Episode 177: The King of the Underworld is Tired

Episode 177: The King of the Underworld Is Tired – The End

The passage of time for mortals is astonishingly fast.

Even from the perspective of the gods, who live eternally, it feels the same. Before long, the high priests of their temples are replaced multiple times, or entirely new nations rise and fall before their eyes.

After the Trojan War, the age of heroes began to wane.

Mythical monsters were no longer seen, and gods no longer felt the need to nurture heroes.

But the decisive turning point was due to Achilleia.

The story of the hero Achilles—an intense saga of human struggle to survive amid wars and monsters.

"Most of the heroes who went to war for honor and glory never returned."

"Come to think of it, even Agamemnon, the king of Mycenae, didn’t come back. Could he have been devoured by some monster somewhere…?"

"Instead of chasing fleeting dreams, wouldn’t it be better to focus on one’s family and nation?"

The heroes who had gone to the battlefield, crying out for honor and glory before the Trojan War, came to realize the truth.

Countless soldiers never returned to their families, and those who did spoke of the horrors of war.

And then, on top of it all, there was the story of Achilles, who drifted onto the island of monsters.

Reflecting on the age of heroes, those who had pursued the ideals of honor and glory came to terms with reality.

The era of those who sought out monsters faded, and collective strength began to take precedence over individual prowess.

Achilleia, led by Patroclus, gained widespread renown, and Achilles’ name gradually came to rival even that of Heracles.

Of course, in terms of actual feats, he fell far short of Heracles, but still...

“Mom! I want to be like Achilles and fight on the battlefield!”

“Oh, my. You’re obsessed with those hero tales again.”

"But they’re so exciting! Even more than the stories of Heracles or Perseus!"

"Then you must also understand that Achilles realized life was more important than honor and glory. Now come in for dinner."

Over the generations, Achilles’ heroic tales were gradually exaggerated and embellished.

The gigantic wolves and serpents he supposedly encountered on the monster island were said to be descendants of Typhon, while the desperate struggles of Achilles and Patroclus became captivating tales.

Their names, which taught many a lesson about life, were on everyone’s lips.

"Achilles... hehe."

Even Thetis, the goddess who reminisced about her mortal son who had journeyed to the Underworld, allowed a faint smile to grace her lips.

Once, the goddess Thetis had tried to grant her child immortality.

Yet, after enduring countless trials and much anguish, Achilles had refused.

"Why? Why would you refuse? I even convinced Zeus to grant you immortality..."

"I know, Mother. That’s why Father received the gift of immortality, didn’t he?"

“Then why…? This is a path for our family to be happy forever...!"

"If I receive immortality and become a god, my name will surely live on as legend. But I want to dedicate myself to future generations."

Achilles gazed at his mother.

The goddess—a being who once felt so distant and celestial—now seemed almost within reach.

Of course, the great goddess of the sea was far beyond him, but a lesser deity might not be out of reach.

Following his beloved mother’s wishes would undoubtedly bring happiness.

His name would spread far and wide, transcending legend to become myth. But...

"I want to remain human. To be buried in the earth and go to Pluto’s realm, leaving my mark in the memories and history of people."

"Ah..."

"That is something no immortal being can achieve. Please understand my wishes."

Achilles’ words came to fruition.

As the years passed, he grew old, was buried in the earth, and met his death.

Yet he was firmly remembered as a real hero and a master of martial arts, praised by all.

* * *

As time passed and human abilities developed, their faith in the gods significantly weakened.

With the advent of science, which provided explanations for countless natural phenomena, fewer people truly believed that we were omnipotent deities compared to the past.

Zeus’s current policy is to influence the mortal world indirectly, through dreams or faint blessings, rather than direct intervention.

This may be because there are few descendants of the gods left or simply because humans are managing well enough without us.

Monsters, too, are now either extinct or hidden deep within caves or the ocean where humans cannot see them.

Humans are gradually understanding the domains ruled by the Olympian gods in their own ways—medicine, the skies, the earth, fire.

Now, many rely on the knowledge they’ve accumulated over time rather than praying to the gods.

However…

“God of wealth, Pluto! Please have mercy on me...”

“Where there is death, there is life. Lord Hades, I thank you for the sustenance you have provided once again today.”

“If you believe in Lord Hades, you can go to Elysium after death. Hades…”

“Ah, no thanks! I’m Buddhist, actually.”

Why has my faith alone grown so much?

It has been a long time since those who worship me surpassed the number of Zeus’s followers.

Is it because, unlike domains like the sky, which can now be partially understood through technology, the afterlife remains beyond comprehension?

Or is it because the era has shifted from valuing honor to pursuing practical gains, elevating the standing of me, the god of wealth?

In the distant past, where Troy once stood, a nation was established that worshipped the Olympian gods.

It conquered its surroundings and established an empire, and its citizens began dividing history into “Before” and “After” based on the founding of that empire.

Was it the year the empire’s first emperor was born that they used as the starting point?

I remember it because he was a devout follower of mine—he worked tirelessly to build grand temples and altars.

Even after the empire fell, my faith endured, likely thanks to the emperor being my devotee.

