Perseus's Story - (2)
"With your renowned wisdom from Olympus, try to make an excuse, if you can."
As I spoke while looking at Athena, I could see her flinch.
Then, she immediately lowered her head and opened her mouth, the goddess of wisdom.
"I know that whatever I say to my uncle will sound like a lie to escape the situation."
"So you won't bother making excuses?"
"... I will reconsider my uncle's words when punishing humans in the future."
It was unavoidable since it almost threatened her virginity sworn to the River Styx... tsk.
I couldn't help but think of Artemis, who cursed Actaeon.
"If such a thing happens again, you should rather tell me or Zeus. I will at least give you a warning."
"Yes, thank you..."
"And I will remember that you sacrificed the poor priestess who was raped by Poseidon. Make sure this never happens again."
"I will keep that in mind, Uncle."
At this point, it seemed fortunate that it ended here, but I didn't like the relieved expression on Athena's face.
However, I had nothing more to say about Medusa for now.
Medusa was not a dead soul from the underworld but a living being on earth, and she was also a priestess belonging to Athena.
I couldn't overly interfere.
Although I thought I would help her if she came to the underworld...
"... Now tell me, why should I lend my Quine to you?"
"As you know, Perseus is destined to become a hero by killing the monster that is Medusa."
"And?"
"But he is a powerless human. Without receiving the divine items from Uncle Hades, he can never defeat the demigod Medusa."
In truth, whether Perseus was destined to be a hero or not,
I just didn't like the fact that the monster he was to kill was born from such circumstances.
"Then conversely, why should I lend my Quine to a powerless human?"
"... How about you meet Perseus yourself and test whether he is worthy of receiving the Quine?"
Athena spoke to me with a confident voice.
You want me to test him myself?
That was a response that could only come from Perseus if he had the qualities of a hero.
The goddess of wisdom was so confident that it piqued my curiosity.
What kind of human could inspire such confidence...
"Alright. But while I visit this human named Perseus, you must work in the underworld."
"... Understood."
Athena, who had shown composure even when I pressed her about Medusa, now had cold sweat dripping from her forehead.
On the peaceful island of Seraphos.
Perseus was in a state of despair, facing the threat of death due to the scheme of King Polydectes, who was after his mother.
Who would have thought that among those approaching his mother, Danae, enchanted by her beauty, was a king?
"Damn it... Isn't Medusa the monster with snakes for hair, who turns those who look at her into stone?"
The anger towards King Polydectes grew stronger in his heart.
What a trashy king, trying to kill her son by using a monster to claim the woman he desires.
"Perseus. It is the king's command. Bring back the head of Medusa."
"If you refuse, you will be executed for defying the king's order. What will you do?"
The young man, Perseus, gritted his teeth and prepared his sword.
Now that the king's command had been issued, he had to find a way to kill that monster.
He thought about secretly fleeing with his mother...
But the king's subordinates were watching this place, and all the ships were under the king's control.
He couldn't escape under the pretext of killing Medusa.
If Perseus fled alone, it was clear that his mother, Danae, would be taken by the king.
'Is there really no way...'
Fully armed, Perseus was heading towards the place where Medusa resided.
But at that moment,
Whoosh—
An unnatural gust of wind blew, and a man with dark hair and a gloomy demeanor stood before him.
The man's eyes, scanning him slowly with a heavy gaze.
Even a mere mortal like Perseus could feel his presence,
Like a magic spell... a subtle pressure and this power... a god!
Thud.
"... Are you a god, by any chance?"
Perseus immediately knelt on one knee and bowed his head to the nameless god.
Could it be that an Olympian god has come to help me?
Just as a faith that had never existed before was about to rise within him,
The god spoke to him.
"Are you indeed Perseus?"
"Yes! I am Perseus, O god!"
He answered the question in a loud voice.
But the god's words were cold.
"I came to see who among mortals would willingly become my subject."
"Excuse me? What do you mean..."
"I am Pluto, the god of the underworld. Are you the human who is going to commit suicide by going to Medusa?"
Setting aside the fact that the man before him was Pluto, one of the three great gods...
Was he saying that I would die soon? By Medusa?
"Medusa is a demigod with the power to turn those who look at her into stone. She is a monster you cannot defeat."
