Chapter 94
Chapter 94 The Trial of Ares and Poseidon – (1)
After taking care of matters in Thebes, I was spending time in conversation with the goddess Styx while handling our duties together.
The fact that work doesn’t pile up too much every time I leave the underworld is all thanks to her…
“I swear on the River Styx that I only speak the truth—your hair shines beautifully today, as always.”
“Ugh… I’ve told you repeatedly, stop making strange oaths in front of me…! You hadn’t done that in a while, but here you go again…”
Goddess Styx was, once again, flustered by my constant oaths made in front of her.
But with her beautiful black hair shimmering before me like Athena’s finest silk, how could I resist?
I momentarily put down the parchment and stared blankly at the dark waves dancing before my eyes…
Blushing slightly, the goddess spoke.
“…Then, would you like to… touch it? Just a little…”
This was too much to resist.
Nodding absentmindedly, the goddess of oaths approached and pressed herself against me.
What is this scent tickling my nose? Is it the smell of the parchment piled like mountains, or the olive fragrance emanating from her?
Avoiding my gaze, she forced her head down to focus on her work. I gently placed my hand on her hair.
As I slowly stroked her silky locks that felt like they could slip through my fingers, an indescribable, peculiar atmosphere filled the room.
“Nngh…”
Am I feeling happiness right now?
Even amidst the grueling and busy duties of the underworld, enjoying such a moment with a goddess…
Thud.
“Hades! Ares is at the entrance of the underworld… Huh?!”
“Ahem… What is it?”
“Oh…!”
It was Persephone, the goddess of spring and seeds, who burst through the door.
After quickly scanning the room, she pouted and put her hands on her hips when she saw Styx and me close together.
“Ha… You’re always with Goddess Styx, and it’s like I don’t even exist to you, Hades!”
“You don’t even call me uncle anymore…”
“That’s because once we’re married, I have to call you ‘you’! So, when are you going to take me to the mortal realm?”
“…What? You and I, together in the mortal realm?”
“Oh, come on~ Don’t pretend you don’t know. Are you really going to act like that? The rumors that you’ve been going out with the goddesses you have feelings for are already spreading all over the underworld. You spent time with Goddess Styx, Lady Lethe, and even that minor deity, Mente, but never with me…”
Please, my niece…
While this wouldn’t be a huge issue among gods, there was still a bit of a psychological resistance…
To me, your presence just feels… a bit too early.
Though I changed my mind about this, thanks to the beautiful goddess of spring, the idea of a relationship with her was still unsettling…
Maybe it’s best to change the subject.
“…What do you mean Ares is at the entrance of the underworld?”
“Oh, that? He’s asking for help with a trial because he had a big fight with Uncle Poseidon.”
A big fight between Poseidon and Ares?
As far as I know, the only time they clashed was during Poseidon’s rebellion.
* * *
Soon, I watched a male god walk into the audience chamber.
He had an ironclad, muscular physique, armor forged by Hephaestus, and a sword strapped to his waist.
My nephew, the god of war, Ares, approached with an awkward smile and knelt on one knee before me.
What brings Ares, who’s been avoiding the underworld since the Great Flood, here?
“Uncle Hades, greetings.”
“…Yes. I’ve heard some of the story. You and Poseidon had a big fight? And why have you come to the underworld?”
“I’ll explain slowly. So, here’s what happened…”
According to Ares, the incident was triggered by Halirrothios, Poseidon’s demigod son.
Halirrothios, born of Poseidon and the nymph Euryte, acted like a scoundrel in Athens, a city dedicated to Athena.
“Heh! You look good for a priestess serving Goddess Athena.”
“P-Please stop this. We’ve all sworn to be chaste…”
“Chastity oath? So what? Don’t you know who I am?”
He would regularly harass the priestesses of Athena’s temple, groping them and mocking their vows…
Thud—Crash!
“What?! You said I have to leave because I don’t have money? To me?”
“No matter if you are the son of Lord Poseidon… Ugh!”
“You got that wrong. You’ve received so many blessings from the sea, yet you dare treat me like this?”
He would take goods without paying and cause trouble at various restaurants and inns in Athens…
“Wait! Please hold on, that’s the olive tree symbolizing Goddess Athena…!”
“So what?! My father is Lord Poseidon.”
Rumble… Thud!
He even went on a rampage, cutting down olive trees sacred to Athena, provoking her wrath.
