King of Underworld

Chapter 75 A Slightly Different Story of Thebes – (1)

A few months after the oracle about Thebes spread across the mortal world, a robust man entered the city of Thebes.

His name was Philatos, a man renowned for his strength in Sparta.

So, this is Thebes, huh? It’s an even bigger city than I expected.

As soon as he crossed the city walls, he was greeted by the bustling voices of merchants and the laughter of children.

The people he passed on the streets had a healthy glow, and the air was filled with a refreshing, subtle fragrance.

In a part of the city, away from the main streets, small, neatly built houses made of well-fired bricks stood tightly packed together.

There were also homes with spacious gardens belonging to wealthy nobles, as well as the grand royal palace of Thebes.

“Selling high-quality olives, blessed by the goddess Demeter!”

“How much is this?”

“We also have fish left over from offerings to the Olympian gods! Just a few drachmas per fish…”

“The god Phoebus has surely blessed you, haha!”

This place is definitely Pluto’s city… The scent of mint is everywhere… Wait, what?

Thud.

While Philatos was standing in the middle of the road, observing his surroundings, someone bumped into him.

The road was wide, but with so many people, he had inadvertently caused an obstruction.

“Hey, what are you doing blocking the road? Judging by your look, you’re an outsider who’s come to Thebes to become a hero… Why don’t you head over to the Agora?”

“…Apologies.”

“Tsk. There’s been an influx of clueless foreigners lately…”

The merchant, dressed in a woolen chiton and cowhide sandals, grumbled as he passed by, followed closely by his servants. It was clear he had made a fortune in trade.

As Philatos continued to wander, curiously taking in the surroundings, a group of children ran past him, heading somewhere in a rush.

“Kyaahaha! So that’s why the thunder struck yesterday—Zeus must’ve…”

“Let’s sneak up the mountain today! We’ll bring back loads of wild strawberries!”

“You’ll get in trouble again! The guards will catch you like last time.”

“Let’s pray at the statue of Hypnos in Pluto’s temple first—people say it’s getting scarier to fall asleep lately!”

Hypnos, the god of sleep? In Pluto’s temple?

Intrigued by what the children said, Philatos decided to visit Pluto’s temple.

Even though it was located on the outskirts of the city, the temple’s grandeur rivaled that of a royal palace, and it was packed with people.

While Pluto was known as the god of wealth and mercy, the temple also reflected his other role as the god of the Underworld.

Pluto’s priests and servants, all dressed in black and somber attire, were busy managing the crowd.

“Ugh… So many people today.”

“I’ve brought a few eggs from our hen to offer as a sacrifice.”

“Isn’t that too small of an offering? Won’t the god be angry?”

“You don’t get it, do you? Lord Pluto is a god of wealth and mercy. He’s not fixated on material offerings.”

“Right. It’s the heart that counts.”

After finally making his way inside, Philatos saw priests and servants guiding the offerings of honey, grain, and animal hides.

As he waited in line, a beautiful woman in a black robe, who appeared to be in her early thirties, approached him with her hands clasped.

“May Pluto’s grace be upon you. I am Philona, a junior priestess. What brings you here today?”

“I was just curious. I heard there are statues of other gods here as well…”

“Ah! If you’re interested in seeing the statues of other gods associated with the Underworld, please head in that direction.”

She pointed him toward one part of the temple.

* * *

Following the priestess’s direction, Philatos wandered deeper into the temple and soon found himself in front of numerous statues, each with long lines of worshippers.

The statues, all carved from marble, stood under the watch of heavily armed guards.

Judging by their attire, they were royal guards.

“Next!”

“Hey, you already prayed once. It’s one per person—there are too many people for you to pray twice.”

“O Lady of the River of Forgetfulness, my son has not slept since he returned from war…”

“I swear by Lady Styx that…”

“Today, I stand proudly before the just Lord Pluto…”

“Ahem! To the goddess of mint…”

Each worshipper murmured their prayers in front of their chosen god’s statue, eyes closed, hands clasped.

Curious about this strange scene, Philatos approached one of the guards.

“Excuse me. I’m not from here, so I don’t know… Why are there statues of other gods inside Pluto’s temple?”

“Ugh, how many times do I have to answer this…”

It seemed many people had asked the same question, judging by the guard’s weary tone.

“Listen carefully, because I’ll only explain this once.”

“Understood.”

