Prophet Prometheus - (4)
Upon returning to the underworld, I immediately returned the borrowed necklace to Pandora and summoned all the deities residing here. Upon hearing that I had received a prophecy from Prometheus, many stopped whatever they were doing and rushed to gather. Even Thanatos, who is usually very busy, arrived in a hurry.
Once everyone had gathered in the office, I began to speak about Prometheus's prophecy.
"No matter how well we prepare, he said we would still be struck by Gaia's blow."
"A future that is set in stone, and there's no way to change it…"
"I'm worried about how severe that blow will be for us."
"Would it not be wise to reinforce key positions in advance?"
"Styx, that's not possible. If we act to avoid the prophecy, it might…"
As soon as I finished speaking, the office became noisy with discussions. This wouldn't happen in Olympus, where Zeus's strong authority keeps things in line.
But the underworld is different. While I hold the main decision-making power and respect the elder gods who have lived for eons, all the gods here are relatively equal and can freely express their opinions.
In truth, it wasn't always like this when the underworld was first established, but thanks to my efforts to create a more horizontal atmosphere, things have become much more comfortable...
"Hades?! Why are you just sitting there?"
"What else did Prometheus say?"
"Oh, come on, Hades! I'm more exhausted than you!"
"Thanatos, how about another cup of nectar…"
"Ahem. Apologies, everyone. I got lost in thought for a moment."
...Well, that startled me. At some point, everyone had stopped talking and was just looking at me. After regaining my composure, I shared the other part of Prometheus's prophecy.
"And Prometheus said that afterwards, if the mortal world and the underworld are connected, the gods will win."
"How do we connect the mortal world and the underworld?"
"It's too vague. How, to what extent, and where do we connect them?"
"I can't make sense of it either…"
"Does it mean we must turn the world upside down to win?"
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Even if we can't avoid suffering a significant loss, how exactly are we supposed to connect the mortal world with the underworld? It's giving me a headache.
As all the gods pondered over the prophecy, the voice of the goddess of oblivion, who had been quietly staring into space, broke the silence.
"Hades, can't we at least take our time figuring this part out?"
"Goddess Lethe?"
"If Gaia's blow comes first, don't we have some time before we need to connect the worlds?"
She was right. Prometheus did say that we would face a significant loss from Gaia's attack, and only after that should we connect the mortal world and the underworld…
"He's not suggesting that I mobilize the entire army of the underworld to march forth, is he?"
"Of course, that can't be the case… or could it?"
"Shall we check how many troops we have ready in the underworld?"
"…Was there anything else in the prophecy, Hades?"
Just as I was about to dismiss Morpheus, who suggested checking our military strength, Hypnos, who had been quietly observing, asked me a question.
"Oh… Now that you mention it, Prometheus did say something else…"
Hades, you should take care to keep your lower half secure! Heh heh heh!
…What was the meaning behind that strange comment?
It's the kind of thing you'd expect him to say to Zeus, not to me. Unless…
"What a quack of a prophet…"
"What was that, Hades?"
"What else did Prometheus say?"
Styx and Lethe looked at me with curious expressions. I glanced at their innocent faces for a moment before giving an evasive answer.
"…Nothing important. He was just playing a trick on me."
"Well, that sounds like Prometheus."
"Always smirking mischievously, that one."
...Why do I feel like I've done something wrong?
Amidst the odd atmosphere, a minor god entered the office.
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"Hades, the messenger who went to Olympus has returned."
"What did they say?"
Naturally, I had instructed a messenger to inform Olympus of Prometheus's prophecy and to bring back a response.
"They said that no matter what measures we take, we cannot avoid Gaia's attack as foretold in the prophecy, so they will maintain the status quo."
"That's reasonable. There's no way to avoid a prophecy."
If we concentrate our forces in one place to defend it, Gaia will simply attack somewhere else. Even if that place is the very palace of the gods on Olympus.
"Athena surmises that the losses from Gaia's attack will necessitate connecting the two worlds."
"Connecting the underworld and the mortal world?"
"Could it mean the death of all humans?"
"Perhaps we should ask Hermes to keep us regularly informed…"
"Right now, I can't figure it out."
