The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 98: The Expedition to Mount Athos – (1)

This is the Underworld connected to Thebes, the training ground for heroes.

Today, as usual, Chiron and the other instructors of the dead are teaching the aspiring heroes.

Suddenly, a bell rings out.

Deng- Deng- Deng-!

“That sound... doesn’t it mean we’re supposed to gather at the building?”

“Let’s delay training for a bit.”

At the summons of the wise centaur, the heroes laid down their weapons and began gathering at the building constructed within the gorge.

Many were panting and sweating, as if they had just undergone intense training.

“Everyone! Gather around! Today, we have a special guest visiting us!”

“Teacher Chiron, a special guest…”

“Who could it be? We already have all sorts of great heroes here…”

At Chiron’s words, the aspiring heroes glanced around at the other deceased instructors.

It was understandable—great heroes like Perseus, Cadmus, and Bellerophon were already teaching them.

If someone more special than these heroes was visiting... could it be a god?!

No way… would a god really come here?

As the thought of a god slowly dawned on them, someone entered the gathering place.

A towering, muscular figure wearing gleaming armor.

All eyes were drawn to him as he confidently approached Chiron, standing on the platform, and spoke.

“These are the ones who want to become heroes? Chiron.”

“Yes, Lord Ares. I heard from Lord Hades in advance. You’ll be helping us a great deal for the next two months.”

...?! Who? Chiron just said Ares…

Wait, it’s really a god? Not just any god, but Ares?!

The god of war, one of the twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus?!

Come to think of it, this overwhelming presence, the power radiating from him…

“Uhm! It’s an honor to meet Lord Ares! I’m from Sparta…”

“Greetings to the God of War! You’ve always given me your blessing on the battlefield…”

“O Golden-Helmed Ares! It’s an honor to see you in person!”

Realizing the situation, the aspiring heroes hurriedly bowed or paid their respects, reacting like any mortal would in front of the god of war.

Anyone who saw Ares in person would react this way.

But Ares, without even looking back, continued his conversation with Chiron.

As if Chiron were the only one here worthy of speaking with him.

“Yeah, somehow I ended up working in the Underworld again. Although it’s only for two months.”

“You’ve worked in the Underworld before, my lord?”

“Hmm. During the Great Flood, I got caught up in Athena’s ruthless scheme…”

“Hahaha! I’d love to hear that story someday.”

The heroes listened attentively to the conversation between the wise centaur and the god of war.

Amidst their casual talk, were they not revealing secrets and tales of the gods?

“By the way, it must be tough training mortals to at least be able to take down a monster or two.”

“But they’re all exceptional students. It’s a rewarding experience.”

“Now that I’m here, I might as well assess their abilities one by one. So then…”

As Ares spoke with Chiron, he glanced around the area.

Under the god’s gaze, the mortals couldn’t bear to meet his eyes and lowered their heads...

But one boy mustered the courage to look at the god of war for a brief moment.

“Huff…!”

“Oh… What’s your name?”

Though he couldn’t hold the gaze for long and quickly lowered his head...

Ares, thinking the boy had shown more courage than the rest of the mortals here, addressed him.

“M-Me, my lord? It’s an honor! My name is Peleus, a mere human, Lord of War!”

“For a mortal, you have quite the spirit. Then, let’s start with you.”

* * *

At the moment Ares was conversing at the heroes' training ground,

In the fortress of the Lord of the Underworld, Hades, the Olympian messenger god had arrived, delivering new information.

"Hermes, you've been coming to the Underworld quite frequently lately."

“Haha. Father said that since the hero of prophecy has been born, I should keep a close eye on the Gigantes’ movements…”

Hermes scratched his head awkwardly at my question.

The hero of prophecy, huh. While I am sure about Heracles, what about the other gods?

“Do the other gods of Olympus believe in Zeus’s words?”

“Not at all. Especially Lady Hera, who is absolutely furious. Olympus has been in an uproar because of her shouting. As far as I know… she said, ‘The god of philanderers had an illegitimate child, and now, since he has no other excuse, he’s claiming it’s the hero of prophecy!’”

