The Story of Persephone - Chapter 6
Thanks to Iris's timely arrival in the Underworld, the situation was somewhat managed. The gods seemed to be willing to overlook things, for now.
"Iris, has Olympus summoned me?" "Yes. Lord Zeus has requested your presence at Olympus."
Chiron's death... It must be Gaia's strike, as foretold by Prometheus. The task of training heroes to prepare for the Gigantes can only be carried out by the wise centaur.
Olympian gods cannot descend to the mortal realm to train heroes themselves, and if we were to choose someone from among mortals, their abilities would be in question.
"The prophecy said to connect the Underworld and the world of the living, so I'll have to discuss the specifics with Zeus. I understand."
This isn't just an issue for the Underworld, so I can't make this decision on my own.
I need to go to Olympus, gather information from Demeter about the Gigantes' stronghold, and discuss what to do about her daughter, Persephone.
"Come back soon, Uncle Hades!" "C-come back soon?! This isn't your home..." "What does it matter? I'll be living here now. Hehe!" "Sigh... I've never seen a god adapt to the Underworld so quickly..."
Ignoring the strange noises coming from behind, I followed Iris to Olympus. It seemed that all the gods had gathered in the heart of the Olympian palace; their presence was concentrated there.
Zeus must have called everyone together. Passing through the grand golden gates and walking on the clouds, I saw the assembly of countless gods.
Zeus sat on his golden throne, holding a lightning bolt, his eyes closed, while Poseidon conversed with Hera. The immortals of Olympus were buzzing about the Gigantes and the prophecy.
"Did Chiron really die from the Gigantes' torture?" "If so, what will happen to the training of heroes? It's nearly impossible to find another teacher like him..." "The prophecy said to connect the world of the living and the Underworld... Perhaps Lord Hades could make an exception and revive Chiron?" "But no matter what the prophecy says, how can the dead be brought back to life...? Hmm. This isn't something I should speak of lightly." "We were this close to having Typhon's body released..." "If that dreadful being had fallen into Gaia's hands again..." "Sigh... If this strike was what the prophecy foretold, it's a painful blow indeed."
Hmm. The meeting hasn't even begun, and the mood is already grim.
Step by step.
"Oh... Lord Hades." "You've arrived, Uncle."
As I walked through the crowd—no, through the throng of gods—toward a suitable spot, they recognized me and made way. Sensing my presence, Zeus opened his eyes and cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Now that Lord Hades is here, let us begin the meeting. Hermes!"
"Yes, sir!"
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Hermes brought forth a large parchment and spread it wide in the air. A map of the entire world appeared before us, with red dots marking the places attacked by the Gigantes.
"Recently, the Gigantes launched a major invasion. As you can see on the map, their targets included Corinth, Athens, Chiron's abode, and Mount Etna."
At Zeus's words, the red dots glowed on the map. With so many simultaneous attacks, Hermes must have been the only one who descended to deal with the Mount Etna assault. If I hadn't been there...
"Mount Etna was handled by Lord Hades here, Athena descended to Athens, and Apollo took care of Corinth... but there was one place we overlooked."
The king of the gods spoke with a lowered voice, lightning crackling around his body. His quiet but intense aura spread across Olympus.
"As you all know, the wise centaur Chiron was tortured by the Gigantes until he relinquished his immortality and passed away."
Crack—
Zeus's eyes glowed with blue lightning, and electricity began to ripple through the clouds. The sky god's anger radiated through Olympus with a solemn and overwhelming presence.
Sweat beaded on the foreheads of the lower deities, and even those granted golden thrones seemed uneasy.
"Ugh..." "Hmm..."
The death of Chiron, whom Zeus had favored and valued, enraged the king of the gods. It was Poseidon who calmed him down.
"Zeus, as much as Chiron's death pains us, you must keep your composure." "...My apologies for the outburst."
"Ahem! For now, let's set that matter aside. We've used the Omphalos stone to locate the Gigantes' stronghold. Demeter!"
"The Gigantes are in the Phlegraean Plains in the region of Thrace. The earth there is emanating power that isn't my own, so it's certain."
"Apollo and Athena are currently monitoring the plains. The Gigantes will not be able to launch another attack."
