Slightly Different Story of the Underworld - Chapter 2
Thump, thump.
As I carried Persephone back to the fortress, I felt movement in my arms. It seemed she was regaining consciousness.
"Ugh... Where am I... Ah!" "You've awakened. I'll get you to a resting place soon, just hold on."
Covering another god's domain with one's power is no easy feat. It's similar to how Gaia finds it difficult to interfere with my worshippers in Thebes.
Even as one of the three Great Gods, it's not simple for me to blanket places like Athens or Delphi with my power. While it's not impossible, it drains quite a bit of energy.
And for a goddess like Persephone, whose divine rank doesn't even match that of the Twelve Olympians, to interfere with my domain, even just a part of the Underworld, is an enormous task. It's only possible because she's the daughter of Zeus and Demeter. If my niece hadn't been in the Underworld, it would have required one of the Twelve Olympians themselves to neutralize the Underworld's aura.
"Uncle Hades... you're holding me so tenderly... Does this mean you've finally agreed to marry me?" "Just rest quietly and regain your strength before I put you down."
Despite her weak smile and attempt at a joke, her face was pale. Right now, she likely didn't even have the strength to lift a finger.
When I checked the effect of the power she had infused into the Underworld's aura...
"This isn't a one-time thing. You'll need to reapply your power every six months to maintain the effect." "So, that means I'll get to be held by you every six months?" "...Since you've done such a service, as much as you need."
The spring energy Persephone infused won't last indefinitely. Over time, it will be eroded by the Underworld's energy and eventually revert to its original state.
"He... hehe..." "What are you giggling about? You're likely too drained to even use your divine powers right now." "I'm just happy at this moment..." "Sigh..."
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Seeing Persephone smile up at me as I carried her, I couldn't help but feel the corners of my mouth lift slightly. My niece, noticing, looked up at me in surprise.
"Wait! Did you just smile?" "...You must be imagining things."
After placing Persephone in a suitable room, I returned to my throne and closed my eyes. There was much to prepare now that we were planning to issue an oracle in the world of the living and begin training heroes.
Zeus had already taken Morpheus to deliver the oracle directly to the King of Thebes in a few days... I needed to inform my temple priests in advance as well.
We would need to transport various training tools and supplies to the gorge, and since the heroes' food would need to come from the world of the living, arrangements would need to be made for that as well...
The priests of the world of the living are in for a busy time.
"Are you the high priest now? I've summoned you because I have something important to convey." "Th-this is...! Lord of the Underworld...! Please, command me!"
The current high priest was an old man. Watching the mortal faces and positions change with the passing of time makes me acutely aware of how fleeting time is...
"We will connect the Underworld with the world of the living through my temple." "Wh-what?!"
But this is not the time for such reflections.
The high priest was shocked by the abrupt news, but I ignored his reaction and continued to explain. I told him about the snake monsters, the Gigantes, the training and management of heroes, the oath by the River Styx...
"...That's all. You will discuss the details with the King of Thebes after he receives Zeus's oracle in a few days." "I will follow your commands to the letter, O merciful Lord Pluto!"
"Oh, and... Erect a statue of Persephone, the goddess of spring and seeds, daughter of Demeter and Zeus." "The goddess of spring... residing in the Underworld...?! Are you saying...?" "That's how it turned out. She is now a goddess of the Underworld."
I gave the high priest in Thebes limited information and ended the communication. Even though he's the high priest of my temple, there's no need to reveal every detail of the gods' affairs.
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This high priest seems particularly devout.
It makes it much easier to convey my intentions and establish connections with the world of the living. It seems that, as time goes on, the faith of my followers only grows stronger...
"Lord Hades! The goddess Demeter has sent a letter to the goddess Persephone!" "...There's no need to bring it to me. Deliver it directly to Persephone."
As I sat on my throne, the tasks continued to pile up.
"Next, there are those who arrived in the Underworld with strong resentment and still remember their grievances against the gods..." "Inform the goddess of forgetfulness, Lethe, of this matter."
"The god Eros, who is tasked with punishing the gravest sinners, is requesting to stop drawing his bow..." "Is he begging to be released?" "Well... no, he isn't." "He still hasn't learned his lesson. Don't bother relaying any more of his requests for the time being."
