King of Underworld

Chapter 172: A Strange Trojan War – (6)

I returned to the Underworld and saw Paris being dragged in by Thanatos’ avatar.

Soon, the criminal arrived at the audience chamber. As he tried to bow his head to the floor, he caught sight of my face and was greatly startled.

“Ah… H-huh! Plu… Pluto…?”

“Do you finally understand who I am?”

“O-of course! Lord of the Underworld!”

The criminal, unable to meet my gaze, hastily pressed his head back down.

It seemed that he finally remembered my name, the one he had encountered during the meeting to choose the owner of the golden apple.

Though his memory had been erased after crossing the River Lethe, I had restored it using the waters from the spring of the goddess Mnemosyne, allowing him to recognize me clearly.

“Keep in mind that you are a prince of Troy.”

“…And who are you, exactly?”

“That’s none of your concern. Just remember to remain cautious and not be swayed by rewards when making decisions.”

After clearing my throat briefly, I passed judgment on the criminal.

Paris’ sins were so severe that he was brought directly to me without passing through the judgment of Minos and his brothers.

“Your crime is using the blessing of the goddess Aphrodite to steal another man’s wife, ultimately sparking the flames of war.”

“…!”

“Because of this war, over tens of thousands of mortals will perish. You must bear the full weight of your sins.”

“That… I… I didn’t…!”

“Silence. You will not be given the opportunity to make excuses.”

I pronounced the sentence to Paris, who had lost his voice and could only gape in silence.

Though he clasped his hands together and begged me for mercy, imagining the horrific punishment ahead, I am the King of the Underworld and also the god of fairness.

“You took another man’s wife, leading to a great war. The weight of your transgressions is immense.”

“…!!!”

“Therefore, I sentence you to carry stones in the Underworld for 100 years with your memory wiped clean.”

“Guards! Take this criminal away!”

Having coveted another man’s wife and plunged countless people into despair with war, he would pay for his sins for a very long time.

Meanwhile, King Menelaus, who had decapitated Paris and returned to the Greek camp, announced his intent to return to Sparta with Helen.

Having avenged the theft of his wife, his expression seemed both relieved and hollow.

“Menelaus. You should have consulted with me. Should we not take this opportunity to destroy Troy completely?”

“Brother Agamemnon, I am sorry. Many of our soldiers are dead or injured. While I still hold resentment against Troy for raising Paris, I want to end this and return with Helen.”

“What are you saying…?”

“We have received sufficient compensation from Troy, secured Hector’s apology as their heir, and executed Paris. I believe it is enough, and I wish to withdraw.”

At once, several generals began to condemn him.

Menelaus’ mere presence as the “wronged husband” within the Greek forces gave them their moral justification for war.

If he forgave Troy and returned, wouldn’t the Greek forces gathered here be seen as nothing more than marauders? The gods would surely not look favorably upon it.

Moreover, Menelaus had taken all the compensation for Helen’s abduction, which added to the dissatisfaction.

“King Menelaus! Are you truly serious? You have received ample reparations, killed Paris, and retrieved Helen, yet you intend to withdraw?”

“We have gained nothing, yet you have brought us here for…”

“Why would you swear an oath on the River Styx without consulting us?”

“Could it be that you were afraid of the gods siding with Troy? I didn’t think you were a coward, but now…!”

“…Watch your tongue.”

Menelaus glared at the last man who dared to call him a coward and then spoke.

His eyes carried an unshakable resolve.

“This war was wrong from the start.”

With those final words, Menelaus left the tent.

Helen’s brother, Pollux, and the elder Nestor also approached Commander Agamemnon and spoke.

“Agamemnon. If Menelaus and Helen return, I too shall leave.”

“I feel the same. This is a war among humans, not monsters. Besides, we know the god Pluto has trained Troy’s forces. It feels wrong to continue defying him.”

…!!!

“My initial intention was only to retrieve my sister, so understand…”

“Wait, Pollux. Even if Menelaus leaves, can’t you participate in just one last battle? Nestor, you too.”

“Hmm.”

“I understand that as seasoned heroes, you find little interest in such wars. Surely, you have no desire to slaughter Trojans needlessly.”

Agamemnon’s words rang true.

Veterans like Nestor and Pollux, who had faced mythical monsters, likely found little appeal in a war between mere mortals.

If they were to fully engage, the Trojan forces would be massacred.