There were instances where prophets who demonstrated mercy were hailed as my incarnations.

In one nation, a statue of me seated on a throne was placed in front of its courts of law.

Below it stood statues of Dike, the goddess of justice, my beloved wives, and the children born between us:

There was Zagreus, so reliable that I could entrust him to act as my deputy in the underworld; Makaria, blessed with the divinity of peaceful death;

And Melinoe, the goddess of nightmares, who has recently grown suspiciously close to Orpheus. Like Zeus and Poseidon, I, too, have numerous offspring.

When witnesses swear an oath in court invoking my name, I sometimes get a distinct sense of their truthfulness.

However, modern humans no longer fear the gods’ names as they once did and often lie.

“I swear, under the name of Hades, god of fairness, that everything I say in this courtroom will be the truth…”

Hmm. That human is lying.

Although faith in the Olympian gods has weakened, if I were to issue a divine oracle or intervene in the mortal world, chaos would surely ensue.

So, for now, I endure.

No matter how advanced medicine becomes or how much longer humans live, no mortal can escape death.

Eventually, when they arrive in the underworld, all of their deeds will be judged accordingly.

After a long time, I made my way across the rivers of the Underworld, finally arriving at the Acheron River.

The ferryman of the Acheron, old Charon, was still plying his trade. Thankfully, due to advancements in technology over time...

Vroom—

The hum of the engine from a black boat adorned with all sorts of decorations tickled my ears.

There sat the old man Charon, clad in a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses, waving cheerfully from his boat.

"Hey there, Hades!"

"Old Charon, what’s got you in such a good mood?"

"How could I not be? Thanks to this new invention by Hephaestus, I don't have to row anymore. Hahaha!"

While he still had to ferry the dead across the river, he seemed quite pleased that he no longer needed to row manually after all these centuries.

"Did you know that Thanatos has been carrying around a scythe lately? Humans who see him keep calling him the Grim Reaper or something..."

"So there are still humans left with divine blood or prophetic powers, I see."

As I chatted with Charon, I noticed a surge of souls flooding toward the Acheron River.

Thanatos’ avatars, cloaked in hoods and wielding scythes, began dragging the dead toward the river.

"Well, I must go prepare for the judgment of these souls now."

"Alright then. Ah! By the way, could you tell your wife, the goddess of mint, to tone down that mint chocolate… or whatever it’s called? It’s a bit much."

"...?"

What nonsense is he spouting?

Isn’t mint chocolate highly praised, even encouraged by my followers in the mortal world?

Anyway, I returned to my throne as usual to begin judging the souls.

Most cases are handled by Minos and the other judges, but every now and then, a particularly exceptional human requires my direct judgment.

Clunk.

It seems someone has arrived.

An elderly man entered, glancing nervously at his unfamiliar surroundings.

The attendant who had escorted him here bowed to me and left, leaving only the two of us in the audience chamber.

"This... This is...!"

"Welcome to the Underworld."

The old man, scanning his surroundings, locked eyes with me sitting upon my throne.

His trembling eyes and voice betrayed his unease.

"Who... Who are you? I was sure I had drowned, guided by the Grim Reaper, and now..."

"I am Hades, the god of the Underworld. And I am the one who will judge you."

"This is absurd! Greek mythology is real?! This is..."

Seeing the man’s gaping expression of disbelief, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Nowadays, many humans dismiss the existence of the Olympian gods as mere fiction.

Though their science has advanced, the afterlife remains a mystery beyond their grasp...

"Let’s see. You drowned trying to save a little girl who had fallen into the river. Though you succeeded in rescuing her, your strength gave out, and you ended up here."

"This is... Oh, my... But I don’t even believe in gods..."

"You’ve never committed murder or any heinous crimes, and despite a troubled upbringing, you grew up righteous... After retirement, you even donated half your wealth to charity. It’s been a while since I’ve encountered such a virtuous soul."

"...Ah... Ugh...!"

Thud.

Though souls cannot shed tears, the trembling of his body and his choked voice conveyed his overwhelming emotion as he collapsed to the ground.

I raised him up with divine power, gently waving my hand.

As he realized an unfamiliar force was acting upon him, he tried to bow again, but I stopped him and smiled as I delivered my judgment.

"You are fully deserving of Elysium—paradise. Though you suffered much in life, may you find peace here."

"Lord... Lord Hades? May I ask you just one question?"

"What is it?"

"My wife, who died five years ago... She was killed by an assailant. Could I possibly... see her again?"

I occasionally receive such requests. It’s fortunate that the fear surrounding my name, Hades, has diminished over time.

Luckily, this request doesn’t go against the rules and can be granted.

"Your wife, too, performed many good deeds and now rests peacefully in the Elysian Fields. Both of you being destined for Elysium... You and your wife are truly exemplary among mortals."

"Th-Thank you... Thank you! I may have been an atheist but... I mean, no... Thank you, my lord!"

"You don’t need to thank me. It’s the result of your own good deeds in life."

Yes, this is what makes it all worthwhile.

Judging all mortals fairly at the end of their lives...

That is my duty, my responsibility, and my purpose as the King of the Underworld.

The King of the Underworld is Tired – The End.

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