Story of Persephone - Part 1
A long time has passed since I, along with Menthe, introduced mint-based dishes to the mortal world. Thankfully, it seems to have had the desired effect, as Charon, the ferryman, expressed his genuine appreciation.
Shall I take a moment to observe the mortal world's reaction?
Thebes has now almost entirely become my domain, to the point where it could be compared to the worship of Athena in Athens.
The worshipers of Dionysus have been reduced to a minority, likely due to the spread of stories warning that those who indulge in lawlessness and excess will be judged in the Underworld.
If I listen carefully for a moment, I can hear the conversations of the people of Thebes. Near my temple, I can make out those discussing mint:
"We should probably adjust the amount of mint used in funerals."
"We could also consume the plant blessed by Pluto."
"It grows well with just a little water. Why not cultivate it in large quantities?"
"Since it's primarily used as a spice like other herbs, I don't think we need to grow it on such a large scale..."
"Hey, priest, is it true that to become a priest of Pluto, you have to enjoy eating mint?"
"Hahaha! It's true that mint is Pluto's symbol. But do you know what the god said in his oracle?"
"An oracle? What was it?"
"He said that personal preferences vary, so we shouldn't discriminate against those who dislike his symbol."
"Wow! So, even if I don't like mint, I can still become a priest!"
As knowledge spread in the mortal realm about how mint could be used in various dishes—such as mint tea or mint and honey snacks—the quantity used in funerals decreased.
As I reviewed the parchment summarizing the spread of mint-based foods, I spoke to Menthe. She stood nearby, looking slightly nervous, which made sense given that she was the one who compiled this report.
"Menthe, you've become quite adept at writing reports."
"Really? I guess it's because I've been writing them every day… Hehe..."
Menthe, who once struggled with the tasks of the Underworld, now seems to be adapting well. It might be time to increase her responsibilities.
I looked up with a satisfied smile, only to find Menthe beaming at me with a hopeful expression.
"Lord Hades, now that mint-based foods have spread widely in the mortal world… about the reward you mentioned earlier…"
Ah, yes. I did make a promise to her. If she completed this task successfully, I agreed to take her with me on a patrol near Mount Etna.
"Yes, you did say…"
"That's right. You've been doing well lately, so we'll go together."
"Wow! Thank you!"
Hug.
Wait, hold on. Just because I agreed doesn't mean you should suddenly hug me.
"Hehe…"
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The refreshing scent of mint tickled my nose as the goddess of mint clung to me.
Menthe and I ventured out into the mortal world, eventually arriving near Mount Etna.
As expected, the vast meadows, animals, and numerous nymphs greeted us. We took a ride around Mount Etna in a chariot drawn by ghostly horses, inspecting the state of Typhon.
As I took in the scenery, I noticed Menthe waving at a group of nymphs in the distance.
"Oh! Delias! Iphigenia!"
"Menthe?!"
"I heard she became a priestess of Lord Hades…"
"No, she said she's become a goddess now, didn't she?"
There were several naiads, former nymphs like Menthe, playing in the forest. They seemed happy to see Menthe, but when they caught sight of me in the chariot…
"Gasp! A… A god?"
"Menthe became a minor deity of the Underworld… so does that mean…"
"Black hair, black eyes, ghostly horses… The Lord of the Underworld?"
Their faces turned pale, and they quickly fell to the ground, bowing before me in fear. They were so terrified they couldn't even think of leaving. I couldn't help but sigh.
I hadn't done anything, yet they were already frightened. I suppose no one welcomes the Underworld… Menthe, who boldly approached me on our first meeting, is indeed an exception.
"Menthe. I'll be inspecting other areas, so feel free to spend time with your friends."
"Uh… thank you. I think their prejudice is a bit too strong…"
With a disappointed look, Menthe jumped off the chariot and ran to her friends. I decided to give them some time and space. I'll return to her later.
"Oh my… Menthe, aren't you scared?"
"A minor deity of the Underworld…"
"It's good that you've become a goddess, but to be tied to the Underworld…"
"Hmph… The Underworld isn't so bad!"
