King of Underworld

Chapter 96 The Trial of Ares and Poseidon – (3)

As I watched Poseidon’s retreating figure, Zeus approached me.

He gestured to the chair beside him, and I took a seat next to him.

A translucent barrier formed from Zeus’s divine power, blocking out any sound.

“Poseidon must be going through a lot.”

“Because of his children?”

“Yes, though his way of showing affection might be a bit misguided… it’s hard to interfere, and I’m not sure I’ve done well with my own children either.”

Zeus was probably referring to Tantalus, who recently tried to deceive the gods.

If that guy had attained godhood, a true god of madness surpassing Dionysus might have been born.

“…I think you’ve done well enough with your children. Apollo, Athena, and Hephaestus, at least…”

“When Poseidon called Ares a scoundrel earlier, do you know what went through my mind, brother?”

“…?”

“Ares is indeed violent, so I couldn’t argue. It made me wonder if I hadn’t set a proper example myself…”

It was unusual to hear Zeus speak so faintly. His eyes, usually full of confidence, seemed dimmed.

The usually proud and commanding king of the gods was revealing a rare, darker side.

I gazed into his earnest eyes for a moment.

Thanks to the barrier formed from divine power, no one outside could hear our conversation.

Was it burdensome enough for him to confide in me like this?

“Because of the prophecy, I’ve spent so much time wandering the mortal realm, creating human heroes. I feel guilty towards Hera. Calisto, who became a constellation… Io, who suffered as a cow…”

Zeus undoubtedly harbored a desire for beautiful women, but his actions ultimately benefited the gods.

Great heroes like Perseus, born from the blood of the highest god, occasionally emerged.

Since wooing mortal women and having children took considerable time, he sometimes resorted to coercive methods.

Although it could never be justified, Zeus must have been striving in his own way to bring forth the prophesied hero.

“If you know Hera dislikes it, stop doing things that provoke her. Because of you, there are countless victims coming to the Underworld.”

“Haha… I’ll consider it once I deal with all the Gigantes and gain recognition of my authority from Grandmother Gaia.”

The blond god stroked his beard with a bitter smile.

As our conversation stretched on, the other gods began glancing at us with curious expressions before forcibly turning away.

I slowly observed each of them.

Apollo, the proud son of Zeus, overseeing numerous domains including the sun deity. Ares, appearing both satisfied and uneasy about the trial’s outcome.

Hestia, exchanging smiles with me as she chatted with Hebe, the goddess of youth…

I could understand why Zeus would feel burdened overseeing all these gods.

The Titans were trapped in Tartarus, dreaming of revenge, Grandmother Gaia refused to acknowledge us, and the Gigantes, the enemies of the gods, still loomed without any sign of the prophesied hero…

“Zeus, just stay where you are.”

“Hm?”

“…You’ve done enough so far. Keep sitting on your throne with a confident face in front of your children and descendants. That’s where you belong.”

“Ha. Ha… Hahaha! Are you comforting me, brother?”

He looked at me with a bright smile.

His face now resembled that of a true king. The king of gods shouldn’t look so dejected, after all.

I, too, had my own flaws, as I once told Menthe…

“If anything urgent comes up, contact the Underworld at any time. But don’t bring Thanatos just because some mortal offended you.”

“Nonsense! I’d never bother my busy brother from the Underworld. See you next time.”

Flash—BOOM!

The king of gods dissolved the divine barrier surrounding us and rose, puffing out his chest as he soared into the sky.

The last glimpse of Zeus’s face showed him looking much better than before.

* * *

After the trial, as Poseidon was returning to the sea with his official wife Amphitrite and many other gods, he suddenly stopped.

Some of the lower sea deities following him looked at their lord with puzzled eyes.

Poseidon slowly turned his head to the right and spoke towards the empty clearing.

“Come out now. Gaia.”

Gaia? Wasn’t that the name of the Protogenoi who were currently hostile to the Olympian gods?

The gods around him were shocked at the name that came from his mouth, but it was still too early to be surprised.

A captivating woman’s voice echoed from the empty clearing.

– Truly, this was Poseidon. The chief god who had seized the domain of Oceanus.

