The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 145: The Wedding of Heracles and Hebe

The goddesses Styx and Lethe, Persephone and Mente.

Having proposed to everyone, now only the wedding date needed to be set…

This would be decided after discussing with the goddesses once the Gigantes were defeated.

After all, with the battle against the Gigantes looming, it would be a burden to carry out a major event beforehand.

And Heracles, who had become a god, was scheduled to ascend to Olympus after a month-long journey through the Underworld.

Once he arrived on Olympus, he would hold his wedding with Hebe, the goddess of youth and daughter of Hera…

Naturally, I should attend and at least offer some words of blessing, right?

“Hades. Have you heard the news?”

It was Styx, now my wife, though we hadn’t had a wedding ceremony.

Her voice was, as expected, dripping with honey… or maybe not?

“Well, you see, being the goddess of oaths, I happened to overhear it.”

Styx doesn’t hear every oath sworn upon the River Styx.

But if she were in the Underworld, especially within the river, and overheard an oath from a high god… Could it be?

“When you proposed to Persephone, you mentioned my name, didn’t you…?”

“Ah.”

“You swore by my river… that there would be eternal spring between the two of you. How sweet.”

"Uh. Uh-uh-uh..."

A sharp glare.

Her lips pouted, her eyes piercing, and her crossed arms radiated discontent.

Is this why Zeus always finds himself at his wife’s mercy?

“Well, it’s just that… you…”

“What about me? Did you think I’d forgive you so easily? Did you think I’d just let it slide? Or perhaps, am I just a fish you’ve already caught…”

I need to think fast.

What can I say? Athena! Lend me some of your wisdom!

"I said it as a way of seeking permission from the one I proposed to first."

“…?”

“I wanted to ask for permission from my first wife, even if the goddess Lethe, who has been with me for a long time, might not understand…”

“Hmph… Since Demeter's daughter got involved in the middle, and Mente is just a concubine?”

Mente had actually refused to become an official mistress of the Underworld, preferring her independence.

Being a lower deity and once a mortal, she felt uncomfortable being placed on equal footing with the esteemed goddesses.

Though I wanted to treat everyone equally, I couldn’t resist her insistence, but seeing her look so relieved made me wonder if someone had pressured her…

After a moment of pondering, Styx finally uncrossed her arms and smiled.

Phew. Thank goodness.

“Hmph. Then you should’ve just told me sooner.”

“Ahem… Anyway, Heracles and Hebe are getting married in two days. Shall we go together and have a look around?”

“Just the two of us?”

“Well… Lethe would join us…”

Her gaze turned icy again.

Oops. Another misstep.

* * *

Anyway, I arrived on Olympus with the goddesses Lethe and Styx.

The wedding of the goddess of youth, who had rejected countless suitors, and Heracles, who ascended to godhood as a mortal, was very lively.

“Ugh… Lady Hebe coldly rejected my proposal…”

“Tsk, tsk. Do you really think you’re a match for the goddess of youth?”

"Has this guy lost his mind? Well, it's a joyous day, so I'll let it slide... Ugh."

“I heard that Goddess Iris went to the Underworld to bring back the god of strength and struggle.”

“I heard that story, too. Apparently, the god of strength looked quite worn out even before the wedding…”

“They say he asked Lady Hera himself to assign him tasks in the Underworld. His spirit is admirable, but it seems he’s… well…”

“Shh! Quiet! He’s the son of Lord Zeus and is treated as equal to the Twelve Olympians as decreed by Lord Zeus…”

“Ares. The time to fight the Gigantes is nearly upon us.”

“Just don’t hold me back, Athena.”

“During the battle with Typhon… I remember a certain boar charging forward with a chariot only to be knocked out with one blow.”

“What was that?! You… you…!”

Many envied Heracles, who was to marry the goddess of youth, a princess among the gods.

And there were those who spoke about Heracles' voluntary journey to the Underworld… though they fell silent upon meeting my gaze.

Athena still seems to be teasing Ares about the incident with Typhon.

The god of war flares up, while his children, Phobos and Deimos, try to calm him down.

As I surveyed the surroundings, a muscular Heracles, looking ready to burst out of his clothes, approached with a soft smile, Hebe at his side. They didn’t seem to be on bad terms.

“Lord Hades!”

“Heracles. You look quite dashing without that lion skin.”

“I still feel a bit awkward, to be honest. I’ve worn it for so long…”

“Haha! But you can’t wear it on your first night with your bride, can you? Try to get used to it.”

At my words, he laughed sheepishly and glanced at the goddess of youth.

His expression, slightly bashful, showed clear affection, and Hebe’s did, too.

“Er… I’ll try.”

