The Stories of the Dead
The Underworld, the final resting place for souls. It is a realm feared by mortals, where many gods reside. Not only Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, but also Thanatos, the god of death; Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness; Styx, the goddess of oaths; Hypnos, the god of sleep; and Morpheus, the god of dreams.
But they are not the only ones in the Underworld.
For instance...
"Ferry fee." "Ugh... What...?"
Though he is a high-ranking god, the son of Erebus, the god of darkness, and Nyx, the goddess of night...
"No fee? Then you can't cross the river." "Uh... Oh? Something is in my mouth..." "Open your mouth. I'll take it myself."
The ferryman of the Acheron River, Charon, who is subjected to ceaseless, strenuous labor...
"Alright, one obolus (1/6 of a drachma) is correct. But again, just a single coin, tsk."
Charon, with his white hair, perpetually tired face, and the appearance of an old sailor, may very well be the true laborer of the Underworld, bearing a workload rivaling even that of Hades or Thanatos.
When someone dies in the mortal realm, they first meet Thanatos, who drags their soul to the entrance of the Underworld. There, they encounter the first river of the Underworld, the Acheron. Along the quiet, broad riverbank, they wait until an old man calls for them, rowing his boat.
"I can't believe I'm dead... Uh... What are those?" "You know what I'm asking. If you don't pay the fare, you can't cross the river."
Charon, the ferryman of the Acheron River, will not ferry the dead souls across unless they pay him a coin (one obolus). Thus, the riverbanks are always full of souls who wander and weep endlessly.
Charon's story has spread even to the mortal realm. Hence, when someone dies, their family typically places a coin in their mouth to pay for the ferry ride.
But souls who died away from home and were eaten by animals, those who died in war and whose bodies were never recovered, or those whose bodies were completely obliterated as punishment from the gods, these souls could find no peace even in death.
Because the dead gather at the Acheron River every day, one might think Charon would be incredibly wealthy...
Ads by Pubfuture
Whoosh - Plop.
Charon, however, is bound by the law of the Acheron River, which dictates that the first coin he receives must be thrown into the river. Only the second coin onwards can he keep. Thus, despite his ceaseless labor, Charon remains perpetually poor.
"Sigh... I work to death, yet my pockets are always empty."
In Hades' previous life, this could be likened to the exploitative labor practices, almost akin to being an unpaid slave.
"We're here. Get off the boat."
"Sob... Yes..." "Mother... I'm sorry." "Damn... I should have dodged that knife..."
In no time at all, the souls aboard Charon's boat reached the other side. Charon then rowed back across, ready for the next batch of souls.
After crossing the Acheron, the souls encounter the River Cocytus, the river of wailing.
"Ugh..." "Mother... Waaaaah!" "It's so cold..."
This river reflects the past lives of the souls, causing them to sink into sorrow. Regretful memories, moments of love, cherished memories—all of these are stirred up as they face their current state of death.
Somberly, the souls cross the River Cocytus and come upon the River Phlegethon, the river of fire.
"What is this? The river is burning?" "Flames are everywhere..." "But it's not hot?"
In the mortal world, fire is hot. The souls hesitated at first but soon realized that the heat wasn't there.
"Really, it's not hot?" "Yeah, maybe because we're already dead."
The souls' bodies caught fire but felt no heat. Instead, they felt as though old grime was being washed away, leaving them refreshed as they crossed the river.
After being purified in the River Phlegethon, they encounter the River Lethe, the river of forgetfulness.
"Go over there..."
The beautiful silver-haired goddess Lethe often appeared by the river to guide the souls, pointing them towards the other side of the river.
Ads by Pubfuture
"How much further... Ah... Oh..." "This river is no different... Eh..."
The souls did not suffocate, but the water of forgetfulness that naturally entered their mouths erased their memories of the mortal world. Occasionally, souls with intense grudges retained their memories, but this was not the norm.
Following their instincts, the souls finally reached the last river before entering the Underworld. The River Styx, a vast and winding river that encircled the Underworld nine times.
Sometimes the goddess Styx herself would guide the souls, but today her attendants hurried them along.
Crossing the river and walking a little further, the souls saw the grand citadel of Hades.
"Gasp..." "Uh... Uh...! There..."
The vast fortress of Hades stretched across the Underworld, its imposing black walls visible even from a distance, intimidating the souls.
Walking down the wide avenue leading from the River Styx to the fortress, they arrived at the enormous gates guarded by the three-headed beast, Cerberus.
