Chapter 97: The Prophesied Hero, Heracles

"Is that really true, Hermes?"

"Yes. Fortunately, Uncle Poseidon rejected Gaia's offer, but..."

"So now she's trying to persuade the gods."

Two days after returning to the Underworld, Hermes came here.

The news brought by the messenger of the gods was that Gaia had tried to persuade Poseidon.

Hermes, who delivered this news, speaks to me with a slightly anxious look.

"But, is there a possibility that Uncle Poseidon might waver?"

"Hermes. You still don't know Poseidon well."

Although he has a somewhat proud and violent nature, he will never betray us.

Well, all of us children of Kronos, including me...

"But he had a big fight with Brother Ares this time... and even a trial was held. If he was hurt..."

"Of course, he won't feel good. The punishment given to Ares was also in consideration of Poseidon's position."

For immortal gods, the concept of time is a bit different from humans.

To gods who think even years are just a moment, a 2-month punishment is very light.

Poseidon would know this.

Nevertheless, the reason he let it pass was partly because he also thought his son's actions were wrong,

and because I knew about his actions of sending his son to check Athena.

I hope he thinks that since Ares was nominally punished, his face has been saved to some extent.

"But while he might give Ares an unfavorable look, Poseidon is someone who would never join hands with an external enemy."

"I... see."

"You must have reported this to Zeus as well. What did your father say?"

"...He just said to send a messenger to Uncle Poseidon with a letter thanking him for not falling for Gaia's persuasion. Father, who was so sensitive about the position of King of Gods, didn't even doubt..."

See? Zeus isn't a fool, so he must know that Poseidon won't betray us.

Even if he stages a rebellion, Poseidon is the type who wouldn't bring in external enemies for that rebellion.

"Is that all you came to tell me?"

"Ah, there's one more thing. He said that shortly after, Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, will come here..."

"Why is Iris coming here?"

"Well? I'm not sure about that either. Maybe she's going to invite Uncle Hades to Olympus again?"

I didn't think that was the case, but I nodded and sent him away.

Both Iris and Hermes coming to the Underworld? Usually, if they have something to say, don't they just send one?

***

As Hermes said, after waiting a bit, a messenger opened the door to the audience chamber and entered.

"Lord Hades, the Goddess of the Rainbow has arrived at the entrance of the Underworld."

"Let her in."

"But... she was holding a human newborn baby."

"...?"

The Goddess of the Rainbow, whom I saw after such a long time, had a very troubled expression.

It must be because of the newborn baby in her arms now.

"Hello, Lord Hades. Lord Zeus told me to deliver this letter."

"I see, but what's with the newborn baby you're holding?"

"Well... first, the letter..."

Iris fumbled in her bosom and pulled out a parchment.

But the power contained in this parchment was not ordinary.

As if it had been sealed so that no one else could see it.

Crackle-

As I unfolded the parchment, the inherent lightning tickled my hand, but I ignored it and read the contents.

"Brother Hades. It's me, Zeus. I didn't want to ask for your help, but somehow it came to this."

Does he have some request for me?

"You must be curious about the newborn baby that Iris, the Goddess of the Rainbow, is carrying. Could you hide him from Hera for about a month? I know what it means to have a living person stay in the Underworld, but Hera tried to send vipers to kill the child..."

It seems this is another son Zeus secretly had with a mortal.

But for him to ask me, Hera's anger must be tremendous.

Well... according to this letter, he hid the child in mountains, caves, and other gods' dwellings, but Hera somehow found him. Since the child can't escape Hera's eyes in the mortal world, he's thinking of hiding him in a different world, the Underworld...

One month... Does he think he can either find a place to hide from Hera's gaze or slightly change her mind if I protect the child in the Underworld for just one month?

He might be thinking of hiding the child here and there until her anger subsides. But to ask me to hide his illegitimate child, what kind of child is this...

"This child is my son, and I named him Heracles (= Glory of Hera). Surely this child is the prophesied hero who will help us win the fight against the Gigantes, so even though the laws of the Underworld are strict..."

Wait, this child's name is... Heracles?

Heracles. Heracles. As I pronounced it in my mouth a few times, it indeed wasn't unfamiliar.

I've heard it... many times somewhere. I definitely know this name.

A memory more deeply ingrained than the idea of me being hit by Eros's arrow... That is...

"Tell Goddess Styx to dip this newborn baby in the River Styx."

