King of Underworld-Chapter 182

Morpheus.

How dare he? If Melinoe neglects her duties, isn’t it his role as a senior god to guide her?

Not only did he seduce my innocent daughter, but now he’s defending her negligence?

"Thanatos! Are you outside?"

Clank.

The doors to the audience chamber swung open, and Thanatos, his black wings folded neatly, stepped in.

With mortals living longer and dying mostly from old age or accidents, Thanatos has been busier than ever bringing souls to the Underworld.

"You called for me?"

"Yes. Take Morpheus with you and assign him to assist in harvesting souls for the next year."

"Oho! I could use the extra help. Things have been getting hectic. Perhaps I’ll even have time for a vacation to Olympus!"

Thud.

"W-Wait, Lord Hades! I made a mistake..."

Thanatos grabbed Morpheus, dragging him away despite his protests.

It was useless to resist; Thanatos’ strength, as the personification of death, is unrivaled in the Underworld.

With Morpheus gone, I turned to Melinoe, who was trembling.

Taking a deep breath, I spoke in the gentlest tone I could muster.

Hmm. Perhaps I’d been too harsh earlier.

"Melinoe."

"Y-Yes, Father!"

"Even though humans have advanced to the point where they scarcely rely on gods anymore, we still exist to maintain the balance of the world."

"Yes..."

"Especially for gods like us, who oversee aspects that mortal science cannot fully comprehend. This responsibility is even more critical."

The gods of Olympus may revel in their parties and indulgences.

Domains like wine, forges, or messengers can all be explained by human logic and science now.

Even the lesser gods of mountains and rivers have faded from prominence for similar reasons.

But the Underworld is different.

No mortal can observe the afterlife or claim certainty about reincarnation or divine judgment after death.

This is why, even as mortal science progresses, our work remains vital.

"I know it’s harder to feel like a goddess when you no longer receive the faith of mortals, but you must cultivate a sense of responsibility."

"I understand, Father..."

"Good. And there’s one more thing I need you to do."

Those despicable mortals I encountered earlier needed to be punished, at least a little.

I had already devised a plan.

Even if humans no longer fear the gods, allowing them to misuse our names for their petty schemes is unacceptable.

Olympus, now semi-mechanized by the advancements of modern civilization.

I found myself discussing recent events with Zeus after witnessing the chaos in the mortal realm.

"So, you’re saying humans are using our names for their scams?"

"Yes. Even in this era of minimal divine intervention, I believe it’s necessary to impose some form of indirect deterrent."

"Hermes has been keeping me informed, and I’ve had a vague sense of what’s happening in the mortal world."

Of course, there’s no way he wouldn’t know.

Time has mellowed Zeus significantly.

In the past, when King Salmoneus mimicked him, Zeus had immediately hurled a thunderbolt in rage.

"Hmm... If this were the old days, I’d have sent down lightning without hesitation. But the times have changed. Do you have a plan?"

"I’ve already instructed Melinoe to torment those mortals with horrific nightmares. In addition, I’d like to borrow some assistance from the goddess of fortune."

"You’re suggesting sending Tyche to the mortal realm?"

"Just a touch of misfortune would suffice as a warning. It’s disheartening that mortals no longer fear judgment in the afterlife—poor Dike must be beside herself."

Even though I also hold the divine aspect of mercy, I cannot ignore my role as the god of the Underworld and fairness.

Mortals who brazenly exploit my name and enforce false faith must be reminded of the consequences.

"Very well. But let’s avoid curses or misfortune that could cause significant harm."

"That should suffice."

If they fail to learn their lesson even after this, there’s no saving them.

They’ll simply have to face judgment in the Underworld.

The Mortal Realm.

In South Korea, a notorious cult known as the Elysion Church faced an unexpected series of misfortunes.

While preaching on the streets, every member was hit by bird droppings.

But their streak of bad luck didn’t end there. The cult leader tripped over a rock and was hospitalized, marking the beginning of a cascade of calamities.

Breaking news: Over 30 members of the Elysion Church were rushed to the hospital after a mysterious bout of food poisoning during a prayer gathering in Seoul.Interviews with cult members seeking psychiatric help for recurring nightmares...Authorities investigating a string of misfortunes befalling the Elysion Church found no evidence of foul play.Is divine retribution from the god Hades to blame for the troubles of this cult exploiting his name?Judgment has come to the Elysion Church, which lured followers by invoking the name of the god of the Underworld.

With the leader hospitalized, members tormented by nightmares and bad luck, and the media covering their downfall, the cult lost its influence.

Its activities, previously driven by fear of the afterlife and the leader’s cunning schemes, came to an abrupt halt as the group disbanded and went into hiding.

Of course, the intervention of Tyche, goddess of fortune, and other divine forces played a role in this outcome.

"Aigoo! Oh great and merciful Lord Hades! Please bless my ungrateful son who’s only ever cared for his old mother! Let him find happiness in the afterlife, at least!"

"If you start living a virtuous life now, you might reach Elysium when you die..."

"Should we start visiting temples? Maybe we should buy a mint plant for the house, just in case."

Though there was a temporary surge in the number of my worshippers, it didn’t concern me.

Mortal lives are short. Time will pass, and they’ll forget.

Having intervened in the mortal realm after such a long time, I decided to refrain from interfering further for the time being.

As long as another sudden world war doesn’t erupt, the Underworld will remain relatively peaceful. Unlike the Olympian gods, who have all but severed ties with the mortal realm, I still find it necessary to maintain a presence.

But that doesn’t mean we’ve completely abandoned involvement.

Hercules occasionally grants blessings to athletes, and Orpheus, now a god, inspires musical prodigies among mortals.

Even Dike, goddess of justice, has shown signs of melancholy, lamenting the growing immorality of humans who no longer believe in the divine.

Still, I believe that moderation is best.

Excessive interference would only hinder humanity’s ability to stand on its own.

Clank.

The doors to my audience chamber opened, revealing Lethe, goddess of forgetfulness and one of my wives.

Her beauty never fails to bring a smile to my face, though today she seemed unusually sullen.

"...Hades..."

"Lethe?"

She approached with quick, light steps and suddenly collapsed onto my lap, reclining against me.

I wrapped my arms around her, gently stroking her silvery hair. How lovely it always looks.

"Mortals keep praying to my statue, asking me to cure their Alzheimer’s disease. They seem so desperate... Should I help them a little?"

"Ah."

Temples, built for prayer and offerings to the gods, still exist in the modern era, albeit with a modern twist.

Some are grand buildings with state-of-the-art facilities, while others involve burning currency as offerings to the gods.

Naturally, my temple also houses statues of my wives and other Underworld deities.

It seems mortals have been praying at Lethe’s statue, hoping for her grace as the goddess of forgetfulness.

This isn’t unique to Lethe—many mortals swear oaths before statues of Styx, another of my wives.

Of course, those who break their oaths sworn upon the River Styx...

Taking into account the era’s weakened faith, I’ve decided to merely assign them minor labor in the Underworld rather than send them to Tartarus.

"Ahem. Apollo and Asclepius have been inspiring mortal researchers working on diseases. Perhaps we should wait for them to discover a cure themselves."

"Really? I suppose that makes sense... Even Hephaestus complains that humans haven’t yet mastered metallurgy. Sigh."

"By the way, you look particularly radiant today. Since I have no pressing duties..."

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As Lethe turned her head, still leaning against me, I kissed her.

With my loving wives and children by my side, I am confident this happiness will last forever.