"Could it be that Gaia will somehow take the Omphalos stone that Demeter uses?"
In any case, this isn't something we need to solve immediately. Taking hasty measures to avoid the prophecy might only bring it about.
"Let's conclude the meeting for now. But it's important to maintain close communication with Olympus as we move forward."
I decided to end the discussion here.
For us to achieve victory, the underworld and the mortal world must be connected...
As the gods began to disperse and I prepared to leave, the goddess Mnemosyne called out to me.
"Hades, a new god has been assigned to the underworld."
"The underworld? Was this forced on them?"
"I'm not sure… This is just the news passed down from Olympus…"
There are many ways a new god can be born.
First, a mortal who has achieved great deeds and recognition may be ascended to godhood by the gods themselves. Second, if both parents are gods, the child is born as a god and quickly matures. Third, a mortal who achieves greatness may be worshiped as a god after death. Fourth, a demi-god like Dionysus can be elevated to godhood if they gain enough worship.
There are countless other ways, but among all the gods born so far, not one has been assigned to the underworld.
The reasons are varied. First, the gods of the underworld are too busy to have children, so there are no new gods being born here.
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Secondly, the underworld is a place most gods avoid. It's a dark, lifeless place, deep beneath the earth…
"Oh, it's been thousands… no, tens of thousands of years since we've had a new face here?"
"Finally, we'll have a bit less work to do."
"A new god… What should we have them do first? Maybe we should keep them inside the palace…"
"I'd like them to help me harvest souls."
There's always been too much work in the underworld. It's notorious enough that Olympus knows about it—no one would want to come here.
But now, a new god has been assigned to the underworld?
Clearly, someone must have forced this on them, or perhaps it's a god who doesn't fully understand what they're getting into.
"Let's wrap this up. I'm going to meet this new god in the underworld, so everyone, get back to your duties."
"You don't need to tell me; I'm already working…"
"Ahem. My apologies, Thanatos."
Thanatos spoke with a gaze that seemed to wander in all directions, as if he were seeing visions. Well, I suppose that makes sense, given how many avatars Thanatos has to manage in the mortal world.
I sat on the throne in the audience chamber within the palace, waiting for the new god assigned to the underworld. What kind of eccentric deity would want to work here?
Creak.
The grand doors to the chamber slowly opened, revealing…
A man holding a staff entwined with two serpents, wearing winged sandals—the messenger god, Hermes…?
With a mischievous grin, he bowed to me in an exaggerated manner. That smile meant only one thing: he had something amusing to share.
"Greetings, Uncle! I, Hermes, the messenger of all, have brought you a new god!"
For a moment, I thought you were the one working here. And now you're saying you've brought a new god?
Given how hard it is for a newly born god to find their way to the underworld, it would be helpful if a god like Hermes, who can freely traverse the world's boundaries, helped out.
Knock, knock.
With a playful expression, Hermes tapped the closed doors of the chamber a few times. As if on cue, the divine presence outside the door stirred.
Who could it be that warranted such theatrics from Hermes? Despite his playful nature, he's never been one for disrespect.
Creak.
The doors opened once more, and a beautiful goddess slowly entered. Her bright, light turquoise hair, fresh aura, and familiar scent… That face?
"Menthe? What are you doing in the underworld?"
"Oh… Hehe… H-hello, Lord Hades."
Menthe, a Naiad (water nymph) who served as a priestess at my temple in Thebes, and the creator of the mint plant that became my symbol in a past life.
Wait a moment, Menthe became a god?
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Menthe, the Goddess of Mint - (1)
The goddess, shy and blushing deeply, slowly entered the audience chamber. It was unmistakably Menthe. Now, she was no longer a mere nymph but a fully-fledged goddess, radiating a fresh and potent divine aura.
"Uncle, I'll leave you to talk with the newly born goddess. This humble messenger will now return to Olympus. Haha!"
"Ha... Hermes. Yes, I'll see you later."
Hermes waved his hand with a grin, clearly enjoying my startled expression. It was obvious that he had volunteered to bring Menthe here himself, anticipating my reaction.
As Hermes left, I turned my gaze back to Menthe, who was still avoiding eye contact with me. There were so many questions to ask, but where to start...
