The Tale of the Golden Apple - (2)
Zeus gave me an awkward smile as he nudged the golden apple toward me, but I deliberately turned my head away.
I was annoyed at his attempt to pass the responsibility onto me.
“You seem troubled by this yourself.”
“Ahem. Borrowing wisdom from another god is tricky when my own daughter, the goddess of wisdom, is one of the contenders for this apple.”
So, he wanted my help as the god of fairness?
He must have thought that my judgment would ease the tension among the three goddesses.
“In the end, aren’t you just pushing this onto me?”
“Not exactly. It’s just that there’s no one else suitable to make the decision. Look at them.”
Following Zeus’s gaze, I saw the three goddesses still eyeing the golden apple.
The determination in their eyes, fueled by pride and possessiveness, made it clear they wouldn’t give up.
“Well, if you think about it, you’re probably the most trustworthy choice. Remember how you mediated the dispute between Ares and Poseidon last time? You’re known for your fairness.”
“If we’re talking fairness, the logical choice would be to give the apple to Thetis, the bride. Or, perhaps, to split it into three pieces.”
“Hmm...”
He wasn’t wrong.
“Well, we’ll think more about this after the wedding.”
“Fine. I’ll try to come up with a solution, too.”
Despite his flaws, Zeus had a way of handling conflicts among the gods fairly.
Whether it was resolving disputes like the one between Poseidon and Ares or settling the chaos when every male god vied for Aphrodite, he had shown neutrality.
For now, I decided to leave it to Zeus.
* * *
But the decision about the golden apple’s rightful owner dragged on for an excessively long time.
Even for gods, whose perception of time differs from mortals, the debate seemed overdrawn.
In the meantime, Thetis and Peleus had a son,
and Thetis asked to bathe him in the Styx to make him immortal. I denied her request.
“Why... why can’t I? Even the god of strength, as an infant, bathed in the Styx...”
“That was an extreme exception. Thetis, your son is not the hero of prophecy.”
News of Apollo falling in love with a mortal princess of Troy also reached me.
No one could predict whether this romance would end in tragedy, but... well.
“Hades, a message has arrived from Olympus.”
Eventually, a letter from Zeus declaring it was time to make a decision reached the Underworld, and I ascended to Olympus.
Several other gods had gathered, aware of the gravity of the situation, and were giving Zeus their input.
“Lord Zeus, why not simply give it to Lady Hera? She’s the queen of the gods, after all.”
“But wouldn’t that provoke severe backlash from the other goddesses?”
“I still think it’s best for Lord Hades to make the decision. His judgment is fair...”
“I agree. The god of fairness should decide.”
Why was everyone trying to dump this on me?
Zeus, after some thought, finally spoke. But there was something unsettling in his gaze.
“Hades, brother, recently Lady Gaia told me something.”
“Lady Gaia?”
“She said that heroes are running rampant across the land, not only hunting monsters but killing every beast in sight.”
“What?”
“Think about the heroes who offered up the Gigantes as sacrifices during the Gigantomachy. Now, with such power, they roam unchecked across the earth. It’s only natural for Gaia to be displeased.”
The current Earth Mother had fully accepted us.
Though she didn’t attend Thetis and Peleus’s wedding, she had sent her blessings for her granddaughter’s marriage.
Even if she wasn’t pleased with us, she no longer intended to expel Olympus from the world.
But... she was a primordial goddess, a Protogenoi.
She was not to be ignored, and even Zeus, the king of the gods, had to tread carefully around her.
Though she had recognized us, a sudden change of heart could lead to another Typhon-like disaster.
Zeus continued speaking.
“Heroes seeking glory is natural. But remember how I felt when they offered up the Gigantes at the Phlegra Plain? It’s unsettling.”
“So, what are you suggesting?”
“I intend to use this golden apple to deal with the heroes.”
“......”
“Of course, I won’t unleash a divine punishment like a great flood. I’ll target only those consumed by greed and selfishness.”
Greed and selfishness. He was planning for war.
But war inevitably brings innocent casualties.
“And... even if I don’t use such methods, war is already brewing among the mortals.”
“I know. Lately, Dike has been reporting to me about the atrocities committed by heroes.”
“Hermes mentioned that the Greek states have been eyeing Troy, favored by Apollo. War will likely erupt within half a century. Why not accelerate it?”
Wait. Something felt off.
The situation seemed far too convenient.
The lack of monsters on earth, forcing heroes to seek glory elsewhere.
Gaia’s dissatisfaction with the destruction wrought by these heroes.
And now, the golden apple, perfectly positioned to ignite the conflict.
I had felt this kind of inevitability before.
It was like the conditions aligning during the Titanomachy, when we achieved victory over the Titans.
“Could this... be fate?”
Zeus nodded.
