The Tale of Bellerophon - (6)
Under the proposal of Hades, the king of the underworld, Bellerophon began to experience the duties of a lesser god.
Having slain Typhon's offspring in the mortal realm, he boldly sought a place among the gods before the king of the underworld...
"Haah... Haah... Hey! Bring me arrows faster! Why is Hades allowing such a slowpoke to..."
"... I’m sorry!"
He felt like he might lose his mind.
The winged god, Eros, was shooting arrows at a speed invisible to the condemned criminals.
The god of love furrowed his brow as he relentlessly fired arrows...
The quiver filled with arrows was quickly emptied.
Naturally, Bellerophon, who was tasked with carrying the quiver, was scolded by Eros.
"Because of you, if the criminals take a break, the supervisors will report to Hades!"
Whack!
"I’m sorry... Ugh!"
Eros, clearly annoyed, struck Bellerophon on the head with his bow.
However, Bellerophon dared not retort.
First of all, Eros was still moving his arms without even glancing this way...
"Still, that guy is adapting quite well, even though he hasn’t been here long."
"He said he wanted to experience the work of a lesser god. I should report this well to Hades."
"Hmm. If that fellow stays here, how much work will be reduced?"
From a distance, the lesser gods who were manipulating or supervising something were evaluating him positively.
The fact that this was not a trial imposed on him or a malicious prank shook Bellerophon’s mind.
Being scolded by a high god and suffering from busy work all day...
Was this not an abnormal situation, but rather the usual work of a lesser god?
Didn’t the gods leisurely help humans from time to time?
Whoosh— Phew.
"Ugh!"
"Please... please..."
The underworld was particularly harsh compared to other places, and while there were gods torturing the condemned, it was even more difficult...
Bellerophon, who had just arrived in the underworld, did not notice this.
How much time had passed...
"Hey, human. It’s my turn now."
"Are we... switching?"
A lesser god with two small horns on his forehead and a red body approached him and spoke.
Bellerophon, in gratitude, collapsed onto the ground.
No matter how dead the deceased were, mental fatigue was unavoidable.
Especially when Eros’s sharp annoyance echoed periodically.
"You really worked hard. You should tell Hades well about me."
"Yes...? What should I say...?"
"Weren't you the one who wanted to experience our work to become a lesser god? If you become a god, it would be quite reassuring."
Bellerophon, staring blankly at the lesser god nodding at him with a satisfied expression, thought.
No...
While the gods might not be playing all day, they surely had things they enjoyed.
"Do the gods eat nectar and ambrosia? Can I see it...?"
"Oh, now that you mention it, since Hades told you to experience the work of a lesser god, you should try the food as well. Follow me."
"I can eat the food of the gods...!"
Bellerophon’s face lit up with excitement.
To think I could taste the food of the gods, truly a benevolent ruler of the underworld!
The lesser god led Bellerophon to a distant place.
A massive building resembling a castle made by humans in the mortal realm, where was this?
"Um... God, where is this place?"
"This is the 1253rd warehouse of the underworld. And this is the third largest warehouse for storing nectar and ambrosia..."
Bellerophon was busy looking around in a daze.
A castle covered in black bricks and an unknown black material, the sight of the deceased bustling about carrying something.
Passing through the strict inspection of the soul guards, he saw nectar and ambrosia piled up like a mountain...
Yet, despite that, the numerous materials were systematically organized.
'The other name for the ruler of the underworld is the god of wealth; to think there are thousands of warehouses of this scale...'
As he momentarily fell into thought, the lesser god handed him something.
"Here, this is ambrosia and nectar. Consider it an honor to eat, human."
"Wow! Thank you!"
Munch munch...
The ambrosia and nectar he tasted for the first time were indeed heavenly.
It was so exquisite that it could be called food of the gods.
No food from the mortal realm could compare, and even the pleasures of embracing a woman...
"Hmm. If you’ve eaten and drunk enough, get up now."
"...?"
"What are you staring at? Managing nectar and ambrosia is also part of a lesser god's duties."
Bellerophon began to work again.
"Nectar and ambrosia only make mortals immortal while they are being consumed; humans should not even touch or see them."
"Ah... I am truly grateful to Lord Pluto."
"Though you have eaten and drunk, if you harbor any strange thoughts..."
The lesser god's face twisted grotesquely.
No matter how lowly a god was, a god was still a god.
A chilling aura swirled around Bellerophon, and horrific whispers enveloped him.