“…Since earlier, I’ve sensed an earth deity’s power that doesn’t belong to Demeter. Spare me the pretense. Why have you sought me out?”

Poseidon had already summoned his trident, Tritaina, and was watching the clearing with caution.

However, the enchanting voice showed no signs of tension.

– Of course, I came to persuade you. I, too, heard about the dispute between you and Zeus’s son.

Gaia is the Earth itself, a Protogenoi who holds priority over the dominion of the earth, even above Demeter.

It is difficult for anything that occurs on land to escape Gaia’s gaze.

– When Zeus’s son killed your son, I witnessed it too. It was Ares, wasn’t it? The sword wielded by Zeus’s son accurately severed your son’s neck. His cold body was scattered over me, and his chilled blood flowed out. Does that not anger you?

“…Are you trying to sow discord between me and Zeus?”

Poseidon’s frown deepened.

As the sea god’s mood worsened, the smell of salt filled the air, and the atmosphere became turbulent.

Nevertheless, Gaia spoke to him in a soft voice.

– Sowing discord? How is this sowing discord? Your son was unjustly slain. And wasn’t the dominion of the sky, sea, and Underworld divided among you three brothers by drawing lots?

“……”

– I plan to overthrow Zeus and the Olympian gods. If you assist me…

Amphitrite nervously grasped Poseidon’s hand.

The lower sea deities around them were frozen, unable to make a sound.

If one of the three chief gods sided with Gaia, would Olympus still stand a chance?

In suffocating silence… the gods awaited the sea lord’s decision.

-I wouldn’t hesitate to offer you the throne of the king of gods. And, of course, dominion over the sky as well.

Poseidon closed his eyes.

Memories of the moment when they defeated the Titans and divided the world…

Hades was indifferent, but Poseidon had always desired dominion over the sky.

He had even staged a rebellion, often competing with Zeus.

Indeed, the throne of the king of gods and dominion over the sky were tempting. But…

“Kuh… Kuhahahaha! You have greatly underestimated me, Gaia.”

“…?”

“To think you’d dare spout nonsense, telling me to join your side for power!”

A thunderous roar erupted from his throat.

Long ago… Poseidon led a rebellion alongside Apollo and Hera.

Even if the rebellion succeeded, he never intended to imprison or banish Zeus to Tartarus.

Zeus was his brother, and he owed Zeus for freeing him from Cronus’s belly.

He intended to strip Zeus of his dominion over the sky and exile him, but nothing beyond that.

However… if Gaia were to destroy Olympus, what would become of Zeus and his kin?

“You intend to imprison the Olympian gods in Tartarus just as you did with the Titans! No matter how tempting power is, do you think I would stoop to such deeds as Cronus did?”

– …You’re rejecting my proposal? I thought you were more reasonable than this…

“Silence! Gaia!!!”

Poseidon’s famous trident, Tritaina, pointed toward the ground.

As he lifted the trident high and plunged it into the earth, an earthquake erupted, turning the surroundings into a wasteland.

When the power of the chief god’s furious strike was combined with Tritaina’s might, the effect was overwhelming.

Everything around him was torn apart, exposing the raw earth beneath.

The earthquake’s aftermath intensified… with a deafening roar, everything visible on the ground was overturned…

Many lives were senselessly lost in the sudden catastrophe.

“Grr… Did you truly think Poseidon would fall for such words?”

Amphitrite and the other gods could only watch as he calmed his fury.

A rage even greater than when he was angered by Ares for killing his son.

Whoosh—

“Uncle Poseidon…! What happened here… were you fighting someone?”

Noticing the commotion, Hermes quickly descended from the sky behind him.

The messenger god, horrified by the divine power that could easily destroy a city, wiped sweat from his brow.

Poseidon did not turn to face Hermes, responding in a heavy voice.

“…Hermes. Return to Olympus immediately and inform them that Gaia attempted to recruit me to her side.”

“What…! Uncle…”

“Rhode. Explain the situation to Hermes and then return.”

One of Poseidon’s daughters with Amphitrite, Rhode, nodded to her father and approached the messenger god.

And the lord of the sea, passing the bewildered Hermes, quietly made his way back into the ocean.