The Story of Asclepius - (3)
This is Calydon.
Recently, a monstrous boar appeared, devastating the land's crops, but it was hunted down thanks to the heroic efforts of Greece's heroes.
Perhaps due to the anticlimactic end of the boar hunt,
the heroes gathered here had not returned to their holands and instead held celebrations for days.
"Ah...! Where did you find this venison?"
"Idas, tell us that story about facing off against Apollo..."
"Facing off, you say? How could I stand against the Sun God? Had it not been for Pluto’s intervention..."
"The Lord of the Underworld truly is rciful to the living, as they say."
The heroes sat around a campfire, roasting at and reminiscing.
Their conversation naturally gravitated toward the recently slain boar.
"That large boar we caught... could there be a mother sowhere?"
"I think so, which is why we’re still hanging around here."
"By the way, when we caught that... piglet(?), didn’t a mist rise, and then the corpse disappeared? What’s that about...?"
"Perhaps the nearby nymphs were playing pranks. What else would they do with a re beast...?"
"Nymphs are playful by nature."
As they recalled old tis, the heroes enjoyed the mont.
leager, the spear-throwing master, was smiling as he cut at for Atalanta, the fad archer, who accepted it with no sign of displeasure.
"Ahem. Ahem. Atalanta, besides your fa with the Argonauts, you’re also a princess of Arcadia, right?"
"Yes, that’s right."
"So why haven’t you married yet? Are you bound by a prophecy or sothing?"
"I’ve never received any prophecy about marriage. It’s just that no one has caught my eye... and my goddess is the Goddess of Purity..."
"Ahem! Even if you haven’t taken a vow of purity, wouldn’t it be nice to et a good man? Perhaps... a prince of Calydon who’s skilled with the spear?"
"While I didn’t take a vow of purity because of my upbringing in the Underworld... hmm."
While Atalanta and leager enjoyed a favorable atmosphere,
nearby, Jason boasted about his adventures on the Argonaut expedition to those who hadn’t joined.
"And so, Hercules struck down the dragon with his bare hands...!"
"Of course, Hercules. But I haven’t heard any news about him lately?"
"Could he have beco a god?"
"But Jason, you’re a king; why are you here instead of ruling your kingdom?"
"dea is governing for now! She’s a wise and clever woman! And Theseus, you’re a king as well, so why are you here..."
"Ahem! My queen, Ariadne, is handling things..."
As night fell, a soldier ran up to them with news.
His attire showed he was from Calydon, and he stopped before leager.
"Prince! A monster has appeared that is beyond comparison to the boar from a few days ago!"
"What did you say?"
"It’s three tis larger than the previous one, its hooves are on fire, and it possesses a terrifying aura that affects the minds of those who look into its eyes..."
Before the ssenger could finish speaking, the heroes abandoned their al and sprang to their feet, already wielding sharp weapons.
"See! I told you there must be a mother!"
"Heh! Staying here paid off after all!"
"Glory awaits!"
Even at the news of a dreadful monster’s arrival, the heroes’ eyes glead with a nacing intent.
Seeing this, the soldier who had co to relay the king's orders stepped back.
"Hey, ssenger! Where did it appear?"
"Uh... near the headwaters of the Achelous River..."
"Let’s go, everyone! Finally, we can put our grand war formation to use in a real battle!"
When hearing of a monstrous appearance, was this really the normal response?
Were they heroes... or monster-hunting maniacs...?
The heroes rushed toward the Achelous River, where the monster had been sighted.
Soon, they saw the creature—a formidable beast by any asure.
Screeeech!!!
Its body was three tis the size of the boar they had previously fought.
Flas continuously spouted from its hooves, setting the surroundings ablaze.
Its gaze held a maddening power that disturbed the minds of anyone who t its eyes.
This monster, empowered by Goddess Artemis, was incredibly formidable.
It hardly seed like the sa creature that had previously fallen so easily to the heroes’ combined attack.
While it might not be as powerful as Typhon's offspring like the Chira or Cerberus,
it certainly rivaled the monsters just below that level.
Despite its terrifying appearance, the heroes smiled in excitent, their battle spirit flaring up.
"Yes, this is more like it! Finally, a worthy opponent!"
"Theseus, Jason! You’re of royal blood; step back!"
"Nonsense! If you’re scared, you should step aside, Castor!"
Just before the mighty monster and the glory-hungry heroes were about to clash,
a shadowy figure of Thanatos, hidden from mortal eyes, yawned and quietly waved his hand.