The only reason he didn’t faint on the spot was that he was a hero who had not backed down before the Chimera.
As Bellerophon’s face turned pale, the lesser god shrugged as if nothing had happened.
"Well, you seem to be a fairly diligent human, so I suppose you don’t need to worry about that?"
"Of... of course!"
From then on, Bellerophon took ambrosia from numerous boxes, following instructions to carry and stack them.
Next, he carefully managed the bottles of nectar to prevent them from breaking and sorted them as instructed...
He counted the number of foods in the warehouse and wrote them down on parchment.
Of course, this was possible because the lesser god beside him skillfully assisted him.
But wasn’t this trivial organization something only warehouse managers, scribes, or workers would do?
Why did a god have to do such things?
After being engrossed in work for a long time, he finally had a chance to rest.
And he poured out the questions he had been curious about.
Why did gods have to do tasks that servants would do?
"You worked hard. As expected from a hero, you have some strength."
"But why are the gods doing such work?"
"How could we entrust such important tasks to mortals? It’s one thing to manage ordinary wealth or treasures, but managing the food of the gods?"
In response to Bellerophon’s question, the lesser god revealed an even deeper question.
"But how could the great gods continue to do such trivial tasks..."
"Do you think the deceased can do such work for a long time? It’s only because they are immortal gods that they can endure."
Gods are eternal not only in body but also in mind.
If an ordinary human lived for thousands of years, they would likely go mad.
But because gods possess immortal power and divine strength, they can maintain their mental state.
The ancient gods, who must have lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years, do not always show a solemn demeanor.
Sometimes they can be as innocent as children, and at other times they can be as stuffy as old men...
Occasionally, they display behaviors more faithful to emotions than reason, and to desires rather than duties.
But that is precisely the action of divine power to maintain the constancy of the mind.
The proof of a god may not be powerful strength or an immortal body... but an unyielding spirit.
"Still, there’s no need to be too scared. If you become a god, doing a little work won’t ruin your body or mind."
'Is this... a little?'
Bellerophon began to seriously contemplate becoming a god.
About 30 days had passed since Bellerophon left the audience chamber.
I had actually been keeping a close watch on him when a messenger came to deliver news about Bellerophon.
"Hades, the hero who killed the Chimera wishes to see you again."
"Bring him in."
He approached me, looking weary with hollow eyes and a dazed expression.
The deceased, unlike when they were alive, do not experience fatigue.
But that appearance...
The hero, who knelt before the throne, opened his mouth in a weak voice.
"I have realized that the position of a god is too much for me. O ruler of the underworld..."
"So, you wish to give up?"
"Yes... Please assign me to something else..."
He waved his hand and picked one of the parchments stacked to the side.
A report detailing the observations made about him naturally floated over.
"Everyone has praised you. They say, 'He is a talent worthy of becoming a lesser god...'"
"Wh-what?! How could I...?!"
"With this level of evaluation... even Zeus might consider you a capable human."
The parchment contained only positive evaluations.
Diligent unlike a mortal, showing perseverance perhaps because he is a hero, requesting to be dispatched continuously...
"But! I... the work that the gods do...!"
"You thought it was nothing?"
"That’s not it! It’s just that..."
Bellerophon, pale as a ghost, tried to explain, but in the end, wasn’t it just that he disliked having too much work?
Still, it was true that I intended this and made him experience the work of a god.
There are not few mortals who think like Bellerophon.
I nodded appropriately and looked at him.
"... Alright. I understand. Then..."
"I want to help in some way in the underworld, even if I do not become a god! Please assign me to another task!"
"...? Do you not wish to receive a reward for killing the Chimera?"
"No! Just please forgive my rudeness!"
The hero trembled, burying his head to the ground.
Ah... it seems he thought he had dared to insult divinity before me.
Even if I showed a nonchalant demeanor, he wouldn’t feel at ease.
The Greek gods are inherently unpredictable.
"I will forgive your rudeness. Then how about sharing your experiences with future generations?"
"I will do whatever you command!"
"You can quit anytime, and there’s no need to feel too burdened. The heroes from Thebes..."
Just then, Chiron mentioned he needed a training instructor.
A hero who killed the Chimera would be more than sufficient.
Still, I felt a bit sorry for making a hero, who should be resting, work...
If he wishes, perhaps I should arrange a reconciliation with his brother whom Bellerophon accidentally killed.