King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 77

The King of the Underworld is Tired, Episode 77 (77/82)

Persephone’s Aftermath

After Persephone and Eros arrived in the Underworld,

The well-being of the gods who originally worked here greatly improved.

Not only Eros, who was in charge of torturing serious criminals by drawing his bow day and night…

Surprisingly, Persephone showed amazing enthusiasm and helped with the Underworld’s work.

The goddess of spring, initially clumsy, diligently assisted the other gods.

It didn’t seem like being smitten with me was the only reason, so I decided to approach her and ask directly.

As I approached the area where the gods in charge of paperwork were working, I soon heard sounds of strain.

Gods carried piles of parchment, and some passed by busily without noticing me.

Everyone’s having a hard time…

“Ugh… when will this ever end?”

“Ah. Lord Hades, you’ve arrived?”

“Nectar… I just want a glass of nectar.”

What stood out among them was a goddess with long golden hair.

My niece, slowly turning over a mountain of parchment piled up in front of a long desk, wielding a quill.

She gave off such a weary feeling that it was hard to believe she was the lively goddess of spring…

“Persephone.”

“Ah, Uncle Hades…! Just a moment. Just processing the documents from the soul residential area…”

“…? Okay.”

To be honest, I was a little taken aback.

Although disappointment lingered in her golden eyes, she turned her attention back to the documents.

Why is she doing this?

Ding- Ding- Ding-

“Ugh! My neck is stiff…”

“I’m going to close my eyes for a moment, so wake me up when the bell rings again…”

After some time, the mountain of parchment decreased, and a short break arrived.

Even in the Underworld, they don’t make you work without a break.

We are immortal gods who don’t need to eat, but thanks to the memories of our past lives when we took breaks during lunch and dinner, we regularly ring the bell to give leisure time in the Underworld.

Of course, it’s a little different for Charon [ferryman of the Underworld], Thanatos [god of death], and the serious criminals…

“Gasp. Lord Hades?! When did you get here…?”

“Perhaps… Ah. Did you come to see Lady Persephone?”

The gods, who finally recognized me, tried to pay their respects, but I waved my hand and looked at Persephone.

The gods discreetly left their seats, and I spoke to the goddess.

“Is anyone forcing you to work in the Underworld?”

“Yes? No?”

“Then why… why are you working so hard? You are the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, so I’m willing to grant you privileges…”

“B… but a goddess who is clumsy at her job isn’t Uncle Hades’s type, right? I’m just trying my best!”

What on earth does that mean? Since when has my type been a workaholic…

Persephone puffed out her chest and spoke with a hint of emphasis.

“Lady Styx [goddess of the River Styx] and that minor god, Mente, also said that.”

“…?”

“They said you wouldn’t even give them a glance if they couldn’t do this much. All the goddesses aiming for Uncle Hades are like that…”

Why is that rumor going around?

But I can’t go around to all the goddesses and correct them…

“You’re originally in charge of injecting power into the outskirts of the Underworld on a regular basis, so it’s fine to rest…”

“It’s different! That’s a reward, and this is a competition!”

“…?”

“Hmph~ Hmph~ It’s trivial, so you don’t need to know. Uncle. Hehe!”

Ding- Ding- Ding-

“Oh, it’s time to work again! See you later at dinner!”

I felt uneasy for some reason, so I didn’t ask any further.

* * *

“…Then I’ll leave this to Lady Mnemosyne [goddess of memory]… Is there anything else I need to approve?”

“That’s the last thing, Lord Hades.”

“Good, Morpheus [god of dreams], you can go back and rest now. You’ll have to work hard again tomorrow…”

Squeak.

I finished my day’s work and was about to rest when the door to the audience chamber opened slightly and a goddess entered.

My niece, Persephone, who I had visited earlier, came in.

“Lady Styx isn’t here… Lady Lethe [goddess of oblivion] isn’t here either… Hehe!”

“…? Persephone?”

She brought jujubes [dried Chinese dates] and figs, which mortals in the mortal realm eat as snacks.

Persephone sat down on the floor next to the throne with a silly smile.

“Uncle, if you have nothing to do, would you like to talk to me?”

“But isn’t it almost time for you to go back to the mortal realm?”

The time promised with Demeter has come.

Actually, it seems like the deadline has passed a bit…

“I like the Underworld too… I don’t want to go! I want to stay a little longer…!”

My niece pouted her cheeks and whined cutely.

Still, you have to return without being too late. Wouldn’t your mother be worried?

Thanks to her, the work in the Underworld has become quite easy for the past few months, so giving her a little more time is…

Well, if I spend some time chatting, she’ll go back, right?

“If it’s for a short time, it doesn’t matter, but…”

“Hehe… Then, Uncle, would you like to hear my story first? When I was in the mortal realm…”

A story about playing games with the nymphs [nature spirits] of the mortal realm near Mount Etna…

A story about guessing about the gods and having fun conversations, a story about her mother and my brother, Demeter, etc…

I was able to learn a little more about Persephone.

Unexpectedly, she had refined hobbies such as weaving and watching plays…

“Ehh… I’m talking too much. Tell me your story too, Uncle!”

“…?”