"Grrrr..." "Argrrr..."
Drooling poison from its sharp fangs, Cerberus, born of the storm god Typhon and empowered by Hades, instilled fear in the souls.
However, upon seeing the approaching souls, Cerberus stepped aside, uninterested. The loyal guardian of Hades devoured only those souls attempting to escape the Underworld.
Cautiously, the souls passed through the massive gates Cerberus guarded and were guided somewhere by the Underworld's attendants.
"Follow me, humans. There are still souls awaiting judgment, so wait here for now." "And most of you will live in the Underworld, so listen up..." "You must have forgotten the mortal world after crossing the River Lethe? Let me tell you about the gods again."
Moving to a building or plaza-like area, the souls listened to the explanations. With their memories of the mortal world gone, new knowledge filled their minds, and they began to understand their situation.
"Judgment...?" "Was I a good person in the mortal world?" "I'm nervous..."
The attendant approached the souls who were absorbing this new knowledge.
"Now it's your turn. From here to there, follow me."
One by one, the souls rose and followed the attendant, moving towards the place where Hades would render judgment.
Guests That Turned Late-night Show Into Late-night Chaos
https://servicer.idealmedia.io/evt?t=j
Secrets And Scandals - Revelations About Melania Trump
https://servicer.idealmedia.io/evt?t=j
Gathered in a vast open space, hundreds of souls saw a black-haired, black-eyed god standing before them.
Holding a scroll and looking very tired, the god was none other than Hades, the ruler of the Underworld. He shuffled through piles of documents, receiving reports from the attendants.
Waving his hand lazily, a black wind swept through the area, causing the souls to stagger. A detached voice echoed among them.
"There are no souls destined for Tartarus or Elysium, so next..."
"You, move over here." "Now, you will move to the judges."
Once Hades' brief sorting process was completed, the souls would be judged by the three judges of the Underworld: Minos and his brothers.
The Minos brothers scrutinized the crimes committed by the souls during their lives, determining appropriate punishments. Sometimes, they would send difficult cases to Hades for a final decision.
"You murdered three neighbors and stole their possessions..." "Then, a sentence of labor on the outskirts of the Underworld and repairing the citadel." "Next soul, the old man over there?"
Minos, a son of Zeus and Europa, had been the king of Crete in life but became one of the judges of the Underworld after death. Known for their fair judgments, the Minos brothers were trusted by Hades to handle the souls.
Those who served their sentences or were found to have little to no guilt by the judges would live within Hades' citadel.
The landscape of the Underworld was not so different from the mortal realm.
The only real differences were that the souls were semi-transparent and did not need to eat. Laws, order, jobs, and regulations existed even here.
In the vast expanse of the Underworld, where souls who had not yet reincarnated lived, conversations flowed among the dead.
"Will I be reincarnated soon?" "I'm planning to stay here. I want to become an attendant." "Today, Lady Lethe was so beautiful..." "Watch your mouth; she's the lady of the Underworld." "Wasn't that Lady Styx?"
Souls who had cleansed their sins prepared for reincarnation in the order they had arrived. If a soul refused reincarnation and wished to stay in the Underworld, they could do so, considering their circumstances.
Those who chose to stay were usually assigned jobs by the attendants or minor gods.
Patrolling guards, attendants or maids for gods like Hades or Hypnos, maintaining the vast citadel, or building homes and spaces for souls.
"This place is covered in dust... Time for some cleaning." "There's a hole in the citadel wall! We need to fix it immediately." "I heard Hades' maid was reincarnated?" "Really? They'll be recruiting soon. Should I apply?"
The souls adapted to the dim Underworld, seeing well even without light. Although Hestia's hearths scattered throughout provided warmth and comfort, the dead had little need for light.
As such, they became more accustomed to night than day, to darkness over light.
This is the everyday life of the souls in the Underworld. A part of the grand cycle of life and death.
But what if this cycle were disrupted?
That would truly be a catastropheThe Tale of Sisyphus and Thanatos
Chapter 1
A Peaceful Mortal Realm
Born of Aeolus, the god of the winds, and a mortal woman named Enarete, Sisyphus was a demigod. As the king who founded Corinth, he was known for his cunning and craftiness.
