Epilogue – 21st Century Olympus [End]
The Underworld.
Not the kind of underground humans dig into for oil or minerals, but a realm detached from the living world.
Here, a goddess and a god were bowing their heads respectfully before soone.
Naturally, they were none other than linoe, the goddess of nightmares, and Morpheus, the god of dreams.
The one sitting before them, leaning his chin on his throne, was Hades, the god of the Underworld.
"So, let get this straight. The human I saw unconscious collapsed because you kept approaching them, and... you decided the underworld was so boring and tedious that you went up to the mortal world for fun?"
“Y-yes… I only planned to rest for a single day before coming back!”
How is it that this excuse sounds exactly like the one Thanatos gave ?
A long ti ago, Thanatos made the sa excuse when he took a break in the living world, claiming he had been tricked by a mortal nad Sisyphus.
“Well, with how advanced humans are nowadays, wouldn’t it be fine…? There are hardly any monsters left…”
“Hm. Hm. Lord Hades, linoe makes a good point. Perhaps just this once, you could forgive her…”
What? Morpheus, you insolent fool!
When linoe shirks her duties and shows negligence, shouldn’t you, as an elder god, be the one to keep her in check?
And yet, not only did you seduce my innocent daughter, but now you’re also defending her laziness?
“Thanatos! Are you outside?”
Thunk.
The door to the audience chamber opened, and Thanatos, with his black wings, stepped inside.
These days, humans don’t die much unless it’s due to old age. The occasional deaths are caused by accidents or wars.
Still, with the number of mortals increasing, the task of bringing the dead to the Underworld keeps him quite busy.
“You called for ?”
“Yes. Take Morpheus here with you. For the next year, assign him to the task of harvesting souls!”
"Oho! I’ve been a bit short-handed despite your daughter’s help... This will give the chance to take a much-needed vacation to Olympus! Ha-ha!"
Thud.
“W-wait, Lord Hades! I was wrong…”
Morpheus was dragged away by Thanatos, no matter how much he struggled.
It was pointless to resist. As the personification of death, Thanatos had the greatest physical strength in the Underworld.
Once Morpheus was gone, I turned to linoe, who was trembling in fear. In as gentle a tone as I could muster, I began to speak.
Hmm. Did I go too hard on her earlier?
“linoe.”
“Y-yes, Father!”
“No matter how advanced human civilization becos, to the point where they hardly need the gods anymore, we are still the ones who maintain the balance of the world.”
“Yes…”
“Especially for gods like us, who preside over domains that cannot be fully explained by human science.”
The gods of Olympus revel in endless banquets, their domains—wine, blacksmithing, hearths, and ssengers—well understood by human logic and science.
Even the minor gods of mountains and rivers have beco less visible for the sa reason.
But the Underworld is different.
No human can ever hope to observe the afterlife, nor can they be certain of what happens after death—the reincarnation, the judgnt.
That’s why, even as human science advances, our work continues to be necessary.
“Unlike the past, we no longer receive faith from mortals. I understand that might make it hard for you to feel like a goddess, but you should try to act with a bit more responsibility.”
“…I understand, Father.”
“Good. Now, there’s sothing I need you to take care of.”
As for that insolent human I t earlier… He deserves a little punishnt.
Of course, I’ve already prepared a plan for dealing with him.
No matter how little humans believe in gods, it’s hard to overlook soone using a god’s na to wreak havoc in the living world.
* * *
With the advancent of civilization, Olympus had beco semi-chanized.
I was discussing what I saw in the mortal realm earlier with Zeus.
“So, you’re saying humans are going around using our nas?”
“That’s right. Even though we now live in an era with minimal divine intervention, shouldn’t we still impose so indirect restrictions?”
“I’ve also heard reports from Hers and have a rough idea of what’s happening in the mortal world.”
Of course, you’d know.
It seems that over the centuries, Zeus’s temper has llowed significantly.
Back in the day, when that King Salmoneus dared to imitate you, you beca furious and struck him down with lightning, didn’t you?
“Hmm…! If it were the old days, I would’ve sent down lightning bolts imdiately. But given the tis, I let it slide… So, what’s your plan?”
“I’ve already told linoe to deliver terrifying nightmares to those mortals. I’d like to borrow so of Tyche’s powers as well.”
“You want to send Tyche to the mortal world?”
“Just a touch of misfortune should be enough as a warning. Humans no longer fear the judgnt awaiting them after death, which would make even the goddess of justice lant.”
