The Tale of Typhon - (2)
The traces of the enormous Typhon, who could cover the mountains, overpowering Zeus, were clear.
If Demeter were to see it, she would be driven mad by the completely devastated land.
Due to the fierce winds naturally flowing from Typhon's body, the surrounding flora and fauna, as well as humans, had all perished in a tragic sight.
Along with that, there were remnants of divine power left as Zeus was dragged away, struggling in resistance.
How far had they moved? I confirmed that the traces ended at a certain mountain.
I thought there must be a cave where Zeus was trapped in this mountain, and as I looked around...
"And so, my tendons are now in the grasp of Typhon. If you can help me, in the name of the king of gods, Zeus..."
A voice flowed from the translucent form of a bull, speaking to the prostrate human.
I realized that this bull was created from Zeus's divine power and approached, shedding my disguise.
"Zeus."
"Ah? It is you, brother Hades... Hermes was fortunate to succeed. However, I currently lack the strength to maintain this..."
Zeus's condition seemed quite poor, and as his divine power faltered, the bull vanished.
I looked down at the human who was still prostrate beside me.
"I... humble human Cadmus greets the lord of the underworld, Hades!"
Oh...
While ordinary humans fear and shy away from my name, this man was different.
Most would call upon Hades when a precious person had died or when their life was in danger, but otherwise, they would refer to him as Pluto...
As I gazed at Cadmus, who kept his head bowed and avoided my gaze, he began to explain.
He said he was Cadmus, a prince of Phoenicia... that Zeus, having lost to Typhon in battle, was trapped in a cave on this mountain...
And that Zeus had sent him a bull to request help because his tendons had been taken...
In short, he was saying he had received Zeus's command to retrieve the tendons from Typhon.
Though I found it hard to understand his rambling words, it was clear that Zeus had gone mad.
To ask a human, who could die from a single breath of Typhon, to retrieve his tendons.
Was the situation that urgent, or had he seen something in this man?
"Do you truly intend to follow Zeus's command? Your short life may be further shortened."
If he were to say he couldn't do it, that he was too afraid, that he too was terrified...
If he pleaded with me, I would have been willing to shield him from Zeus's wrath.
However, the blonde man, Cadmus, did not do so.
The prince of Phoenicia, Cadmus, was an ordinary human.
He feared monsters and the mysterious, and he revered the gods of Olympus.
To such an ordinary human...
One day, his father, King Agenor, commanded Cadmus to find his sister, Europa.
He ordered that if he could not bring back the princess Europa after sending all his princes out, he should not return to the kingdom.
Naturally, Cadmus could not find any trace of Europa, and while walking aimlessly, he reached near Mount Cilicia.
However, as he was about to search the mountain for his sister, something suddenly appeared before him.
"Human, I am Zeus, the king of the gods."
He hurriedly bowed his head to something that took the translucent form of a bull.
With an imposing tone and a mysterious aura, whether it was indeed the god Zeus, it was certainly a divine being.
The god commanded Cadmus to assist him.
He asked for the tendons from a powerful monster that even the gods had been defeated by.
The command of a god is absolute; he must obey.
Cold sweat trickled down his neck.
Can I do this?
The reward spoken by the bull, presumed to be sent by the king of gods, Zeus, did not reach his ears.
Cadmus's mind was filled with fear and dread about facing the monster.
Until a darkly imposing man suddenly revealed himself.
"Zeus."
"Ah? It is you, brother Hades..."
In that moment, his mind was washed away with a fear greater than that of the monster.
Though the sun shone in the sky, the surroundings darkened, and the air grew heavy.
Cadmus found it hard to breathe as he saw the grass around the man withering away.
The chilling aura emanating from the man dominated the surroundings, and an immense presence and weight were felt.
If this is not a god, then what is a god?
'They clearly said... those two are Hades and Zeus... then...!'
Could that person, or rather, that being, be the lord of the underworld, Pluto?
