The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 77: Persephone’s Epilogue

After Persephone and Eros came to the Underworld, the working conditions of the gods who originally worked there improved significantly.

Of course, this included Eros, who had the role of endlessly pulling his bow to torture severe sinners, and surprisingly, Persephone eagerly helped with the tasks in the Underworld.

The goddess of spring, who was doing work for the first time in her life, was clumsy but diligent in helping the other gods.

Since it seemed insufficient to believe it was just because she had fallen for me, I decided to ask her directly.

As I approached the place where the gods handling paperwork worked, the sounds of agony reached my ears.

It was common to see gods carrying piles of parchment, and some hurriedly passed by without noticing me.

Everyone seems to be having a hard time…

"Ugh... When will this ever end..."

"Oh, Lord Hades, you've arrived."

"Nectar... I just want a glass of nectar."

Amidst them stood out a goddess with long golden hair.

She was flipping through the pile of parchments stacked like mountains at a long table, her quill pen moving steadily—my niece.

She looked so decadent that it was hard to believe she was the lively goddess of spring…

"Persephone."

"Oh, Uncle Hades...! Just a moment. Let me finish processing the documents from the residential areas for the souls first..."

"...? Alright."

Honestly, I was a bit surprised.

Though her golden eyes were brimming with longing, she turned her gaze back to the documents nonetheless.

Why on earth is she acting this way?

Dong– Dong– Dong–

"Ugh! My neck is stiff..."

"Let me rest my eyes for a bit, wake me when the bell rings again..."

After some time, the mountain-like pile of parchments diminished, and a short break began.

Even in the Underworld, we didn't work without any breaks.

Although we were immortal gods who didn't need food, due to memories from my previous lives, where I took breaks during lunch and dinner, a bell was rung periodically to allow leisure time in the Underworld.

Of course, for Charon, Thanatos, and those with severe sins, it was a bit different…

"Oh! Lord Hades?! When did you get here?!"

"Are you here to see Lady Persephone?"

The gods, who now recognized me, tried to show respect, but I waved it off and looked at Persephone.

The gods tactfully stepped back, and I spoke to the goddess.

"Has anyone forced you to work here in the Underworld?"

"No? Not at all?"

"Then why... Why are you doing all this? You’re the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, I would’ve made exceptions for you—"

"Pff... But isn't an inexperienced goddess not your type, Uncle Hades? I'm just putting in the effort!"

What’s that supposed to mean? Since when was my type a workaholic...

Persephone stood up straight and seemed to emphasize something.

"Even Lady Styx and that lower goddess, Menthe, said so."

"...?"

"They said that if you can't even do this much, Uncle Hades wouldn’t even glance at you. All the goddesses after you..."

Why are such rumors spreading?

It's not like I can go around correcting every goddess...

"Besides, you have to periodically infuse power into the outskirts of the Underworld, so resting would be—"

"That's different! That's a reward, and this is competition!"

"...?"

"Hehe~ It's just a small matter, you don’t need to know, Uncle. Hehe!"

Dong– Dong– Dong–

"Oh, it’s time to get back to work! See you at dinner later!"

Feeling an uneasy sense about it, I decided not to ask further.

* * *

“…Then leave this to Lady Mnemosyne… Are there any more decisions I need to make?”

“What you just mentioned is the last one, Lord Hades.”

“Good. Morpheus, you can also go rest now. We’ll have a hard day again starting tomorrow…”

Creak.

As I was about to rest after finishing my work for the day, the door of the audience hall opened slightly, and a goddess entered.

It was my niece, Persephone, who I had visited earlier.

“Lady Styx is not here… nor is Lady Lethe… hehe!”

“…? Persephone?”

She came in holding dates and figs—snacks that mortals of the mortal realm would eat.

Persephone let out a silly laugh and plopped down on the floor next to the throne.

“Uncle, if you have nothing to do, would you like to chat with me?”

“But isn’t it about time for you to return to the mortal realm?”

It was now the time agreed upon with Demeter.

In fact, it seemed like it was already overdue...

“But I like the Underworld… I don't want to! I want to stay a bit longer…!”

My niece puffed her cheeks and pouted cutely.

Still, she should return before it gets too late. Her mother must be worried.

Since the work in the Underworld has become much easier thanks to her over the past few months, granting a little extra time…

Well, she will probably return once we chat a little.

“If it’s only for a short time…”

“Hehe… Then Uncle, will you hear my story first? When I was in the mortal realm…”

A story about playing games with the nymphs near Mount Etna…

A Story Shared While Speculating About the Gods, and About Her Mother, My Sister Demeter…

I got to learn a bit more about Persephone.

To think she would have such modest hobbies like weaving and watching plays...

"Um… I've been talking too much about myself. Uncle, tell me about you too!"

"...?"

"Like what kind of goddess's appearance you find attractive, or what traits are charming to you..."

