Persephone's Story - (1)
It has been a long time since I made mint dishes with Mente and spread them to the mortal realm.
Fortunately, it seems to have had an effect, as the ferryman Charon really liked it.
Shall we take a moment to observe the reactions from the mortal realm?
Thebes has changed to the point where I can consider it completely my territory.
It feels as if I am witnessing the worship of Athena in Athens.
The followers of Dionysus have been pushed aside and have become a minority...
Perhaps it is because the tale of being judged in the afterlife for committing crimes in pursuit of freedom and indulgence has spread?
So, if I listen closely, I can hear the voices of the people of Thebes discussing.
If I were to catch the voices of those talking about mint near my temple...
"We need to adjust the mint used in the funerals a bit."
"We might be able to eat the plants blessed by Pluto."
"It grows well with just a sprinkle of water, so how about cultivating it in large quantities?"
"The main use is as a spice like herbs, so there's no need to grow it in bulk..."
"Hey, priest uncle, is it true that to become a priest of Pluto, one must eat mint well?"
"Hahaha! It is true that mint is the symbol of Lord Pluto. But do you know what he said in the oracle?"
"Oracle? What did it say?"
"It said not to discriminate against those who dislike his symbol, as everyone's tastes are different."
"Wow! So even if you dislike mint, you can still become a priest!"
Mint tea, snacks mixed with mint and honey, and so on.
Once it became known in the mortal realm that various dishes could be made with mint, the amount of mint used in funerals decreased.
While looking over the detailed summary of the spread of mint dishes written on parchment, I spoke to Mente.
She stood there with a slightly nervous expression, after all, this parchment was written by her...
"Mente, you seem to have gotten used to writing reports now."
"Really? Since I write it every day... Hehe..."
Mente, who was once clumsy with the affairs of the underworld, now seems to be gradually adapting.
It seems like it's time to start increasing her responsibilities.
With a satisfied smile, I lifted my head and...
I caught the eye of Mente, who seemed to be happy about something.
"Lord Hades. Now that mint dishes have spread widely in the mortal realm... um... about the reward you mentioned last time..."
Hmm.
That's right.
I had made a promise with her.
I had indeed said that if this task was completed well, I would take her along when I patrol near Mount Etna.
"Surely just the two of us..."
"Yes. You've been doing well lately, so let's go together."
"Wow! Thank you!"
Hug.
Wait a moment, don’t suddenly hug me like that.
"Hehe..."
The refreshing scent of the mint goddess clung to me, tickling my nose.
Mente and I emerged into the mortal realm.
We soon arrived near Mount Etna.
As expected, the vast meadows and animals, along with numerous nymphs, welcomed me.
Driving a chariot pulled by ghostly horses, I circled around Mount Etna to check on Typhon's condition.
While enjoying the scenery, I noticed Mente waving her hand toward a distant forest.
"Hey! Delias! Iphigenia!"
"Mente?!"
"You've become a priest of Lord Hades..."
"No, I said I've become a goddess now, didn’t I?"
There were several Naiads, like Mente, playing there.
They looked delighted to see Mente, but when they locked eyes with me from the chariot...
"Huh?! G-god?!"
"Mente has become a low-level deity of the underworld... then could it be..."
"Black hair, black eyes, ghostly horse... the lord of the underworld?"
Their faces turned pale in an instant, and they hurriedly bowed down to me.
Seeing them unable to think of leaving made me sigh.
I haven’t done anything, yet they are already afraid.
Well, who would warmly accept the underworld...
It’s probably unusual for Mente, who asked me out on a date during our first meeting.
"Mente. I will look around elsewhere, so feel free to play with your friends."
"Uh... Yes, thank you. Everyone seems to have too many prejudices..."
Seeing Mente, who looked sad, jump off the chariot and run toward her friends, I decided to step away for a bit.
I’ll return to her shortly.
"Oh my... Mente, aren’t you scared?!"
"A low-level deity of the underworld..."
"While it’s a good thing you’ve become a goddess, being in the underground..."
"Actually... the underworld is nice!"
Even if I say it, they can hear everything...
After some time, I headed back to the spot where Mente had jumped down.
She must have had enough time to catch up with her friends by now.
Just then, I saw Mente waiting for me.
"Haah... Everyone seems to have so many prejudices about the underworld..."
"It can’t be helped. It is the final destination for mortals and the world of the dead."
Seeing Mente, who had a gloomy expression while talking about the underworld as she got back into the chariot, made me smile.
After spending a long time in the mortal realm, Mente has become quite accustomed to the underworld now.
"The underworld can actually be enjoyable once you experience it. Now, I even find the souls cute!"
"Haha... Is it not because you are a unique nymph?"
