King of Underworld

Chapter 127: The Ring of Youth

The ring of youth that I received as payment for helping with the trial between Poseidon and Ares.

A divine artifact with the same effects as Harmonia’s necklace.

However, it was of little use to me.

It was an item that maintained a mortal’s youth until their death, but it was completely useless to an immortal god like me.

And in the Underworld, where only the dead reside, there was no need for such a ring for mortals either.

It was quite beautiful and adorned with precious gems, but I had an abundance of similar items stored in my treasury.

I am the god of wealth. I have more than enough gems, gold coins, and magical treasures.

After all, if it were truly valuable or important, it wouldn’t be lying around carelessly on my desk.

Had it been something truly significant, it would have been stored in the Underworld’s vaults.

“So, this is the item you received for helping with the trial. Are you planning to give it to a goddess and propose?”

“…It would certainly be suitable for a proposal. The ring itself is beautiful, and it holds great power.”

“Really? Hoho…”

But after Goddess Mnemosyne’s visit, the value of the ring skyrocketed.

The worth of an item is determined by those who desire it.

I wasn’t sure what stories she had spread, but the gods had started behaving differently.

Just this morning, Hypnos had remarked, “You haven’t given the ring yet, have you?”

When I asked what he meant, he simply clicked his tongue and said, “Tsk, not yet, huh. Ugh…” and left.

“Hmm. Lately, my fingers feel oddly bare.”

“Lady Styx?”

“Perhaps something to fill this emptiness wouldn’t be too bad…”

Lady Styx, whom I bumped into by chance, made sure to emphasize how empty her fingers felt.

“Hades! Take this! It’s a ring made from roses that never wilt!”

“Ah… Thank you.”

“For the record, I also like rings!”

Persephone handed me a ring made of flowers, showing off her own hand.

The ring of youth was of no particular use to the gods, but it seemed they all desired it for some reason.

Even now, I could see the goddess Lethe sitting before me, rubbing her fingers with a longing expression…

“Did Lady Mnemosyne say something about the ring of youth?”

“What…? No… Hmph. I know everything…”

“…?”

Sitting beside me, the goddess quietly stared at me, her gaze piercing.

Of course, since the ring of youth was of no real use to me, I could give it to someone if they asked…

“Do the goddesses like this ring? If it’s needed, I could ask Hephaestus to craft a similar one.”

“That’s not it… Ugh. It’s just… Mnemosyne said you might use that ring for a proposal… Hmph!”

“…So the goddess of memory started spreading those rumors.”

No wonder so many goddesses were eyeing the ring.

* * *

Since things had turned out this way, should I use the ring for a proposal after all?

But then, to whom?

Should it be Lady Styx, who helped me during the Titanomachy? Or Lady Lethe?

Menthe, who came all the way to the Underworld because she wanted to serve me, after I restored her memory?

Or perhaps Persephone, who regularly provides strength to the Underworld’s training grounds?

“Hades? Why are you zoning out again…?”

Each of them was beautiful and charming in their own way.

As a god, it wouldn’t be a big deal to take concubines. Even Zeus and Poseidon had their official wives…

Marriage. Should I get married as well?

My thoughts spiraled endlessly, eventually settling on Lady Lethe.

Her skin was as pale as snow, and her face was slightly flushed. With her regal beauty, she could easily be mistaken for a princess by mortals.

Noticing my gaze, she subtly inched closer to me.

“Heh… So you’ve finally noticed my beauty? Since the other goddesses aren’t here right now… Would you consider giving me that ring…?”

She closed her eyes gently and extended her right hand, her silver hair shimmering.

I caressed her soft hand briefly but then let it go.

“Ah…”

“Apologies, but I think marriage is still premature.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t like her.

The goddesses were showering me with affection, but I needed to be cautious in situations like this.

Internal strife often stemmed from love affairs. While I was romantically involved with four goddesses at the same time, I had not yet married any of them.

If I ever considered marriage, would I propose to all of them? Or…

“I’m too conflicted to choose just one.”

“Pfft… I bet you could marry all of them, and no one would mind.”

She let out an exasperated sigh, and I smiled awkwardly at her candid remark.

Sensing that I was troubled, Lethe graciously changed the subject.

She was likely giving me time, waiting patiently. I would have to gather all of them together and have a serious conversation later.

“This time, the task given to the human hero, Heracles, is to retrieve Triton’s conch.”

