that could be felt.

“Phaeton is over there…”

“Phaeton…!”

The god Helios hurriedly ran to Phaeton, who was in one corner.

Thus, father and son met again.

“Sniff… Father… Cough… I’m… really sorry…”

“No, it’s all my fault. I should have brought you to Olympus as soon as you were born…”

“Because of my reckless actions, the earth… and your sun chariot as well…”

“That’s enough. Stop talking. I’m just glad I can see you again for the last time…”

The two were hugging each other tightly.

Tears flowed incessantly from the eyes of the father and son who had gone astray.

“I was wrong. To your mother too… Please forgive me…”

“No, Father…”

But the time they could meet was limited.

The underworld and the living world, the dead and the living, must be strictly separated.

If they felt sorry for them and saved Phaeton, the god Helios would start feeding his child nectar and ambrosia [the food and drink of the gods, respectively]…

And all the other gods would beg me to save their beloved humans like Helios’s case.

“Now, it’s time to say your last goodbyes. The sinner must be punished.”

“Ah…”

I gave them some time alone to say their last goodbyes.

* * *

“Sniff…”

As I stepped aside, I heard a sobbing sound from somewhere.

The sound was coming from the outskirts of the fortress, so I moved toward it.

“Sniff…”

Tears flowed from the eyes of a beautiful goddess leaning against the fortress wall.

Styx… Goddess?

The face of the goddess Styx, who was quietly crying while covering her mouth, was full of moisture, and her hands were busy wiping away the flowing tears.

As if she sensed my presence, she hurriedly turned to look at me.

“Ah… Hades…! J-Just a moment, don’t look here…!”

“Is it because of Helios’s oath?”

The goddess Styx closed her mouth.

The oath of the Styx River is an absolute promise that even the gods cannot break.

A reward for the goddess who was the first to rush to help in the war against the Titan gods.

But every time she saw the tragedy caused by the oath of the Styx River, her heart…

“I just… sometimes I think. If there was no oath of the Styx River…”

I could guess what she was going to say.

The incident between Semele, the mother of Dionysus, and Zeus,

And the Phaeton incident that happened this time,

All were caused by gods who could not break the absolute oath of the Styx River.

“These tragedies are not the goddess’s fault.”

“Still… if I had only rejected Zeus’s offer to use my river as evidence of the oath…”

Our gods are immortal and possess tremendous power that cannot be compared to mortals.

Even the goddess Styx, who is crying in front of me right now, can easily destroy a city with a curse.

However, because we have great power, we are arrogant and conceited.

The Styx River, which must fulfill anything once an oath is made, is a shackle given to us.

An oath that even Zeus, the king of the gods, must unconditionally keep.

But an oath made in the name of the goddess does not only bring negative results.

I am going to tell the goddess Styx that fact from now on.

“The oath of the Styx River does not always bring tragedy. Today is not an exception.”

“Yes…?”

“You must have been too busy lately to look after the living world… Would you like to listen to the prayers of the believers again properly?”

The living world, where countless people of all ages walk around.

Today, many people gathered at the statue of the goddess Styx placed in my temple.

“Why did you call me here?”

“Well… I’ll swear to the Styx River that I love you. Please marry me.”

“Ah…!”

A man confessing his love to his lover in front of the statue of the goddess Styx.

“I swear to the Styx River! I didn’t steal the sheep! Now it’s that guy’s turn!”

“I… I…”

“If you have nothing to hide, swear like me!”

“Actually… I’ve been having a hard time lately…”

People revealing thieves who stole with the oath of the Styx River.

“I swear in front of the statue of the goddess Styx. Even if the old man is called by Thanatos [the personification of death]…”

“Oh! Why would you make such an oath… Hmm… Then I also swear. If the old woman goes first…”

An old couple swearing that they will live with the other in their hearts even if one dies first.

“They are humans who reveal the truth, swear love, and make promises.”

“Ah…”

“If there was no weight in the goddess’s name, you wouldn’t be able to see such scenes.”

If humans break the oath of the Styx River, they die and are sucked into Tartarus [the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering].

Humans were always careful because of that fear, but sometimes it was used to confirm each other’s feelings.

“Humans… surprisingly make oaths often…”

“I was surprised too. Maybe it’s because the goddess’s statue was erected?”

The goddess Styx, who had escaped from the thought that the oath in her name only brought misfortune, looked up at me.

Her face, which looked clearer than before, was lost in thought for a moment.

A slightly awkward time passed… The black-haired goddess, who had completely erased the traces of tears, gave a slight smile.

Was her guilty conscience relieved a little?

“Thank you, Hades… I always thought you were just playing pranks on Cyanee…”

“What…? Weapon strength testing is essential.”

“Pfft… Hehehe…”

I swear to the Styx River that I have never played pranks on Cyanee even once.

But I kept silent because I wanted to keep seeing the goddess’s beautiful smile right now.

The goddess Styx, who had been smiling happily while covering her mouth for a while, came closer.

A gently raised mouth and a seductive smile.

“You mustn’t tell anyone that I was like this today, okay?”

The goddess’s palm, which was close to me, was placed on my chest, and the index finger of her right hand touched her lips.

My chest and lips felt soft, and I felt something tickling.

I answered as if possessed by her.

“…I swear to the Styx River.”