"Also, Triton, the son of the sea lord Poseidon, has arrived and sends his regards..." "Show him to the audience chamber and serve him nectar."
As I dealt with each task brought by the messenger, I thought to myself. Now it finally feels like the Underworld is back to its usual state.
The oracles of the Olympian gods descended upon the world of the living. They reached the temple of Apollo in Delphi, the temple of Athena in Argos...
The message delivered by all the Olympian gods was clear:
Those who wish to become heroes, head to Thebes.
This single, short oracle ignited the hearts of all the young men and women aspiring to become heroes. Many had believed that the path to heroism would be difficult after the death of Chiron, the widely known mentor of heroes...
But with the recent chaos caused by the rampaging Gigantes, monsters with the lower bodies of serpents that had wreaked havoc across Greece, the number of those aspiring to be heroes swelled.
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"Does this mean we can gain strength and become heroes there?" "Apollo said the name of the serpent monsters that killed Chiron was Gigantes." "I heard that the goddess Athena descended upon Athens to slay a Gigantes?" "If these monsters can only be defeated by heroes... Excellent! That's the kind of challenge I'm after!"
The message was clear to everyone, especially since all the gods had spoken with one voice.
"If we go to Thebes, we can catch the eyes of the gods!" "Those chosen there will receive blessings and weapons, and become heroes!" "I want to be like King Perseus of Argos...!"
Every day, dozens of hero aspirants flocked to Thebes. Men and women of all ages and talents gathered in the city, and Thebes experienced an unexpected boom.
"Your Majesty, the number of people passing through the gates today alone..." "The city's population is increasing rapidly." "The market district is so crowded that we may need to consider expanding it..."
Though the sudden influx of people might cause a shortage of essential goods and facilities, Thebes is blessed by Pluto, the god of wealth.
The royal treasury of Thebes was always full, and no one went hungry. Mint, the city's specialty and renowned product, was spread across the world by the merchants passing through.
"This is mint, is it? You say it's a blessing from Lord Pluto...?" "It's perfect for making tea, and placing it at a funeral will prevent the stench of death." "It's a useful leaf for headaches and stuffy noses... It must be a gift of mercy from Lord Pluto to us mortals."
Naturally, this also drew many worshippers to Pluto's temple in Thebes. They were awed by the grandeur of the temple, amazed at the statues of the various deities of the Underworld, and finally...
"Why is there a statue of the goddess of spring in Pluto's temple?" "Ah, that? Well..." "Isn't Persephone the daughter of Demeter and Zeus?" "Haha, well, you see... Lord Pluto brought her to the Underworld after being struck by one of Eros's arrows!" "What?! An arrow from Eros?" "How else would the normally stoic lord of the Underworld suddenly fall for the goddess of spring?"
Rumors that Pluto had abducted Persephone began to spread. The mystery surrounding the mistress of the Underworld, which had lingered since the temple's inception, only grew.
"Well, if the merciful god brought the goddess of spring to the Underworld, it must have been because of Eros's arrow." "Since Pluto is the Zeus of the Underworld, no matter how much Demeter tried, she couldn't stop him..." "Isn't Eros's golden arrow known to spark feelings even between those of the same gender?"
New worshippers began to emerge, devoted to the goddess who had newly arrived in the Underworld. They believed that Pluto, so deeply in love with Persephone, had brought her to the Underworld out of pure devotion.
"Oh, noble Hera of the Underworld, beloved of Pluto, please bless this year's harvest..." "Yet the seasons remain as they should, so she must visit the world of the living from time to time, right?" "She's certainly receiving Pluto's love."
However, those who saw Persephone as the rightful mistress of the Underworld faced strong opposition. Many worshippers pointed out that the temple already housed numerous other goddesses.
"Persephone is just a whim of Lord Pluto!" "But what about the goddess Lethe, who governs forgetfulness, or Lady Styx, who rules the river Styx...?" "Then what will you say about Lady Menthe, who created mint, became a priestess of Pluto, and ultimately joined the goddesses of the Underworld?"
"Zeus's consort is Hera, and Poseidon's wife is Amphitrite, so the mistress of the Underworld must be..." "Or is it possible that there isn't really a formal consort? Could it be just our assumption?" "Nonsense! How could a ruler of a world not have a consort by their side?" "Well, that may be true, but Lord Pluto is a busy deity..."
