King of Underworld

Chapter 176: A Strange Trojan War – (10)

The Greek allied forces, having established a peace agreement with Troy on the Day of Thanatos, withdrew.

However, their journey ahead was far from smooth.

This was because Zeus, dissatisfied with the number of heroes who perished in this war, had set the Olympian gods into motion.

As the Greek army returned to their homeland, they faced various hardships, such as being guided to sea monsters or drifting to some unknown island.

Among them, Achilles’ fate stood out the most.

Stranded on an island teeming with strange creatures, Achilles and Patroklos were forced to endure countless trials.

On the first day, they had to fend off an attack from a swarm of harpies.

Thanks to the efforts of Achilles and Patroklos, and the remaining soldiers, they managed to drive them away.

“Let’s build a ship as soon as possible and get out of this cursed place.”

“Th-There! A monster flying in the sky is headed this way!”

“Damn it. Everyone, draw your swords! Archers, prepare…”

Three days after being stranded.

A monstrous wolf suddenly attacked, biting and killing soldiers left and right as it rampaged.

Dozens of soldiers were killed or injured, but when Achilles struck its side with a spear, it bled and retreated.

Growl!

“It’s a monster wolf! Arrows are bouncing off it!”

“Achilles! Didn’t you say your weapon was forged by the god of blacksmiths? Use it…!”

“I know that. Patroklos! Haaa!”

A week passed.

When soldiers attempted to cut down trees to repair their ship, several nymphs blocked their way.

Although Achilles revealed his identity and tried to appease the nymphs, some soldiers had already fallen victim to the nymphs’ tricks and died.

The morale of the soldiers continued to plummet, and even the heroes were growing weary.

“Humans! Don’t touch the trees from here on! They’re our friends!”

“That’s right! Go away! Do you want to face the wrath of Goddess Demeter?”

“Wait. My mother is Goddess Thetis. We must return to our homeland, so please allow us to use the trees…”

One year passed on the island.

Achilles, blessed with unmatched talent, grew immensely by battling monsters.

The blood of the monsters inhabiting the island soaked his body, and even the surviving soldiers had somewhat adapted to the monsters.

Patroklos, who had just fought a giant snake-like monster, was jotting something down while chewing on the meat of a beast he had hunted.

Since their arrival on the island, he had been writing something every day, prompting Achilles to ask a question.

“Patroklos. What are you writing?”

“Everything we’ve been through.”

“…Fine. Write whatever you want. Who knows if we’ll even make it out of here alive. Good grief.”

Achilles shook off the dark red liquid from his spear and spoke.

“Now I understand why Nestor and Polideukes weren’t very interested in the war.”

“Hmm?”

“They must’ve fought creatures far stronger than these dozens of times over.”

“That’s true. I heard they even encountered dragons during the Argonaut expedition.”

“It’s no wonder human wars must seem trivial to them. Ha… I wanted to achieve great feats in the Trojan War and proudly report to my father. But now, even that seems impossible.”

The spirited image of Achilles when he first joined the Trojan War had long faded.

However, without Achilles’ heroic feats, the Greek soldiers wouldn’t have lasted a week on the island.

“Hahaha! Why? Do you think Peleus seems incredible now?”

“Indeed.”

“Oh… Achilles. It seems like you’ve done a lot of reflecting while fighting these monsters. You’re nothing like the man you were before.”

“Don’t you think so, Patroklos?”

After what felt like an eternity, the heroes finally managed to repair their ship and return to their homeland.

The number of soldiers who survived the nightmarish monster island was few, and those who returned bore scars all over their bodies.

“…Father.”

“Achilles! My son…! What on earth happened in the war?”

“The war ended too easily. However, after that…”

“Come. Come inside and tell me everything.”

Upon returning to the mainland, they reunited with their families and began sharing their experiences.

Patroklos’ detailed records of their ordeal on the island proved particularly valuable.

Having endured all these events, Patroklos gathered scholars and writers to share their story.

The fierce Trojan War, the tales of heroes and gods, and their ordeal on the monster-infested island were all recounted in full.

“Even after barely repairing the ship and setting out to sea, we were forced back to the island by sea monsters dozens of times…”

“Is that true?”