Many anecdotes illustrate Sisyphus's wisdom, particularly his encounters with Autolycus, a demigod and the son of Hermes, the god of messengers and thieves. Autolycus had the ability to steal without getting caught, a gift from his father Hermes. Sisyphus once fell victim to Autolycus's cattle theft but turned the tables.
"Look here, my name is engraved on the hooves of these cattle. They are mine, and you have stolen them."
"Shut up! Your men must have secretly engraved your name there!"
Sisyphus had preemptively engraved his name on the hooves of his cattle, catching Autolycus in the act. Despite changing the gender and color of the stolen cattle with his abilities, Autolycus had no way to refute the clear evidence.
Sisyphus's reliance on his cunning led him to make a grave mistake.
"Are you Asopus, the river god?"
"What does the king of Corinth want from me?"
"I know where your daughter, Aegina, has disappeared to."
"What? You know where my daughter is?"
"I will tell you if you grant Corinth a spring of clear water."
Persuaded by the confident Sisyphus, Asopus, the river god, made a spring of clear water flow into the city to find his missing daughter.
"Your daughter was kidnapped by Zeus."
"That... that wretch! Is it true?"
"It is. You will find them if you follow this mountain path."
Ads by Pubfuture
Asopus hurried down the path Sisyphus pointed out, soon finding his daughter weeping after being violated by Zeus.
"Father... sob..."
"Lord Zeus! How could you do this! Aaah!!!"
"Ah-hem. I shall take my leave now."
Though Asopus discovered the truth, it was too late to act against Zeus. Yet, this was not the end.
Zeus discovered Sisyphus's betrayal. Enraged, Zeus demanded punishment.
"How dare a mere mortal interfere in the affairs of gods! Tell Hades to send Thanatos to deal with this sinner!"
With the king of gods behaving in such a manner, the future of Olympus looked grim...
* * *
In the Dark Underworld
Thanatos, the god of death, resides here, exhausted from sending countless minions to the mortal realm to guide souls. The god, with black wings and the appearance of an elderly man, was unexpectedly pleased with his new task.
"Thanatos. Zeus has sent word, asking you to bring a grave sinner to the underworld."
"A mortal who has committed such a grave sin? Hades?"
"I am not sure... But he requested your presence in Olympus. Please go and return quickly."
"To Olympus? It's been so long since I visited Olympus, thank you."
Though Thanatos rarely went to Olympus, always busy with his duties, this was a rare respite allowed by Hades, who pitied his hard work. Thankful to the lord of the underworld for this brief vacation, Thanatos set off to Olympus himself, not just sending a minion.
"Thanatos! You finally arrived. That man there! A mortal dared to meddle in the affairs of gods!"
Thanatos saw Zeus pointing and raging. If a mortal interfered with the gods, perhaps he had stolen an offering or influenced a divine decision. Following Zeus's command, Thanatos sought out the mortal.
The founder of Corinth, King Sisyphus, was leisurely drinking in his palace.
Ads by Pubfuture
"But what was the grave sin he committed..."
"I know a bit about that mortal, Thanatos."
Thanatos's question to Zeus was interrupted by Hermes, the messenger of the gods.
"Overconfident in his wits, he bested my son using the powers I granted. He must have angered my father again."
Thanatos accepted Hermes's explanation. The mortal must have done something wrong. And if Zeus ordered it, punishing an insolent mortal seemed fitting. After all, once in the underworld, Hades or the three judges would pass judgment.
With his black wings flapping, Thanatos flew to the Corinthian palace.
* * *
The Corinthian Palace
King Sisyphus shared a secret with his wife, Queen Merope.
"Zeus is holding a grudge against me and will send Thanatos."
"What? What should we do then?"
"Listen carefully, my queen. If I die, do not hold a funeral. Understood?"
Predicting Thanatos's arrival, Sisyphus prepared. He told his wife to take precautions and armed himself with a large oak club, hiding behind the curtains of his bedchamber, waiting for Thanatos.
Soon, the god of death entered to take Sisyphus to the underworld. Sisyphus gripped the club tightly, ready to strike when Thanatos approached.
However...
'Does he think he can evade my senses? And strike me down with a mere club? Has he lost his mind?'
Thanatos, of course, was aware. Sisyphus, though a demigod, had no strength beyond his wits. In contrast, Thanatos, the son of Nyx, the goddess of night, was an ancient god, older than Hades and respected by him. The personification of death with powerful hands, Thanatos laughed at the foolish mortal.
Thanatos entered the bedchamber naturally. Sisyphus, thinking the time was right, lunged out, swinging the oak club.
