King of Underworld

Chapter 17 Story After the Typohnomachy – (1)

Squeak! Screeeech! Yelp yelp!

How should I handle this?

I looked down at the Cerberus desperately wagging its tail and showing its belly. It looked a bit cute like this, but… Hmm…

“Hades, shouldn’t we get rid of this monster seed? It’s already strong enough…”

It was slightly unsettling to think that it could withstand even a light attack from Pan.

However, hearing Pan’s report, it seemed that its survival instinct was stronger than its ferocity.

“Alright, follow me to the Underworld.”

Screeech! Yipe yipe!

As soon as I finished speaking, the beast started foaming at the mouth and thrashing around. Its small tail spun like a windmill, and tears flowed from its three pairs of eyes.

“I am Hades, the king of the Underworld. I don’t mean I will kill you and take you…”

Yelp yelp! Bark bark!

“It says it will pledge its loyalty…”

Before I knew it, the tears had disappeared, and the creature was circling me, wagging its tail. Pan, with a bewildered look on his face, cautiously translated its words.

Somehow, this beast seemed like it would easily betray me.

—

I took the Cerberus, which I named Cerberus, to the Underworld. I was worried it might run away on the way, but it followed quietly.

I thought about what task to give it and decided that using it as a guard dog would be best. Sometimes, souls try to escape the Underworld and return to the living world.

“Bite and tear apart any soul that tries to sneak out. You can even eat them.”

Grrr…

Cerberus understood my words and nodded its heads. Its body was dark, somewhat hideous, strong, and its teeth were venomous, making it a fitting guard dog for the Underworld.

“First, I’ll give you a tour of the Underworld. Keep following me.”

Pant pant!

Its three heads moved busily as it eagerly took in the surroundings. The Underworld’s atmosphere didn’t seem too bad for Cerberus.

Once we crossed the Lethe River and the Styx River, we would reach my fortress.

“Hades is coming… not coming… coming…”

What was that sound?

Who dared to sit by the sacred River of Forgetfulness, muttering… The goddess Lethe?

“Ha… Hades…”

The goddess of Lethe, who had been squatting by the river and mumbling, saw me and ran over.

Hug.

“I’ve been waiting here… You’re not dead, right…?”

Her soft skin touched my chest.

Suddenly hugging me like that… Cough!

“I’m about to die now.”

“Aah! I’m sorry!”

Since I’m a god, I’m immortal, but I got a little hurt fighting Typhon. Especially my chest hurts a lot, so if you could back off a bit… Ugh!

“You’re… spitting ichor from your mouth…!”

—

Thus, I returned to the fortress of the Underworld. I sat on my throne, receiving reports about what had happened while I fought Typhon.

The area around Olympus had been completely devastated from the battle with Typhon, causing many deaths. Consequently, the Underworld’s workload temporarily increased.

With more work and me, the chief decision-maker, absent, the gods’ fatigue only grew.

Eventually, the goddess Styx, with dark circles under her eyes, came to confront me.

“How can the king of the Underworld, a major god, go directly to the battlefield…?”

Couldn’t the matters of Olympus be handled by them? Was it really necessary for me to participate in such a dangerous battle? Shouldn’t Zeus have handled it? Wasn’t it enough that I restored his tendons, maintaining appearances and doing my part? Even though we are brothers, did I get proper compensation…

Ah, I see, it wasn’t about being busy with work. I appreciated her concern, but…

My ears started to ring from her endless nagging, and my face began to show signs of exhaustion.

Yes, yes… I was wrong about everything.

“…Hoo.”

Has she finally stopped?

“Still, it’s a relief that you’re safe. I was so worried about you… Sniff.”

The goddess Styx’s face turned red as she covered her mouth and turned away. I saw clear, transparent liquid streaming down her cheeks.

Why was she crying now?

Unable to withstand the stinging gazes around me, I stood up and tried to console the goddess Styx.

“Huff… Hades, you shouldn’t make your wife worry.”

“Angering the mistress of the Underworld, what boldness. I could never follow in your footsteps.”

“Perhaps you should look at the other side too…”

The goddess Lethe looked at me with a pout, but I wished everyone would quiet down.

I was a god who hadn’t even thought about marriage, let alone meeting a woman. Why were they so interested in my personal affairs…

Thanatos, don’t you also lack a close goddess?

“What are you implying with that look? It feels unpleasant.”

It’s nothing.

“More importantly, Hades, why did you bring that monster here?”

Morpheus pointed to where Cerberus sat obediently, waiting for my command.

Hmm… Let’s see. It would be fitting to have it guard the entrance to the Underworld.

Now, no soul would be able to escape from the Underworld.

