King of Underworld-Chapter 184

“Hades, brother! You’re here?”

The goddess standing there possessed beauty so perfect, even Hera, the Queen of the Gods, might grow jealous.

A goddess unlike any I’d ever seen, radiant with unmatched beauty, stood calmly, seemingly unfazed by the countless gazes of desire directed at her. She simply looked around with faint curiosity.

“What’s going on here? It seems the gods are fighting over who gets to take her as their wife.”

“Sigh... She’s the goddess born when our grandfather Uranus’s severed manhood fell into the sea.”

“And after all this time, something like this suddenly happens?”

“I don’t know the exact reason. She introduced herself as Aphrodite.”

Aphrodite. At that name, a memory flashed across my mind.

The goddess of beauty and love, said to be the most beautiful on Olympus. No wonder all these gods are fighting to claim her.

Who was supposed to be her husband originally?

“Well, I understand now. You summoned me to mediate this quarrel among the gods.”

“Exactly. Could you help? At this rate, a civil war might break out on Olympus. I considered simply intimidating them into pairing her with another god, but...”

“If her husband is neither beautiful enough to satisfy her nor accomplished enough for the other gods, Olympus will never see peace.”

No matter who she marries, there will undoubtedly be a fight.

Poseidon? But Poseidon already has Amphitrite as his lawful wife. If Aphrodite were given to him, the unmarried gods would revolt violently.

“Enough. Enough! Everyone, stop this bickering!”

“That’s enough for now. Honestly, how old are you all? Fighting over a goddess like children. Did it even occur to you to ask her whom she wants to marry?”

I supported Zeus’s words with just the right amount of authority.

Finally, a semblance of calm began to return. Aphrodite and all the other gods turned their attention toward us.

“Excuse me. The one who just spoke next to Zeus, the King of the Gods... Who is he? He seems to hold a very high divine rank.”

“Hm? You mean Hades, the God of the Underworld?”

Aphrodite, glancing my way, whispered to Hestia.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

There was something strange about the way she looked at me.

At Zeus's and my stern warning, everyone fell silent.

Poseidon looked dissatisfied but reluctantly backed down.

“Unbelievable. Fighting over a goddess who’s just arrived on Olympus... You all must be so proud.”

“Hmph. Don’t act so righteous, Hades. You want Aphrodite for yourself too, don’t you? Stop pretending.”

“Poseidon...”

I felt my irritation rising.

The goddess of beauty and love she may be, but for all these gods to be so utterly captivated?

She’s a dangerous goddess. If Aphrodite ever wielded her beauty as a weapon...

“I can’t bear to watch this any longer! I, Zeus, the King of the Gods, will decide who claims Aphrodite!”

Zeus, scowling deeply, rose from his seat and glared fiercely at the gods.

At some point, a dazzling lightning bolt had appeared in his hand.

“For now, Aphrodite herself will make the decision. However! Those who already have lawful wives shall cease their courtship immediately!”

Zeus’s declaration drew a mix of reactions.

Those who were already married sighed in bitter disappointment, while the unmarried gods smirked in satisfaction.

It was a reasonable judgment. Since Zeus had withdrawn himself from the competition, Poseidon wouldn’t be able to challenge him further...

The moment Zeus finished speaking, Poseidon stormed off angrily, while the remaining gods began courting Aphrodite once again.

“Aphrodite, if you spend eternity with me, I will devote myself solely to you.”

“Hm, hm! If you choose me, Ares, I will dedicate every glory of war to you...”

“Fair maiden, I am Hermes, the Messenger God. Would you like to travel the world with me?”

“Aphrodite, even your name is beautiful. I am...”

While countless gods swarmed around her, I approached Hestia.

The goddess of the hearth, hands on her hips and lips pursed, turned to me and crossed her arms.

“Hmph. What? Hades, aren’t you going to join them? You’re not married yet, are—”

“I have no interest in Aphrodite. What I’m concerned about is...”

“What? Then why are you here... W-wait! Don’t tell me!”

Her face suddenly turned red, and she began stammering.

What is she thinking? Ah, I see. She misunderstood.

“I-I’m a virgin goddess! Sorry, but I can’t accept your feelings...”

“Do you think she might be a spy sent by Gaia?”

The possibility that Aphrodite had been sent by Gaia couldn’t be ignored.

I remembered that Aphrodite was the goddess of beauty and love, but how she had come to Olympus was unclear.

Seeing the gods vying for her now, though... Could this be Gaia’s scheme to divide Olympus?

I shared this suspicion with Hestia.

“I don’t think Gaia sent her.”

“Why not?”

“I heard she’s spent her time drifting on the sea. She hasn’t touched the earth or made any contact with Gaia. She came straight to Olympus.”

That was true.

Still, her beauty, which had bewitched all the gods, was something to be cautious of.

“Aphrodite! If you’ll have me, I’ll give you all my treasures!”

“None can match the radiant beauty of the Goddess of Beauty except me, Apollo, the Sun God...”

“Excuse me, everyone. May I pass for a moment?”

Aphrodite, surrounded by gods, suddenly parted the crowd and began walking toward me.

...Huh? Why is she looking at me so intently?

“Excuse me, handsome sir. May I ask your name?”

Standing in front of me, Aphrodite smiled faintly and looked up at me.

Hadn’t she already heard my name from Hestia earlier? I could also feel the jealous, envious gazes of the gods behind her.

I already had enough work waiting in the Underworld — this was giving me a headache.

“...I am Hades, God of the Underworld.”

“Oh my. Even your name is wonderful. Then, Lord Hades, are you married?”

“I have no intention of courting you, so seek out another god.”

“Oh? Do you not find me appealing?”

The goddess of beauty stared at me with glittering eyes.

Do I not find her appealing? What man could possibly escape her charm?

In truth, standing so close to her, I felt my heart stir.

“It’s not a matter of finding you appealing. I simply have no desire to marry.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Marriage is a union between two who love each other and choose to spend eternity together. Find another god who will love you.”

Unlike the other gods, who were utterly enchanted, I’d shown no interest, which must have piqued her curiosity.

Everything about her made it clear — she was a goddess who had only just been born.

“Do you live underground, then? In the Underworld?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t it dark and damp down there? It must be far too gloomy...”

“Someone has to oversee the Underworld.”

“Why haven’t you married yet?”

“Just because.”

Curious, she continued asking me question after question.

Yet even her innocent curiosity only added to the allure of her beauty.

“Take me to the Underworld too.”

“What?”

“I want to see where you live, Lord Hades.”

She wants to come to the Underworld? The dark, grim place all gods avoid?

I nearly refused immediately but glanced behind her for a moment.

The gods, still screaming and fighting over her, painted a chaotic picture.

“What... What did you say?!”

“Aphrodite, the Underworld is no place for a goddess as beautiful as you...”

“Ahh! Does this mean Aphrodite belongs to Hades?!”

If I refused outright, what would become of Aphrodite? Would the gods continue fighting endlessly on Olympus?

In mythology, I’d never heard of Aphrodite belonging to the Underworld.

I glanced at Zeus, who gave me a small nod.

He must have felt relieved at the thought of sending this seed of discord to the distant Underworld.

Tsk. Fine. I’ll just consider it gaining a helper for my realm.

“If you agree to help with the work of the Underworld during your stay, then I will allow it.”

“Hehe. Thank you.”

And so, I returned to the Underworld, now accompanied by Aphrodite, Goddess of Beauty and Love.