King of Underworld

Chapter 97: The Prophesied Hero, Heracles

“Is that true, Hermes?”

“Yes. Fortunately, Uncle Poseidon rejected Gaia’s proposal, but…”

“So now she’s trying to sway the gods, huh?”

Two days after returning to the Underworld, Hermes came to visit.

The news he brought was that Gaia had tried to persuade Poseidon.

Hermes, looking slightly uneasy, spoke to me.

“But… do you think there’s a chance Uncle Poseidon could waver?”

“Hermes, you still don’t know Poseidon well.”

Though he was proud and had a violent temper, he would never betray us.

After all, all of us—the children of Cronus…

“But he fought fiercely with Ares recently… And there was even a trial. If his feelings were hurt…”

“Of course, he wouldn’t be in a good mood. The punishment given to Ares was also considering Poseidon’s position.”

For gods, who are immortal, time flows differently from how it does for mortals.

A punishment of two months is nothing but a blink of an eye to gods who think even in terms of years.

Poseidon would know this better than anyone.

Even so, he let it slide because he knew his son’s actions were wrong, and he also knew I was aware of his plan to send his son to keep Athena in check.

Even though it was nominal, since Ares had been punished, Poseidon must have felt his pride was restored somewhat.

“But no matter how much he resents Ares, Poseidon is not someone who would ever join hands with an external enemy.”

“I see…”

“You must have informed Zeus about this as well, right? What did your father say?”

“…He simply told me to deliver a message to Uncle Poseidon, thanking him for not giving in to Gaia’s persuasion. My father, who is usually so sensitive about his position as the king of the gods, didn’t even doubt him…”

See? Zeus isn’t a fool. Even he knows Poseidon wouldn’t betray us.

Even if a rebellion were to happen, Poseidon would never involve an external force.

“Is that all you had to tell me?”

“Oh, there is one more thing. The goddess of the rainbow, Iris, will be coming here shortly…”

“Iris? What for?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps she’s here to invite you to Olympus again, Hades?”

Though I doubted that was the reason, I nodded and dismissed him for now.

Both Iris and Hermes coming to the Underworld? Normally, if they had something to say, they’d only send one.

—

Just as Hermes had said, after waiting a little, the messenger opened the doors to the audience hall.

“Lord Hades, the goddess of the rainbow has arrived at the entrance to the Underworld.”

“Let her in.”

“But… she was holding a human infant in her arms.”

“…?”

It had been a while since I last saw the goddess of the rainbow, and she looked quite troubled.

It was probably because of the infant she held in her arms.

“Greetings, Lord Hades. Lord Zeus has sent me with this letter.”

“I see. But what’s with the infant you’re holding?”

“Well… I should deliver this letter first…”

Iris rummaged through her robes and pulled out a parchment.

The power contained in the parchment wasn’t ordinary.

It was sealed, almost as if to ensure no one else could see it.

Crackle

As I unrolled the parchment, lightning sparked from it, tickling my hand, but I paid it no mind and began to read.

“Brother Hades. It’s me, Zeus. I didn’t want to trouble you, but it seems I have no choice.”

Does he have a favor to ask?

“I’m sure you’re curious about the infant that Iris is holding. Could you hide the child from Hera for about a month? I know what it means to keep a living being in the Underworld, but Hera intends to kill the child by sending serpents…”

So, it’s another illegitimate child Zeus fathered in secret.

But if he’s asking me, Hera’s anger must be immense.

Indeed… from the letter, it seems Zeus had hidden the child in mountains, caves, and even other gods’ abodes, but Hera somehow kept finding him. The living world can’t escape Hera’s gaze, so now Zeus thinks the only safe place is the Underworld…

For a month… If I protect the child in the Underworld for a month, will Zeus manage to find a place to hide him from Hera’s wrath, or change her mind somehow?

It seems he’s thinking of moving the child from place to place until Hera’s anger cools. But asking me to hide his illegitimate child… Who exactly is this child?

“The boy is my son. I’ve named him Heracles (meaning ‘Glory of Hera’). He is the prophesied hero who will help us win the battle against the Gigantes. I know the laws of the Underworld are strict, but…”

Wait, this child’s name is… Heracles?

Heracles. Heracles. The more I repeated the name, the less unfamiliar it sounded.

Somewhere… I’ve heard it countless times before. I definitely know this name.

