The Story of Life - (3)
The Underworld ruled by Hades, the King of the Dead, was bustling as usual today. Especially now, with every god fully mobilized in preparation for the great flood that would soon sweep the surface world clean.
"When the great flood begins, the small beasts in the lowlands will be the first to die."
"Looking at this list of the dead, the cities we need to visit first are..."
"Charon, the ferryman of the Acheron, is going to suffer."
"We'll have to make the souls clear this section and relocate..."
The desperate scramble of the Underworld administrators bracing for the explosive surge in population. And me, Hades, sitting at the center of it all, processing every report they raised.
Assigning and judging the souls who would arrive because of the great flood. Preparing living space for them in the Underworld. Commanding my subordinate gods, distributing roles efficiently, and putting preventive measures in place for every problem that might arise down here.
There was almost no part that didn't require my direct involvement. I had to manage everything without stepping on the jurisdictions of the gods who oversaw each domain.
Now I finally understood why the stories about Hades were so scarce in the gradually fading 21st-century knowledge of Greek mythology.
"My lord Hades, if we expand the Underworld's boundaries further toward the Elysian Fields..."
"How about recruiting additional ferrymen to assist Charon?"
"Perhaps it would be best to request support from Olympus..."
With this much work, it was impossible to step foot outside the Underworld. For reference, the Elysian Fields is a paradise where souls who accomplished remarkable feats or performed great good deeds in life are allowed to dwell. The vast majority of souls who don't qualify reside in my Underworld instead.
Despite being underground, it is a mysterious realm filled with sunlight like the plains above, teeming with plants and animals. The Elysian Fields. Souls who enter there live in meadows blessed by the gods, free to do whatever they wish, experiencing a spiritual fulfillment that surpasses any material pleasure.
Simply put, you could think of it as heaven in the ancient Greek style.
"Lord Hades! Lord Zeus has come to visit the Underworld!"
Did I mishear? The soul who had burst into my office seemed to say that Zeus was waiting outside.
"The chief god Zeus has arrived in the Underworld accompanied by the goddess of the rainbow, Iris!"
I had expressed my displeasure through Iris earlier, yet that prideful Zeus had come all the way here?
When I gave a slight nod, the soul soldier opened the door to my office, revealing the golden-haired god I knew so well. Zeus entered with an awkward expression, clearing his throat, while the goddess of the rainbow, Iris, followed cautiously behind him.
"Ahem. Ahem. It's been a while, brother Hades."
He really had come to this dark place in person.
The king of the gods personally visiting the domain of one of the three chief gods to apologize? Was his power unstable? Had something gone wrong on Olympus?
"It was my mistake not to tell you about the great flood in advance. I was so focused on punishing those shameless humans that I forgot to consult with you, brother."
I gestured for Zeus to take the chair across from me. The fact that he had come to apologize in person did ease my irritation somewhat...
"Khm. I never intended to disregard the authority of the Underworld. As a gesture of apology for this matter, I've prepared a few things..."
"What kind of gesture?"
"First, to prepare for the excessive workload the Underworld will face during the great flood, I will dispatch some attendants from Olympus along with my daughter, Athena..."
Oh. This was quite good news. The goddess of wisdom was worth a hundred ordinary workers. She would easily handle the massive workload here.
"And I swear there will never again be a decision made by Olympus alone, without consulting the Underworld, that results in the extinction of life in the lower world."
That was only natural. Obviously.
"I can swear this on the River Styx."
The fact that Zeus had come all the way to the Underworld to apologize had already softened my stance. I nodded vaguely, then froze.
An oath sworn on the River Styx carried absolute power that not even the gods could break.
Well, it did seem like he was reflecting. No matter how much I cursed Zeus, he knew when to bend his pride as king of the gods. Of course, the fact that I wasn't some weak minor god probably helped him reach this decision.
"And how about sharing a cup of nectar with me? It's been a long time. We have much to talk about..."