I can hear everything, even from here…
After some time had passed, I returned to where Menthe had disembarked. She should have had enough time to catch up with her friends by now.
As expected, I saw her waiting for me.
"Sigh… I think everyone has too many misconceptions about the Underworld…"
"That's unavoidable. It's the final destination for mortals and the realm of the dead."
Seeing her sulking expression as she climbed back into the chariot made me smile. Menthe, who had spent so much time in the mortal world, now seems to have become fully accustomed to the Underworld.
"The Underworld is actually quite enjoyable once you get used to it. I even find the spirits cute now."
"Haha… Or maybe you're just an unusual nymph."
"Wh-what? I'm just an ordinary naiad! And I'm a goddess now!"
"To me, you're still that strange nymph from back then."
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"I… I'm not strange at all…"
What are you talking about? Where else would I find a nymph who wants to spend time with the ruler of the Underworld?
As I reminisced about those memories, I smiled and glanced at her…
"Hmm?"
Something felt off. This strange feeling… it's coming from the north. A surge of power, rapidly approaching, in large numbers.
Not just one or two. At least several hundred. Not humans, not nymphs, not even gods…
"Lord Hades?!"
Whoosh—
I began drawing out the divine power I had suppressed while in the mortal realm. The surrounding plants withered, and the dryads, the spirits of the trees, screamed in distress, but I had no choice.
I reached out and scanned the area thoroughly. Beneath the earth, deep below, there was movement… many presences…
Rumble…
This feeling… It's definitely the Gigantes, the hated enemies of us gods.
And they've mobilized at least several hundred of them for an attack. Why here, rather than Olympus or one of the human cities…
Ah, of course.
This is Mount Etna, where Typhon's body is buried.
If they manage to unearth and seize the powerful body of Typhon, Gaia could accomplish many things.
She could summon Typhon's consciousness from Tartarus or use his body as a sacrifice to create another monster…
In the worst-case scenario, Typhon could be resurrected…
Even in the best-case scenario, if Typhon's body goes on a rampage, the damage could be immense. It would take the combined effort of many Olympian gods to contain the devastation his freed body could cause.
"Lord Hades? What's happening…?"
"The Gigantes are attacking. Return to the Underworld, Menthe."
Was this the single blow Prometheus warned about?
Indeed, if Typhon's body were to be stolen, it would be a severe loss for the gods.
"No matter how well you prepare… the gods will fall prey to Gaia's blow, even if I warn you in advance."
"Are you saying we'll inevitably be caught off guard?"
"Yes, your plans will suffer a painful setback."
But Prometheus, this time, your prophecy will be wrong.
Because I, Hades, am here.
The goddess of mint, Menthe, was in high spirits.
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Not only had she successfully carried out Hades' command to spread mint-based foods in the mortal world, but he had also kept his promise to bring her along on his patrol of Mount Etna.
She had even reunited with her old nymph friends, catching up with them.
Now, she was looking forward to spending some quality time with the handsome Lord Hades.
Usually, the sharp gazes of Lady Styx and Lady Lethe prevented her from getting closer to him, but now that they were alone in the mortal world, she was determined to show him her charm!
…Or so Menthe thought.
"Hmm?"
But as Hades, who had been smiling warmly at her, suddenly stiffened, his face darkened.
A black aura began to seep out from his body.
"Lord Hades?!"
Sensing something amiss, he extended his right hand, summoning his divine power. The overwhelming force of one of the three rulers of the Underworld was unleashed, causing the surrounding plants and creatures to perish.
This wasn't the usual gentle side of the god who normally held back his power to protect the living things in the mortal world. What on earth was happening? Why was he…?
Whoosh—
The power Hades was drawing out grew stronger, bit by bit… more… and more…
Even if all the gods of the Underworld combined their powers, could they emit such a terrifying pressure?
Neighing Snorting
His ghostly horses, reflecting his emotions, flared with blue ghost flames in their eyes, and their hooves ignited with the fires of the underworld. Baring their sharp teeth, the specters seemed to anticipate the slaughter to come.
