King Of Underworld [EN]: Chapter 82

Bellerophon’s Story – (5)

While the hero’s quest was underway, Gaia intervened, unleashing the Chimera. This act destroyed Athena’s temple and ultimately led to Bellerophon’s death.

Although she couldn’t alter Bellerophon’s destined demise at the hands of the Chimera,

she employed a method of guiding choices toward a specific destiny, similar to the advice I gave Perseus.

“Did you notice that, Lady Lethe?”

“Yes… Gaia’s prophetic abilities rival those of Prometheus.”

“Even if we succeed in creating a hero and winning the war against the Giants, the victory might be pyrrhic, filled with irreparable losses.”

Winning against the Giants only to have the Titans released, or suffering defeat at Gaia’s hands, were equally undesirable outcomes.

And there was always the possibility of Gaia creating new monsters to succeed the Giants. I need to be better prepared…

Gaia is one of the primordial gods, a Protogenoi.

Those who can be compared to the ancient Protogenoi are only the Protogenoi themselves.

Beneath the omnipotent Chaos that existed first, the Protogenoi are few, including Gaia.

There’s the god of darkness, Lord Erebos, the goddess of night, Lady Nyx, and the god of the abyss, Tartaros.

Lord Tartaros, who embodies hell itself, generally remains uninvolved…

Lord Erebos or Lady Nyx… Hmm. They have both withdrawn from worldly affairs.

Lost in thought, I was startled by Lady Lethe’s voice.

“Hades.”

“What is it?”

“Bellerophon will soon arrive in the underworld… Will you reward him for his quest?”

It has been some time since Thanatos’s avatar [a representation or manifestation] went to retrieve him…

The moment has come for Bellerophon, who died battling the Chimera, to enter the underworld.

Though he doesn’t quite merit Elysium [the paradise in the Underworld] due to the blemish of killing his brother…

Those who complete a quest deserve some form of recognition.

I summoned a messenger and issued instructions.

“When the hero who slew the Chimera arrives in the underworld, bring him to me.”

“Yes, Lord Hades.”

* * *

After a brief wait with Lady Lethe in the audience chamber, the hero was brought before me.

Bellerophon, having regained his memories of the mortal realm through the power of the goddess Mnemosyne [goddess of memory], wore a tormented expression, as if still experiencing phantom pains.

Kneeling before me, he seemed filled with regret,

and displayed a bitter realization of his own death.

“Um… Why has the lord of the underworld summoned me?”

“You accomplished the extraordinary feat of slaying Typhon’s child [referring to the Chimera] while in a mortal body, yet you received no fitting reward in the mortal realm.”

“…?!”

“Is there anything you desire? I promise you treatment and compensation worthy of your achievement.”

If heroes who risk their lives to slay monsters receive no reward, who would aspire to be a hero?

If he doesn’t desire a reward, I should at least ensure his fame spreads far and wide…

But his request far exceeded my expectations.

“Then… I wish to become a god, like Lord Pluto!”

“Hmm?”

“To ascend to Olympus above the clouds, become a god there, and enjoy eternal life…”

Bellerophon raised his head, his eyes gleaming with fervent desire.

No, godhood is a bit much…

Especially not a minor god of the underworld, but aspiring to Olympus?

That is beyond my power, and would require the consent of Zeus and the other Olympians.

Hmm. Still, he is a hero who sacrificed himself to kill the Chimera, so a degree of audacity is forgivable.

Perhaps I should try to dissuade him gently for now?

I raised my hand to silence him and explained calmly.

“…You harbor too many fantasies about the nature of gods.”

“Yes?”

“What do you believe a god to be? Why do you seek to become one?”

After a moment of contemplation, he replied…

“Aren’t they immortal and perfect beings? I have always yearned to be a god!”

“Perfect…?”

“I killed that powerful monster, so please grant me the chance to become a god!”

Mortals ascending to godhood is not entirely unheard of.

In Medusa’s case, she was transformed into a goddess as recompense for the suffering inflicted upon her by a god…

Dionysus spread the gift of wine in the mortal realm and gathered a following, eventually claiming his place as a god.

But even Cadmus and Perseus, who accomplished great deeds, did not achieve godhood, so elevating Bellerophon is a stretch…

Furthermore, he did not cultivate a following in the mortal realm and desires a position among the Olympian gods, not in the underworld.

And despite his heroism, he bears the stain of fratricide, however accidental.

Still, considering his achievement in slaying the Chimera at the cost of his life…

“First, you need to understand what a god is and what they do.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Experience the duties of a minor god in the underworld for one hundred days. If you still desire godhood after that, I will petition Olympus on your behalf.”

“…! Thank you! Lord Pluto!”