"Really? I’m just an ordinary Naiad! And now I’m a goddess!"
"In my eyes, you still look like that strange nymph from back then."
"Ugh... I’m not strange..."
What are you talking about? Where else would you find a nymph like you...
What kind of crazy nymph would want to spend time with the lord of the underworld?
As I reminisced about those memories, smiling to myself while looking back at her...
"Hmm?"
I felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
This strange feeling... from the north.
The flow of power, a multitude moving quickly.
Not just one or two.
At least hundreds.
Neither human, nor nymph, nor god...
"Lord Hades?!"
Swoosh—
I drew upon the divine power that had been suppressed while coming to the mortal realm.
The surrounding plants and animals began to wither, and the dryads, spirits of the trees, screamed, but there was nothing I could do.
I reached out, searching the area thoroughly.
From deep beneath the ground, countless presences began to stir...
Rumble...
This feeling is definitely Gigas.
Our gods' hated adversary.
And it seems that at least hundreds of them are mobilizing for an attack.
Why are they appearing here instead of Olympus or the great cities of humans...
Ah.
I see.
This place is Mount Etna, where the body of the powerful monster Typhon is buried.
If Gaia were to excavate the mountain and obtain the powerful body of Typhon,
she could indeed cause a lot of trouble.
She could summon Typhon's consciousness from Tartarus or use his body as a sacrifice to create other monsters...
In the worst-case scenario, Typhon could be resurrected...
Even in the best-case scenario, the body could rampage and cause significant damage.
If the gods of Olympus do not intervene, the released body would likely devastate the surroundings.
"Lord Hades? Is something wrong..."
"Gigas is attacking, so return to the underworld, Mente."
Was this the single strike Prometheus spoke of?
Indeed, if Typhon's body were to be seized, it would be a tremendous loss for the gods.
"No matter how well we prepare... the gods will fall to Gaia's strike, even if I warn them in advance."
"Are you saying we will definitely be hit once?"
"Of course, it will be quite a painful blow to your plans."
But Prometheus, this time, your prophecy seems to be wrong.
Because Hades is here.
The mint goddess, Mente, felt good.
She had successfully carried out Hades' command to spread mint dishes in the mortal realm, and he had kept his promise to take her on a patrol of Mount Etna.
Having met with other nymph friends she had grown close to in the mortal realm, she was now set to enjoy a delightful time with the handsome Lord Hades.
Though she had always been unable to progress due to the intimidating gazes of the goddess of Stygian and the goddess of Lethe,
now that they were out in the mortal realm alone, she was determined to show off her charm today!
...or so Mente thought.
"Hmm?"
Hades, who had been looking at her with a friendly smile, suddenly stiffened and let out a low growl.
A dark divine power slowly seeped from his body.
"Lord Hades?!"
He seemed to sense something strange, extending his right hand to draw forth his divine power.
The overwhelming strength of the three ruling gods of the underworld was unleashed, causing the surrounding plants and animals to meet their demise.
This was not the merciful side of the god who usually cared for the lives of the mortals and suppressed his power for them.
What on earth has happened? Why is he...
Swoosh—
The power Hades was drawing forth grew stronger.
Little by little... more... more...
Could even the combined might of all the deities of the underworld match the intense pressure he was exuding now?
Hoohoo! Whoosh—
Reflecting his emotions, the ghostly horses' eyes glowed with a blue hue, and flames of hell erupted from their hooves.
The sharp-toothed specters seemed to anticipate the impending time of slaughter.
The once ordinary chariot now radiated a chilling aura, with the shapes of screaming souls etched into it.
The chariot had transformed into a horrifying form fit for the lord of the underworld.
As she watched Hades gradually enveloped in a black form, Mente trembled in fear.
"Lord Hades? Is something wrong..."
"Gigas is attacking, so return to the underworld, Mente."
Gigas.
The enemy that Hades and the other gods of the underworld had been so wary of.
According to prophecy, these monsters could not be defeated without a human hero.
Then, shouldn’t she, now a goddess, help Lord Hades fight?
He was going to face such dangerous foes alone?
"Lord Hades... I can fight too..."
A thick hand gently brushed through the goddess's long hair.
Those endless, abyss-like black eyes.
Unlike before, when he always seemed troubled and avoided physical contact with her,
he now wore a cold smile and quietly whispered in Mente's ear.
"It is an order. Goddess of Mint."
The merciful god, Pluto, who always cared for the wronged souls and remained unfazed by sacrilege, was nowhere to be seen.
The being before her eyes was Hades, the king of the underworld, whom everyone feared.
"Yes... I will call the other gods. Please be careful."
Mente found herself unable to defy those words.