King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 6

The King of the Underworld is Tired 6 (6/82)

The Story of Life – (1)

In the war against the Titans, the gods had Prometheus, a Titan who surrendered after foreseeing the future, create the human race.

And his brother, Epimetheus, created various creatures, such as pigs, horses, and birds.

At this crucial juncture in the world, what was I, Hades, the King of the Underworld, doing?

“The number of souls crossing the River Styx has increased significantly lately.”

“Hades, aren’t humans the priority? Dealing with other creatures is too much work for me…”

“Ask Hypnos, the god of sleep, to help a little. Once the Underworld stabilizes, we’ll focus solely on humans.”

I was busy reorganizing the Underworld due to the numerous deaths of these newly created creatures.

The Underworld isn’t just for humans.

As countless souls reaching the end of their lives flooded into the Underworld, my responsibilities as its manager increased significantly.

If I had spent my divine life leisurely until now, it meant that from now on, I had to manage things in earnest as the King of the Dead.

All sorts of newly born creatures were dying far too easily.

The creatures unleashed into nature by the gods began a fierce struggle for survival, and Thanatos, the god of death who escorts souls to the Underworld, complained of fatigue.

As he, who had become the busiest worker in the Underworld overnight, began sending countless shadows, or rather, clones of himself, to collect the dead souls, the underground realm became crowded.

There were even times when souls waited in the Underworld to be reincarnated.

Fortunately, this is a problem that time can solve.

Eventually, the newly born creatures will learn wisdom from their surviving ancestors and live longer.

“Hades, these days I’m wondering if siding with Cronus [a Titan and father of Zeus] wasn’t the right choice after all.”

…I’m having a hard time too, so please bear with it.

Even so, right now, a path of hardship had opened for some gods.

Thanatos, the personification of death, had become haggard with hollow eyes, manipulating his numerous clones.

His glossy wings became dry, and it seemed as if his steel-like black feathers were falling out one by one.

Was it possible to see an immortal god, and also the son of Nyx [the goddess of night], collapse from overwork?

“It’s scary to hear those words from the King of the Underworld. Please don’t even joke about it.”

Thanatos made a face as if he had tasted something unpleasant and sighed.

Oops, I blurted out my thoughts again.

The Underworld is so desolate that I’ve developed a habit of talking to myself.

* * *

After a long time, when the cycle of life and death normalized and the Underworld regained peace, we cheered.

From the perspective of immortal gods, it wasn’t a tremendously long time, but…

Finally, animals adapted to the environment, and humans lived in groups, reducing the number of premature deaths.

Although it was a short time, the hellish workload was now coming to an end.

If only Zeus hadn’t created a human named Pandora and unleashed all sorts of diseases and harmful substances upon the world, things would have been easier.

Or he could have made Prometheus work like a slave in the Underworld as a reward for giving fire to humans.

Honestly, I think it’s too much to have his liver pecked out by an eagle just for sharing some fire. Thanks to that, humans often offer sacrifices.

The Underworld was saturated for a while because of Pandora’s box that Zeus left on the ground.

At least Athena, the goddess of wisdom, should be dispatched occasionally, shouldn’t she?

Anyway, after a long time, I had some free time, so a small party was held in the Underworld.

Thanatos and Hypnos, who had suffered a lot, and the goddess Styx [goddess of the River Styx] and several gods who helped with the work of the Underworld, all entered the Underworld fortress and ate nectar and ambrosia [food and drink of the gods].

In one corner of the banquet hall, some souls playing the lyre made by humans were working hard, and the servants were busy carrying drinks and food.

I was sitting in the seat of honor, sipping nectar and cursing Zeus in my heart.

Ting. Ttiriring~

“Gulp, gulp. Phew… I can finally rest a little.”

“It’s a relief that our story has spread widely among humans, making it easier for the clone to bring souls.”

“That’s right, these days, most dead humans give up when they see my wings.”

Did you know that nectar, the drink of the gods, doesn’t have just one flavor?

Once you put it in your mouth, you get a strange feeling that is refreshing, smooth, and has a refreshing and sweet taste at the same time.

