The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 130: Sea Monster Charybdis – (1)

Deep in the ocean, at Poseidon’s palace.

I, Hades, was enjoying a banquet in Poseidon’s palace at his invitation.

I had been peacefully resting with my head on Lady Styx's lap in the Underworld when a letter arrived.

I wondered what it could be this time and came to the ocean...

"Hades. Anyway, I’d like to send my children to the Underworld."

"Would proud gods really listen to Chiron’s teachings? And you’re quite protective of your children, aren’t you?"

Sending his children, actual gods and not demigods, to be educated in the Underworld? What a sudden change of heart.

Perhaps it's because of the recent clash with Ares. He seems like a different god.

As I stared at him, the lord of the sea stroked his beard, took a sip from his nectar cup, and surveyed the gods and divine beasts gathered in the banquet hall.

"There’s a limit to everything; didn’t I mention last time? Except for Triton, they’re all just..."

"Did someone die or get injured again?"

"Just listen to what I have to say."

He began to speak slowly about his children.

Apparently, he has a giant son named Antaeus, who enjoys testing his strength against passersby, and then...

Killed everyone who lost to him and offered their bodies as sacrifices to Poseidon?

"He’s incredibly devoted to me, but the citizens around him have been complaining a lot."

"If he’s a giant, who’s his mother?"

"Gaia."

What? He had a child with Gaia?

That’s a completely different story from Hephaestus’ case.

The other child Poseidon and Gaia had was the great serpent Python, born before we clashed with Gaia.

But if this giant was born recently...

Ssss—!

I glared at him, drawing power. This is Poseidon’s domain, so it’s probably not a trap, but...

I was wondering if I should bring out my bident, but Poseidon quickly set down his cup and waved his hands urgently.

"Wait. I swear on the River Styx that I haven’t aligned myself with Gaia. The children I had with Gaia were born a very long time ago."

"A very long time ago?"

"Yes, that’s why Gaia tried to persuade me last time. Hmph… just because we were a little intimate, she thought I’d fall for it."

If it was a long time ago, could it be from the beginning? Or perhaps the child was born around the same time as Python.

Anyway, he swore on the River Styx, so it must be true.

"Hmm. Hmm. Besides Antaeus, I have many problematic children. Like Charybdis..."

"Your daughter who angered Zeus? Is she also Gaia's child?"

He nodded.

Charybdis.

Poseidon's eldest daughter, who, due to her immense gluttony, devoured nectar and ambrosia excessively.

Angered by this, Zeus struck her with lightning and cast her into the depths of the sea.

When I heard this tale before, I simply thought of her as a goddess with a big appetite.

But to think she was the daughter of Gaia and Poseidon... And if she’s the eldest, she must’ve been born around the same time as Triton or even earlier.

This is the problem with constantly working in the dark, gloomy Underworld.

I often don’t know precise details or hear about major gossip among the gods too late.

Of course, I haven’t had much time to concern myself with such things either…

"Hooo... Just thinking about that time makes me furious at that wretched Zeus..."

"She must be a cherished daughter."

"Of course. My first daughter—I wouldn’t dream of harming her. And Zeus... Tch. Perhaps you should take an interest in the affairs of the living?"

"So what about Charybdis? Since she’s in the ocean, can’t you take care of her?"

"...The problem is that she devours entire passing ships and feasts on humans."

"Then maybe she could be educated..."

"Enough! I’ll handle my daughter myself."

Then why did you even bring up Charybdis?

* * *

Anyway, this is a good opportunity.

If I can educate Poseidon’s unruly children, I might even be able to ask for a favor in return.

Soon, Poseidon looked at me again and spoke.

"Except for my eldest daughter, Charybdis, I want the others to be strictly disciplined."

"Why not include your daughter in a more rigorous education?"

"Ah! I already feel guilty as a father for letting her get struck by lightning; what harm is there in letting her feast on a few humans?"

Then why discriminate against the other children?

Poseidon’s affection for his eldest daughter is far deeper than I thought.

Most humans who die at sea don’t hold major grudges. The sea is part of nature’s order; death is inevitable.

I haven’t made many direct judgments on them… I didn’t realize Charybdis was devouring entire ships.

"If only some of the others could be half as good as Triton. But so many fall short of even his heels!"

"Now that you mention it, I don’t see Triton."

"I told him to give his troublesome siblings some guidance. Those who can’t come to their senses even after that will be sent to the Underworld."

"If you recommend suitable gifts for a marriage proposal, I might consider taking them in. Perhaps you could also share how you courted so many wives…"

As soon as I said this, Poseidon looked at me with an intrigued gaze.

"Are you planning to propose to someone?"