The discussion about the Gigantes continued for a while. Ideas were proposed, such as completely obliterating the stronghold, having Poseidon submerge it with water, or splitting the land to turn it into an island... but all were dismissed due to the potential for full-scale war.
The conversation eventually circled back to...
"In any case, we need a hero to defeat the Gigantes... Hades, what do you think about reviving Chiron?"
Once again, the discussion returned to Chiron.
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As Poseidon proposed the idea, all eyes turned to me, waiting for my response. Reviving Chiron... It would mean breaking the ancient laws of the Underworld, laws that have stood for eons.
This is different from the case of Sisyphus. He was returned to life because he had not yet reached the end of his predetermined lifespan and was unjustly taken to the Underworld. But Chiron... He chose to relinquish his immortality and embraced death.
"Hmm... If we start bringing the dead back to life just because they have unfinished business in the world of the living, what would become of the boundary between life and death? And even if we revived Chiron, what if Gaia intervenes and kills him again?"
"The plains where their stronghold is located are now under strict surveillance." "What if a hero, driven mad by Gaia's whispers, were to wield a cursed or poisoned weapon? Chiron would again give up his immortality."
Chiron is not a being as powerful as us gods. While his skill in teaching is unparalleled, his strength is something even a mortal hero could challenge.
Even if we were to restore his immortality, a single arrow tainted with venom or a god's curse could...
"It would indeed be cruel to Chiron." "Reviving someone only for them to face death again..." "The gods cannot constantly guard Chiron either... Hmm."
"But the fact remains that there is no one else suited for the task. Could you reconsider, brother?"
Zeus's earnest tone made me ponder once more. Prometheus's prophecy did indeed say that we could achieve victory by connecting the Underworld and the world of the living.
However, the gods were avoiding this direct approach and focusing on Chiron for a simple reason. If Gaia were to concentrate her forces on the Underworld, which is connected to the world of the living... Tartarus, where many Titans are imprisoned, could be opened.
According to Hermes, the number of Gigantes in the plains is estimated to be at least several thousand. Even as one of the three Great Gods, I cannot face thousands of lower deities, dozens of the Twelve Olympians, and a primordial Protogenoi all at once.
If the Underworld were to fall and Tartarus were opened in our attempt to train heroes, we would be swiftly defeated. There must be another way. A method to entrust Chiron with the education of heroes, while avoiding Gaia's attention...
Perhaps... this could work?
"I propose connecting the Underworld and the world of the living, allowing Chiron to train living heroes." "Given the risk, accepting Prometheus's words literally is..." "What if we create a small passageway in Thebes, within my domain, beyond Gaia's reach?"
When a city is entirely devoted to a single god, it becomes fully a part of that god's domain. Athens is a prime example, as it is devoted to Athena.
Within such a city, even Gaia cannot communicate with the mortals. I recall that when King Oedipus went mad, Gaia exerted her influence from a mountain outside Thebes.
"Gaia cannot extend her reach into Thebes. We could issue an oracle inviting those who wish to become heroes to Thebes..." "Then we would appoint a suitable agent to oversee them, and those who show promise would be sent to the Underworld to be trained by Chiron?" "Exactly. If we connect the outskirts of the Underworld with my temple in Thebes, and only allow those with potential to pass through..."
The assembly fell silent, with many gods nodding in agreement.
"We could appoint the King of Thebes as the agent responsible for the training of aspiring heroes. Those who stand out would be quietly taken to Lord Hades's temple." "To maintain the connection between the Underworld and the world of the living, the Omphalos stone will be needed." "Those heroes who cross into the Underworld must swear an oath by the River Styx."
Normally, once a mortal enters the Underworld, they cannot leave. But... under extremely rare circumstances, if we place numerous restrictions through an oath by the River Styx, it could be permitted.
The oath would include prohibitions on revealing anything in words, actions, or drawings, and if they attempted to return to the Underworld, they would be sent directly to Tartarus. They would be forbidden from stepping anywhere within the Underworld except the outer gorge and prevented from interacting with souls...
"Now, now! Let's summarize our plan. How about this as a countermeasure against the Gigantes?"
Zeus listened to the assembly's opinions with his eyes closed, then quieted everyone. A small lightning bolt extended from his hand, inscribing words onto the parchment.
The summary went as follows:
An oracle will be issued to the mortals, inviting those who wish to become heroes to come to Thebes.
