The Story of Bellerophon - Part 5
While the hero's task was underway, Gaia intervened with the Chimera, causing it to destroy Athena's temple and ultimately kill Bellerophon.
Though she couldn't change Bellerophon's fate of dying after slaying the Chimera, she managed to manipulate the events, much like when I advised Perseus long ago. Gaia employed a method that allowed the path to fate to be chosen, rather than directly altering the outcome.
“Did you see that, Lady Lethe?”
“Yes... Gaia has prophetic powers rivaling those of Prometheus.”
“Even if we give birth to a hero and win the war against the Gigantes, it could still be a victory full of wounds.”
Victory in the Gigantes’ war could lead to unforeseen consequences, like the release of the Titans or further manipulations by Gaia. Perhaps Gaia could even give birth to new monsters to replace the Gigantes.
We must prepare more thoroughly... Gaia is one of the primordial gods, the Protogenoi. The only ones who can truly stand against the ancient Protogenoi are other beings of the same level. Under the all-powerful Chaos, only a few Protogenoi exist, including Gaia herself. There’s Erebus, the god of darkness, and Nyx, the goddess of night. There’s also Tartarus, the god of the abyss.
Tartarus, being the abyss itself, doesn’t involve himself in these matters. Erebus and Nyx, however... Hmm. Both of them have long since withdrawn from the affairs of the world.
While lost in thought, Lady Lethe spoke to me.
“Hades.”
“What is it?”
“Bellerophon should be arriving in the Underworld soon. Will you reward him for his efforts?”
Given that Thanatos’s shade had already been sent to collect him, Bellerophon and the Chimera should be arriving soon. Though he killed his brother, making him ineligible for Elysium, heroes who accomplish great deeds still deserve a reward.
I called for a messenger.
“When the hero who slayed the Chimera arrives, bring him to me.”
“Yes, Lord Hades.”
Lady Lethe and I waited in the audience chamber, and soon, the hero arrived. With the help of Mnemosyne, Bellerophon regained his memories of the mortal world, but his face was twisted in pain, as if still feeling phantom pains from his death.
Kneeling before me, he appeared conflicted—disappointed yet accepting of his fate. He seemed to realize that he was dead, and the bitterness was clear in his expression.
“Lord of the Underworld, why have you summoned me?”
“You accomplished a great deed by slaying one of Typhon’s offspring, but you did not receive proper reward in the mortal realm.”
“...?!”
“Is there anything you desire? I will see that you receive the reward worthy of your feat.”
If a hero sacrifices himself to slay a monster yet receives no reward, what motivation would others have to follow in his footsteps? A fitting reward or widespread recognition of his name was necessary.
However, his response was beyond what I had anticipated.
“If... if it’s not too much to ask, I wish to become a god like you, Lord Pluto!”
“Hmm?”
“I want to ascend to Olympus and live among the gods, enjoying eternal life!”
He looked up at me with bright, eager eyes, delivering his request with passion. But becoming a god? That was quite a bold request. He didn’t even want to remain a lesser god in the Underworld—he sought to ascend to Olympus itself.
The issue was that I had no power to grant a place in Olympus. That would require the approval of Zeus and the other gods.
Still, considering the great feat he had achieved by slaying the Chimera, such a minor impertinence could be forgiven. I would try to explain things gently.
Raising a hand to interrupt him, I calmly spoke.
“...You have a very naive view of what it means to be a god.”
“What do you mean?”
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“What do you believe a god is? Why do you wish to become one?”
After a moment of thought, he replied.
“Aren’t the gods perfect and immortal? I’ve always yearned to become a god!”
“Perfect...?”
“I’ve slain a powerful monster! Please give me the chance to become a god!”
It’s not unheard of for a mortal to become a god. Medusa became a goddess because of the suffering she endured at the hands of the gods. Dionysus, too, eventually ascended to godhood after spreading the worship of wine and gathering followers.
But even great heroes like Cadmus and Perseus did not become gods, so making Bellerophon a god seemed excessive. Moreover, he hadn’t gathered any mortal followers, nor was he asking for a place among the Underworld’s deities—he sought a position on Olympus.
Additionally, he carried the flaw of having killed his own brother, which marred his record.
Still, considering his great sacrifice in slaying the Chimera...
“It seems you need to understand what it truly means to be a god and what kind of duties we carry.”
