King of Underworld

Chapter 114 Goddess of the Night, Nyx – (1)

This was the training ground of the underworld.

Chiron stood there, staring blankly, unable to take his eyes off one spot.

He was watching Hercules, who had regained his enthusiasm thanks to Hades, fighting against Megaira, one of the three goddesses of vengeance.

A hero and a goddess of vengeance dueling atop a cliff.

Their clash caused the rocks to shatter, sending debris flying in all directions.

BOOM! CRASH!

“Hmph!”

“Haha…”

Hercules, charging at the goddess as if to kill her, swung his club violently, while the goddess, standing still, calmly blocked his attacks with her torch.

Chiron knew well that Hercules was stronger than any other hero, but…

“To be able to go toe to toe with a goddess of vengeance, not just some minor river god…”

Unconsciously, words slipped out of his mouth.

Chiron felt momentarily burdened. For a hero who had yet to complete any major feats, to be able to contend with a god was astonishing.

Though the goddess of vengeance was merely receiving his attacks and occasionally countering, what mortal could possibly face off against a god?

And yet, that monstrous human was his student, the hero Hades had entrusted to him for character education.

Today, the weight on the centaur sage’s shoulders felt heavier.

Not only Chiron, but the other past heroes and hero candidates also watched their battle.

“Ha… What on earth am I witnessing?”

“I knew Hercules was strong, but to be on par with a goddess of vengeance?”

“This can’t be real. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I would’ve thought it was nonsense.”

“He hasn’t even gone to the mortal realm yet, and he’s already at the level of a great hero…”

“No, he’s more than just a great hero. He’s defeated everyone except Lord Cadmus, hasn’t he?”

“And without suffering a single injury… If I ever go to the mortal realm, I’d better never make an enemy of Hercules.”

The heroes, who had trained alongside him until recently, watched with feelings of envy, admiration, jealousy, and awe.

The epitome of strength they all aspired to was unfolding before their eyes.

RUMBLE… CRASH!

Chiron, who had been watching the scene of the collapsing cliff, turned away and shouted to the hero candidates.

He was an educator. He knew well how to draw out passion from the jealousy and admiration they felt toward their predecessor.

“Watching this must make you think about many things.”

“Yes… It’s truly amazing.”

“That’s Hercules…”

“Hmm. The power of a hero chosen by the gods… so that’s what it looks like…”

As soon as he mentioned Hercules, murmurs filled the air.

Chiron noticed the discouragement and frustration in their voices and quickly sought to reinvigorate them.

“So, will you give up on becoming heroes?”

“…That’s not…”

“But compared to Hercules…”

“Are you going to let yourself be overwhelmed by Hercules’ strength, thinking you’ll never measure up to him no matter what you do?”

Though no one answered, Chiron knew a wall had appeared before their eyes.

A wall not built by the gods, but by a fellow mortal who was achieving such extraordinary feats.

For these heroes, who had once been filled with confidence and pride,

Hercules’ presence was like a mountain they could never hope to climb.

“A hero is distinguished from an ordinary person not only by strength, intelligence, or superior bloodline. The most decisive difference lies in the spirit.”

“……”

“When you go to the mortal realm and undertake your tasks, if a powerful monster like Hercules sets its sights on you, will you just give up? Will you comfort yourself by saying it’s because of bloodline and talent… and return to the underworld as a dead soul?”

At Chiron’s outcry, those who had lowered their heads began to make eye contact one by one.

There wasn’t a single person here who didn’t have a burning desire deep within their hearts.

Those who were not fully committed to walking the path of a hero…

had been filtered out long before, at the River Styx oath.

The training they had endured here… the memories of fighting mythical monsters and the war god Ares…

And the spark that had been ignited within them, their personal ambitions and dreams, were fanned by Chiron’s words.

The eyes of the heroes, which had been cast down, were now quietly blazing with a sense of purpose and determination.

“…Now, that’s a look worth seeing. So, is there time to be standing around like this?”

“No, sir!”

“We have shown Chiron-sensei an embarrassing sight.”

“The difference between a hero and an ordinary man lies in the spirit…”

The heroes scattered in all directions, just like usual, and began sparring again.

But this time, they fought with even more intensity.

* * *

I was receiving reports from the messengers on the throne of the citadel.

As always, reports from all over the underworld were pouring in. I couldn’t overlook them, as important issues were often mixed in.

Especially when the matter concerned the Protogenoi.

“Hades, my mother has successfully persuaded Lady Nyx. Now, it’s up to you.”