"So, Men..."
"H-Yes! Hades, sir... uh..."
Menthe stammered, clearly flustered. We had met before, and she had even served as my priestess—why was she so nervous now?
"Menthe, there's no need to be so flustered. Just relax and explain how this all came to be."
"B-but..."
"...?"
Menthe's face turned an even deeper shade of red as she hurriedly blurted out her words.
"Volunteering to serve in the Underworld under your rule means I've accepted that you may take me as you please...!"
"Wait..."
"Were those goddesses I saw before your consorts? But I don't mind being just a concubine...!"
"Stop. That's enough..."
Realizing that the conversation was spiraling out of control, I waved my hand to halt her. Menthe, who had been speaking with an odd mix of excitement and embarrassment, took a deep breath and calmed down.
She's still young... Poor thing, it seems she's fallen victim to her own wild imagination. Perhaps I should ask Apollo to take a look at her sometime.
"So, how exactly did a nymph like you become a goddess, and why did you choose to come to the Underworld?"
"Well... It's a bit of a long story..."
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Menthe began her tale, speaking shyly but clearly.
It started with the spread of mint, my sacred plant, from Thebes throughout Greece. As mint became more widespread, its status as my symbol grew more prominent.
"Hmm. A blessing from the god Pluto. I don't worship him myself, but it's a blessing nonetheless..."
"Though some fear the other name, it seems the god has indeed provided for us."
"A merchant from Thebes told me that Pluto is a kind god who shows mercy to the living."
As the mint's reputation grew, so did the reverence for its creator, Menthe. Although she was a nymph, her association with me, the god of the Underworld, elevated her status significantly.
"They say there's a nymph in Pluto's temple who created mint..."
"Can an ordinary nymph create something like that? Perhaps she's a goddess sent from the Underworld."
"I don't know, but I offered my prayers to her as well."
As her reputation as the goddess of mint spread among mortals, they began to worship her, and her divine power grew. Eventually, Hermes himself descended to her shrine and brought her to Olympus.
"So you're the nymph called Menthe, who receives the prayers of mortals? I see you're quite beautiful..."
"Father, I've heard that this nymph is favored by Uncle Hades."
"Ahem! Well, say that earlier... In any case, creating a sacred symbol for the Underworld is worthy of recognition. She deserves to be made a goddess."
Thus, the king of the gods, Zeus, recognized her as a goddess, and Menthe, now the goddess of mint, expressed her desire to serve in the Underworld.
"Hermes, is there any way to make that happen?"
"The Underworld? Well, they're certainly understaffed there, so..."
And that was how the newly born goddess of mint came to be assigned to the Underworld.
Menthe, having finished her explanation, looked at me with eyes full of anticipation. She seemed to be expecting something.
"Hades, sir! So, what should I do now?"
"...You should know that the Underworld is quite busy, and you may be asked to take on tasks beyond your authority."
"Hehe! I may have struggled with the duties at the temple, but I managed just fine!"
Menthe placed her hands on her hips, emphasizing her chest as she did so. Was working as a priestess at the temple really that difficult? I wondered if she could handle the demands of the Underworld.
Seeing her smile confidently, I decided it was time to offer her some advice.
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"Menthe, do you know why we gods live eternally and possess such power?"
"Huh?"
She looked at me, puzzled. After a moment's thought, she answered, just as I expected.
"Umm... Because we inherited the great bloodline and power of the primordial god, Chaos?"
"...That's not it."
To mortals, we gods must seem mighty, invincible, even perfect. Our ability to foresee the future and reshape the world is reason enough for them to worship us.
But...
"We are granted immense power and minds that do not erode with time because we must maintain the balance of the world."
"Oh..."
"Take yourself, for example. You were once a mere nymph, and now you are a goddess. What does that tell you?"
If I told her that it meant becoming a slave to keep the world running smoothly... No, that might be too much.
"...It means you're tasked with maintaining the balance of the world."
"Of course! We, the great gods, are powerful because we must carry out our sacred duties!"
Yes, now you're one of those great gods. And your sacred duty... Well, to some extent, I suppose that's true.