“Like the appearance of your favorite goddess, or what is attractive to the opposite sex…”

I turned my head away from her, who was sparkling her eyes and asking questions.

What is she talking about again…

“There’s nothing like that.”

“…Tch. Then tell me an old story! You’ve lived a long time, so you must know a lot of stories…”

I don’t know what’s good about living a long time… But as you said, I know quite a few stories.

From the story of my father, Cronus [leader of the Titans], who existed from the beginning…

“Do you…”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever climbed to the top of Mount Olympus?”

“Uh… I’ve been there only once! My mother didn’t take me to Olympus often…”

“…I still can’t forget that scenery.”

I closed my eyes to recall the past for a moment.

Persephone didn’t talk to me and waited quietly.

A long time ago, the moment I was born and first climbed to the top of Mount Olympus…

When I first felt the desire to live in this world for a long time…

The reason why we fought so fiercely in the war with the Titan gods.

The reason why we all tried to seize the hegemony of the world was because of that ambition.

The reason why everyone coveted the sky now ruled by Zeus was also because of that.

Yes, that sense of omnipotence to look down on everything from that high sky…

Remembering that time, I told Persephone the story of the past.

“Wow… Even Uncle Hades, who everyone says is detached, had such a time.”

“That’s how it was back then. But I gradually came to like this place as I ruled the Underworld.”

I recalled the past and talked to Persephone, and quite a bit of time passed.

Isn’t it really time to go now? My niece?

While I was thinking that, the door to the audience chamber opened and a messenger ran in.

“Lord Hades! The goddess of the earth, Demeter, has come to take Lady Persephone!”

Demeter came herself?

Even if her daughter returns to the mortal realm a little late…

It shouldn’t be enough for the goddess of the earth to move herself.

“She must have come because she has something to say to me directly. Guide her to the audience chamber.”

Hearing that, Persephone quietly gets up from her seat.

Yes, she’s probably going to run away quietly before her mother comes.

“Uh… um… then, Uncle Hades, I think you’re busy with work, so I’ll be going now… hehe…”

“If you don’t want to run into Demeter and get scolded, go back to the mortal realm on time next time…”

* * *

Not long after she headed to the mortal realm, a guest arrived.

A seemingly cold, expressionless impression, a glamorous appearance, and beautiful light brown and yellow hair.

The goddess of the earth, Demeter, came to the Underworld.

“Hades, my daughter…”

“She ran away because she didn’t want to be scolded by you just now. She’s probably up in the mortal realm by now.”

“…I see.”

As expected, Demeter’s expression did not change.

Even though she heard that her daughter was not here, she was still looking at me, so she must have something to say.

The goddess of the earth, who moved her divine power to block out the surrounding sounds, opened her mouth slightly.

Demeter, who had been looking me in the eye until just now, slightly turned her head to the side.

“…Do you know why I’m so overprotective of Kore [Persephone’s original name]?”

I didn’t bother to answer because I sensed a slight sadness in her voice.

She continued to speak as if she didn’t expect a response.

“My daughter, Kore, is too beautiful. Those who have met her even once praise Kore’s appearance.”

As Hephaestus [god of blacksmiths] said last time, Persephone had a very beautiful appearance.

The only goddess who is definitely more beautiful than her is Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love.

Other than a goddess in charge of beauty, there are few who can be compared to Persephone’s beauty.

Demeter said in an even more subdued voice.

“In this Greece, being beautiful is…”

“Yes, it’s a curse, not a blessing. I know that well too.”

In Greece, where there are so many rogues who commit rape, adultery, and use despicable tricks or deceptions to form relationships…

Beauty is a curse, not a blessing. Aphrodite also had an unwanted marriage because of her beauty.

Persephone is frustrated with her mother’s excessive protection,

If it weren’t for Demeter, it wouldn’t be strange if she had suffered something terrible a long time ago.

“There were countless people who flirted with my daughter. Even though I am her mother and her father is Zeus.”

“Because Persephone is beautiful.”

“If things continued like this, it wouldn’t be strange if something happened. I was always worried about that child.”

Zeus, the king of the gods, as well as Demeter cannot stay by Persephone’s side forever.

“…Until the rumor spread among the humans of the mortal realm that the master of the Underworld fell in love with my daughter at first sight and kidnapped her to the underworld.”

One of the reasons why I keep Persephone in the Underworld came from Demeter’s mouth.

Rumors spread among the humans of the mortal realm that I was struck by Eros’s arrow [arrow of love] and kidnapped my niece,

I deliberately did not correct the false rumors. The more it is known that I love her…

“Hades. Thanks to you, those who approached Kore disappeared. Because there was no fool who would dare to touch someone marked by the master of the Underworld.”

Gratitude was evident in her eyes as she turned her head back to look at me.

“I know that you are different from the other male gods who are crazy about desire. Because Kore is still maintaining her purity…”

“……”

“I don’t know if you and that child will eventually get married. But if that day comes, please take good care of Kore.”

A request as a mother with a daughter, not as the goddess of the earth.

I glanced at Demeter’s eyes, who were waiting for an answer, and opened my mouth.

“…Don’t worry.”

“I’m going back to the mortal realm now. Please keep today’s events a secret from Kore.”