Side Story – Alecto, the Goddess of Vengeance
After Olympus erged victorious in the war against the Titans, I descended straight to the underworld and went around eting various deities.
Having greeted many gods and even the Hecatoncheires guarding Tartarus, the place I now headed to was...
Step. Step.
The cave known as the dwelling of the Erinyes, the goddesses of vengeance.
Naturally, even gods avoided them, but since I had already conversed amicably with deities like Lady Limos, the goddess of famine, and Lady Eris, the goddess of discord, I had no reason not to seek them out.
“A guest has co to visit.”
As I reached the entrance, a clear, feminine voice echoed from within the cave.
It was unmistakably the voice of one of the goddesses of vengeance. The ominous and chilling presence emanating from inside confird it.
The Erinyes.
Born from the blood spilled onto the earth when Uranus's genitals were severed.
Three fearso maiden deities with bronze wings, bleeding eyes, and serpents for hair.
Hissss! Hiss!
“Are you the goddesses of vengeance? I am Hades. I will be residing in the underworld from now on, so I hope we can work together…”
“This cave belongs to my sisters and . Do not co here.”
Their cold and ruthless image, coupled with their distrust of strangers, made it hard to approach them.
To them, born from Uranus's severed genitals, I must seem like nothing but a young, insignificant god.
Perhaps befriending them would be extrely difficult.
But I would not give up.
As the ruler of the underworld, how could I neglect or disregard the deities who dwelled here?
To truly embody the weighty title of the King of the Underworld, I must persist on a righteous path.
And...
Drip. Drip.
The sound of blood-tears falling endlessly onto the ground.
Was there truly no way to stop it?
* * *
I began bringing nectar and ambrosia and regularly visited their cave.
How many tis had I been told by Tisiphone, the leader among the three sisters, to leave the offerings outside the cave?
“Well, I’ll leave it here again today. Oh, by the way, we’ll be holding a banquet in the underworld soon. If you could attend…”
“Co in.”
At last, had they started to open their hearts, even just a little?
After over ten years of regular visits, I was finally permitted to enter their cave.
As I stepped into the damp, dark cave, I felt the chilling and overwhelming divine power of vengeance.
The goddesses of vengeance stared at with emotionless eyes.
Alecto, the goddess of unceasing anger, spoke first.
“You need not co anymore. You’ve won.”
“Pardon? What do you an by that?”
“Don’t play dumb. We have eyes and ears, and we haven’t aged in vain. When you rebel against Zeus, call on us. We’ll pay you back for all the nectar and ambrosia you’ve given us.”
Tisiphone, who punishes the unfaithful, and gaera, the goddess of jealousy, nodded in agreent.
What on earth were they talking about?
“...Yes. Hades is better than Zeus.”
“We heard you’ve been eting with deities like Limos, the goddess of famine, and Eris, the goddess of discord. You’re gathering the ostracized and shunned gods to march on Olympus, aren’t you? You’ve got so skill. Quite fitting for the King of the Underworld.”
So, they thought my visits to them all this ti…
Were part of a ploy to recruit them for a rebellion against Zeus?
“No, you’re misunderstanding.”
“Don’t worry. This place is beyond Zeus’s sight. If you need to be cautious…”
“No, that’s not it! You’re really misunderstanding!”
“...?”
The expressions of the goddesses of vengeance turned peculiar.
* * *
Fortunately, the misunderstanding was quickly cleared up.
“…So you’re saying you have no intention of rebellion?”
“Why would I fight with Zeus? Taking over Olympus would just an more work for .”
“Then why have you been befriending the outcast gods?”
“Well, because I’m the god of the underworld. At the very least, in my domain, no one will be discriminated against based on their role or appearance.”
The three goddesses stared at blankly, mouths slightly agape.
Even the snakes that served as their hair opened their mouths and fixed their gaze on .
“Hm… Is this why you invited inside? If this makes you uncomfortable, I can leave and stay outside the cave again.”
“No… from now on, you can just co in.”
I took out the nectar and ambrosia I had brought with and handed it over. The goddesses accepted them with sowhat conflicted expressions.
Since I was here, I also took a few sips of the nectar myself.
Gulp, gulp.
“Hades.”
“?”
“You’re… a bit different from the other Olympian gods.”
I smiled at Alecto, the goddess of unrelenting anger, who stared at blankly as she accepted the ambrosia.
Was it surprising to her that the ruler of the underworld would co here and show concern for them?
Of course, my way of thinking was probably quite different from most of the Olympian gods.
Zeus and Poseidon, my brothers, were proud of their victory in the Titanomachy and their dominion over the world. The younger gods likely saw the older ones as outdated relics.
But I couldn’t see it that way.
What kind of ruler of the underworld would I be if I couldn’t even properly care for the gods within it?
Those who pass judgnt on mortals must always uphold fairness and embody the dignity of a true god.
“It’s nothing special. More importantly, we occasionally hold banquets in the underworld. I’d be grateful if you could attend one.”
“…That might be too soon.”
Hiss.
The snakes in her hair let out small, almost purring sounds.
They were definitely still wary of , but not as hostile as when we first t.