“Hmhm…”

I heard that the two of them first met at Hera’s temple. Seems they both felt a bit of a spark back then.

“First night… Hehe…”

“First night, huh…”

And the gazes of the goddesses Lethe and Styx at my sides were intense.

It felt like a peculiar warmth was transmitting through their stares and heating my cheeks. Was I imagining things?n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Oh, and come to think of it, I’ve had four first nights… Hmm.

"So, how do you feel about coming up to Olympus?"

"It's a wonderful place. Unlike anything in the mortal world. But..."

"But?"

Hercules laughed awkwardly, trailing off.

"The gods... well, they're a bit... overly familiar, I’d say. Haha..."

"Ah, so that’s what it was."

Mortals often assume gods are always dignified and grand, thinking that every word holds immense power and every action holds profound meaning.

But once one becomes a god, they come to realize that...

Gods aren't all that different from humans.

"Gods aren’t just physically, but also mentally, immortal. So when you get older, your mind won’t become that of an old man. You’ll stay just as you are now."

"Ah... I see."

"It's the effect of the divine power that flows within you. That’s why the gods can act whimsically or even childishly sometimes, and why it often causes trouble."

"......"

"I stressed this to you many times, didn’t I? It’s not enough to just be strong or to perform great deeds..."

I deliberately left the sentence hanging, looking into Hercules’ eyes.

He’s found the answer, and it’s likely why he became a god, but I wanted to hear it in his own words.

"To listen to mortals' wishes, and to become one of the pillars that make up the world... that’s what makes one a god, isn’t it?"

"Yes, exactly. Dionysus chose to embody wine and madness, and you have now explored the aspect of strength and struggle to become a god."

"It’s all thanks to you, Uncle. If you ever need my help, just call on me anytime!"

"...Really?"

While Hercules isn’t well-suited to paperwork, he’d be perfect for supervising souls or heavy tasks...

Maybe I should call him back to the underworld sometime?

Realizing his mistake, he looked down, flustered.

"...I apologize. Please, not the underworld... Out of all the labors, it was the hardest."

"Haha!"

This... this rascal… He can’t even humor me with a little white lie?

Hebe, standing by his side, covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, but he was already sweating.

And even though I’d assigned Hermes to assist him, this was still the result… perhaps the underworld really needs a large-scale reform...

"Now, we shall begin the wedding ceremony of Hercules, the new god of strength, and Hebe, the goddess of youth!"

With Zeus’s announcement, the wedding ceremony finally commenced.

* * *

"The bride, Hebe, will take Hercules as her husband..."

The officiant was not Zeus, but Hymenaeus, the god of marriage.

His white wings and torch radiated a bright light, illuminating the surroundings.

"Now then, bride and groom! Share a kiss!"

"Hmm... mmph?!"

♡ 

"Hahaha! The goddess of youth made the first move! Ah, youth is truly wonderful!"

"I remember when I was like that... Haah!"

"Euros, what exactly are you doing?"

"Isn’t it obvious, Notus? I’m creating a gentle breeze to bless the bride and groom."

"...Why would you do that?"

Having been blessed by the appearance of Hymenaeus, a figure said to appear at blessed weddings, the couple is bound to live happily ever after.

With their kiss sealing the moment, the two were officially wed.

Now, it seems all those curious about the new god of strength are flocking around.

Ah, there’s Zeus patting Hercules on the shoulder in praise. Hera stands beside him...

"Live happily with your bride. Hebe, I hope you live well, too."

"Of course, Lady Hera!"

"Understood, Mother. Hehe..."

"Hey there, Hercules. Got a moment to talk?"

"Ah, Lord Ares. Certainly."

"Hmm. I could replace that iron club of yours if you'd like."

"It would be a true honor if the god of smithing could do that for me…!"

They’re all flocking to him. Well, Zeus did say he’d treat Hercules as one of the Twelve Olympians.

Strength, fame, achievements, and noble lineage… No wonder Hebe readily accepted him as a husband.

But seeing the two of them, surrounded by everyone’s attention, made me think about something else.

The goddesses beside me, Kore, Mente… perhaps, after the battle with the Gigantes, we’ll have a chance for happiness too.

Tap, tap.

"Lethe?"

"Why are you staring off like that? Feeling a bit lonely? I’m right here..."

"It’s not that. I was just hoping to see the day when we’ll be up there together."

Hearing my words, both Styx and Lethe smiled warmly.

If we can defeat all the Gigantes and gain Gaia’s recognition, a bright future surely awaits us as well.

Smooch-!

"Oh. Hahaha! Hades, do you realize how funny your face looks right now?"

“Stop… getting distracted…”

I touched my cheeks, which had been kissed by the goddesses, and held them close.