The once ordinary chariot now exuded a chilling aura, with the forms of screaming wraiths etched into it. The chariot had transformed into something fit for the ruler of the Underworld to ride into battle.
Menthe trembled in fear as she watched Hades, his form gradually enveloped in darkness.
"Lord Hades? What's happening…?"
"The Gigantes are attacking. Return to the Underworld, Menthe."
The Gigantes.
The enemies that Hades and the other gods of the Underworld feared and guarded against.
According to prophecy, these monsters were impossible for the gods to defeat without the help of mortal heroes.
Shouldn't she, now a goddess, help Hades fight against such dangerous foes?
Was he really going to face them alone?
"Lord Hades… I can fight… I can help…"
But as she stammered, his large hand gently brushed through her long hair. His eyes, dark as the deepest abyss, held no end in sight.
Unlike before, when he would awkwardly avoid physical contact with her, he now wore a cold smile as he whispered softly into her ear.
"This is an order, goddess of mint."
The gentle god, Pluto, who cared for the unjustly damned and remained unmoved by blasphemy, was nowhere to be seen.
The figure standing before her now was Hades, the feared ruler of the Underworld.
"Yes… I'll go call for the other gods. Please be careful."
Menthe couldn't bring herself to defy his command.
Story of Persephone - Part 2
Near Mount Etna, a group of beautiful nymphs and goddesses were playing a game of catch. Among them was a goddess born of the union between Demeter, the goddess of the earth, and Zeus, the king of the gods.
"Laughing! Throw it this way!"
"Kore, catching it with flowers is cheating!"
"So what? You can use your powers too!"
The goddess, who appeared to be in her early twenties with radiant golden hair and an appearance reminiscent of a blooming flower, spoke up.
"Sigh… I think my mother sees me as too fragile."
"Does the goddess of the earth think that?"
Her formal name was Persephone, though she was often called by her nickname, Kore.
"Yes! Every time I go out to play, she tells me to be wary of monsters, to beware of the Gigantes… It's exhausting!"
"It's clear that Goddess Demeter loves you very much, Kore."
As the goddess of spring and seeds, she was playing with the nymphs when she suddenly tilted her head, a puzzled expression on her face.
"Hmm? Do you hear that sound?"
"Is it the sound of birds?"
"I can hear the refreshing sound of water flowing in the forest…"
Though the other nymphs and lesser deities didn't notice anything unusual, she, as the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, could sense it.
A powerful vibration, resonating from deep underground.
BOOM! ROAR!
Suddenly, monstrous creatures with the lower bodies of serpents and the upper bodies of humans emerged from the earth a short distance away. They were the Gigantes, the fearsome enemies of the gods.
"Kyaaa! Monsters appeared out of nowhere!"
"G-Gigantes?!"
"Oh, Zeus, help us!"
The appearance of these large, terrifying creatures threw the nymphs into a panic.
But there was no time to panic. The Gigantes were not few in number; they were emerging in droves from the ground.
CRASH. RUMBLE…
The nymphs tried to flee, but they soon found themselves surrounded. The Gigantes had them completely encircled, their monstrous eyes fixed on their prey.
"Hahaha! Are these the creations of the gods? They look delicious!"
"That blonde one looks like a goddess. Let's take her!"
"Don't forget, our goal is to dig up our brother buried beneath this mountain!"
"Then, brothers! Kill all the witnesses and let's tear down Mount Etna!"
Terrified by the ghastly conversation of the monsters, the nymphs froze in fear. How could they hope to stand against such powerful creatures, each of whom rivaled lesser gods or mortal heroes?
"Take this!"
RUSTLE—
"Cough! Cough! Is this poison?!"
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"What is this? Is that… a divine power? We need to take down that goddess first—"
"Ugh…! The plants are binding us…"
Only a goddess could possibly hope to stand against them.
As golden pollen spread from Persephone's hand, the Gigantes were unable to suppress their coughing. Flowers and plants rapidly sprouted from the ground, binding the monsters.
"Kore!"
"Zeus, please help us!"
This was the power of the goddess of spring.
