King of Underworld

Chapter 131

Sea Monster Charybdis - (2)

Charybdis, Poseidon’s daughter, had incurred Zeus’s wrath due to her insatiable appetite. She devoured ambrosia and nectar without restraint, and even sucked entire ships down into the depths, swallowing them whole.

"Poseidon, exactly how large is your daughter?"

"Not very large, really. She’s tiny compared to Typhon’s waist."

"In what world is that ‘tiny’?"

Typhon, whose shoulders reached the heavens and head brushed the stars, was a true giant. Comparing her to Typhon only made it clear just how enormous Charybdis must be.

Given her size, it’s no surprise she had an endless appetite. Zeus’s reaction to strike her with lightning in a moment of anger was understandable.

"Could you send a message to Olympus and request Demeter’s presence?"

"Demeter? Why her?"

"If I simply order her to curb her appetite, she’s not likely to listen. But if we arrange to provide her with blessed grains from Demeter, she may stop attacking sailors."

"Hmm... that’s... well, I’d considered that too, but would Demeter agree to help my daughter?"

Poseidon stroked his beard, turning his head slightly away. The last time Persephone went missing, he’d tried to do something involving Demeter—attempting to approach her in a way that, in all likelihood, was not exactly honorable.

Perhaps he tried to force a relationship, but either way, relations between them had turned icy since then. Convincing Demeter would take some effort.

"Hah. This is all because you looked at Demeter with those lecherous eyes last time, isn’t it?"

"Lecherous? I was just offering her ‘comfort’..."

"Comfort? Who offers ‘comforting looks’ to a grieving mother searching for her missing daughter?"

"Ahem! That’s enough, let’s move on from the past!"

This is utterly exasperating. Should I just beat some sense into Charybdis myself and order her to stop devouring people? No, she’s already been struck by Zeus’s lightning, and as Gaia’s daughter...

"Just tell Demeter you owe her a favor."

"Debt? Isn’t that a bit much?"

"Don’t want to? Fine. Then let Charybdis continue devouring humans and taking their curses along with it. Since you always grow soft with your daughter, I’m offering to discipline her myself. But if you dislike the idea of a debt to Demeter that much, I guess that’s that."

"...?"

"Mortal sailors pay tribute to you for safe passage, yet if Charybdis keeps swallowing entire ships, there will be talk of the sea god who can’t even protect his own dominion. No wonder you lost the city to Athena. If I were an Athenian, I’d have chosen her too. Tch."

My taunts seemed to work; Poseidon’s expression darkened considerably.

"A god of the sea who turns a blind eye while his child devours every sentient creature she finds... that’s..."

"Fine, I get it! I’ll consider it a debt to Demeter if that makes you happy!"

"Good. The humans will sing of your mercy."

A bit more prodding, and he gives in easily enough. But that should do; if I go on any longer, he might lose his temper.

"So, you summoned me from Olympus while I was resting peacefully?"

Demeter had arrived in the depths of the ocean, glancing between Poseidon and me. Her gaze showed complete bewilderment at being summoned by two of the Three Gods of Olympus.

"Yes, since there’s an opportunity for Poseidon here to owe you a favor, I thought you might be willing to help."

She looked at Poseidon with a look that was hard to read—one that seemed anything but pleased.@@@@

"Hmph. So, you’ve finally decided to manage your children? Let’s hope that commitment lasts, Poseidon."

"Well... I would’ve preferred to let her be, but Hades made some valid points."

"So what exactly do you need me to do?"

I am the god of the underworld. I cannot command the sea and water as Poseidon does, nor can I soar through the air like Hermes to rescue humans, nor open a rainbow path like Iris to evacuate them.

But I do have enough power to stop Charybdis from sucking down the sea.

Sorry, Poseidon. I’m going to have to rough up your daughter a bit.

The captain of the unfortunate ship, caught in the waters where Charybdis resided, clenched his teeth. He had heard stories of disappearances in the area, but to discover the cause was a sea monster...

If only he’d known, he would have chosen a different route entirely.

Whoooosh

But... was that really just a monster?

The whirlpool, with sharp teeth as if devouring the sea itself, displayed a divine ferocity.

"Sob... M-Mother!"

"We should never have boarded... Am I going to meet Thanatos here?"

"Didn’t we offer sacrifices to Lord Poseidon before setting sail? Then why..."

"It must be that Poseidon found our offering unworthy!"

The crew was in complete despair, some letting go of their oars entirely.

Who could blame them? How could ordinary mortals possibly escape this monstrous vortex, consuming the surrounding seawater and everything in its path? Even the strongest demigod would feel helpless before such a mythological creature.

The captain closed his eyes, praying to Poseidon one last time. He was seventy years old, a devout follower of the sea god his entire life, calling out to him now with all his heart.

"O gods of Olympus! My lord Poseidon! Please, have mercy on us!"

The shouts of the crew, the sounds of sobbing and wailing... And then...

■■■■■■!!!!!

A thunderous roar...?

The captain opened his eyes, his hands instinctively covering his ears, and his eyes filled with tears as he gazed at the miraculous sight.

The captain and the crew fell to their knees, joining their hands in reverent gratitude.

"I will guide you to a safe place."

A towering black pillar rose between the sea and sky, obliterating everything in its path, and before them stood a god.

"It is not yet your time to come to the underworld."

They were saved.