The Prophet Prometheus
The Underworld. The realm of the dead. The massive gates leading into Hades's citadel.
"Hek. Hek."
"Kiiiing..."
I stood there watching the dog in front of me perform every trick in the book. A monstrous beast with three heads and venom dripping from its fangs was sticking out its tongue and acting cute. I looked at Cerberus, the gatekeeper of the Underworld who had grown quite a bit, then pulled out the Cornucopia.
Thinking of a thick cut of meat, I reached into the broken horn and immediately grasped a large chunk of flesh. I tossed it right in front of Cerberus. The three heads lunged at it, tearing into the meat with wild abandon. The fresh meat vanished into the monster's stomach in an instant.
"Hek hek hek."
As I watched Cerberus wag his tail at me again, clearly begging for the next treat, the God of Dreams, Morpheus, approached.
"Lord Hades. You're personally feeding Cerberus today. Is something weighing on your mind?"
"No, it's nothing... really."
"That expression is the one you always make when you're deep in thought, isn't it? Are you worrying about Gaia again?"
Gaia had been strangely quiet lately. At first she used the Gigantes to set all sorts of traps and chip away at our forces... but when the gods held their ground well, she tried to reduce our influence in the mortal world by using human heroes like Oedipus. The next move she could make was...
"I have a feeling it's about time for her to pull something."
"Wouldn't she either use human heroes again, or seize her one remaining chance to mobilize the Gigantes?"
"The problem is I can't be certain."
Like Morpheus said, she was definitely preparing something, but I couldn't be sure what method she would use. As one of the first-generation gods, the Protogenoi, she was the mistress of the earth who could influence all things. Having priority over the dominion of the earth even above Demeter, she even possessed...
"The power of prophecy."
"Indeed, her prophetic ability that surpasses even Lord Apollo is the issue."
The Earth Mother Gaia was the personification of the earth, the seasons, and the ecosystem. She was also a goddess with powerful foresight. It was well known that when she fell out with Cronus, the god of time and agriculture, she prophesied that he too would be overthrown by his own children. The only being in the world whose prophetic power could rival hers was Prometheus. That ability of his, which even Apollo could not match, posed a great danger to us...
"Wait. If we could somehow persuade Prometheus, couldn't we get his help?"
"But he must be filled with resentment toward Lord Zeus. Would he really want to help Olympus?"
Prometheus had been chained to a rocky mountain as punishment for giving fire to humanity, incurring Zeus's wrath. He even suffered the daily torment of having his liver pecked out by an eagle, so his grudge must run deep.
"Still, I've never seen a Titan who cared for humans as much as he does. The Gigantes devour humans, so if we appeal to that point..."
"Shouldn't we free him from the mountain first?"
"I'll have to go to Olympus and persuade Zeus."
I would convince Zeus to lift the punishment on the rocky mountain, then seek Prometheus's help through his prophetic powers. The one thing that worried me was... whether Zeus would forgive the one who stole fire.
"No matter what you say, brother, that's impossible."
Damn it, just as I expected. The moment I arrived at Olympus and met Zeus, he refused with a stony face.
"I originally intended to end it with just chaining him to the mountain, but he was the one who chose that punishment."
"You mean that provocative remark he made?"
When Prometheus was being bound to the rock, he had asked Hephaestus to deliver this message to Zeus: "You too will one day meet the same fate as Cronus and Uranus." Enraged by such a direct challenge to the King of the Gods, Zeus had ordered the eagle to tear out his liver every day. In truth, since it came from Prometheus who could make perfect prophecies, no one knew whether it was mere provocation or an actual foretelling. It was a deliberate taunt, using the fact that Zeus knew of his prophetic power. That statement must have lodged itself like a thorn in Zeus's heart ever since.
"That remark he made back then is bothering me. If you show him mercy, wouldn't he reveal a way forward?"
"That nonsense that may or may not be a prophecy..."
Zeus's face showed a moment of hesitation. Even though it was about releasing Prometheus, who had disturbed the King of the Gods' peace of mind, it seemed he had indeed kept Hephaestus's delivered words close to his heart. Zeus, who had been tapping the armrest of his golden throne, finally spoke.
