King of Underworld

Chapter 84 Goddess of Forgetfulness, Lethe – (1)

Today, the Underworld was peaceful again.

Not much time was left before the goddess of spring, who had departed for the mortal world, would return.

Persephone… she had deep feelings for me too.

Thinking about the goddess of spring brought Demeter to mind as well.

“I don’t know if you and my daughter will eventually marry, but if that day comes, I ask you to take good care of Kore.”

Demeter’s request for me to take care of her daughter.

Although she was my niece… for now, I didn’t have the luxury to think about Persephone.

Especially with someone like the Goddess of Forgetfulness, Lethe, approaching me with a determined expression…

“Hades! C-could you come with me to the mortal world?!”

“Pardon?”

I paused my thoughts and looked at her as she flicked her silver hair in the air.

The Goddess of Forgetfulness, looking as if she was about to go into battle, had one fist clenched tightly, her expression full of resolve.

“Aah… no, that’s not what I meant… There’s a festival being held in Olympia to honor Zeus! I thought we could check on the mortal realm together…”

The festival held in the Olympia region was part of the worship of the supreme god, Zeus.

It took place once every four years over the course of five days, and many gods often attended the Olympia festival.

During the festival, all acts of war and conflict were forbidden, and even Ares’s wars would come to a halt.

If any mortal violated this, they would be duly punished by the gods.

It made sense, as it was a festival dedicated to Zeus, after all.

“I apologize. I should have suggested it first. I’ll prepare to leave immediately.”

“What did you say? Hades, you… first suggested…?!”

“I’ve been wanting to spend more time with you, Goddess.”

I approached the frozen Goddess of Forgetfulness, who looked as if she couldn’t believe how things had turned out.

Looking down into her blue eyes, which were filled with confusion, surprise, and a hint of expectation, I placed my hand on her shoulder.

“I must have been neglectful until now… but I’m trying to change.”

“Nhehe…”

Could I come to understand what love is, if I experienced just a little more of it?

* * *

We ascended to the mortal world and headed toward Olympia, where the festival dedicated to Zeus was being held.

This was fully within Zeus’s territory, so I should probably greet him since I was passing by.

Zeus wouldn’t appreciate gods wandering around his cities in disguise.

“Shall we head to Zeus’s temple first?”

“You plan to chat with him since we’re already here?”

Concealing our forms from mortal eyes, we entered the interior of Zeus’s temple.

As expected of the supreme god Zeus, the temple was enormous and filled with countless people.

How would it compare to my own temple in Thebes?

Considering the upcoming Olympia festival, it was no surprise the place was flooded with tourists, merchants, and athletes.

“Oh, great ruler of the heavens, we offer our thanks for your grace…”

“These cattle were raised healthy under my care. I would like to donate them to the temple of Zeus…”

“This eagle, a symbol of Lord Zeus, has been carved…”

We passed by the long lines of offerings, the mortal guards, and priests, moving deeper inside.

Passing worshipers carefully washing their hands and moving censers, we reached an expansive area…

Finally, the grand statue of Zeus revealed itself.

The statue of Zeus, seated on a throne and holding a lightning bolt in one hand, was massive, as large as dozens of people combined.

We approached the towering marble columns flanking the statue until we stood directly before it.

The wooden framework was covered in ivory and gold, and the massive throne was made from cedarwood and gold.

The worshipers of Zeus had done a commendable job recreating the throne of Olympus.

Thunk.

I placed my hand on the throne of the statue and focused my mind.

This place was one where Zeus’s power was most concentrated, so communicating through this method would suffice.

“…Zeus.”

“That voice… Brother Hades?! Why are you in my temple at Olympia?”

“I came to briefly observe the festival the mortals are holding for you.”

“Ah… I see. I’ll tell my priests to treat you well…”

“No need for that. I’m planning to quietly observe and then return.”

After some brief conversation with Zeus, I removed my hand from the throne.

Apparently, Zeus wasn’t worried about the threat of the Gigantes and planned to personally attend this festival.

He also mentioned Persephone.

Though she was his daughter, he said to take good care of her and asked when the wedding would be…

He also said that recently, Demeter had been walking around Olympus with a more relaxed expression, among many other bits of news.

Perhaps it was because it had been a while since we spoke, or perhaps Zeus had been feeling somewhat bored.

Just then, the Goddess Lethe, who had her arms crossed beside me, called my name.

Was it because of the human who had been observing us strangely for a while?

An old mortal with snow-white hair, a wooden staff, and an incense burner in hand—he looked like someone whose time to enter the Underworld wasn’t far off.

But more important than that was the fact that he was Zeus’s cherished high priest.

Tup.

“Could it be… A-a god?!”

“Shh.”

Thanks to Zeus’s blessing, the old man clearly realized something was amiss.

I abhor a scene, so I put a finger to my lips as I looked at him, and the priest quickly nodded in understanding.

