King of Underworld

Chapter 183: Side Story – The Goddess of Vengeance, Alecto

In the war against the Titans, our Olympus emerged victorious.

Immediately after, I descended to the Underworld and began meeting various deities.

Having greeted many gods, including the Goddess of Discord, and the Hecatoncheires guarding Tartarus, I now headed towards…

*Step, step.*

The cave said to be home to the Goddesses of Vengeance, the Erinyes.

Of course, the Goddesses of Vengeance were figures even gods avoided.

But having successfully conversed with beings like the Goddess of Famine, Limos, and the Goddess of Discord, Eris, there was no reason not to visit them as well.

“Seems we have a visitor outside.”

As I reached the entrance, a melodious voice echoed from within the cave.

It was undoubtedly the voice of one of the Goddesses of Vengeance.

The ominous presence emanating from inside made my skin crawl.

The Erinyes.

Born from the blood that fell to the earth when Uranus’s genitals were severed.

The three fearsome maidens with bronze wings, bleeding eyes, and serpent hair.

*Hiss, hiss!*

“Are you the Goddesses of Vengeance? I am Hades. We will be residing in the Underworld together, so I hope for your cooperation…”

“…This cave belongs to us sisters. Do not intrude.”

Their cold and brutal image and their wary nature towards strangers made it hard to approach them.

From their perspective, born of Uranus’s severed genitals, I must seem like nothing more than a fledgling god.

Perhaps it would be exceedingly difficult to grow close to them.

But I wouldn’t give up.

As the King of the Underworld, how could I neglect or disregard the deities of my realm?

To be a ruler worthy of my heavy title, I must walk an upright path.

And…

*Drip, drip.*

The sound of those ceaselessly falling tears of blood on the ground…

Was there no way to stop it?

—

I began visiting their cave regularly, bringing nectar and ambrosia.

How many times had I received the same answer from Tisiphone, the representative of the three sisters?

“Just leave it outside and go.”

“Then, as always, I will leave it here. Oh, by the way, there will be a banquet in the Underworld soon. I hope you’ll consider attending…”

“Come inside.”

Were they finally opening up to me, even just a little?

After ten years of regular visits to their cave, I was finally granted permission to enter.

As I stepped into the damp cave, a cold energy of vengeance enveloped the space.

And there they were, the Goddesses of Vengeance, staring at me with emotionless eyes.

Alecto, the embodiment of unending rage, opened her mouth to speak.

“…You don’t have to come anymore. You’ve won.”

“Pardon? What does that mean…”

“Don’t play dumb. We have eyes and ears. We’re not so old as to be ignorant. Call on us when you rebel against Zeus. We’ll make sure to repay the nectar and ambrosia we’ve consumed so far.”

Tisiphone, who punishes infidelity, and Megaera, the goddess of jealousy, nodded in agreement.

What on earth were they talking about?

“…Yes. Hades is better than Zeus.”

“I heard you’ve been meeting with Limos, the Goddess of Famine, and Eris, the Goddess of Discord. Gathering outcast gods and planning to storm Olympus, aren’t you? Quite resourceful of you, befitting the King of the Underworld.”

So, all this time, they thought my visits were…

A prelude to persuading them to join a rebellion against Zeus?

“No, you’re misunderstanding me.”

“Don’t worry. This is a place Zeus’s eyes cannot reach. If you need discretion…”

“No, that’s not it! You’re truly misunderstanding me.”

“…?”

The Goddesses of Vengeance had a peculiar expression.

—

Fortunately, the misunderstanding was quickly resolved.

“…So, you’re saying you have no intention of rebelling?”

“Why would I fight Zeus? Managing Olympus would only add to my workload.”

“Then what about your actions of building connections with outcast gods?”

“That’s because I am a god of the Underworld. At the very least, in my realm, no one will be treated unfairly due to their divine duties or appearance.”

The three goddesses stared at me blankly, their mouths slightly agape.

Even the serpents serving as their hair opened their mouths and stared.

“Um. Were you trying to tell me this when you invited me inside? If it’s uncomfortable, I’ll step outside again.”

“No… From now on, just come in freely.”

When I handed over nectar and ambrosia, the goddesses hesitantly accepted them with somewhat awkward expressions.

While I was here, I decided to take a sip of nectar myself.

*Gulp, gulp.*

“Hades.”

“?”

“You’re a little different from the other Olympian gods.”

Alecto, who had been staring at me blankly as she received the ambrosia, offered a faint smile.

The fact that the King of the Underworld had come all the way to this cave to care about them?

Of course, many of the current Olympian gods would see things differently from me.

My brothers, Zeus and Poseidon, likely take pride in defeating the Titans and claiming dominion over the world.

Meanwhile, the younger gods might see them as outdated relics.

But I cannot think that way.

If I can’t properly take care of the gods of the Underworld, what kind of king am I?

The one who judges mortals must always be just and show the perfect image of a god.

