King of Underworld

Chapter 78 The Story of Bellerophon – (1)

As more aspiring heroes began receiving their training in the Underworld, the number of my followers steadily increased. Perhaps it was because they were constantly exposed to the aura of the Underworld, even though Persephone had neutralized much of it…

“Lord Pluto, if you’re watching, please grant me a sliver of mercyyyy!!! Aaaaargh!”

Boom!

“Eurytus! Are you okay?”

“This guy’s completely out of it. Hey, snap out of it!”

Hmm. It sounds like that mortal has become my newest follower.

It wasn’t all that surprising that heroes, constantly facing mythical monsters, would call out to me in desperation.

After all, when facing creatures that surpass the limits of mortal strength, it’s only natural to seek out any god nearby. However, no matter how earnestly they called for me, I never helped. This was the Underworld, and these trials were simply part of their training.

“Lord Pluto… another has passed the trial and come to the Underworld…”

“Thank you for your grace…”

The priests in the mortal world, who were linked to the Underworld, were doing their part as well. Occasionally, a spy sent by Gaia, driven mad by her influence, was discovered, but they were weeded out with a stone imbued with the power of Dionysus.

As I sat on my throne, watching the heroes’ training with my eyes closed, a soft voice called out.

It was a voice I recognized well—Lady Styx.

“Hades, are you free right now?”

“Lady Styx…? No one is in the throne room at the moment. What is it?”

She quietly opened the doors and peeked around before entering.

“Have you heard? A new hero is trying to kill the Chimera.”

“The Chimera… the child of Typhon and Echidna, yes.”

The Chimera, a monstrous beast, one of the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, had the body of a lion, a goat’s head sprouting from its back, and a snake for a tail. It was notorious for spewing fire from the lion’s mouth, possessing the cunning of the goat, and carrying deadly venom in the snake’s fangs.

I realized then just how powerful Typhon’s children were. Cerberus, the guardian of the Underworld, was one of them, as was the Nemean Lion, which lived in the valley of Nemea. Even the Sphinx, who had been taken in by Hera before being killed by Oedipus and sent to the Underworld, was one of Typhon’s offspring.

“It seems many gods are watching closely, as it’s not every day a hero kills one of Typhon’s children.”

“I heard from Olympus that they’re thinking about lending Pegasus to the hero. What do you think?”

Pegasus.

The winged white horse, born from the blood of Medusa when Perseus beheaded her. Unlike normal horses, Pegasus had wings that allowed him to soar through the skies.

Medusa, now a minor goddess of the Underworld, had once brought Pegasus here herself. The winged horse, recognizing Medusa as its mother-figure, had quietly followed her to the Underworld, where he now resided peacefully with her.

“In that case, I’ll summon Medusa and ask her opinion. After all, Pegasus was born from her.”

“She’s probably with Lady Mente right now. Shall I summon them for you?”

“No need. I’ll go myself. I haven’t seen Pegasus in a while, anyway.”

“I believe they’re at the Elysian Fields, where Pegasus is being fed.”

Since Pegasus had eaten the food of the Underworld, he had long since become a part of it. However, depending on Medusa’s wishes, it would be possible to lend him to the hero temporarily.

* * *

The Elysian Fields, warmer than even the goddess of spring and cozier than the goddess of the hearth, greeted me as I arrived. A vast, serene plain stretched out before me, with the soft rustle of wind and the chirping of insects. It was almost indistinguishable from a mortal field.

Up on a hill, a man lay basking in the tranquility. As I approached, he noticed me and rose with a joyful expression.

It was Cadmus, the great hero of Thebes, who now lived in the Elysian Fields.

As he saw me, he greeted me warmly.

“Ah, Lord Hades! What brings you to the Elysian Fields?”

“It’s been a while, Cadmus. Have you seen two goddesses and a winged horse around here?”

“Oh, those ladies passed by not too long ago.”

He pointed in a direction with his finger.

They were probably grazing Pegasus on that side of the field. While waiting for them to return, I decided to chat with Cadmus for a bit. After all, I had put considerable effort into creating this paradise, and it would be nice to hear how its residents were faring.

