Perseus's Story - (5)
After slaying Medusa, Perseus was passing near Ethiopia when he discovered a woman who had been offered as a sacrifice to a sea monster.
The woman's name was Andromeda, and Perseus turned the sea monster to stone, rescuing her and becoming the son-in-law of King Cepheus of Ethiopia.
However, just as Princess Andromeda and he were about to hold their wedding ceremony, someone barged in with soldiers.
"Who dares to take my place! Andromeda's original fiancé is me!"
"Father-in-law...? What do you mean by that? Fiancé?"
"Hah! No need to worry, Perseus. That man is the one who agreed to sacrifice my daughter."
"Is that so? A coward who fled from the threat of the sea monster and returned only to covet power."
With Medusa's head clutched in his pocket, Perseus prepared to take it out at any moment and shouted.
"Everyone on my side, close your eyes!!!"
"Ha ha ha! What nonsense..."
"Uh?!"
As Medusa's head, which petrifies all mortals who have not reached divinity, was revealed, those who did not close their eyes were all turned to stone.
However...
"Ah... Father! Mother..."
"Father-in-law and mother-in-law... Cough... I’m sorry..."
The King and Queen of Ethiopia, who had been slow to close their eyes, met their demise as they turned to stone.
Greatly saddened, Perseus returned to Seriphos Island, where he found King Polydectes, who had been threatening his mother, Danae.
When Perseus returned, whom he thought dead at the hands of Medusa, King Polydectes was taken aback.
"What...! You returned alive from Medusa? Don’t lie!"
"See for yourself whether I am lying or not!"
As the lustful king turned to stone and met his end, Perseus brought his mother, Danae, back.
"Perseus... Even though your grandfather abandoned you due to the prophecy, he will still miss you."
"Yes, mother. I will send a letter to Argos and meet him."
But his grandfather, Acrisius, took advantage of the night to abandon the throne of Argos and fled.
Perseus made Andromeda his queen and became the king of Ethiopia and Argos.
As the newly crowned king, Perseus returned the divine weapons he had borrowed from the gods and the first thing he did was...
"I will sponsor the temple of the Olympian gods in the name of the royal family. To Lady Athena, Lord Hermes, and..."
"Your Majesty, there is no temple of Lord Pluto in Argos."
"Then we shall build one, shall we not?"
It was a way to repay the gods who had lent him their divine weapons.
This is the underworld ruled by me, Hades.
Since Medusa has become the new goddess of the underworld, I commanded my followers to create a new statue.
A few days later, as I listened to the world above...
"I knew Medusa was a monster, but the priests of Lord Pluto tell a slightly different story."
"They say she was originally human but became a monster and died due to unfortunate fate...?"
"Is that the truth? I only knew her as a monster."
"I don’t quite understand either, but... Lord Pluto is no ordinary god; he must have uncovered the truth and restored her honor."
"Indeed... The god of the underworld has no reason to speak falsehoods."
"Is it true that the sad and unfortunate are rewarded even in the underworld... O merciful god..."
It seems Medusa has slightly altered her story before conveying it to the world above.
Did she think that directly cursing Athena and Poseidon would bring harm to me?
Anyway, my followers have been praying to Medusa's statue with a mix of belief and doubt.
The status of the three gods is quite helpful in times like this.
I received a response saying that making Medusa a goddess from Olympus was somewhat inappropriate...
But I conveyed my opinion well through the messenger god Hermes.
Or so I hope.
"Tell Zeus to mind his own business and stop with the rapes."
"Uh... Uncle Hades... Should I really say that?"
"... Do as you wish."
Anyway, as Medusa's matters were coming to an end, a voice calling me from the world above reached my ears.
"... O Lord Pluto..."
There are not many ways to convey will to me when I am not paying attention to the world above...
Is it from Argos? Could it be Perseus?
Now a king, Perseus was building a massive altar and offering sacrifices to me while speaking.
As the king of two nations, the amount of burning offerings was immense.
"O Lord Pluto! I have built a temple to repay the grace of lending me Quineas, so please send your priest!"
Perseus personally presided over the burnt offerings on the high altar made of wood.
Despite having many servants at his disposal, the hero performed the ritual himself.
