Episode 45: The King of the Underworld is Tired

Episode 45: The Gods' Outing – (3)

Some time had passed since Styx and Lethe, the two goddesses, disembarked from the chariot.

Clop-clop-clop—

The ghost horses’ legs moved busily as they galloped across the land.

The sound of the chariot wheels and hooves echoed around the wide plains outside of Mount Etna.

Of course, humans wouldn't know because both the appearance and sound were hidden.

“Hahaha!”

“Throw it over here!”

Even though this was the dangerous mountain where Typhon’s body was sealed,

Because of the beautiful scenery, there were many nymphs visible just by turning one’s head slightly.

Nearby, a forest spread out, and a small stream of clear water could be seen.

The kind of natural landscape where you’d expect fairies to live.

Naturally, my expression softened, and my mind became peaceful.

It was certainly a refreshing change compared to seeing nothing but parchment scrolls in the office every day.

After making the chariot and ghost horses disappear for a moment and suppressing my power further, I approached the mountain.

If my presence were to envelop this area, Typhon’s body could be stimulated, causing earthquakes.

Whoosh—

My black divine power slowly swept over the mountain, observing the movements of the being sealed beneath.

Hmm. Typhon’s body is still intact. It’s quiet.

I was about to return to where I parted ways with the two goddesses when someone called out to me from between the trees.

A female nymph who had been glancing at me for a while.

“Hey, handsome! If you're bored, why don't you come play with me?”

A nymph with bright, light teal hair approached me, beckoning with her hand.

Her aura was refreshing and clear. Perhaps she was one of the water nymphs, a Naiad.

But it seemed like she already had another suitor before approaching me...

“Mente! What's so good about a guy like that? Come talk to me instead!”

“No, I said no! Go away!”

Behind the nymph, a male centaur ran up and roughly grabbed her hand.

I had thought they were acquainted since he had been hovering around her for a while, but it seemed it was a one-sided pursuit.

“Shut up! Just come with me!”

“Kyaa! Go away!”

The centaur, seemingly angry, violently pulled the nymph into his arms.

Soon, one of those all-too-common crimes in Greece would unfold.

Whether it’s Zeus, Poseidon… or any of the gods, or just men, it’s all too common for them to rape beautiful women.

It’s no wonder that the raped and murdered women harbor deep grudges and petition Minos, the judge.

“Hey! What are you looking at? This woman is mi—urk!”

“Kya!... Haah…”

Disgusted by the revolting sight, I overwhelmed him and killed him.

The violent centaur, who had just attempted to rape the nymph, collapsed, foaming at the mouth as his heart stopped.

“Hii…!”

The nymph, meeting my eyes, started crying in fear, trembling.

Watching her hastily cover herself with her half-removed clothes, I couldn't help but sigh.

“…I have no interest in you, so don’t worry.”

“Are… are you some kind of god?”

“Yes, and you should stay with the other nymphs. There are plenty more like that one.”

Since even the chief god Zeus is a rapist, it's no different for other races.

Especially centaurs, whose lower bodies are beastly, they are even more driven by instinct.

Having finished what I came here for,

I was about to leave when a familiar scent wafted from her.

A very… very old and refreshing scent.

Was it around the time Athena was born? After we overthrew Father Cronos and seized control of the world?

No, earlier than that, back in my previous life…

A truly nostalgic smell.

The nymph, who had finished dressing herself, expressed her gratitude to me.

“Thank you so much. If you see any nymphs around here, tell them you’re Mente’s savior…”

Mente… no, could it be…?

“What did you say your name was?”

“My name is Menthe.”

Menthe. Mint…?

Mint, as in mint chocolate?

“You’re a Naiad, a water nymph… do you happen to cultivate fragrant, refreshing plants?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

* * *

“This way, my lord.”

Upon seeing my interest in plants, Menthe beckoned me to follow her.

I followed her into the forest, where we came upon plants growing beside a stream.

“This is it. They were just ordinary plants, but when I infused them with my power, they changed like this…”

Small leaves, a new species I hadn’t seen in this world until now.

These plants are…

“Mint… Peppermint.”

“Huh?”

Ignoring Menthe’s puzzled expression, I picked a leaf and chewed it.

The refreshing coolness spread in my mouth.

A fragrance I hadn't experienced in ages.

“You said your name was Menthe. I am Hades, god of the underworld.”

“Wha… Hades… you?”

“Yes, and as a reward for reviving a forgotten memory of mine, I shall grant you one wish.”