“What do you mean?”
“Spend 100 days here in the Underworld, performing the duties of a lesser god. If, after that time, your thoughts haven’t changed, I will speak to the gods of Olympus about your request.”
“...! Thank you! Thank you, Lord Pluto!”
Bellerophon, filled with gratitude, bowed deeply, repeatedly thanking me. But I wondered if his thanks were a bit premature.
“Thank you so much!”
“Well...”
The life of a god might be very different from what you imagine...
After Bellerophon left, brimming with joy, I turned to Lady Lethe. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she gazed at me.
“Hades...! Couldn’t we assign him to the River of Forgetfulness? Lately, the dead have been resistant to letting go of their memories...”
“For now, I plan to assign him to help Eros with punishing the sinners. Afterward, we’ll see...”
“Ah...”
Upon hearing that Bellerophon wouldn’t be assigned to her domain, Lethe’s expression fell, her excitement fading. I watched her for a moment, then reached out and gently stroked her soft hair. Her elegant silver strands slipped through my fingers like silk.
“Ah! Ha-Hades?!”
“I know you’ve helped me a great deal. I appreciate it.”
Her surprise was evident. For all the times she had approached me, it seemed my gesture had genuinely startled her.
Perhaps this was the first time I had reached out to her myself. Seeing her flustered, I gently grasped her wrist to stop her from pulling away.
“Please continue to assist me. One day, I will make sure...”
“N-Ne... Okay, okay. I get it, so... let go of my hand...”
“Ah.”
As soon as I released her, the silver-haired goddess darted out of the chamber, covering her face. Her flushed neck was clearly visible as she hurried off.
Thunk.
“Ouch! Ugh...”
In her haste, she collided with the doorframe. Of course, the door was left with a dent, just like when Styx had knocked into it recently. I would have to repair that as well.
After hastily leaving the audience chamber, Lady Lethe rushed off somewhere, making her way to an office in the Underworld.
“Styx! Styx! Styx!”
“What? What is it, Lethe?”
“Lady Lethe...?”
Inside the room, Styx and Menthe were working, surrounded by piles of parchment. Seeing Lady Lethe bursting in with a red face, they both looked startled.
Unfazed by their reactions, Lethe confronted Styx directly.
“I’ve noticed Hades has been acting strange since a few days ago! What did you two do together?”
“What... What do you mean? Why suddenly...”
“Hades gently stroked my hair for the first time today! Now, tell me what happened with you! Something must’ve happened between you two recently!”
Indeed, it hadn’t escaped the notice of the other deities that Styx had been acting differently since her encounter with Hades on Pegasus.
The Underworld’s ruler, whom Lethe had known, was not the type to shy away from the goddesses approaching him. However, if they ever got too close, he would subtly distance himself, as if there was an unspoken boundary.
She had assumed that Styx was once again acting on her own and that Hades had maintained his usual coolness. But now... things were different.
“How far did you go the other day? Tell me!”
“W-What are you talking about?!”
But the more Styx thought about what had happened a few days ago, the more her ears reddened.
“Come to think of it, Hades has been looking... softer lately, hasn’t he?”
“Yes, it feels like the barrier around his heart has slightly lowered.”
Menthe, who had been observing silently, chimed in. If Persephone had been there, she might have rushed to Hades immediately upon noticing these changes, but she had been in the mortal realm for some time now.
“Did Eros happen to shoot an arrow recently?”
“Eros is still working in the Underworld, though...”
Meanwhile, Bellerophon, eager to become a god, was led to a place in the Underworld, where he would begin his duties. The heat there was even more intense than the Chimera’s flames.
“Argh! Stop! Please, stop!”
“Aaah! Ugh!”
“Please, forgive me! I beg you!”
He arrived at a place where countless criminals, unworthy of Tartarus but unable to receive leniency, were suffering in agony. The ground was a blazing inferno, and souls writhed in torment, unable to escape the heat.
“Here, you’ll deliver these arrows to Lord Eros.”
“Ah...”
Whoosh—Thud!
“Aaaargh!”
Up in the air, a child-like figure with wings continued to shoot arrows at the suffering souls. Was this the god Eros? But...
“Hey, you there! Hurry up and bring me more arrows!”
“Y-Yes, right away!”
Was this the same god of love, Eros? And why was he here, relentlessly firing arrows without a moment’s rest?!