"Your Majesty, this is what we..."
"Ah, enough. I will handle it."
As I watched the humble demeanor of the king, a prophecy about Perseus suddenly came to mind.
It was a terrible prophecy that he would kill his grandfather, but vague prophecies often have many loopholes, so if I could mitigate his destined tragedy...
I could offer a small piece of advice.
"Tell Hypnos and Morpheus that I am looking for them."
"Yes! Understood!"
While offering burnt sacrifices to Lord Pluto in the underworld, Perseus felt a strange sensation.
His mind momentarily became hazy, and before him stood a young man with wings.
"I am Morpheus, the god of dreams. I will now convey Lord Hades's message to you."
"...!! It is an honor!"
The god before the kneeling Perseus spoke with a mysterious aura.
"The prophecy cannot be changed, but the path to its outcome is yours to choose."
"...?"
Morpheus vanished, leaving behind those ambiguous words.
The prophecy cannot be changed, but one can choose the path to its outcome...
What could that mean? Isn’t prophecy an absolute fate that even the gods cannot alter?
What exactly did Lord Pluto wish to convey?
Could it be because of the prophecy about killing his grandfather?
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Are you alright?"
"Hmm?! What is it?"
"Your Majesty, you just fell asleep while standing!"
As Perseus looked around, the citizens and servants who had been watching the burnt offerings were murmuring.
They seemed bewildered by what had just happened to their king.
He quickly gathered his thoughts.
The hero's sharp mind accelerated his judgment, and Zeus, who was watching from Olympus, called upon the goddess of fortune, Tyche, to bestow a small blessing.
The goddess of wisdom, Athena, also grasped the situation and shared her wisdom for a moment.
"... People of Argos!"
And then... the hero, who had been standing still in contemplation, finally spoke.
To mitigate the tragic fate bestowed upon him as much as possible.
"You shall know why the former king Acrisius abdicated the throne!"
The many citizens gathered there began to murmur.
The prophecy involving Perseus and Acrisius was very famous, so many knew of it.
"As you know, I have a prophecy that I will kill my grandfather, but just now I received a prophecy from Lord Pluto, the ruler of the underworld!"
"Then Your Majesty just fell asleep..."
"Did Lord Hades... grant you a reward for building the temple?"
"What about that terrible prophecy...?"
The hall became noisy, but the king continued to speak undeterred.
"The prophecy cannot be avoided, but the process can change, according to the words of the gods!"
Everyone listened intently to the king's words.
"I will treat my grandfather Acrisius with respect until he meets his end according to his predetermined lifespan, and just before he passes away... I swear by the River Styx that I will help him find peaceful rest!"
!!!!
The people erupted into a commotion as if struck by divine punishment.
It was the oath of King Perseus, who had only recently ascended to the throne!
The absolute oath by the River Styx, which even the lofty gods of Olympus cannot break.
To break it would mean that the person would be dragged to Tartarus after death.
Could this change the prophecy, even slightly?
Wait... but what if the king cannot keep his oath...?!
"Wait! No, this cannot be!"
Amidst the noisy crowd, someone stepped forward.
He was a shabby old man, but somehow he had a familiar face.
"How dare you swear by the River Styx...! What will you do if you cannot keep your oath...?"
"Uh? Perseus! That man is your grandfather...!"
"Mother, is that really true?"
"Wait... that man is!"
"The former king... King Acrisius?!"
Acrisius had secretly returned to see his grandson's face, and upon hearing his grandson's words swearing by the River Styx, he stepped forward.
"Is... is that really my grandfather?"
"... You look just like Danae, whom I wronged... The prophecy... No, why would you swear so recklessly by the River Styx..."
"Seeing how worried you are for me... I will take you with me, grandfather."
"I am sorry... Perseus..."
They embraced each other, savoring the joy of reunion.
Danae burst into tears at the sight, and the citizens raised their prayers upon witnessing the scene.
"Since nothing has happened despite the two of them meeting... could it be...?"
"Could the absolute prophecy have slightly changed due to the power of the River Styx?"
"Ah... The gods are merciful. To witness such a scene..."
Acrisius was certain to meet his end at the hands of Perseus, but now he would live comfortably until his natural death and then head to Hades's embrace.