The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 165: The Story of the Golden Apple – (3)

Troy.

A city-state located on the Anatolian Peninsula.  

In the past, Poseidon, Apollo, and Hera once rebelled against Zeus.  

The rebellion failed due to Hades' intervention, and Hera was shackled with anvils and cuffs for a year…  

Meanwhile, Apollo and Poseidon were sentenced to serve as slaves under a human king for a year.  

And the one who enslaved them was none other than King Laomedon of Troy.  

However, this King Laomedon had the audacity to...  

He made the two gods build Troy's walls and then refused to pay them their wages.  

> "After all, you were working under my orders because Zeus commanded it, weren’t you? Why would gods need payment?"  

> "You... You damned mortal!"  

> "Hah... Fine. A mere human dares to mock us? Prepare to face the consequences."

Thus, Troy incurred the wrath of two of the Twelve Olympian gods.  

Apollo sent a plague, and Poseidon unleashed a fearsome sea monster to torment Troy's citizens...  

While heroes eventually defeated the sea monster to prove their mettle,  

The plague sent by Apollo remained unstoppable. Even doctors summoned from around the world were at a loss.  

> "Sigh... Is there truly no one who can lift this divine punishment?"  

> "Your Majesty, it is impossible to defy the Sun God. Please, make a decision..."  

> "There is no other choice. Summon all the princes and princesses! We must beg for Apollo's forgiveness."

In the end, Troy prepared countless offerings and went to Apollo's temple to plead for forgiveness.  

Even King Laomedon and his princes and princesses prostrated themselves before the god...  

Whoosh—  

> "O glorious Apollo!"  

> "Miserable human, have you finally realized your sins?"  

> "I have committed an unforgivable sin! I will do anything you command; please, lift the plague!"

The radiant god, Phoebus Apollo, descended to the mortal realm.

Although unimpressed by the numerous offerings, he deemed them sufficient and was about to lift the plague… when he foresaw the future.  

As the God of Prophecy, Apollo.  

Though his foresight was not on par with Prometheus or Gaia, his prophecies were incredibly accurate.  

Like how his love for Daphne and Coronis ended in tragedy, driving him to seek solace with a woman who could heal his sorrow.  

The God of Prophecy pointed his finger at one of the princes.  

> "You there, human prince. What is your name?"  

> "M-Me, my lord? I am Podarces! O Sun God!"  

> "Hmm. If you have a daughter in the future, send the most beautiful one to my temple. Then I shall forgive Troy."  

> "Pardon? Y-Yes, my lord! I understand!"

What Apollo had seen was Cassandra, a woman of exceptional beauty destined to be born in the distant future.  

Although using prophecy to stake a claim on someone he fancied was not exactly noble, Apollo acted as he pleased.  

Thus, smiling at the thought of the beautiful Cassandra to be born in the future, Apollo disappeared, and the plague lifted from Troy.  

> "Sigh... Podarces! I shall appoint you as my successor!"  

> "F-Father! But I have many elder brothers and sisters..."  

> "A princess destined for the Sun God must come from a king. And should the god suddenly break his promise, we need someone who can handle the fallout."

Driven by a mix of political calculation and a desire to protect Troy,  

Podarces, the youngest prince and the one destined to dedicate his future daughter to Apollo, was crowned as king.  

Naturally, many of the elder princes protested, but it was futile.  

None dared defy the will of the Sun God, especially when Podarces' future daughter was destined to stand by Apollo's side.  

The king's decree, fear of Apollo,  

And the belief that dedicating a princess to the Sun God might earn his favor...  

These led Podarces to ascend the throne, declare Apollo worship as the state religion, and send his daughter Cassandra to serve as a priestess in the temple.  

In his old age, Podarces fathered many sons as well…  

> "What? You say you are the god Hermes?"  

> "Indeed. I am Hermes, the messenger of the gods."

And among them was none other than Paris, the prince destined to receive the Golden Apple.  

* * *

“…So, all you need to do is present this golden apple to the most beautiful of these three goddesses.”

“Gulp. Lady Hera. Lady Aphrodite. Lady Athena…”  

I watched the young man cautiously receive the Golden Apple from Hermes.  

As Hermes claimed, this youth, reputed to be the most handsome mortal alive, indeed possessed divine-like beauty.  

The three goddesses seemed to agree that he was a suitable judge based on his appearance.  

After observing him for a moment, the goddesses began to persuade him.  

> “Mortal, is your name Paris? If you give that to me, the Queen of the Gods, I will grant you unparalleled wealth and power.”  

Hera was the first to speak, promising wealth and power.  

> “Prince of Troy, if you give me the Golden Apple, you will never lose a battle.”  

Athena promised victory in war.  

> “I can grant you the most beautiful woman as your companion, a dream for any man.” 

Aphrodite promised him the love of the most beautiful woman.