The King of Thebes will be informed through the oracle, and a training ground will be established for the purpose of nurturing heroes.
Those who excel in this training ground will be quietly transferred to Lord Hades's temple and cross into the Underworld.
In the outskirts of the Underworld, these heroes will be trained by the deceased Chiron and, when ready, will return to the world of the living.
4-1) The heroes and associated mortals will swear an oath by the River Styx, which will include numerous restrictions, such as the prohibition of disclosure. 4-2) The Omphalos stone will be temporarily entrusted to Hades to maintain the connection between the Underworld and the world of the living.
"Shall we leave the finer details to you, Lord Hades?" "Of course. With this plan, the Underworld and the world of the living will be connected... We can achieve victory as Prometheus's prophecy foretold." "If you need any assistance, do not hesitate to call upon Olympus. Hermes! Iris! You'll be needed for this."
We will not be defeated by the likes of the Gigantes.
We will secure victory.
After the meeting, I approached Demeter. It was time to discuss her daughter, Persephone.
The goddess, with her pale golden hair and expressionless face, halted when she saw me approaching.
"What business do you have with me, Hades?" "Demeter, your daughter Persephone is currently in the Underworld." "What?! So the Gigantes aren't the most important thing right now! If you don't release my daughter immediately, I'll...!"
Sigh... She loses her composure the moment her daughter is mentioned. This is exactly why I decided to deliver the news in person instead of sending a messenger. I need to get straight to the point and clear up any misunderstandings.
"This is beyond my control. She was struck by Eros's golden arrow and saw my face, and... she also ate food from the Underworld..."
"Wha... What... What?! Ha... Hades!!!"
It's not the kidnapping you think it is, so please calm down...Story of Persephone - Chapter 7
Demeter's face flushed with anger as she pointed a finger at me.
"Hades! Did you conspire with Eros to have my daughter struck by one of his arrows?" "I swear I didn't! The golden arrow flew at me from behind, and I dodged it, but it just happened to hit Persephone..." "Then why did you bring her to the Underworld and feed her? You're no better than Zeus or Poseidon!" "What? You dare compare me to those two?"
Even if her daughter's descent to the Underworld made her lose her composure, comparing me to those two is out of line. Sigh... I need to calm down.
"...Think about it rationally. Do I seem like the kind of god who would plot against your daughter, someone I didn't even know existed? This was all a coincidence." "Ugh...! So, you're saying it's all Eros's fault? But Eros wouldn't dare shoot an arrow at you..."
The gods don't interfere with each other's domains. Even when mistakes are made or when a god's nature causes problems, we respect each other's roles.
If Poseidon were to abandon his responsibilities, life in the sea would slowly perish. If Ares didn't incite war, the mortal population would become unmanageable. If Aphrodite's love were restricted, no new mortals would be born.
The unwritten rule among the gods is not to meddle in each other's realms. This sometimes causes issues when a god's personality leads to unexpected consequences for others. However, this rule becomes more flexible with higher divine ranks. Few would dare challenge one of the three Great Gods who rule over entire worlds.
This is why Dike, the goddess of justice, cannot easily call out the crimes of higher-ranking gods. I assume this is what Demeter was implying.
"It was likely a mistake during his archery practice." "A mistake?" "Right after your daughter was struck, I looked around, but Eros was nowhere to be found." "What... But still, how could that be a mere coincidence... Unless?"
As she stood there, taking deep breaths, Demeter's face turned red again, and she gathered a cloud to fly off somewhere. Is she going to confront Eros? Or complain to Zeus?
I quickly followed her.
"Aphrodite! Did you order your son Eros to shoot my daughter with an arrow?" "What? Why are you accusing me? What's this all about?"
Flying quickly through the clouds, I arrived at Aphrodite's abode, where she was already in a heated argument with Demeter.
It seems my words to Aphrodite last time had some effect. Standing beside her was Hephaestus, not Ares.
Well, even if they aren't a perfect match, they are still married. It's only proper for them to appear together in official matters. Hephaestus, standing a bit apart, looked at me with a puzzled expression, as if asking what was going on.
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"Uncle... What's this about Eros's arrow?" "It's nothing serious. Eros shot a golden arrow at me, but I dodged it, and it hit Demeter's daughter instead." "What?!"