“But just this once. For my sake, could you join one last battle? After traveling such a distance, I cannot leave without achieving something. I beg you.”

Agamemnon, with a desperate expression, bowed his head as he pleaded.

He had of course joined the war out of pity for Menelaus, but… he also wanted to gain fame, honor, and wealth through the Trojan War.

More than just punishing a foreign prince who had committed adultery, he wanted to achieve the glory of destroying Troy.

With that thought, they exchanged glances, then nodded reluctantly with awkward expressions.

“…I will go into battle only once and then return.”

“Then I shall do the same. If even our strength cannot bring down the city, then it must be that the gods do not wish for Troy’s destruction.”

Nestor and Polydeuces joined the war.

Although King Menelaus returned to Sparta with Helen, the morale of the Greek coalition remained higher than expected.

First, King Menelaus’s brother, Agamemnon, who had received Poseidon’s oracle, was still present…

Hades supporting Troy? Don’t worry; just capture the city.

“My brother, Menelaus, has mercifully forgiven Troy! But I cannot overlook those barbaric Trojans! Poseidon’s blessing is with us!”

Athena’s blessing and encouragement, driven by her desire to destroy Troy.

“Diomedes. I, Athena, bestow my power upon you. Kill all the Trojan commanders.”

“Glory on the battlefield for the goddess! Understood!”

And the decisive reason was…

Step, step.

“The son of Zeus, Polydeuces!”

“For the heroes of the Argo to step forward, Troy’s end is certain today.”

“Finally, we’ll witness Lord Nestor’s prowess.”

“No matter how brilliant Aeneas or Hector may be, they can’t compare to those two…!”

The reason was a single unarmed man walking out and an elderly man who appeared middle-aged.

Their appearances seemed modest at first glance, but those who recognized their faces burst into cheers.

Having trained in Pluto’s temple, famed for producing mighty heroes.

Having vanquished countless monsters and villains.

Having participated in the legendary Argo expedition, fought dragons, and survived.

And ultimately… having defeated a Gigas said to rival the gods themselves.

When those who had merely observed from the sidelines showed signs of entering the battlefield, the morale of the Greek army soared to its peak.

Compared to the monsters they had vanquished, the Trojan commanders were nothing more than small fry.

Shing!

Agamemnon, the supreme commander of the Greek forces, drew his sword and shouted loudly.

“Warriors of Greece! Let’s finish Troy today and return to our homeland!!!”

“Uwaaah!!!”

“Long live King Agamemnon!”

“Destroy Troy and take everything!”

“The goddess of war blesses us!”

The vanguard was led by battle-hardened heroes,

And the army, with morale sky-high, began to advance toward Troy.

The Olympian gods supporting the Greeks smiled in satisfaction.

Even though there were only two of the heroes from the previous generation who had built their legends by slaying monsters, if they stepped forward, Troy was as good as fallen.

“…It’s over. The Greek coalition will win.”

“Isn’t Polydeuces the son of Zeus, famed for his exceptional pankration skills?”

“Hector is a human too good to die here, though…”

Only Zeus, who intended to prolong the war, stroked his chin in contemplation.

With dozens of humans of that caliber gathered, even Gigantes had been felled. Could Troy’s greatest hero, Hector, avoid being subdued in one blow?

Even if the gods supporting Troy intervened, the gods supporting Greece would not sit idly by.

Should he send word to Polydeuces to retreat? Or perhaps summon Athena?

No matter how much he thought about it, there wasn’t a valid reason for Zeus, who claimed neutrality, to intervene.

As he searched for a way to extend the war, he noticed something.

“…Hmm.”

He leaned back into his throne with a serene expression.

At this moment, the Underworld.

Amid the influx of souls, I glanced at the Greek army while occasionally observing the souls.

Specifically, at Polydeuces and Nestor, who stood at the forefront of the Greek army.

What? I trained them in the Underworld to slay monsters, and now they’re trying to destroy Troy?

The last time I went to the battlefield to stop Aphrodite, they seemed to refrain from meddling in human wars, so I let them be.

Let’s see, among Troy’s soldiers, is there a devotee suitable for descent… there is.

Has the shadow of death from war increased my followers?

“I’ll need to borrow your body for a moment.”

“Wh… which god are you? Could it be!”

Swoosh—

A cold aura surrounded Hades as he closed his eyes,

And the god of the Underworld began descending onto the battlefield filled with death.