The King of the Underworld is Tired

“Hades, my lord! Should we leave right away?”

Behind Mente, who was urging me, I could see the illusion of a wagging puppy tail.

It seems she was very disappointed that our previous walk was interrupted by the attack of the Gigantes.

“I haven't been attentive to you, have I? If you had told me earlier, I would have taken you with me.”

“Well… I wanted to, but…”

The goddess of mint showed a troubled face, expressing hesitation.

“But…?”

“Oh, no! If we cut the line, we'll be cursed… cursed and trampled…”

Suddenly, she clasped her hands together and trembled.

What in the world is she talking about? A curse… and being trampled?

“Anyway, let’s pass by the place where the heroes train and go straight to Thebes. I also need a change of pace, so I plan to visit the mortal world.”

“Yes! I'll go get dressed to look pretty for you, Lord Hades! Oh, and also, I…”

Mente, who had been leaving the audience chamber with a happy face, suddenly froze and spoke softly.

Her back was turned to me, so I couldn’t see her face, but I noticed her ears were redder than ever.

“The outfit you wore the first time we met, the one with the gold-threaded decorations, I think it suits you best. Not that it’s my personal taste or anything, just…”

“If that’s what you liked, then I’ll wear it again.”

Was that outfit really Mente’s preference?

I chuckled at her bold words and changed my attire.

It’s nothing new, but I’m well aware of my appearance and the popularity I hold.

However, because I hold the high position of the king of the underworld, it’s rare to find a deity who treats me casually.

Most mortals even fear the name Hades and refer to me as Pluto instead.

Yet… the goddess of mint is different.

“Wow! Lord Hades, you look so cool right now! Hehe… I’ll be right back!”

She wasn’t an ordinary lower deity, but a Naiad, a water nymph, when we first met…

Rather than fear, curiosity and excitement dominated her demeanor.

It might be that this very nature is what allowed her to become my priestess and eventually rise to godhood.

* * *

Mente and I soon found Chiron at the training grounds where the heroes were practicing, a place imbued with the power of Persephone.

The centaur sage looked happier than ever, giving lectures to the aspiring heroes.

“When shooting an arrow, your feet should be shoulder-width apart, and your hind leg should…”

Chiron drew his bow and aimed at the target.

The heroes, who were sitting widely around the clearing, watched his demonstration intently.

After Chiron finished his explanation, they spread out to practice archery.

It seemed like they were all beginners, as they awkwardly pulled their bows. Chiron noticed us and approached.

We were standing at a distance far enough to not disturb the heroes, but he spotted us.

“When did you arrive, Lord Hades? Lady Mente is with you as well.”

“Chiron, it seems the heroes are progressing well.”

“Yes, of course. You’ve sent many heroes who have completed their tasks recently, haven’t you? Thanks to that…”

Chiron trailed off and turned his head.

At a clearing further away, the heroes were sparring with their weapons.

There were some familiar faces—there’s Bellerophon… and Perseus is there, too…

Crash!

One man easily dodged a flying sword and tripped the man facing him, sending him tumbling.

The fallen man protested to his opponent.

“King Perseus! What’s a great hero like you doing here?”

“What do you mean? Training the next generation is also a hero’s duty.”

“But still, a former king training here…”

“…? Lord Cadmus is also here. Compared to him, I’m nothing. Now, come at me!”

It was quite a sight to see famous heroes, who had completed their quests and passed away, training future heroes.

When Perseus died and came to the underworld, Zeus had planned to make him and his wife Andromeda into constellations.

But when Perseus learned about the hero training ground in Thebes, he declined and expressed his desire to help train the next generation of heroes, even in death. His wish was granted.

Zeus had originally intended to send him to Elysium, but Perseus, feeling guilty for killing his grandfather, knelt and refused, saying he was unworthy.

In many ways, he reminded me of Cadmus.

“With such high-level training available, it’s much better than when I taught them alone.”

“I’m glad it’s been helpful. I’ll send more heroes here if there are any who wish to join.”

After watching the contented smile on Chiron’s face for a while, I shifted my gaze to Mente.

She was watching the heroes train, admiring the scene.

“Wow… Lord Hades, look over there. Is that the giant snake Python?”

“Mente, if we show ourselves to them, it will cause unnecessary commotion, so let’s move quietly.”

I urged Mente, and we stepped through the rift in space.

Whoosh

“What the…?! The heroes haven’t come out… Oh! Lord Hades…!”

As soon as we crossed over to the mortal world, we were greeted by a middle-aged male priest who was startled upon seeing us.

