Chapter 28: The Story of Phaethon - (2)

"...I will show some mercy."

Mercy for someone who killed thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of lives?

What does this mean?

"Those who die and come to the underworld can never leave the underworld, especially impossible for a serious criminal like you. However..."

Phaethon concentrated all his attention to hear what would follow.

"If you wish, I can invite God Helios to the underworld and let you meet him one last time."

The world of the living and the underworld are strictly separated.

Although gods are free to come and go, it would be impossible for Phaethon, a serious criminal who caused great damage to the world of the living, to meet him.

He hadn't even hoped for mercy that would reduce his punishment.

"I sent a messenger to Olympus and learned that God Helios is in seclusion, grieving your loss. However, if he can meet you, he will rush to the underworld."

"Thank... you."

Large drops formed in Phaethon's eyes and fell.

If he could see his father one last time... to say he was sorry...

"This isn't purely out of consideration for your circumstances. It's because if Helios remains in grief for too long and doesn't move the sun, the world will fall into chaos."

Though Hades said this, Phaethon knew.

If more people died because the sun didn't move and night continued endlessly, Hades's authority would grow stronger.

The more lives lost in the world of the living, the more beneficial it would be for the lord of the underworld.

This was truly mercy.

***

Helios's Sun Palace.

The sun god Helios, depressed over his son's death, wasn't leaving the palace.

With the palace's master not driving the sun chariot, the world of the living continued in endless darkness.

"Why hasn't the sun risen today either..."

"God Helios! Please show mercy and give us light!"

"Lord Zeus..."

"Sigh... At this rate, all the crops will die..."

The world of the living was filled with pleas from all kinds of living beings.

Finally, Zeus came to see him personally.

Zeus cleared his throat outside the palace and called for Helios.

"Helios! Are you in there?"

But the father who lost his child remained silent.

"I'm sorry I had to throw lightning at your son, but there was no choice."

Whether Helios was listening or not, Zeus continued speaking.

"The world is in chaos because you're not driving the sun chariot. I understand the grief of losing a child, but couldn't you fulfill your duty again?"

However, the palace's master still maintained his silence.

No matter what Zeus, who threw the lightning, said, Helios's state of mind wouldn't change.

"Sigh..."

Zeus briefly considered kicking down the palace doors but then shook his head.

He thought his rash action might worsen Helios's seclusion.

"Father! So you were here!"

"Hermes, what is it?"

The one who approached Zeus, who was suffering from a headache due to the sun god's strike, was the messenger god.

Hermes opened his mouth with a confident expression.

"Uncle Hades says he'll let him meet Phaethon one last time. If we tell Helios this..."

"What? Brother will let him meet a soul that's already dead...?"

Before Zeus could finish speaking, the sun palace's door opened.

And a male god rushed out from inside.

A god with brilliant golden hair reminiscent of light, golden clothing, and eyes burning with the sun's heat.

The great sun god, Helios, had come out after hearing Hermes's words.

Looking very urgent, he approached the messenger god and shouted.

"Hermes! Is that true?! Hades will let me meet my dead son?!"

***

Bright light enters the underworld.

But it's different from when Phaethon's sun chariot went berserk.

This light was coming from just one person, no, one male god.

"Hades! Let me meet my, my son!"

God Helios, who came to the underworld not long after I sent a messenger to Olympus.

As his emotions intensified, solar energy was emanating from his body.

The dead had already retreated far away from the energy that even I could feel the heat from.

"Phaethon is over the..."

"Phaethon..!"

God Helios rushes urgently to Phaethon, who was in a corner.

Thus father and son met again.

"Sob... Father... choke.. I'm... truly sorry..."

"No, it's all my fault. I should have brought you to Olympus as soon as you were born..."

"Because of my reckless actions, the earth... and your sun chariot too..."

"Enough. Stop talking. I'm just glad I could see you one last time..."

They held each other in a tight embrace.

Tears flowed endlessly from the eyes of the father and son who had gone astray.

"I was wrong. To your mother too... please forgive me..."

"No, Father..."

But the time they could meet was limited.

The underworld and the world of the living, the dead and the living must be strictly separated.

If I let Phaethon live because they were pitiful, God Helios would start feeding him nectar and ambrosia...