I nodded back and concealed myself again.

To the human’s eyes, it must have looked like I, along with the Goddess Lethe, had vanished into thin air.

Rumors might spread that some gods had visited Zeus’s temple.

* * *

Dum. Dum. Dum. Dum.

“Greetings, everyone! I’ll be hosting this festival…”

Lethe and I were now inside the massive circular arena.

To be more precise, we were seated among the audience in the section of the arena where the Olympia festival was being held.

“First, we will conduct a sacrifice in honor of the great Zeus! This time, the offerings to Olympus include around one hundred lambs…”

The circular stadium was packed with people, and the host was chatting away non-stop.

Lethe and I nibbled on fruit pies and dried fruits as we watched.

“Umm…”

The Goddess of Forgetfulness, nibbling on dried fruit, seemed a little displeased.

It must have been the loud surroundings that were bothering her.

“My Lady.”

“Don’t give it to me like this…”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

When I offered her a small piece of cheese, she closed her eyes and opened her mouth.

She looked just like a baby bird waiting to be fed, so I placed the cheese inside her mouth.

But now that she had eaten the cheese, wouldn’t it be best if she let go of my fingers too?

“Mmm… Hades, you too… Ahh…”

The goddess who had just eaten the cheese, or perhaps my fingers, let out a small noise before she opened her mouth again…

And this time, she offered me a piece of pie.

Though her face flushed a bright red and her hands trembled, her expression remained blank as always.

As the ruler of one of the five rivers of the Underworld and the granddaughter of Nyx, the Goddess of Forgetfulness seldom showed emotion.

That’s the nature of forgetfulness.

Even agonizing grief, blazing anger, and what once seemed like eternal love…

All those emotions fade like extinguished flames once the memories associated with them are lost.

Her expression, always faint with emotion, must be due to that power.

“What are you doing… Hurry… Ah~”

But that was just her outward appearance.

After spending so much time with her, I’ve come to know that she harbors the heart of a girl, as warm as spring.

Though she treats everyone with the same indifferent tone and expression…

When had I realized she was a little different with me?

Was it back when our pantheon first came to power, and I still bowed my head in greeting to her?

Or perhaps it was because I wasn’t like my unruly brothers, who were always chasing after goddesses?

Or was it when I first judged a mortal tangled with the gods and offered him my assistance?

Or maybe even…

“Ugh… My arm is getting tired…”

“It reminds me of when we first met.”

“…?”

“It was not long after I became the ruler of the Underworld. Back then…”

I closed my eyes and recalled the past for a moment.

A very old memory, from when I was surveying the five rivers that encircle the Underworld.

Having won the war against the Titans, it was my duty to learn about the Underworld, which I was to rule.

It was during this time that I first met the goddess of forgetfulness, by the River Lethe.

There she was, a silver-haired goddess, with her head buried in her knees by the riverside.

As I approached her, I could sense the power of forgetfulness emanating in all directions.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Hades. Are you perhaps the Goddess of Forgetfulness…?”

“…Please go away.”

Although our first meeting didn’t go well, my persistence eventually led to many conversations.

She lived in solitude, as creatures would forget her existence even if she stayed still. Forgetfulness devoured the history of mortals.

The goddess of famine, Limos, causes all surrounding creatures to fall into hunger just by remaining still.

Though gods can resist, even they must constantly expend energy to do so.

Similarly, the Goddess of Forgetfulness was feared by mortals and not warmly welcomed among the immortals.

It seemed that she had become despondent because of this.

Still, I kept visiting her, and she eventually started responding…

“We gods can resist the power of forgetfulness, can’t we? Wouldn’t it be better for you to stay in the Underworld with me…?”

“…Why do you keep coming here?”

“It’s because you always live here alone, and I find it hard to leave you like that.”

“For such a busy god to keep visiting me like this…”

Now, what was it that I said at that time…

Ah. I simply spoke honestly, out of frustration, didn’t I?

“It’s my duty.”

“What…?”

“It’s the duty of the Lord of the Underworld to help a goddess who’s depressed because of an undesirable power.”

For the first time, she lifted her head and revealed a hint of emotion.

“No one likes forgetfulness. Just leave me alone…”

“I like you.”

“What did you say…?”

Since that day, the Goddess of Forgetfulness has stayed at the fortress of the Underworld.

Returning to the present, I gazed quietly at Lethe.

I could feel a smile, full of my feelings, naturally spreading across my face.

“Wh-why are you smiling, Hades?”

Looking at me, her face, too, seemed to brighten just a little.

She had changed so much from when we first met. Perhaps it was because she had worked in the Underworld for so long…

No, that’s not it. I won’t avoid it.

I knew why she was acting this way.

It was love—something even Aphrodite couldn’t easily define.

“…I just feel like smiling when I see you, Goddess.”

“Ugh… Just eat this already.”