Chapter 83
Bellerophon, who began experiencing the duties of a lesser god as per the proposal of Hades, the King of the Underworld.
He who killed Typhon's child in the mortal world and boldly aimed for godhood before the King of the Underworld...
"Huff... huff... Hey! Bring the arrows faster! Why did Lord Hades choose such a slow human..."
"...I'm sorry!"
He felt like he was losing his mind.
Eros, the winged god, showering arrows at an invisible speed upon the serious offenders.
The male god of love kept shooting arrows incessantly with a deeply furrowed brow...
The quivers full of arrows he brought emptied quickly.
Naturally, Bellerophon, whose role was to carry these quivers, was scolded by Eros.
"If the serious offenders get to rest because of you, the supervisors will report to Lord Hades!"
Whack!
"I'm sorr... Ugh!"
Eros, extremely irritated, struck Bellerophon's head with his bow.
But Bellerophon didn't dare talk back to him.
Firstly, the fact that God Eros, who had just struck him, continued moving his arm without even looking this way was secondary...
"Still, that human is adapting well, considering he hasn't been here long."
"He was supposed to experience our work as lesser gods. We should report this well to Lord Hades."
"Hmm. If he stays here, I wonder how much our workload would decrease."
Because the lesser gods who were manipulating or supervising something a little distance away were evaluating him positively.
The realization that this wasn't a trial imposed on him or some malicious prank shook Bellerophon's mind.
Being scolded by a higher deity, suffering from busy work all day...
Is this not abnormal, but the usual working situation for lesser gods?
Weren't gods supposed to live leisurely and occasionally help humans?
Whoosh- Thud.
"Aargh!"
"Ple... please..."
Although the Underworld was much harsher compared to other places, especially the part where gods torture serious offenders...
Bellerophon, who had come to the Underworld for the first time, didn't notice this.
How much time had passed like this...
"Hey, human. It's my turn now."
"Is... is it a shift change?"
A lesser god with two small horns on his forehead and a red body approached and spoke to him.
Bellerophon collapsed on the floor with words of gratitude.
Even for a dead soul, mental fatigue is unavoidable.
Especially if Eros's sharp irritation is heard periodically.
"You really worked hard. I'll put in a good word for you to Lord Hades."
"Huh...? What..."
"Didn't you come to experience our work because you wanted to become a lesser god? If you become a god, you'd be quite reliable."
Bellerophon thought blankly at the words of the lesser god who nodded at him with a satisfied face.
No... Even if gods don't just play around, surely they must have some enjoyments.
"I heard that gods eat nectar and ambrosia, could I perhaps see them...?"
"Ah, come to think of it, since Lord Hades said to experience the work of lesser gods, you should try the food too. Follow me."
"I can even try the food of the gods...!"
Bellerophon's face lit up with excitement.
To think that I can try the food of the gods, truly the Lord of the Underworld is merciful!
***
The lesser god led Bellerophon to a distant place.
A huge building like a castle made by humans in the mortal world, where is this place?
"Excuse me... god, where is this place?"
"This is the 1253rd warehouse of the Underworld. And this is the third largest warehouse for storing nectar and ambrosia..."
Bellerophon was busy looking around frantically.
A castle covered in black bricks and black stones of unknown material, dead souls busily moving and carrying something.
Passing through the strict inspection of soul soldiers, there were mountains of nectar and ambrosia...
Despite this, numerous materials were systematically well-organized.
'Another name for the Lord of the Underworld is the God of Wealth, to think there are over thousands of warehouses of this scale...'
The lesser god handed something to him as he was lost in thought.
"Here, this is ambrosia and nectar. Consider it an honor and eat, human."
"Oh! Thank you!"
Munch munch...
The ambrosia and nectar he tasted for the first time in his life were truly heavenly.
It was indeed ecstatic enough to be called the food of gods.
No food from the mortal world could compare even slightly, and even any pleasure like embracing a woman...
"Hmm. If you've finished eating and drinking, get up now."
"...?"
"What are you staring at? Managing nectar and ambrosia is also part of a lesser god's duties."
Bellerophon started working again.
"Nectar and ambrosia only make mortals immortal while they're eating it, humans originally can't even see them, let alone touch them."
"Ah... I'm truly grateful to God Pluto."
"Although you've eaten and drunk them... if you harbor any strange thoughts..."