Was that bull truly sent by the god Zeus?!
He cautiously raised his head to look at Hades, who was gazing at him, but...
As he met the eyes of the dark god, he was struck with fear and had no choice but to bury his head back into the ground.
Those eyes were not something one could consider human; they were like a black abyss.
Not a mere river god, but a high deity of Olympus.
'...
It must be Hades!'
As Cadmus kept his head bowed, he felt the bull sent by Zeus vanish and sensed the lord of the underworld looking at him.
It was as if he was being asked to explain the situation, and his mouth moved of its own accord.
"I... humble human Cadmus greets the lord of the underworld, Hades!"
'Should I have called him Pluto instead?!'
Cadmus swallowed hard as he continued to explain everything about himself and what the bull sent by Zeus had just said.
'Damn, I stuttered too much; what if he takes me to the underworld for being rude...?'
A brief silence as Hades pondered.
Cadmus felt a tension as if his blood were draining in the continued silence.
Finally, the mouth of the god of the underworld moved.
"Do you truly intend to follow Zeus's command? Your short life may be further shortened."
Cadmus, with his head bowed, inhaled deeply.
This was surely a statement made out of concern for him.
A humble human like me, worried that I might lose my life to a monster.
From the perspective of the underworld, a human's death would mean an increase in his power...
The god of the underworld, who was feared and avoided by all in his own kingdom, had such mercy?
Despite such merciful words, he pondered how to respond to his question.
How should he accept the command of the god Zeus?
As Hades had just said, insignificant humans easily perish at the hands of monsters, so why did Zeus choose me to help?
Moreover, the monster Typhon had even defeated the great king of gods, Zeus.
No matter how great Zeus is, isn't my life more important?
This might be a test from the god to toy with this weak human.
If I were to die at the hands of the monster Typhon...
I would not be able to find my sister, Europa, nor my brothers...
With his head bowed, Cadmus pondered and pondered until his thoughts were sorted out.
And finally, he answered in a clear voice.
"Yes, of course."
The fear that had been trembling due to my presence began to fade.
Was he using his firm belief as a pillar to support himself and withstand the pressure?
Though he had suppressed his presence since the moment he revealed himself out of consideration for him, even that would be hard for an ordinary human to bear.
A coexistence of fear, self-assurance, and dignity.
Why would he choose to walk the path of death by following Zeus's command?
"... Why?"
With many questions in mind, I posed the inquiry to him.
Humans are not slaves or servants of the gods.
If he felt Zeus's command was coercive and made that choice, I would protect him.
Clearing his throat once, Cadmus began to explain his reasons.
"Um. That is... I have learned of the gods' grace since I was young. That it is the gods who created life, including humans."
It is true that the gods created humans, but that was merely a birth born out of necessity.
Is his current behavior truly just a repayment to his creator?
"This morning's rising sun was the mercy of the god Helios, and the moonlight that comforted me at night was the grace of the goddess Selene."
Cadmus's eyes held a firm belief.
His voice no longer trembled.
"The food I eat daily is grain filled with the blessings of Demeter, and the water I drink is imbued with the protection of Poseidon. Besides that..."
He continuously spoke of the gods' grace.
It was not hastily made up or false; it was truly a thought that came from his heart.
"... Lastly, even if I were to die at the hands of Typhon, I would still receive the care of the god Hades before my eyes, so how could I fear a mere monster?"
Impressive.
Has such a person existed in this world?
Cadmus slightly raised his head to look at me.
Though it seemed difficult for him to meet my gaze, blood flowed from his bitten lips, yet he did not avert his eyes from mine.
Overcoming the fear of the monster, his eyes were filled with determination.
In them burned a bravery that surpassed even Ares.
"I may be a trivial human compared to the great gods, but..."
He bowed his head to me again.
Not out of being overwhelmed by the presence of divinity, but filled with gratitude and reverence.
"I am not one who does not appreciate the grace given."
At this moment, Cadmus was undoubtedly a hero.