"So... So this really happened? I had no idea..." "You didn't order it? So it really was Eros acting on his own..." "If I had planned this, I would have told him to shoot when I was passing in front of Hades!"
As I explained the situation to Hephaestus, Aphrodite and Demeter seemed to clear up their misunderstanding. But what was that about who should be passing in front of whom?
When I glanced at Aphrodite, she averted her eyes, trying to avoid my gaze.
"Well... That was just a figure of speech..." "Enough of that. Call your son here and let's find out whether this was a coincidence or another one of his pranks." "All right, all right! I'll just ask Eros myself!"
Grumbling at Demeter's insistence, the goddess of beauty reluctantly went to fetch her son. As we waited, Demeter crossed her arms impatiently, and Hephaestus leaned toward me.
"Uncle, does this mean that Persephone has fallen for you?" "It seems so... But how do you know her? She seems to be a young goddess."
My niece truly looked young. Eros hadn't been around for long either... Persephone couldn't be more than 200? 300 years old?
"I live in the Olympian palace. I haven't seen the goddess of spring and seeds at any of the banquets, but I've heard the rumors." "What rumors?" "That she inherited both her father's and mother's looks, making her incredibly beautiful." "I see..." "Is she really that beautiful? They say her golden hair and eyes are as radiant as the wheat blessed by Demeter." "Is every beautiful goddess your type?" "Of course not... It's just... I haven't been able to truly love Aphrodite..."
"So, you're envious of me? But it's not exactly a situation to be happy about." "Why not? Persephone's parents are siblings, and most Olympian gods are born from such unions..."
He seemed genuinely perplexed, as if he couldn't understand why I wasn't pleased with the situation.
"Honestly, there are times when even Athena looks beautiful to me. Don't you think so, Uncle?" "Hephaestus." "Her impressive figure that not even her armor and helmet can hide... Yes?" "Let's stop the nonsense right here." "...Understood..."
Sure, Goddess Lethe and Goddess Styx are distant relatives, but... Persephone is a much closer blood relative. Even if intermarriage isn't a sin among the gods, this feels too close.
As it turns out, the golden arrow shot by Eros was indeed a mistake. While wandering outside the Olympian palace, he had carelessly fired an arrow that unfortunately struck Persephone near Mount Etna.
"It was really an accident. The arrow flew in the direction of Mount Etna, but I didn't think it would hit anyone..."
Aphrodite, who had grasped the situation, stood with her hands on her hips, scolding her son. His forehead was already red, suggesting he'd been smacked a few times.
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"How many times have I told you! Practice your archery with the designated targets!" "...I'm sorry..."
"Humph! He may be a young god, but do you think just apologizing will suffice after shooting my daughter?"
Eros, holding his small bow, looked dejected. He appeared like a human child of about five or six, but with delicate white wings on his back.
"I've always told you to use your arrows sparingly and only when necessary! But you keep messing up!" "I-I understand. But Mother..." "What? You're still talking back?!" "...You told me to shoot the golden arrow when Hades was passing by! Why are you blaming me?!"
"What?"
Demeter, who was still fuming, now looked at Aphrodite in disbelief.
"So... Like mother, like son." "T-this is all a misunderstanding!"
"Pfft. What misunderstanding? Not too long ago, you even suggested to Eros that he try shooting the arrow at Hades... Mmph!" "Oh dear! I don't know why he's saying that...!"
The goddess of beauty hastily covered her son's mouth, smiling awkwardly. Not only does she wear the Cestus to attract lovers, but now she's even enlisting Eros in her schemes.
"...If another arrow from Eros comes my way, I'll know it's your doing." "T-that's not fair... This is all your fault, Hades! How can you refuse a goddess of beauty who desires you so much?!"
As Aphrodite, her face flushed with anger, began to blame me, I felt a headache coming on. Seriously, is it right for a married woman, who already has a lover, to behave this way?
"Everything is your fault, Hades!"
With that parting shot, Aphrodite flew off in tears.
Fortunately, Hephaestus wasn't here to witness this. If he had been, we might have seen a repeat of the scandal between Ares and Aphrodite from the recent art festival... The god of the forge might have joined Gaia's side, shedding tears of blood.
As Demeter watched Aphrodite's retreating figure, she seemed to come to a realization, nodding as she mumbled to herself.