A highly devout senior priest… His name was…

“Vasileides, was it? Your unwavering devotion in offering prayers every day is truly commendable.”

“To think that you remembered my name… It’s an honor! Sniff…”

Wait, hold on. Don’t suddenly collapse on the floor crying…

I was only complimenting you for offering prayers every morning and evening.

The ground is stone and cold, you know. I’d better get moving quickly.

“I find it uncomfortable to watch my priest lying on cold stone. Stand up.”

“But… how could I…”

“That’s an order.”

Only then did the priest carefully rise.

“You must keep it a secret that the goddess of mint and I have come to Thebes.”

“Of course! I swear on the River Styx…!”

“…That kind of oath is unnecessary.”

As soon as I heard the mention of the River Styx, I stopped him from speaking.

Why would he immediately try to swear by the River Styx? 

There’s no need to go that far… Isn’t his devotion a bit excessive?

If we stay here any longer, he might faint, so we’d better move quickly…

Passing by the priest, who displayed a near-fanatical level of devotion, we concealed ourselves and blended into Thebes.

* * *

As soon as I stepped out of the temple connected to the underworld, what greeted me was...

"Come now, will you keep insisting? Pluto's rightful wife is none other than the goddess Styx!"

"Aren't you the one with weak arguments? Didn't he fall for Persephone after being struck by Eros' golden arrow?"

"That golden arrow wasn't even officially acknowledged by the priests of Pluto's temple. Stop spreading baseless rumors."

"Then how do you explain the statue of Lady Lethe being placed right next to Pluto's?"

The scene in front of me was filled with countless Thebes citizens, debating who Pluto's rightful wife was.

Some were passionately arguing, while others wore intrigued expressions as they voiced their opinions.

The only issue was... there were so many of them that they filled the entire open space in front of the temple.

I caught Mente's gaze, and she returned my look with the same bewilderment.

"The goddess Mente was originally a nymph who later became a minor deity. Doesn't this show how much Pluto favored her?"

"That's because mint, which symbolizes Pluto, was created! It has nothing to do with favor!"

Suddenly, the discussion shifted to Menthe.

The argument over whether my action of elevating Mente to a minor deity was due to my affection or merely a reward...

Squeeze.

I felt a small hand grasp my right hand.

The soft, shy touch of the goddess clung to me, and I turned my head to meet her gaze.

"Hades... I, um... I'm curious too."

"Mente."

"What do you... think of me...?"

A question she posed the moment we returned to the living world.

Her face was flushed red, but she maintained eye contact with me.

It was a question she'd been wondering about for some time. Her eyes held a hint of uncertainty.

Though Zeus had been the one to elevate Mente to a minor deity, not me, when it came to whether or not I favored her...

"...Hades?"

Her lustrous, teal hair gleamed, and her clear eyes stood out even more.

Even as a water nymph, she'd boasted beauty that rivaled that of other goddesses. Now that she had become a minor deity, she was even more stunning.

As I silently looked at her, Mente seemed to sense my hesitation and quickly spoke again, her voice filled with urgency.

"I... I'm not asking to be your official wife... but even as a concubine..."

"Mente."

I slowly raised my hand and gently patted her head, and she stopped speaking.

Once, I might have thought of avoiding this situation, but I had long since decided not to run away anymore.

The moment I first met Mente when she was still a nymph... the days she worked as a priestess in my temple...

When she came to the underworld as a minor deity out of affection for me and worked alongside me—all those scenes flashed before my eyes.

In a place where endless petitions and tasks awaited me, the reason I could still smile...

The goddess of mint, who never lost her cheerfulness even in the underworld, had, without a doubt, found a place in my heart.

"...You don’t need to beg. I don’t dislike you either."

"Ah..."

Her eyes widened in surprise before she relaxed and hugged me tightly.

The refreshing scent emanating from the goddess enveloped me as I savored the soft texture of her teal hair.

As I enjoyed the moment, something caught my eye behind Mente.

"I love you, Meladiphos."

"I feel the same, Alkeios."

Two men in their twenties or thirties embraced each other.

Even more shocking, the other citizens seemed completely unfazed by the sight.

"Indeed, that's true love."

"Love with women is purely for procreation. It’s not real affection."

Baffled by the sight, I quickly scanned the surroundings...

Hundreds of men, dressed in matching soldier uniforms, were openly engaging in romantic displays on the streets.

Which lunatic dared to spread poison in my Thebes?

"Ha... Hades...?"