However, Athena couldn’t confront Poseidon directly and merely scolded Halirrothios lightly…
Having listened to this far, I questioned Ares.
“Did you hear all this directly from Athena?”
“Yes. That trash did all those things.”
“…Continue.”
Ares had a demigod daughter named Alcippe.
She was grazing her flock near the fields of Athens when, unfortunately, she ran into the thug Halirrothios.
“You know who I am, right? Come with me. Marrying me would be…”
“W-Who are you?! Aah! Father!”
“Can’t you be quiet? My father is Poseid—Ugh!”
Slash—Thud.
“Alcippe, are you okay?!”
“F-Father… Sniff. Thank you…”
Halirrothios, who attempted to assault Alcippe, was met by Ares, who rushed over upon hearing his daughter’s scream.
Seeing the madman who tried to violate his daughter, Ares naturally swung his sword and cut off his head.
When Poseidon’s son died, Poseidon furiously blamed Ares.
“Ares! You reckless scoundrel! How dare you kill my son?!”
“What?! Uncle Poseidon’s son tried to assault my daughter!”
“Even so, you—!”
“I did nothing wrong!”
As their argument grew more intense,
Zeus and other gods decided to mediate by holding a trial…
“…Alright. That scoundrel who tried to violate your daughter must be facing judgment from the three judges of Minos. So why did you come to the underworld?”
“Everyone said that you, Uncle Hades, would be the most fitting judge! Please deliver a fair verdict!”
The god of war, passionately pleading before me.
He wanted me, in the underworld, to render judgment?
* * *
“That wretch who tried to assault your daughter is already dead, so he’s under my jurisdiction, but isn’t your dispute with Poseidon something for Zeus to judge?”
This was undoubtedly a matter of the mortal realm.
Wouldn’t Zeus be the one to deliver a verdict? The fact that this issue has come to me means…
“Well… as I mentioned, everyone recommended you, Uncle Hades.”
“Explain in more detail.”
The situation Ares described on Olympus was as follows:
When the dispute between Poseidon and Ares escalated, Zeus decided to hold a trial in Athens,
And the other gods expressed their intention to attend the trial.
However…
“Phew… Alright, then I, Zeus, will hear both sides and deliver a verdict…”
“Zeus, wouldn’t it be better to ask Hades to judge this matter instead?”
“I think Hera has a point… After all, Hades has always handled such matters in the underworld.”
“…I agree. Hades is accustomed to passing judgment.”
When Zeus declared he would act as judge, the goddesses objected and recommended me.
With Hera, Hestia, and Aphrodite voicing their opinions, the other goddesses agreed.
“Ha! Fine, let’s just have Hades do it.”
“I have no objections. There’s no god more fair than Uncle Hades.”
“Hmph. Does everyone agree to let Brother Hades act as the judge?”
Even Poseidon and Ares both thought I was more suitable than Zeus to be the judge.
After Ares finished explaining, I looked at my nephew.
“That’s how it is, Uncle.”
“…Now they want me to handle matters of the mortal realm as well.”
“Father said that if you help us, he’ll give you a ring with powers similar to Harmonia’s necklace.”
Harmonia’s necklace, belonging to Ares and Aphrodite’s daughter and Cadmus’s wife, bestowed youth and beauty upon its wearer.
However, as immortals, we gods don’t need such things.
Still, a ring of youth…
It could be given to a favored mortal or kept as a collector’s item.
“Hmm…”
Then again, Poseidon’s son rampaging specifically in Athens, a city sacred to Athena…
It’s possible that Halirrothios was just a thug, but there’s also the chance Poseidon allowed it to happen—or even ordered it.
Athena and Poseidon have always had a strained relationship, so it’s certainly plausible.
I also have some understanding of why the goddesses brought up my name when Zeus offered to judge the trial.
And I understand why Zeus backed down so easily.
Normally, he would have positioned himself as judge to keep Poseidon in check,
But he likely guessed that I would side with Ares, and he didn’t want to make his opposition too obvious.
Poseidon, on the other hand, might have preferred me over Zeus.
For now, this is just Ares’s account.
I’ll need to hear from both sides before making any decisions.
“…Alright. I understand. Where do I need to go?”
“Thank you, Uncle! The trial will be held tomorrow on a hill near Athens, so please attend then…”
Sigh… Very well. It’s another squabble among the gods, so someone has to mediate.
I’ll review the memories of Halirrothios, who was killed by Ares and now belongs to the underworld, and then head to the trial.