The lesser god's face distorted grotesquely. Even if he's a lower deity in charge of miscellaneous tasks in the Underworld, a god is still a god.
An eerie aura swirled around Bellerophon, and terrible auditory hallucinations assaulted him.
The fact that he didn't faint on the spot was because he was a hero who didn't back down in front of the Chimera.
As Bellerophon's face turned pale, the lesser god shrugged as if nothing had happened.
"Well, you seem to be quite a diligent human, so I guess we don't have to worry about that?"
"Of... of course not!"
From then on, Bellerophon took out ambrosia from numerous boxes, carried and stacked them according to instructions.
Next, he carefully managed the bottled nectar so they wouldn't break and classified them as specified...
He counted the number of food items in the warehouse and wrote them down on parchment.
Of course, this was possible because the lesser god next to him skillfully helped him.
But isn't such trivial organization something that warehouse managers, scribes, or workers should do?
Why do gods have to do this too?
After being immersed in work for a long time, he could finally rest.
And he poured out the questions he had been curious about. Why do gods have to do work that servants should do?
"Good job. As expected of a former hero, you're quite strong."
"But why do gods do this kind of work?"
"How can we entrust such important work to mortals? If it were ordinary treasures or gold and silver, it might be different, but managing the food of gods?"
The lesser god expressed even more doubt at Bellerophon's question.
"But how can the great gods continue to do such menial tasks..."
"Do you think dead souls could do this work for long? It's because gods are immortal that we can endure it."
Gods are eternal not only in body but also in mind.
If an ordinary human lived for thousands of years, they would probably go mad.
But because gods possess immortal power and divine strength, they can maintain their mentality.
The old gods who have lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years don't always show a solemn appearance.
Sometimes they are more innocent than children, sometimes as old-fashioned as elderly people...
Occasionally, they show behavior that is more faithful to emotion than reason, to desire than duty.
But that is precisely the function of divine power to maintain mental homeostasis.
The proof of godhood might not be powerful strength or an eternally immortal body... but an unbreakable mind.
"Still, there's no need to be too scared. If you become a god, your body or mind won't break down just from doing a little work."
'This is... a little?'
Bellerophon began to seriously reconsider becoming a god.
***
About 30 days had passed since Bellerophon left the audience chamber.
I had actually forgotten about him, but a messenger came and brought news of Bellerophon.
"Lord Hades, that hero who killed the Chimera last time wishes to see you again."
"Bring him in for now."
He approached me staggering, with hollow eyes and a dazed face.
Unlike when they were alive, dead souls don't experience fatigue. But that appearance...
The hero prostrated before the throne and spoke in a weak voice.
"I have realized that the position of a god is too much for me. O Lord of the Underworld..."
"So, you're giving up?"
"Yes... Please assign me something else... or..."
I waved my hand and selected one of the parchments piled on one side.
A report detailing his surveillance so far naturally flew over.
"Everyone speaks highly of you. They say 'He's a talent worthy of becoming a lesser god...'"
"What?! How could I...?!"
"With this level of evaluation... even Zeus might think you're a capable human."
The parchment contained only positive evaluations.
Diligent unlike a mortal, shows perseverance probably because he's a hero, please keep dispatching him...
"But... but! What the gods do...!"
"You thought it was nothing?"
"That's not it! It's just..."
Bellerophon, turned pale blue, tried to make excuses... but in the end, isn't it that he dislikes having too much work?
Still, it's true that I intended this and had him experience the duties of a god.
There are not a few mortals who think like Bellerophon.
I nodded moderately and looked at him.
"...I see. Alright. Then..."
"Even if I don't become a god, I want to be of help to the Underworld! Please assign me another task!"
"...? Don't you want to receive a reward for killing the Chimera?"
"No! Please just forgive my rudeness!"
The hero, burying his head in the ground and trembling.
Ah... He seems to think he blasphemed divinity before me.
Even if I show that I don't care much, he probably won't feel at ease.
Greek gods are quite whimsical after all.
"I forgive your rudeness. Then... how about sharing your experiences with those who come after you?"
"I'll do whatever you command!"
"You can quit anytime, and there's no need to feel too burdened. The heroes from Thebes..."
Chiron had just said he needed a training instructor.
A hero who killed the Chimera would be more than sufficient.
Still, I feel sorry for giving work to a hero who should be resting...
If he wants, should I arrange some other convenience... maybe reconcile him with his brother whom he accidentally killed?