The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 167: The Peculiar Trojan War – (1)

The Greek allied forces set sail to bring about the downfall of Troy.  

Most of them were a new generation of heroes who hadn’t experienced the adventures of the Argo Expedition or the Calydonian Boar Hunt.  

However, from a young age, they grew up hearing the tales of the great heroes from their parents—Cadmus, Perseus, Bellerophon, Asclepius, Orpheus… and ultimately, the greatest hero of them all, Heracles.  

Inspired by these illustrious figures, they trained hard, dreaming of making a name for themselves and gaining fame. They hoped this invasion of Troy would be their opportunity to rise to glory, like the heroes of myth.  

“For Helen, who was abducted by that treacherous prince of Troy!”  

“Whatever deceitful plan led to Helen’s abduction, they will surely pay the price…”

“We must seek a prophecy about this war. If the gods grant their guidance, we will surely…”  

The participants included Menelaus, whose wife was taken by Paris, and his brother Agamemnon, King of Mycenae. Princes and warriors like Ajax of Salamis and the young yet formidable Diomedes joined the ranks of the army.  n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

However, heroes like Theseus and Jason, who had already achieved great deeds, were absent from the allied forces. They hadn’t been suitors of Helen, and having already made their names, they felt no need to join.  

“Going to war? Against people, not monsters? Hah, the world has certainly changed.”  

“Indeed. Back in our day, monsters were everywhere, attacking the moment you stepped outside the city.”  

“Maybe it’s because you lot killed too many monsters while seeking glory?”  

“Bold of you to say, Idas, when you eagerly followed us with your spear in hand.”  

Even the older generation of heroes who had once trained in the Underworld showed little enthusiasm for this war, despite its potential for glory. Only two veterans joined in this war.  

“I thought this war was only for the young, but it’s nice to see a familiar face.”  

One was Nestor, King of Pylos.  

“I’m not particularly interested in war. I just came to persuade my sister and take her back. Aren’t you here just for fun?”  

The other was Pollux (Polydeuces), one of Helen’s twin brothers and a master of pankration. At the request of his sister’s husband, Menelaus, he joined the campaign, stretching casually and wearing a relaxed expression.  

Since this war involved countless Greek states, divine prophecies were naturally delivered. Yet the content of the oracle was particularly strange:  

'The outcome of this war is no longer in human hands.'

“What could this possibly mean?”  

“Does it mean the gods will decide? In that case, surely victory is ours, right?”  

“Of course. There’s no way the gods would tolerate that treacherous Paris.”  

“Doesn’t Troy worship Apollo? Surely the sun god…”  

Confused by the odd prophecy, they decided to consult Odysseus, the wisest man in Greece and King of Ithaca. Since he had suggested the suitors of Helen swear their oath, they assumed he would naturally be present.  

“Where is King Odysseus?”  

“He never came in the first place.”  

“…?”  

King Odysseus was nowhere to be seen.  

* * *

Odysseus, King of the small island nation of Ithaca, was someone who knew his place very well. Several instances highlight Odysseus's cunning.  

As one of Helen’s suitors, Odysseus had once gone to Sparta, but upon seeing the powerful contenders gathered there, he realized he stood no chance. Instead, he struck a deal: if he could secure Penelope, Helen’s cousin, as his wife, he would resolve the situation.  

“You must be struggling with so many suitors seeking your daughter.”  

“…?”  

“If you grant me Penelope, I’ll propose a way to end this. Suggest that they all swear an oath to defend the chosen husband…”  

Odysseus offered this advice to Helen’s foster father, Tyndareus, leading to the oath of the suitors.  

But this wasn’t the end of Odysseus’s shrewdness.  

As the ruler of a small and humble state, he also had to choose wisely when it came to the god his people would worship.  

Troy worshipped Apollo, Thebes revered Pluto, and Athens worshipped Athena. The choice of patron deity often determined the rise or fall of a nation.  

‘We need a god who is moderately prestigious yet compassionate, one who would care for a small nation like ours and isn’t overshadowed by other gods…’  

Odysseus thought long and hard, carefully weighing his options.  

‘Long ago, the princess of Arcadia and the prince of Calydon held their wedding in Thebes. Their bond was connected to the hero’s training ground that once existed in Thebes. With their shared devotion to the god Pluto, Arcadia, Calydon, and Thebes effectively formed a three-nation alliance. Even the island of Seriphos followed suit… In that case, perhaps we should also honor Pluto?’

