King of Underworld

Chapter 14 The Story Typhon – (3)

I saw an extremely ordinary human being gain the courage of Ares.

I had seen countless humans until now, but I had never been so deeply impressed as I was today…

However, mere willpower alone was not enough to carry out the task Zeus had given.

Did this Cadmus truly have such capabilities?

So, I asked him directly.

How he would retrieve Zeus’s sinews from Typhon.

“Though I might not be comparable to Apollo, the god of music, I pride myself on having enough skill to charm at least one monster.”

Cadmus pulled out a flute from his bosom, brought it to his lips, and began to blow softly.

Seeing his skillful and natural posture while playing the flute, it seemed clear that this was not his first time.

Biri-ri-ri~

The sweet sound from Cadmus’s flute made the surrounding animals pause.

Even the nymphs dwelling in nature emerged to listen to the music, and the air trembled softly.

Every space where the flute’s sound reached flowed in harmony with his melody.

When the soft rhythm that had been resonating everywhere suddenly stopped, I felt an involuntary sense of regret.

With a confident face, Cadmus, who had removed the flute from his lips, spoke to me.

“The monster will not be able to come to its senses with my flute’s sound!”

For a moment, I compared the music I heard from Apollo, Zeus’s son and the god of music, with his.

Similar to Apollo… No, wasn’t he even better than Apollo?

His performance skill was enough to covet the position of the god of music.

Still… it was dangerous.

Not only did he need the performance, but also the eloquence, courage, and luck to retrieve the sinews from Typhon.

It was a gamble that would never work on a slightly more seasoned monster.

However, considering the clumsy-looking Typhon that I had pictured in my mind…

“Hades, I am already prepared.”

In fact, I still thought that Zeus had gone mad…

But the eloquence and courage Cadmus had shown when answering my question clearly surpassed that of ordinary people.

I finished my thoughts and slowly nodded.

However, if Typhon disregarded the flute’s sound and tried to kill Cadmus or if something seemed off, I would use the Kynee and intervene.

* * *

Biri-ri-ri~ Biri-ri~

A little distance from Mount Olympus.

A man disguised as a shepherd, Cadmus, was walking while playing the flute.

And a few steps away, I followed him with my Stygian sword drawn, wearing the Kynee.

Despite approaching a monster that could kill him instantly, he played the music calmly.

As he entered Typhon’s sphere of influence and a fierce storm began to rage, he staggered and lost his footing.

Kuuuuuu…

But soon, the violently whirling storm gradually subsided.

This was a sign that Typhon had taken an interest in the song and was withdrawing the winds that surrounded him.

Seeing the clear evidence that Cadmus’s music was affecting Typhon, he gained confidence and walked forward again.

The farther he went towards Typhon, the fewer mountain animals were visible, and the more broken trees appeared.

As he headed to where Typhon was, the pressure increased, but Cadmus steadfastly advanced despite breaking into a cold sweat.

And eventually, he encountered the monster.

“Kahahaha! Truly a splendid performance! What is your name, human?”

The earth and sky trembled at Typhon’s laughter as he lay sprawled on his side.

Nevertheless, Cadmus stood firm on his two legs.

“I am merely a passing shepherd named Cadmus, oh great one!”

“A shepherd? Just a shepherd! You’ve played heavenly music for me, and yet you do such a trivial job?”

Looking at Cadmus with eyes full of favor, as if watching an amusing ant, Typhon smiled.

Even the snakes that made up Typhon’s hair, which could spew lightning and venom, remained silent towards Cadmus.

“Follow me, and if you play that music for me whenever I desire, I will grant you a great reward.”

“What kind of reward do you speak of?!”

Pretending to ponder for a moment, Typhon bestowed a favor upon the ant before him.

At least, that’s how it seemed to me, Hades.

“If you wish, I will grant you any goddess except Athena, Aphrodite, Leto, or Hera. What do you say?!”

Mad monster, he must consider Hera his trophy.

I worried for a moment that Cadmus might fall for that temptation.

For a human man, taking a goddess would be an irresistible lure, especially if it meant not having to trick the monster…

“Of course, I will obey if the great one commands! But wouldn’t you like to hear even better music?”

“Oh… better than the flute just now?”

Cadmus’s throat bobbed once, then he began to passionately address Typhon in a loud voice.

“In the past, I defeated the god Apollo in a lyre contest. However, when Zeus learned of this, he struck my lyre with lightning!”

“So, you are capable of defeating Apollo. And yet, he cut your lyre strings with lightning…”

“If I could remake my lyre, I would play you an even more enchanting melody.”

Indeed, his eloquence, courage, and wisdom were fitting for the first human hero.

“Very well! These are the sinews of Zeus, who was defeated by me. Use them to remake your lyre and return to me!”

“I am merely grateful, oh great one.”

Typhon moved his massive body and pulled the sinews from beneath the bear hide he was lying on.

Despite being separated from their owner, the divine sinews pulsed strongly and showed no signs of decay or deterioration.

“I will make the lyre and return.”

“Hahaha! Yes, return quickly!”

A hero imbued with the courage of Ares, the musical skill of Apollo, and the wisdom of Athena completed his task.

* * *

“You have truly retrieved my sinews, human.”

“I am honored to have been of service to Lord Zeus.”