This was the epitome of the ancient Greeks' love for debate.
Eventually, the square in front of the Temple of Hades became a place where the worshippers of the Underworld gathered daily to debate who was truly Pluto's consort.Slightly Different Story of Thebes - Chapter 1
Several months after the oracles regarding Thebes had spread across the mortal world, a strong man entered the city. This was Philatos, who had made a name for himself in Sparta due to his incredible strength.
So, this is Thebes. It's a much larger city than I imagined.
As soon as he crossed the city walls, he was greeted by the sounds of merchants hawking their wares and children laughing. The faces of those passing by were full and healthy, and a pleasant, fresh scent wafted from the bodies of the people brushing past him.
A little further from the main street, there were rows of modest houses made from well-baked bricks, and he could also spot the grand homes of wealthy nobles, complete with gardens, as well as the largest structure in Thebes—the royal palace.
"Selling high-quality olives blessed by the goddess Demeter!" "How much is this?" "We have fish left from the offerings to the Olympian gods! Only a few coins per fish..." "Phoebus must have blessed you with good fortune, hahaha!"
The scent of mint is everywhere, as expected in Pluto's city... Hmm?
Thump.
While standing in the middle of the road, looking around in awe, someone bumped into Philatos and continued on. Although the road was wide, the crowd was thick, so he had inadvertently become an obstacle.
"Hey, what are you doing, blocking the way? You look like an outsider who came to Thebes to become a hero. Why don't you head over to the Agora?" "...Apologies." "Eh, whatever... So many clueless outsiders these days..."
The merchant who had brushed past him was clad in a tunic made of animal fur and wore sandals made from cowhide. With a string of servants trailing behind him, it was clear he had made a fortune in trade.
As Philatos continued to walk and take in his surroundings, a group of children ran by, heading somewhere in a hurry.
"Kyaa! So that's why there was thunder yesterday—because Lord Zeus..." "Today, let's sneak up the mountain again! We'll bring back loads of wild berries!" "You'll get in trouble again. The guards will stop you, as always." "Let's just go pray at the statue of Hypnos at Pluto's temple. I've been having trouble sleeping lately!"
Why would there be a statue of Hypnos, the god of sleep, in Pluto's temple?
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Curious about what he had overheard from the children, Philatos decided to visit Pluto's temple. Though it was located on the outskirts of the city, the temple was grand and imposing, as if it were a palace, and it was packed with people.
The priests and attendants of Pluto, representing his dual aspects of wealth and the Underworld, were all dressed in black, somber robes.
"Ugh... There are so many people today." "I've brought a few eggs from the chickens at home to offer as a sacrifice." "Do you think the god will be angry at such a meager offering?" "You must not know much. Lord Pluto is the god of wealth and mercy, so he is not swayed by the value of offerings." "Yes, it's the thought that counts."
After finally making his way inside, Philatos saw the priests and attendants managing the crowd, and the people bringing offerings of honey, grain, and animal skins were no small number.
As he waited in line, a beautiful priestess in black approached him. She looked to be in her early thirties, and she clasped her hands together as she addressed him.
"May Pluto's blessing be upon you. I am Philona, a low-ranking priestess. What brings you here?" "I'm just visiting out of curiosity. I heard there are statues of other gods here..." "Ah! If you're interested in seeing the statues of other deities from the Underworld, please follow that direction."
The priestess pointed toward a section of the temple.
Following the direction indicated by the priestess, Philatos wandered through the temple and soon came upon a large number of statues with long lines of people waiting in front of them.
The statues, carved from marble, were guarded by heavily armed soldiers. Judging by their attire, they were likely royal guards.
"Next!" "You've already prayed once. Only one prayer per person, please. We had to implement this rule because of the growing crowds..."
"Ruler of the River of Forgetfulness, my son has not been able to sleep since returning from war..." "I swear by the goddess Styx that I will..." "I present myself before the just and merciful Lord Pluto..." "Ahem! To the goddess of mint..."
In low voices, the worshippers murmured prayers with their eyes closed, hands clasped before the various statues. Intrigued by the strange scene, Philatos asked one of the guards a question.
"Excuse me. I'm an outsider and don't know much about this place. Why are there statues of other gods in Pluto's temple?" "Ah, that question again..."
Apparently, this was a common inquiry, as the guard sounded quite annoyed as he explained.