"..."
"Your death is inevitable. Your name is already on the list of the dead in the underworld, and I was curious about which human was heading towards Medusa, so I came to see you."
Damn it! Am I destined to die at the hands of Medusa?
Perseus's body trembled slightly.
To walk into a place where he would die...
"But there is one way for you to survive."
"Is there a way for me to live?"
"It is clear that the king desires your mother and wants to kill you. If you agree to the marriage between your mother and the king, you will not have to die at the hands of Medusa."
"...?!"
"Your mother will become a queen, and you will receive a reward that you will not be dissatisfied with. Isn't that a good solution?"
The cold words of the god Pluto were indeed correct.
The reason King Polydectes was trying to kill him using Medusa was that he vehemently opposed the marriage between his mother and the king.
If he changed his mind, he could save his life.
His mother disliked the king, but if he could somehow persuade her...
He wouldn't have to throw away his life.
However, he couldn't abandon his mother, who would have to marry the king against her will,
And escaping the island with his mother was impossible.
But if he went to kill Medusa as per the king's command, he would die.
It was a fate affirmed by Pluto, the ruler of the underworld.
'Damn it...
Damn it...! Don't joke around, I, Perseus, can't die here...'
Perseus bit his lip hard.
I looked at Perseus, who was trembling with his head down on the ground.
A young human whose emotions were in turmoil, based on despair from having no way out and anger towards the king.
After a while, Perseus, who had been bowing his head and trembling, suddenly stopped.
Then he slowly raised his head.
The first thing that caught my eye was his lips, torn and bleeding.
"I cannot accept this. O Lord Hades!"
The gaze directed at me was burning fiercely.
Where have I seen that fiery glare before? Surely...
"I will definitely cut off Medusa's head and save my own life!"
That's right.
It was similar to the bravery shown to me by Cadmus, the founder of Thebes.
Just... just a little more, should I test him?
"The name on the list of Thanatos has already been written. You will soon come to the underworld and meet me again."
"To meet the great lord of the underworld again is indeed an honor, but..."
The death sentence proclaimed by the god of the underworld.
If he were to meet the unbeatable monster Medusa and surely die...
"I will do whatever it takes to cut off the monster's head and make King Polydectes pay for his actions!"
"Medusa is not an ordinary monster. If we must categorize her, she is a demigod."
"Even if dying is my fate, I cannot give up like this! I will definitely succeed!"
Perseus took a deep breath and spoke.
I had tried to disguise my words as fate, but he did not falter.
He didn't even realize my words were false; he simply accepted the trial calmly.
Perseus, who bravely walked towards a future of certain death... was indeed a hero.
"... Cadmus comes to mind."
"Excuse me?"
I pointed my finger at Perseus, who looked puzzled.
A human challenging fate... quite impressive.
"Move forward with confidence in yourself. The blessings of Hades will be with you."
"...?!"
Though it may end in tragedy, for this moment, I will support you.
In an instant, I returned to the underworld and headed towards Athena, who was busy working.
The goddess of war and wisdom, who was guiding the souls, walked towards me, clattering her armor.
"How was it, Uncle?"
"He is indeed a human worthy of your confidence. It felt like watching Cadmus deceive Typhon."
Athena's expression brightened.
"Does that mean..."
"Yes, I will lend you my Quine. Take it."
"Thank you, Uncle!"
I handed the black, worn transparent helmet, Quine, into Athena's hands.
With this, I had also lent a hand in killing Medusa... hmm.
"Then I will go deliver the divine items to Perseus."
"Divine items?"
"Yes, I plan to give him my shield, Aegis, Hermes' winged sandals, Hera's magical pouch, and Ares' sword."
The plan was to secretly approach while wearing my Quine, reflect Medusa's location on the surface of Aegis, quickly approach with the winged sandals, and finish her off with Ares' sword.
With Hera's magical pouch, Kibisis, he could safely store Medusa's head...
"Then I will take my leave, Uncle."
As I turned to see Athena leaving the underworld, a sense of bitterness washed over me.
A predetermined fate is something even Zeus cannot change,
But was this the best solution? I'm not sure...
I must prepare an appropriate compensation plan for the victim of fate who will soon come to the underworld.