King of Underworld

Chapter 13: The Story of Typhon – (2)

Typhon, whose immense size covered the mountains, had dragged Zeus away, leaving clear marks behind.

If Demeter saw it, she would have been so enraged that she’d have overturned the land completely.

The gruesome scene where all the surrounding flora, fauna, and humans had died due to the gusts naturally emanating from Typhon’s body.

Along with that, the traces of divine power left behind by Zeus as he resisted being dragged away.

How far had I traveled? I confirmed that the trail ended at a certain mountain.

Thinking that there must be a cave in this mountain where Zeus was imprisoned, I looked around…

“And now my sinews are in Typhon’s grasp. If you can help me, in the name of Zeus, the king of the gods…”

A voice emanated from the transparent form of a bull, speaking to a prostrated human.

Realizing that this bull was created by Zeus’s divine power, I removed my Kynee and approached.

“Zeus.”

“Hmm? Brother Hades… Did Hermes succeed? However, now I lack the power to maintain this any longer…”

It seemed that Zeus was in poor condition, and as his divine power dissipated, the bull disappeared as well.

I looked down at the prostrated human beside me.

“I… I am Cadmus, a humble human, greeting Hades, Lord of the Underworld!”

Oh… Unlike most humans who feared and shunned my name, this man was different.

Usually, when someone precious died or in situations of mortal peril, they called me Hades, and in other cases, Pluto.

Looking at Cadmus, who had his head bowed and avoided eye contact, he began to explain.

He was Cadmus, a prince of Phoenicia… Zeus, defeated by Typhon, was imprisoned in this mountain’s cave…

He said that Zeus, having his sinews taken, sent him the bull to request help…

In short, he was saying that he had received Zeus’s command to retrieve the sinews from Typhon.

His rambling words were hard to understand, but it was clear that Zeus had gone mad.

Asking a human, who would die instantly from one breath of Typhon, to retrieve his sinews.

Was the situation so dire, or did Zeus see something in this human?

“Do you truly intend to follow Zeus’s orders? Your short life may be further shortened.”

If he pleaded that he couldn’t, that he was too afraid, that he was terrified.

I was willing to shield him from Zeus’s wrath.

However, the blond man, Cadmus, did not.

—

Cadmus, prince of Phoenicia, was an ordinary human.

A normal human who feared monsters and mysteries and revered the gods of Olympus.

To such an ordinary human…

One day, his father, King Agenor, commanded Cadmus to find his sister, Europa.

He sent out all his princes, with orders not to return unless they found Princess Europa.

Naturally, Cadmus could not find any trace of Europa, and he wandered aimlessly until he reached the vicinity of Mount Cilicia.

When he was about to search the mountain for his sister, something suddenly appeared before him.

“Human, I am Zeus, king of the gods.”

To the transparent form of a bull, he hurriedly bowed his head.

The majestic tone and mysterious aura… It might not have been Zeus, but it was surely a god.

The god commanded Cadmus to help him.

To retrieve his sinews from a powerful monster that even the gods had been defeated by.

The command of a god was absolute, and he had to obey.

Cold sweat trickled down his neck.

Could he do it?

The reward mentioned by the bull, presumably sent by Zeus, did not register in Cadmus’s mind.

His mind was filled with fear and terror at the thought of facing the monster.

Until the ominous man suddenly appeared.

“Zeus.”

“Hmm? Brother Hades…”

At that moment, his mind was washed over by a terror greater than the monster.

Although the sun was shining in the sky, the surroundings darkened, and the air became heavy.

Struggling to breathe, Cadmus saw the grass around the man wither.

The chilling aura emanating from the man dominated the surroundings, exuding an immense presence and weight.

If this wasn’t a god, what could it be?

‘They called each other Hades and Zeus… Then!’

Could it be that this man was Pluto, the lord of the underworld?

Was that bull really sent by Zeus?

He glanced up slightly at Hades, who was looking at Zeus’s bull, only to be struck with terror and bury his head back into the ground.