"It's clear now that you didn't try to seduce my daughter. I didn't think there was a man who could resist the advances of the goddess of beauty..."
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...I think I preferred being buried in work in the Underworld.
"Anyway, I apologize for my misunderstanding." "...Well, it's good you realize it now."
I then turned to Eros, who was looking downcast, his wings drooping. Even if it was an accident, he needed to learn that shooting love's golden arrow carelessly was not something to take lightly.
"Uh... Can I leave now, Lord Hades...?" "Eros, if you need a place to practice your archery, I can provide it in the Underworld." "Really...?!"
"If you come to the Underworld later, I'll let you shoot your arrows to your heart's content." "Wow! Really? I'll be there soon!"
Blissfully unaware of his fate, Eros flew off, excited.
With Aphrodite also holding the mantle of love, the world wouldn't be thrown off balance if Eros spent a long time in the Underworld. Finally, I'll be able to relieve the spirits who have been torturing the worst of the damned night and day.
I'll make sure he never shoots an arrow carelessly again.
Even if it means shooting until his fingers fall off...!
"Even if she's fallen for you because of Eros's arrow, I'll need to speak with Kore." "Do as you will. I'm returning to the Underworld now, so get on the chariot."
As I prepared to return to the Underworld with Demeter, someone approached us, walking on the clouds. His immense divine power was comparable to mine, a god with blue hair.
My brother, the lord of the seas, Poseidon, approached us, his eyes filled with regret. I had a bad feeling about this...
Demeter spoke to him.
"Poseidon? What are you here for?" "Hm. Hm. I heard that your daughter was missing and came to offer my condolences..." "And where did you hear that? And what exactly do you mean by condolences?" "Ahem! It seems I arrived a bit late. Well then, I'll be off."
With one last regretful glance at Demeter, Poseidon vanished.
It seems Poseidon heard from some nearby nymphs that Demeter's daughter was playing near Mount Etna and that she later boarded my chariot to the Underworld.
And condolences... 'Condolences'... Hmm. There's no way the rough Poseidon would have just offered kind words...
Did he perhaps think Demeter, grief-stricken over the loss of her daughter, would be more open to... comfort?
A moment of silence passed between us. Soon, Demeter seemed to reach the same conclusion, clenching her fists and grinding her teeth.
"Zeus, Poseidon...! Grrr... All these male gods are the same!" "...That's an insult."
This is the current state of Olympus, the dwelling of gods revered and feared by all mortals.Slightly Different Story of the Underworld - Chapter 1
And so, together with Demeter, I crossed the threshold of the Underworld in my chariot.
"I've only heard about it, but is that the famous steel ship of Charon...?" "Demeter?! What brings you to the Underworld?"
We encountered Charon, who was busy rowing his boat on the Acheron River, ferrying souls across the waters.
Grrr... Growl!
"A monster descended from Typhon? This kind of creature exists in the Underworld?" "I infused it with my power and made it a divine beast, so it's safe."
We also saw Cerberus, who was guarding the entrance to the Underworld.
"Pick up that stray parchment over there!" "Damn it. The recent Gigantes attack has increased the number of souls." "We're running out of space for them..."
Demeter, witnessing the overworked administrators of the Underworld, let out a deep sigh and spoke to me, concern etched across her face.
"How could Kore live in a place like this...?"
With Demeter, I returned to where Persephone was staying. Surprisingly, my niece was behaving rather calmly. Unlike the mischievous demeanor she showed me earlier, she was sitting quietly, weaving a tapestry.
As soon as Demeter saw her, she rushed over and embraced her tightly.
"Kore! How lonely you must have been in this cold and dark Underworld. Now that I'm here, let's go back..." "I wasn't lonely at all, Mother. Please stop treating me like a child..." "But you're so young, how can you live in this dark Underworld...?" "I've already eaten food here, and I want to live in the Underworld with Uncle Hades."
Persephone, with a pouty expression, gently pushed Demeter away. Despite being a significant deity, Demeter's overprotectiveness seemed excessive.
"Sigh... That's because of Eros's arrow. The feelings you have aren't natural..." "I swear by the River Styx, nothing has changed in me, and even before the arrow, I wanted to marry Lord Hades!" "What... What?!"
Sigh...
