Perseus's Tale - (3)
After sending Athena off with the Quine, I returned to the throne of the citadel.
Soon, as fate has decreed, Perseus will slay Medusa and become a hero.
"Thanatos, please send a clone to the location of Medusa in advance."
"Hmm. Is it already time for that? Understood..."
The old god with black wings nodded and moved.
If I wait a little longer, the soul of Medusa, who meets her death as destined, will come to the underworld.
While sitting on the throne and thinking about Medusa, the goddess of the Stygian river approached and spoke.
"Hades. Let us watch together if Perseus does well."
"I'm busy..."
"Don't say that. Let's observe together. Many gods are paying attention to him."
Perseus is the son of Zeus and the one destined to be a hero.
Because of this, countless gods generously lent him their divine weapons.
Not only the gods of Olympus but also those residing in the underworld are many who are watching his journey...
"Then I will briefly turn my gaze to the mortal realm."
Perseus took a deep breath in front of the cave where Medusa resided.
His fate would soon be decided.
He closed his eyes and recalled the journey he had taken so far.
The process of reaching Medusa...
"Perseus. I am Athena, the goddess of wisdom. This is Hermes, the messenger god."
"The gods of Olympus have...!"
"The gods willingly lent you their weapons. First, my shield, Hermes's sandals, Ares's sword, and Hades's helmet..."
"Oh my... Thank you!"
The goddess Athena and the god Hermes lent him the divine weapons of the gods.
Among them was the invisibility helmet of Pluto, which he had seen briefly.
"The three sisters known as the Graeae have the ability to see everything, so they will know the location of Medusa. Though they appear as old hags, there are three of them, but they share one eye and one tooth, so use that to your advantage."
"Are there three of them sharing one eye and one tooth?"
"Hehe. I wish you good fortune on your journey, which many gods are watching."
"It seems that you also have the blessing of Uncle Hades. Then, do your best!"
With that, Perseus donned the winged sandals and flew towards the Graeae sisters.
The old hags, as Athena had said, were sharing one eye and one tooth.
Perseus approached them while wearing the Quine and snatched their eye.
"Your eye is now mine. If you do not tell me the location of Medusa immediately, I will throw it far away!"
"Ah... No?! I didn't sense your presence!"
"What?! Hand it over now!"
"You brat! Ugh... The location of the Gorgon sisters is to the west from here..."
"I see. But if all three sisters have snake hair, how will I recognize Medusa?"
"The snakes in Medusa's hair are venomous, so unlike her sisters, her head will be triangular!"
From them, he learned the location of the three Gorgon sisters, an island at the western edge.
It looked like an ordinary small island, but as he entered and stood in front of a suspicious cave, he could feel a chilling atmosphere.
Even outside the cave, the pressure was palpable.
The Gorgon sisters surely lived here.
As he got closer to Medusa, the pressure would likely intensify.
Perseus, wearing the Quine, turned his back to the entrance of the cave while holding Athena's shield.
He looked at the scenery behind him through the surface of the shield and slowly stepped back.
'If I see Medusa's hair, I will turn to stone...
I must not look back!'
The Quine, borrowed from the king of the underworld, Pluto, erased all traces and sounds of the target.
Thus, the immortal sisters, Stheno and Euryale, and the demigod Medusa could not sense the human entering the cave.
Hades's divine item, the Quine, Athena's shield, and the winged sandals were fulfilling their roles.
The sword of Ares in his hand could surely sever Medusa's head in one stroke.
But the problem was...
'Even though I am just sleeping, this pressure...!'
It was within Perseus himself.
Though Athena, Hermes, and Hades had shown him kindness, the three Gorgon sisters, who were now asleep, were radiating an immense aura.
To bear that pressure was a human challenging a great feat.
As he approached the sleeping sisters little by little, the pressure grew stronger.
He could endure until the entrance of the cave.
However, as he began to approach the sleeping sisters while avoiding the rocks and stalactites scattered around...
Perseus felt an overwhelming sense of oppression that he had never imagined.
One step.
Sweat dripped from Perseus's forehead.
Thud.
Thud.
On the fifth step, sweat dripped from the hand gripping Athena's shield onto the floor.
Perseus gritted his teeth and held onto Ares's sword.
Yet, due to extreme fear, his body was trembling more and more.
On the twentieth step back.
The snakes in the Gorgon sisters' hair flicked their tongues.
In that moment, it felt as if his eyes met those of the snakes... but it must have been an illusion.
The divine item of Pluto would not be detected.
Perhaps...
Tap.
Tap.
