Episode 176: The Peculiar Trojan War – (10)
The Greek Alliance army signed a peace treaty with Troy and withdrew, coinciding with the Day of Thanatos.
However, their journey home was far from smooth.
This was because Zeus, dissatisfied with the number of heroes who had perished in the war, moved the gods of Olympus to intervene.
On their way back to their homeland, the Greek army faced countless hardships, such as being guided to sea monsters or drifting to unknown islands.
Among them, the most notable was Achilles.
Stranded on an island teeming with strange monsters, Achilles and Patroclus had to endure various ordeals.
On the first day, they had to fend off a swarm of harpies.
Thanks to the efforts of Achilles and Patroclus, along with the many soldiers still with them, they managed to drive the harpies away.
“We need to build a ship and get off this cursed island as soon as possible.”
“L-Look! A monster is flying this way through the sky!”
“Damn it. Everyone, draw your swords! Archers, prepare to—”
Three days after being stranded on the island, a monstrous wolf suddenly charged in, attacking and killing soldiers.
Dozens of soldiers were killed or injured, but Achilles managed to stab its side with a spear, forcing it to retreat while bleeding.
Grrr!
“It’s a monstrous wolf! Arrows just bounce off it!”
“Achilles! You said your armor was forged by the god of blacksmiths, didn’t you? Use that…!”
“I know. Patroclus, cover me! Haaah!”
A week passed.
While soldiers were cutting down trees to repair their ship, several nymphs appeared to stop them.
Achilles revealed his identity and tried to appease the nymphs, but some soldiers had already fallen victim to the nymphs' tricks and died.
The soldiers' morale was dropping, and even the heroes were growing weary.
“Humans! Don’t touch the trees here! They’re our friends!”
“That’s right! Do you want to face the wrath of the goddess Demeter?”
“Wait. My mother is the goddess Thetis. We must return to our homeland. Please allow us to take some of the trees…”
A year passed on the island.
Achilles, one of Greece’s most gifted warriors, grew even stronger through battles with the monsters.
His body was soaked with the blood of the monsters that inhabited the island, and the surviving soldiers had also adapted somewhat to the creatures.
Having just fought a giant serpent, Patroclus was sitting nearby, scribbling something while tearing into the meat of a beast they had hunted.
Achilles, curious about what he was writing, asked him.
“Patroclus, what are you writing?”
“Everything we’ve experienced so far.”
“…Do as you like. I’m not even sure we’ll make it out of here alive.”
Achilles shook off the dark, blood-red liquid from his spear as he spoke.
"Now I understand why old men like Nestor and Polydeuces didn’t show much interest in the war."
“Hm?”
“They must’ve fought creatures far stronger than these during their time. Compared to that, human wars probably seem trivial.”
“That’s true. I heard they even faced a dragon during the Argonaut expedition.”
“It’s no wonder they find human wars boring. Haa… I had hoped to achieve great glory in the Trojan War and proudly tell my father about it, but now that seems impossible.”
The fiery ambition Achilles had during the Trojan War was nowhere to be seen.
Still, without Achilles' efforts, the Greek soldiers wouldn’t have lasted even a week.
“Hahaha! Why? Does Peleus seem even more impressive now?”
“Indeed.”
“Oh… Achilles, you’ve had many thoughts while fighting these monsters, haven’t you? You’re like a completely different person from before.”
“Don’t you think so too, Patroclus?”
It was only after an incredibly long time that the heroes finally managed to repair their ship and return to their homeland.
Few soldiers survived the dreadful monster-filled island, and those who returned bore scars all over their bodies.
“…Father.”
"Achilles! My son...! What on earth happened during the war?"
"The war ended rather uneventfully. However, after that..."
"Let's go inside and continue talking, shall we?"
Once they set foot on land, they reunited with their families and began recounting their experiences.
Particularly helpful was Achilles' close friend, Patroclus, who had meticulously recorded their journey on the monster island.
Patroclus, who had witnessed it all, gathered scholars and writers to share their tales.
From the fierce Trojan War to the stories of heroes and gods, and even their harrowing time stranded on the monster island with Achilles, he recounted everything in vivid detail.
"We barely managed to repair the ship and head out to sea, but countless sea monsters forced us back to the island dozens of times..."
"Is that truly what happened?"
"Of course! Though, in the end, Achilles slaughtered them all."
Thus, a grand tale was born:
A heroic saga centering on Achilles, recounting the Trojan War, the gods, and their encounters with monsters.
