The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 151: Gigantomachia – Prelude

Today was another busy day, just like any other. Life in the Underworld is a repetitive cycle, like a spinning wheel.

But someone had come to visit me, the ruler of this peaceful Underworld…

It was Hypnos, the god who spreads sleep to all beings in the world.

“Hades, have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

“There's a rumor that the goddess Thetis has been meeting with a mortal lately.”

I glanced at Hypnos, who was chuckling as if he had stumbled upon something amusing, then opened my mouth to speak.

“She’s been looking for a husband through contests in the mortal realm, but until now, no one had met her standards, right?”

She wanted to get married herself, but for a goddess as beautiful as the goddess of the sea, it would be hard for any mortal or demigod to meet her criteria.

Especially since Zeus, ever sensitive to power, had been pressuring her to do so.

“Of course! They’re not even gods or demigods. But who would have thought that there’d be someone who barely fits her strict standards?”

“…?”

“I heard that at a recent hunting competition, a mortal hero captured more than half of the released game and won.”

“But just that wouldn’t be enough to catch the goddess’s interest, would it?”

Thetis is considered the most beautiful among the Nereid sisters.

Rumor has it that her beauty surpasses even that of Amphitrite, Poseidon’s queen, so her standards are very high.

By the standards of the gods, who are surrounded by beautiful men and women, no mortal could likely satisfy her.

“Sure, winning the competition might have granted him a chance to propose to the goddess, but…”

“Do you know what that mortal said to the goddess when they were alone? He actually asked if she could assign him more tasks! Hahaha!”

“…?!”

“Of course, Thetis wouldn’t stand still after meeting a mortal who wasn’t swayed by her beauty, right? She ordered him to capture all kinds of sea monsters, and surprisingly, he managed to take down every single one, asking for even greater challenges. Haha!”

Wait a minute. I’m reminded of those heroes who recently took down the Calydonian Boar.

If this mortal is someone obsessed with trials and achievements… Could it be one of the heroes who trained here in the Underworld?

“After this happened several times, do you know what the goddess finally said to the mortal when there were no more tasks left to give him?”

“How do you know all this in such detail? Could it be that you’re shirking your duties and wandering around the mortal world…”

“Ahem! I’m not Thanatos; of course not. I just heard it from another god. Anyway, this is what they supposedly said.”

I listened closely to Hypnos, curious to find out how this mortal managed to win over the goddess’s heart.

“I have captured one of the monsters descended from Ceto, as you instructed. Please assign me my next task!”

“…There are no more tasks for me to give you.”

“Pardon?”

“There’s only one feat that even the greatest heroes have rarely achieved.”

“Hmm… Whatever it may be, please tell me! Unless it’s something like slaying a dragon…”

“It is to marry me, Thetis, goddess of the sea. Taking a goddess as a wife is a feat that only the greatest heroes can achieve. Be proud.”

“…!!!”

So, that’s how it happened…

It seems Thetis fell for this mortal hero who wasn’t swayed by her beauty and completed her tasks with bravery.

It seems he may have learned something unusual from the Underworld… but, well, as long as it’s a good thing, it’s fine.

“So, what’s this hero’s name?”

“I heard it’s Peleus. Apparently, they’re planning to marry after the battle against the Gigantes.”

That name sounds familiar…

* * *

Not long ago, Zeus sent a message to the Underworld.

He told us to be cautious, as he’s planning to start a war with the Gigantes, and he doesn’t want them or Gaia to catch on.

He’s probably planning to attack the Phlegraean Plain while they’re off guard.

Of course, Gaia’s ability to foresee events is concerning… so I’ve heard they’re even preparing for an all-out war.

“Poor Heracles, though. It’ll be a short honeymoon for him.”

“Well, the god of strength is essential for victory, so there’s no other choice. Still, I think he’ll make a good husband for the goddess of youth.”

“Indeed. In the meantime, keep watching over the Phlegraean Plain as usual. If the Giants make a move, we’ll need to respond.”

I watched as Hypnos nodded and left, then I sensed something.

Voices calling my name from the mortal realm. The feeling of faith. Offerings dedicated to the name of the god.

Is there a mint festival in Thebes? I closed my eyes and scanned the mortal world, hearing the voices of my worshippers.

It seems to be Thebes, as I thought. What’s happening there this time?

Today, many citizens were gathered in the streets.

It looked like a festival, but it wasn’t the regularly held mint festival.

“Is today the wedding day of the Arcadian princess and the prince of Calydon?”

