Chapter 66: Persephone's Story - (1)

A long time has passed since Menthe and I created mint foods and spread them to the mortal world.

Fortunately, it seems to have had an effect, as the ferryman Charon really liked it.

Shall I take a look at the reactions in the mortal world for a moment?

Thebes has changed to the point where it can be considered completely my territory now.

It's like seeing Athena's faith in Athens.

The believers of Dionysus have been pushed out and become a minority...

Could it be because the story spread that if you commit crimes following freedom and debauchery, you'll be judged in the underworld?

So if I listen for a moment, I can hear the conversations of the people of Thebes.

If I listen to the voices of those talking about mint near my temple...

"We should adjust the amount of mint used in funerals a bit."

"We can even eat the plant blessed by Pluto."

"It grows well with just water, why don't we cultivate it in large quantities?"

"Since its main use is as a spice like herbs, there's no need to grow it in large quantities in fields..."

"Mr. Priest, is it true that to become a priest of Pluto, you need to eat mint well?"

"Hahaha! It's true that mint is Pluto's symbol. But do you know what he said in his oracle?"

"Oracle? What is it?"

"He said not to discriminate against those who dislike his symbol, as everyone's tastes are different."

"Wow! Then you can become a priest even if you don't like mint!"

Mint tea, snacks mixing mint and honey, etc.

As it became known in the mortal world that various foods could be made with mint, the amount of mint used in funerals decreased.

Looking at the summary of mint food spread trends carefully written on parchment, I spoke to Menthe.

She was standing with a slightly nervous expression. Well, she wrote this parchment after all...

"Menthe, you've become familiar with writing reports now."

"Really? As I've been writing every day... hehe..."

I can see that Menthe, who was clumsy with underworld work, is gradually adapting now.

At this rate, I can slowly increase her workload.

As I raised my head with a satisfied smile...

I met eyes with Menthe, who was grinning as if she had something happy to share.

"Lord Hades. Now that mint food has spread a lot in the mortal world... Um... About the reward you mentioned before..."

Hmm. That's right. I had made a promise with her.

I definitely said that if she finished this task well, I would take her along when I go on patrol near Mount Etna.

"You definitely said with me alone..."

"Yes. You've been doing your work well lately, so let's go together."

"Yay! Thank you!"

Hug.

No, wait a moment, don't suddenly hug me just because of that.

"Hehe..."

The refreshing scent coming from the goddess of mint who clung to me tickled my nose.

***

The mortal world I came out to with Menthe.

We soon arrived near Mount Etna.

As expected, vast meadows, animals, and numerous nymphs welcome me.

I drove the chariot pulled by ghost horses around Mount Etna once to check on Typhon's condition.

As I was briefly enjoying the scenery, Menthe waved her hand looking at a forest a little distance away.

"Oh! Delias! Iphigenia!"

"Menthe?!"

"We heard you became Hades' priest..."

"No, didn't you say she became a god now?"

There were several Naiads who were once nymphs like Menthe playing there.

They were happy to see Menthe, but when their eyes met mine on the chariot...

"Huh... Gasp?! G-God?"

"We heard Menthe became a lesser god of the underworld... Then could it be..."

"Black hair, black eyes, and ghost horses... The lord of the underworld?"

Their faces turned pale instantly and they hurriedly prostrated themselves before me.

Seeing them unable to even think of leaving their spots, I can't help but sigh.

I haven't done anything yet and they're already afraid.

Well, who would welcome the underworld warmly... Menthe, who asked me for a date at our first meeting, must be the unusual one.

"Menthe. I'll look around elsewhere, so you can play with your friends."

"Ugh... Okay, thank you. Everyone seems to have too many prejudices..."

Seeing Menthe jump down from the chariot with a sad face and run to her friends, I left the place.

I should return to her a little later.

"Oh my... Menthe, aren't you scared?!"

"A lesser god belonging to the underworld..."

"Becoming a god is something to congratulate, but underground..."

"Eek... The underworld is good too!"

I can still hear you even if you say it there...

After some time passed, I headed to the place where Menthe had gotten off.

By now, she should have caught up with her friends enough.

I saw Menthe waiting for me.

"Sigh... Everyone seems to have too many prejudices about the underworld..."

"It can't be helped. It's the final destination for mortals and the world of the dead."

Seeing Menthe, who got back on the chariot, talking about the underworld with a gloomy expression makes me laugh.

Even Menthe, who spent a long time in the mortal world, has now become a native of the underworld.

"The underworld is actually enjoyable once you experience it. Now I even find souls cute, you know?"

"Haha... Isn't that because you're an unusual nymph?"

