The King of the Underworld is Tired

After settling the matter in Thebes, I was chatting with the goddess Styx as we worked together.

The fact that the workload doesn’t pile up too much when I leave the Underworld is all thanks to her…

“I swear by the River Styx, your hair shines brilliantly today, my goddess.”

“Ugh… I told you, stop swearing like that right in front of me! You hadn’t done that for a while, but now you’re at it again…”

Once again, the goddess Styx became flustered at my bold swearing.

But how could I resist when her beautiful black hair, which could be compared to silk spun by Athena, shimmered before my eyes?

I put down the parchment and, staring blankly at the waves of black flowing in front of me…

The goddess, blushing slightly, opened her mouth.

“…Then… would you like to… touch it? Just a little…”

This was too much to bear.

Nodding absentmindedly, the goddess of oaths came closer and leaned against me.

Was the scent filling my nose that of the piled parchment, or was it the olive fragrance from her?

As she busied herself, pretending to work while refusing to meet my gaze, I placed my hand on her hair.

Slowly stroking the goddess’s hair, which seemed to slip through my fingers, I felt a strange, indescribable tension.

“Mmph…”

Was this happiness I was feeling?

Despite the tiresome duties of the Underworld, I was enjoying a pleasant moment with a goddess…

Thud.

“Hades! At the entrance of the Underworld, Ares is… Oh?!”

“…Ahem. What is it?”

“Ah…!”

The one who had opened the door was Persephone, goddess of spring and seeds.

She quickly scanned the room, noticing me and the goddess Styx closely leaning together, and she pouted, hands on her hips.

“Hmph… Always spending time only with goddess Styx. Do I not exist to you, Hades?”

“You don’t even call me ‘Uncle’ anymore…”

“Well, after marriage, I’m supposed to call you by name, right? So when are we going to the mortal world together?”

“…? Going to the mortal world with you?”

“Oh, don’t act like you don’t know! The rumor that Hades is going on a trip to the mortal world with the goddesses he’s fond of is already spreading all over the Underworld. You spent time with Styx, with Lethe, and even that lower deity Menthe, but why not with me…”

Please. My dear niece…

Although it’s not a big issue among gods, there is some… psychological resistance.

You, to me, still feel… much too young.

Though my relationship with you has been refined thanks to the beautiful goddess of spring, the very idea of it still feels unsettling…

Maybe it’s best to change the subject.

“…What is this about Ares at the entrance of the Underworld?”

“Oh, that. He said he needed help because there’s going to be a trial for a big fight between him and Uncle Poseidon…”

A big fight between Poseidon and Ares?

The only other time they clashed was during Poseidon’s rebellion, wasn’t it?

* * *

Soon, I saw a male god walking into the audience chamber.

A solid frame of iron-like muscle, divine armor crafted by Hephaestus, and a sword at his waist.

My nephew, Ares, the god of war, knelt before me with an awkward smile.

Ever since the Great Flood, Ares has always dreaded coming to the Underworld, so why now?

“Greetings, Uncle Hades.”

“…Yes. I’ve heard a little of the story. You and Poseidon have been in a major conflict. What happened? And why come to the Underworld?”

“I’ll explain it slowly. So, what happened was…”

According to Ares, the issue had arisen because of a demigod named Halirrothios, the son of Poseidon.

Halirrothios, born of Poseidon and the nymph Euryte, apparently caused a lot of trouble in Athens, the city ruled by the goddess Athena, believing his father’s identity gave him free rein.

“Hey there! Since you serve the great goddess Athena, I bet you’re not too bad-looking yourself?”

“P-please, don’t do this. We’ve all sworn an oath of purity…”

“Oath of purity? And what of it? Do you know who I am?”

He habitually groped and harassed the priestesses of Athena’s temple…

Thud! Crash!

“What?! You told me to leave because I have no money? Do you know who I am?!”

“I don’t care if you’re Poseidon’s son or not, this is no way to—ugh!”

“You ingrate! You’ve received the blessings of the sea, and you dare treat me like this?”

In various taverns and inns around Athens, he refused to pay for food or drink and often caused disturbances…

“Wait! Stop right there! That’s the olive tree that symbolizes goddess Athena…!”

“So what?! My father is Poseidon!”

Rumble! Thud!

He even went around chopping down olive trees, which symbolized the goddess Athena, angering her greatly.

