King of Underworld

Chapter 79 The Story of Bellerophon – (2)

After returning to the citadel with Pegasus from Elysium, Lady Styx greeted me warmly. It seemed that she had taken care of some urgent matters while I was away and was now resting for a moment.

“You’re back, Hades… and you’ve brought Pegasus with you.”

Neigh!

While some might question her taking such responsibilities, Styx was granted the authority to manage certain affairs in the Underworld after the Titanomachy. She had aided us during the war, and I personally entrusted her with this role as a token of my gratitude. Whenever I was absent, she became the final decision-maker, though she would hold off on any major decisions that required my judgment.

“Now that you’ve returned, we just need to send Pegasus to the hero. I was thinking of having Hermes or Athena deliver him.”

“Shall I send a message to Olympus?”

“Yes, please do.”

After finishing our conversation, I turned to return to my previous duties. However, my gaze lingered on Lady Styx. Her long, black hair and her tired blue eyes stood out, along with the parchment in her hands.

Reflecting on it, I realized how much I owed her. She had supported me since the early days of my reign over the Underworld, even during the Titanomachy when I was still inexperienced.

The hilt of my Styx sword, tied to my waist, felt warm at that moment. I thought about those who supported me—Styx, Lethe, Mente, Persephone… So many had been by my side, yet I hadn’t properly repaid their kindness.

In Styx’s eyes, I saw trust, devotion, and something more. A fondness, perhaps.

As I quietly observed her, lost in thought, she chuckled softly.

“Ha! Hades, why are you staring at me like that? Are you so entranced by my beauty that you’ve lost your wits?”

“…Indeed, you are exceptionally beautiful today.”

“W-What?! W-What did you just say…?”

The parchment fell from Styx’s hands as her face flushed bright red, from her cheeks to the tips of her ears. She raised a hand to cover her mouth, clearly flustered.

I too felt a strange nervousness as I spoke again, my voice slightly unsteady.

This is just a stroll… Yes, that’s all. A simple gesture of gratitude… Nothing more. Probably.

“Since we’re taking Pegasus to the mortal world, how about accompanying me on a ride through the skies?”

“Ah…! I’ll… I’ll get ready right away! Please wait here!”

Thud!

In her haste to leave, Styx accidentally bumped into the door of the throne room. The solid wood creaked under the impact of her divine strength, and parts of the door splintered onto the floor.

Seeing the broken fragments scattered around, I wondered for a moment:

‘Should I change my attire as well?’

* * *

I expected Styx to return shortly, but more time passed than I anticipated, and she still hadn’t come back.

…?

Just as I considered going to check on her, the door burst open, and Styx rushed in, breathless and looking disheveled. She bent over, hands on her knees, panting as if she had been running from something—or someone.

Who could have possibly flustered Lady Styx like this? Could it be that a full-scale war with the Gigantes had broken out?

“Pant… pant… Let’s hurry, Hades…!”

“What’s the matter? Has war broken out with Olympus? Or did Poseidon start another rebellion…?”

“No… it’s nothing like that. It’s just… Lethe started following me around, eyeing me suspiciously… So I ran a whole lap around the Underworld to lose her…!”

“…Perhaps you’d like some water first?”

As Styx caught her breath, she explained what had happened. Apparently, while changing her clothes, Lethe had caught sight of her and began asking questions.

“Styx… Where are you planning to go in that outfit?”

“L-Lethe?! It’s nothing, really!”

“…Suspicious…”

And so, Lethe had trailed after her for quite some time, assigning her more and more tasks, until Styx had finally managed to escape.

“Ugh… Lethe is relentless when she gets like that.”

“And in those clothes, no less…”

Styx had changed into a more revealing chiton, exposing much of her chest and legs. Her skin glistened with olive oil and honey, and golden accessories dangled from her slightly reddened ears.

“…Hades.”

“…Yes?”

“Please stop staring at me like that…”

Her blush deepened, highlighting her radiant beauty.

