King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 54

The King of the Underworld is Tired – (2)

No matter how much I try to alleviate Prometheus’s punishment,

he, with his considerable resentment towards Zeus, will never help.

He won’t utter a single word about Gaia’s intentions or his own prophecy; he’ll only offer ridicule.

It’s also uncertain whether his concern for humans outweighs his anger towards Zeus.

Returning to the Underworld, I quickly moved and exited the fortress.

Leaving the jet-black fortress and heading towards the outskirts of the Underworld, a deserted path soon appeared.

A little further… to the northern end of my fortress, a place where most souls don’t venture…

After walking for a long time on a narrow path where only one or two people could pass, a soul emerged from a small house.

A beautiful female soul, possessing a beauty comparable to that of most goddesses.

“Pandora, would you listen to my story for a moment?”

“…Why have you come all the way here?”

She is the first woman, created by the gods.

The justification created by Zeus to punish humans with the Great Flood.

The one who, out of momentary curiosity, unleashed the root of all evil—including disease, disaster, and anger—into the human world.

She was Pandora, who married Epimetheus, the brother of Prometheus.

* * *

I was guided into Pandora’s house and took a seat.

“What business does the Lord of the Underworld have with a lowly human?”

“Don’t say such things. The first human woman, blessed by countless gods, is anything but lowly.”

Her husband, Epimetheus, is an immortal Titan, so he is living in seclusion in the mortal realm, but…

Pandora met her death during the Great Flood caused by Zeus.

And Pandora, upon arriving in the Underworld, realized that she had been used and despaired.

Although a long time has passed and her resentment may have diminished, she still retained her memories even after crossing the River of Oblivion [the river that erases memories of the living] back then.

I took pity on her situation and offered to erase her memories,

but she herself wanted to live in the outskirts of the Underworld with her memories intact, without being reincarnated.

The way to persuade such a Pandora is…

“I am trying to end Prometheus’s long punishment.”

“…I see.”

“But there must be a reason that Zeus can somewhat accept. So, I would like you to help persuade Prometheus.”

I told Pandora about our enemy, Gaia, and the threat to the Olympus gods.

And that I plan to release and persuade Prometheus to borrow the power of his prophecy.

After listening to my story, Pandora sighed for a moment and replied calmly.

“Lord Hades, you have been good to me, but I still don’t want to do anything that would help Olympus, even a little.”

I have shown kindness to Pandora and often told her news of her husband, Epimetheus, who is alive in the mortal realm, and vice versa, of course.

Although the two did not meet… I remember that they were happy every time they received news of each other.

Epimetheus wanders around the world and lives in seclusion, so it was not easy to find his location,

but the messenger said that he was happy to hear news from Pandora…

“Wasn’t the reason the gods created me in the first place to punish the humans who received fire [a reference to Prometheus giving fire to humanity]?”

“I won’t deny it. The reason you were created was because Prometheus giving fire to humans was displeasing.”

The reason why countless gods bestowed all sorts of blessings on Pandora and created her was ultimately to lay the groundwork for the destruction of mankind.

In simple terms, it’s a trap.

“Why should I help Olympus, which used me and once destroyed humanity?”

Pandora says calmly without any change in expression.

As the first woman, she cherishes and loves her descendants, the humans.

Her daughter, Pyrrha, born between her and Epimetheus, married Deucalion and became the beginning of a new human race, even more so.

If you think about it, her hatred is a mixture of resentment towards the gods who destroyed humanity and guilt for being used.

“Isn’t it possible that it would be more beneficial for humans if Gaia and those Gigantes [giants born of Gaia] were to seize world power?”

“The Gigantes eat humans. They even kidnapped people from the city where my temple was built and used them as sacrifices.”

“…Is that so.”

She is engaging in conversation with an attitude of listening to my words, as I have provided her with many conveniences so far,

but being persuaded by me is a separate matter.

“There will never be another Great Flood like that time. Even if Zeus tries to destroy humans again, I will stop him.”

“…Hades stopping Zeus?”

“If it’s not a just destruction, but for reasons like displeasing Zeus and receiving fire.”

Back then, it was the early days of Olympus when the authority of the King of the Gods had to be established to some extent,

and it was only when Pandora’s Box was opened and evil spread into the human world that I found out that she was artificially created and sent from Olympus…

So I respected Zeus and only expressed concern, without expressing much dissatisfaction.