"Thanatos! Finally, you've come! Take this-"
Top 9 Most Controversial 'Late Show' Moments
It Was Just Another Dinner — Until This Happened
Whoosh—
To a god like Thanatos, the club seemed to move slowly. He smirked at the foolish mortal attacking him but then thought...
'Wait, if I pretend to be knocked out by this fool, could I get some rest?'
Thanatos, the god of death, had never rested since birth. Death in the mortal realm was constant, requiring his presence daily. The Thanatos here was not a mere minion but his true form. If he pretended to be struck down, he could rest.
However, he pondered if he could indeed take a break. If he neglected his duty, it would burden his fellow underworld gods.
'Sigh... But if I rest, who will do this work? As an elder god of the underworld, I must set an example...'
Images of his colleagues, also toiling, flashed in his mind. Despite his hardships, other gods also suffered.
"Thanatos, you work so hard harvesting souls. Click, click..."
Before the great flood, some gods had helped him a bit but mocked him when the flood started, like Hypnos.
"We're lucky not to be Thanatos, right, Moros?"
"Of course, Ceres."
Even gods like Ceres and Moros, who managed aspects of death, had it easier and often made fun of him.
"Thanatos, I am always grateful. If I were a god of death..."
Lastly, Morpheus, who always approached with a sly smile, also mocked him for his burden.
Thanatos's face twisted in frustration. He rationalized.
That demigod might let his guard down and strike me. If I rest a bit and then resume work, no one would fault me.
Just one day... one day of rest!
"Ugh!"
"Huh...?"
Before the club even hit Thanatos, he pretended to fall, staging an unnatural performance.
Sisyphus, unknowingly gaining the notoriety of having struck down a god, stood frozen, club in hand.
"...What just happened?"
Sisyphus stared at his club and the fallen Thanatos, then awkwardly bound and imprisoned him in the basement. However, he did not realize the consequences of his actions. Imprisoning the personification of death would impact the laws of the world.
The very next day, the underworld's operations, managing the dead, were thrown into chaos.
The Tale of Sisyphus and Thanatos
Chapter 2
The Underworld in Chaos
Lately, the goddess Styx has been avoiding me. It seems it's because of the embarrassing incident last time.
Even while she helps with the tasks of the underworld, if the conversation goes on too long...
"Well, I'll just go check on the river now!"
"Oh..."
Her ears, neck, and face gradually turn red as she slips away. I've tried to stop her, of course.
"Goddess Styx, could we talk for a moment?"
"Eek!"
"Oh..."
She ran away as if fleeing from Zeus, and there was nothing I could do.
And that's not the end of it. If I feel a gaze and look to a nearby corner, I often see the goddess Lethe staring at me with dead eyes.
"Hades..."
Recently, her vacant eyes have never seemed so terrifying. It feels like she's silently blaming me, making my skin prickle.
As I was blankly staring at a parchment, contemplating the recent strained relationships, a soul approached me with a worried expression.
"Lord Hades!"
"...?"
"Souls have not been coming to the underworld for several days!"
Of course, it was too much to expect peace in this damned underworld.
I hurriedly convened a meeting of the underworld. The other gods, having also received reports of the disappearance of souls, arrived quickly.
Ads by Pubfuture
"Suddenly, a few days ago, souls stopped coming to the underworld!"
"Lord Thanatos has completely disappeared!"
Thanatos, the personification of death, was responsible for bringing souls to the underworld. But I had sent him to Olympus at Zeus's request, to capture a grave sinner and bring his soul to the underworld for judgment. Yet he hadn't returned.
The gods of the underworld, sensing something was wrong, wore serious expressions. Even goddesses Lethe and Styx, usually indifferent, looked grave.
"Did he encounter a Gigantes while capturing the sinner?"
"To disrupt the cycle of life and death, capturing Lord Thanatos would be the quickest method."
"Could it be the work of a monster like Typhon?"
There were rumors of Gigantes near Thebes, and Gaia could have created a new monster to attack Thanatos. Though a powerful deity, Thanatos was not invincible. It was possible for him to be defeated or captured by monsters.
"First, let's contact Olympus and manage the situation on Earth."
Without Thanatos to oversee death, other gods had to work harder. The mortal realm was in chaos.
"Ahhh! The dead chicken is moving!"
"I cut off the cow's head, but its body is still alive!"
"Damn it! Why won't you die, you bastard!"