“Puh-ha..! The nectar tastes even better today.”

That must be why the goddess Styx, who used to nag so much, is drinking it like crazy…?

Ambrosia, the food of the gods, is even more unique.

This tastes exactly like what the person eating it wants to eat the most right now. In my case, it tasted like the pork belly I used to eat in my previous life.

Hmm, now that I’m tired of pork belly, it tastes like sweet chocolate chip cookies.

“Hades. Do humans offer you many sacrifices too?”

The goddess Styx, who was drinking nectar next to me, brought up the topic of humans.

I heard that human nations have also been established on Earth.

The stories of the Olympian gods have also spread widely, and there were humans who often called my name when offering sacrifices.

Shall we listen to what humans are saying now?

I briefly lent an ‘ear’.

[Hades! Hades, why did you take my mother, why!]

[Pluto, god of abundance! Receive these beasts and bestow a ray of your blessing upon me!]

[Hades… please… please don’t take me..]

[If you close your eyes and open them, Hades will be standing in front of you! Die!]

Hmm. As expected, the Earth is a mess.

I remembered the face of the admirable believer who offered me dozens of herds of cattle he had raised, and then closed my ears again.

My other name is Pluto, the one who makes abundant. The god of wealth.

There are also humans who worship me as the god of abundance, but perhaps this is because of the human perception that the underworld is a wealthy place.

Well, the underground is full of precious jewels and minerals for humans.

In addition, I have this Cornucopia [horn of plenty], so I also have the divine status of wealth.

If you put your hand inside this large horn, the owner can take out as much food and wealth as they want indefinitely.

It’s a great item that perfectly suits the god of abundance, but what’s the use… I’m not human, so it doesn’t mean much.

“Hades…”

Please stop clinging to me. Goddess Styx, you drank too much nectar.

“Lord of the Underworld… a report…”

A soul who was standing guard with a spear quietly approached me and whispered.

He is a male soul who lived for about 30 years and died, and if he refuses to be reincarnated in the Underworld and wants to stay here, he will be assigned a role like this.

I thought very few souls would choose the Underworld, but perhaps because they forget their memories of this world after passing through the River Lethe [river of forgetfulness], there were more than I thought.

Of course, the balance of reincarnation must be maintained, so I cannot grant everyone’s wishes.

First, I pushed away the goddess Styx, who was personally demonstrating the power of the great nectar that even makes gods drunk, and listened to the soul’s words.

“The goddess Iris of the rainbow has visited the Underworld. She said she came to deliver the orders of a high-ranking person…”

As soon as the ghostly soldier said those words, the small festival stopped for a moment.

Goddess Styx, who seemed to be completely sober, Thanatos and Hypnos, who put down the ambrosia they were eating, and everyone else focused on this side with sharp expressions.

“No way… I was just about to rest…”

“It can’t be…? Oh Zeus.”

The door to the banquet hall opened, and soon a goddess with beautiful blue-silver hair and white wings entered.

She was emitting a subtle rainbow-colored halo from her body.

Normally, there would have been people who would have been mesmerized by the beautiful figure of the goddess, who even Zeus coveted, but only tension was circulating here.

“I am Iris, it has been a while since I have seen the master of the Underworld.”

The rainbow goddess Iris is the messenger god who conveys the will of Zeus and Hera.

However, since she mainly goes around delivering Hera’s will rather than Zeus’s, there is still hope.

“Zeus has decided to punish the corrupt humans by causing a great flood because he could no longer stand to see them.”

Suddenly…?

Punishment of corrupt humans > Great flood > Death of most humans > Rapid increase in the Underworld population > Death from overwork

The thought circuits quickly turned in the minds of the gods sitting here.

The conclusion they came to with their excellent brains was that from now on, they would be overwhelmed with work.

“Hypnos, can you put me to sleep?”

“…I swear on the River Styx that I will never let you fall asleep until the great flood is over.”

“I don’t think I can help you this time, Hades. Then I’ll be on my way…”

“Oh Zeus, please.”