Although Persephone's powers over spring and seeds were not suited for combat, she was, after all, the daughter of Demeter and Zeus, giving her considerable divine strength.
"Didn't know there was a goddess who could control poison and plants."
"Ha! She's just one."
"It's not poison; it's pollen, you monsters!"
But the Gigantes were formidable foes.
Even though Persephone's divine power was second only to the Twelve Olympians, there were hundreds of Gigantes emerging from the ground.
"Peloreus! Let's tear down Mount Etna before Olympus realizes what's happening."
"Thoas, you worry too much."
"Heh! If those Olympians show up, I'll kill them all myself!"
"Be cautious, Pallas. Zeus might be watching."
Among the Gigantes were four commanders, each comparable to or slightly weaker than the Twelve Olympians.
Persephone was in grave danger.
BOOM!
While many of the Gigantes began tearing apart Mount Etna, others surrounded Persephone and the nymphs. The monsters advanced slowly, mocking their prey.
"Hahaha. I want to hear you scream."
"W-What do we do…? Kyaa!"
"Save us! Goddess Demeter, please! Aah!"
The nymphs around Persephone were being devoured or torn apart by the Gigantes. No matter how fiercely Persephone fought, she was alone, and the monsters were overwhelmingly numerous.
"I'll take care of that goddess."
"Pallas, are you planning to have all the fun to yourself?"
"Hahaha! If you've got a problem, come and challenge me."
"Sigh… Tch."
Persephone gritted her teeth, forcing herself to draw out more of her divine power. She tried to hinder them by making plants grow, scattering pollen, or infusing her blows with divine energy.
But the Gigantes, particularly the one called Pallas, were far too powerful. He could indeed rival the Twelve Olympians.
Even if her mother, Demeter, came to her aid, she would not be able to overcome all these monsters.
SLITHER—
The Gigantes in front of her loosened its grip and advanced slowly, his serpentine lower body moving eerily as he closed in on the goddess.
"Have you already given up, goddess?"
"My father is Zeus, and my mother is the goddess Demeter! All of you will die miserable deaths! I, Persephone, swear it!"
"What's this? A curse?"
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Even a curse that could destroy an entire city with a single word was useless. For the first time in her life, Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter, felt utterly powerless.
The monster was already at her side, lifting her by the throat.
"Grrr…"
She could offer no resistance. Her divine power was entirely depleted, and she was so exhausted that her ichor—the golden blood of the gods—poured from her wounds, staining the ground beneath her.
THUD-THUD-THUD-THUD…
She, who had been born into a life of luxury and privilege with a golden lineage that everyone envied, was now about to be defeated by a grotesque monster.
"Looks like you're a young goddess. Curse your fate."
WHOOSH—
As Persephone clenched her eyes shut, bracing herself for the impending pain, she felt an odd sensation at her side.
A firm yet gentle hand pulled her close.
'What?'
SPLAT—
When Persephone cautiously opened her eyes, she saw the gruesome sight of a Gigantes' head crushed beyond recognition.
"Are you alright?"
Standing before her, lifting her into his chariot, was a dark-haired, dark-eyed god.
It didn't take long for her to recognize the god who had saved her from certain death. His overwhelming presence far surpassed that of her mother, Demeter, one of the Twelve Olympians.
In fact, the only god she knew who could rival Zeus, the king of the gods, in strength was this dark-haired god.
'The Lord of the Underworld, Hades…'
As the surrounding monsters rushed at them in rage over their fallen comrade, Hades summoned a two-pronged spear from thin air and hurled it at them.
BOOM!!!
A black beam of destructive energy cut through the space between them, obliterating the Gigantes in its path, leaving nothing behind but a void where they once stood.
CRACKLE… WHOOSH—
The devastating blast left a deep scar on the earth and split the clouds in the sky above. The Gigantes, who witnessed this, recoiled in horror.
"Gasp! Gah!"
"Screeee! What kind of god is that?!"
"This power…! Is he one of the Twelve Olympians? Ares? Hephaestus?"
