The King of the Underworld is Tired

The next day, I was heading towards a hill near Athens.

Was this the place Ares had told me about?

Since I had to pass through Athens, I might as well enter the main road.

While I'm at it, maybe I'll take a look around the city of Athena.

As expected from a city dedicated to the goddess of wisdom, the streets were lined with countless olive trees.

This place, as prosperous as my own city of Thebes, had numerous statues of Athena, carved from cedar wood, scattered around.

"Bronze lamps from other cities for sale!"

"Olive oil, blessed abundantly by the goddess Athena, at a low price..."

"I need to gather some offerings for the goddess; would a few pigs suffice?"

The people's devotion to the goddess was clear. It was easy to see that most of the citizens were followers of Athena.

The olives she spread had long since become a necessity for all the city's residents.

After casually observing my surroundings and quickening my pace, I soon discovered a magical barrier set up on the hill near Athens.

Passing through the barrier, which repelled humans and distorted the scenery within...

"Hah. Do you think Hades would side with a brute like you? If the underworld population increases due to war, it would only annoy him."

"Even so, he would never side with the son of my uncle who tried to rape his daughter!"

"Enough, both of you. Let’s settle this at the trial when the other gods arrive."

Ares and Poseidon were already bickering, while Zeus mediated between them.

All the gods present began to express their views on the matter. Even Amphitrite, Poseidon’s wife, was here.

"Sigh... There’s never a day when Olympus is peaceful."

"Demeter and Artemis haven’t arrived yet."

"If we wait a little longer, perhaps... Oh, Hades!"

The goddess with unmatched beauty, even hidden under a veil adorned with floral patterns, called out to me.

It was Hestia, the goddess of the hearth and home, who had spotted me.

"Hestia. You’re here too."

"I didn’t want to get involved in such matters, but..."

The hearth goddess sighed and shook her head, her gaze fixed on the still-tense Poseidon and Ares.

Ah, now that Zeus is firmly mediating, they’re backing off.

"Now that Hades is here, and the other gods seem to have arrived as well... we should begin."

More gods, who hadn’t arrived yet, started to gather, and at last, the trial between Poseidon and Ares was about to begin.

* * *

Thus, on a hill near Athens, the first trial among the gods began.

The trial seemed to be properly arranged, with stone seats set up densely.

There was also a separate area where high-ranking gods like Zeus and Hestia were seated...

"Let’s begin, then."

I ascended a suitable platform as the judge, looking down at the scene below.

Now, where do we start... was it Ares' side presenting their case first?

Athena, holding a parchment, stepped forward and greeted everyone.

It seems she made eye contact with Ares before stepping forward... so Athena would be speaking on his behalf.

"I will speak first. Halirrhothius was infamous in Athens for being a delinquent. He regularly harassed and assaulted the priestesses and priests who serve me, dined at taverns without paying, and chopped down olive trees, my sacred symbol, without restraint. His conduct was far from appropriate, as many can testify."

"And what about the current incident, beyond Halirrhothius' behavior?"

At my question, Athena cleared her throat and continued.

"The crime of attempting to rape an innocent woman is severe. In contrast, Ares acted out of legitimate defense to protect his daughter. I believe if Poseidon’s own daughter were about to be violated by another man, Poseidon would have delivered divine punishment upon him as well."

"Hmph... but to dare kill my son with a single blow..."

"Poseidon, this is Ares' turn to present his case. Hold your tongue."

I stopped Poseidon and nodded toward Athena.

"Lastly, I will present the testimony of the nymphs who witnessed Halirrhothius’ attempt to violate Ares' daughter, as well as the whispers of plants and animals as evidence."

"Evidence provided by Pan, the god of nature, and Demeter?"

As I reviewed the parchment, it contained testimonies from the nymphs about Halirrhothius' actions.

Sworn on the River Styx, all of this was declared as truth.

"Now, Poseidon, it's your turn to speak."

"Hmm. Even if his method of courting an unwilling woman was wrong, how can you justify taking his life with one blow? Hades, you too, as the god of the underworld, understand the weight of life. Could there be any god who thinks it’s right to swing a sword and behead my son for a slight misstep? This is a matter of my honor, and it’s a case of kin-slaying. Surely, the Furies must intervene."

Poseidon paused to clear his throat and then continued.

"As for the trouble Halirrhothius caused at Athena’s temple, I offer my deepest apologies. However, aside from that, the rest of his actions were only committed against mere mortals! As my son and a demigod of the sea, his occasional pranks against mortals shouldn’t be judged so harshly."

