Chapter: The Trial of Ares and Poseidon - (1)
Having settled matters in Thebes, I was engaged in work while sharing light conversation with the goddess Styx.
Every time I leave the underworld, the fact that work doesn’t pile up too much is all thanks to the goddess...
"I swear by the River Styx to speak only the truth, but your hair shines beautifully today, goddess."
"Ugh... Please don’t make such strange oaths in front of me...! You hadn’t done that for a while, and now you’re back to it..."
Today, the goddess Styx was very shy about swearing in front of me again.
But how could I resist when her beautiful black hair, comparable to Athena's fine silk, swayed right before my eyes?
I set down the parchment for a moment and stared blankly at the black waves dancing in front of me...
The goddess, slightly blushing, opened her mouth.
"... Then, would you like to touch it? Just a little..."
This was something I could not resist.
As I nodded absentmindedly, the goddess of oaths moved closer and pressed against me.
What I felt at the tip of my nose was either the scent of the piled-up parchment or the olive fragrance emanating from her.
Without looking at me, she forced her head down to continue her work, and I placed my hand on her hair.
As I gently stroked the goddess's hair that seemed to flow through my fingers, I felt an indescribable strange current.
"Ugh..."
Am I feeling happiness right now?
Despite the hard and busy work of the underworld, I was spending a good time with the goddess...
Suddenly.
"Hades! Ares is at the entrance of the underworld... Huh?!"
"Ahem... What is it?"
"Ah...!"
Entering through the door was Persephone, the goddess of spring and seeds.
As she quickly scanned the office and saw me and the goddess Styx close together, she pouted and placed her hands on her hips.
"Why... are you always just with the goddess Styx, and I’m not even in your sight? Hades?"
"You don’t even call me uncle anymore..."
"Well, once I get married, I have to call you 'you'! So when will you take me to the mortal realm together?"
"...? You and I going to the mortal realm together?"
"Come on~ You’re pretending not to know again. Are you going to keep acting like this? The rumors that Hades is going out with the goddesses he has feelings for have already spread widely in the underworld. Styx and Lethe, and even that lowly god Mentes, have spent time with you, so why just with me..."
Please.
My dear niece...
Of course, it’s not a big problem among the gods, but there’s a bit of psychological resistance...
It seems your existence is a bit... too early for me.
Thanks to the beautiful goddess of spring, I had a change of heart, but my relationship with her feels awkward...
Shall I change the subject for now?
"... What do you mean Ares is at the entrance of the underworld?"
"Oh. That? He had a big fight with Uncle Poseidon and needs help with the trial..."
Ares and Poseidon had a big fight?
The only time they clashed before was during Poseidon’s rebellion.
Thus, I saw the male god walking into the audience chamber.
With muscles like iron armor, the divine armor crafted by Hephaestus, and a sword at his waist.
My nephew, the god of war Ares, knelt before me with an awkward smile.
What could have brought Ares, who would have been terrified of the underworld since the great flood, here?
"Uncle Hades, how are you?"
"... I see. I’ve heard a bit. What happened between you and Poseidon? And why have you come to the underworld?"
"I will explain slowly. So what happened was..."
According to Ares, it was an incident involving a demigod named Halirrothios, who was the son of Poseidon.
Halirrothios was born from Poseidon and the nymph Eurynome.
He believed that his father was Poseidon and caused trouble in Athens, the city where Athena was the patron goddess.
"Hey! Is it because you serve the goddess Athena that you look decent?"
"Please... don’t say that. We all swore to remain pure..."
"Sworn purity? What does that matter? Do you know who I am?"
He habitually groped and teased the priestesses of Athena...
"Wait! Just wait a moment, that olive tree symbolizes the goddess Athena...!"
"What of it?! My father is Poseidon."
He recklessly chopped down the olive trees that symbolized the goddess Athena, incurring her wrath.
However, Athena could not confront Poseidon directly, so she merely scolded him...
After hearing this, I questioned Ares.
"Is this something you heard directly from Athena?"
"That’s right. That trash did such things."
"... Go on, tell me more."
The god of war, Ares, had a demigod daughter.
