King of Underworld

Chapter 126: One Who Covets the Queen of the Underworld – (2)

“What a madman!”

“Have you lost your mind? Why are you drawing your sword?”

Theseus could no longer hold back his fury.

Had he really been friends with such a lunatic all this time?

What? You plan to trick Pluto and then abduct the goddess Persephone and force yourself on her?

Had he fallen under Dionysus’ madness? How could he even entertain such an insane idea?

No, from the start…

“I was able to protect Ariadne thanks to Lord Pluto, and now you’re spewing this nonsense?”

“Hah?! That was thanks to the goddess of justice. Do you really think the Lord of the Underworld cares about you?”

“What an ignorant fool! How do you think Lady Dike was able to drive off one of the Twelve Olympians? Of course, it was because the Lord of the Underworld had her back!”

Suppressing his anger with great effort, Theseus sheathed his sword.

No matter how much Pirithous had insulted the gods he served, he couldn’t kill the King of Thessaly.

“Anyway, I won’t help you, so figure it out on your own! Don’t ever contact me again!”

“Hmph. To think a coward like you was my friend. Ugh…”

“You’re just like Dionysus descended upon the mortal realm!”

Veins bulging on his forehead, Theseus muttered those last words before returning to his city, Athens.

Immediately, the wise hero knelt before Pluto’s shrine and began to pray.

“Lord of the Underworld, the King of Thessaly is plotting a mad scheme!”

* * *

Naturally, the prayer reached my ears here in the Underworld.

It’s rare to hear from a devotee in Athens, and a hero who had slain the Minotaur and become a king at that.

I had already heard of his story from Dike, who had reported on his encounter with Dionysus.

He had even built a statue in my honor and remained a devout worshiper, so I remember having blessed him with wealth several times.

“Lord of the Underworld, the King of Thessaly is plotting a mad scheme! I’ve heard from Pirithous…”

Listening to Theseus’s story, I learned that his friend, no, former friend, Pirithous, intended to deceive me and steal my wife Persephone.

Honestly, I found it hard to believe.

How was this different from trying to steal Hera from Zeus? Ah… now that I think about it, there was such a madman.

Yes, Ixion, the one suffering eternal torment in Tartarus.

If that’s the case, Pirithous might really be after Persephone.

But… even if he’s a king, it still doesn’t make sense.

Even if he commanded tens of thousands of soldiers, a mere gesture from the goddess of spring could turn them all into flower petals scattered by the wind.

If what Theseus said was true, then Pirithous would come to the Underworld eventually, so I decided to wait.

I could simply ask the goddess of memory to handle the interrogation when the time came.

Still, it’s strange that even though it’s well-known that Persephone is under my protection, such a thing is happening.

If Persephone hadn’t come to the Underworld, she might have had three children by now…

“Hades! What have you been doing?”

“…I was just thinking about you. You came at the perfect time.”

Just then, Persephone entered the audience chamber, her golden hair shimmering as always.

Beside her, Menthe followed with sleepy eyes.

As she clung to me with a drooping gaze, I hugged her, but something in Menthe’s words caught my attention.

“I’m so tired. Please help me…”

“…?”

“Ahh… Lord Hades, you’re slowly seeping into my body… more… more…”

Menthe really does have a unique personality. Is it because she was originally a nymph?

Still, we aren’t even married yet…

“Sniff…”

Having her face buried against my chest while she breathed in was a little awkward.

The sharp scent of mint tingled at my nose.

Perhaps it was because of her touch, but a certain tension filled the air, and Persephone, who had been watching, pouted and glared at me.

“Ugh… Stop fawning over Menthe and pay attention to me too! You said you were thinking about me!”

“Ah, yes, I was. Just now, a human named Theseus told me something…”

As I shared the ridiculous story I had just heard, her expression slowly turned blank.

Well, who wouldn’t react that way after hearing about a human planning to kidnap a goddess to make her his wife?

“How dare… That mortal has no idea of his place… I’ll deal with him myself.”

“Wait, I understand your anger, but calm down for a moment.”

The look in Persephone’s eyes was anything but calm.

If I left her like this, she might cast a curse on all of Thessaly.

“How can I calm down? Are you really okay with me going to that mortal? Hmph!”

Persephone turned to leave the audience chamber in a huff.

Quickly, I rose from my seat and embraced her.

“Kore, do you really think I don’t cherish you?”

“Ugh… N-No, it’s not that… it’s just…”

Thankfully, it seemed to work, as the golden-haired goddess looked up at me with a soft expression.

With her flushed face and fingers clinging to my robe, I continued speaking in a gentle tone.

“…Weren’t you the one who approached me first? Even if you wish to run away now, it’s too late. Even if Zeus himself declares war on me, I will never let you go.”

“Actually… it was you who first stole my heart…”

“If that mortal truly covets you, I will ensure he receives divine punishment. So, don’t worry.”

“Y-Yes… I understand! But if that mortal comes, please let me handle his punishment!”

With a quick push to my chest, she darted out of the room.

Watching the all-too-familiar scene, I turned to the voice beside me.

There stood the goddess of mint, Menthe, looking at me with a forlorn expression, as if she had been rejected.

