King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 63

The King of the Underworld is Tired – Episode 63 (63/82)

The Story of Perseus – (5)

After killing Medusa, Perseus was traveling near Ethiopia when he came across a woman being sacrificed to a sea monster.

The woman’s name was Andromeda. Perseus turned the sea monster to stone, rescued the princess, and became the son-in-law of Cepheus, the King of Ethiopia.

However, just as Perseus and Princess Andromeda were about to get married, a man stormed in with soldiers.

“Who is this nobody trying to steal what’s mine! I am Andromeda’s rightful fiancé!”

“Father-in-law…? What are you talking about? Fiancé?”

“Ha! Never mind him, Perseus. That man was in favor of sacrificing my daughter to the sea monster.”

“Is that so? He ran from the sea monster’s threat and now he’s back to covet power. A coward, indeed.”

With Medusa’s head in his pocket, Perseus prepared to take it out at any moment and shouted,

“All those on my side, close your eyes!”

“Hahaha! What nonsense…”

“Ugh..?!!”

As Medusa’s head, which petrified all mortals who had not attained divinity, was revealed in the hall,

those who did not close their eyes were turned to stone.

However…

“Ah… Father! Mother…”

“My father-in-law and mother-in-law… Keuk… I’m sorry…”

The King and Queen of Ethiopia, who were too slow to close their eyes, were petrified and met their deaths.

Greatly heartbroken, Perseus returned to the island of Seriphos and found King Polydectes, who had been threatening his mother, Danaë.

King Polydectes was horrified when Perseus, whom he thought had died facing Medusa, returned.

“What…! You came back alive from Medusa? Don’t lie!”

“See for yourself whether I am lying or not!”

As the king, who was obsessed with women, turned to stone and met his death, Perseus brought his mother, Danaë, back to safety.

“Perseus… Although your grandfather abandoned you because of the oracle [a prophecy], he still misses you.”

“Yes, Mother. I will send a letter to Argos and meet him.”

However, his grandfather, Acrisius, abandoned the throne of Argos and fled in the night.

Perseus made Andromeda his queen and became the king of both Ethiopia and Argos.

Having become king, the first thing Perseus did after returning the artifacts he had borrowed from the gods was…

“I will sponsor the temples of the Olympian gods who helped me, in the name of the royal family. Athena, Hermes, and…”

“Your Majesty, but Pluto’s temple does not exist in Argos.”

“Then we shall build a temple, shouldn’t we?”

It was to repay the gods who had lent him the artifacts.

* * *

This is the Underworld, ruled by me, Hades.

Since Medusa had become a new god of the Underworld, I ordered my followers to create a new statue of her.

A few days later, I overheard talk from the world above…

“I knew Medusa was a monster, but the priests of Pluto are telling a slightly different story.”

“She was originally human, but she became a monster and died because of an unfortunate fate… Is that the truth?”

“Is that the truth? I only knew her as a monster.”

“I don’t understand it well, but Pluto is no ordinary god. He must have figured out the truth and restored her honor.”

“Indeed… There’s no reason for the god of the Underworld to lie.”

“Those who are sad and unhappy are rewarded even in the Underworld… O merciful god…”

It seems Medusa has embellished her story a bit and conveyed it to the world above.

Did she think that directly insulting Athena and Poseidon would harm me?

Anyway, my followers are half-doubting and sometimes praying to Medusa’s statue.

The status of being one of the Three Main Gods is very helpful in times like these.

I received a reply from Olympus saying that making Medusa a god was a bit much…

But I conveyed my opinion well through the messenger god Hermes. Probably.

“Tell Zeus to stop worrying about the affairs of the Underworld and stop raping mortals.”

“Uh… Hades, Uncle… Do I have to convey it exactly like that?”

“…Do it as you see fit.”

Anyway, as Medusa’s matter was coming to an end,

a voice calling me came from the world above, not Thebes.

“…Pluto…”

There aren’t many ways to convey will to me when I’m not paying attention to the world above…

Is it from Argos? Is this Perseus?

Perseus, who is now king, was building a huge altar and offering sacrifices to me, speaking to me.

As the king of two countries, the amount of burning offerings is enormous.

“Pluto! I have built a temple to repay the grace of lending me Cyanea [a magical item], so please send your priest!”

Perseus personally presided over the burnt offering on a high platform made of wood.

Even though he had many servants he could use, the hero performed the ritual himself.