“Lord Pluto, in his mercy, allowed the statues of many gods who reside in the Underworld to be placed in his temple. As you can see, there are statues of the Furies and Thana… ahem, the god of death, Thanatos, as well.”

“I see, but…”

Philatos realized that statues of gods typically avoided by mortals were also present here.

In Sparta, people wouldn’t even speak the names of Thanatos, the god of death, or the three Furies.

“Pluto has embraced gods who receive little worship or are even unknown to mortals. Thanks to this, we’ve been able to let go of many of our prejudices.”

“So that’s how it is…”

Philatos waited patiently in line, and when his turn came, he knelt in front of the statue of an unknown goddess and prayed.

His prayer was simple—just a token of gratitude for divine grace…

Suddenly, flash!

“Huh?! What’s this?”

“Another one’s been chosen.”

“An outsider, huh? Lucky.”

“Was it the statue of Lady Styx?”

To his surprise, a faint light began to glow, enveloping his body.

Despite the divine display, no one seemed too shocked. The same guard he’d spoken to earlier approached and congratulated him.

“Congratulations. If you’ve come to Thebes to become a hero, would you like to follow me?”

“What just happened…?”

“Lady Styx has recognized the potential strength within you. People are chosen here from time to time.”

“Well, I did come here to become a hero, but…”

“You’ve passed the first test. Follow me.”

Feeling uncertain, Philatos followed the guard into a different part of the temple.

* * *

Philatos was led into a spacious hall that resembled a banquet hall, where the guard told him to take a seat and wait.

There was an abundance of food around, and about ten other people were waiting just like him.

“You’re free to do whatever you like. Just wait until the evening.”

“Are all these other people also chosen by the statues?”

“Not all of them. If you go to the Agora in the city center, you can wait to receive training from an instructor. There are various tests to pass, but… most people who end up here are those who stood out in those tests.”

Those who wished to become heroes were gathered at the Agora, where they were tested in tasks like moving boulders, demonstrating swordsmanship, or displaying unique talents.

Occasionally, someone chosen by a god or selected through an oracle would be brought here.

“Many who fail to become heroes join the military. Recently, one even became a royal guard.”

It seems the royal family of Thebes is following the gods’ will because they benefit from it.

It dawned on Philatos that those who stood out in the tests were gathered in rooms like this.

Satisfied with the explanation, he nodded, and the guard returned to his post.

When evening came, a man in a black robe, who appeared to be a priest of Pluto, entered the room, followed by soldiers and other priests.

“Hm. Is this everyone for today? Step forward one by one and touch this.”

Thud.

The middle-aged priest placed a small, glowing stone on the table.

Each person approached the stone in turn and touched it.

Flash.

“Hm. It glows. Stand over there.”

…

“There’s no reaction. I’m sorry, but you’re disqualified.”

“What?! I came all the way to Thebes, and you’re rejecting me over a piece of rock?!”

When the stone glowed, it meant the person had the potential to become a hero.

The man who was disqualified erupted in anger, but Philatos could sense something divine emanating from the stone, as though it held the very power of a god.

“I didn’t come here for this nonsense! I didn’t come all this way to be toyed with—”

“…This won’t do.”

Thud!

“This is what happens to those who cause trouble. Keep that in mind.”

The man, who had grabbed a soldier by the collar in rage, was swiftly struck in the neck by a guard’s spear and collapsed.

The reason for bringing so many soldiers and priests into the room was now clear.

The unconscious troublemaker was dragged out by two soldiers, while the priest continued the process without even glancing at him.

“Next, step forward.”

“Is it my turn now?”

The next person was a frail scholar who looked like he couldn’t even catch a chicken.

Yet, he passed.

Flash—

“You’re the second one. Stand over there.”

So even a frail person like that can be chosen as a hero?

“Next.”

Now, only a bald, muscular man and Philatos were left.

The bald man walked past Philatos and placed his hand on the stone, causing a reaction.

Flash—

But… something was wrong.

Instead of the usual white light, the stone emitted a deep red glow.

The bald man, confused by the unusual occurrence, suddenly drew a dagger from his belt.

Drool dripped from his mouth, and his eyes gradually turned bloodshot.

“Ugh… Ugh…!”

“He’s a spy, consumed by madness! Kill him!”

The middle-aged priest shouted strange words, and the soldiers rushed at the crazed man.