And Zeus also respected me and did not prevent Pandora and Epimetheus from contacting each other.

He also didn’t mind me taking care of Pandora in the Underworld.

“I will show you how your daughter, Pyrrha, and her husband, Deucalion’s descendants are living.”

* * *

I often observe the scenery of the mortal realm.

I briefly shared the view of watching the mortals living in Thebes with Pandora.

Thebes is prosperous despite the rampage of King Oedipus [a tragic figure in Greek mythology] in the past.

Thanks to the blessing of wealth I bestowed, there are not many starving people, and humans speak of the grace of the gods.

“Today, I’m thinking of praying to the statue of Morpheus [the god of dreams] in the Pluto Temple.”

“Did you have a good dream yesterday?”

“I hope it’s a prophetic dream that my business will be a hit…”

“Thanks to the mint given by Pluto [Hades’ Roman name], the god of mercy, the air in the cemetery is fragrant.”

“Oh, you’re exaggerating too much.”

“You’ll know if you work as a gravedigger. How musty it smelled before…”

“I’m from Athens, but how does Thebes worship Hade… cough! Pluto?”

“Haven’t you heard of mint? Not only that, but when a believer is threatened by a monster, he personally descends…”

“The Lord of the Underworld… a god of mercy?”

Ahem… Actually, I think humans are talking too much about me…

But my name is almost as important as Zeus in Thebes, so I can’t help it.

“So many people are calling out the name of Hades. A god of mercy…”

“…That’s what they call me, somehow.”

Pandora stares at the humans on the ground with wide eyes.

What is she thinking as she looks at those who can be said to be her descendants?

“The reason I descended to Thebes was because of the Gigantes who followed the Earth Mother Gaia.”

“……”

“I was barely able to save my follower who was kidnapped by the Gigantes and was in danger of dying.”

“Gaia’s subordinate…”

“Yes, that’s why I’m trying to persuade Prometheus to get advice in order to prepare for Gaia’s prophetic abilities.”

Pandora closes her eyes and seems to be deep in thought.

I can only hope that her love for humans is as great as her hatred for the gods.

After enough time has passed to empty a glass of Dionysus’s wine [wine associated with the god of wine and revelry],

Pandora opens her eyes as if she has made a decision.

She takes out a parchment scroll and a quill pen from the room and diligently writes something.

Then, she takes off the golden necklace she was wearing and hands it to me along with the parchment.

“If you take this to Prometheus, it will be of some help.”

“…Thank you very much.”

Pandora’s golden necklace is a treasure that exists only one in the world.

When she was born… the Charites [the Graces], the three goddesses of beauty who assist Aphrodite, and Peitho [the goddess of persuasion], presented it as a symbol of Pandora.

It will be proof that the letter I will deliver to Prometheus is Pandora’s, and at the same time, it will show her determination.

With this, Prometheus will not doubt it.

Pandora’s hand, which was about to hand over the necklace and letter, stops for a moment,

and suddenly continues to speak quickly.

“But by no means does this mean that my resentment towards the Olympus gods has been resolved or that I am taking their side.”

“Then…”

“I just think that it is better for humans to be ruled by the current gods than for the Gigantes to rule the world. And…”

Pandora pauses for a moment and moves her lips.

“…That you would stop the gods if they try to destroy humans again.”

I think it’s a good thing that I’ve been building up friendship by taking care of Pandora’s convenience.

I unintentionally changed her mind over many years.

“Are you sure it’s okay to trust me personally, not the Olympus gods, and change your mind?”

“Surely the Lord of the Underworld would not deceive a lowly human, would he?”

“…Thank you very much. If Prometheus is persuaded, it’s all thanks to you.”

Does the first woman, smiling faintly in front of me, make this decision because of her guilt for destroying humans with her own hands, rather than her love for humans?

“Please don’t expect too much. I only wrote what I saw, heard, and felt in the city of Thebes that you showed me.”

“That’s enough.”

I have changed the mind of someone who resented the gods after realizing the truth that she was used to destroy humans,

so it will be able to make a big change in Prometheus’s feelings.

Now, all that remains is for me to take Pandora’s letter and necklace and go to Prometheus myself.

I will persuade him no matter what.