I let out a small chuckle and cleared the documents piled on my desk. Iris quickly produced ambrosia and nectar from her rainbow and discreetly stepped aside.
"Fine. Let's have that drink after so long."
It seemed my message through Iris had lit a fire under his feet. To think he would rush here and even try to read the mood of the Underworld's residents.
"So other gods have expressed dissatisfaction about the great flood as well."
"Poseidon is the biggest problem, I tell you. He keeps eyeing my position. This time too, he subtly..."
Listening to Zeus's half-complaint, half-confession, I popped some ambrosia into my mouth. Although he had gained justification to wipe out the surface through Pandora, it seemed some gods still harbored doubts or outright opposition toward the great flood.
I spoke to Zeus, who was venting his troubles. Did he really need to cling so tightly to the position of king of the gods?
"Both you and Poseidon—what is so special about the position of ruler of Olympus..."
"Hahaha! Brother Hades, are you saying you covet this seat?"
Zeus's eyes sharpened for a moment, but I casually lowered the nectar cup from my lips. I knew him and he knew me. There was no reason for pointless suspicion. It was probably just a joke.
"A joke. It was a joke. But you know the view from the palace of Olympus, don't you, brother? I'm actually more amazed that you have no interest in power at all."
The palace of Olympus—looking down upon everything from above the clouds. Before the battle against the Titans, the six of us—including me, Zeus, and Poseidon—had all seen that sight. It truly was overwhelming. Was this what an absolute being saw? A sense of omnipotence and exaltation as if the entire world rested in the palm of your hand. It had been one of the reasons I decided to fight the Titans.
But when asked why I was different from Poseidon despite having both the power and position to challenge for that seat...
"If I ascend to the golden throne of Olympus, I wouldn't be able to stay here anymore."
"Olympus would be far better than this gloomy Underworld."
Did I need to explain further? If I usurped the position of king of the gods and moved to Mount Olympus, many things would change. First, I wouldn't be able to see the goddess Styx, who had graciously forged a sword for me, as often... Thanatos, who worked tirelessly every day harvesting souls, wouldn't come to Olympus either... Nor would Hypnos, who helped with the Underworld's affairs, nor Moros and the Keres, nor the goddess of forgetfulness, Lethe.
Finally, all the citizens who currently lived in the Underworld and followed my rule would have to be left behind.
The guard Costaris, who always stood before my office door, had refused reincarnation even after his memories were erased. He had died after suffering unjust treatment on the surface. The woman who poured nectar for me at every Underworld banquet, Nerdis, had also met a terrible end at the hands of vicious scoundrels...
At that point, Zeus interrupted me. He must have grown bored listening to the life stories of humans. Yet the golden god was stroking his beard and nodding as if he had realized something. It was a kingly aspect of Zeus that I hadn't seen in a very long time. A glimpse of his true nature.
"Indeed. Now I understand. Brother, you are already a true king, which is why the position of king of the gods holds no appeal for you."
He was right. I was the King of the Underworld. Becoming the greatest power among the gods couldn't compare to faithfully carrying out my current duties or caring for my people. Perhaps I had grown attached to this dark and gloomy place without realizing it.
And if he had only just realized that, then as king of the gods, shouldn't he stop committing those scoundrel-like rapes? How many affairs had he had by now? Yet he still wanted to cling to power. I gently rephrased the message to "just take it easy" and conveyed it.
"Well? I have a duty to make the Olympian gods prosper. And honestly, even now, Iris's beautiful figure keeps coming to mind..."
Zeus shook his head with a deliberately stern expression, but his eyes as he spoke of Iris's figure were filled with lechery. Are you not afraid of Hera, Zeus? All that talk about the prosperity of the Olympian gods—wasn't it just an excuse to satisfy his own desires? If not, there would be no reason for him to have relations with his own sisters and relatives...
"Hmm? Why are you looking at me like that?"
The bastard avoided my gaze with an uncomfortable expression. Should I just 'Uranus' him and be done with it?