I couldn’t help but wonder if the emotions and moods of the Furies were reflected through their snake hair. Fascinating.
* * *
Ti passed more quickly after that.
Now, whenever I visited their cave, they would greet as if it were the most natural thing in the world and even prepared a place for to sit.
But lately, sothing seed off with Tisiphone and gaera.
They often left, leaving only Alecto behind, claiming they were off to tornt sinners in the mortal realm.
Just like now.
“Ahem. Ahem. I must head to the mortal realm for a bit.”
“Have… a good ti…”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Just hurry up and go!”
Once again, I was left alone with Alecto in the cave.
This had been happening quite often recently. Surely… it couldn’t be…
Hiss. Hiss.
Alecto’s snake hair slithered up onto my shoulder.
Noticing it, I realized just how close Alecto and I were sitting. Close enough for her snake hair to touch .
Close enough for our shoulders to brush.
Her faint, slightly excited breathing tickled my ears.
Hiss…
The snakes moved.
The more I looked at them, the cuter her snake hair seed. They never bared their fangs at , not even once.
Raising a hand, I gently stroked one from the top of its head. It tilted its head against my hand, as if pleased.
“Adorable.”
“What… W-What are you talking about? I’m a goddess of vengeance, not cute at all!”
The snakes recoiled in surprise, pulling away from .
But their gaze remained fixed on . They really were cute.
“No, I ant… your hair.”
“Ugh… w-well, then…”
Her ears turned red, and she whispered sothing under her breath.
“T-Then… I suppose… you can touch them, if you want…”
She was adorable.
Not her snake hair, but Alecto herself, the goddess of vengeance whom everyone else avoided.
Dear gods.
Did I just find a goddess of vengeance… cute?
In truth, compared to other goddesses with dazzling beauty, their appearances fell short. Goddesses like Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love; Hestia, the goddess of the hearth; Styx, or even Lethe—they couldn’t compare.
And yet, could it be that a goddess of vengeance like her...?
As I beca more conscious of her, she began to stand out.
If not for the blood-red tears streaming from her eyes and the snake-like hair, her appearance and figure would rival even the most stunning goddesses.
Sssssk. Slide.
“Ahhh...”
Almost in a trance, I reached out to touch the snakes. One by one, I stroked them.
As I continued, more of them began to approach , showing signs of affection. By the ti I had touched over five, Lady Alecto rested her head on my shoulder.
Thud. Hisssss?!
The snake-like hair seed startled by their mistress's sudden movent.
The snakes trembled montarily before calming down and cautiously approaching again. How cute.
“This… this is just… If you find my hair cute, then you can touch it more comfortably... N-no, wait…!”
“Thank you. I like it.”
“Don’t… don’t enjoy this kind of thing too much... Ugh. Whenever I’m with you, my blade of vengeance feels…”
Sssssk. Slide.
Before I knew it, my face was buried in her snake-like hair.
Just as I thought it was ti to pull back, the goddess suddenly turned her head and looked directly at .
Amid the snake-filled surroundings, our gazes locked.
For so reason, my heart began to pound. Her flushed face reflected my own, likely no different in its redness.
“Hades. Do you know?”
“Know what…?”
“You’re the first person to ever call cute.”
At that mont, her hair wrapped around my face and pulled closer.
Wait. Her hair—could she control it like this?
“Mm…!”
Our lips t.
Her warm breath and heat seed to fill the underworld cavern.
My body, too, began to grow warm.
I reached out, holding the back of her head and pulling her closer.
As we deepened the passionate kiss, our faces finally parted with a light sound.
“Hah... hah.”
“Hoo...”
Her flushed face had transford entirely.
Her eyes seed to crave more, while her trembling hands appeared almost pitiful in their hesitation.
And then—
-Flash!
A brilliant light and divine power erupted from the goddess, transforming her appearance.
No, not just her appearance—her very essence. Her divine authority, the core of her being, was changing.
A divine authority is more than the domain a god governs.
It is the source of their existence, the essence that defines them. A god of madness manifests insanity, and a god of love embodies the pursuit of affection.
But now—
“…What?”
If a goddess whose existence embodies vengeance is, even for a mont, overwheld by another emotion...
Could she still be called a goddess of vengeance?
Moreover, if she herself recognizes an emotion deeper than vengeance...
This convergence of factors—guilt, retribution, revenge—all of it caused her form to completely transform.
The snakes, once the physical manifestation of her wariness toward others, closed their eyes and softened into silky hair.
The blood-red tears of suffering and hatred ceased to flow.
The bronze wings, symbols of ruthless vengeance, lost their steely resolve and turned a pure white.
“Ah... Ahhh…! My form… I…!”
“…You’re beautiful, Lady Alecto.”
The goddess of first love, Alecto.
With white wings, light green hair, and golden tears of love streaming down her face, she radiated divine beauty.
“Since I am the one who caused you to change, I will take responsibility. Please beco the queen of the underworld.”
“R-really?”
“Yes. You are my first love, Lady Alecto.”
And thus, a new queen was born for the underworld.
Reviews
All reviews (0)