And all other gods would beg me to revive the humans they cherish, following Helios's example.

"It's time to say your final goodbyes now. The criminal must receive his punishment."

"Ah..."

I stepped aside briefly to let them say their final farewells.

***

"Sniff..."

As I stepped aside, I heard sobbing from somewhere.

This sound was coming from the outskirts of the fortress, so I moved my steps.

"Sob..."

Tears of sadness flow from the eyes of a beautiful goddess leaning against the fortress wall.

Goddess Styx?

Styx's face was wet with tears as she cried quietly covering her mouth, her hands busy wiping away the flowing liquid.

She seemed to sense my presence and hurriedly turned this way.

"Ah... Hades..! J-just a moment, don't look over here...!"

"Is it because of Helios's oath?"

Goddess Styx closed her mouth.

An oath on the River Styx is an absolute promise that even gods cannot break.

A reward for the goddess who first came running to help in the war against the Titan gods.

But every time she sees tragedies occurring because of River Styx oaths, her heart...

"Sometimes... I think like this. If there were no River Styx oaths..."

I could guess what she meant to say.

The incident with Semele, Dionysus's mother, and Zeus,

And this incident with Phaethon,

All were caused by gods who couldn't break the absolute oath on the River Styx.

"These tragedies are not your fault, Goddess."

"Still... if I had just refused Zeus's proposal to use my river as proof of oaths back then..."

We gods are immortal and possess tremendous power incomparable to mortals.

Just Goddess Styx standing before me crying could easily destroy a city by laying a curse.

However, because we have such strong power, we become arrogant and conceited.

The River Styx, which requires fulfilling whatever is sworn, is a shackle given to us.

An oath that even Zeus, king of the gods, must absolutely keep.

But oaths made in the goddess's name don't only bring negative results.

I intend to tell Goddess Styx this fact now.

"River Styx oaths don't always bring tragedy. Today's case is exceptional."

"What...?"

"You seem to have been too busy lately to observe the world of the living... Would you like to properly listen to the followers' prayers again?"

The world of the living where countless people of all ages walk around.

Many people gathered again today at Goddess Styx's statue placed in my temple.

"Why did you call me here?"

"Well... I'll swear by the River Styx that I love you, will you marry me?"

"Ah...!"

A man confessing his love to his lover in front of Goddess Styx's statue.

"I swear by the River Styx! I didn't steal the sheep! Now it's that fellow's turn!"

"I... I..."

"If you have nothing to hide, swear like I did!"

"Actually... times have been tough lately..."

People uncovering a thief through a River Styx oath.

"I swear before Goddess Styx's statue. Even if my old man receives Thanatos's call..."

"Oh my! What kind of oath is that... hmm... then I too swear. If my old lady goes first..."

An elderly couple's oath to live cherishing the other even if one dies first.

"These are humans revealing truth, swearing love, and making covenants."

"Ah..."

"If your name didn't carry weight, we wouldn't be able to see such scenes."

When humans break a River Styx oath, they're dragged into Tartarus after death.

Though humans are always careful due to this fear, sometimes it's used to confirm each other's hearts.

"Humans... make oaths more often than expected..."

"I was surprised too. Perhaps that's why your statue was erected?"

Goddess Styx, now free from the thought that oaths in her name only bring misfortune, looked up at me.

Looking more refreshed than before, she fell into thought.

After a slightly awkward moment passed... the black-haired goddess, having completely wiped away her tear stains, showed a slight smile.

Perhaps her guilt-ridden heart had eased a bit?

"Thank you, Hades... I thought you only played around with Kynee..."

"What...? Testing weapon durability is absolutely necessary."

"Heh... hehehe..."

I swear by the River Styx that I have never once played around with Kynee.

Still, I remained silent because I wanted to keep seeing the beautiful smile of the goddess who was laughing now.

Goddess Styx, who had been happily smiling while covering her mouth for a moment, came closer.

Her lips curving up gently and her eyes showing an alluring smile.

"You won't tell anyone about how I was today, will you?"

The goddess's palm rested on my chest as she drew close, and her right index finger touched her lips.

Both my chest and lips felt ticklish from the soft touch.

As if enchanted by her, I answered.

"....I swear by the River Styx."