"...Lord Hades?"

The most famous hero among heroes in Greek mythology.

The great hero Heracles who will play an active role in the fight against the Gigantes in the future.

We have won.

***

"...What?! In the River Styx... you say?"

"Yes. Even a fragile human body might improve a bit if dipped in the waters of the Styx."

Iris looks at me in great bewilderment, but my decision remained unchanged. To hell with the law that the living shouldn't come to the Underworld, this must be allowed.

The memory of my past life flashing in my mind. That is the fact that Heracles is the prophesied hero.

If a living person can withstand the power of the River Styx... they will gain a body so hard that most weapons can't even scratch it.

If we dip his whole body, we can prevent the premature death of the prophesied hero.

"But this child is hated by Lady Hera..."

"Then why did you come all the way here at Zeus's request... No, nevermind. If Hera finds out, tell her you had no choice because of my request."

Is the reason Iris, Hera's handmaiden, brought this child here because Zeus asked her to?

He might have deliberately persuaded Iris, fearing Hera would be suspicious if he sent the child with Hermes.

To deliver his illegitimate child to the Underworld secretly from her through Hera's trusted servant...

What on earth did you use to persuade the Goddess of the Rainbow, Zeus?

Did you swear by the River Styx that you would never ogle Iris again, as you often did?

"Yes... I understand."

"Good. Make sure to tell Goddess Styx to dip the child's entire body. Remember that."

I emphasized strongly, just in case something might happen like failing to dip the heel.

Watching Iris's reluctant back as she headed towards Goddess Styx, I couldn't help but smile.

It's as good as half-solving one of the worries that threatened us gods.

Now if we raise this Heracles well and make him a great hero... the Gigantes are as good as dead.

Soon, Goddess Styx entered the audience chamber.

I can see the aura of the River Styx surrounding the child in her hands, changing his body.

As expected of Zeus's son, he withstood the power of the Styx water well.

Goddess Styx, who entrusted Heracles to the hands of a handmaid beside her, speaks with a worried face.

"Hades. I dipped him in the river water because he's Zeus's son and said to be destined to become a hero. But if we keep releasing humans who have received the river's power into the mortal world..."

"Hmm. I understand. If heroes who have received the power of the Styx keep wandering around, the balance of the mortal world would collapse."

When this child returns to the mortal world and grows up, won't he enter Chiron's tutelage?

If Heracles happens to come to the Underworld's training ground, I should tell Chiron to give him proper character education.

Since he will grow into a powerful hero who has been dipped in the River Styx...

We need to educate him properly so he doesn't harm others recklessly.

"Of course, we plan to educate him properly under Chiron's tutelage later. And naturally, we won't raise multiple heroes who have been dipped in the River Styx."

"That's a relief. But why are you giving special treatment only to this child when you've seen so many heroes?"

Obviously, I can't say that I know the future where Heracles will beat down the Gigantes based on my past life experience...

"If you look at this letter Zeus sent... It says he drank Hera's milk, and killed two vipers right after he was born."

"Vipers..? How..."

"It's presumed Hera sent them. It can't be helped since he's an illegitimate child."

"Ah..."

The black-haired goddess nods in understanding.

I added a bit more explanation to her as she clicked her tongue looking at Heracles.

"The one who brought this child is Iris, the Goddess of the Rainbow, and Zeus asked me with a letter containing lightning."

"He probably secretly fed him Hera's milk while she was sleeping. Her anger must be reaching the heavens."

"Indeed. He might live a life that's not so smooth. Full of monster corpses and human jealousy..."

I turned my head towards the child in the handmaid's arms.

Heracles was sleeping peacefully, unaware of what was to come.

In fact... Heracles is the child Zeus intentionally bore for the victory of the gods.

It's certain that he's strong enough to drink Hera's milk and kill vipers right from birth, but...

I wonder if we've thrown you into a difficult fate.

Still, I hope that being dipped in the River Styx will help you navigate that fate.

"Waaah! Uwaaaaah!"

"Oh no...!"

"Ah! Hades! Look away for a moment. He's crying, unable to withstand the power in your gaze!"

At Goddess Styx's panicked voice, I hurriedly averted my gaze and looked elsewhere.

Did I stare too intensely? I make this mistake sometimes...

Since we can't feed him Underworld food for a month, we'll need to either find a wet nurse or bring in food from the mortal world.