“Of course. In the end, Achilles slaughtered them all.”

Thus, a grand tale was born.

An epic centering on Achilles, recounting the Trojan War, the gods, and the monsters.

“The God of Arts, Apollo, will surely marvel at this epic!”

“How fascinating! This is certainly something that bards and minstrels will sing about…”

“I shouldn’t be wasting my time like this. I must remember every tale of heroism I just heard…”

The stories of mythical creatures such as Typhon or Hydra were widely known,

but the hero tales Patroklos spoke of were accompanied by records he personally wrote. One could say they carried both credibility and vividness.

The moment the story of the hero Achilles, Achilleia, spread throughout Greece.

The conflict arose at Gaia’s request and under Zeus’s plans.

The Trojan War, in which the gods of Olympus actively intervened, had come to an end.

“Finally. The war is over at last. I almost lost every feather on my wings.”

“…Well done, Thanatos.”

“Couldn’t Hades just take over the role of God of Death instead?”

“……”

Thanatos was as unchanged as ever. Even after all these ages, he remained the same.

Well, the immortality of the mind is indeed a characteristic of gods.

Surely now, I can finally take a well-deserved rest?

Zeus’s war to reduce the number of heroes was over, and the gods had greatly curtailed their mischief under my watchful eye.

It feels rewarding, having been so busy running around. How many times did I go to the living world, which isn’t even under my jurisdiction…?

Clunk.

The audience chamber door opened as someone entered.

That golden hair and this soft, refreshing divine energy… My wife, Persephone?

“Hades!”

“Core. What is it this time…”

“I’m pregnant!”

What did she just say? The goddess of spring and seeds, who was smiling radiantly before me, just said what?

A child. Truly?

I rose from my seat, carefully approaching her, placing my hand on her stomach.

Swish.

A faint, tiny sensation of life. It was true—she was indeed carrying my child.

The thought of me, the Lord of the Underworld, who had always been distant from life, now becoming a parent to a child…

I embraced her, smiling.

This is truly an unexpected gift. I feel so happy, my heart brimming with emotion.

“Hehe… Inside here is our child, Hades.”

“Core, thank you. From today until the child is born, rest and take it easy.”

“Oh, right! Not just me, but the other goddesses too…”

Clunk.

The audience chamber door opened again.

Lethe, Styx, and even Menthe were approaching?

“Hehe…”

“Hades!”

Like Persephone, they came with bright smiles, as if something delightful had happened.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Oh my, did Persephone already tell you? That’s right. We’re all expecting your child.”

I stood there, mouth agape, unable to say a word.

Lethe avoided my gaze, Styx puffed out her chest proudly, and finally, Styx elegantly smiled while brushing her flushed cheeks.

All of them were carrying my children.

Is this a celebration for the Underworld, or a blessing?

But if they give birth, what names should I give them?

What kind of divinity will the children who inherit my blood be born with?

Will it be a strong son, or a charming daughter?

My thoughts were all over the place, but the feeling was anything but unpleasant.

Having children with those I love and becoming a father is an indescribable joy.

For so many years, I thought my emotions as a god had dulled…

“…This is the best news I’ve heard in centuries.”

“Oh my, what did you say…?”

“The names of our children…”

As I began conversing with them, Thanatos tactfully excused himself, leaving us in privacy.

I should share this news with the other gods too. With Zeus in Olympus and those I’ve been on friendly terms with…

“As I told Persephone, all of you can rest until the children are born.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Menthe. No matter how divine one may be, rest is necessary when bearing children.”

“Oh my. Hehe.”

“…Wow… I love you…”

Wait. Hold on. If four goddesses rest for a year, does that mean I’ll have to handle all the work in the Underworld by myself?

No. What am I even thinking? I can’t let my wives work when they’re expecting children.

Besides, the busy days have passed, so I can manage alone.

Since I’ve said as much, the gods on Olympus shouldn’t be causing any more trouble, either.

Just as I reached this conclusion,

a herald’s voice came from outside the audience chamber door, knocking urgently.

Surely not, again?

“Hades! There’s trouble! Zeus says there are too many Trojan heroes and wants to reduce their numbers…”

“…Tell him not to even joke about such nonsense!”

The King of the Underworld remains tired today.