“Precisely. It’s fate for war to erupt in the mortal world. We could twist it slightly, but... with heroes becoming a nuisance, why should I resist?”
An opportunity to gain justification, practical benefits, and even Gaia’s trust.
Zeus’s final words weighed heavily on my mind.
* * *
The Titans’ destiny to yield the rule of the world to Olympus.
Typhon and the Gigantes’ fate to be defeated by us.
The tragedies of Oedipus and Perseus, preordained by destiny.
These are laws beyond the comprehension of lower deities, laws that only gods of the Olympian Twelve might attempt to alter.
In a way, they could be seen as a higher concept than prophecy itself.
“Must you truly start a war? Countless mortals will be sacrificed because of it.”
“No matter what you say this time, I can’t relent. This is a judgment I’ve made as king of the gods.”
From the perspective of Zeus and the other gods, it was understandable.
A chance to slightly stoke the flames of a war that was inevitable anyway...
An opportunity to gain Gaia’s trust and remove heroes who had become a threat even to the gods.
“...Zeus, out of respect for your authority, I’ll say no more.”
“Hmm. I appreciate that.”
“But I can’t simply stand by and watch. I’ll intervene on my own terms to a certain extent in the mortal realm.”
Destiny is not something to give up on entirely.
There must be a way to twist it, just as I softened the tragedy of King Perseus.
As a sign that I would offer no further objection, I stepped back and leaned against a nearby pillar.
Hermes, noticing me, approached Zeus and spoke.
“Uh... Father.”
“Hermes. Do you have something to say?”
“Well, since Uncle Hades has given his tacit approval... If you are to instigate a war, leave it to me.”
“Explain.”
After clearing his throat, Hermes began.
“You know how often I travel the mortal realm, don’t you? I’ve noticed a few rather fascinating humans.”
“Hmm.”
“If you wish to use the golden apple to start a great war, it would be best to involve someone prominent among mortals, someone capable of attracting attention.”
A king, perhaps?
“What if we bring the most handsome man among mortals, the prince of Troy, Paris, and have him choose which goddess should receive the golden apple?”
“The prince of Troy...”
“Surely, all three goddesses would make their offers to him. Athena would promise him victory and wisdom in war, and Aphrodite, no doubt, would offer him the most beautiful woman...”
“And no matter whom he chooses, chaos will follow?”
Other gods nodded in agreement with Hermes’ suggestion.
“Indeed. That is a clever approach.”
“Depending on his disposition, whichever goddess he chooses will provide ample justification.”
“And if the prospect of war doesn’t arise naturally, we could accompany it with a divine oracle...”
Was this even reasonable? Picking a mortal and forcing him to choose among three goddesses...
Then letting his choice lead to war? It didn’t sit well with me.
But I had already stepped back to respect Zeus’ authority. I couldn’t step back in now.
Still, this Paris, the prince of Troy... Perhaps I should make an appearance when he chooses the goddess to receive the golden apple.
If he’s a rational man, I’ll protect him, even if he earns the wrath of the goddesses.
As a prince, he’s unlikely to act recklessly.
“Hermes! Then go to the three goddesses and have them agree to let the prince of Troy make the judgment.”
This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.
“Yes, Father.”
“Wait. I’ll go with you, Hermes.”
“What? Uh... Yes, of course!”
One last chance to say my piece.
* * *
The three goddesses readily agreed with Hermes’ suggestion.
Their eyes sparkled with confidence, each certain that the mortal Paris, the most handsome man on earth, would choose them.
“Then, let us go to this mortal at once.”
“Good. If he’s the prince of Troy, he should be capable of making a wise choice, at least among mortals.”
“Hmph... Even if he’s a prince, he’s still a man. Naturally, he’ll choose the most beautiful—me.”
Before their bickering could escalate further, I interjected.
Athena and Hera were resolute, so the only one who might listen to me was Aphrodite.
“Aphrodite. A moment.”
“What is it?”
“I helped you get divorced from Hephaestus, didn’t I? Just consider this one more time—must you really fight over this?”
“Sorry, Hades, but no matter what you say, this concerns my divine domain. I can’t let it go.”
“...Athena, do you feel the same? Hera, you too?”
“I still believe I’m the goddess most deserving of the golden apple, even if it’s my father’s will to involve a mortal.”
“I’m no different. I understand what worries you, Hades, but that’s irrelevant, isn’t it?”
Athena and Hera seemed to understand why Zeus was deferring the decision to a mortal instead of deciding himself.
Yet, they were unwilling to back down... Typical.
“Fine. I see how it is.”
Gods cannot easily interfere with punishments or rewards decided by another god.
But until the judgment is passed, there’s still room to act.
If this mortal prince of Troy makes a wise choice, perhaps the fallout can be minimized.