“Shall we head out, Lady Styx?”

“…! Of course.”

And so, Styx and I departed the Underworld for a while, bringing Pegasus with us.

Neigh!

Thrilled to be back in the mortal world, Pegasus galloped around excitedly for a moment. Once I calmed the creature, I mounted it and extended a hand to Styx.

“Climb on.”

“…Yes!”

As Styx sat behind me, she wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her head against my back. The soft pressure against my body added an awkward tension to the moment. I stroked Pegasus’s gleaming white mane, issuing a quiet command to the intelligent steed.

“Take us up into the skies—but not as far as Olympus.”

Neigh!

* * *

With a powerful leap, Pegasus soared into the sky, its wings flapping gracefully as it ascended higher and higher.

The wind rushed past us as we rose. I could see nymphs in the distance, watching us from the edge of a mountain. I waved my hand, concealing us from mortal eyes, then spoke to Styx behind me.

“Riding chariots or flying through the clouds is nice, but there’s something special about riding a horse and feeling the wind on your face. I wanted to show you this view.”

“So, Hades, is this why you fought the Titans? For this view?”

“Yes. To be precise, it was the view from the peak of Olympus. But this is close enough.”

Neigh!

We continued to climb until the clouds drifted around us. We were nearing the height of the Olympian palaces, but I pulled on the reins before we could ascend any higher. I had no intention of going to Olympus today.

Below us lay vast plains and tiny dots that were the cities of mortals.

“Since I’m always in the Underworld… I don’t get to see sights like this often.”

“Now that the Underworld is more stable, I’m sure you’ll have more opportunities.”

“…Thank you. Being with you makes even a simple trip through the sky enjoyable, Hades.”

I glanced over my shoulder to see Styx’s face close to mine, her expression soft and her eyes gently closed.

It was clear what she wanted.

The soft, red lips of the goddess hovered just in front of me. If I took just one step forward, what would happen?

I halted Pegasus in mid-flight and slowly leaned in closer. My heart began to pound louder than Zeus’s thunder, and the sounds of the world—wind, birds, everything—faded away. All that remained was the goddess before me.

Whoosh!

Just as I was about to close the distance, an unnatural gust of wind blew through.

“Ah!”

“What…?!”

Pegasus staggered in the sudden wind, and Styx and I were thrown off balance. I tightened my grip on the reins with one hand and instinctively wrapped my other arm around Styx’s waist to keep her steady.

And then… our lips met.

It was a soft, fleeting touch—her lips sweet with the faint taste of honey.

For a moment, everything else disappeared. Styx’s wide eyes opened in surprise, and her pupils dilated in shock. I, too, blushed deeply, quickly turning my head away.

Whoosh!

I quickly realized who had caused this sudden gust of wind. In the distance, a male figure was flying off, giving me a thumbs-up before disappearing.

It was Euros, the god of the east wind, son of Eos, the goddess of dawn.

Apparently, in his passing, he had decided to stir things up a little.

What do you think you are, some kind of matchmaking god…?

* * *

Just as we were about to return to the Underworld, we ran into Hermes, the messenger god.

“Uncle Hades? And Lady Styx? What a surprise to see you two here!”

“…Hermes.”

“What brings you to the skies? Ah! Wait… were you two enjoying a lovely time together? My, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Haha!”

“…”

Styx and I were both speechless.

After all, the memory of that soft, sweet kiss still lingered on my lips.

“…Is it true?”

“Enough with the nonsense. Here, take Pegasus’s reins and deliver him to the hero.”

“Wait, you’re lending out Pegasus? Thank you, uncle!”

“Once you land, release Pegasus and let the hero handle the rest.”

The hero would need to prove themselves by controlling Pegasus. Only if they could do that would they be worthy of the creature’s aid.

“Understood. I was planning to do just that. But really… was there something going on between you two?”

“…Quiet.”

Hermes was far too observant for his own good.