"And you, you're still alive with a knife in your head!"
Gods like Moros and Ceres were busy collecting souls, while Hypnos tried to put those who should have died into a deep sleep to buy time. Meanwhile, they contacted Olympus to inquire about Thanatos's whereabouts.
"Damn it! We're suffering because of Thanatos!"
"Do you think he's slacking off somewhere because the work was too hard?"
"Impossible! Have you ever seen Thanatos rest for even a day?"
"Never, not even once!"
* * *
On Olympus
Olympus was in turmoil, just like the underworld. With no one dying on Earth, many gods were accusing Zeus.
"Father! People are not dying in the war!"
"This disrupts the cycle of life in nature..."
Ads by Pubfuture
"Lord Hades has strongly protested and is asking about the whereabouts of Lord Thanatos."
"Thanatos was supposed to capture a demigod..."
Zeus, too, was puzzled by the situation. Athena, who often provided counsel, was absent, leaving Zeus unsure.
"How could a mere mortal defeat Thanatos?!"
To Zeus, Sisyphus seemed clever but not particularly powerful. Pan, the god of nature, provided a plausible explanation.
"Zeus, could it be that a monster like Typhon or a Gigantes ambushed him...?"
"That makes sense. He must have been attacked while capturing Sisyphus!"
Zeus, finding the suggestion reasonable, called upon Ares, the god of war. If anyone could handle a monster, it would be Ares.
"Ares! It's time to show the same bravery you did when you wielded your sword to save me!"
"Oh! You've heard of my exploits, Father!"
"Thanatos must have been ambushed by a monster on his way to capture that insolent mortal. Go rescue Thanatos and bring death to that mortal!"
"Understood! Leave it to me!"
Ares, brimming with fighting spirit, donned his armor and wielded the magnificent sword Hephaestus had forged for him after the last rebellion. The monster that ambushed Thanatos would fall to the god of war.
* * *
Ares Arrives in Corinth
Ares drove his chariot to Corinth, eager to investigate where Thanatos's trail ended. But there were no signs of a monster attack.
Feeling something was amiss, Ares entered Sisyphus's palace, intending to interrogate him and find out if he had seen the god of death. As the king, Sisyphus might also have seen any monster that appeared nearby.
"Intruder! Attack with spears!"
"Who dares enter the palace!"
Ares glanced at the Corinthian soldiers surrounding him. None were particularly well-armed. No gods or heroes. No monsters that could threaten him.
No need to worry.
Ignoring everything, Ares strode towards the inner palace. The soldiers tried to stop him with spears and swords, but a mere mortal couldn't harm an Olympian god.
"Aaah! Stop him!"
"No way! Our spears are breaking!"
Top 9 Most Controversial 'Late Show' Moments
It Was Just Another Dinner — Until This Happened
"Swords don't work! Run away!"
Ignoring the panicked humans, Ares searched for Sisyphus. Deep in the palace, he sensed something unusual. Descending further, he found a man with a crown and a club, ready to attack.
"You were sent by Zeus to kill me! But this oak club..."
But Ares felt something strange in the depths of the palace. Ignoring the club, he expanded his divine senses. From below, he sensed the unmistakable aura of death.
Crack. Crunch.
"What... I hit his head, but the club broke?"
Sisyphus, guilty as he was, no longer mattered. If Thanatos was in the basement, Sisyphus would soon be taken to the underworld. Ares hurried to the basement door. Why was Thanatos's power emanating from below? Had he been injured by a monster?
Snore—Snore—
Descending, Ares saw Thanatos, the old god with black wings, lying down and snoring. He had broken his bonds easily and was sleeping comfortably. Rubbing his belly and snoring, Thanatos woke up and locked eyes with the astonished Ares.
* * *
Ares's Realization
Ares was often seen as violent and simple-minded, but he was not stupid. His seemingly gullible nature was often due to being tricked by Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
Recalling how Athena had tricked him during the great flood, Ares realized what had happened.
"Damn! Why are these souls so..."
"Huff... Ares?! Help organize these souls!"
"My wing feathers are falling out again... Is this alopecia, no, alar alopecia?"
Thanatos had sent countless minions to the mortal realm, working tirelessly day and night. No god seemed busier than Thanatos, who never rested.
Thanatos had been working without rest. If Ares were in his position, he would desperately want a break too.
The evidence began to add up:
Thanatos had broken free and was snoring.