“It’s nothing special. I just wanted to invite you to the banquets we occasionally hold in the Underworld.”

“…That might be a bit too soon.”

*Hiss.*

The serpents in their hair let out faint hissing sounds.

Though they still seemed wary of me, their hostility wasn’t as strong as when we first met.

Could their emotions or mood be reflected in the movements of their serpentine hair?

It was rather fascinating.

—

Time passed more quickly after that.

Now, when I visited the cave, they greeted me warmly and even prepared a spot for me.

However, at some point, Tisiphone and Megaera began acting strangely.

They often left only Alecto behind, departing for the mortal world to torment sinners.

Just like now.

“Ahem. Ahem. I must visit the mortal realm for a while.”

“Enjoy your time…”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Just leave already!”

Once again, I was left alone with Alecto in the cave.

This had been happening quite often lately. Surely… it couldn’t be, right?

*Hiss, hiss.*

Alecto’s serpent-like hair slowly climbed onto my shoulder.

Noticing it made me realize how close Alecto was to me—close enough for her serpent hair to touch me.

Close enough for our shoulders to be touching. Her oddly excited breathing tickled my ears.

*Hiss…*

*Slide.*

As I kept observing, even her serpent-like hair began to look cute. They never bared their fangs at me, which only made them seem more endearing.

When I raised my hand and gently brushed her hair, one of the serpents—no, her hair—nuzzled against my hand as if enjoying the touch.

“You’re cute.”

“W-what?! I’m the Goddess of Vengeance! I’m not cute at all!”

Startled, the serpents retreated from me.

Yet their eyes remained fixed on me. Adorable.

“No, I mean… your hair.”

“Ugh… I see.”

Her ears reddened as she softly whispered something to me.

“Well… if you think so… I don’t mind if you touch them…”

It was adorable.

Not the serpentine hair, but the Goddess of Vengeance herself, who was avoided by everyone.

Goodness, had I truly found the Goddess of Vengeance adorable?

Her appearance was certainly not as stunning as other goddesses like Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty, or Hestia, the Goddess of Hearth.

Compared to them, the Goddess of Vengeance was…

As I became more conscious of her, she came into focus.

Excluding the bleeding eyes and serpent hair, her beauty and figure could rival any other goddess.

*Slide, brush.*

“Haah…”

As if entranced, I reached out and stroked the serpents. One, two—more and more approached me, playfully nuzzling.

By the time there were more than five, Alecto leaned her head on my shoulder.

*Thud. Hissss?!*

Her hair seemed startled by the sudden movement.

The serpents, which had been twitching, soon calmed down and softly approached me again. Truly, they were adorable.

“This is just… If you think my hair is cute, you can touch them more freely… Ah, no…!”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

“Why are you so… happy about this…? Haah. When I’m with you, my blade of vengeance feels like it’s…”

*Slide, brush.*

Before I realized it, my face was buried in her serpent hair.

As I was about to pull away, the Goddess of Vengeance suddenly turned her head to face me.

Amidst the serpent-covered surroundings, her serious gaze met mine.

For some reason, my heart raced. My face was likely as red as hers.

“Hades. Do you know something?”

“What is it…”

“You’re the first to call me cute.”

Suddenly, her hair pulled my face toward hers.

Wait, could she control her hair like this?

“Ah—!”

Our lips met. Her warm breath and heat filled the cave of the Underworld.

My body heated up along with hers.

I reached out, grabbing the back of her head, pulling her closer.

Our passionate kiss deepened until we finally broke apart with a soft *smack.*

“Haah… haah.”

“Haah…”

Her flushed face looked entirely different now.

Her gaze seemed to long for something more, and her hands hovered uncertainly, almost pleading.

And then—

*A radiant burst!*

A powerful light and divine energy surged from her, transforming her appearance!

No, it wasn’t just her appearance. Her very essence was changing. Her divinity—her core as a goddess—was altering.

Divinity wasn’t merely the domain a god presided over.

It was their essence, the source of their being. Just as the God of Madness expresses madness, or the God of Love craves love.

But…

“…What?”

If a goddess who personified vengeance found her mind filled with a different emotion for even a moment…

Could she still be called the Goddess of Vengeance?

Especially when she herself realized an emotion deeper than vengeance.

Layer upon layer of elements intertwined… The goddess who embodied guilt, vengeance, and retribution changed entirely.

The serpents, symbols of her wariness, closed their eyes and softened into flowing hair.

Her tears of blood, representing endless pain and hatred, no longer fell.

Her bronze wings, a symbol of cold vengeance, lost their rigidity and turned a pure white.

“Ah… ahhh! My appearance…! Hic…”

“…You’re beautiful, Alecto.”

Alecto, the Goddess of First Love.

With white wings, light green hair, and golden tears of joy falling from her eyes.

“I’ve changed you, so I’ll take responsibility. Please become the Queen of the Underworld.”

“R-really?”

“Yes. My first love is you.”

Thus, a new queen of the Underworld was born.