The girl, named Alcippe, was grazing in a field near Athens when...
Unfortunately, she encountered the troublemaker Halirrothios.
"Do you know who I am? Come with me, marrying me would..."
"Wh-who are you! Aaaah! Father!"
"Can’t you be quiet! My father is Posei... cough!"
Crash- thud.
"Alcippe, are you okay?!"
"Ah... Father... sniff. Thank you..."
Halirrothios, who was trying to force himself on Alcippe, met Ares, who rushed over upon hearing his daughter’s scream...
Naturally, Ares, seeing the madman trying to rape his daughter, swung his sword and beheaded him.
Upon seeing his son dead, Poseidon furiously condemned Ares.
"Ares! You scoundrel! You cut off my son’s head?!"
"What?! Poseidon’s son tried to rape my daughter!"
"Still, that scoundrel!"
"I did nothing wrong!"
As their quarrel escalated, the other gods, including Zeus, decided to hold a trial to mediate...
"... I see. The one who tried to rape your daughter is likely being punished through Minos and his brothers. So why have you come to the underworld?"
"Everyone says that Uncle Hades is the right judge for this! Please, give a fair judgment!"
The god of war passionately pleaded before me, looking at me with deep emotion.
You want me to pass judgment in the underworld?
"The one who tried to rape your daughter is already dead, so that falls under my jurisdiction, but isn’t the quarrel between Poseidon and you something for Zeus to handle?"
This is clearly a matter of the mortal realm.
Wouldn’t Zeus take care of the judgment? But the fact that this issue has come to me means...
"That’s... as I mentioned, everyone recommended Uncle Hades."
"Please explain further."
The situation in Olympus that Ares described was as follows.
As the quarrel between the gods intensified, Zeus decided to hold a trial in Athens, and the other gods expressed their willingness to attend.
However...
"Huh... Then I, Zeus, will listen to both sides and pass judgment..."
"Zeus. Wouldn’t it be better to ask Hades for this rather than you?"
"That seems to be Hera’s point... After all, Hades has always handled such matters in the underworld, hasn’t he?"
"... I think Hades, who is familiar with passing judgment..."
When Zeus offered to take on the role of judge, the goddesses opposed him and recommended me.
When Hera, Hestia, and Aphrodite voiced their opinions, the other goddesses agreed...
"Ha! Then let’s leave it to Hades instead."
"I don’t mind. There’s no god more fair than Uncle Hades."
"Hmm. So, does everyone agree to appoint Hades as the judge?"
Even Poseidon and Ares before me thought I would be a better judge than Zeus.
After Ares finished explaining, I looked at my nephew.
"So that’s how it is, Uncle."
"... Now you want me to handle matters of the mortal realm as well."
"My father said that if you help, he would give you a ring with similar effects to Harmonia’s necklace."
Harmonia’s necklace, the daughter of Ares and Aphrodite, and the wife of Cadmus, grants youth and beauty to the wearer.
But we gods are immortals, so we don’t need it.
Still, a ring of youth...
It could be useful to give to a favored mortal or for collection.
"Hmm..."
By the way, the fact that Poseidon’s son caused trouble in Athens, the city of Athena...
He might truly be a troublemaker, but Poseidon wouldn’t have deliberately condoned or ordered it, would he?
Given the poor relationship between Athena and Poseidon, it’s entirely possible.
When Zeus offered to take on the trial, I could guess why the other goddesses spoke up for me...
I also understood why Zeus willingly stepped back.
Originally, he would have wanted to take on the role of judge to keep Poseidon in check, but...
He must have suspected that I would side with Ares given my personality.
It wouldn’t look good for him to be too overt in his checks.
Perhaps Poseidon thought I would be better than Zeus.
For now, this is what I heard from Ares.
I need to hear both sides of the story and think it over.
"... Alright. I understand. Where should I go?"
"Thank you, Uncle! The trial is set to be held tomorrow on a hill near Athens, so if you could attend then..."
Huh...
Alright.
Another fight among the gods has broken out, so I’ll have to mediate.
I can examine the memories of Halirrothios, who died and became a citizen of the underworld, and prepare for the trial.