“This is likely his fourth task. His last task was to capture Artemis’s golden-horned hind.”

Among the gods, it was becoming increasingly certain that Heracles was the prophesied hero.

Even if you only considered one of his achievements, it was enough to deem him a great hero, and his strength rivaled that of many gods.

Hera, too, seemed to have shifted her focus from killing him to making him suffer as much as possible, now assigning him tasks that couldn’t be solved by brute strength alone.

After all, he had already dealt with the Nemean Lion, the Hydra, Chrysaor, and even Lamia…

“That conch is something Triton cherishes deeply, so it seems Hera is giving him a particularly difficult task.”

The conch, imbued with powerful magic, was one of the treasures of the sea.

The last time I visited the ocean palace, Triton had used that conch, which was white and black, to summon sea horses.

A conch with the power to summon and control sea creatures—retrieving it would surely require a trip into the depths of the ocean.

He’s already diving into the ocean. At this rate, is he going to end up in the Underworld eventually?

* * *

After capturing Artemis’s hind and delivering it to Hera’s temple, Heracles received his next task.

“Your next task is to retrieve Triton’s conch, the heir of the sea.”

“The sea, huh…”

Heracles’ expression darkened slightly.

Triton, the heir of the sea god Poseidon, was a god himself.

Stealing a god’s sacred beast or possessions was a tricky matter…

The previous task, capturing Artemis’s hind, had already put him in quite a predicament.

Capturing the divine beast that swiftly ran across the land wasn’t difficult.

After two days of chasing, the hind grew tired and collapsed on its own.

But the real issue came right after, when the goddess appeared under the light of the moon.

With a faintly glowing halo and an almost chilling beauty, the moon goddess pointed her bow at him and said,

“How dare you lay your hands on my Taygete? Do you wish to die here, regardless of Hera’s task?”

“Uhm… Moon Goddess, I apologize for capturing your sacred beast. But would it be possible for me to borrow it for a short time and return it after presenting it at Lady Hera’s temple?”

The furious Artemis glared at him for a moment as he bowed his head.

She also glanced at her hind, which seemed unharmed, only exhausted.

After a moment of consideration, the virgin goddess responded to him.

“If you wish to take the hind, you must offer a suitable sacrifice. One that will satisfy me.”

Heracles quickly racked his brain.

Artemis was the goddess of the moon and hunting. Perhaps offering her something related to hunting would appease her?

If so…

“I will offer you the hides of the lions I hunted when I vanquished the brood of Typhon.”

“…That will suffice. But the hind must remain unharmed, just as it is now.”

At least Artemis’s hind had run across the land.

But Triton, Poseidon’s son, lived in the depths of the sea. How was he supposed to meet him?

No matter how strong Heracles’ body was, he wasn’t a god.

If he fell into the water and drowned, he would die. I’ll need to seek help from someone I know.

With that thought, Heracles decided to visit Teiodamas, the king of the Dryopes.

“Hahaha! Heracles! The great hero has finally accepted my invitation!”

“…Greetings.”

“I’ve sent you countless invitations, hoping to hear your tales of valor, but you’ve only just come now. I’m a bit hurt! Hahaha!”

Teiodamas was one of many who wanted to recruit Heracles into his kingdom after hearing of his great feats.

Thus, he welcomed Heracles with grand hospitality.

“More importantly, I have a question.”

“Ask anything you like, feel free.”

“I need to meet Triton, the son of Lord Poseidon, for one of my tasks. Do you know of a way I might be able to do that?”

Since he was of high status, he likely knew more than a wandering hero like Heracles.

And besides, Teiodamas’s concubine was a nymph.

“Hmm… Perhaps Menodice would know something. I’ll introduce you after the banquet.”

“By the way, it’s impressive that you’ve taken a nymph as your concubine.”

“Well, it wasn’t just a one-night affair! Of course, if I were to commit adultery, I’d face punishment from Lady Hera or Lord Pluto.”

Teiodamas laughed heartily as he drank his wine.

As the banquet reached its height, a man dressed in luxurious robes entered the hall.

“Father. Is this the famed Heracles?”

“Hm? Hylas? I didn’t invite you to the banquet. Why are you here?”

“I came because I wanted to hear the great hero’s stories myself!”

The young prince’s eyes sparkled as he gazed at Heracles.

Clearly, this was a young man who admired the great hero.