Those black abysses in his eyes couldn’t be human.

Not some minor river deity, but a high god of Olympus.

‘It’s definitely Hades!’

As he bowed, Cadmus felt the gaze of the lord of the underworld on him, as if asking him to explain the situation.

“My… my name is Cadmus, a humble human, greeting Hades, Lord of the Underworld!”

‘Should I have called him Pluto?!’

Seeing Hades continue to look down at him, Cadmus swallowed dryly and explained.

Everything about himself and all the words the bull sent by Zeus had spoken.

‘Damn it, I stuttered too much. What if he takes me to the underworld for my rudeness?’

A brief pause as Hades deliberated.

Cadmus felt the tension as if his blood was drying up in the continued silence.

Finally, the lord of the underworld spoke.

“Do you truly intend to follow Zeus’s orders? Your short life may be further shortened.”

Cadmus held his breath. This was clearly said out of concern for him.

Concern that he, a mere human, might lose his life to the monster.

From the perspective of the underworld, a human’s death would mean an increase in his power…

The god of the underworld, whom everyone in his kingdom avoided and feared, not even building temples to him.

Pluto, no, Hades, was showing him mercy?

Despite the merciful words, he racked his brain to answer.

How should he interpret Zeus’s command?

As Hades had just said, insignificant humans easily perished against monsters, so why did Zeus choose him to help?

Moreover, Typhon was a terrifying monster that even the great Zeus had been defeated by.

No matter how great Zeus was, wasn’t his own life more important?

This might be a test by the god to see if this weak human could withstand it.

If he died to the monster Typhon, he couldn’t find his sister Europa, nor could he…

With his head bowed, Cadmus thought and thought until he organized his thoughts.

Finally, he answered in a clear voice.

“Yes, of course.”

—

The fear that had overcome him due to my presence seemed to fade.

Was he using his unwavering belief as a pillar to withstand the pressure?

Even though I had suppressed my presence from the moment I appeared to be considerate of him, it was still hard for an ordinary human to bear.

A coexistence of fear and self-assurance, confidence.

Why would he choose to willingly face death following Zeus’s command?

“…Why?”

Holding many questions, I asked him.

Humans were not slaves or servants of the gods. If he made this choice feeling coerced by Zeus’s command, I would protect him.

Cadmus cleared his throat and explained.

“Hmm. It’s because… I have learned since childhood about the grace of the gods. That it was the gods who created living beings, including humans.”

Indeed, it was the gods who created humans, but it was merely out of necessity. Was his current behavior truly just out of gratitude to his creator?

“This morning’s rising sun was the mercy of Helios, and the moonlight that consoled me every night was the grace of Selene.”

Cadmus’s eyes held unwavering conviction.

His voice no longer trembled.

“The food I eat every day is grain blessed by Demeter, and the water I drink is imbued with Poseidon’s protection. And so on…”

He continued to speak of the gods’ grace.

It wasn’t hastily made up or false, but genuinely heartfelt.

“…Lastly, even if I die to Typhon, I would still receive the care of Hades before me, so why should I fear a mere monster?”

Impressive.

Did such a person exist in this world?

Cadmus slightly raised his head to look at me.

Blood trickled from his bitten lip as if it was difficult to meet my eyes, but he did not avoid them.

The eyes of a human overcoming the fear of the monster, filled with determination.

There, I saw bravery surpassing that of Ares.

“Indeed, I may be a mere human compared to the great gods,”

He bowed his head to me again.

Not out of pressure from my divine presence, but with gratitude and reverence.

“But I am not one to forget the grace bestowed upon me.”

At this moment, Cadmus was undoubtedly a hero.

—

### New Elements and Characters
– **Cadmus (카드모스)**: A prince of Phoenicia, he is tasked by Zeus to retrieve the sinews from Typhon. Despite being a mere human, he shows unwavering conviction and reverence for the gods, especially in the face of danger.