"Maintaining the balance of the world... That sounds exactly like the responsibility and duty I imagined a god would have!"
"Some say that it's not because the gods are powerful that they rule the world, but because they must rule the world, they are powerful..."
"Aha! With great power comes great responsibility, right?"
Yes, the gods' immortal strength comes with an endless list of tasks. Menthe nodded as if understanding something, then began twisting her body shyly again.
"To think that you care so much for me... I'll fulfill my duties as the goddess who created the sacred mint of Hades!"
"...? Oh, well... Yes, do that."
It felt like our conversation was both connecting and missing the mark at the same time. But since she seemed so confident, I decided to assign her a suitable role.
As I rifled through the parchment, pondering the best position for her, a messenger hurried in. A young male spirit soldier clad in a toga—an all too familiar face.
"Hades, sir! There's another case in the courtroom..."
"The three judges, Minos, must be dealing with a case beyond their ability, involving divine prophecy or a victim of the gods?"
"H-How did you know, sir? This time, it's even..."
It wasn't uncommon for the quick-footed herald, Apokretes, to come running from the courtroom. It was almost certainly another victim of the gods. Was it a case too complex for the judges to handle alone, involving multiple gods?
I had always trusted the judgment of the three Minos brothers. However, the higher-ranking gods sometimes took issue with the lenient sentences the judges handed down. After all, Minos was still just a human, and they didn't like it when a human's judgment contradicted their own.
Naturally, they wouldn't complain in front of me, but I'd heard the rumors from Hermes, the ever-informative messenger of the gods.
To ease the burden on the Minos brothers and ensure fair judgment, I often took on cases involving humans punished by the gods or those caught in the crossfire of divine conflicts.
I also took part in the trials of serious offenders who couldn't be judged by the Minos brothers alone.
"Is it another mortal caught up in the love affairs of the Twelve Olympians? Likely a victim of rape or adultery... Tell Minos I'm on my way."
"Yes, sir! I'll deliver the message right away!"
As the messenger departed, I turned to Menthe.
"Go find the goddess Lethe, and she'll help you get started on your duties. I have urgent matters to attend to..."
"Ah, y-yes, sir!"
"Thank you... Thank you, lord of the Underworld..."
"Yes, in life, you suffered greatly due to your beauty at the hands of a god, but that won't happen anymore."
"Sob... sob..."
The beautiful female spirit before me wept bitterly. In life, she had been a woman who caught the unwanted attention of a minor god, eventually leading to her rape. To make matters worse, she had been a devotee of the virgin goddess Artemis, and upon losing her purity, she was cursed by the goddess herself, driving her to suicide.
That gentle Artemis... She's always so strict with her followers. I mean, it wasn't even the woman's fault—couldn't she have shown a little more leniency?
"Who's next, Minos?"
"Yes, the next soul is that of Arachne, a mortal woman."
"Arachne? Send her in. Which god is involved this time?"
"...The document states that the goddess of wisdom, Athena, personally punished her."
This time, it's Athena?
Athena, who swore an oath of chastity to the River Styx... So, it wasn't a love affair.
A spirit, brimming with resentment, slowly entered. The document on my desk indicated that this was a spirit who had somehow retained her memories even after crossing the River of Forgetfulness.
No doubt, she harbored a deep grudge against Athena, who had caused her death.
The guards brought Arachne before me, and the female spirit knelt down, bowing deeply.
"Your name is Arachne? Tell me, truthfully, what happened to you before your death."Menthe, the Goddess of Mint - (2)
The three judges of the Underworld, the Minos brothers, preside over the souls of the dead. Among them, Minos, who was once the king of Crete, gazed at Hades, the lord of the Underworld.
"I was a weaver in Athens, earning my living through my craft..."
The kneeling soul before them was named Arachne.
Arachne had been the most skilled weaver in Athens, but she had made a grave mistake. She boasted that even the goddess of wisdom, Athena, was no better at weaving than she was. The goddess, who was also the protector of Athens, was naturally enraged.
Disguised as an old woman, Athena visited Arachne and advised her to apologize at the temple of Athena, but Arachne was defiant, claiming, "I'm not afraid of the goddess's wrath. I would even challenge her to a weaving contest."