The sharp mind of Odysseus, Greece’s foremost strategist, praised even by Athena, spun quickly.

Although the underworld was a somewhat unsettling concept, he reasoned that the god of wealth, mercy, and fairness, Pluto, would not punish them harshly just because he found them distasteful. While the citizens might be displeased at first, if Ithaca could subtly join the three-nation alliance, it would be worth it!

“Summon the ministers!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“Our kingdom of Ithaca will worship Pluto, the god of wealth and mercy. Begin construction of a temple and appoint priests immediately.”

Thus, Ithaca began to honor the god of the underworld. Odysseus skillfully used this alliance to successfully secure a foothold in the three-nation pact. By fostering a friendly relationship with Thebes, he earned acclaim from his people as a wise king.

Now, as a letter from Menelaus arrived asking him to join the war, Odysseus sought an oracle from the temple of Hades. Unsurprisingly, the lord of the underworld expressed great disapproval of war.

Judging it unwise to go against the will of his patron god, Odysseus made his decision.

“Odysseus, I have been sent by Menelaus. Lend your aid in this attack on Troy!”

“I’m sorry, but Pluto, the god of Ithaca, does not favor my participation in this war.”

“What? But you were the one who proposed the Oath of the Suitors…”

“Regardless, I cannot join. Would you have me act against the will of the god we worship?”

Despite the messenger’s insistence, Odysseus firmly refused, citing his patron deity.  

“Why not seek out that Achilles, the son of the great hero Peleus and the goddess Thetis?”

“We’ve already persuaded him. Though he was hiding disguised as a woman, we identified him by how eagerly he listened to tales of Heracles’ exploits.”

“Well then, with Achilles on your side, do you truly need me? There’s no prophecy saying my presence is necessary for victory, is there?”

“Hmm...”

Though the messenger persisted, Odysseus, bolstered by the protection of his alliances, was not intimidated by the Greek coalition. Thus, he continually used the excuse of Pluto’s disapproval to decline.

“Fine, I will relay your refusal to Menelaus!”

“Do as you must.”

And so, Odysseus abstained. Meanwhile, Achilles, his disguise exposed, agreed to join the war.

* * *

Meanwhile, in Troy.

Hearing that the Greek coalition army was marching toward Troy, King Priam (Podarces) wore a deeply troubled expression.

“Last night, Pluto sent Morpheus with another dream. They say the underworld belongs to the goddess of justice. What could this mean?”

“Pluto is the god of fairness and mercy. Perhaps he intends to favor the side that is more just?”

“But we’ve built a temple to Pluto, and he promised to aid Troy…”

“To gain the favor of a god of fairness and mercy, we must first prove that we are righteous, must we not?”

Once again, the advisors began speculating. They quickly reached a consensus: Troy’s current stance was anything but just.

“Your Majesty, the cause of this war lies with us. Surely Pluto is pointing this out.”

“It must be because of the woman Prince Paris brought here. If the Greek forces land on our shores, we must send her back!”

“…But wouldn’t that be tantamount to surrendering to their army?”

Indeed, returning Helen seemed like the simplest solution, yet it wasn’t so straightforward. It would undermine the prince’s honor, Troy’s pride, and their standing among nations.

Cowering before a foreign army and surrendering the woman chosen by the prince—even if it was an unjust love—would make Troy appear weak. Moreover, according to Paris, Helen was practically a gift from the goddess Aphrodite herself.

“Your Majesty, Pluto has already sent two oracles. Surely, the god of fairness is deeply interested in this matter.”

“Your Majesty! If you must weigh Aphrodite against Pluto, should not the lord of the underworld take precedence?”

“All mortals face fair judgment in the end. Please, bear this in mind.”

The aging king furrowed his brow and clutched his head in frustration. Surely, when the time came, his son Paris would face judgment in the underworld. Perhaps returning Helen now could mitigate that punishment. If Pluto was willing to intervene in this war, yet Apollo remained silent… Ah, what to do?

After much deliberation, King Priam finally spoke.

“Banish the woman who has brought calamity to Troy immediately.”

Yes, Paris was clearly in the wrong.