I didn’t make the foolish mistake of swearing by the River Styx.

I just intended to grant a reasonable wish, something within my power.

Of course, the scope of that “reasonable” range is quite broad.

Mente was greatly surprised by my words, and she started to panic, waving her hands in distress.

Her face turned bright red, then returned to its normal color, only to flush again.

“Th-then perhaps… um… no, it’s just… but I… who am I to even think…”

“You can take your time to think about it before answering.”

“T-then! Please, spend some time with me!”

…Is that really her wish?

She finally managed to express her humble and small desire with a face flushed red.

“Was that too rude of a request?! I’m sorry…”

“It’s nothing at all. And I’d like to reward you even more…”

As a spirit and fairy of nature, she wouldn’t need any blessings of wealth, nor did she seem to have any grand desires…

Ah! I had a good idea.

Why not grant her an honor that anyone would desire?

“In addition, I’ll make that plant you created, mint, my symbol.”

“Wha… whaa?! Th-that’s… too much…”

Too much? It’s a reward for awakening memories of my past life.

But the reward doesn’t end here.

“From now on, mint will always grow in my temples, and I’ll ensure that humans know you were the one who created it. Mint will spread across the world in various foods, and…”

“Ahh…”

Now, Mente could only gape wordlessly, her face burning as red as Hephaestus’s flames, hidden behind her hands.

I intended to grant her next wish—a brief stroll together—but…

I felt the presence of approaching goddesses nearby.

Goddess Lethe and… Goddess Styx?

“Oh, Hades! You were here… huh?”

“We’ve been looking for you… But who is that over there…”

The goddesses who were approaching began glancing between Mente’s flushed face and me.

Their expressions hardened, and divine power began to emanate ominously.

Feeling the goddesses’ power, Mente looked between me and them, and then…

“T-this power… Y-You are goddesses?! Th-then… I-I’m so sorry!!!”

As if realizing something, she turned and fled.

Hey, what am I supposed to do if you leave like that?

Should I have stopped her and asked her to help explain things?

The gazes of the two goddesses, who were slowly advancing toward me, pained my heart.

“So, Hades is a man after all…”

“You came to spend time with us, yet you’re with another woman… More and more are gathering…”

“…I assure you, it’s absolutely not what you’re thinking.”

* * *

A few days later, at the greatly prosperous Temple of Hades in Thebes,

The high priest, who had been praying with his eyes closed, suddenly sprang to his feet.

When he rang the bell beside him, the clear chime echoed throughout the temple.

“Lord Hades has delivered an oracle! All priests, gather at once!”

“An oracle?! What message this time…”

“Lord Hades has given us his symbol!”

In the middle of the temple, a black divine power swirled as Hades’s gift arrived.

After painstakingly clearing up the two goddesses’ misunderstanding, Hades had sent a large quantity of mint to his temple.

The priests were puzzled by the mountains of mint leaves and seeds.

“This is… a plant I’ve never seen before… It has a very strong fragrance.”

“There must be a reason why Lord Hades sent this to us…”

“He named it mint after a nymph called Mente, who created it…”

“Perhaps that nymph performed a great service.”

One of the priests, who had been pondering for a while, finally spoke up.

It was Penedia, the next high priestess, whom Hades had personally descended into.

“Could it be that Hades is being considerate of the dead and their bereaved families?”

“Considerate of the dead…?”

“If we use this strongly scented mint at funerals to reduce the stench of corpses, both the dead and their families might find a bit of comfort, don’t you think?”

“Ah! Similar to the coins given to Charon the Ferryman?!”

Now, the priests wore expressions of understanding.

“Indeed! No one would want their loved one to die and rot with a foul odor…”

“Even if it’s just for their final journey…”

“I knew there was a reason why He sent us such a refreshing plant. Oh, merciful God…”

The priests prayed to the God of Mercy, who cared so deeply for mortals.

Their faith grew even stronger in that moment.

After that, a tradition emerged in Thebes to place mint, the symbol of the Merciful God, Pluto, between the clothes of corpses during funerals.

“They say it’s the mercy of Pluto, symbolized by mint leaves?”

“They say it’s a solution to the stench from decaying corpses.”

“The God of the Underworld is truly merciful…”

“That nymph named Mente must have been remarkable too.”

Meanwhile, a certain god in the Underworld felt a strange sense of growing power…

“Is there another temple of mine on the surface besides Thebes?”

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