Chapter 95
The next day, I was heading towards a hill near Athens.
This should be the place Ares told me about.
Since I have to pass through Athens, I should enter through the main street.
While I'm at it, maybe I'll take a look around Athena's city.
As expected of a city that worships the Goddess of Wisdom, olive trees lining the streets catch my eye.
In this prosperous place, no less than Thebes which I rule, numerous free citizens looked warily at the cedar statues of Athena.
"Bronze lamps from other cities for sale!"
"Olive oil blessed by Goddess Athena for just..."
"I need to get some offerings for the goddess, would these few pigs do?"
The public sentiment towards the goddess wasn't bad. It was easy to see that most citizens were Athena's followers,
and the olives she spread had long been essential for all city dwellers.
As I hurried my steps while sightseeing, I soon discovered a barrier spread over a hill near Athens.
Passing through the barrier that repelled nearby humans and created an illusion of the interior landscape...
"Hmph. Do you think Hades will take the side of a ruffian like you? He's more likely to be annoyed if the Underworld's population increases due to war."
"That doesn't mean he'll side with your son who tried to rape my daughter, Uncle!"
"Enough, both of you. Other gods will arrive soon, so let's settle this at the trial."
Ares and Poseidon were already engaged in a war of nerves, with Zeus mediating between them.
Various gods expressing their views on this matter were there. Even Amphitrite, Poseidon's official wife, came.
"Sigh... There's never a quiet day on Olympus, really."
"Goddess Demeter and Goddess Artemis haven't arrived yet."
"If we wait a bit longer, they'll probably... Ah, Hades!"
A goddess boasting beauty that can't be hidden even by a veil with flower patterns.
Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth and Home, calls out to me after spotting me.
"Hestia. You came too."
"I originally didn't want to get involved in such matters..."
The Goddess of the Hearth shakes her head with a sigh. Her gaze was still on Poseidon and Ares, who looked ominous.
Ah, now they're backing off as Zeus strongly mediates.
"Now that brother Hades is here too, and other gods... seem to have mostly arrived, we should start."
Other gods who hadn't come until now started arriving one by one,
and finally, the trial to settle the dispute between Poseidon and Ares began.
***
Thus, the first trial of the gods began on a hill near Athens.
As if to give the semblance of a trial, stone chairs were densely arranged.
A bit to the side, there was a separate space for high-ranking gods like Zeus and Hestia to sit...
"Then let's begin now."
And I, as the judge, climbed onto an appropriate platform and looked down.
Let's see, first in order was... Ares' side to present their case?
The Goddess of Wisdom, holding a parchment, steps forward and greets everyone.
Judging by the exchange of glances with Ares before stepping forward... it seems Athena agreed to speak on his behalf.
"I'll speak first. First of all, Halirrhothius was notorious as a ruffian in Athens. He frequently harassed and assaulted the priestesses and priests who serve me, ate at restaurants without paying... and indiscriminately cut down olive trees, my symbol. I can prove that his conduct was highly inappropriate in many ways."
"What do you have to say about this incident, excluding Halirrhothius's general conduct?"
At my question, Athena cleared her throat and continued.
"The crime of attempting to forcibly rape a pure maiden is grave. On the other hand, Ares only acted in righteous defense of his daughter. If Uncle Poseidon's daughter were about to lose her purity to another man, I believe Uncle Poseidon would have also brought divine punishment upon that man."
"Hmph... Even so, to dare kill my son with a single stroke..."
"Poseidon, this is the time to hear Ares' side of the story, so restrain yourself."
I stopped Poseidon appropriately and nodded towards Athena.
"Lastly, I submit as evidence the testimonies of nymphs who witnessed Halirrhothius attempting to rape Ares' daughter, and the whispers of animals and plants."
"Is this evidence provided by Pan, the god of nature, and Demeter?"
Looking at the parchment briefly, I saw testimonies of nymphs attesting to what Halirrhothius had done.
The content swore by the River Styx that all these facts were true.
"Next, Poseidon, it's your turn to speak."
"Hmm. Even if his method of courting an unwilling woman was quite wrong, how could one take a life with a single stroke? Hades, as the god of the Underworld, don't you know well the weight of life? To swing a sword just because the method was a bit wrong, and to think it's right to behead my son, no god would think that's correct, right? This is directly related to my honor and is also kinslaying, so the Goddesses of Vengeance should rightfully intervene."
Poseidon cleared his throat for a moment and then continued.
