Episode 174: The Peculiar Trojan War – (8)
The battle surrounding the walls of Troy continued for a long time thereafter.
The lack of proper siege weapons among the Greek forces, the efforts of Troy's commander Hector, the Greek heroes retreating due to Hades' intervention, and the walls of Troy, built directly by the gods—all these factors dominated the battlefield.
Clang! Thwack! Whoosh!
“Stop them! Mycenaean soldiers are climbing the western wall! Shoot arrows and push down the ladders!”
“Send Hector, Paris’ brother, to the underworld too!”
“Aeneas! How long are you going to hide behind the walls? Come out and fight!”
“Where are General Polydeuces and Nestor?!”
“Throw stones down from the wall! Drive out those who dare to threaten Troy!”
The fierce siege battle, with neither side willing to back down, stretched on.
The commanders with divine blood fell one by one, and the walls of Troy were stained red with blood.
Eventually, as darkness enveloped the world and Selene, the goddess of the moon, rose into the night sky, the Greek allied forces finally retreated.
This battle had inflicted heavy losses on both sides.
“Hector! Queen Penthesilea has been severely injured and has been moved inside the city! It appears to have been the work of the hero Nestor earlier.”
“Prince Democoon was struck in the chest with a spear and has died. It seems Achilles was the one responsible.”
“The morale of our soldiers is low. Even though the Spartans have withdrawn, we have already lost two princes to Pluto’s embrace…”
“Rumors are spreading that a soldier possessed by the god Pluto drove the heroes away.”
Troy’s situation was far from favorable.
Prince Paris and Prince Democoon had fallen, and the Amazon Queen Penthesilea was gravely injured.
To make matters worse, the Greek heroes had displayed terrifying power in the recent battle.
Had Hector also fallen in this battle...
“For now, we must absolutely avoid a direct confrontation with the Greeks. Deiphobus! Watch the soldiers carefully and root out any spies who may have infiltrated when they entered the city. Additionally…”
Hector calmly commanded Troy’s generals, but the deep concern etched on his face revealed the dire state of the war.
As the grieving commander bid farewell to his beloved brothers, his cousin Aeneas silently patted him on the back.
* * *
Meanwhile, the Greeks, despite their victory in the recent battle, were not in an ideal situation either.
The first issue was their failure to capture Troy, even with their mighty heroes. The second was the growing sentiment among the heroes to return home.
The Greek Alliance's commander-in-chief, Agamemnon, was red-faced with anger as he confronted Nestor.
“Why did you retreat?! I clearly saw you nearly reach the top of the wall!”
“There were circumstances. Please calm yourself. Are you not aware of the heavy divine interference on this battlefield?”
“What of it? Our side has the favor of Lady Hera, Lady Athena, and even Lord Poseidon…”
“Lord Pluto descended upon the battlefield.”
Nestor’s calm statement caused Agamemnon to fall silent.
The other Greek commanders, observing the exchange, stiffened visibly.
“…Don’t joke with me.”
“Ajax, I am serious. Even King Agamemnon here received Lord Poseidon’s oracle, but this was Lord Pluto himself…”
“That’s a completely different matter! Why would the lord of the underworld interfere in a war of the living?”
Zeus, the king of the gods, was one thing.
Poseidon, the god of the sea and one of the three great gods, was at least a deity of the mortal realm, often appeased by Greek offerings for safe voyages.
It made sense for him to take their side.
But why would Lord Pluto, the god of the underworld, involve himself in a mortal war?
It was already known that he supported Troy, but Nestor’s claim was that the lord of the underworld had descended into the mortal realm.
“When I was about to step onto the wall, I made direct eye contact with Lord Pluto. That was unmistakably the power of the underworld.”
“Couldn’t you have been mistaken? What if it was another god…”
“Absolutely not. Thanks to my training… ahem. No, my past adventures have left me with a vivid memory.”
“……”
Indeed, Nestor and Polydeuces were heroes with far more experience than anyone else present.
If Nestor spoke with such certainty, it was likely true that Pluto had descended into the mortal realm.
Even if they won this war, wouldn’t there still be issues?
Troy had not only a temple of God Apollo but also one dedicated to God Pluto.
If, during the plunder of the city, even a single finger touched these temples… the Greeks’ afterlife could be in jeopardy.
“Well then, we’ll take our leave for now.”
“Right. Something has been wrong since the god of fairness intervened. See you next time.”
While the other commanders debated the implications of Pluto’s descent and their chances of victory...
Nestor and Polydeuces, each leaving a brief remark, exited the Greek camp.
* * *
Agamemnon gazed at the spot where the heroes had just departed, then pressed his hand to his forehead.
His voice resonated quietly within the tent.