Though I embody the divine aspect of rcy, I also represent the underworld and fairness.
Those who audaciously exploit the gods’ nas, enforce false faiths, and live indulgently must be warned to so extent.
“Hmm, alright. But don’t impose curses or misfortunes that have too severe an impact.”
“That will suffice.”
If they don’t co to their senses even after this, there’s no saving them.
They’ll all simply face judgnt in the afterlife.
* * *
The Next Day, Mortal Realm
In South Korea, mbers of the infamous cult Elysion Church were proselytizing on the streets when, all at once, they were struck by bird droppings.
But their misfortunes didn’t end there. Their leader tripped over a rock, breaking a bone, and was hospitalized, marking the start of a series of calamities.
“mbers of Elysion Church in Seoul rushed to the hospital after suffering unexplained mass food poisoning during a prayer eting...”
"Interviews reveal cult followers visiting psychiatrists, citing recurring nightmares..."
"Authorities investigate the recent string of accidents plaguing the religious group but find no evidence of foul play..."
"Is this divine punishnt from Hades for the continued misfortunes of the cult?"
"Judgnt befalls Elysion Church, a cult that exploited the gods’ nas to deceive and recruit followers."
With their leader incapacitated, mbers tornted by nightmares and misfortunes, and dia outlets extensively reporting their plight, the cult suffered devastating losses.
The group, which had expanded its influence through the leader’s cunning manipulation and promises of salvation in the afterlife, eventually disbanded and disappeared entirely.
Of course, it was only natural that the intervention of Tyche, the goddess of fortune, and other gods was behind the events that followed.
“Oh, rciful Lord Hades! Please bless this unworthy son who has spent his entire life taking care of his old mother so that he may finally find so blessings in the other world!”
“If you live virtuously starting now, you might end up in Elysium after death...”
“Should I start going to the temple now? Just in case, I’d better buy so mint leaves to offer.”
There was a minor incident where my worshippers temporarily surged in numbers…
But mortals’ lives are fleeting. In ti, they’ll forget.
Since it’s been a while since I ddled in the mortal realm, perhaps I should leave things alone until it quiets down.
As long as another sudden world war doesn’t break out like last ti, the underworld won’t be too busy.
Unlike the Olympian gods, who have completely withdrawn from mortal affairs, I’m not quite ready to do that.
Ah, but that doesn’t an we’ve stopped intervening altogether.
Heracles occasionally grants blessings to humans who exercise, and Orpheus, now a god, bestows genius upon mortal musicians.
Even Dike, the goddess of justice, has appeared somber for so ti now. She lants that humanity beca wicked when they stopped truly believing in the existence of gods.
Still, I think this level of involvent is just right.
Too much interference in the mortal world would only prevent humans from developing their independence.
* * *
Click.
The door to the audience chamber opened again, and Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness and one of my wives, entered.
Her beauty brought a natural smile to my face, but why did she look so dejected?
“…Hades…”
“Lethe?”
The goddess hurried over and plopped herself onto my lap as I sat on the throne.
As she leaned her back against , I gently wrapped my arms around her and stroked her hair. Her silver locks were as lovely as ever.
“Humans keep praying to my statues. They’re begging to cure Alzheir’s disease… I feel so sorry for them. Should I help them, just a little?”
“Ah.”
Since ancient tis, temples had been places where humans prayed and offered sacrifices to gods, and such practices persisted even in this era.
Although many are now grand structures equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, so mortals burn currency as offerings to the gods.
Naturally, my temples also housed statues of my wives and other gods of the underworld.
It seed humans, seeking the grace of Lethe, the goddess of forgetfulness, had been praying at her statues.
Lethe wasn’t the only one facing this. Many humans swore oaths before the statues of Styx as well.
Of course, humans who dared to swear by the River Styx and break their oaths...
Taking into account the weakening of faith in this era, I rely assigned them minor labor in the underworld instead of banishing them to Tartarus.
“Hmm. Apollo and Asclepius are occasionally inspiring researchers working on diseases. Wouldn’t it be better to wait until they discover a cure themselves?”
“Really… I suppose that’s true. Even Hephaestus has been grumbling about humans still not utilizing tals properly. Sigh.”
“More importantly, my dear, you look especially beautiful today. I don’t have any tasks to attend to today…”
Lethe leaned her head back against , turning to et my gaze. I leaned in and kissed her.
As long as I have my beloved wives and children, this happiness I enjoy will last forever.
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