The Story After Typhonomachy - (1)
Kkiing! Kkiiiing! Kkaengkaeng!
How should I deal with this?
I looked down at the three-headed dog, wagging its tail desperately and showing its belly.
It looks a bit cute like this, but... hmm...
"Lord Hades, it's a seed of a monster. Shouldn't we get rid of it? It's already strong enough..."
If it can withstand the light attacks already, I feel a bit uneasy about future troubles.
However, listening to what Pan said, it seems that survival instinct takes priority over ferocity.
"Alright, follow me to the underworld."
Kkiiiing! Kkaaaang!
As soon as I finished speaking, the monster began to foam at the mouth and went wild.
Its small tail swung around like a windmill, and tears flowed from the eyes of its three heads.
"I am Hades, the king of the underworld. I don't mean to kill you and take you away..."
Kkaengkaeng! Woof woof!
"It says it will devote its loyalty..."
Before I knew it, the tears had disappeared, and the creature was circling around me, wagging its tail in a mix of strength and weakness.
Pan cautiously translated the words with a look of disbelief.
What can I say, it seems like a monster that would betray easily.
I headed to the underworld with the three-headed dog, which I named Cerberus.
I was worried it might run away, but it followed me quietly.
I thought about what task to assign to it, and it would be best to use it as a guard dog.
There are souls that sometimes try to escape the underworld and return to the living world.
"Any soul that tries to sneak out, tear it apart. It's fine if you eat it."
Grrr...
Cerberus nodded its heads as if it understood my words.
Its body was dark, quite hideous, strong, and its teeth were poisonous, making it a fitting guard dog for the underworld.
"For now, let me show you around the underworld. Keep following me."
"Heh heh!"
The three heads moved busily, examining the surroundings.
The atmosphere of the underworld didn't seem too bad for the monster Cerberus.
Now, once we cross the Lethe River and the Styx River, I can return to my fortress.
"Hades is coming... is he coming... is he..."
But what is this sound?
Who dares to sit idly by the sacred river of forgetfulness... the goddess Lethe?
"H... Hades..."
The goddess Lethe, crouched by the river of forgetfulness, murmured and ran towards me when she spotted me.
Hug.
"I've been waiting here... You didn't die, did you...?"
I felt the soft skin of the goddess against my chest.
If you hug me so suddenly... cough!
"I think I'm going to die right now."
"Ahh... I'm sorry!"
As a goddess, she is immortal, but she was just a bit hurt from being hit by that Typhon fellow.
Especially my chest hurts a lot, so if you could just move away a little... cough!
"Y... your mouth is...!"
Thus, I returned to the fortress of the underworld.
I was sitting on my throne, receiving reports about what had happened while I fought Typhon.
The area near Olympus was completely destroyed due to the battle with Typhon, and many lives were lost.
As a result, the workload in the underworld temporarily increased as well.
With the workload increasing and the highest decision-maker, me, absent, the fatigue of the gods only grew...
Eventually, it led to the situation where the goddess Styx confronted me with a weary look.
"What should the king of the underworld do by going directly to the battlefield..."
Isn't it fine for them to handle things over there? Did I really need to participate in such a dangerous battle? If it was a battle where I would be spilling ichor, I should have told Zeus to handle it...
I had already saved face by restoring his tendons, wasn't that enough? No matter how much we are brothers, should there not be a proper price to pay...
Ah... it's not that I'm busy with work.
I appreciate the concern, but...
The constant nagging made my ears ring, and my face began to change to a weary expression.
Yes, yes...
I'm sorry.
It was all my fault.
"... Hoo."
Has it finally stopped?
"I'm just glad you're safe. You have no idea how worried I was... sniff."
The face of the goddess Styx gradually turned red, and she covered her mouth and turned her head.
I could see clear, transparent liquid flowing from her eyes down her cheeks.
No, why is she crying again?
Unable to withstand the stinging gazes around us, I stood up to comfort the goddess Styx.
"Hah... Hades, how can you make your wife worry?"
"To anger the mistress of the underworld, you have quite the boldness. I cannot follow that at all..."
"Well, I think you should take a look at the other side as well..."
Lethe, with her pouting eyes, looked this way, but I just wished everyone would be quiet.
I am a god with neither a marriage nor a romantic interest, so why are they so concerned about others...
But Thanatos, don't you have no close goddess either?
"What is that look? Somehow, it feels unpleasant."
It's nothing.
"More importantly, Lord Hades, why did you bring that monster?"
Morpheus pointed to where Cerberus was sitting quietly, waiting for my command.
