The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 102: The Story of Eros and Psyche – (1)

The Athos Expedition achieved a partial success despite Gaia's trap. That's the conclusion I’ve come to.

It’s regrettable that Chrysaor of the Golden Sword managed to escape, but given that they fell into Gaia’s trap, the results are still noteworthy.

However, there’s something strange about Orion’s death... Apollo’s sacred crow moved like that?

That sacred beast is far from foolish. It should have been able to predict the path of the Golden Sword chasing after it.

“Hades, but about that hero who just took down Orthrus and died.”

“Orion, son of Poseidon, you mean.”

Persephone, who had been watching the living world with me, spoke with curiosity on her face.

She had been eager to observe the expedition as well, so I allowed it, and she watched with great concentration.

The desperate struggles of mortals are fleeting entertainment for the gods... Hmm. I suppose it’s all a matter of perspective.

“When I went up to Olympus recently, I found out something while looking down at the world below.”

“What is it?”

“He was hunting with Artemis on the surface. My sister seemed to care deeply about that human…”

So Persephone has been to Olympus, a place she hadn’t visited until she met me.

Since she is now known as my wife, Demeter must have finally allowed her to attend the feasts, feeling more reassured.

But Orion was someone Artemis cared for… That explains Apollo’s sacred beast acting strangely.

However, that alone isn’t enough to confront the Sun God. Accusing my nephew based only on suspicion without concrete evidence would be excessive interference.

“So… I’ll remember his mistake and punish him thoroughly when the time comes.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

While Apollo helped me swiftly when I fought against Cronos descending to the mortal realm, this recent act of his is disappointing.

He must have thought it was just one insignificant human… And given it’s Apollo, he’d have had plenty of reason to think that way.

After all, gods inherently look down on humans. As a member of the Twelve Olympians, he might’ve thought he could simply blame the sacred beast for any mishap.

How can I educate my nephew, who claims to be the god of reason, yet loses all reason when it comes to love or matters concerning his sister?

But I wonder how Poseidon, who cherished his son, will react.

Although, considering the expedition would’ve been wiped out if Apollo hadn’t intervened, he may feel uneasy but let it go… or not.

I patted Persephone’s head as she sat beside me, and we continued watching the mortal world.

The army of the Kingdom of Macedonia had finally arrived and was joining forces with the heroes to defeat the remaining monsters and clean up the battlefield.

“Hehe…”

Orion will soon arrive in the underworld, and the many brave warriors who perished there are likely being led by Thanatos as we speak…

“Hades, my lord, the Goddess of the Moon has come to the underworld!”

“Artemis has come here? Let her in.”

I see. Artemis must have had deep feelings for that human.

* * *

“Uncle Hades… Please… bring Orion back to life!”

I looked at my niece, kneeling before me, begging so desperately, with a mix of discomfort and curiosity.

She had neither a particularly good nor bad relationship with me, but now she was shedding clear tears on the floor as she pleaded with me.

Were your feelings for that human, Orion, really that deep?

For the proud goddess to come to the underworld and kneel, begging for a mortal… Could it be love?

Even a goddess who swore an oath of chastity cannot escape the emotions of love.

“You know well that it’s an impossible request, don’t you?”

“But… we loved each other. And my brother Apollo must have killed him on purpose after realizing it…”

“Sigh…”

So Artemis had the same suspicions as me. But even so, I cannot bring him back.

“Is it because of the tale of Tantalus’s son that you’re asking this?”

“Yes… Uncle, you’ve brought back unjustly killed humans before… Please…”

“But that was because the crime was so heinous and he was an entirely innocent victim, which is why I allowed his soul to return to the mortal world.”

The story of Tantalus had enraged most of the gods.

The criminal involved was suffering eternally in Tartarus, and the kingdom he ruled had been left in ruins.

That was a serious incident, which is why I brought him back…

“In Orion’s case, the exception cannot apply. He chose to embark on this expedition and was slain by Chrysaor’s Golden Sword, making him a hero.”

“It wasn’t the Golden Sword… it was my brother Apollo…”

“…Even if Apollo was the one who killed him, I cannot bring him back.”

Tears continued to fall from the Moon Goddess’s beautiful face.

Even if Apollo was indirectly responsible for his death, the dead remain dead. This is not something I can grant just because Artemis asks.

However, he was a great hero who fought against Orthros, the child of Typhon. If there’s any reward for his feats…

“Go now. I do sympathize with the death of your lover, the mortal. What I can do is…”

“…?”

