Chapter 61
After sending off Athena with Kynee, I returned to the throne in my fortress.
Soon, as destined, Perseus will kill Medusa and become a hero.
"Thanatos, please send an avatar to where Medusa is in advance."
"Hmm. Is it already that time? Understood..."
The old god with black wings nodded and moved.
If we wait a little, Medusa's soul, having met her destined death, will come to the underworld.
As I sat on the throne thinking about Medusa, Goddess Styx approached and spoke.
"Hades. Let's watch together to see if Perseus succeeds."
"I'm busy with work..."
"Don't say that, let's observe together. Many gods are paying attention to him, you know."
Perseus is Zeus's son and destined to be a hero.
That's why numerous gods lent him their divine objects without hesitation.
Not only the Olympian gods, but many gods residing in the underworld are also watching his journey...
"Then I'll turn my gaze to the mortal world for a moment."
***
Perseus took a deep breath in front of the cave where Medusa was said to reside.
His fate would soon be decided.
He closed his eyes and recalled his journey so far.
The process of arriving before Medusa...
"Perseus. I am Athena, the goddess of wisdom. This is Hermes, the messenger god."
"Olympian gods, to me...!"
"The gods have willingly lent you their divine objects. First, my shield and Hermes' sandals, Ares' sword and Lord Hades' helmet..."
"Oh my... Thank you!"
Goddess Athena and God Hermes lent him the gods' divine objects.
Among them was even the invisible helmet of God Pluto, whom he had briefly met.
"The three Graeae sisters have an eye that sees everything, so they will know Medusa's location. They appear as old women, but the three of them share only one eye and one tooth, so use this to your advantage."
"The three of them share one eyeball and one tooth?"
"Hehe. We'll pray for your success on your journey, which many gods are watching."
"It seems you have Uncle Hades' blessing too. Well then, good luck!"
So Perseus flew to the Graeae sisters wearing the winged sandals.
As Goddess Athena said, they appeared as old women and were sharing one eyeball and one tooth,
Perseus approached wearing Kynee and stole their eyeball.
"I have your eyeball. If you don't tell me Medusa's location right now, I'll throw it far away!"
"Ah.. What?! We didn't sense any presence!"
"What?! Give it back right now!"
"You! Ugh... The location of the Gorgon sisters is to the west from here..."
"I see. But if all three sisters have snakes for hair, how do I identify Medusa?"
"Medusa's snake hair is vipers, so unlike her sisters, their heads will be triangular!"
The location of the three Gorgon sisters he learned from them was an island at the western end.
It looked like an ordinary small island, but as soon as he stood in front of a suspicious cave inside, he could feel a chilling current.
The pressure felt even outside the cave.
Surely the Gorgon sisters live here.
Probably it will get worse as he gets closer to Medusa.
Perseus, wearing Kynee, held Athena's shield and turned his back to the cave entrance.
He slowly backed up, looking at the scenery behind him through the surface of the shield.
'If I see Medusa's hair, I'll turn to stone... I must never look back!'
Kynee, lent by Pluto the king of the underworld, erases all traces of the wearer, including sound.
So the immortal Stheno and Euryale, and Medusa who could be called a demigod, couldn't notice a human entering the cave.
Hades' divine object Kynee, Athena's shield, and the winged sandals were doing their job.
Ares' sword in his hand should be able to behead Medusa with a single strike.
But the problem was...
'Such pressure even though they're just sleeping...!'
With Perseus himself.
Athena, Hermes, and Hades who appeared to the human destined to be a hero were considerate of him...
But the three Gorgon sisters sleeping now are emitting a tremendous aura as is.
The one enduring it directly is the human challenging this great feat.
As he gradually approaches the sleeping sisters, the pressure intensifies.
It was bearable until the cave entrance.
But when it came time to approach the sleeping three sisters, avoiding rocks and stalactites here and there...
Perseus felt an overwhelming pressure he couldn't have imagined.
One step.
Sweat dripped down Perseus's forehead.
Thud. Thud.
Fifth step.
Sweat flowed from the hand holding Athena's shield and fell to the ground.
Perseus gritted his teeth and grasped Ares' sword.
However, his body was increasingly trembling with extreme fear.
Twentieth step backward.
The snakes serving as the Gorgon sisters' hair flick their tongues.
For a moment, it seemed his eyes met the snakes'... but it must be an illusion.
God Pluto's divine object wouldn't be seen through.
Probably...
Drip. Drip.
Sweat covering his body flows to the ground.
Kynee couldn't hide even the sweat falling from his body.
One step away from Medusa.