"Nonsense! There's no way…"
With Persephone safely behind him, Hades drove his chariot into the fray.
One by one, the Gigantes fell, their monstrous forms unable to withstand Hades' strikes. The moment he swung his spear, the Gigantes didn't even see it coming. Their attacks, in turn, failed to leave a scratch on him.
NEIGH! SNORT!
The ghostly horses pulling the chariot trampled the lower bodies of the Gigantes, while the terrifying spear, infused with malevolent energy, left a trail of corpses in its wake.
SLASH! SPLAT!
"Grrr!"
"Eurytos! Let's take him together!"
"You create an opening, Thoas!"
The Gigantes, desperate to create a diversion to unearth Typhon's body, surrounded Hades' chariot. These were the three commanders Persephone had seen earlier.
Just as the goddess of spring was about to warn Hades of the danger, she noticed the cold smile playing on his lips.
SWOOSH—
Hades drove his two-pronged spear, the bident, into the ground. A massive rift opened, temporarily connecting the mortal world with the Underworld.
The air grew heavy as dark energy began to surge from the earth. Emerging from the seemingly endless fissure were soldiers of the Underworld.
Ghostly soldiers, with translucent bodies, armed with spears and swords, poured out in an unending stream.
"Damn it all! It's Hades, the god of the Underworld!"
"Die, you wretch!"
"He's one of the Three Great Gods, but he's alone!"
"The dead won't save you now!"
The Gigantes uprooted trees and swung their fists, trying to resist, but the soldiers of the Underworld continued to grow in number, seemingly endless.
Since the dawn of mankind, the number of souls in the Underworld had steadily increased. The spectral army, emanating the aura of death, successfully held back the Gigantes attempting to unearth Typhon's body.
"Peloreos! If we can take down Hades, we'll win! Stay focused!"
"For Mother Gaia!"
As Hades retrieved his bident from the ground, a Gigantes, Thoas, swung a massive wooden club at his head. The blow was strong enough to shatter a mountain.
CLANG!
But Hades effortlessly blocked the attack with a single hand, drawing a black sword from his waist. The clash of divine forces created a deafening explosion that laid waste to the surroundings.
BOOM! CRASH!
Yet, in the midst of this chaos, Persephone, who was still riding behind Hades on the chariot, remained unharmed. She realized that despite the intensity of the battle, Hades had not allowed a single effective strike from the Gigantes.
'He's toying with monsters that could rival the gods of Olympus…'
The Twelve Olympians included Zeus and Poseidon, but these gods were grouped with Hades as the Three Great Gods. Rumor had it that even if all twelve Olympians banded together, they couldn't defeat one of the Three Great Gods.
As she recalled the playful stories she had heard while chatting with the nymphs, Persephone realized they were true.
After the battle began, Hades had been fighting with a cold smile. One of the Gigantes commanders, Eurytos, who was catching his breath, charged at Hades in a fit of rage.
"Don't underestimate us, Hades!"
"Wait…! Eurytos! Don't rush in…!"
SLASH— SPLAT!
But before Eurytos could land a blow, Hades' black sword flashed, severing both of the Gigantes' arms. Eurytos collapsed to the ground, spraying golden blood as his body convulsed.
"Ugh… Ugh…"
"He's even stronger than we thought…!"
Persephone had heard many rumors about the Lord of the Underworld. People speculated that, as the ruler of the dead, he must be grotesque and terrifying in appearance—a fitting image for the master of the Underworld.
She had never attended any of the Olympian banquets, so she had never seen him herself.
Despite the talk of him being a merciful god among mortals, she thought it was just a tale, an attempt to turn fear into faith. It wasn't unusual for mortals to transform their fears into worship.
But now, Persephone understood that all those assumptions were wrong.
The gentle way he had saved her, holding her close. The strength that rivaled her father, Zeus. The careful attention he paid throughout the battle to ensure her safety.
And finally, despite what she had imagined, his face was not monstrous but rather cold and handsome, in a way that didn't fit the ruler of the Underworld.
A quiet, awestruck whisper escaped Persephone's lips.
"…He's amazing…"