The Hero of Prophecy, Hercules
"Is that true, Hermes?"
"Yes. Fortunately, Uncle Poseidon rejected Gaia's proposal..."
"Now they are trying to sway the gods."
Two days after returning to the underworld, Hermes came to visit.
The news he brought was that Gaia had tried to sway Poseidon.
With a slightly anxious look, Hermes spoke to me.
"But, is there a chance that Uncle Poseidon might waver?"
"Hermes, you still don't know Poseidon well."
Though he has a somewhat high pride and a fierce temperament, he will never betray us.
After all, the children of Cronus, including myself...
"But this time, he had a big fight with brother Ares... and there was even a trial, right? If he was upset..."
"Of course, he wouldn't feel good. The punishment given to Ares was also considered in light of Poseidon's position."
For the immortal gods, the concept of time is a bit different from that of humans.
To gods who think even a year is just a moment, a two-month punishment is very light.
Poseidon would certainly know this.
Even so, the reason he let it slide is partly because he himself thought his son's actions were wrong,
And because I knew he sent his son to keep Athena in check.
Though it was nominal, since Ares was punished, I hoped he felt somewhat vindicated.
"But even if he casts a disdainful glance at Ares, Poseidon would never ally with an external enemy."
"That's true..."
"You must have informed Zeus about this matter. What did your father say?"
"... He just told me to send a messenger to Poseidon to thank him for not being swayed by Gaia's persuasion. It's surprising that my father, who is so sensitive about his position as the king of the gods, didn't even suspect..."
See? Zeus is not a fool; he knows Poseidon will not betray him.
Even if he were to rebel, Poseidon would never bring in an external enemy.
"Is that all you wanted to tell me?"
"Oh, there's one more thing. He said to inform you that the goddess of the rainbow, Iris, will be coming here shortly..."
"Why is Iris coming here?"
"Well, I don't know. Perhaps she is trying to invite Uncle Hades to Olympus again?"
I thought that was unlikely, but I nodded and sent him off.
Both Iris and Hermes are coming to the underworld? Usually, if there is something to say, wouldn't they just send one?
As Hermes said, after a little wait, a messenger entered the audience chamber.
"Lord Hades, the goddess of the rainbow has arrived at the entrance of the underworld."
"Let her in."
"But... she was holding a human infant."
"...?"
The goddess of the rainbow, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, had a rather awkward expression.
It must be because of the infant in her arms.
"Greetings, Lord Hades. Lord Zeus asked me to deliver this letter."
"Yes, but what about the infant you are holding?"
"That is... first, let me present the letter..."
Iris rummaged through her arms and pulled out a piece of parchment.
However, the power contained in this parchment was extraordinary.
It was as if someone had sealed it so that no one else could see it.
Crisp—
As I unfolded the parchment, the latent lightning tickled my hand, but I ignored it and began to read the contents.
"Brother Hades, this is Zeus. I didn't want to ask for your help, but somehow it has come to this."
Does he have some request for me?
"You must be curious about the infant that the goddess of the rainbow, Iris, is carrying. Can you hide the child from Hera for about a month? I know what it means to keep a living person in the underworld, but Hera is trying to kill the child with a viper..."
So, it seems this is another child Zeus secretly fathered.
But to ask me for help means Hera's wrath must be tremendous.
Indeed...
The letter states that even though he hid the child in a mountain, a cave, or another god's dwelling, Hera somehow found it.
Since the living cannot escape Hera's gaze, he must be thinking of hiding the child in the completely different world of the underworld...
If only for a month...
If I can protect the child in the underworld, he believes he can find a way to divert Hera's attention or change her mind.
Perhaps he plans to hide the child in various places until her anger subsides.
But to ask me to hide his illegitimate child, what kind of child could it be...
"This child is my son, and I named him Hercules (the glory of Hera). Surely this child is the hero of prophecy who will help us win against the giants, so even if the laws of the underworld are strict..."
Wait, the child's name is...
Hercules?
Hercules.
Hercules.
As I pronounced it a few times in my mouth, it felt familiar.
I have heard this name somewhere...
It is a memory deeply embedded, even more so than being struck by Eros's arrow...
That is...
"Tell the goddess of the Styx to immerse this infant in the river Styx."
