The Underworld Feast - Part 2
"Glory to the Underworld!"
Everyone raised their golden goblets high, echoing Thanatos’ words as they drank the nectar. I also downed the divine drink in my goblet.
Gulp, gulp—swallow—
"Ah... so this is the taste of nectar... It’s incredibly delicious...!"
"Hahaha! Menthe, now that you’re a goddess, you’ll get used to it soon."
"Heh. This reminds me of the first time I ever tasted nectar and ambrosia, ages ago."
"Hypnos, don’t tease the young goddess."
"So this is nectar..."
"Try some ambrosia too, Medusa."
No drink could compare to the heavenly taste of nectar, not even the mint tea or Dionysus’ wine. Nectar’s flavor isn’t fixed; it surpasses all other beverages in taste and offers divine satisfaction to the gods. There’s a reason why mortals who consume nectar and ambrosia don’t age while they partake.
However... drinking too much can lead to this.
"Hades... It’s been a while since we shared a drink... Heehee..."
"You’ve had quite a bit, Lady Styx..."
Yes, like Lady Styx here, stumbling toward me with her goblet, cheeks flushed with a seductive smile on her lips. She’s clearly had more than enough nectar.
"Hadeees... Hehehe."
Of course, a little divine power could sober her up quickly, so gods often treat nectar like mortals treat wine... but it seems she’s intentionally overindulging.
"Oh my!"
Thud.
Ah. So this was her goal... She tripped very awkwardly and fell into my arms, sending me a pleading look, and I instinctively caught her.
As I tried to help her up, releasing her arm and waist...
"Ooh..."
She closed her eyes and pursed her lips, seemingly waiting for something... awkward.
"Eek! Get off, Styx! Not again!"
"Wha—! Really, Lethe?! Are you serious?"
Lady Lethe suddenly appeared, pulling the goddess of oaths upright, snapping her out of her intoxicated state. Lady Styx quickly regained her composure and began to argue with Lethe.
"Menthe? There’s nectar dripping from your mouth."
"...Huh? Oh..."
"Tsk, tsk... This is what happens when you don’t get married early..."
"Zeus and Poseidon have countless concubines, yet Hades here is quite the popular one."
Ahem... Well, that... sigh...
I decided to move away and approach Medusa and the three Erinyes sisters. Despite their intimidating appearance, with bronze wings, bleeding eyes, and snake-headed hair, they had finally agreed to attend the feast after many refusals. As the host, I needed to approach them first to show my support and care for them as minor gods and administrators of the Underworld.
As the ruler of the Underworld, I must demonstrate that those I favor and protect will not be mistreated by others.
"Medusa, are you enjoying the feast?"
"Yes. Thank you for your consideration."
"Hmph! The womanizer god is at it again."
Alecto, the goddess of unceasing anger, gave me a sharp look before turning away. But why are the snakes in her hair pointing this way...?
Hiss. Hiss.
"Ugh... What’s gotten into you now?"
"Hades, I’ve told you many times to stop doing that..."
"Ugh..."
Alecto scolded her snake hair while blushing, while Tisiphone sighed, and Megaera nodded, her mouth full of ambrosia.
"Hmm... I’ll be sure to invite you to future feasts as well. Will you attend?"
"Hmph!"
"Well, it’s not bad..."
For some reason, this situation felt familiar, as if I had experienced something similar before... What was it?
At least we had some conversation. Hopefully, this will help ensure that they aren’t shunned at future feasts.
Next, I approached Charon, the ferryman of the Acheron River, who was sitting in a corner, sipping wine. For some reason, he was drinking only wine, leaving the nectar untouched.
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"Charon."
"Ah, Hades. Join me for a glass of this wine."
"You’re not drinking the nectar?"
"Sometimes, a good wine is all you need. Wasn’t this made by Dionysus?"
Charon, who wasn’t eating any ambrosia or the food from the Cornucopia, suddenly seemed to remember something and spoke to me.
"Recently, the souls arriving in the Underworld have shown a surprising amount of calm."
"Why is that? For mortals, the Underworld is..."
"Yes, a symbol of inevitable death and fear. But as more mortals have started to believe in you, many are now finding comfort in the idea of life after death."