Demeter turned sharply to glare at me. Swearing by the River Styx... Even Eros's arrow isn't powerful enough to create false memories. The strength of the golden arrow... It clarifies the exact moment one fell in love.
Therefore... what she says is true.
When someone already in love is struck by the golden arrow... it likely only strengthens that love, or rekindles a love that might have cooled over time.
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So, it's not that she fell in love because of Eros's arrow, but rather, a fleeting crush has been transformed into an unchanging love...!
Demeter looked at Persephone with a devastated expression, and Persephone quietly embraced her mother.
"Kore... Why, of all beings, would you fall in love with the lord of the Underworld..." "Well... I was in danger, with my neck gripped by a Gigantes, and Lord Hades saved me." "A Gigantes gripped your neck? Are you all right now? This must have been during the attack on Mount Etna...!" "Oh, Mother, I'm fine. Uncle Hades saved me just in time."
Demeter infused divine power into Persephone, inspecting her for any injuries and looking at her with deep concern. It was time to lay out the facts.
"Regardless of the arrow or love... You've eaten food from the Underworld, so according to the law, you must stay here..." "Hades...!" "But Persephone, you are the goddess of spring and seeds. If you remain here constantly, the cycle of the seasons will be thrown off balance."
The laws of the Underworld were established to maintain the balance of the world. If a goddess of the seasons were completely bound to the Underworld, the world of the living would be in peril.
"Uncle, do you dislike me? I'm not doing this just because of the golden arrow..." "You swore by the River Styx, so I believe your words are true, and since you've eaten the food here, you must live in the Underworld... But do you understand how important your role is in the world of the living?" "Ugh... But still..." "Think back to what I told you earlier. You are the goddess who governs one of the seasons and the seeds."
Her eyes lowered, and her voice grew softer.
"...I understand. I'll just visit the world of the living from time to time. Right?"
That's a relief. But instead of saying she'll occasionally return to the Underworld, she said she'll occasionally go up to the world of the living... Does that mean she plans to spend most of her time here?
"I'll only go up when I'm needed as the goddess of spring." "Sigh... Well, Hades is certainly better than other gods who might covet your beauty..."
Fortunately, it seems the world of the living won't lose its spring.
I gathered all the gods in the Underworld to discuss the outcome of the Olympus meeting and to address Persephone's situation.
Though many of them had already met Persephone, it was necessary to formally introduce her.
"...So it's decided that Persephone will stay here periodically." "Hehe. Let me reintroduce myself: I'm Persephone, and I'm going to marry Lord Hades!"
My dear niece...
"As busy as we are, a new deity is always welcome." "Tsk, tsk... So young, yet already bound to the Underworld. Love certainly blinds one..." "M-marriage?! On whose authority?"
"Now that we've settled Persephone's situation, let me inform you of the results of the Olympus meeting."
I shared with them the decision to connect the outskirts of the Underworld with the world of the living so that Chiron could train heroes. We had also received the Omphalos stone to facilitate this.
"It seems like a solution that fits the prophecy and is appropriate." "We'll need to impose strict restrictions to ensure the hero candidates keep their mouths shut..." "But who will oversee this? Does anyone have the time?" "Let's place barriers around the training gorge to prevent them from wandering around the Underworld."
Since the Underworld is also home to dead monsters and Gigantes, there will be no shortage of opponents for the heroes to train against. Fighting creatures that can't die will surely forge strong heroes.
"But... can humans withstand the energy of the Underworld?"
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This is where the problem arises. Even well-trained heroes might struggle, but how can aspiring heroes withstand the power of the Underworld?
The Underworld is a place where mortals can only enter after shedding their flesh through death. Even in the outer regions, the aura of death emanating from all sides is detrimental to the living.
"A living being would waste away just by staying in the Underworld for a short time." "Demigods or completed heroes might manage, but pure humans..." "If we use our power, it would only make the aura stronger... We need a god from the world of the living."
"Uncle Hades, I think I can solve that problem!"
Just as I was considering separating a part of the Underworld, Persephone spoke up. She suggested using her power as the goddess of spring and seeds to solve the issue.
"Can you really do it? This is my domain, so it will require a significant amount of power..." "I can handle a small gorge!"
