Chapter 78
As hero aspirants began to train in the underworld, the number of those becoming my followers gradually increased.
Perhaps it's because they're constantly exposed to the underworld's energy, even though it's neutralized by Persephone's power...
"God Pluto, if you're watching now, please show a sliver of mercy!!! Arghhhh!!"
Crash!
"No, Iarytus! Are you alright?"
"This guy. His eyes are completely rolled back? Hey, snap out of it!"
Hmm. The human whose voice I just heard has become a new follower.
Actually, it might not be strange for heroes who are constantly tormented by mythical monsters to call out to me.
It's natural to seek a nearby god when facing monsters that are difficult to overcome with mortal strength.
However, no matter how desperately they called for me, I didn't help them.
Unless they call from the living world, the trials in the underworld are just training.
"Oh Pluto... Today again, one who passed the test has come to the underworld..."
"We are grateful for your grace..."
And the priests in the living world connected to the outskirts of the underworld were also doing their part.
Occasionally, spies consumed by madness sent by Gaia were discovered, but they were well filtered out by the stone imbued with Dionysus's power.
As I watched the heroes' training from my throne with closed eyes, a soft voice reached me.
This is the voice of Goddess Styx that I always hear.
"Hades. Are you free by any chance?"
"Goddess Styx...? There's no one in the audience chamber, but what's the matter?"
The goddess slightly opened the audience chamber door, looked around, and entered.
"Have you heard that a new hero is trying to kill the Chimera this time?"
"Chimera... You mean the child of Typhon and Echidna."
The monster Chimera (chimaera).
One of the children of Typhon and Echidna, it takes the form of three mixed animals.
It's a powerful monster with an ordinary lion's head, a goat's head on its back, and a snake for a tail...
Famous for breathing fire from the lion's head, having the cunning of a goat, and dripping deadly poison from the snake's fangs.
Come to think of it, Typhon's children are incredibly powerful.
Cerberus is already the divine beast and gatekeeper of the underworld, and the lion said to live in the Nemean valley...
The Sphinx, who was taken in by Hera and then came to the underworld after being killed by Oedipus, is also one of them.
"Since it's a hero killing Typhon's child, many gods will be watching."
"We received a message from Olympus, asking if we should lend Pegasus, born from Medusa's severed head, to the hero."
Pegasus.
A pure white winged horse, born from the blood when the hero Perseus beheaded Medusa.
Unlike ordinary horses, it has the ability to fly through the sky using the pair of wings on its back.
Medusa, who became a minor goddess in the underworld last time, went up to the living world and brought that horse to the underworld...
To be precise, she said that when the goddess Medusa approached, it followed her quietly as if recognizing her as its mother figure.
So, Pegasus is probably living leisurely in the underworld with its mother now.
"Then let's call Medusa and ask for her opinion. After all, Pegasus was born from her."
"She's probably with Goddess Menthe right now, should I call her?"
"There's no need for that. I'll go find her myself, and it's been a while since I've seen Pegasus too."
"I believe they're in the Elysian Fields to feed Pegasus right now."
It's been a long time since Pegasus became part of the underworld after eating its food.
But depending on Medusa's thoughts, it might be possible to lend it to the hero for a while.
***
I arrived at the Elysian Fields, a place with an atmosphere warmer than the goddess of spring and more comfortable than the goddess of the hearth.
In the vast, endless plain, gentle winds and the sounds of insects can be heard.
Elysium looks almost no different from the fields in the living world.
But there was a man lying on a high hill, savoring the mood.
As I gradually approached, he got up with a pleased expression.
It was Cadmus, the great hero of Thebes who deceived Typhon and now resides in Elysium.
He looked at me and said:
"My, isn't it Lord Hades? What brings you to Elysium?"
"It's been a while, Cadmus. Have you seen two goddesses and a winged horse around here?"
"If you mean them, they passed by that way earlier."
Cadmus pointed his finger in one direction.
Pegasus, led by the goddesses, must be grazing on the field's grass by now.
They'll come back this way once they've grazed all the grass since they have to leave Elysium anyway.
