King of Underworld

Chapter 177: The King of the Underworld – Main Story END

The time of mortals truly flows swiftly.

It is the same from the perspective of the gods, who live eternally.

Before one knows it, the high priests of the temples that serve them are replaced multiple times, and new nations arise.

After the Trojan War, the age of heroes gradually waned.

Mythical monsters no longer appeared.

Although the gods no longer felt the necessity to nurture heroes…

The decisive factor was Achillea.

The tale of the hero Achilles surviving amidst war and monsters, a desperate struggle of humanity.

“Most of the heroes who joined the war for honor and glory never returned.”

“Come to think of it, the king of Mycenae, Agamemnon, didn’t return either. Could he have become food for some monster somewhere…?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to devote oneself to family and country rather than chasing fleeting dreams?”

The heroes who cried for honor and glory before the Trojan War marched to the battlefield…

But they awoke to reality.

Numerous soldiers who never returned to their families and the tales of horror shared by those who did.

And to top it all, the story of Achilles who drifted to a monster’s island.

Reflecting on the age of heroes, those who pursued the values of honor and glory awakened to reality.

Those who sought out monsters vanished, and instead of individual feats, collective strength gained attention.

Achillea, led by Patroklos, gained significant recognition, and Achilles’ name came to rival that of Heracles.

Of course, in terms of actual achievements, he fell far behind Heracles…

“Mom! I want to be active on the battlefield like Achilles!”

“Oh dear, you’re obsessed with those heroic tales again.”

“But it’s fun! More so than the stories of Heracles or Perseus!”

“Then you must also know that Achilles realized that life is more important than honor and glory. Come in and eat your meal.”

The legend of Achilles became increasingly embellished as it was passed down to later generations.

The giant wolves and snakes he encountered on the monster island were fictionalized as descendants of Typhon, and his desperate struggles with Patroklos became fascinating tales.

Their names, which provided life lessons to many, were on everyone’s lips.

“Achilles… heh.”

Even the goddess Thetis, recalling her mortal son who had passed to the underworld, wore a faint smile on her lips.

Once, the goddess Thetis had sought to grant her son immortality…

But after enduring numerous trials and agonizing reflections, Achilles refused.

“Why… why are you rejecting this? I persuaded Zeus so you could live an immortal life…”

“I know, Mother. That’s why Father also received an immortal life.”

“Then why… It’s a path for our family to be eternally happy…!”

“If I become immortal and ascend to godhood, my name will remain a legend. But I wish to dedicate myself to future generations.”

Achilles looked at his mother.

A goddess. The celestial figure who once felt unreachable now seemed almost within grasp.

Of course, he couldn’t quite reach the great sea goddess, but for a lesser deity, it wasn’t an impossible ambition.

If he followed his beloved mother’s will, he would undoubtedly find happiness.

As his name spread far and wide, it would transcend legend and become myth. But…

“I wish to remain human. To be buried in the earth, to journey to Pluto’s realm, and to live on in the memories and histories of people.”

“Ah…”

“This is something I cannot achieve as an immortal being. Please understand my resolve.”

Achilles’ words came true.

As the years passed, he aged, was buried in the earth, and met his death.

He was venerated as a real hero and a master of martial arts.

As the years passed and human abilities advanced, their faith in the gods weakened considerably.

Now that they explained all sorts of natural phenomena with their science, fewer people truly believed we were omnipotent gods.

Zeus’ current policy was to interact with the mortal world through dreams or subtle blessings rather than direct intervention.

Perhaps it was because there were few descendants of gods left today and no major interest in them. Humans were managing well without us, after all…

Monsters either went extinct or retreated into deep caves or the ocean, completely out of human sight.

Humans, understanding the domains governed by the Olympian gods in their own ways, developed explanations.

Medicine, the sky, the earth, fire… Many humans now relied on accumulated knowledge rather than prayers to gods.

But…

“O god of wealth, Pluto, please take pity on me…”

“Where there is death, there is life. Lord Hades, thank you for the daily sustenance you provide.”

“If you believe in Lord Hades, you will go to Elysium after death. Hades…”

“Oh, I don’t believe! I’m a Buddhist!”

Why is my faith the only one growing so vast?

For a long time, there have been more worshippers of me than those who believe in Zeus, the king of the gods.

Is it because, unlike fields like the sky or others explained by technology, the afterlife remains beyond human understanding?

Or is it because the era prioritizes practicality over honor, elevating my status as the god of wealth?

In the distant past, a nation worshiping the Olympian gods was built where Troy once stood.

This empire conquered its surroundings and created an empire. Mortals divided time into “Before Christ” and “Anno Domini” based on the empire’s foundation.

Wasn’t the birth year of the empire’s first emperor used as the reference point? He was a devout follower, so I remembered it well. He even built something grand called the Great Temple or whatever.

At any rate, since the empire’s emperor was one of my followers, my faith persisted even after the empire’s fall.