"What? I'm just an ordinary Naiad, you know? And I'm a god now!"

"To my eyes, you're still that strange nymph from back then."

"Ugh... I'm not strange..."

What are you talking about. Where else is there a nymph like you...

What crazy nymph would say they want to spend time with the lord of the underworld.

As I turned to look at her with a smile on my lips, reminiscing about those memories...

"Hm?"

I felt something familiar.

This strange feeling... From the north? A flow of power, multiple entities moving quickly.

It's not just one or two. At least hundreds.

Not humans, not nymphs, not gods...

"Lord Hades?!"

Whoosh-

I draw out more of the divine power I had suppressed to come to the mortal world.

The surrounding plants and animals die, and the dryads, tree spirits, scream, but it couldn't be helped.

I reached out my hand and searched the surroundings thoroughly.

Numerous presences moving from deep underground...

Rumble rumble...

This feeling is definitely Gigas.

The hateful arch-enemies of us gods.

An attack mobilizing at least hundreds of them.

Why are they appearing here, not at Olympus or major human cities...

Ah. I see.

This is Mount Etna, where Typhon's body is buried.

If Gaia gets her hands on Typhon's body by digging up the mountain,

she could really cause a lot of trouble.

She could summon Typhon's consciousness from Tartarus, or use the body as a sacrifice to create other monsters...

In the worst case, Typhon might be resurrected...

Even in the best case, the thrashing body could cause great damage.

If multiple Olympian gods don't intervene, the freed body would devastate the surroundings.

"Lord Hades? Is something wrong..."

"Gigas have attacked. Return to the underworld, Menthe."

Was this the one strike Prometheus talked about?

Certainly, losing Typhon's body would be an enormous loss for the gods.

"No matter how well you prepare... The gods will fall to Gaia's strike, even if I tell you in advance."

"Are you saying we'll definitely fall once?"

"Of course, it will be quite a painful blow to your plans."

But Prometheus, this time your prophecy seems to be wrong.

Because I, Hades, am here.

***

Menthe, the goddess of mint, was in a good mood.

She had successfully carried out Hades' order to spread mint food to the mortal world,

and he had kept his previous promise to bring her along on the Mount Etna patrol.

She had also met and caught up with her nymph friends from the mortal world...

Now she was planning to spend a pleasant time with the handsome Lord Hades.

She had always been unable to make progress due to the scary glares of Goddess Styx and Goddess Lethe,

but now that they were alone in the mortal world, she was determined to show her charms today!

...or so Menthe thought.

"Hm?"

Hades, who had been smiling kindly(?) while looking at her, suddenly hardened his expression and frowned.

Black divine power slowly seeping out from his body.

"Lord Hades?!"

As if sensing something strange, he stretched out his right hand and drew out his divine power.

As the mighty power of one of the Big Three who rule the underworld is released, the surrounding plants and animals meet their death.

This was unlike the merciful god who usually cares for the lives in the mortal world and suppresses his power for their sake.

What on earth has happened? Why is he doing this...

Whoosh-

The power Hades is drawing out gradually intensifies. Little by little... more... more...

Could all the divine statuses of the underworld combined emit a more intense pressure than him right now?

Neigh! Snort-

Reflecting his emotions, blue ghost fire swirls in the eyes of the ghost horses and hellfire spurts from their hooves.

The ghosts baring their sharp teeth and sneering seemed to be anticipating the time of slaughter that was soon to come.

An eerie aura swirls around the chariot that was ordinary until just now, and the forms of screaming dead are engraved on it.

The chariot had somehow changed into a terrifying appearance suitable for the lord of the underworld to ride.

She trembled in fear as she watched Hades gradually being covered in a black form.

"Lord Hades? Is something wrong..."

"Gigas have attacked. Return to the underworld, Menthe."

Gigas.

The enemy that Hades and other underworld gods were so wary of.

According to prophecy, monsters that gods cannot defeat without human heroes.

Then shouldn't she, who has become a god, help Lord Hades fight?

Is he going to face such dangerous enemies alone?

"Lord Hades... I can, I can fight too..."

A thick hand gently stroking the goddess's long hair.

Black eyes like an abyss with no visible end.

Unlike before when he would avoid physical contact with her with a troubled and embarrassed air,

he whispered quietly into Menthe's ear with a cold smile.

"It's an order. Goddess of Mint."

There was no sign of Pluto, the merciful god who always cared for unjustly dead souls and remained calm even in the face of blasphemy.

The one before her eyes now was Hades, the king of the underworld whom everyone fears.

"Yes... I'll call the other gods. Please be careful."

Menthe could not possibly disobey those words.