I turned away from her eager gaze.

What in the world is she saying now...

"There's no such thing."

"...Tsk. Then tell me an old story instead! You've lived so long, so you must know lots of stories..."

What good does living long do… But as you said, I do know quite a few stories.

From my father Cronos, who had existed since the beginning…

"You..."

"Yes?"

"Have you ever climbed to the summit of Mount Olympus?"

"Uh, just once! Mother didn’t take me to Olympus very often..."

"...I still haven't forgotten that sight."

I closed my eyes briefly to recall the past.

Persephone remained silent, waiting for me.

A long time ago, when I was born and climbed to the summit of Mount Olympus for the first time...

It was the first time I felt a desire to live in this world for a long time.

The reason why we fought so fiercely in the war against the Titans.

The reason why we all sought dominion over the world was because of that ambition.

The reason everyone desired the sky, now ruled by Zeus, was because of that very ambition.

Yes, that sense of omnipotence when overlooking everything from the highest sky...

Recalling those times, I began telling Persephone about the past.

"Wow… Even Uncle Hades, whom everyone says is so transcendent, had a phase like that."

"I did then. But as I governed the Underworld, I grew to like it here more and more."

As I reminisced and spoke with Persephone, time passed.

Isn't it time for you to really leave now, niece?

As I thought that, the door of the audience hall opened and a messenger rushed in.

"Lord Hades! Lady Demeter, the goddess of the earth, has come to take Lady Persephone back!"

Demeter herself has come?

Even if her daughter was a little late in returning to the mortal realm...

It wasn't something that would prompt the goddess of the earth to come in person.

"I guess she has something she wants to say to me directly. Guide her to the audience hall."

Upon hearing this, Persephone quietly stood up.

I see, you're planning to slip away quietly before your mother arrives.

"Um… Well then, Uncle Hades, since you seem busy with work, I’ll be off… hehe..."

"If you don't want to run into Demeter and hear her nagging, return to the mortal realm on time next time..."

* * *

Not long after she headed to the mortal realm, my guest arrived.

With her seemingly cold and expressionless look, splendid appearance, and beautiful hair of light brown and golden hues.

Demeter, the goddess of the earth, had come to the Underworld.

"Hades, my daughter..."

"She ran off just now because she didn’t want to hear your nagging. She's probably in the mortal realm by now."

"...I see."

As if she expected this, Demeter's expression didn't change.

It was clear she had something to say, seeing as she remained silent even after hearing that her daughter wasn't here.

Using her divine power to block out the surrounding sound, the goddess of the earth quietly began to speak.

Demeter, who had been meeting my gaze until now, turned her head slightly.

"...Do you know why I am so overprotective of Kore?"

Her sunken voice carried a hint of sorrow, so I chose not to respond.

As if she hadn't expected an answer, she continued.

"My daughter Kore is too beautiful. Anyone who meets her face even once praises her beauty."

Just like Hephaestus said before, Persephone indeed had an exceptionally beautiful appearance.

In terms of beauty, only Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, clearly surpassed her.

Except for a goddess associated with beauty, hardly anyone could match Persephone's looks.

In an even lower voice, Demeter spoke quietly.

"In Greece, being beautiful is..."

"Yes, it's a curse, not a blessing. I know that well."

In Greece, where there are scoundrels who resort to rape, adultery, dirty tricks, and deceit to establish relationships...

Beauty is not a blessing but a curse. Aphrodite too had to enter an unwanted marriage because of her beauty.

Persephone might find her mother’s overprotection suffocating,

But without such a Demeter, it wouldn't have been surprising if she had already faced trouble.

"There were countless suitors for my daughter. Even though I am her mother and Zeus is her father."

"Persephone is beautiful, after all."

"As things stood, anything could have happened. I was always worried for her."

Neither Zeus, the king of the gods,

Nor Demeter could stay by Persephone’s side all the time.

"...Until rumors spread that the lord of the Underworld had fallen for Kore at first sight and kidnapped her to the Underworld."

One of the reasons I've kept Persephone in the Underworld came from Demeter's mouth.

Among the mortals, rumors spread that I fell for my niece after being struck by Eros's arrow and kidnapped her.

On purpose, I didn't correct the misunderstanding. The more it was believed that I loved her...

"Hades. Thanks to you, those who approached Kore have vanished. No fool would dare touch someone claimed by the lord of the Underworld."

Demeter turne

d her head to look back at me, her eyes showing a trace of gratitude.

"I know that you are different from the other gods, who are mad with desire. The fact that Kore still remains pure shows that..."

"......"

"I don't know if you and she will eventually marry, but if that day comes, take good care of Kore."

This was not the request of the goddess of the earth, but of a mother with a daughter.

I glanced at Demeter, waiting for my answer, and opened my mouth.

"...Don’t worry."

"I shall return to the mortal realm now. Keep what happened today a secret from Kore."