A prophet appeared, showing mercy and leading people, and was revered as my incarnation.

In one nation’s courthouse, a statue of me seated on a throne gazing down was erected.

Below it stood statues of Dike, the goddess of justice, my lovely wives, and the children born between us.

There was Zagreus, strong enough to act as the underworld’s deputy; Makaria, blessed with the divine power of peaceful death; and Melinoe, the goddess of nightmares who had grown suspiciously close to Orpheus lately…

Like Zeus and Poseidon, I had many descendants.

When witnesses swore in court by my name, I could sense it even now.

But modern humans, not as reverent of the gods, often spoke lies.

“I swear that everything I say in court is true under the name of Hades, god of fairness…”

Hmm. That human is lying.

With faith in the Olympian gods weakened, if I were to issue an oracle or interfere in the mortal world, it would cause chaos. So I refrained.

No matter how much medicine extended human lifespans, no mortal could escape death.

When they eventually came to the underworld, all of this would become their karma.

For the first time in a while, I crossed the rivers of the underworld one by one and arrived at the Acheron River.

The ferryman of the Acheron, old Charon, still guided his boat. Fortunately, as times changed and technology advanced…

Vroom—

The engine sound of a black boat adorned with all sorts of decorations tickled my ears.

An elderly man was sitting in a boat floating on the Acheron River.

Charon, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses, smiled and waved his hand.

“Hey there, Hades!”

“Charon, is there something good happening?”

“Of course! Thanks to what Hephaestus remade for me, I no longer need to row, and it’s such a relief. Hahaha!”

Still, he had to steer the boat and ferry the souls of the dead.

But the fact that he didn’t have to row anymore seemed to please him.

“Do you know that Thanatos has been carrying his scythe around lately? People who see him call him the Grim Reaper or something…”

“It seems that there are still humans with the blood of gods or prophetic abilities left.”

As I was chatting with Charon, I noticed a horde of souls rushing toward the Acheron River.

It was Thanatos’ doppelgängers, hooded and holding scythes, dragging the dead.

“Ah. I must prepare for the judgment of the dead, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Got it. Oh! By the way, tell your wife, the goddess Menthe, to tone it down with that mint chocolate or whatever strange food it is.”

“…?”

What was he talking about?

Isn’t mint chocolate something beloved by everyone, even recommended by my cult on Earth?

Anyway, I returned to my throne to do what I always did—judge the dead.

Usually, they’d be filtered through the judges like Minos, but would a special human arrive worthy of my judgment?

Clunk.

Ah, one just arrived.

An old man entered, looking nervous as he glanced around the unfamiliar scene.

The attendant who had brought him here bowed to me and exited, leaving just me and the soul in the audience chamber.

“Wh-where is this…?”

“Welcome to the underworld.”

The elderly man scanned his surroundings before his gaze met mine as I sat on the throne.

His eyes and voice trembled uncontrollably.

“Who… who are you? I remember drowning and being led by the reaper…”

“I am Hades, the god of the underworld. I am also the one who will now judge you.”

“That… that can’t be! Greek mythology was real?! This is…”

The sight of the old man gaping in shock made me chuckle involuntarily.

Unlike in the past, many humans nowadays believed the Olympian gods to be mere myths, so this reaction was not uncommon.

No matter how advanced human science became, it could never explain the afterlife.

“Let’s see. You died while courageously jumping into a river to save a drowning girl, successfully rescuing her, but losing your own strength and ending up here.”

“This… Oh my goodness… But I didn’t believe in gods…”

“You never committed murder or any grave crimes, and despite a troubled upbringing, you grew up righteously. After retiring, you even donated half your wealth to charity. It’s been a while since I’ve encountered such a virtuous person.”

“…Ah… Ugh… Sob…”

Thud.

Although souls cannot shed tears, the old man trembled and fell to his knees, sobbing in his voice.

I waved my hand to lift his body with divine power.

Realizing some mysterious force was acting on him, he tried to kneel again, but I stopped him and stood him upright.

Finally, I smiled and delivered my judgment.

“You are more than worthy of entering Elysium, the paradise. You went through many hardships in the mortal world, but you can rest peacefully here.”

“Lord… Hades? May I ask one question?”

“What is it?”

“Can I see my wife, who died five years ago? She was killed by an assailant…”

I often get such questions and requests.

It’s a relief that my name as Hades has lost much of its fearful connotation.

Fortunately, this was a request I could grant without breaking any rules.

“Your wife also performed many good deeds and is resting peacefully in the Elysian Fields. Both of you heading to Elysium as a couple—it’s truly a model for all mortals.”

“…Thank you. Thank you! Even though I’m an atheist… No, I mean… My lord, thank you!”

“There’s no need to thank me. The good deeds you did in the mortal world earned you this result.”

Yes, this is what brings me fulfillment and small joys.

To judge all mortals fairly at the end of their lives.

That is my task, my duty, and my responsibility as the King of the Underworld.

Being the King of the Underworld is exhausting – The End.