King of Underworld

Chapter 136

The Argonaut Expedition - (3)

The heroes aboard the Argo found themselves oddly uneasy amidst the monotony. For them, trained even in the underworld, the monsters they encountered were weak and easily dealt with.

From time to time, a creature would appear or an unexpected incident would arise, but nothing they couldn’t handle. Even without Heracles needing to lift a finger, they managed everything on their own.

Yet, from past experiences, they knew this could be a bad omen. When an expedition seemed too easy, it usually signaled an impending problem.

“It’s so easy, it makes me nervous.”

“Even the great clashing rocks before us... if we’d really put our minds to it, we could have broken through them.”

“Maybe it’s Lady Fortuna herself who watches over us.”

As they rowed, the heroes discussed the simplicity of their journey. After all, a task should be worthy of the challenge.

♪@@@@

“Tsk. At this rate, no one’s getting injured... It almost makes joining the Argo feel pointless.”

“Haah... Asclepius, are you hoping we get hurt?”

“Leave him be. He does this all the time.”

“Rather than studying medicine, maybe start with looking after us...”

They continued on, their spirits lightened by casual conversation, relishing the joy of sharing leisurely talks with comrades.

~♪ ♫

Yes, with pleasant sounds drifting around us like this... it’s truly wonderful to listen to. I’d love to hear it a bit longer... Oh, it’s those beauties singing over there.

They’re sitting on the rocks, watching us.

The melody is enchanting, they’re beautiful, and I’m in such a good mood.

But they’re too far for me to hear clearly. Just a little closer...

If we get just a bit closer, won’t we be able to hear them well?

~♬ ♩ ♬ ♫

Look at them, enticing me like that.

What harm could come from getting a bit closer?

...

......

.........

The first to notice something amiss was Orpheus, always attuned to music. With trembling hands, he raised his lyre and began to play with all his strength.

Twang ~ ♬ ♩

Two conflicting notes crashed together, shaking everyone’s minds. Saliva dripped from the open mouths of the heroes, and some even slashed the backs of their hands to suppress the compulsion.

The intense battle, with neither sword nor spear, ended with Orpheus’ victory.

The three women on the rocks—no, three creatures with the bodies of birds and the heads of humans—closed their mouths and glared at Orpheus.

Only then did the heroes breathe again, able to speak.

“Damn! Those were the Sirens! Monsters said to lure sailors to their deaths with their voices!”

“Hah... if not for Orpheus, we’d have been in real trouble.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my auditory organs, but... does the unique power in their voices affect the brain directly?”

“Even now, all you think about is medicine, Asclepius!”

“Even for a god, isn’t it too much to steal another man’s wife?!”

Undaunted by his divine opponent, Idas drove his chariot in pursuit of Apollo. Despite being half-mortal, he paid no mind to the knowledge that a single gaze from the sun god could incinerate him.

When Apollo noticed Idas grinding his teeth and chasing him, he scowled, initially ready to kill him...

‘Damn. That man is Poseidon’s child. After the punishment I received for killing Orion... Tch.’

Having previously killed Orion, another of Poseidon’s children, and faced punishment, Apollo couldn’t harm Idas. If he escalated the situation here, the sun might be eclipsed by the moon once more.

So instead, he relied solely on his chariot-driving skills to shake Idas off. But the winged chariot Poseidon had given Idas was also a divine gift, making their struggle drag on.

“Give up! This woman is mine!”

“She is my rightful wife! Return her to me!”

They raced across the sky, causing a tremendous ruckus.

Irritated by the endless noise, Zeus cast his gaze downward.

And just then, I, Hades, arrived to scold Apollo. I looked up briefly to see Zeus watching, then turned back to Apollo.

“A sun god, abducting a mortal woman who’s already betrothed...”

“......;;”

“Fine. This quarter, you can expect a visit to the underworld.”

Apollo’s chariot broke in two, and the sun god lowered his head in shame, while Idas and Marpessa prostrated themselves on the ground.

As Apollo slowed his descent, mortals around them quickly realized another god had intervened.

“This man, unlike you, is not immortal. As a sun god, you cannot always remain at her side.”

“...I apologize.”

At that moment, Hermes arrived, having been sent by Zeus to assess the situation. I handed everything over to him and left quietly.

With one incident after another, one might think someone had cursed Olympus.

While Hades was reprimanding Apollo, the Argonauts finally reached their destination.

After a long expedition, they had arrived at Colchis, where the Golden Fleece awaited.

The heroes disembarked, surveying their surroundings.

Late into the night, as dawn's veil began to cover the world.

“Is this Colchis? It’s so dark, I can’t see anyone around.”

“Still, the Argo is large enough to be seen from a distance. Surely, word will reach the king of Colchis...”

“Something feels strange... there’s a smell...”

“Wait... Shh! I hear something from over there!”

“I heard it too. It sounded like a scream?”

After their lengthy voyage, what greeted the Argonauts were faint screams...

Sounds of pursuit, flames crackling, things shattering, and people fleeing.

As they hurriedly crossed the beach and pressed through dense forests toward the source of the noise, a sight met their eyes...

“Kyaaa! Help!”

“Hurry this way! The city’s on fire!”

“Mommy! Waaah!”

They beheld a city engulfed in flames, with people fleeing in terror.