Chapter 111: Heracles of Thebes - (2)

"It seems Heracles has lost his motivation. No matter what I try, I can't change his mind, so if you could please help..."

Heracles lost motivation? Did he lose his dream of becoming a hero, or is he neglecting his training?

Motivation decline that can't be resolved by Chiron's education...

I've seen many heroes who wander aimlessly after losing their goals or become arrogant, but motivation is a slightly different issue.

In Oedipus' case, he lost the will to live due to immense frustration and guilt, but that's unlikely for Heracles.

Perhaps he thinks of himself as a monster because of his powerful self, empowered by Hera's milk and the River Styx.

Or he might have become arrogant, thinking becoming a hero would be easy.

As I pondered for a moment, Goddess Styx, who was observing my expression, asked a question.

"Hmm..."

"Hades? What does the parchment say?"

"It says Heracles has lost motivation. It's understandable, given his innate strength."

"Ah..."

The conditions for a mortal to become a hero are simple.

They become heroes by possessing strong power or wit, having divine lineage, or completing tasks chosen by fate.

But not all heroes are equal.

There's an enormous power gap between great heroes like Cadmus and heroes who barely managed to slay a few monsters...

What we gods need to nurture is someone who surpasses even Cadmus, transcending the limits of mortals.

No matter Heracles' destined heroic fate, if his own motivation is broken, there's bound to be a limit.

I wonder if something changed because I dipped him in the River Styx.

"...This won't do. I need to see Heracles myself."

"You're going in person?"

"Yes. If his motivation is broken, we just need to give him a goal and motivation. I also plan to tell him about matters related to Hera."

After all, if we don't tell him that he suckled Hera's breast when he was born, he'll be caught up in divine punishment...

To slightly appease Hera's anger, perhaps it's better for Heracles to apologize directly at her temple.

***

A while later, I headed to the hero training ground on the outskirts of the Underworld.

Chiron, noticing my approach, quietly came over and bowed his head.

"I'm ashamed, Lord Hades. I prided myself on being the best educator..."

"No, you've done well so far. Zeus's son losing motivation is more my responsibility. Because I dipped him in the River Styx."

"The cause is likely because his power is too exceptional. Even if I try to admonish him, he can't become a hero through forceful methods, and he's not injured by any weapon..."

I could tell at a glance who Heracles was.

While all the other heroes were sweating and sparring in the field...

Only one muscular giant was sprawled out on a high cliff, staring up at the sky.

A steel-like body, power felt even while just lying still, divinity of a demigod that could be mistaken for a god.

But despite all this, eyes that have lost motivation.

I approached him.

"Are you Heracles?"

"...Who are you? Another past hero sent by Teacher Chiron to persuade me? I've already said I have no intention of training anymore..."

This is the response I get when I approach suppressing my power, as I do before humans.

It's sad to see him staring blankly into space without even looking this way.

"Do you know how meaningless that emptiness and futile emotion is?"

"What did you say?!"

"Is the world like soft wool to you? The people on the streets might feel like weak animals. Or do you think training is meaningless because you have a body of steel?"

"Who are you to say such things!"

Heracles suddenly sat up and raised his voice.

Now he's looking this way.

"I don't know which esteemed hero you are, but you don't understand! When I apply even a little force, everything breaks and crumbles, so what need is there for training? A lion is a lion from birth. Techniques and training are just tricks for the weak!"

"Don't you want to become a hero?"

"A hero? Of course I want to! Isn't that a great honor? That's why I'm still here and haven't left. But what I'm saying is that the training they do is useless for me. No, it was once useful, but now it's unnecessary. I've worked hard enough to become a hero, and now all that's left is to accomplish tasks!"

Heracles glances down at the heroes below the cliff as he speaks.

For someone born with such powerful strength, training is trivial. Killing monsters is far too easy.

To a demigod who was born invulnerable and suckled Hera's breast, the world is a dull place.

But even so...

"With just that level of strength?"

"What?"