Bellerophon bowed deeply, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.

But isn’t he thanking me prematurely?

“Thank you so much!”

“Well…”

The daily lives of our gods are likely far different from your expectations…

Shortly after, Bellerophon departed, elated, and I turned to Lady Lethe.

Lady Lethe gazed at me with sparkling eyes, seemingly sharing my thoughts.

“Hades…! Shouldn’t we assign that human to the River of Oblivion? Lately, the dead souls have been increasingly reluctant to relinquish their memories…”

“I was considering assigning him to Eros, who oversees the torment of sinners, for the time being. After that…”

“Ah…”

Lady Lethe’s eyes drooped slightly, disappointed that he wouldn’t be assigned to her domain.

I observed the dispirited goddess for a moment…

Swish.

I gently stroked her soft hair.

The beautiful silver strands, seemingly flawless, slipped through my fingers.

“…Hiyat! Ha. Ha.. Hades?!”

“I appreciate your help thus far.”

She seems so surprised. When does she usually approach me like that…

Is this the first time I’ve initiated physical contact?

Lady Lethe, excessively flustered, attempted to pull away, so I gently grasped her wrist.

“Please continue your diligent work. Someday…”

“Nehe… Yes… I understand. P.. Please release my hand…”

“Ah.”

As soon as I released her hand, the silver-haired goddess fled from the audience chamber.

Her flushed neck, contrasting with her pale face, was particularly noticeable.

Thud.

“Ouch! Ugh…”

She must have been in such a hurry that she bumped her head on the door.

Of course, the audience chamber door struck by the goddess’s forehead was scratched… Ah, I need to repair the section where Lady Styx tripped last time as well.

* * *

Hastily leaving the audience chamber, Lady Lethe rushed towards a specific destination.

The place she was heading to was an office within the underworld.

“Styx! Styx! Styx!”

“Wha… What is it?! Lethe!”

“Lady Lethe…?”

The goddesses Styx and Mente were present, diligently stacking piles of parchment and working.

They were startled by Lady Lethe’s sudden entrance, her face flushed.

But the goddess of oblivion, disregarding their surprise, questioned the goddess Styx.

“I’ve noticed that Hades has been acting differently whenever he sees you these past few days. What transpired between the two of you back then?”

“But… Why suddenly today…?”

“Today was the first time Hades stroked my hair with such tenderness! Tell me honestly! If he’s acting this way towards me, what on earth did you do last time…?”

That’s right. Just a while ago, while riding Pegasus…

There was no way the other gods wouldn’t notice the changed demeanor of the goddess Styx, who had kissed Hades.

But until now, the lord of the underworld that Lethe knew was,

A god who didn’t particularly dislike goddesses approaching him, but would always maintain a distance.

It was as if… there was an insurmountable barrier in his heart,

So she assumed that Styx was simply pursuing him again and was embarrassed… but.

“Don’t tell me… How intimate did you become last time?”

“Wha… What do you mean, how intimate did I become!”

If Hades is exhibiting such a change today, the situation is different.

She didn’t have a deep relationship with the goddess Styx, did she?

The goddess Styx was shaking her head vehemently… but, as if the events of a few days ago resurfaced in her mind,

She couldn’t prevent the tips of her ears from gradually turning red.

“Come to think of it, Lord Hades has seemed different these past few days. The look in his eyes, how should I describe it… It feels like it has become kinder?”

“Yes… I felt like the wall around his heart had crumbled slightly.”

Mente, who also sensed the change, added her observation.

Perhaps if Persephone were present, she would have immediately rushed to Hades upon noticing this change…

But she had already ascended to the mortal realm long ago.

“Could it be that Eros shot an arrow or something…?”

“The god Eros is still working in the underworld, though?”

* * *

Meanwhile, Bellerophon, eager to become a god, arrived at a destination guided by a servant.

This place, where the heat seemed even more intense than the flames of the Chimera he battled in the mortal realm, is…?

“Ughhh!!! Stop…”

“Keuak! Keheok!”

“Save me! No, please forgive me!”

Numerous heinous criminals, not quite deserving of Tartaros but unable to atone for their sins with moderate punishment, were suffering here.

The dead, unable to escape the fiery sea, writhed in agony on the floor.

“You can deliver the arrows to Lord Eros over there from here.”

“Ah…”

Shoo- Thwack!

“Kuaaak!”

Even a god who appears to be a winged child is constantly shooting arrows from above.

That god over there is the god Eros, but…

“Hey, you human! If you’ve arrived, hurry up and bring more arrows!”

“Ah.. Yes, yes!”

Why is the god who governs love working in the underworld?

Even while moving so busily, without resting even for a moment…?!