"I'll only explain this once, so listen carefully." "Understood." "Lord Pluto is a merciful god and allowed statues of most of the gods who reside in the Underworld to be placed in his temple. As you can see, the statues of the goddesses of vengeance, or even Thanatos... ahem, the god of death, are here." "Yes, but..."
Philatos noticed that the temple housed statues of gods who were generally avoided by mortals. In Sparta, at least, the names of Thanatos, the god of death, or the Erinyes, the three goddesses of vengeance, were rarely even spoken aloud.
"The god has embraced those who do not receive worship from mortals or whose names are barely known. Thanks to him, we've been able to let go of many of our prejudices." "I see..."
After a short wait in line, Philatos found himself before a statue of a goddess whose name he did not know. He clasped his hands and offered a simple prayer, expressing his gratitude for the god's grace...
Flash!
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"What the...?!"
"Another one has been chosen." "He looks like an outsider. How lucky." "Was it the statue of Styx?"
To his surprise, a soft light began to radiate from the statue, wrapping around his body. However, despite the divine sign, few people were surprised. The guard who had spoken to him earlier approached with a knowing smile.
"Congratulations. If you came to Thebes to become a hero, would you follow me?" "What just happened...?" "The goddess Styx recognized the potential power within you. It's not uncommon for people to be chosen here." "Becoming a hero was my goal, but..." "You've passed the first test, so follow me."
With a somewhat bewildered expression, Philatos followed the guard deeper into the temple.
Philatos was led into a large room that resembled a grand banquet hall. The guard instructed him to wait, and as he looked around, he saw that there was plenty of food, and about ten others, like him, were passing the time.
"Do as you please until evening." "Are all these people here because they were chosen by the statues?" "Of course not. If you head to the Agora in the city center, you can join the training sessions under the instructors there. You'll have to pass various tests, but the majority of those who end up here get noticed first at the Agora."
Those who wished to become heroes were gathered at the city's central Agora, where they were sorted based on their abilities, such as carrying stones, swordsmanship, or other unusual talents. Sometimes, those chosen by the gods or marked by an oracle would be selected as well.
"Many who fail to become heroes end up joining the army. Just recently, someone was even selected as a royal guard."
It's no wonder the royal family of Thebes follows the words of the gods. They gain a lot from this.
Understanding the process, Philatos nodded, and the guard returned to his original post.
As evening approached, the door opened, and a man in a black robe, who appeared to be a priest of Pluto, entered. He was followed by soldiers and other priests.
"Hmm, is this all for today? Everyone, come up one by one and touch this."
Thud.
The middle-aged priest placed a small, glowing stone on the table. The object exuded an aura of mystery, and the participants began to step forward to touch it one by one.
Flash.
"Hmm, it glows. Stand over here."
...
"No reaction. Unfortunately, you're not chosen." "What?! You're telling me that a mere stone is deciding this...?"
If the stone emitted a light, it meant that the person had the potential to become a hero. The man who had failed to elicit a reaction was furious, but Philatos could feel it. The stone radiated a divine presence, as if a god had directly imbued it with power.
"What do you mean this stone is supposed to decide? I didn't come all the way to Thebes to play these childish games..." "...It seems we have a problem here."
Thud!
"This is what happens to those who cause trouble. Remember that."
The man who had grabbed a soldier by the collar was swiftly struck in the neck by a spear and collapsed. The reason the priest had brought so many soldiers and attendants became clear.
Without even glancing at the unconscious man being dragged away by two soldiers, the middle-aged priest continued the selection process.
"Next, step forward." "Is it my turn?"
The next in line was a scholar who looked like he couldn't even handle a chicken. However, he passed.
Flash—
"That makes two. Stand over here."
It seemed that even a fragile-looking scholar could be chosen as a hero by the gods.
"Next."
Now, only a muscular, bald man and Philatos were left. The muscular man brushed past him and placed his hand on the stone, and soon a reaction occurred.
Flash—
But... something was off. The stone, which had been emitting a white light, now glowed a deep, ominous red.
The bald man, confused as to why this was happening, suddenly drew a knife from his belt. Saliva dripped from his mouth, and his eyes began to turn red.
"Ugh... Ugh...!"
"He's a spy consumed by madness! Kill him!"
At the words of the middle-aged priest, soldiers charged at him.