Through the temples in Thebes and Argos, my influence in the mortal world is steadily growing. I thought my worship was still somewhat niche, but if even Charon has noticed, it seems I have more followers than I expected.
"Those who lived righteous lives are showing a surprising amount of composure upon their arrival."
"That’s very good news."
"Your followers believe they will receive a fair judgment after death. As this belief spreads in the mortal world..."
Medusa’s story has gradually spread, starting from Thebes, creating rumors that even a human turned monster can receive my mercy.
Even now, if I listen closely to the mortal world...
"Are you sure it’s okay to go without clearing your name?"
"Don’t worry too much... Lord Pluto is a fair deity..."
"Ugh... Those scum will surely be judged in the Underworld!"
"Can you repeat your claim of innocence before Lord Pluto?"
"Of course! I’ll swear it in the temple!"
"...Since you’re so confident, I’ll investigate further."
Still, not many people refer to me as Hades. Even though I’m often seen as a god of mercy and wealth rather than the god of the Underworld... this is just something I’ll have to accept.
For mortals, death is as terrifying as Zeus’ thunderbolts, and that fear is closely tied to the Underworld... Hmm. As proof, most of those praying at Thanatos’ statue in Thebes are elderly.
Recently, even King Perseus heard the rumors about Medusa. He personally visited my temple in Argos to pray for guidance.
"Lord of the Underworld... Is it true that Medusa, whom I beheaded, was once a human?"
Perseus’ face showed a mix of disbelief, guilt, and confusion. I possessed the body of a priest and answered him...
"Yes, she was transformed into that monstrous form by a cruel twist of fate."
"...! How could this be..."
"She is now a minor goddess of the Underworld and wishes to speak with you. Will you accept?"
"...!! Please, allow it!"
Medusa, now a goddess, had been nearby and requested the encounter. Even when she met Perseus, the one who beheaded her, she showed no animosity.
"So you’re the one who beheaded me, Perseus."
"Are you... Medusa? I don’t know what to say..."
"It’s fine. You were merely swept up in fate, just as I was. I don’t hold it against you."
"But..."
Perseus was clearly uncomfortable, yet sincerely apologetic. As a hero, his character was admirable.
As their conversation grew longer, I quietly left the scene.
Not long after, a small shrine was built next to my temple in Argos... dedicated to Medusa, the minor goddess of the Underworld.
'There are even rumors that King Perseus himself occasionally visits Medusa’s shrine to pray...'
As I reflected on Medusa and Perseus’ story, I was startled by a loud noise. Thanatos, the god of death with black wings, rushed into the banquet hall in a panic.
He had left the feast earlier—had he gone to check on something urgent?
I should grant Thanatos a vacation one of these days...
"Keres, Moros, Charon, we have a situation! War has broken out in the mortal realm!"
"What?! Again?"
"Damn it! Let’s go, Moros."
"Humans have started another war?"
Charon, who had been gulping down wine, tossed aside his goblet and quickly rose. The other death gods, Moros and Keres, also left the feast.
"War in the mortal realm...? How many souls will arrive this time..."
"Lord Hades, I’m sorry, but I must leave as well."
More than half of the minor gods and administrators present, having heard the news, quickly departed. The Minos brothers also quietly slipped away toward the judgment hall.
"How is it that every time we try to take a break, there’s a flood, a hero’s rampage, or a war..."
"There’s no helping it. Hades... Let’s get back to work."
Lady Lethe brushed past me, leaving a comment as she went. Her beautiful eyes, usually sharp, were drooping with exhaustion, leaving me at a loss for words.
"Lord Hades?! Is this what feasts in the Underworld are usually like?"
"...?"
Medusa and Menthe froze, watching the gods and administrators leave the banquet hall in a coordinated manner, as if resigned to the situation. Yes... this is the Underworld. You can never truly relax here.
Menthe, meeting my gaze, awkwardly swallowed the ambrosia she had been eating and spoke.
"Lord Hades, should I also... start working?"
"Menthe, let’s continue developing the mint dishes we were working on earlier. We can also discuss how to spread them to the mortal world..."
Since things have turned out this way, we might as well finish what we started and then take a break. Unfortunately, the feast ends here.
As I prepared to return to the office with the disheartened Menthe, I overheard Medusa’s comment.
"The Underworld is... quite a unique place."
I couldn’t agree more.