What I was reading was a letter from Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness.

Lethe’s mother was Eris, the goddess of discord, and her mother, in turn, was the primordial goddess, Protogenoi Nyx.

Even if we raise Hercules to defeat the Gigantes…

there was a good chance that Gaia would refuse to acknowledge us.

That’s why we prepared a countermeasure.

The plan was to persuade Nyx, the goddess of the night and Gaia’s sibling, who was also a Protogenoi born from Chaos.

But Lady Nyx had long withdrawn from the affairs of the world and remained indifferent.

Whether Gaia won or we won, she had maintained for millennia that it didn’t concern her…

So, I asked her children to help sway her mind.

I asked them to arrange a meeting, even if just once, so that I could try to persuade her myself.

Lady Nyx’s children, including Eris, Thanatos, Hypnos, Moros, and Keres, had taken turns visiting her.

After a long time, I don’t know what changed her heart…

but finally, the ancient and immovable Protogenoi had agreed to hear me out.

This was an opportunity to gain the protection of a primordial goddess equal to Gaia.

I couldn’t let it slip away.

* * *

The goddess of the night, Lady Nyx, was the embodiment of darkness and destruction, born from the absolute god Chaos.

She had the exact opposite divine nature of Gaia, the earth mother goddess who created and produced everything.

That’s why I thought she might have a viewpoint more detached from Gaia, and why I set out to persuade her.

It was also why I, someone at least somewhat familiar with the divinity of the night, had to meet her in person.

Step, step.

Lady Nyx’s residence was in Tartarus, in the most terrifying region of it, no less.

However, she wasn’t imprisoned in Tartarus… she simply alternated her presence with her daughter, Hemera, the goddess of day, whenever night fell.

As I walked down the descending path toward Tartarus,

I encountered another goddess of the underworld, Eris.

“Oh, Hades.”

“Lady Eris. Thank you so much for persuading Lady Nyx on our behalf.”

Lady Eris, though beautiful, wore a cold and fierce expression far more chilling than that of Demeter.

With an air of indifference, she responded to me.

“Oh, it’s nothing. When a son-in-law asks, at least a few words to my mother are the least I could do.”

“Son-in-law…”

“What? Do you have no intention of marrying Lethe?”

Not wanting to face her scowl, I quickly changed my tone.

“No, no. Thank you, mother-in-law.”

“Oh hoho! You’ve become quite smooth after living as the lord of the underworld for so long. Are you heading to Tartarus?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’ve been granted an audience with Lady Nyx…”

“You’d best wait at the entrance instead of going inside Tartarus. I’m sure she’ll come out. Well, then, take care.”

Though Lady Eris, the goddess of discord, was avoided by many, the fact that I occasionally visited and greeted her seemed to have paid off.

Though whenever I invited her to banquets, something suspicious always happened that caused the event to be interrupted…

Still, you have to bend your back to the elders, no matter what.

“…Take care, Lady Eris.”

After parting ways with Lady Eris—no, mother-in-law—I continued to descend.

Further and further down… Soon, the mist, a sign that I was nearing Tartarus, began to roll in, and a chill filled the air.

About 300 paces from the bronze gates of Tartarus.

Lady Nyx would surely be aware that I had come this far.

Countless ways to persuade her ran through my mind, only to be dismissed just as quickly.

No, no… convincing her would be far more difficult than persuading Prometheus.

No matter what elaborate words I chose, it would be impossible to hide my intention of asking her to fight Gaia for us.

I saw the bronze gate ahead, and sitting in front of it were three giant figures.

The three Hecatoncheires, each with fifty heads and one hundred hands, greeted me.

“Oh! Hades!”

“It’s been a while. We heard you met Prometheus recently?”

“Cronus has been quiet lately. The other Titans as well.

So, what brings you here today?”

“Well, today…”

Ssssss–

Just as I was about to explain to them my business with Lady Nyx, the air suddenly grew heavy.

A suffocating pressure descended. The light disappeared. It far exceeded the majesty of Zeus, surpassing even the overwhelming presence of Cronus…

No one here was unaware of what was happening.

The three Hecatoncheires hurriedly stood up and straightened their clothes.

I, too, readied myself to meet the being who was about to appear and bowed my head toward where her presence was gathering.

Soon, the surroundings were enveloped in darkness, and I felt the overwhelming presence before me.

At the same time, a sweet, melodious voice reached my ears.

“Oh my, isn’t it uncomfortable to bow your head so low?”

The goddess of the night and primordial Protogenoi, Nyx, had descended.