King of Underworld

Chapter 144

The Final Proposal

After proposing to Styx and Lethe, and finally to Persephone... I went directly to the ferryman of Acheron, Charon.

He was busy as usual, ferrying souls across the river.

“...Charon.”

“Ahem! Hades, I didn’t let that mortal cross the river on purpose. No, he pleaded with tears streaming down his face, and his lyre... oh, how it moved my heart...”

“Charon.”

“The moment I heard that music, all the painful memories of my time here came rushing back. You understand, don’t you...?”

Clearly aware of his mistake in allowing a living human to cross Acheron without my permission, Charon launched into his excuses before I even questioned him.

I listened to his explanations, remaining silent.

Eventually, Charon fell quiet, noting my unchanging expression.@@@@

“...Since you let a living mortal cross Acheron, there will be no god assigned to this river for an entire year.”

“I understand...”

Let’s see how well he fares on his own for a year. Like in the old days before Olympus offered support, he’ll have to fight off unruly souls and steer the boat by himself.

If it were up to me, I’d have chained him to this river for the whole year, but there’s no one else to ferry the souls.

After some hesitation, Charon finally spoke again, glancing at me.

“Ahem. So, what happened to that mortal? Knowing you, I thought you would have killed him.”

“I didn’t. I’m not as merciless as you make me out to be...”

“...What’s this? Really?”

“I didn’t want to appear heartless before Kore—Persephone, I mean. I’d rather not look unfavorable to my future queen.”

Charon’s eyes widened at this, genuinely surprised.

“Wait! You’re finally marrying?”

“Yes. I proposed. To Kore, as well as to others.”

“A proposal? And from you, the most unapproachable god in the pantheon? I’d sooner believe Thanatos has taken a day off...”

“...Shall I extend your punishment to two years?”

Charon closed his mouth and turned his head, muttering under his breath.

Hmph... he does this all too often.

After finishing my talk with Charon, I set out to find Minthe.

Despite her being a minor deity—once a mortal nymph—she often begged to be taken as my consort, even as a concubine. Yet I had no desire to create favoritism or discord.

It wouldn’t do to favor one over others, especially since there wouldn’t be only one goddess by my side for eternity.

Minthe had mentioned visiting friends in the world above, likely near Mount Etna, where Typhon’s body lay sealed.

Thud.

“Lord Hades! Something terrible has happened! Typhon’s body is acting up at Mount Etna...!”

“Minthe?!”

As I was heading toward Mount Etna, where I suspected Minthe would be, she rushed in, her hair disheveled and breathing hard.

“I was just resting with my friends when flames erupted from the summit, and then there were tremors...”

So, Typhon was stirring. The beast had been dormant for some time.

Perhaps Gaia, foreseeing her loss, whispered something to him, or it was merely one of his periodic outbursts. With lava spewing from the crater, it wasn’t a minor disturbance.

“...I’ll go there immediately.”

“I’ll come with you! I haven’t had time to check on my friends...”

If I hadn’t happened upon Minthe, she might have met the same fate, her life ending and her spirit descending here.

And I would never have recalled her as Mint—only memories of her faint fragrance would remain.

“Minthe, did you know?”

“Yes?”

“The mint plant you created—humans in one distant land use extracts from it daily to freshen their breath.”

“Really? Hades, that’s amazing! I thought humans only chewed fragrant sticks, feathers, or strange powders.”

“Hahaha! It’s a place far beyond your reach, so I wouldn’t expect you to know of it.”

Minthe’s teal hair fluttered in the wind from our chariot’s speed as she gazed at me with a puzzled look.

Of course, it’s a place incredibly far away—even my powers as the god of the underworld cannot reach it.

“If such a place exists, I must have a lot of followers there! I might even have more worshippers than you, Hades!”

“Of course. You’d have more believers than even Zeus himself.”

“R-really? Then maybe, there, I’d... be greater than even you... hehe...”

People around the world use mint-flavored toothpaste daily.

If Minthe could manifest herself in that life, she might be praised as a significant deity.

Seeing her take my words literally, I pinched her cheek gently.

“Ouch!”

“Watch out; you’ll swallow a bug if you keep your mouth open like that.”

“Ugh... you’ve become much more playful lately.”

Minthe pouted, rubbing her cheek as she looked at me.

Perhaps she was right—I’ve become more playful around her. None of the other goddesses have ever said such a thing.

I’m comfortable with Minthe.

Maybe it’s her scent, recalling memories of my past life, or because she never feared me, even as a nymph, seeing me as I am.

She helps me in the underworld just as she did when she was a simple nymph...

A comforting presence. Like a dear younger sister.

That quality might be why I find her so endearing.

Clip-clop.

“We’re here. Get down.”

“Huh? Lord Hades, aren’t we returning to the underworld?”

“We’re precisely where I intended.”

Whistle of the wind—

We had arrived at a peaceful plain, where a gentle breeze continuously blew. There were no humans or nymphs here.

Only this field... filled with mint I’d secretly cultivated without her knowledge.

The refreshing scent of mint surrounded us as the breeze carried it our way.

Minthe stepped down from the chariot, looking around in awe, brushing her hair back as she breathed in the scent.

“Wow... it’s all mint, everywhere?”

“That’s why I chose this place.”

“What do you mean?”

“This is the perfect place to propose to you.”

...!

Gently, I pulled a bracelet from my chest and carefully placed it around her wrist.

The bracelet, made from living mint, climbed up her wrist and wrapped itself gently around her hand.

“Though you are the goddess of mint, this is also a symbol of me. The flowers that grow here will always face in my direction.”

“Hades...”

“I love you, Minthe. Will you marry me?”

“Yes... sniff...”

The fragrance wafting from Minthe as we drew close was no longer the fresh scent of mint... but a deeply sweet perfume.