Cadmus and I returned to the mountain with the sinews and found the cave where Zeus was trapped.

For a moment, I was taken aback by the sight of the once mighty Zeus lying powerless on the ground…

However, as soon as the sinews were reattached to his legs, he returned to the Zeus I knew.

“Zeus. It seemed the Moirai had interfered with Typhon.”

“The Moirai aided me?”

When I informed him about the weakened Typhon, he clenched his fist with a confident smile.

It seemed he had regained his confidence.

“I know where Typhon hid my Astraphe. While I retrieve it, could you perhaps find the other gods, Brother Hades?”

“Alright.”

Although Zeus’s power had returned, Typhon, who had single-handedly overthrown Olympus, was not an opponent to be underestimated.

Perhaps he intended to combine forces, fearing another defeat if he fought alone.

I immediately set out to find the other gods.

First, I removed the Kynee and held it in my hand so the gods could recognize me while I searched the surroundings.

Fortunately, one god found me first.

“H… Hades!”

The goddess of the hearth, Hestia, appeared.

Terrified, she ran to me and embraced me.

The usual warm and gentle divine power I felt from her was now shaking unstably.

Like a hearthfire on the verge of being extinguished by a fierce wind.

“You came to help! But Zeus couldn’t escape…”

“I’ve already met with Zeus, so calm down.”

Even a seasoned god who had experienced the war with the Titans and the Gigantes was trembling in fear,

Reaffirming how powerful a monster Typhon truly was.

After explaining Zeus’s sinews to her, I set out to find the other gods.

Hestia was also very surprised by the heroic acts of the human she had only regarded as a ward to be cared for.

“My goodness… such a human hero helped us..?”

“I’ll introduce you to him properly once we defeat Typhon.”

She also decided to gather the other gods and assemble on Mount Olympus, which Typhon had occupied.

From now on, the speed at which the gods gathered would accelerate.

As I thought so, a god with the lower body of a goat and horns, but the upper body of a human, came running towards me.

He had the same expression that humans had when looking at Zeus.

“H… Lord Hades!”

He stopped in front of me.

“Kgh… you came from the underworld to save Olympus… I am truly ashamed!”

No way, was it you, Pan, whom I had seen transformed into a creature mixed with a goat and a fish before meeting Cadmus?

I had passed by, thinking it was just a lowly god while tracing Zeus’s traces, but it turned out to be Pan. If I had known, I would have removed the Kynee and spoken to him then.

Pan.

The god of nature and shepherds, a satyr who is half-human, half-goat.

Incidentally, he is also the son of Hermes and the grandson of Zeus.

You really need to improve your transformation skills.

It’s a good thing Typhon had no interest in the fleeing gods except for Hermes.

“Is my father safe? Kgh… It was so urgent that…”

When I told him that Hermes was now being treated in the underworld, he gnashed his teeth.

The sense of helplessness and grief from being unable to fight the monster as a god seemed to cross his face.

Like Hestia, I calmed him down and told him to find the other gods.

“Yes! Though I may look like

this, I am the god of nature. If I ask around, I can find the others quickly!”

I didn’t bother asking whom he would inquire.

I confirmed that animals like birds, squirrels, and chipmunks were gathering around him.

Since there seemed to be many gods who transformed into fish, should I head to the river?

There happened to be a suitable river nearby.

When I revealed my presence and spread my divine power widely, two fish suddenly leapt out of the river.

The sight of them transforming in an instant, the powerful divine power, Olympian gods.

“Uncle Hades!”

“Ares, what is this sorry state of the god of war?”

“…I apologize. The sense of defeat was too overwhelming…”

One was the muscular male god Ares, who had helped well during the great flood in the underworld.

And…

A goddess with brilliant blonde hair and an overwhelmingly beautiful appearance.

An aura that captivated anyone, regardless of gender or age.

A perfect figure without any flaws and a pervasive floral scent.

The long-missed goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite.

A goddess born from the sea foam when Cronus cut off his father Uranus’s genitals.

“It’s been a while, Hades.”

Of all times, she was wearing the Kestos Himas, the girdle that enchants men.

The irresistible allure of the goddess of beauty.

Turning my gaze away from the throbbing headache, I told Aphrodite.

“Use that only when fighting Typhon.”

“Hmm… It seems it doesn’t work well on the three major gods.”

The personified perfect beauty grumbled slightly as she removed the girdle.

If Eros, the god of love, and Peitho, the goddess of persuasion, had been beside her, I might have wavered a bit.

“A… Aphrodite.”

My nephew was already drooling in fascination.

Aphrodite was already married to Hephaestus…

I couldn’t tell the goddess of love not to seduce men, so there was nothing I could do. Would she eventually acquire the divine aspect of infidelity?

After explaining the situation and asking for their help.

“I see. Zeus’s sinews have been restored… Then we’ll also find the other gods!”

“See you again soon, Hades.”

A woman like Zeus, who tries to take anyone to bed if they match her taste.

As I turned to find the other gods, a wind blowing from the forest whispered in my ear.

The swaying grass conveyed Pan’s message to me.

Even Zeus’s messenger eagle flew towards me.

[Lord Hades! I’ve found everyone!]

[Brother, while we confront the enemy, please handle the scythe. Perhaps on Olympus…]

The time for counterattack had arrived.