"Are you sure about this? Persephone, you may be the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, but you're not quite on the level of the Twelve Olympians." "...It might be too much for a young goddess like you." "Neutralizing the aura of Hades's domain, especially for someone as young as you…"
"I can do it! I can't just laze around in the Underworld!"
If she can manage it, it would be ideal since she's bound to stay here periodically due to having eaten the food. However, sustaining her power in the gorge could be exhausting.
Even if we asked another god to help... No god would be willing to stay in the Underworld for long.
And the Twelve Olympians, with their heavy responsibilities, couldn't afford to stay here either.
"...Very well, let's head to the outskirts together."
We arrived at the outskirts of the Underworld where the heroes would train. There, Chiron was already waiting for us.
"Lord Hades. I've been informed of the situation." "Yes. As you know, we'll need you to train heroes here." "I never imagined I'd be training disciples in the Underworld, but..." "So it's impossible?" "There are actually some advantages. Using the dead monsters here as teaching tools could be beneficial."
The monsters who had died and come to the Underworld were blessed with the boon of forgetfulness, becoming docile. Some even became divine beasts, like Cerberus, guarding various parts of the Underworld.
"Python, whom Apollo killed, is also doing well here." "You're referring to the giant serpent that was the original master of Delphi."
Python, the great serpent. One of the monsters birthed by Gaia with Poseidon, was the original master of Delphi. It had the power of prophecy and foresaw that Apollo would eventually kill it and take its place, so it tried to kill the young god but failed.
Later, a fully grown Apollo shot thousands of arrows to kill Python, and Python's wife, Pythia, submitted willingly, so he spared her life and made her the priestess of the Delphi temple.
Of course, Apollo could only kill Python, the child of Gaia and Poseidon, because...
"Poseidon, Gaia is now our enemy. That includes her monstrous children..." "Hmm... It is fated to die, but..." "The god of prophecy must be on our side."
It was possible because the gods who opposed Gaia turned a blind eye to it.
"Along with Python, we have the dead Gigantes, the Sphinx killed by Oedipus, the sea monster killed by Perseus..." "Hmm, I hope the heroes won't find the training too difficult. Hahaha!" "Um... Uncle Hades. Shall we get started?"
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It was time to neutralize the Underworld's aura. After giving Persephone the go-ahead, I asked Chiron to step back.
Rumble...
First, I used my power to create as much separation from the gorge as possible. I then disrupted the aura to minimize Persephone's burden. After I nodded to her, the goddess of spring and seeds unleashed a bright light from her body.
Whoosh—
"Ugh..."
At the same time, I felt a warm, gentle force enveloping the gorge. I also saw the sweat trickling down Persephone's neck and the ichor flowing from her nose.
"Ugh..."
The area designated for hero training was now completely covered by the divine power of spring. The gorge, which felt like part of my domain, now had an unfamiliar, slightly awkward feeling, confirming that the transformation was successful.
However, Persephone, having expended all her strength, collapsed on the spot.
Thud.
I quickly moved to support her. As I wiped the sweat from her brow, she looked up at me with a weary but contented smile.
"Are you all right? You've pushed yourself too hard." "Hah... It's a bit tiring, but... I'll recover soon if I rest..."
Shrr...
The goddess of spring, having overexerted herself, fell asleep in my arms. I looked down at the goddess, whose unguarded appearance still exuded warmth and vibrancy, even in sleep.
"...Lord Hades." "The fact that Persephone was struck by the golden arrow... might have been a blessing for us gods."
Chiron, aware of the circumstances that led Persephone to stay in the Underworld, approached quietly. She had clearly overextended herself because of her feelings for me.
Having sworn by the River Styx, it wasn't because of the golden arrow that she developed feelings for me, but without that arrow, I wouldn't have considered bringing her to the Underworld.
I would have dismissed it as a young goddess's fleeting emotion.
"Without the goddess of spring periodically residing in the Underworld, it would have been difficult to train heroes."
Though I often try to ignore it...
Not all souls that come to the Underworld are those who suffered from the gods' violence or tangled affairs. Some come because they loved each other too deeply to be apart, even in death, or because they embraced death together, happily, in the same moment.
"Love... It's a difficult thing to comprehend." "Even the goddess Aphrodite would struggle to define it clearly."
Not wanting to wake Persephone, I carefully lifted her, cradling her gently in my arms.