It wasn't Hypnos's power; he was simply resting.
There were no traces of a monster capable of defeating Thanatos.
Thanatos's power was intact; he showed no signs of being weakened.
Thanatos, noticing Ares's scrutinizing gaze, spoke in a groggy voice.
"Ares! You came to rescue me from being ambushed by a mortal!"
"Sigh..."
At least wipe the drool from your mouth and try to lie better, Thanatos.
Ares quietly rubbed his forehead.The Tale of Sisyphus and Thanatos
Chapter 3
Chaos in the Underworld
As soon as Ares locked eyes with the newly awakened Thanatos, he rushed to the underworld and reported everything to Hades.
"Uncle Hades! You won't believe what Thanatos is doing right now..."
"...?"
Expecting a fierce battle with a powerful monster, Ares looked like a child who had his toy taken away. Upon hearing the whole situation, the gods of the underworld were outraged.
"What? So all of this is because..."
"Who is this human, Sisyphus?"
"Dammit! Thanatos was just sleeping?!"
"Ares, are you sure you're not lying..."
"I swear on the River Styx, everything I said is true!!!"
With Ares's oath, some gods then ambushed Thanatos as he was bringing Sisyphus to the underworld. Specifically, they waited at the entrance and tied him up with ropes.
"Ugh! Hypnos, what is the meaning of this? Styx, you too!"
"Do you know how hard we've been working while you were sleeping?!"
"I heard you were even snoring!"
Thanatos was bound and dragged like a criminal under the watchful eyes of Hypnos and Styx. Sisyphus, on the other hand, walked along in a daze, overwhelmed by the unprecedented situation.
"Ah... what...?"
The only one who welcomed the temporarily negligent Thanatos was Charon, the ferryman of the Acheron River.
"Ugh... I barely had a moment of rest... Now I must row again..."
Thus, Thanatos and Sisyphus were brought before me, Hades. Thanatos was tied up, and Sisyphus knelt, looking vacant.
"What, just because I slept for a few days, this happens? I only meant to sleep for one day!"
Thanatos defended himself loudly, standing beside the mentally broken Sisyphus. My head ached as if I had swallowed Metis like Zeus.
"Reaping souls is indeed a strenuous task, Thanatos..."
"Exactly, Hades, you understand my plight! I only meant to rest for a short while..."
But the other gods standing by my side erupted immediately. Hypnos, who had been tirelessly putting souls to sleep, was the first to react.
Ads by Pubfuture
"What?! A short while? How dare you say that, Thanatos!"
Moros and Ceres, who shared some aspects of the death deity's duties, also spoke up.
"Thanatos! Do you call this a short while?!"
"You disrupted the cycle of life and death for days!"
Morpheus, who had been inducing dreams to keep people from dying, also expressed his frustration.
"Lord Hades! Thanatos must have colluded with Chronos! How else could such a 'short while' have lasted so long?!"
Many other gods and attendants condemned Thanatos's actions. Sisyphus, who Zeus had labeled a grave sinner, was entirely overlooked.
"You insolent fools! Try doing my job for a day!"
"What?! I am busy every day distributing sleep to mortals!"
"And I tirelessly send minions to induce dreams every day!"
"Do you think we don't work hard?!"
"Do you think you're the only one working in the underworld?!"
Indeed, all the gods of the underworld were constantly working tirelessly. Even as the supreme ruler, I rarely had moments of leisure. The busiest were certainly Thanatos and Charon, but the other gods were not lounging around either. Morpheus and Hypnos, for example, worked tirelessly each night with their minions.
Thanatos's negligence for a few days meant the other gods had to handle an immense workload.
* * *
I raised my hand to silence everyone and began to speak. It was time to decide the punishment for Thanatos, who had neglected his duties and caused this chaos using Sisyphus.
"First, we need to decide on a punishment..."
"Tartarus!"
Hypnos, with veins bulging in his neck, shouted. Though he was the god of sleep, he hadn't had a single moment of rest for days.
"Sending him to Tartarus isn't a bad idea."
"Indeed, disrupting the cycle of life and death is a grave crime. Hades will make a fair judgment..."
Ceres and Moros, who had spent days in the mortal realm harvesting souls, suggested.
"And since merely sending him to Tartarus might be too lenient, how about a punishment where he has to keep pushing a boulder up a hill?"
"Morpheus! What a brilliant idea!"
"As expected of the god of dreams, your imagination is exceptional!"