“But why are they holding the wedding in Thebes? Shouldn’t they do it in their own countries?”

“It’s obvious. They’re using this as an excuse to form an alliance with Thebes. His Majesty supports the idea of a three-nation alliance, but I…”

“Hm. I don’t think that’s it. I heard they trained together at Pluto’s temple. Maybe that’s why?”

“But the Arcadian princess Atalanta serves the goddess Artemis, doesn’t she?”

“Hahaha! Well, it’s a good thing for us, isn’t it? The city is overflowing with tourists from other places!”

“If a merchant can’t profit from this chance, he’s no real merchant at all.”

“I’ve heard those names before. Aren’t they famous heroes? They’re even connected with the kings of Athens and Iolcos…”

“Hey, folks. I’m from Arcadia… By the way, that mint tea you mentioned…”

“I’m from Calydon. The scenery in Thebes isn’t bad, I must say.”

They must have considered the fact that the two heroes trained together in my temple here in Thebes and grew close in the Underworld.

Arcadia, Calydon, and Thebes. They might be using this wedding in Thebes as a way to formalize an alliance among the three nations.

But coming all the way to Thebes from such distant places… No, if a monster appeared on the way, they’d probably welcome it as another chance to prove their strength.

Hopefully, they won’t bring a monster hide as a wedding gift…

“Oh, look over there! That’s Prince Meleager of Calydon! He’s coming this way with the Calydonian soldiers!”

“Wow. Is that finely dressed man really the prince? And what’s that on the soldiers’ shoulders?”

“They’re carrying a monster’s corpse! Is it a Harpy? I can’t see it well from here.”

…So they really did encounter a monster and took it down on the way here.

* * *

This wedding in Thebes is no ordinary political marriage.

Since it symbolizes an alliance among the three nations, some gods and many surrounding states are paying close attention.

The lord of the Underworld, who is so feared that people use a different name when speaking of him.

Rumors have long spread throughout Greece that those who train for a long time in Pluto’s temple in Thebes gain abilities that far surpass ordinary heroes.

Even Heracles, the mightiest hero, whose whereabouts have been mysterious for some time, was once said to have trained in Thebes.

“Oh… there’s Princess Atalanta! They say she’s a fierce warrior, but she’s unbelievably beautiful!”

“She may not be as radiant as the goddess Aphrodite, but she’s certainly not outshone by the celestial goddesses…”

The marriage between Princess Atalanta, famed for her archery skills among the heroes of Thebes, and Prince Meleager, master of the spear from Calydon.

This union made many royals and heroes of other nations feel that the times were changing.

There’s even a rumor that the king of Thebes himself suggested they hold the wedding here.

It was probably a way to step closer to an alliance between the two nations under the guise of a heroes’ wedding.

Thebes already benefits greatly from its position as a major producer of mint in trade with other states.

And if it could secure strong allies through this alliance of three nations…

Riiing~

“There, Prince Meleager is entering!”

“Master of the spear! The Prince of Calydon!”

“Wowww!!!”

After the ceremony, a blind prophet with a long beard, Tiresias, approached the newlywed couple.

As punishment for siding with Zeus in a quarrel with Hera, he was struck blind, but in return, he was granted the power of prophecy and a long life. He had come to Thebes as if he had foreseen this wedding of heroes.

Recognizing the famous seer, Meleager and Atalanta asked him a question.

“Tiresias, what do you think about my marriage with Atalanta?”

“Hmm…”

Everyone watched the most famous prophet in Greece, awaiting his words.

What would this prophet say?

Clearing his throat, Tiresias spoke calmly.

“I see you raising children and living well. Your future will be very bright.”

“Phew… Thank you, Tiresias!”

“Thank you so much.”

After receiving their gratitude, the blind prophet set off on his journey once again.

But was it his intuition? He felt that the couple’s path would not be entirely smooth.

Meleager, who would be killed by his mother as a consequence of killing his uncles, and Atalanta, who would be transformed into a lion and die as punishment for incurring a goddess’s wrath after marriage…

He dismissed these visions as fleeting dreams from the distant past, smiling as he did so.

For in the future he now saw, they were happily holding a child in their arms.

Perhaps he had simply seen it wrong. Prophecies can be tricky that way, after all.

But if not… perhaps it was the intervention of some divine being.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Hah… could it be that some merciful god is watching over these heroes?”

Heroes are the ones who shape the world.

This is truly the age of heroes.