Wait a minute. If they’re all offering rewards, isn’t it only natural to choose the one with the highest prize?  

If that’s the case, the whole contest about beauty becomes pointless… Should I add a word of advice?  

I looked at him for a moment before speaking.  

> “Remember that you are a prince of Troy.”  

> “A-And who are you?”  

> “That’s not important. Just don’t be swayed by the rewards and choose wisely.”

Paris, who had been gazing into my eyes, turned back to the goddesses.  

The goddesses, all confident that he would choose them, waited expectantly.  

In my opinion, Paris’s choices were limited.  

To split the apple into three pieces would be the worst decision. Choosing one of the goddesses was the lesser evil.  

> “Hurry and decide. Isn’t it an easy choice?”  

> “Are you going to let this opportunity for a perfect companion slip away?”  

> “Many invoke my name on the battlefield. I offer you my protection...”  

No one dared to make a choice, and if Paris kept groveling, that would be the best.

After all, I could block any punishments from the other goddesses.

And Paris’s choice was...  

“I offer this to the Goddess of Beauty and Love!”  

“Hoho, very well.”  

He gave the golden apple to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty and Love.  

“...You’d better prepare yourself.”  

“The consequences of this choice are your responsibility, mortal.”  

Thus, the owner of the apple was decided. Hera and Athena issued their warnings and left with Hermes. Aphrodite, delighted, held the golden apple and rejoiced, but Paris’s expression was a bit ambiguous.  

“I will grant you the charm to seduce any woman. No mortal will be able to resist you.”  

“......”  

“When you need it, call my name. The woman you desire will become yours.”  

“Well, then... does this also apply to married women?”  

What?! Has this guy lost his mind? A married woman?  

As my expression darkened, Aphrodite glanced in my direction and added,

“Well, technically, yes, but do you really need to go after someone who’s already married?”

“You promised me, didn’t you? Please, I beg you! O Goddess of Beauty and Love!”  

“...Ugh, fine.”  

It’s one thing to grant rewards or punishments before they are issued, but interfering with another god’s rewards or punishments is forbidden. This has been an unspoken rule among the gods for thousands of years.  

But to aim for a married woman? Did he say he’s Paris of Troy?  

Fine. I’ll deal with him once he’s dead and comes to the Underworld.  

* * *

Returning to the Underworld, I immediately began observing the mortal realm. I wanted to see where Paris, now blessed by Aphrodite, was headed.  

He was heading to Sparta. His route was direct, his footsteps purposeful. And he had specifically asked about married women, hadn’t he? That leaves only one possibility.  

Helen, daughter of Zeus and a demigoddess, currently the Queen of Sparta.  

Her beauty is exceptional, and on top of that… her brothers, Castor and Pollux, gave up their claim to Sparta’s inheritance for their achievements.  

As a result, countless suitors flocked to claim her. If I recall correctly, this is how it played out:n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Whoever married Helen would have the others’ consent, and if anyone attempted to disrupt the marriage, all the suitors would join forces to oppose them.

In the end, some hero managed to marry her. His name was… Men… something, if I’m not mistaken.

I remember it vividly because Zeus boasted about his daughter’s beauty at length. Even Aphrodite showed interest, given the rumors that her beauty rivaled that of the princess Psyche.

Could that lunatic Paris actually be thinking of claiming Helen? Does he even realize he’s a prince of Troy? Truly incomprehensible.

Wait a minute. Zeus already said a war was destined to happen.  

Greece is currently filled with the next generation of heroes, raised on tales of Heracles and trained in Thebes.  

Helen’s suitors include kings and heirs from various city-states.  

I recall that the king of Thebes, where my temple resides, did not participate, though.  

The repercussions of targeting Zeus’s daughter are obvious to anyone.  

Even though taking Helen is Aphrodite's reward, meaning I cannot interfere, what crime have the people of Troy committed to deserve this?

If war breaks out, Athena, Hera, and Poseidon will surely side against Troy.  

Most of Greece’s famed heroes, who defeated the Gigantes, are now older and will likely refrain from fighting, but when you consider their children… Troy would be crushed in an instant.

A city caught in the gods’ schemes to deal with heroes.  

Although I don’t care for Paris, he hasn’t yet laid hands on Zeus’s daughter. Putting that aside, justice seems to tilt slightly toward Troy’s side.  

Moreover, with Poseidon certain to intervene, someone must balance the scales from the opposite side.  

…Zeus’s words to Hermes flash through my mind.  

“No matter whom 

that mortal chooses, chaos will follow.”  

After considering this, I summoned Morpheus, the god of dreams.  

“Morpheus. Deliver a prophetic dream to the king of Troy.”  

“What should the message convey?”  

No aid without compensation. I cannot help without a reason.  

“Tell him: If Troy, which currently worships only Apollo, builds a temple in my honor, I will help them overcome the impending crisis.”  

This changes things a bit.