“Your Majesty, this is what we…”

“Ah, it’s okay. I’ll do it myself.”

While watching his humble appearance even after becoming king, I suddenly remembered the prophecy about Perseus.

It’s a terrible prophecy that he will kill his grandfather,

but there are many loopholes in vague prophecies, so if I can alleviate his destined tragedy…

I can give him a little advice.

“Tell Hypnos [the god of sleep] and Morpheus [the god of dreams] that I am looking for them.”

“Yes! I understand!”

* * *

Perseus, who was offering a burnt offering to Pluto in the Underworld, felt a strange sensation.

His mind seemed to become hazy for a moment, and then he saw a winged youth standing before him.

“I am Morpheus, the god of dreams. From now on, I will deliver Hades’ message to you.”

“…!! It is an honor!”

The god before Perseus, who knelt down, spoke with a mysterious air.

“Prophecies cannot be changed, but you can choose the path to that result.”

“…?”

Morpheus left behind ambiguous words and disappeared.

Prophecies cannot be changed, but you can choose the path to the process…

What does this mean? Isn’t prophecy an absolute fate that even the gods cannot change?

What on earth did Pluto want to say?

Could it be… because of the prophecy that he would kill his grandfather?

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Are you okay?”

“Umm?! What’s going on?”

“Yes? You just fell asleep standing up!”

When Perseus looked around, the citizens and servants watching the burnt offering were buzzing.

They seemed confused about what had just happened to their king.

He quickly gathered his thoughts.

The hero’s brilliant mind accelerated his judgment,

and Zeus, who was watching this from Olympus, called the goddess of fortune, Tyche [the goddess of fortune], and gave him a small blessing.

The goddess of wisdom, Athena, also grasped the situation and briefly shared her wisdom.

“…People of Argos!”

And… the hero, who had been standing still and pondering, finally opened his mouth.

To mitigate the tragic fate given to him as much as possible.

“You all know why the former king, Acrisius, abdicated the throne!”

The numerous people gathered here whispered.

The prophecy involving Perseus and Acrisius was very famous, so many people knew about it.

“As you know, there is an oracle that I will kill my grandfather, but just now I also received an oracle from Pluto, the lord of the Underworld!”

“So, Your Majesty just fell asleep…”

“Hades… Did Pluto give you a reward for building the temple?”

“About that terrible prophecy…?”

The hall became noisy, but the king continued to speak without paying attention.

“Prophecies cannot be avoided, but the process can be different, according to the words of the god!”

Everyone listened to the king’s words.

“I… I will treat my grandfather Acrisius with respect until he meets his end according to his destined lifespan, and just before he passes away… I swear on the River Styx [a river in the Underworld, oaths sworn upon it are unbreakable] that I will help him find comfortable rest with my own hands!”

!!!!

People talked noisily as if a divine punishment had been handed down.

An oath on the River Styx by King Perseus, who had not been enthroned for long!

An absolute oath that even the high gods of Olympus cannot break.

If this is broken, humans will be dragged to Tartarus [the deepest, darkest part of the Underworld] after death.

Has the prophecy changed a little with this?

Wait a minute… But what if the king can’t keep his oath…?”

“W-wait! N-no!”

Someone appeared from the noisy crowd.

He was a shabby old man, but he had a familiar face.

“How dare you make an oath on the River Styx so carelessly…! What if you can’t keep the oath…”

“Huh? Perseus! That’s your grandfather…!”

“Mother, is that really true?”

“Wait… that person is!”

“The former king… Acrisius?!!”

Acrisius was curious about his grandson’s face and secretly returned here,

and as soon as he heard his grandson swearing on the River Styx, he stepped forward.

“I-is that really my grandfather?”

“…You really look like Danaë, who committed a mistake… The prophecy… No, why did you make an oath on the River Styx in the first place…”

“Because of my mother’s words, and seeing you worry about me so much… I will take care of you this way, Grandfather.”

“I’m sorry… Perseus…”

They hugged each other and enjoyed the joy of reunion.

Danaë, who was watching this, burst into tears, and the people prayed as they watched this scene.

“Seeing that nothing happens even though the two have met… Could this be!”

“Has the absolute prophecy… changed slightly with the power of the River Styx?”

“Ah… the gods are merciful. To see such a sight…”

It is certain that Acrisius will meet his death at the hands of Perseus,

but now he will live comfortably, enjoying his natural lifespan, and go to Hades’ embrace.