"...And then, the goddess revealed her true form."
"Then you must have had a weaving contest with her. Am I right?"
Though Arachne spoke, the goddess Mnemosyne had already read her memories and conveyed them to Hades, the lord of the Underworld. Minos also shared these memories as a judge.
In front of a crowd, Arachne and Athena competed in weaving. Arachne's tapestry depicted the affairs of Zeus with various goddesses, including Leto and Europa, and even highlighted the many misdeeds and shameful acts of the Olympian gods.
Surprisingly, Arachne's skill surpassed that of the goddess, but her boldness in mocking the gods' transgressions angered Athena. The goddess, in her fury, transformed Arachne into a spider, condemning her to spin webs for eternity. This is how Arachne's soul came to the Underworld.
In the silence of the Underworld, with the presence of one of the three great gods, Hades, Arachne seemed to harbor a deep hatred for Athena, regardless of right or wrong.
The grim and handsome god Hades, having understood Arachne's past, finally spoke.
"Goddess Mnemosyne, show us Arachne's tapestry in detail."
"Alright, Hades."
The goddess of memory read Arachne's recollections and projected an image of the tapestry into the air. As expected from the city's finest weaver, it was a beautiful and intricate work of art.
"The scene of our gods being defeated by Typhon... the shame of Zeus... Dionysus killing the king of Thebes..."
As Hades examined the tapestry, which meticulously exposed the gods' faults, his brow furrowed slightly. The terrified Arachne, who had been anticipating severe punishment, remained frozen in place.
"Why did you criticize Hestia? She did no harm to humans."
"...It was..."
"The goddess of the hearth was the one most concerned with the welfare of humans during the battle with Typhon. Do you have any excuse?"
"No..."
Hades pondered for a moment, drumming his fingers on the armrest of his chair before rendering his verdict.
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"To be proud of one's skill is not a crime. It's understandable that you might not have recognized Athena in her disguise. But to mock all the gods during a weaving contest with the goddess herself was a grave error."
Arachne, who had braced herself for Hades's wrath, looked visibly surprised. Minos thought to himself.
'This is just like Lord Hades. I was taken aback myself at first.'
Continuing with his judgment, the lord of the Underworld remained calm even when dealing with a criminal who had committed such a serious offense as insulting the gods. If another Olympian god had ruled the Underworld, Arachne would have faced severe punishment without a fair trial.
"Though you may feel that becoming a spider was too harsh a punishment, everything you used—every resource—was created by us. The olive trees, the pride of Athens, were a gift from the goddess of wisdom, and the hearth that kept you warm at night while you wove was a blessing from the goddess of the hearth... Tsk."
Minos had come to realize that Hades, the god of mercy and the Underworld, valued fairness above all else. Unlike other gods who weighed the crime of killing a human less heavily than blaspheming the gods, Hades sought to judge each case impartially.
"Considering the punishment you received from Athena and the fact that you have already faced death, I will mitigate your sentence. Therefore, my judgment for you is..."
Hades, who tried to remain impartial even when his kin were insulted, passed a sentence that was neither too harsh nor too lenient for Arachne.
"Who is the next soul, Minos?"
"Yes, the next one is a suicide from Corinth..."
The lord of the Underworld, who was more just than any other, was a god to whom Minos, a former king, could genuinely offer his devotion.
Finally, the day's trials were over.
"Hades, sir, you've worked hard."
"Minos. You've done a great job as well. Is it Rhadamanthys's turn to preside over the trials tomorrow?"
Minos, the middle-aged judge of the Underworld, approached me. He seemed to have something on his mind...
"I heard that the new goddess specifically requested to come to the Underworld?"
"You mean Menthe? It seems you've met her."
"Yes, I heard she came here out of affection for you, Lord Hades. If you have any feelings for her..."
Feelings? What feelings?
I looked at Minos, who seemed to be playing matchmaker, and shook my head.
"Oh! Hades, sir, do you perhaps have another goddess in mind? Lady Styx or Lady Lethe, perhaps..."
"Are you suggesting I take a consort first?"
"Ahem. It's well-known that both have their eyes on the position of the lady of the Underworld..."