"What if Prometheus refuses to be persuaded by you? I sent Hermes with the offer that I would stop the punishment if he gave a detailed prophecy, but all I got in return was mockery."
"That's because you sent Hermes. If I go to him personally, it will be different. And if he won't be persuaded by me..."
Prometheus was the god of perfect prophecy, surpassing even Apollo and rivaling Gaia. Knowing full well what would happen if he stole fire from the gods, he still gave it to humanity... and knowing what punishment would follow if he provoked Zeus, he still hurled mockery at him. Wasn't he, in fact, the true god of madness, surpassing even Dionysus? If Prometheus refused my persuasion and I considered retaliating by chaining him back to the mountain, he—the god of prophecy—would surely laugh in my face.
"He's already suffered enough... I have no intention of doing anything to him."
"...So you're saying you'll just release him?"
"Yes. And that's the only way."
To persuade someone like him, I would need to approach with sincerity, not with a whip. I would end the daily torment he received simply for stealing fire and giving it to humans...
"Because by giving them fire, humans can now offer sacrifices to us."
"But I cannot forgive him for ignoring my command as King of the Gods and acting as he pleased."
"That's why I also overlooked the punishment you imposed. But I believe this has been enough."
Prometheus had already endured a very long time of suffering. The King of the Gods needed a certain degree of authority, but this much punishment should be sufficient for the other gods to accept.
"Summon Athena and tell her I wish to see her!"
"Understood, Lord Zeus."
Zeus ordered a servant to call Athena. It seemed he wanted to hear the opinion of the Goddess of Wisdom whom he trusted.
Soon, as always, the Goddess of War and Wisdom arrived fully armed. After hearing what Zeus and I had discussed, her expression grew serious.
"Forgive me, Father, but haven't you already let go of your anger?"
"What?"
"The very fact that you summoned me to ask my opinion suggests that you believe Prometheus has already received sufficient punishment."
"Hmm... Summon your mother, Metis."
A short while later, Metis arrived riding the clouds. After giving birth to the Goddess of Wisdom from within Zeus's head, she had emerged together with Athena. Although Zeus had swallowed her out of wariness toward the prophecy, once a goddess rather than a god was born between them, he no longer kept her confined. Before Athena's birth, Metis had been regarded as the wisest being in Olympus. It seemed she had already heard Athena's words, for as soon as she arrived she smiled gently and said,
"Zeus, to stand against Lady Gaia's prophetic power, we need Prometheus's strength."
"But I'm not sure if I can forgive him so easily."
"How about showing a little mercy as the King of the Gods? Even if someone defies you, if they can be of help, embrace them..."
When the two wisest gods in Olympus reached the same conclusion, Zeus frowned and waved his hand dismissively.
"Ah. Ah. Fine... I understand. Metis, you may withdraw now."
"Hehe. I'll trust that you'll make the wise decision, just as you always have."
Zeus, rubbing his forehead, looked somewhat uncomfortable. He seemed to be struggling with the idea of releasing Prometheus, who had defied him, in order to ask for his help. I didn't rush him and waited quietly. I believed that if he was the brother who had led Olympus so well until now, he would make the right choice.
"Mmm..."
After a considerable amount of time had passed, Zeus finally spoke as if he had made up his mind.
"I hadn't even considered accepting Prometheus's help... yet here you are, brother, thinking of releasing him. How truly merciful. Is this because you've recently been praised as the God of Mercy?"
Was he indirectly calling me too soft? But he already seemed persuaded; rather than strongly rebuking me, his tone was merely grumbling. Recognizing this as acceptance, I grinned at Zeus.
"The God of Mercy cannot endorse excessive punishment. Especially when the sinner holds the key to our fight against Gaia..."
"Well, having at least one lenient god like you isn't such a bad thing..."
The King of the Gods rose from his throne and met my eyes.
"As for Prometheus... you may do as you wish. But I must have an apology from him."
"If that's all, I'll persuade him somehow."
With Zeus's permission secured, it was now time to head to the rocky mountain where Prometheus was held. But I couldn't just rush over empty-handed... I should prepare a little more. If I could persuade 'her' back in the Underworld... I would surely be able to gain Prometheus's cooperation.