“…If anyone has a solution, speak up. How can we bring down the city of Troy?”
“The loss of forces is too severe.”
“Indeed. With the Spartan army and King Nestor's Pylos forces gone…”
“The losses are too great. Perhaps we should just return?”
“Troy is under Pluto’s protection, is it not? I fear dying and facing him…”
The final comment brought to mind the oracle everyone remembered—the one they received when setting out for Troy.
'The outcome of this war is no longer in mortal hands.'
“The gods.”
“Indeed. Troy is protected by the Sun God and God Pluto…”
“Even though the goddess Athena supports us…”
It was far beyond what human power alone could achieve.
Yet retreating empty-handed, having gained nothing, would be disastrous. What would the people say if they returned with nothing?
They would surely be mocked for starting a pointless war.
Amid the silence that engulfed the Greek leaders, one of them finally spoke.
“Since Troy has Lord Pluto’s protection, wouldn’t it make sense for us to seek help from Lord Poseidon?”
“Lord Poseidon’s help?”
“He has always been favorable to the Greeks. If we offer lavish sacrifices and appeal to him, surely he would assist us?”
The Commander’s minds began working furiously.
Would Lord Poseidon respond to their pleas? And if so, how much sacrifice would be required?
“If this plan fails… we’ll truly have no choice but to leave Troy.”
“I agree. Dying here and facing the king of the underworld—I cannot even begin to imagine what punishment awaits us.”
“Who among mortals can afford to disregard the afterlife? Let us stop this madness while we still can.”
“…Very well. It’s decided then. We shall offer Lord Poseidon a generous sacrifice and make one last assault! If the gods protect Troy, then we shall seek the aid of a god as well!”
Commander-in-Chief Agamemnon summarized their decision.
If Poseidon’s aid could be secured, it might open a path to victory over Troy.
They could not simply return home empty-handed.
* * *
The next day, the Greek forces cut down nearby trees and erected a massive altar on the beach.
Their desperation was evident in the altar piled high with dazzling treasures and fine livestock.
Whoosh!
The altar was set ablaze, and Agamemnon turned toward the sea, shouting loudly.
“Oh great Poseidon! This is all an offering to the lord of the seas!”
Splash!
Suddenly, an enormous wave rose and devoured the altar they had built.
Nothing remained in its place, and Agamemnon took this as a good omen.
“I, Agamemnon, King of Mycenae, humbly beg for your assistance!”
“…!”
“Ah, look! Over there!”
“Lord Poseidon has responded! Everyone, kneel!”
The sea shifted and formed the shape of a colossal giant.
The towering figure, holding a trident, looked down at them.
The majestic presence of a god spread across the land, crushing the mortals beneath its overwhelming aura.
It could only be Poseidon.
'Surely you seek my aid in bringing down Troy.'
“That is correct! The vile Trojans have deceived Lord Pluto into aiding them. Please, lend us your power!”
The watery giant stroked his smooth chin in a gesture of thought before speaking again.
'Very well. I shall speak to Hades on your behalf..'
“…!!! Thank you, lord of the seas! If we succeed in conquering Troy, we shall offer you great treasures in gratitude!”
The water giant melted gently back into the waves, disappearing as swiftly as it had come.
The Greek allied forces were overjoyed.
If Troy has the god of the underworld on their side, then we have Lord Poseidon by ours!
* * *
This is the Underworld.
Still busy because of the Trojan War.
And here, a pitiful husband was being scolded by his wives.
The undeniable charge against him:
Daring to leave the Underworld for the mortal realm, leaving his beloved wives to handle his work.
The goddess Styx, her face flushed red with anger, was trembling with fury.
Beside her, the goddess Lethe stood with her arms crossed, pouting and nodding in agreement.
A little farther away, Persephone subtly cheered them on, while Mente quietly avoided eye contact, glancing downward.
“Hades, did you go to the mortal world again? Do you know how much work I had to handle on my own? You’re the god of the Underworld! Why do you keep leaving for the mortal world? Why!”
“Wait, Styx, calm down for a moment…”
“Be quiet! Just hurry up and take care of this! I have to go fetch the souls at the River Styx…”
Boom!
With a loud noise, a mountain of documents was dumped in front of him. How much work was this? Truly overwhelming.
Even as he felt sorry, Hades was also grateful. He knew that whenever he was absent, his wives had to divide the burden of handling the Underworld’s affairs.
Though there were four of them, Persephone was still inexperienced, and Mente, as a concubine and a lesser goddess, had limited authority.
In truth, the burden must have fallen largely on Styx and Lethe, who bore most of the responsibility.
“My Lord Hades. Lord Poseidon’s divine beast is at the entrance to the Underworld…”
“Tell them to bring it to me immediately.”
Sigh.