This memory, even deeper than the one where I was struck by Eros’s arrow… it was…

“Tell the goddess Styx to dip this infant in the River Styx.”

“…Lord Hades?”

The most famous figure in Greek mythology, the hero among heroes.

The great hero who will fight in the future war against the Gigantes.

We’ve won.

—

“…What? In the River Styx?”

“Yes. Even the fragile body of a human will improve if dipped in the waters of the Styx.”

Iris looked at me in shock, but my mind was made up. The law that the living cannot reside in the Underworld must be bent in this case.

The memory that flashed vividly in my mind was the fact that Heracles is the prophesied hero.

If a living being can withstand the power of the Styx, they will gain an invincible body that can’t be harmed by ordinary weapons.

By immersing his entire body, we can ensure that the prophesied hero avoids an untimely death.

“But this child is despised by Lady Hera…”

“And yet you’ve brought him here on Zeus’s request… No, if Hera finds out, just tell her you had no choice because of my orders.”

Zeus must have persuaded Iris, Hera’s attendant, to bring the child here.

If Hermes had brought the child, Hera would have been suspicious, so Zeus must have deliberately used Iris.

Zeus, what did you offer the goddess of the rainbow to convince her? Did you swear on the Styx never to make advances toward her again?

“Yes… I understand.”

“Good. Make sure to tell Lady Styx to immerse the child’s entire body. Don’t forget.”

I made sure to stress this, to prevent any oversight—like not dipping his heel.

Watching Iris, still looking uneasy as she headed toward the goddess Styx, I couldn’t help but smile.

One of the threats that had loomed over us gods was now half-resolved.

If we can raise this Heracles into a great hero… The Gigantes are as good as dead.

Soon, Lady Styx entered the audience hall.

The child in her hands radiated the power of the Styx, his body undergoing a transformation.

As expected, Zeus’s son had withstood the waters of the Styx.

After handing Heracles to a nearby attendant, Lady Styx spoke with concern.

“Hades, I immersed the child because he is Zeus’s son and is destined to become a hero. But if humans who’ve gained the power of the Styx are repeatedly sent back to the living world…”

“Hmm, I understand. If heroes blessed by the Styx roam the living world, it could disrupt the balance.”

This child, when he grows up, will likely enter Chiron’s tutelage, won’t he?

If Heracles comes to the Underworld for training, I should ask Chiron to ensure he receives proper moral education.

He will grow into a powerful hero after being immersed in the River Styx…

We must teach him not to harm others recklessly.

“Of course, we will ensure proper education under Chiron’s tutelage. And we won’t be raising a legion of heroes blessed by the Styx.”

“That’s a relief. But… after seeing so many heroes, why is this child receiving special treatment?”

I couldn’t exactly tell her that it was because I knew, from my past life, that Heracles would one day defeat the Gigantes.

“Well, according to the letter Zeus sent… Apparently, Hera nursed him, and he killed two serpents right after he was born.”

“Serpents…? How did that happen…”

“We believe Hera sent them. As a bastard child, it’s inevitable.”

“Oh…”

The dark-haired goddess nodded, understanding.

As she clicked her tongue while looking at Heracles, I added a bit more explanation.

“The one who brought the child here was the goddess Iris, and Zeus asked me for this favor through a letter charged with his lightning.”

“He must have nursed from Hera in secret while she was asleep. Her anger will be boundless.”

“Indeed. The boy may face a difficult life. Filled with the corpses of monsters and the envy of men…”

I turned my gaze toward the child in the attendant’s arms.

Heracles was sleeping peacefully, unaware of the events that lay ahead.

In truth… Zeus had intentionally fathered this child to ensure the gods’ victory.

Though it’s clear he’s strong—having already nursed from Hera and killed serpents as a newborn…

I can’t help but wonder if he’s been burdened with a difficult fate.

But now that he’s been immersed in the River Styx, I hope it will help him overcome that fate.

“Waah! Waaaaah!”

“What…?!”

“Ah! Hades! Look away for a moment. Your gaze is too powerful for the baby to bear!”

Lady Styx’s startled voice caused me to quickly avert my eyes and look elsewhere.

Had I been staring too intently? I still make such mistakes occasionally…

Since we can’t feed him the food of the Underworld, I’ll have to find a wet nurse or bring in food from the living world.