While waiting for them, maybe I'll have a chat with Cadmus...
I casually asked Cadmus about life here.
It's a paradise I put effort into creating, but of course, it needs to be evaluated by its residents.
"How's life in Elysium? Are you satisfied?"
"Hahaha! The smile never leaves my wife Harmonia's face. Even these days. More than in the living world..."
Cadmus laughs, showing his teeth.
It seems he's getting along well with his wife, the goddess of harmony, Harmonia.
A mortal living in a harmonious relationship even after death...
"You're still getting along very well with Harmonia after all this time."
"I may not be Aphrodite... but isn't that what love is?"
It must have been quite a long time since they died, but their love hasn't changed.
I see. If this is truly love... Perhaps I too...
"By the way, what brings Lord Hades all the way here?"
"I came to meet Medusa to lend Pegasus to a hero in the living world."
"Seems like the living world still has no peace... What about those snake monsters I mentioned before...?"
I told him about the truth of the Gigas and that we're raising heroes in the underworld.
Also about the recent situation of his descendants and the residents of Thebes who remain in the living world.
"Oh... Such things... Then may I make one request?"
"You have something to ask of me? Go ahead, speak."
"Aren't my junior heroes training on the outskirts of the underworld now? I'd like to lend my strength to that as well."
"...I can't disturb someone resting in Elysium."
I flatly refused, but Cadmus opened his mouth again with a hearty laugh.
This place is paradise, a peaceful space that everyone dreams of...
"Lord Hades. Guiding the next generation on the right path is a hero's duty and pride. Sometimes, helping them can be more rewarding than staying in this Elysium."
"But you've already completed your given tasks and duties, and all your ties with the living world..."
"Ask the other heroes too. If they are true heroes, they will give similar answers to mine."
The first hero who stole Typhon's tendons and saved Olympus still had upright eyes even after a long time had passed.
If that's what it means to be a hero, if that's their wish...
"...I'll try recommending it to others."
"Haha! Please call me anytime. I want to pass on my meager experiences to those who come after."
As we were talking like this, a goddess's voice was heard from far away.
"Cadmus~ Where are you?!"
"This voice...! It seems Harmonia is looking for me."
"I see. I should go get Pegasus. Well then, have a happy time with your wife."
"Please come again next time! I'll prepare something for you then!"
***
Not long after I turned my steps, I was able to meet the goddesses and Pegasus.
Pegasus, with its beautiful white wings, saw me and neighed, hiding behind Medusa.
Neigh!
"Ah! Lord Hades! Did you come to see me?"
"Did you come all the way to Elysium?"
I nodded to Menthe and Medusa, who greeted me with bright smiles.
By the way, Pegasus is still afraid of me.
"Medusa. I came to discuss with you about lending Pegasus to a hero in the living world."
"Huh? That... You can just order me..."
I remained silent at Medusa's question.
She too, had her head cut off by a hero... and Pegasus was born as a result...
After a moment of silence, Medusa soon lowered her head as if realizing something.
"Ah... You don't need to be considerate of me. You can lend Pegasus as the lord of the underworld wishes."
"...Thank you. I'll return it to you once the hero kills Typhon's child."
Neigh!
Pegasus, being an intelligent animal, seemed to understand this and acted accordingly,
but when Medusa stroked its back a few times, it calmed down again.
"Does it still follow you around everywhere, being a nuisance?"
"Hehe... That was when it was a foal. It's all grown up now and doesn't do that anymore. Right?"
Neigh!
"For some reason, it's only afraid of Lord Hades. Is it because it's a flying horse?"
Menthe might be right...
Pegasus, having attributes of the sky and sea, might not find it easy to adapt to belonging to the underworld.
Even though it seems to be getting used to the underworld's energy now, it still avoids me...
When I gestured to Pegasus, the intelligent animal, though fearful, moved to my side.
"Well, I'll take Pegasus with me for now."
"Okay. See you later!"
"Understood, Lord Hades."
Now it's time to hand this horse over to the hero.
Who should I have deliver it... Hermes? Athena?