"There are plenty of beings in the world with power like yours. Even among the monsters you'll face to accomplish your tasks."

He feels that way only because he lacks experience.

Heracles is strong. Surely, with his current strength, he has no match among humans.

But if he advances into the realm of monsters, gods, and Titans, it's a different story.

If he's the prophesied hero, unlike ordinary mortals, a higher level is required.

Enough to tear apart those hateful Gigantes...

"Are you satisfied with just becoming a hero? Don't you dare to look higher?"

"Higher..."

"Shedding your mortal body and becoming a god."

Heracles briefly looked puzzled, then smirked.

"Well, I'm not sure. Even the gods, I wonder how strong they really are. I've heard that my father is actually Lord Zeus, but..."

"...Look into my eyes. I'll show you how small a being you are."

Heracles stares blankly at me, seeming to have realized my identity.

Indifference, curiosity and doubt, and a faint hope. I see hope that he might change his mind.

My nephew's current strength should be comparable to a lesser god. He shouldn't die from this.

For a moment... shall I show him the Underworld?

***

"...Look into my eyes. I'll show you how small a being you are."

A goal? Was the one advising me to become a god actually a god himself?

But even that great hero Cadmus killed a demigod who was the son of Ares... even if he's a god...

The moment he met the eyes of the man with black hair and a cold impression,

The world Heracles knew turned upside down.

Whoosh-

An illusion of being sucked into those black eyes.

He can't breathe. But even so, he was alive.

His eyes were open, but darkness surrounded him.

The eerie sensation felt around him made his body tremble.

Where. Is this.

He kept falling. Down there.

Somewhere into that abyss (Tartarus) with no end in sight.

Rising nausea. Inverted vision. Immobile body.

For the first time in his life, Heracles felt the helplessness of his strength not working.

Ah.

Is this death?

.

. .

. . .

***

Thud!

"Gasp! Cough... huff... urgh..."

"Get a hold of yourself. I just showed you an illusion."

The moment their eyes met, Heracles collapsed.

The demigod gasping for breath, having experienced the sensation of death. His eyes trembled uncontrollably, and his legs seemed to have lost strength, unable to stand properly.

Still, befitting a hero blessed with all sorts of gifts from birth, he didn't die even while sweating profusely.

Of course, it was as expected...

Heracles is likely the first and last mortal to survive meeting my sincere gaze head-on.

Indeed, he is Zeus's son. I spoke to my nephew, who was grasping his own neck and breathing out.

"Your father, Zeus, is far stronger than me. Yet it's disappointing that the son of Zeus is satisfied with being a hero worshipped by mere mortals. If you haven't changed your mind, you can turn around and leave for the living world. No one will stop you."

"....Gasp.. Who. Are you?"

"I'm your father's brother."

"What! Then you're Hade...! Cough.. huff."

I gave Heracles, who was on his knees on the ground gasping for breath, some time to recover.

After some time passed... he glanced at me and cautiously opened his mouth.

"...To achieve the feat of becoming a god, what should I do?"

"Have you become interested in immortality?"

At that question, Heracles hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"Well. Any Greek man would dream of achieving great feats and becoming a hero. Becoming a great hero like King Cadmus would be more than I could hope for. Becoming a god would be the pinnacle of achievements, so if that path has appeared before my eyes, shouldn't I naturally try to walk it? Even if..."

Unlike before, his eyes have changed a bit. I see a glimpse of a hero seeking to find a goal and challenge it.

A grand goal... the ambition to become a god... that is what will make you a great hero.

Heracles, meeting my gaze again after experiencing such an ordeal.

Even after experiencing the Underworld, still trembling in fear, and even after realizing my identity...

"...Even if it means incurring the wrath of a high deity and being killed."

You dare to look at me straight again.

"...Excellent."

I'm very pleased. This is truly the spirit of a great hero.

Is this the owner of the name that's still etched in my mind after thousands, tens of thousands of years?

I looked at him with a satisfied expression.

"Then from now on, I'll tell you about yourself and what you need to do when you return to the world of the living."