Chapter 96: The Trial of Ares and Poseidon - (3)

As I watched Poseidon's retreating figure, Zeus approached me.

He gestured for me to sit in the chair next to him, so I took a seat beside him.

A translucent barrier made of Zeus's divine power formed, blocking out sound.

"Poseidon must be having a hard time too."

"With his children?"

"Yes, I think his way of showing affection to his children might be a bit wrong... but it's a bit awkward to interfere, and I don't think I've done a great job raising my own children either."

Zeus's words probably refer to Tantalus, who tried to deceive the gods not long ago.

If that guy had gained divine status, wouldn't he have become a true god of madness surpassing Dionysus?

"...I think you've done well with your children. Apollo, Athena, Hephaestus, they're all quite..."

"Do you know what I thought when Poseidon called Ares a ruffian earlier?"

"...?"

"I couldn't refute it because Ares's nature is indeed violent. I wonder if I haven't set a good example..."

Weak words coming from Zeus's mouth. He had an uncharacteristically subdued look in his eyes.

The dark thoughts harbored by the King of Gods, who always showed a confident and majestic appearance.

I looked at his serious eyes for a moment.

Because of the divine barrier, our conversation would definitely not be heard outside.

Is he feeling a bit burdened to the point of opening up to me about his inner thoughts?

"I feel sorry for Hera because I often roamed the mortal world to create human heroes due to prophecies, like in the case of Callisto who became a constellation... or Io who suffered as a cow..."

Zeus probably wasn't entirely without desire for beautiful mortals, but his actions were clearly beneficial to the gods in the grand scheme of things.

Because occasionally, great heroes like Perseus, who inherited the blood of the supreme god, are born.

I know he takes forceful methods because it takes quite some time to court each human woman and have a child.

While that can never be justified, I suppose Zeus himself is making efforts in his own way to give birth to prophesied heroes.

"If you know Hera will dislike it, stop doing it. There are quite a few victims coming to the Underworld because of you."

"Haha... I'll think about it after dealing with all the Gigantes and getting Grandmother Gaia to acknowledge our rule."

The blonde male god strokes his beard with a bitter smile.

As our conversation drags on, surrounding gods give puzzled looks but forcibly turn their heads away.

I slowly examined each of them.

Apollo, Zeus's proud son who oversees numerous domains including the sun deity. Ares, who seems somewhat satisfied with the trial result but still uneasy.

Hestia, who smiles at me when our eyes meet while talking to Hebe, the goddess of youth, and others...

I understand why Zeus's heart is quite heavy, having to oversee all these gods.

The Titan gods are trapped in Tartarus dreaming of revenge, Grandmother Gaia doesn't acknowledge us, there are the Gigantes who oppose the gods, but the prophesied hero hasn't appeared yet...

"Zeus, you just need to stay as you are in that position."

"Hm?"

"...You've done well enough so far. Keep sitting on the throne with a confident face in front of your children and descendants. That suits you."

"Ha. Ha.. Hahaha! Are you comforting me, brother?"

He looks at me with a bright laugh.

Now his face has changed to be a bit more kingly. How could the King of Gods be so gloomy?

In fact, as I told Menthe, I have many imperfections too...

"If there's an urgent matter, contact the Underworld anytime. But don't take Thanatos away just because some human displeased you."

"Nonsense! I won't need to borrow the busy hands of my brother in the Underworld. Well then, see you next time."

Flash! Rumble!

The King of Gods, dispelling the divine barrier surrounding us, stood up and flew into the sky with his chest puffed out.

The last face of Zeus I saw seemed much better compared to earlier.

***

After the trial, as Poseidon was returning to the sea with many gods including his official wife Amphitrite, he suddenly stopped walking.

Some minor sea deities following them looked at the Lord of the Sea with puzzled eyes.

Slowly turning his head to the right, Poseidon spoke towards an empty space.

"Come out now. Gaia."

Gaia? Isn't that the name of a Protogenoi currently hostile to the Olympian gods?

The surrounding gods are shocked by the words from his mouth, but it's too early to be surprised.

Because an alluring female voice echoed from the empty space where nothing existed before.

As expected of Poseidon. Befitting the chief god who has mastered Oceanus's domain.