“Tell Zeus that I’ve requested for Orion to be turned into a constellation. It’s not a bad way to honor a great hero, to be immortalized in the heavens.”

“Thank you… sniff… thank you…”

“If you wish, I can also arrange for you to meet Orion one last time…”

As our conversation ended, the Goddess of the Moon lowered her head in gratitude and left the audience chamber.

I’m relieved that she seemed a bit calmer, comforted by the thought of her lover being immortalized in the sky.

Since Orion killed the child of Typhon, he’s deserving of being made into a constellation, and Zeus won’t have any objections to raising him to the heavens.

Maybe this will give Poseidon some solace too. At least I hope he doesn’t vent his anger on Apollo by drowning him in the depths of the sea.

Should I send a word to Zeus to punish Apollo, just in case? I’ll have to think on that a bit.

* * *

At the moment when Hades and Artemis were conversing in the Underworld…

In one corner of the grand halls of Olympus, a conversation was unfolding between a mother scolding her son and a son refusing something with all his might.

It was none other than the argument between the winged child god, Eros, and his mother, Aphrodite.

“I won’t do it! No matter what you say, I won’t do it, Mother!”

“Eros, even Hades wouldn’t say much about you shooting a golden arrow in this case! Why won’t you listen?”

To understand why this argument was happening, we need to go back a little.

In the mortal realm, there lived a beautiful youngest princess named Psyche in a certain kingdom.

She was so beautiful that mortals worshipped her as a goddess descended to the mortal world.

Rumors even spread that she was more beautiful than the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite herself…

Believing these rumors, people began to neglect their offerings and rituals dedicated to the goddess.

“I’ve heard that Princess Psyche is the daughter of Aphrodite herself, haven’t you?”

“Well, that level of beauty could only be explained if she really is a goddess’s daughter.”

“I’ve never seen the goddess in my life, but Psyche must be far more beautiful than Aphrodite!”

The rumors that Psyche was the daughter of Aphrodite didn’t stop there.

Eventually, dust began to gather in the goddess's temples, and people no longer visited them in Psyche’s kingdom. Naturally, this incited Aphrodite’s furious wrath.

“What insolent girl dares to steal my glory?”

Psyche did nothing to correct these rumors and instead seemed to enjoy the attention, which only deepened the goddess’s anger.

Thus, the goddess of beauty decided to punish her through her son, Eros.

“Shoot that insolent girl with a golden arrow and make her fall in love with the most repulsive human.”

“…No!”

“What did you say?! You refuse to shoot a mere human with an arrow?!”

“Last time I shot a golden arrow carelessly, I got dragged to the Underworld by Hades and was forced to keep shooting arrows forever!”

That’s right. Eros had been taken to the Underworld after accidentally shooting Persephone during a practice session with his arrows.

Fearing he might be dragged back to the Underworld for more work, Eros shook his head at his mother’s request.

Returning to the present, Aphrodite was now trying her hardest to soothe her pouting son.

The goddess of beauty was doing everything she could to persuade her child to shoot the golden arrow at Psyche.

“Eros, Hades was upset about the location of your archery practice, not the fact that you shot someone. He won’t say anything if you’re deliberately carrying out divine punishment on a mortal.”

“But…”

“Think about it. Hades was angry because you were reckless with an uncontrollable arrow. He won’t mind if you are intentionally punishing a human.”

“Ugh… But what if I get sent back to the Underworld?! I don’t want to shoot arrows at those weird mortals again!”

“So, you’re saying you won’t even shoot a single arrow when my temple is falling into ruin? My glory is being trampled in that kingdom!”

Aphrodite gently approached Eros, who was clutching his head in frustration, continuing to coax him softly.

If Hades were to witness this scene, he would likely say, “Is it really worth doing all this over a mere mortal who won’t even live long?”

But right now, the goddess was consumed by the determination to deliver the punishment she desired.

“So, Eros, even if Hades questions you, you can just say that I order

ed it. Now, go and shoot that golden arrow.”

“…Re-really? You’ll take all the responsibility, Mother…?”

“Yes, you can tell him it was my command, so go now!”

In the end, Eros, having been persuaded, took up his magical arrow and headed to the mortal world.

Perhaps he was also curious to see for himself the face of Psyche, who was said to be as beautiful as the goddess of beauty herself.