“Considering everything he’s done, it’s no surprise there aren’t many gods who trust Zeus…”

“There are rumors that Lady Hera is keeping a close watch on the mortal world, intending to kill Heracles.”

I wonder if she knows that I hid Heracles for a month.

Probably. Which means I can’t keep him hidden in the Underworld much longer. Hera’s anger is justified…

Especially since Zeus secretly made Heracles suckle her milk—she must be even more furious.

But Heracles is the hero of prophecy, so how do I convince her of that?

I had him bathed in the River Styx as a precaution for a situation like this, but there’s still cause for concern.

No matter how much Heracles grows after being immersed in the River Styx, if Hera delivers direct divine punishment, he’ll be killed.

So what I must do is…

“Hermes. Deliver a message to Hera for me.”

“To Lady Hera?”

“Tell her that trying to kill an infant will only sully the hands of the queen of the gods. Instead, wouldn’t it be better to wait until he’s older and then assign him tasks?”

If the queen of the gods, enraged over her husband’s illegitimate child, can cool her emotions and listen to my advice…

As long as he doesn’t encounter the Gigantes or directly provoke Gaia’s wrath, there won’t be any real threat to Heracles.

And dealing with monsters as part of Hera’s tasks will provide excellent real-world experience for the great hero.

“Yes. I’ll make sure to convey your message when I return to Olympus.”

Perhaps this is too cruel to my nephew…

It’s no different from forging him in fire to create the great hero who will defeat the Gigantes.

No matter how much mortals call me the god of mercy,

I am still the god who rules the Underworld.

* * *

Now that I’ve heard enough about Olympus’s opinions on Heracles, it’s time to move on to the real issue:

Hermes being here means that something has happened in the mortal world again.

“You’ve come to the Underworld to report on the Gigantes’ movements, haven’t you? Let’s hear it.”

“Yes. Recently, something strange has been happening. The monsters that heroes were supposed to hunt after completing their training in Thebes have started disappearing.”

“The monsters are disappearing?”

“Yes. I suspect Lady Gaia… may be trying to prevent the heroes from completing their tasks entirely. Since the Gigantes are still bound in the Phlegraean Fields…”

So now they’re actively obstructing the heroes? It seems Gaia’s prophetic powers are starting to pick up on things.

Her hunch that mortal heroes are somehow tied to the Gigantes might be turning into certainty.

If this continues, it might be difficult to raise Heracles into a great hero.

The monsters he’s supposed to kill might be relocated, or worse, slain by other heroes…

“That’s why Lord Apollo and I searched all over the mortal world, and it turns out the monsters were surprisingly close by.”

“And where is that?”

“Near the northern region of Greece, around Mount Athos in Macedonia. Since the monsters are gathering in one place, doesn’t this present an opportunity for many heroes to accomplish great feats?”

Gaia must have relocated the monsters to prevent the heroes from achieving their great deeds.

It wouldn’t have been hard for the Earth Mother to influence creatures born and raised in the earth.

“And so, Lady Athena is planning to issue an oracle and gather an expedition. She intends to rally heroes in the Macedonian region and provide support.”

“However, that might be just what Gaia wants. The heroes could end up being annihilated instead.”

A large-scale expedition composed of heroes…

But it’s possible that the gathered monsters could annihilate the heroes instead.

That’s precisely what Gaia is aiming for. Yet there’s no way Olympus isn’t aware of this…

At my question, Hermes grinned and spoke.

“But isn’t it overcoming challenges like this that makes mortals into heroes?”

In other words, those who overcome Gaia’s trap will prove themselves as truly great heroes.

If Athena issues an oracle, heroes from all over Greece will flock to join the expedition.

And many mortals will likely die.

“…That’s true. So, who will lead the expedition?”

“The hero who will lead the expedition to conquer Mount Athos is a bit interesting. Lady Artemis seemed quite interested in this mortal... Ah! I remember now.”

Olympus would have already chosen the hero to lead this mission.

Focusing their support on someone who shows potential to become a great hero is the wisest course.

“It’s Orion, son of Lord Poseidon.”