Poseidon wasn’t entirely wrong. It was, in fact, kin-slaying.

However, since no one can hold the 12 Olympian gods accountable, the Furies did not appear...

But wasn't it nearly an act of kin-rape before kin-slaying could even occur?

In my view, Poseidon was clearly in the wrong... but I still had to hear the opinions of the other gods.

I turned my gaze toward the seats where Zeus and the high-ranking gods were seated.

"What does everyone think? Speak freely."

* * *

 "He attempted to rape an innocent woman, so Poseidon's son deserved to die," said Hera, crossing her arms and wearing a displeased expression.

"I agree as well."

"Taking someone by force without true love is wrong. I would have delivered divine punishment myself," said Artemis and Aphrodite in turn.

The goddess of chastity and the goddess of love, naturally, were siding with Ares.

"Tsk… If it had been my daughter, I would have torn the entire earth apart."

"Life is precious, but in this case, wasn’t it a father’s rightful response to protect his daughter? I also think Ares was justified."

Demeter and Hestia also took Ares' side.

"Ahem… I won’t say much. I trust my brother will make the right judgment," said Zeus, looking pleased but keeping his words to a minimum.

It seemed he had already judged that the trial was leaning in Ares’ favor.

When I glanced at Poseidon, his face was twisted in frustration.

Did he think he would win the trial because of his status and Ares' usual fondness for war?

“…Then let’s make a ruling. I also believe that Ares had no choice but to kill Poseidon's son."

"Hades! That’s your nephew, how can you say that…"

"And Ares' daughter, who was nearly raped by your nephew, is my great-granddaughter."

I interrupted Poseidon, who was protesting, unable to accept the result.

"After examining the memories of Halirrhothius, who arrived in the underworld yesterday, I confirmed that he was indeed the delinquent Athena described… and that he tried to rape Ares' daughter. Furthermore, Ares, in his haste, didn’t realize that he was killing your son. Wouldn’t anyone wield a sword to protect their daughter from such a terrible fate?"

"But, still…"

[Poseidon. After examining your son's memories with the help of Mnemosyne, I also found that you had some involvement in the trouble Halirrhothius caused in Athens.]

[…Athena has interfered with my affairs many times.]

[Do I need to reveal all this here? I’ll preserve some of your dignity, so let’s stop here.]

[……]

I conveyed my thoughts to Poseidon using divine power as I looked at him.

Zeus was chatting with Hera and not paying attention to this matter, so no one else heard.

It was true that Halirrhothius was a troublemaker and that he tried to rape Ares' daughter.

However, it also appeared that Poseidon had subtly encouraged his son to cause mischief near Athens.

"And though Ares' actions were justified, he did kill Poseidon's son. That is, after all, kin-slaying."

"But, uncle, this is…"

"Which is why, Ares, you will work in the underworld for two months as punishment."

[Ares, if you don’t receive any punishment, Poseidon will surely seek revenge. I hope you understand.]

[Ah… Thank you for your consideration.]

Ares subtly lowered his head toward me.

Zeus, unconcerned, was indifferent, while Poseidon grumbled that the punishment was too light, but that was the end of it.

With that, the matter seemed more or less settled.

The other gods nodded, apparently accepting my judgment.

"Ahem…"

"So Ares will serve a two-month punishment?"

"Well, it seems reasonable."

"Killing the son of the lord of the seas might warrant a harsher punishment."

"What are you talking about? Lord Hades showed consideration for everyone’s dignity."

"Ahem! Based on the judgment of Lord Hades and the other gods, Ares' actions have been deemed just! However, as punishment for killing Poseidon's son, he will serve two months in the underworld…"

As Zeus stood up and organized the assembly, I descended from the platform and gave Poseidon some advice.

"You need to keep a closer watch on your children. That Triton fellow I met last time seemed more responsible."

"…That’s why he’s my successor. The others, well, I have quite a few problem children."

As the lord of the sea turned his back and walked away, he seemed strangely forlorn.

While Halirrhothius' delinquency in Athens wasn’t ordered by Poseidon, it was

 certainly part of his nature.

Perhaps Poseidon himself doesn’t know how to deal with his children. After all, not everything about one’s offspring is within a parent’s control…

Should we see his tendency to protect his children as a form of twisted love?

Just as the sea endlessly stirs up rough and violent waves, yet embraces all life beneath its surface, it may simply reflect the nature of the sea itself.