“How is life in the Elysian Fields? Are you satisfied?”

“Haha! My wife Harmonia has never stopped smiling since we got here. Even now, she’s much happier than when we were in the mortal world.”

Cadmus laughed heartily, clearly content with life in the Fields. His wife, Harmonia, the goddess of harmony, was still with him, and they seemed to have a happy relationship even in death.

“After all this time, you and Harmonia are still very close.”

“I may not be Aphrodite, but that’s love, isn’t it?”

Though he had been dead for a long time, their love had not diminished.

I suppose… if this is what true love looks like… perhaps I…

“But why have you come here, Lord Hades?”

“I came to ask Medusa about lending Pegasus to a hero in the mortal world.”

“I see… the mortal world must still be in turmoil, then. Does this have to do with the serpent monsters I once told you about?”

I told him about the Gigantes, the current situation in the mortal world, and the training of heroes in the Underworld. I also updated him on the status of his descendants and the people of Thebes.

“Oh… so that’s what’s happening. In that case, may I ask a favor?”

“Is there something you want? Speak.”

“My fellow heroes are training in the outer reaches of the Underworld, aren’t they? I would like to help them.”

“…I can’t disrupt your rest here in the Elysian Fields.”

I flatly refused, but Cadmus laughed heartily once again.

“Lord Hades, guiding the next generation is the duty and pride of a hero. Sometimes, helping them can be more fulfilling than living in this paradise.”

“But you’ve already completed your tasks and severed your ties with the mortal world…”

“Ask the other heroes as well. If they are true heroes, they’ll likely give you a similar answer.”

Even after all this time, Cadmus, the first great hero who had deceived Typhon and saved Olympus, still had a determined look in his eyes.

If this is what it means to be a hero, and if that is what they desire…

“…I’ll ask the others as well.”

“Haha! Please call on me anytime. I’d be happy to pass on my experiences to the next generation.”

Just then, I heard a voice calling from a distance.

“Cadmus~ Where are you?!”

“Ah, that’s Harmonia calling for me.”

“Well, I’ll go fetch Pegasus. Spend some time with your wife.”

“Please come again! I’ll prepare something for you next time!”

* * *

Not long after parting ways with Cadmus, I found Medusa and Mente with Pegasus.

The white-winged horse, upon seeing me, neighed nervously and tried to hide behind Medusa.

Neigh!

“Oh, Lord Hades! Did you come to see us?”

“Have you come all the way to the Elysian Fields?”

Mente and Medusa greeted me with bright smiles, and I nodded in response.

Pegasus was still clearly afraid of me.

“Medusa, I came to discuss lending Pegasus to a hero in the mortal world.”

“Huh? You could have just ordered me…”

Medusa’s voice trailed off as I remained silent.

After all, she had been beheaded by a hero, and from that severed head, Pegasus was born. She must have had mixed feelings about it. Realizing the reason for my silence, Medusa lowered her head slightly.

“You don’t need to consider my feelings. If you need Pegasus, take him.”

“…Thank you. Once the hero has slain Typhon’s child, I’ll return him to you.”

Neigh!

Pegasus seemed to understand what was being said, though he still remained nervous.

Medusa gently stroked his back a few times to calm him down.

“Does he still follow you around everywhere, as he did when he was a foal?”

“Hehe, that was when he was young. Now that he’s grown, he doesn’t do that anymore. Right?”

Neigh!

“For some reason, he’s only afraid of you, Lord Hades. Maybe it’s because he’s a flying horse?”

Mente might be right…

Pegasus, being a creature of the sky, must have found it difficult to adapt to the Underworld. Though he had grown more accustomed to its aura, he still feared me.

I extended my hand, and despite his fear, Pegasus slowly approached.

“Well then, I’ll take him with me.”

“See you next time!”

“Understood, Lord Hades.”

Now, it was time to deliver this horse to the hero.

But who should I send to deliver it

? Hermes? Athena?