"I'm not so foolish as to be unaware of their intentions. And it would be rather odd if one of the three great gods wasn't popular among the opposite sex."
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Even Poseidon, with his stormy temperament, and Zeus, who takes what he desires by force, are immensely popular with women, given that they rule over entire realms.
"The problem lies not with them but with me."
"Excuse me?"
"After seeing so many victims of divine rape and love affairs come to the Underworld, marriage doesn't seem very appealing."
Numerous mortal women chose death after being raped by gods. Some gods even killed their husbands or fiancés to claim the women for themselves.
And the goddesses weren't any different. Jealous goddesses killed mortal men or transformed them into animals, or put them into eternal sleep out of spite.
These mortals, victims of divine lust and jealousy, all came to the Underworld to pour out their grievances to me. Many of them held such deep grudges that they didn't lose their memories even after crossing the River of Forgetfulness.
"Just today, four female souls arrived after being raped by gods."
"Oh..."
"And the number of men killed just because a god desired their fiancées..."
The gods of the Underworld, who serve under me, have been strictly warned not to touch mortals. They're also too busy to even think about it.
But the gods of Olympus or the deities of Poseidon's underwater palace? Not so much.
"And aren't all the goddesses related to me by blood? It feels a bit..."
"From a human perspective, yes, but I thought the gods didn't care about such things."
Of course, the other gods wouldn't care. Even Zeus has had relations with his mother, his sisters, his granddaughters, and even his cousins.
But I find the idea of relations with my relatives a bit unsettling. Styx and Lethe are distant relatives, aren't they?
"So, you're not planning to marry anytime soon?"
"Probably not. Though avoiding it entirely might also be a bad idea..."
As I shook my head and put down my papers, Minos, looking curious, asked me another question.
"By the way, do you think the new goddess, Menthe, will find it difficult to adjust to life in the Underworld?"
"Well, she's quite confident in herself, so I don't think we need to worry too much. She'll adapt in time."
People, nymphs, or rather gods, are inherently adaptable. And since she has already served as a priestess in the mortal realm...
She should manage just fine, right?
But at that moment, the new goddess of mint...
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"Lady Lethe... Do I really have to do all this?"
"Yes..."
...was in despair over the mountain of work before her.
She had thought that becoming a goddess was a glorious honor, that she would assist the handsome Lord Hades and stand by his side...
"But... do I really have to handle all this paperwork by myself?"
"That's just today's work..."
"...#@#$#!!!!!"
She had imagined herself managing the mint, spreading it across the world with her divine powers.
But this... this was something else entirely.
"I'm the goddess of mint..."
"...? Yes, and I'm the goddess of forgetfulness."
Lethe tilted her head, seemingly puzzled, as if she couldn't understand why Menthe was so overwhelmed. Menthe froze in place, realizing the reality of working in the most dreaded domain among the gods.
As the silver-haired goddess Lethe passed by, Menthe barely caught the faint words she muttered.
"If you can't handle this much, Hades won't even glance at you, let alone make you his consort..."
"Hah! I'll finish this in no time!"
"Oh... really? Then take these as well..."
Thunk. Thunk.
Receiving more scrolls that seemed to materialize out of thin air, Menthe took them with trembling hands while Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness, continued speaking.
"...? Yes, and I'm the goddess of forgetfulness."
Lethe tilted her head, seemingly puzzled, as if she couldn't understand why Menthe was so overwhelmed. Menthe froze in place, realizing the reality of working in the most dreaded domain among the gods.
As the silver-haired goddess Lethe passed by, Menthe barely caught the faint words she muttered.
"If you can't handle this much, Hades won't even glance at you, let alone make you his consort..."
"Hah! I'll finish this in no time!"
"Oh... really? Then take these as well..."
Thunk. Thunk.
Receiving even more scrolls that floated in from thin air by Lethe's power, Menthe could barely manage to keep from screaming.
"No, there's no way that Lady Lethe is punishing me just because I have feelings for Lord Hades..."
The goddess of mint tried to convince herself as she received the additional scrolls, but the sheer volume of work laid before her made her feel like she was being crushed under the weight of her new responsibilities.