The Tale of Tartarus - (2)
Boom! Bang!
Father, Cronos, strikes the thick bronze, the sound echoing through the underground.
As the strongest among the Titan gods, he endures the scorching hot winds near the bronze door and speaks again.
"Hades, I have heard that Zeus has seized the dominance of the world!"
A howl, as if in pain from the hot winds, reminiscent of a beast.
In preparation for any eventuality, the three brothers, the Hecatoncheires, exchange glances and gather their strength.
I place my hand on the Stygian sword at my waist and approach the bronze door.
The Hecatoncheires suggested it might be better to ignore him, but it was clear that he had heard my voice.
I must crush the hope that they might escape from here without further annoyance.
"What does that have to do with you?"
"Of course it matters! Are you truly satisfied being the lord of this dark underworld?!"
I wondered what he was trying to say...
Was he trying to sow discord with the news I just shared with the three brothers?
"If you release me, I will drive that bastard Zeus away and share everything under the heavens with you!"
I have no interest in power.
Especially from someone who would kill his own children and even start a war to entice me with power?
"I will give you any goddess, except for Rhea! Just imagine, that beautiful..."
"Cast aside your vain hopes and remain trapped forever."
It's impressive that he still endures the hot winds beyond the door.
"Why?! Do you not like my conditions? Though those hideous creatures guard it, you should be able to open the door for a moment!"
'Those hideous creatures' refer to the Hecatoncheires, whom grandfather Uranus cast into Tartarus and Cronos left abandoned.
Upon hearing Cronos's words, their already fierce expressions grew even more menacing.
Once, the lord who ruled the world had such a rude personality, which is why he was defeated by us.
"No matter what conditions you offer, I have no intention of releasing you..."
As I continued to refuse, Cronos shouted in a desperate voice.
"Ugh... Hades! Do you not recognize your own father?! You are my child with Rhea!"
The lord of the underworld, Hades, is among the most revered deities.
It is hard to believe that the god of the underworld, whom everyone fears, is a benevolent god, but at least that is how Lethe feels.
Despite holding the high status of one of the three main gods, he respects even lower gods like himself.
He is also the god of wealth, Pluto, yet he does not adorn himself with common decorations like bracelets.
He always contemplates the lives of the souls who have become his subjects, embodying the traits of a wise ruler.
A compassionate god who thinks of mortals living short lives rather than the power of the underworld.
He is so different from his brothers, Zeus and Poseidon.
Especially when it comes to taking goddesses by force, unlike those two, Hades is not a rogue.
Even when he wears clothes that reveal his figure, it does not seem like he enjoys the attention...
With sufficient power and authority, why does he not touch the goddesses?
Perhaps it is because of this that she has fallen for Hades.
Hades may not know, but many women seek to become the mistress of the lord of the underworld.
Various goddesses from Olympus, the goddess of the Stygian river, and nymphs, who are spirits of specific objects or nature...
And even Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness herself.
So just now, she subtly focused her powers of forgetfulness to satisfy her desires.
In the end, it was discovered that they were holding hands, but he did not scold her harshly, which she appreciated.
Lethe could tell that this kind-hearted benevolent god was genuinely enraged now.
"Did you just call me father?"
As the god of the underworld glared at the bronze door with a twisted smile, the entire underworld trembled.
His figure was cloaked in pitch-black, chilling divine power, transforming into a form of darkness.
With just a single word, one could feel how tumultuous his emotions were.
His anger was on a different level compared to when he warned Olympus through Iris about the great flood.
With the release of his immense divine power, Lethe found herself retreating helplessly.
Even the Hecatoncheires, who had fought in the Titan War, dared not underestimate him and watched Hades with solemn expressions.
As if unaware of his fury, Cronos beyond the bronze door continued to speak.
"Though you and I have a rough relationship, we are still father and son! Do you remember when you were born and cradled in Rhea's arms..."
"If I could, I would want to drain every drop of your blood flowing through my veins."
Intense emotions erupted, causing the ground beneath Hades to crack...
Yet, his voice surprisingly calmed down.
"How dare you! Those born of my father's blood shall judge you!"
"The Erinyes are getting along well with me. They visited my fortress not long ago."
"What?!"
The monstrous beings born from Cronos's father refer to the three goddesses of vengeance, the Erinyes.
Born from the blood of Uranus's severed genitals, they are all beings that everyone fears and avoids.
Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness, knew them well, residing in the underworld.
Tisiphone, Alecto, Megaera.
These three goddesses are vengeful deities with bronze wings, bleeding eyes, and hair made of snakes.
They punish all sins but especially seek vengeance for kin-slaying, strictly punishing such heinous crimes.
Though they are terrifying goddesses of vengeance that everyone avoids, the king of the underworld approached them without hesitation, and they had become close enough to share a bond.
"Weren't you the one who tried to kill us first? The Erinyes are not as foolish as you think."
"Hades! I will..."
"As the lord of the underworld, I speak,"
Hades's cold voice interrupted the words of the god of agriculture and time.
At this moment, his words became a declaration and a law.
The declaration of the god of the underworld tightened its grip on Cronos.
It was not to the extent of interfering with fate, but at least within this underground, it would become a prophecy imbued with an undeniable power.
"You will never escape from there."
"Ugh... Do you think you are any different?! Eventually, if someone threatens your authority..."
The voice from beyond the bronze door gradually faded away.
Even Cronos could no longer withstand the raging winds.
As his voice slowly disappeared, Hades also calmed his emotions.
The eerily ominous black figure vanished, returning him to the somber-looking god.
He smiled bitterly and spoke to the Hecatoncheires.
"Ah... The underworld must have shaken, and the souls must be quite startled. I apologize, but I must return now."
"Well then... See you next time."
"Today was not a good day for a reunion."
"Return safely; we will guard this place."
Indeed, he is a benevolent god.
What a madman.
To appeal to blood ties as my father, did he think I would fall for it?
What? He would share the heavens and give me goddesses if I released him?
Thanks to that lunatic, the underworld shook quite a bit.
He can't even control his emotions properly; this is not good for a ruler...
"Um... Hades."
As I returned to the underworld, the goddess Lethe, who had been quietly walking beside me, spoke up.
Her usual dazed expression was present, but somehow she seemed to pity me.
"I could make that memory a little hazy for you..."
"... It's fine."
Though she said it considering how furious I had been...
It was still not to that extent.
I was just a bit displeased.
For now, I need to take care of the people of the underworld who were startled by the recent quake.
When I return, the goddess of the Stygian river will surely nag me again.
As I ascended to a certain point, the soldiers stationed here were tense, gripping their weapons tightly.
It seemed they thought an enemy might have invaded due to my earlier mistake.
"Hades! There was a tremor from deep within the underworld..."
"Is there a problem with the sinners of Tartarus..."
I passed by them, telling them not to worry, as it was nothing.
I should hurry back to the fortress and take care of my duties.
"Hades!"
"Morpheus? What is it?"
The god of dreams, Morpheus, with his striking green hair.
He is one of the gods of the underworld, the son of the god of darkness, Erebus, and the goddess of night, Nyx.
Though he usually has a gentle and soft demeanor like Hypnos, the god of sleep...
For some reason, he now wore a very urgent expression.
It must be time for him to leave the underworld and deliver dreams to the living, as it is night.
"Ah... At the entrance of the underworld, the bloodied Hermes god was collapsed!"