Sweat covering his body flowed down to the ground.
The Quine could not even hide the sweat falling from his body.
Just one step away from Medusa.
As Perseus neared Medusa, he struggled to ease the numbness in his legs.
His body, trained in swordsmanship, instinctively warned him.
To move away with all his might from the powerful monster before him!
The droplets of sweat falling to the ground revealed his position.
If even one of the sisters woke up, his location might be discovered.
Hiss.
Hiss.
Perseus slowly raised his sword, aiming for Medusa's neck, but his arm froze in place.
The cries of the snakes, serving as Medusa's hair, echoed louder than ever.
Even now... would it not be better to flee? It is still not too late, right?
Even with Ares's sword, could he truly sever her head?
"Advance with confidence in yourself. The blessing of Hades will be with you."
Yes...
I, Perseus, am destined to be a hero!
It is still too early to head to the embrace of Pluto!
Perseus bit his lip until it bled and moved his arm with all his strength.
Something hot surged from his chest, resisting the pressure that constricted his body.
Swish- Slash-
"Uh...? Aaaah! Medusa!"
"What is this! Who dares to...!"
Perhaps it was what is called courage.
At this moment, the gods watching Perseus from the underworld were in awe.
"... It is over."
"The pressure must have been tremendous, yet he overcame it."
"Well. Quite impressive."
Perseus, gritting his teeth, swung his sword, and Medusa's head was severed.
Ares's sword, crafted by Hephaestus, could easily cut through the skin of a demigod.
"Thanatos. Please bring Medusa's soul now."
Then it would be time for cleanup.
Perseus's fate does not end here, but the tale of the hero will conclude here.
Now it is time to meet the victim of Poseidon and Athena.
As I waited briefly in the courtroom with the three judges of the underworld, Minos,
Soon, Thanatos brought a woman.
Due to the curse from Athena, her horrific appearance, transformed into a monster, returned to her original form upon death,
And the beautiful visage that had captivated Poseidon illuminated the underworld.
However, she herself bowed her head, as if her shining appearance was a curse.
Thud.
"Is this Medusa, who was once a priestess of Athena?"
As soon as I finished speaking, Medusa, who had collapsed to the ground, suddenly lifted her head.
Endless flames of hatred burned in her eyes.
"Not anymore. Please do not call me that."
"... I apologize. Daughter of Phorcys and Ceto."
I had pondered quite a bit about Medusa.
The death of the monster was a predetermined future in the birth of a hero, but the background of that monster's birth was...
"You were wronged by Poseidon in life and caught in Athena's wrath."
"Clench..."
As the names of the two gods were mentioned, she seemed to feel intense hatred,
Her teeth ground together, and a faint voice filled with rage escaped.
"Is the lord of the underworld toying with me?"
"No, I wish to apologize to you."
The effort to forcibly suppress her anger was evident in Medusa's eyes, where a confused question flickered.
"If one is to become a monster due to the whims of our gods and ultimately be used as a scapegoat for the birth of a hero, then such treatment is deserved."
"......"
"I have granted the hero who killed you divine weapons, and though I have no right to apologize on behalf of Poseidon or Athena... as the one who manages the underworld, I express my regret to you."
I looked into Medusa's eyes and spoke my apology in a calm tone.
I truly felt sorry, but I could not bow my head.
After all, I am the king of the underworld.
"... So the lord of the underworld is indeed a god of mercy."
After a moment, Medusa's eyes softened slightly.
It seems that my apology could provide her with some comfort; in such times, it is fortunate to hold the position of the three gods.
"Then I will speak of the compensation you shall receive. Choose one from these."
"Compensation...?"
"First, I will have you transformed into a constellation by Zeus."
To become a constellation in the sky is a great honor and signifies that one is revered.
Heroes, animals, and gods who have made a name for themselves are engraved in the sky by Zeus's personal judgment.
If she chooses the first option...
Her honor, which was lost when she was killed by Perseus as a monster, would be significantly restored.
Medusa, who had shown a softened expression from my apology, was left speechless.
"... A monster like me, becoming a star in the sky?"
"Zeus may refuse to honor the achievements of the son who killed you, but in the end, he will have no choice but to accept it."
If there is any regret towards Poseidon, he would have to side with Medusa, whom he had raped, albeit passively...
Zeus would not easily dismiss my protest either.
Athena, who turned Medusa into a monster? If she has any thoughts, she would accept it.
If she opposes it...
I would have no choice but to give her a little reprimand.
Continuing to speak in front of the bewildered Medusa, I went on.
"Yes, and the second option is..."