“Lord Hades… I… I want you too…”

With a bitter smile, I gently wrapped my arms around Menthe’s waist.

Even three bodies wouldn’t be enough.

* * *

It seems Theseus’s prayer was accurate.

After waiting about a week, a messenger arrived with a letter from Charon, the ferryman.

“Hades. It’s me, Charon. There’s this human causing a ruckus at the Acheron River, claiming he’s some kind of king and demanding to be let through. So, for now…”

A human claiming to be the King of Thessaly was making a scene, demanding to meet me?

It had to be Pirithous, the same man Theseus had warned me about in his prayer.

He had somehow found the entrance to the Underworld. Perhaps he had inquired with the nymphs living nearby?

If that was the case, his target must indeed be Persephone.

“Bring the human who’s causing a commotion at the Acheron River.”

No living human could cross the Acheron, but…

If they were about to die, that might be a different story.

Leisurely sipping mint tea, I waited until I saw the shades dragging a limp human towards me.

The man, appearing to be in his late 30s to early 40s by mortal standards, was unconscious.

The shades slapped him awake.

“Ugh… Gasp!”

“Are you the one who caused trouble at the Acheron River?”

He quickly took in his surroundings, his gaze darting around until it landed on me, seated on my throne.

Then, he bowed his head.

There was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes—had he been searching for Persephone?

“Greetings, Lord Hades! I am Pirithous, King of Thessaly!”

“…Why have you come to the Underworld? You’ll end up here eventually, so did you come for an early tour?”

“Well, actually, we’re hosting a grand festival in Thessaly. I came to extend an invitation to the beautiful Queen of the Underworld, who is famed for her beauty…”

So Theseus had been right. This man was out of his mind.

How should I deal with him? Perhaps I should feed him to Cerberus.

But first, I needed to confirm everything.

The goddess of memory, Mnemosyne, whom I had summoned beforehand, approached the kneeling Pirithous.

“So? Mnemosyne, would you verify if this man is telling the truth?”

“Yes, of course.”

“…? Mnemosyne? The goddess of memory…!”

Pirithous attempted to speak urgently, but his voice was cut off.

Mnemosyne gazed at him for a moment before shaking her head.

“Haa… As you suspected, Hades. This man… it’s all true.”

“I see.”

I stared at the mortal, whose eyes now brimmed with fear, as I pondered.

This wasn’t the madness of Dionysus or Gaia; this was a ruler of a city-state behaving this way.

No different from Salmoneus, who pretended to be Zeus and now suffers in Tartarus.

“Your friend, Theseus, already told me everything. Just now, Lady Mnemosyne confirmed his words were true.”

“…!”

“You have committed three sins: first, attempting to deceive me, the Lord of the Underworld; second, planning to forcefully take a goddess as your wife; and lastly…

failing to heed the warnings of your loyal friend.”

Even though Theseus had tried to stop him, Pirithous had chosen to walk down the path to his death.

A little common sense would have led him to a wiser decision. Blinded by ambition and greed, he had sealed his own fate.

“Persephone, you may enter now. As promised, this mortal’s punishment is in your hands.”

Since he was so eager to see her, it was only fitting to grant him that wish.

What a fate, to be punished by the goddess of spring herself…

The doors of the office opened, and in walked the golden-haired goddess.

Persephone, beautiful as ever, glared at Pirithous for a moment before smiling coldly.

“Is it true… that you desired me as your wife because of my beauty? I’ll let you dream of that forever.”

Rustle

From the kneeling man’s body, pink petals began to sprout. He tried to brush them off and tear them away, but it was futile.

The flowers were now part of him. Or rather, he had become the flowers.

“Aaah… Aaaaah!”

His legs, now motionless, transformed into beautiful flowers. His torso, chest, and arms… The shape of a human quickly crumbled away.

Moments later, all that remained was a beautiful pink azalea in full bloom.

“…Can I plant this at the entrance to the Underworld?”

“Do with it as you please.”

Humming a tune, Persephone picked up the flower and left.

Turning into an azalea that blooms only in the spring—it seemed like too light of a punishment, but I could see it.

Even in that form, Pirithous would still feel pain if the petals were plucked.

Though I couldn’t quite fathom what kind of audacity had driven him to enter the Underworld like this…

Then again, considering Sisyphus, who had tried to escape death, or Tantalus, who had fed his son to Zeus, I suppose mortals like that occasionally appear.

I mulled over these thoughts as I idly played with the ring on my desk.

“Hades, what is that ring?”

“Hm? Ah…”

The goddess Mnemosyne, noticing the ring in my hand, asked me a question.

It was the ring of youth I had received from Zeus as payment for adjudicating the quarrel between Ares and Poseidon.

A divine artifact, it had the same effects as the Necklace of Harmonia…

“This is the ring of youth that Zeus gave me.”

“Oh, I see. The reward you received for helping with that trial. Are you planning to give it to a goddess you have your eye on as a proposal?”

“…It would be suitable for a proposal. The ring’s beauty is unparalleled, and it holds great power.”

“Really? Hoho…”

Hearing my response, Mnemosyne chuckled with a mischievous smile.

For some reason, that made me feel a bit uneasy.