"...Just want to be prepared. It seems like I should have a mistress of the underworld, too."

"Well, I’m looking forward to that wedding someday. As far as I know, gifts that goddess favor include..."

Poseidon and I talked for a while about how to win over goddesses.

He told me how he relentlessly pursued Amphitrite and finally found her after a dolphin revealed her location, and so on...

He also told me stories about how he gifted goddesses with golden necklaces and pearls from the deep sea... It was quite interesting, even if I wasn’t sure how useful it would be to me.

As we were talking, the doors of the banquet hall opened, and a messenger—one of Poseidon's attendants who was a mix of shark and human features—entered.

He approached Poseidon directly and knelt down, delivering a letter.

“Hm. Triton says he wants to use Zeus’s son to teach my child, Polyphemus.”

“Polyphemus?”

I listened as he explained a bit about Polyphemus.

He’s a one-eyed giant Cyclops who, after being rejected by a sea nymph he courted, started devouring humans.

“Could this be part of Hera’s assignment?”

“But if it’s Heracles we’re talking about, isn’t he practically confirmed as the hero of prophecy? Polyphemus won’t be badly hurt, will he? No matter how strong my son is, comparing him to the Hydra or the Nemean lion… ugh. There’s no way he’ll lose an eye in battle, right? If that happens, he won’t set foot in the sea again…”

Poseidon rose from his seat, looking concerned and clutching his head.

“Don’t worry so much. Heracles should know he’s your son, so he won’t go so far as to kill him, will he?”

“It’s not that; I just hate the thought of my son getting beaten up by Zeus’s child! This won’t do, I have to go see for myself.”

As Poseidon and I moved to a chamber adorned with pearls, we came upon a large seashell.

Poseidon infused the shining white shell with his divine power, and it began to show us scenes of the mortal world.

And then…

Crack!

“Gaaah!”

“Too weak for his size, huh?”

“T-that wretch dares lay hands on my son!”

“Oh.”

There was Heracles, mercilessly beating up a Cyclops.

Judging by Poseidon's gritted teeth, that Cyclops must indeed be his son.

* * *

The scene shifted to a quiet island in the mortal realm.

But the place was covered in bloodshed, with iron clubs and boulders flying everywhere.

As Heracles pummeled Polyphemus, he called for help… and the other Cyclopes who lived on the island came out.

“Ahhhh! Cyclops brothers, help me! There’s a human here!”

“No, Polyphemus!”

“Brothers! Polyphemus is in trouble!”

“Die!”

One-eyed giants, towering over him many times in size, rushed at Heracles, swinging their fists.

Yet their fists broke instead. They threw boulders and swung uprooted trees, but the great hero remained unscathed.

Heracles surged through them like a storm, beating the giants down one by one, and the island filled with their groans and screams.

“Argh! This mad human!”

“Lord Poseidon! Bring divine punishment upon this wretch!”

“Who on earth are you?!”

Unsurprisingly, Poseidon’s face twisted even more as he watched.

Forget educating his children—seeing them beaten by Heracles right before his eyes must have been unbearable.

“Ugh, I can’t just stand by and let him…”

“Wait, Poseidon. If you intervene, Polyphemus’s behavior will never change.”

“But how is this fair? He’s beating my son with an iron club! How is that supposed to be education…”

“Then you shouldn’t send the others to the Underworld either. If they won’t listen to words, they need to be beaten until they change. It’s not like cannibalism is an easy habit to break.”

I held Poseidon back, watching his face contort, knowing that if he lost his temper and brought divine punishment on Heracles, it could spell disaster for Olympus.

“Anyway, just send your children to the Underworld as we agreed.”

“Ahem… I’ll start with the younger gods.”

“Being too protective of your children will only make them worse. Just tell me where Charybdis lives. Since I’m already here at the sea, I’ll have a word with her.”

It took quite a while to persuade the ruler of the sea.

I reminded him that if he continued being soft-hearted, his children would only grow more monstrous…

Polyphemus, and even that son who was killed by Ares last time… They’ll only come to their senses if they’re harshly disciplined…

Even Chiron, the renowned teacher, educated heroes with a rod… I kept urging him, but it was difficult.

“If you keep being so soft on your children, it’s no wonder they keep causing 

trouble. Want me to scold them for you?”

“Ugh…”

Finally, after much persuasion, Poseidon sighed and told me the location of the sea trench where his eldest daughter lived.

Seeing him repeatedly emphasize not to be too harsh on her, it was clear how much he cherished her.

“She’s a pitiable child, so please just talk to her instead of hitting her.”

“…If talking will work.”

Since she was also Gaia’s daughter, I should give her a gentle scolding and be on my way.