Hmm... let's see.
I could have it guard the door to the underworld.
Now, there will be no souls escaping from the underworld.
"But that's a monster. A dangerous creature like that might betray you once it feels strong enough..."
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that."
I had given Cerberus a bit of the power of the underworld, making it closer to a divine beast than a monster.
Although its ferocity remains, it will not escape the underworld or disobey my orders.
"But what happened to Typhon?"
The question from the goddess Lethe, who had her arms crossed.
Zeus personally sealed Typhon's body under Mount Etna.
And I had thrown his severed head straight into Tartarus.
"Hades! You filthy rat! Where is my body?!"
"Under the bottom of Mount Etna."
"Graah! You can't just attach my head back to my body... Aaaah!!!"
I was worried that Typhon's body, buried under Mount Etna, might cause a ruckus, but,
If I patrol occasionally to see the living world, it shouldn't be a problem.
The gods of Olympus in the sky are also keeping an eye on the place where Typhon is buried, so his body will never be released.
It will probably just cause a ruckus and damage the surface.
"My goodness... his body is buried in the mountain, and his head is in Tartarus..."
"At times like this, it seems you really are the god of the underworld... But why sometimes..."
What do you mean sometimes...
Thanatos, who met my gaze, subtly averted his eyes.
"Ahem. Ahem. I've heard that Hermes' wounds have healed and he is planning to return to Olympus. He wants to express his gratitude to you, so how about stopping by?"
That's right, Hermes.
As I entered the place where Hermes, who had collapsed at the entrance of the underworld, was being treated, I saw the messenger god smiling with all his limbs intact.
As expected of a god, he seemed to have recovered quickly and was waiting for me.
"Uncle Hades, I heard you repelled Typhon!"
"It seems your body has healed now."
Wearing the caduceus staff with two snakes intertwined and winged sandals, he had finally become the Hermes I knew.
When he was brought in covered in blood, it was quite...
"Thank you so much for helping Olympus. My father will surely reward you greatly!"
"No need for a reward, just take this Squitena with you."
I had to return it to Zeus, but I accidentally brought it to the underworld.
"Ah... this is Squitena. I've never seen it before."
"If you deliver it to Zeus, he will take care of it."
Hermes took the Squitena in both hands and examined it with curiosity.
He probably never had the chance to see the strongest weapon of Olympus, made by the young god Adamas.
"But aren't you going to use it yourself, Uncle?"
"It's not even mine to begin with."
Unfortunately, the scythe doesn't suit my hand.
Of course, after going through a long war with the Titan gods, I can use any weapon, but I feel more comfortable with a sword or spear.
No matter how good and strong a weapon is, if the user's skill level is low, it will be hard to unleash its true power; this is something that should be used by Zeus.
As I shook my head and gestured, the messenger god prepared to leave the underworld.
"Haha. Then I, Hermes, the messenger of all, will take my leave. Next time I come to the underworld, I will prepare a gift for you, Uncle..."
Yes, go on.
Your son is worried too.
As I watched Hermes float into the air, a soul attendant rushed towards me.
"Lord Hades, the goddess of the rainbow, Iris, who is the messenger of Olympus, has come to the entrance of the underworld!"
Iris has been coming often lately.
Since Hermes was injured and lying in the underworld, Zeus must have had no choice but to send Iris.
After a moment, the beautiful goddess of the rainbow with wings entered.
"I meet the lord of the underworld again. Zeus wishes to reward you, Lord Hades, for participating in the battle against Typhon, and he has asked you to come to Olympus."
He wants me to go to Olympus?
I wish he wouldn't bother me with coming and going; I am not Zeus's subordinate.
Frowning, Iris broke into a cold sweat and added an explanation.
"Lord Hephaestus said that to present the weapon, it must be forged directly in the dedicated forge... And since you defeated Typhon, a victory banquet will be held in Olympus. If you could attend and grace the occasion..."
Did Zeus order Hephaestus to make a weapon for me? But I already have the Stygian sword.
And a banquet in Olympus, that does sound tempting.
It wouldn't be bad to go up to the clouds and enjoy a feast after a long time.
Who knows what might happen when most of the gods gather in Olympus, so it might be good to go and check the atmosphere...
I am a bit worried about the affairs of the underworld,
But compared to when the great flood occurred, things have settled down enough, and I can afford to leave my post for a while.
"Alright, let's go right now."
"Then I will escort you, Lord Hades."
Iris sought permission and created a rainbow, forming a passageway to Olympus.
It truly is a power that is always tempting to behold.