"I offer my sincere condolences for Halirrhothius causing trouble in Athena's temple or misbehaving a bit. However, apart from that, his other actions were just committed against humans! It's unfair to say that my son, a demigod of the sea, has inappropriate conduct just because he played a few pranks on mortals."
For now, Poseidon hasn't said anything completely wrong. It is indeed kinslaying.
But since one can't dare charge one of the Twelve Olympians with a crime, the three Goddesses of Vengeance didn't come...
But wasn't kinslaying about to happen only after attempted kinship rape first?
In my opinion, Poseidon is clearly wrong... but I should hear the opinions of other gods.
I turned my gaze to the chairs where high-ranking gods like Zeus were seated.
"What do you all think? Speak freely."
***
"He tried to rape an innocent woman, so Poseidon's son committed a sin worthy of death."
This was Hera's words, arms crossed and with an unpleasant expression.
"I think so too."
"It's not right to try to take someone forcibly without true love. Even I would have brought divine punishment."
In order, Artemis and Aphrodite's words.
The Goddess of Chastity and the Goddess of Love would naturally be on Ares' side...
"Tsk... If my daughter had almost suffered such a thing, I would have split the entire earth."
"Life is precious, but wasn't this a father's righteous response to protect his daughter? I also think Ares is right."
Demeter and Hestia are also on Ares' side.
"Ahem.. I won't say much. My brother will judge well on his own."
Zeus looks satisfied but seems to be holding back his words.
He must have judged that the trial has already tilted in Ares' favor.
Glancing at Poseidon, I saw him frowning deeply.
Did he think he would win the trial because of his position and Ares' usual war-loving behavior?
"...Then I'll deliver the verdict. I also think Ares had no choice but to kill Poseidon's son."
"Hades! How could you, when he's also your nephew..."
"And Ares' daughter, who was almost raped by my nephew, is my great-niece."
I cut off Poseidon's words as he protested, unable to accept the result.
"After examining the memories of Halirrhothius who came to the Underworld yesterday, I confirmed that he was indeed a ruffian as Athena said... and that he tried to rape Ares' daughter. Moreover, Ares killed him without knowing he was Poseidon's son because he rushed there in haste. Wouldn't anyone swing a sword if their daughter was about to suffer such a terrible fate?"
"No, but..."
[Poseidon. With the help of Goddess Mnemosyne, I looked into your son's memories... and found that you were somewhat involved in Halirrhothius's ruffian behavior in Athens.]
[...Athena has interfered with my affairs several times.]
[Do I have to reveal this here? I'll save your face to some extent, so stop here.]
[......]
I conveyed my thoughts to Poseidon using divine power while looking at him.
Zeus wasn't focusing here and was chatting with Hera beside him, so no one else should have heard.
It's true that Halirrhothius was a ruffian, and it's true that he tried to rape Ares' daughter.
However, there was also a part where Poseidon deliberately sent his son near Athens and encouraged him to cause trouble.
"And while Ares' action was justified, he did kill Poseidon's son. Strictly speaking, it's kinslaying."
"But Uncle, this is..."
"Therefore, Ares, you will work in the Underworld for 2 months."
[Ares, understand that if you receive no punishment at all, Poseidon's retaliation will surely follow.]
[Ah... No. I'm grateful for your consideration.]
Ares slightly bows his head towards me.
Zeus shows an attitude of indifference, and Poseidon grumbles that the punishment is too short, but that was it.
I suppose this wraps things up more or less.
Fortunately, other gods nod, seeming to accept my judgment.
"Ahem..."
"So Ares will be punished for 2 months?"
"...Well, it seems appropriate."
"It might be light for killing the son of the Lord of the Sea."
"What are you saying, Lord Hades is saving face."
"Ahem! According to the judgment of brother Hades and other gods, Ares' action has been ruled as justified! However, as punishment for killing Poseidon's son, for 2 months in the Underworld..."
While Zeus, looking around, stood up and organized the proceedings,
I came down from the platform and advised Poseidon.
"Manage your children better. That Triton I saw last time seemed quite decent."
"...That's why he's my heir. The others are mostly problem children, to be honest."
The Lord of the Sea, turning his back and leaving, somehow looked lonely.
Halirrhothius going near Athens and acting like a ruffian wasn't Poseidon's order, but his original personality.
I wonder if he also doesn't know how to deal with his children. Of course, not everything about children goes according to parents' wishes...
Should we see his unconditional protection of his children as a twisted form of affection?
It might be a characteristic of the sea, which constantly raises rough and violent waves, but embraces all life beneath the surface.