“But it’s a monster. Such a dangerous creature will betray you if it thinks it has grown strong…”

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that.”

I had imbued Cerberus with some of the power of the Underworld, making it more like a divine beast than a monster.

Although its ferocity remained, it would never escape the Underworld or disobey my orders.

“But what happened to Typhon?”

The goddess Lethe, with her arms crossed, asked.

Zeus had personally sealed Typhon’s body under Mount Etna. And I had thrown his severed head into Tartarus.

“Hades! You wretched rat! Where is my body!”

“At the bottom of Mount Etna.”

“Graah! Put my head back on my body… Aaaagh!”

I was worried that Typhon’s body, buried under Mount Etna, might cause trouble,

but as long as I occasionally patrolled the mortal world, it would be fine.

The gods of Olympus were also keeping an eye on the place where Typhon was buried, so his body would never be released.

At most, it would cause some trouble on the surface.

“Amazing… His body is buried under a mountain, and his head is in Tartarus…”

“In times like this, you really seem like the god of the Underworld… But why sometimes…”

What are you talking about?

Thanatos, making eye contact with me, averted his gaze.

“Ahem. Ahem. Hermes said he has recovered and is returning to Olympus. He wants to thank you in person; perhaps you should visit him?”

Right, Hermes.

—

When I entered the place where Hermes, the messenger god, had been treated after collapsing at the entrance of the Underworld, he was already standing, smiling brightly.

As expected of a god, he had recovered quickly and was waiting for me.

“Uncle Hades, I heard you defeated Typhon!”

“Your body seems to have fully healed.”

Wearing the caduceus staff with two intertwined snakes and winged sandals, he now looked like the Hermes I knew.

When he had been brought in, covered in blood…

“Thank you for helping Olympus. My father will surely reward you handsomely!”

“No need for rewards, just take this scythe back with you.”

I was supposed to return it to Zeus, but I accidentally brought it to the Underworld.

“Oh… This is the scythe. It’s my first time seeing it.”

“Just deliver it to Zeus; he will handle it.”

Hermes took the scythe with both hands and examined it with curiosity.

As a young god, he probably hadn’t had the chance to see Olympus’ strongest weapon made of adamant.

“But aren’t you going to use it yourself, Uncle?”

“It wasn’t mine to begin with.”

Unfortunately, the scythe didn’t suit me.

Having fought through the long war with the Titans, I could use any weapon, but I felt most comfortable with a sword or spear.

No matter how good or strong the weapon was, it wouldn’t be effective if the user wasn’t skilled with it. This scythe was best used by Zeus.

With a casual nod and a gesture, I indicated that the messenger god could prepare to leave the Underworld.

“Haha. Then I, Hermes, the messenger of all, will take my leave. Next time I come to the Underworld, I’ll bring a gift for you, Uncle…”

Yes, go on. Your son is worried about you too.

As I watched Hermes float away, a soul soldier ran up to me.

“Hades, the goddess of the rainbow, Iris, is at the entrance to the Underworld!”

Iris had been visiting frequently lately. Since Hermes had been injured and lying in the Underworld, Zeus had no choice but to send Iris.

After a brief wait, the beautiful winged goddess of the rainbow entered.

“I greet the lord of the Underworld. Zeus has instructed me to invite you to Olympus to reward you for participating in the battle against Typhon.”

Invite me to Olympus?

I wished he wouldn’t bother me with such things; I wasn’t Zeus’ subordinate.

Frowning, I saw Iris break into a cold sweat and add an explanation.

“Hephaestus said that to craft a weapon as a tribute, he needs to do it in his dedicated forge… Also, since you defeated Typhon, there will be a victory feast in Olympus. We would be honored if you

could attend…”

Zeus had ordered Hephaestus to make a weapon for me, but I already had the Styx Sword.

And the victory feast at Olympus… That sounded interesting.

It wouldn’t be bad to enjoy a feast above the clouds after a long time.

Most of the gods would gather at Olympus, and who knew what events might occur, so it would be good to check out the atmosphere…

I was a bit concerned about the Underworld’s affairs,

but it was now more stable and well-organized compared to the time of the Great Flood, so I could leave for a while.

“Alright, let’s go now.”

“Then I shall escort you, Hades.”

Iris created a rainbow connecting to Olympus.

No matter how many times I saw it, her power was always enviable.

—

**New Elements and Characters:**
– **Cerberus (삼두견)**: A three-headed dog who becomes the guard dog of the Underworld. (Male)
– **Lethe (레테)**: The goddess of the River Lethe. (Female)
– **Hermes (헤르메스)**: The messenger god who recovers and thanks Hades. (Male)
– **Iris (이리스)**: The goddess of the rainbow who invites Hades to Olympus. (Female)