"... Lord Hades?"
The most famous hero in Greek mythology.
The great hero Hercules, who will play a significant role in the future battle against the giants.
We have won.
"... What?! You want to immerse him in the Styx river?"
"Yes. Even a weak human body would be somewhat improved if submerged in the waters of the Styx."
Iris looked at me in great surprise, but my resolve remained unchanged.
The law that the living must not enter the underworld must be bent for this.
A flash of memory from a past life.
It is the fact that Hercules is the hero of prophecy.
If a living person can withstand the power of the Styx river... they will possess a body so tough that it cannot be harmed by ordinary weapons.
If fully submerged, it would prevent the prophetic hero from meeting an untimely death.
"But this child is a human hated by Hera..."
"Then why did you come here at Zeus's request... No, if Hera finds out, say it was because of my request that I had no choice."
The reason Iris, Hera's attendant, brought this child is because Zeus asked her to.
If Hermes were to send the child along, Hera might suspect, so he might have persuaded Iris on purpose.
To secretly deliver his illegitimate child to the underworld through Hera's loyal attendant...
What did Zeus use to sway the goddess of the rainbow?
Did he swear to never pursue Iris again at the river Styx?
"Yes... I understand."
"Good. Make sure to tell the goddess of the Styx to fully immerse the child. Remember."
I firmly instructed, as there might be a chance that the child could be left with only his heels submerged.
Seeing Iris's reluctant expression as she headed towards the goddess of the Styx made me smile.
One of the worries that threatened our gods was half resolved.
Now, if I can raise Hercules well to become a great hero... the giants will be doomed.
Soon, the goddess of the Styx entered the audience chamber.
The child in her arms was surrounded by the energy of the Styx river, visibly changing his body.
As expected of Zeus's son, he was enduring the power of the Styx river well.
Handing Hercules to a nearby maid, the goddess of the Styx spoke with a worried expression.
"Hades, I immersed him in the river since he is Zeus's son and a potential hero. But if we keep releasing humans who have received the power of the river into the living world..."
"Yes, I understand. If heroes empowered by the Styx river roam the living world, the balance will surely collapse."
This child, who will eventually return to the living world, will likely enter Chiron's tutelage when he grows up, right?
If Hercules comes to the training grounds of the underworld, I must tell Chiron to provide proper character education.
He will grow into a powerful hero who has been immersed in the Styx river...
He must be trained well so that he cannot harm others recklessly.
"Of course, I plan to provide proper education under Chiron's tutelage later. Naturally, I won't be raising a multitude of heroes who have been immersed in the Styx river."
"That is a relief. By the way, why are you giving special treatment to this child when you have seen so many heroes?"
Of course, based on my past experiences, I know that Hercules will defeat the giants in the future.
But I cannot say that...
"If you look at this letter sent by Zeus... it says that he nursed from Hera and even killed two vipers right after birth."
"Vipers...? How did that happen..."
"I suspect Hera sent them. Since he is an illegitimate child, it can't be helped."
"Ah..."
The black-haired goddess nodded in understanding.
As she looked at Hercules, clicking her tongue, I added a bit more explanation.
"The one who brought this child is the goddess of the rainbow, Iris, and Zeus asked me with a letter containing lightning."
"She probably nursed him while Hera was asleep. Her wrath must be sky-high."
"That's right. He may have to live a life filled with struggles. A life filled with the corpses of monsters and the jealousy of humans..."
I turned my gaze towards the child held by the maid.
Hercules was sleeping peacefully, unaware of the events that were about to unfold.
In truth... the child that Zeus intentionally fathered for the victory of the gods is this Hercules.
It is certain that he is strong enough to nurse from Hera and kill vipers from birth...
But I wonder if I have cast him into a difficult fate.
Still, having been immersed in the Styx river, I hope it will help him navigate that fate.
"Waaah! Waaah!"
"No...!"
"Ah! Hades! Look away for a moment. He can't withstand the power in your gaze and is crying!"
At the startled voice of the goddess of the Styx, I hurriedly averted my gaze and looked elsewhere.
Did I stare too intently? I sometimes make such mistakes...
Since I cannot feed him the food of the underworld for a month, I must either find a wet nurse or find a way to bring food from the living world.