Perseus, having almost reached Medusa, tried to relieve the numbness in his legs.
His body, usually trained in swordsmanship, was instinctively warning him.
To get away from the powerful monster before him with all his might!
The sweat drops on the ground were revealing his position.
If even one of the three sisters wakes up, his position might be discovered.
Hiss. Hiss.
Perseus slowly raised his sword to aim at Medusa's neck, but his arm froze in place.
The cries of the snakes serving as the monster's hair sounded louder than ever.
Wouldn't it be better to run away... while it's not too late?
Even if this is Lord Ares' sword, can I cut off her head with my strength?
"Move forward with confidence in yourself. My blessing, Hades's blessing, will be with you."
That's right... I, Perseus, am destined to be a hero!
It's too early to head towards God Pluto's embrace!
Perseus bit his lip until it bled and moved his arm with all his might.
Something hot surged from his chest, resisting the aura constricting his body.
Slash- Swoosh-
"Huh..? Kyaaaa! Medusa!"
"What is this! Who dares!"
Perhaps that was what's called courage.
***
At this moment, the gods watching Perseus from the underworld were amazed.
"...It's over."
"The pressure must have been tremendous, but he overcame it in the end."
"Hmph. He's quite something."
Medusa's head was severed by Perseus's sword, swung with gritted teeth.
Ares' sword is a masterpiece made by Hephaestus, capable of easily cutting even a demigod's skin.
"Thanatos. Please bring Medusa's soul now."
Now it's time for the aftermath.
Perseus's fate doesn't end here, but this is where we stop watching the hero's tale.
Now it's time to meet the victim who suffered at the hands of Poseidon and Athena.
As I waited briefly in the courtroom with the three Minos brothers, the judges of the underworld,
Thanatos soon brought a woman.
The horrific appearance that had turned into a monster due to Athena's curse returned to its original form upon death,
and her beautiful looks that had captivated Poseidon illuminated the underworld.
But she herself was hanging her head as if her shining appearance was a curse.
Thud.
"Are you Medusa, who was once Athena's priestess in life?"
As soon as I finished speaking, Medusa, who had fallen to the ground as if collapsing, suddenly raised her head.
Her eyes burning with endless hatred.
"Not anymore. Please don't call me that."
"...I apologize. Daughter of Phorcys and Ceto."
I had thought quite a bit about Medusa.
The death of a monster is a certain future for the birth of a hero, but the background of how that monster came to be...
"In life, you suffered an unfortunate incident with Poseidon and were caught up in Athena's anger."
"Grrrr..."
As the names of the two gods came up, as if feeling extreme hatred,
her teeth grinded and a faint voice like boiling water leaked out.
"Is the lord of the underworld trying to mock me?"
"No, I'm trying to apologize to you."
Confusion briefly flashed in Medusa's eyes, which had been clearly showing signs of forcibly suppressing her anger.
"If you're someone whose life was twisted by us gods, turned into a monster, and ultimately used as a sacrifice for the birth of a hero, you deserve such treatment."
"......"
"I gave divine objects to the hero who killed you, and I don't have the right to apologize on behalf of Poseidon or Athena... but as the one managing the underworld, the final destination of mortals, I express my apologies to you."
I conveyed my apologies in a calm tone, looking into Medusa's eyes.
I'm truly sorry, but I can't bow my head. After all, I am the king of the underworld.
"...So the rumor that the lord of the underworld is a god of mercy was true."
After a moment passed, Medusa's eyes softened a bit.
If my apology can provide even a little comfort, at times like this, the position of being one of the Big Three is fortunate.
"Then I'll tell you about the compensation you'll be given. Choose one of these."
"Compensation...?"
"First... I'll speak to Zeus and have you turned into a constellation."
Being transformed into a constellation in the sky is a great honor and means commemorating that person.
Famous heroes, animals, and gods are engraved in the sky by Zeus's personal judgment.
If she chooses the first option...
Her honor, having died as a monster at Perseus's hands, will be substantially restored.
Medusa, who had briefly shown a softened expression at my apology, was dumbfounded.
"...A monster like me. Becoming a star in the sky?"
"Zeus will refuse at first to elevate the feat of his son who beheaded you, but in the end, he'll have no choice but to accept."
If Poseidon feels sorry, he'll have to take your side, even if reluctantly, since he raped you...
And Zeus won't be able to easily dismiss my protest.
Athena, who turned Medusa into a monster? If she has any sense, she'll accept it too.
If she opposes... I'll have to admonish her a bit.
Facing the bewildered Medusa, I continued speaking.
"Yes, and the second option is..."