Whooosh—
A chilling aura briefly spread, and then, without warning, the fearso monster simply died,
as if a mortal had reached the end of their natural lifespan.
Thud!
"Huh? What’s this?"
"Did it die?"
The heroes, utterly bewildered by the monster’s sudden death, stood in disbelief.
"It really seems dead, doesn’t it?"
"Not a single external injury. Did soone use a special power?"
"There’s only one explanation... was it a god?"
"Hmm. Interfering in a god’s matter rarely ends well. Let’s leave it here."
"Could it be... a divine dispute? Surely it wasn’t Lord Thanatos?"
The heroes, once thrilled with the prospect of glory, eventually dispersed with unsettled expressions.
They knew well that, no matter how strong they beca, they were no Hercules and could not hope to challenge the gods.
I waited in the Underworld for Artemis, who had hurried over upon receiving my ssage.
She showed no sign of remorse...
"Artemis."
"Yes."
"Why did you revive a dead sacred beast and send it back to the mortals? This action overstepped your authority."
"I... I never imagined Apollo’s son could actually revive my sacred beast."
It seed like she was only half-truthful.
"Don’t make excuses. I’m asking why you coerced a mortal to revive the dead in the first place."
"But if the sacred beast I sent as divine punishnt died so easily, my dignity..."
"Then send a different beast. Why did you threaten a mortal to revive a dead one? I saw that you even ntioned an oath by the River Styx."
Artemis hung her head, remaining silent.
As the god of the Underworld, she had no right to encroach upon my domain.
Of course, if she had continued with endless excuses, I would have been far angrier.
"For overstepping your bounds, you’ll work in the Underworld for a while. Zeus will also be inford. I assu you have no objections?"
"Thank you for showing rcy. I will never..."
"rcy? I don’t show leniency for these matters."
"...?"
There’s a common misconception that gods have when they first co to the Underworld after transgressing.
No matter the fearso rumors they’ve heard about on Olympus, they think it can’t be that bad compared to being stripped of their divinity or forced into servitude to mortals.
Apollo, Hers, Ares... they all thought so at first.
The mont Artemis, the Goddess of the Moon and Hunt, exited the audience chamber, I summoned a ssenger.
"Assign the recently departed Artemis to oversee the major excavation project in the Underworld’s mines."
"Um... Lord Hades, but even Lady Lethe found that place..."
"Of course it’ll be grueling. If she refuses, inform Styx or Hypnos. They’ll handle it."
The ssenger, now understanding, nodded as I instructed further:
to inform Olympus of Artemis’s error, to announce her temporary stay in the Underworld, and to recomnd Asclepius, the healer who revived the dead, for a subordinate deity status in dicine.
Lastly, I inford him about plans for a eting regarding the upcoming battle with the Gigantes.
Once a date was set to march on the Plains of Phlegra, where the Gigantes were gathering, I’d have to et with Lady Nyx for a confirmation.
Though creating Typhon, the Gigantes, and the monstrous creatures of Colchis had likely drained much of Gaia's power...
Even so, she was still stronger than us.
anwhile, Artemis headed to her new workplace with a light heart, thinking she’d only have to work temporarily in the Underworld.
But upon arriving at her assigned desk, she was stunned to see the mountain of docunts piled up.
Gazing at the stack, Artemis abruptly rose and shot a cold glare at an attendant.
She looked ready to te out divine punishnt then and there, but given the setting, she barely held herself back.
"Step aside. Lord Hades must have made a mistake; I need to speak with him again."
"Oh... in that case, please wait a mont!"
The attendant hurried off and soon returned with soone.
Long black hair. Divine power on par with the Twelve Olympians. Wait, that face...?
"...Lady Styx greets Artemis."
"Hmph. I have little patience for goddesses who take out their anger on helpless attendants instead of working... You wouldn’t be one of them, would you?"
"......"
"Apollo, Ares... All these young gods. Tsk tsk. Things were different in my day."
Lady Styx entered, her forehead visibly pulsing with irritation.
And with her arrival, Artemis, who had been ready to storm off in a fury, bowed her head.
Lady Styx was the one who first sided with Olympus in the Titanomachy.
Her deeds and contributions were unparalleled as a formidable elder goddess.
"I trust you’ll manage well on your own...? I’d rather not have to co back."
"...Of course."
"Oh, and that’s just one day’s work."
"...?!"
At that mont, Artemis realized why her brother Apollo shuddered at the re ntion of the Underworld.
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