"Tartarus! Send him to Tartarus!"
Morpheus's mad suggestion revealed his deep resentment towards Thanatos, who had rested while he couldn't.
Ads by Pubfuture
"You crazy gods! Do you think I wouldn't rest if I were in your shoes?!"
"We wouldn't just take a nap the moment we got the chance..."
"Thanatos! Stop making excuses and accept your punishment!"
"Tartarus for Thanatos!"
As the underworld descended into chaos, I sighed and spoke quietly, using my divine power to ensure all the gods could hear.
"So, if we send Thanatos to Tartarus, who will now reap the souls?"
Silence fell.
The gods, who hadn't considered this, looked at each other nervously.
"Well, death is akin to a deep sleep, right? Maybe Hypnos..."
"Ceres, wouldn't your domain over destructive death make you suitable..."
"Hmm. We'd need to think about that..."
As I suspected. None of them wanted their workload to increase.
"Thanatos cannot be sent to Tartarus. Any god who has objections can take over his duties."
"Ahem. Well, lucky you, Thanatos."
"There's no other choice..."
"Sigh... It's tragic that the guilty go unpunished. The goddess of justice, Dike, would be dismayed..."
"Hmph..."
"Instead, Thanatos will have to do extra labor for several days. He will also be barred from receiving offerings from mortals for a while..."
Considering Thanatos's heavy workload and his status as an ancient deity, I listed various punishments. Thanatos, realizing there would be no more breaks for him, looked crestfallen as he untied himself and stood up.
"And I apologize for not being able to support you all adequately. I will request more assistance from Olympus..."
"But Hades, what about this human?"
The goddess Styx, who had been quietly frowning, pointed at Sisyphus.
* * *
I looked at Sisyphus, the mortal Zeus had sent Thanatos to capture. He was drenched in sweat and appeared half out of his mind.
"Now, your crimes are..."
"Huff..."
"Don't be too scared. You have a petition in your favor."
Top 9 Most Controversial 'Late Show' Moments
It Was Just Another Dinner — Until This Happened
I reached out and took the scroll from Iris, the goddess of the rainbow. Recently, the river god Asopus had sent a petition on behalf of Sisyphus. The document detailed Zeus's assault on his daughter, Aegina, and expressed gratitude to Sisyphus. It also requested leniency and mercy for him.
"...Therefore, I humbly request some leniency and compassion for him."
As Minos, one of the judges of the underworld, read the petition aloud, the gods' faces turned pale.
"Sigh... Zeus again..."
"This time, a river god was wronged..."
"Should we verify this with the goddess of memory, Mnemosyne?"
I nodded, and soon Mnemosyne read Sisyphus's memories and conveyed them to me.
"Then, I will pass judgment."
Sisyphus looked up with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"Though ambushing the god of death and disrupting the cycle of life and death is a grave sin..."
But...
"The reason Thanatos came for you before your time was not your fault."
It was because of Zeus, who sent Thanatos in a fit of rage after his crime was discovered.
Sisyphus was not entirely blameless, though. His plan to evoke my sympathy by not holding a funeral was deceitful. But this too was confirmed by Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory.
"It's true you tried to gain my sympathy with the funeral, but you were known as a benevolent ruler in Corinth. The real blame lies with..."
I glanced at the shameless god. Thanatos, who had used Sisyphus, looked away and cleared his throat.
"...Had Thanatos brought you here, Minos would have likely acquitted you."
"Then...!"
Minos awkwardly added, "If it's related to Zeus, then... um..."
I ignored it for now.
"So, I will defer your punishment until you have lived your full lifespan in the mortal realm."
"...! Thank you! Thank you, Pluto!"
Sisyphus, relieved, bowed repeatedly. Though he would forget everything about the underworld.
As I nodded to Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness, she approached Sisyphus. Her power of oblivion took hold, and he began to forget his experiences in the underworld.
"Ah...? Ah..."
"And remember, I will also judge you for imprisoning Thanatos."
Sisyphus, with his mind clouding over, would forget all he had seen. He would pay for binding Thanatos in his basement when he finally came to the underworld. Perhaps he would spend centuries working at the outskirts with Phaethon.
"Morpheus, send a message to Olympus and summon Iris to the underworld."
"What? Why summon the goddess of the rainbow...?"
What? A grave sinner, so Thanatos was dispatched?
"I will personally go to Zeus and protest."
This nonsense must end.