King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 61

The King of the Underworld is Tired 61

Perseus’s Story – (3)

After sending Athena away with Cynee [likely referring to Hades’ helmet of invisibility, also known as the Helm of Darkness], I returned to the throne in the fortress.

Soon, as fate would have it, Perseus would kill Medusa and become a hero.

“Thanatos, send an avatar to Medusa’s location in advance.”

“Hmm. Is it already time? I understand…”

The old god with black wings nodded and moved.

Soon, Medusa’s soul, having met her destined death, would arrive in the Underworld.

As I sat on the throne thinking about Medusa, the goddess Styx approached and spoke.

“Hades, let’s watch Perseus succeed together.”

“I’m busy with work…”

“Don’t say that. Let’s watch together. Many gods are paying attention to him.”

Perseus was the son of Zeus and destined to be a hero.

That’s why many gods generously lent him their artifacts.

Not only the Olympian gods but also many gods residing in the Underworld were watching his journey.

“Then I’ll turn my gaze to the mortal realm for a moment.”

* * *

Perseus took a deep breath in front of the cave where Medusa was said to reside, composing himself.

Now his fate would be decided.

He closed his eyes and recalled his journey so far.

The process of arriving in front of Medusa…

“Perseus. I am Athena, the goddess of wisdom. This is Hermes, the messenger god.”

“The Olympian gods are helping me…!”

“The gods have willingly lent you their artifacts. First, my shield, Hermes’s shoes, Ares’s sword, and Hades’s helmet…”

“Oh my… thank you!”

The goddess Athena and the god Hermes lent him the gods’ artifacts.

Among them was Pluto’s artifact, the invisible helmet, which he had seen briefly.

“The Graeae sisters [three sisters who shared one eye and one tooth] have an eye that sees everything, so they will know Medusa’s location. They are three old women, but they only have one eye and one tooth, so use this to your advantage.”

“Do the three of them take turns using one eye and one tooth?”

“Hehe. I wish you luck on your journey, which many gods are watching.”

“It seems Hades’s blessing is also with you. Then good luck!”

Thus, Perseus put on his winged shoes and flew to the Graeae sisters.

The old women, as Athena had said, were taking turns using one eye and one tooth.

Perseus approached wearing Cynee and snatched their eye.

“Your eye is in my possession. If you don’t tell me Medusa’s location right now, I’ll throw it far away!”

“Ah… no?! I didn’t feel any presence!”

“What?! Give it back now!”

“You! Ugh… The Gorgon sisters’ location is west from here…”

“I see. But if all three sisters have snake hair, how do I recognize Medusa?”

“The snakes in Medusa’s hair are vipers, so their heads will be triangular, unlike her sisters’!”

The location of the Gorgon sisters, which he learned from them, was an island at the far west.

It seemed like an ordinary small island, but as soon as he entered and stood in front of a suspicious cave, he could feel a chilling aura.

The pressure felt even outside the cave.

It was clear that the Gorgon sisters lived here.

Perhaps it would become more intense as he got closer to Medusa.

Perseus, wearing Cynee, held Athena’s shield and turned his back to the cave entrance.

He slowly backed away, looking at the scenery behind him through the surface of the shield.

‘If I look at Medusa’s hair, I’ll turn to stone… I must never turn around!’

The King of the Underworld, Pluto, had lent him Cynee, which erased everything, including the target’s presence and sound.

So the immortal Stheno and Euryale, and Medusa, who could be called a demigod, couldn’t notice that a human had entered the cave.

Hades’s artifact, Cynee, and Athena’s shield, and the winged shoes were doing their part.

Ares’s sword in his hand would also be able to cut off Medusa’s head in one stroke.

But the problem was…

‘Just sleeping, yet such pressure…!’

It was Perseus himself.

Athena, Hermes, and Hades, who appeared to the human who would become a hero, had been considerate of him, but…

The Gorgon sisters, who were sleeping now, were emitting tremendous energy as it was.

It was the human challenging the great feat who was taking it all in.

Each time he approached the sleeping sisters, the pressure gradually increased.

It was bearable up to the cave entrance.

But as he avoided the rocks and stalactites here and there and approached the sleeping sisters…

Perseus felt an overwhelming force he had never imagined.

One step.

Sweat dripped from Perseus’s forehead.

Thump. Thump.

Fifth step.

Sweat dripped from the hand holding Athena’s shield and fell to the floor.

Perseus gritted his teeth and grabbed Ares’s sword.

However, his body was trembling more and more due to extreme fear.