"...I've been feeling earth's divine power that isn't Demeter's. Stop with the pleasantries, why did you seek me out?"

Poseidon, who had summoned his trident at some point and was holding it in his hand, glared at the empty space warily,

but no tension could be felt from the beautifully resonating voice.

Of course, I didn't come to persuade you, did I? I too heard about the conflict that occurred between your and Zeus's sons.

Gaia is the earth itself, a Protogenoi who has priority over the dominion of the earth over Demeter.

It's difficult for events occurring on land to escape Gaia's eyes.

When Zeus's son killed your son, I saw that too. Was it Ares? The sword swung by Zeus's son precisely cut through your son's neck. Then the cold corpse was scattered on me and chilled blood flowed out. Aren't you resentful?

"...Are you trying to drive a wedge between Zeus and me now?"

Poseidon's frown deepens.

As the chief god ruling the sea becomes increasingly uncomfortable, the air fluctuates along with the fishy smell of sea breeze.

Nevertheless, Gaia spoke to him in a gentle voice.

Drive a wedge? How is this driving a wedge? Your son died unjustly. And didn't you three brothers decide the dominion of sky, sea, and underworld by drawing lots?

"......"

I intend to drive out Zeus and the other Olympian gods. If you help me...

Amphitrite quietly grabbed one of Poseidon's hands with an anxious face.

The surrounding minor deities were now frozen, not even daring to breathe.

If one of the Big Three sided with Gaia, would Olympus really have a chance?

They waited for the chief god's decision... in a suffocating silence.

I wouldn't mind giving you the throne of the King of Gods. Of course, the dominion over the sky as well.

Poseidon closed his eyes.

The memory of that moment when they divided the world after defeating the Titan gods in the past...

Although Hades showed an indifferent attitude, he always wanted the dominion over the sky.

That's why he even staged a rebellion, and often became a rival to Zeus.

Surely the throne of the King of Gods and dominion over the sky are tempting. But...

"Kuh... Kuhahaha! You've underestimated me, Poseidon, too much."

"...?"

"Are you spouting nonsense about me... joining your side for power?!"

A solemn roar resonates from his throat.

Long, long ago... the rebellion Poseidon staged along with Apollo and Hera.

Even if the rebellion had succeeded, he had no intention of imprisoning Zeus or confining him to Tartarus.

Because Zeus is his brother, and there's also the debt of gratitude for rescuing him from Kronos's stomach.

He intended to strip Zeus of his sky deity status and exile him, but had no intention of doing anything beyond that.

However... if Gaia were to sweep away Olympus, what would happen to Zeus and his relatives?

"Don't you intend to imprison all the Olympian gods in Tartarus instead of the Titan gods! No matter how tempting power is, do you think I would do such a thing like that Kronos?!"

...You reject my offer? I thought you might be a bit more reasonable...

"Shut your mouth! Gaia!!!"

The tip of Poseidon's proud trident, the Trident, pointed towards the earth.

When the trident, raised high with both hands, finally plunged into the ground, an earthquake occurred, devastating the surroundings.

When the chief god's power, filled with anger and struck down with all his might, was combined with the Trident's authority, its power was truly exceptional.

The area around him was completely torn apart, exposing the inner flesh of the earth.

The aftershocks of the earthquake grew stronger... and with a intense roar, it came to overturn everything visible on the ground...

Countless lives were lost in vain, caught up in the sudden disaster.

"Grr... Did you think... I, Poseidon, would fall for such words?"

Amphitrite and the other gods just watched his back as he suppressed his anger.

An anger that seemed even greater... than when he was furious at Ares for killing his son.

Whoosh-

"Uncle Poseidon...! What on earth happened here... Did you fight someone?"

Hermes, who noticed the anomaly and flew down urgently from the sky, landed behind him.

Sweat drops from the face of the messenger god, startled by the flow of divine power capable of easily destroying a city.

Poseidon answered in a heavy voice without turning back, despite the messenger god's question.

"...Hermes. Return to Olympus immediately and report that Gaia tried to draw me to her side."

"What...! Uncle..."

"Rhode. You explain to Hermes and come back."

Rhode, one of Poseidon and Amphitrite's daughters, bowed to Poseidon and approached the messenger god.

And the Lord of the Sea passed by the confused Hermes, quietly making his way into the sea.