"Even Apollo, the god of the arts, would be amazed by this epic!"
“Truly fascinating! This is certainly something worthy of being sung by bards and minstrels...”
“I can’t waste time like this. I must remember every detail of the epic tale just mentioned...”
Stories of mythical creatures like Typhon and Hydra were already well-known.
However, Patroclus’ heroic account stood out, accompanied by his written records, adding credibility and vividness.
The tale of the hero Achilles, titled Achilleia, began spreading widely across all of Greece.
* * *
The conflict born of Gaia’s request and Zeus’ plan—
The Trojan War, with the active involvement of the Olympian gods, had come to an end.
"At last. At long last, the war is over. I nearly lost all the feathers in my wings."
"...You’ve worked hard, Thanatos."
"Can’t you take over the role of the god of death, Hades?"
"……"
Thanatos hasn’t changed at all. Even after all this time.
Well, I suppose immortality is one of the defining traits of the gods.
At least now, I can finally take a proper break, can’t I?
Zeus’s war to reduce the number of heroes is over, and the gods, wary of my presence, have toned down their mischief.
I’ve been running around so much—how many times did I have to leave the underworld, which isn’t even my domain, to deal with everything?
Click.
The door to the audience chamber, where only Thanatos and I had been, opened, and someone entered.
The radiant golden hair and the gentle, fresh divine aura—my wife, Persephone?
"Hades!"
"Kore. What is it this time..."
"I’m pregnant!"
What did she just say? Did the goddess of spring and seeds, now smiling brightly before me, just say she’s pregnant?
A child. Truly? I rose from my seat and carefully approached, placing my hand on her belly.
Swish.
A faint, delicate sense of life.
It was true—she was carrying my child.
As the lord of the underworld, a realm far removed from life, the thought of becoming a parent was something I had never imagined.
I embraced her, a smile spreading across my face.
What an unexpected gift. I felt immense joy and my heart swelling with emotion.
"Heh. Ehehe... Inside me is a child that’s both mine and Hades’..."
"Kore, thank you. From now until the child is born, rest and take it easy."
"Oh, by the way! It’s not just me; other goddesses are also..."
Click.
The audience chamber doors opened again.
Lethe, Styx, and even Mente approached me.
“Fufu…”
“Lord Hades!”
Like Persephone, they seemed to be brimming with joy as they approached with sly smiles.
“Don’t tell me…”
“Oh my, did Persephone already tell you? That’s right. All of us are carrying your children.”
I stood there with my mouth agape, unable to say anything.
Mente avoided my gaze, Lethe puffed out her chest with a sense of pride, and Styx elegantly covered her flushed cheeks, letting out a graceful laugh.
They were all carrying my children.
Was this a grand occasion for the Underworld? No, it felt more like a divine blessing.
But what should I name them once they’re born? What kind of divinity will children with my blood inherit?
Will they be strong sons, or perhaps adorable daughters?
My thoughts were a whirlwind, but one thing was certain—I was far from displeased.
To have children with those I love…
To become a father fills me with indescribable emotion.
I thought my emotions had dulled after living as a god for so many eons, but...
“…This is the best news I’ve heard in centuries.”
“Oh my, what did you say...?”
“For our children, their names will be…”
As I began chatting with them, Thanatos tactfully excused himself, leaving us alone.
I’ll need to share this joyous news with others as well—with Zeus in Olympus and with those I’ve maintained close ties.
“Like I told Persephone, you should all rest until the children are born and not do any work.”
“As I told Persephone, all of you should rest until the children are born. Don’t worry about anything else.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes, Mente. Even gods need to rest when they’re carrying children.”
“Oh my. Fufu.”
“…Waaa… I love you…”
Wait. Hold on a second. If all four goddesses take a year off, does that mean I’ll have to handle all the Underworld’s affairs alone?
No, what am I even thinking? My wives are expecting children; there’s no way I can let them work.
Besides, the chaotic days have passed, and I can manage on my own.
The Olympians shouldn’t be causing any major troubles during this time, either.
Just as I reached that thought, I heard the voice of a messenger knocking on the chamber doors outside.
Don’t tell me, again?
“Lord Hades! There’s trouble! Lord Zeus has decided there are too many heroes in Troy and wants to… reduce their numbers…”
“...Tell him not to even think about such nonsense!"
The king of the Underworld remains as weary as ever.