Twentieth step backward.

The snakes in the Gorgon sisters’ hair were flicking their tongues.

For a moment, it felt like his eyes met the snakes’, but it must have been a mistake.

Pluto’s artifact would not be detected.

Probably…

Drip. Drip.

The sweat covering his body flowed down to the floor.

Cynee couldn’t even hide the sweat dripping from his body.

Just one step to Medusa.

Perseus, who had almost reached Medusa, tried to relieve the numbness in his legs.

His body, usually trained in swordsmanship, was instinctively warning him.

To get away from the mighty monster in front of him with all his might!

The sweat droplets falling on the floor were revealing his location.

If even one of the three sisters woke up, his location might be discovered.

Swish. Swish.

Perseus slowly raised his sword and aimed it at Medusa’s neck, but his arm froze.

The cries of the snakes acting as the monster’s hair were louder than ever.

Even now… Isn’t it better to run away since it’s not too late?

Even if this is Ares’s sword, can I cut off her neck with my strength?

“Go forward with confidence in yourself. My blessing, Hades, will be with you.”

Yes… I, Perseus, am the one who will become a hero!

It’s not yet time to go to Pluto’s embrace!

Perseus bit his lip until it bled and moved his arm with all his might.

Something hot surged from his chest, resisting the oppressive force that bound his body.

Squeak- Slash-

“Huh..? Kyaaa! Medusa!”

“What is this! Who dares!”

Perhaps it was what is called courage.

* * *

At this moment, the gods watching Perseus in the Underworld were impressed.

“…It’s over.”

“The pressure must have been tremendous, but he overcame it in the end.”

“Hmph. He’s quite something.”

Medusa’s head was cut off by the sword that Perseus wielded with gritted teeth.

Ares’s sword was a masterpiece made by Hephaestus, capable of easily cutting through the skin of a demigod.

“Thanatos. Now, please bring Medusa’s soul.”

Then I’ll have to clean up the mess.

Perseus’s fate doesn’t end here, but watching the heroic tale ends here.

Now it’s time to meet the victim of Poseidon and Athena.

After waiting for a while in the courtroom with the three judges of the Underworld, the Minos brothers [sons of Zeus and Europa, known for their wisdom and justice],

Soon, Thanatos brought a woman.

The terrible appearance that had turned into a monster due to the curse of Athena returned to its original form upon death,

And her beautiful appearance, which Poseidon had fallen for, illuminated the Underworld.

But she herself seemed to hate her shining appearance, bowing her head.

Thud.

“Is this Medusa, who was Athena’s priestess in life?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Medusa, who had collapsed to the floor, suddenly raised her head.

Her eyes blazed with endless hatred.

“Not anymore. Please don’t call me that.”

“…I was rude. Daughter of Phorcys and Ceto [ancient sea gods].”

I had thought a lot about Medusa.

The death of a monster is a confirmed future in the birth of a hero, but the background of how that monster was born is…

“You were indecently treated by Poseidon in life and were caught up in Athena’s tantrum.”

“Gritting…”

As the names of the two gods were mentioned, she seemed to feel extreme hatred,

Her teeth grinding and a faint voice like boiling water leaked out.

“Is the lord of the Underworld mocking me?”

“No, I’m here to apologize to you.”

A slight question of confusion arose in Medusa’s eyes, which clearly showed that she was forcibly suppressing her anger.

“If you are a person whose life has been swayed by our gods, turned into a monster, and eventually used as a sacrifice for the birth of a hero, then you deserve such treatment.”

“……”

“I gave the hero who killed you an artifact, and I am not qualified to apologize on behalf of Poseidon or Athena, but… as the one who manages the Underworld, the final destination of mortals, I express my apologies to you.”

I looked into Medusa’s eyes and conveyed my words of apology in a calm tone.

I’m really sorry, but I can’t even bow my head. This side is the King of the Underworld, after all.

“…The rumor that the lord of the Underworld is a god of mercy was true.”

After a while, Medusa’s eyes softened a little.

I’m glad that my apology can be of some comfort, and at times like this, the position of the three main gods is fortunate.

“Then I will tell you about the compensation that will be given to you. Choose one of these.”

“Compensation…?”

“First of all… I will tell Zeus to make you a constellation.”

Becoming a constellation in the sky is a great honor and means to commemorate that person.

Heroes, animals, and gods who have made a name for themselves are engraved in the sky by Zeus’s personal judgment.

If you choose the first one…

Her honor, which died as a monster to Perseus, will be largely restored.