But Athena, not wanting to confront Poseidon directly, simply scolded him lightly…

After hearing all this, I asked Ares a question.

“Did you hear this directly from Athena?”

“Yes. That scum did all of this, she said.”

“…Go on, then.”

Ares had a demigod daughter named Alcippe.

She had been grazing sheep near a field outside of Athens when she unfortunately crossed paths with Halirrothios.

“Do you know who I am? Come with me. Marrying me will be in your best interest…”

“Wh-who are you? Ahhh! Father!”

“Shut up already! My father is Poseid—ugh!”

Splat! Roll!

“Alcippe, are you alright?!”

“Ah… Father… sob Thank you…”

Halirrhothius, who tried to forcefully take Alcippe, was confronted by Ares, who had run to his daughter’s scream…

Of course, seeing the madman who was about to rape his daughter, Ares swung his sword and cut off his head.

When Poseidon saw that his son had been killed, he furiously rebuked Ares.

“Ares! You scoundrel! You cut off my son’s head?!”

“What did you say?! Your son, tried to rape my daughter!”

“Even so, you fool!”

“I did nothing wrong!”

As their argument grew more heated,

Zeus and the other gods decided to hold a trial to mediate…

“…Well. The one who tried to rape your daughter is probably being punished by the three judges of Minos. So, why have you come to the Underworld?”

“They all said, ‘Uncle Hades is the one most suited to be the judge! Please, give us a fair ruling!’”

The god of war, passionately arguing before me and gazing at me with emotion-filled eyes.

He wants me to give a judgment?

* * *

“The one who tried to violate your daughter is already dead, so he falls under my jurisdiction, but isn’t your dispute with Poseidon something Zeus should handle?”

This is clearly a matter of the living.

Wouldn’t Zeus handle the judgment? But the fact that this has been passed to me…

“That is… as I mentioned, everyone recommended Uncle Hades.”

“Explain in more detail.”

The situation Ares described in Olympus was as follows:

When the fight between them escalated, the king of the gods, Zeus, decided to hold a trial in Athens,

And the other gods also expressed their intention to attend the trial.

But then…

“Sigh… Then I, Zeus, will listen to both sides and render a judgment…”

“Zeus. Isn’t this something Hades would be better suited for?”

“Hera’s right… After all, isn’t Hades more used to these kinds of judgments in the Underworld?”

“…I also think Hades, who is accustomed to passing judgment, would be better…”

When Zeus volunteered to play the role of judge, the goddesses opposed him and recommended me.

Hera, Hestia, and Aphrodite voiced their opinions, and the other goddesses agreed…

“Ha! Fine, let Hades handle it instead.”

“I have no objection. There’s no god fairer than Uncle Hades.”

“Hmm. Then, is everyone in agreement to let Brother Hades be the judge?”

Even Poseidon and Ares, who stands before me now, said I was more suited to be the judge than Zeus.

After Ares finished explaining, I stared at my nephew.

“So that’s what happened, Uncle.”

“…Now they’re even passing matters of the living to me.”

“My father said if you help, he would give you a ring with similar powers to Harmonia’s necklace.”

Harmonia, the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, and the wife of Cadmus, possessed a necklace that bestowed youth and beauty upon its wearer, a divine artifact.

But we gods are immortals, so we have no need for such things.

Still, a ring of youth…

It could be useful as a gift for a favored mortal or for my collection.

“Hmm…”

But the fact that Poseidon’s son caused trouble in Athens, of all places, the city of Athena…

The boy might truly be a delinquent, but could it be that Poseidon either deliberately ignored it or even instigated it?

Considering how bad the relationship between Athena and Poseidon is, it’s certainly possible.

I can understand why the goddesses brought me up when Zeus said he would handle the trial…

And I also understand why Zeus so easily backed down.

Ordinarily, he would have insisted on being the judge to keep Poseidon in check, but he must have guessed that with my personality, I would be more likely to side with Ares. It wouldn’t look good for him to intervene too blatantly.

Poseidon probably thought I’d be a better option than Ze

us, at least.

Anyway, this is just what Ares told me.

I need to hear both sides before making a decision.

“…Alright. I understand. Where do I need to go?”

“Thank you, Uncle! The trial will take place tomorrow on a hill near Athens. If you could attend then…”

Sigh Fine. The gods are fighting again, so I’ll have to mediate.

I’ll review the memories of that Hallirhothios, who was killed by Ares and became one of the dead in the underworld, before heading to the trial.