The Prophetic Hero, Heracles

"Is that really true, Hermes?" "Yes. Fortunately, Uncle Poseidon rejected Gaia's proposal, but..." "Now he intends to sway the gods."

Two days after returning to the Underworld, Hermes came to visit. The news he brought was that Gaia had attempted to sway Poseidon.

With a slightly anxious look, Hermes spoke to me.

"Is there a possibility that Uncle Poseidon might waver?" "Hermes, you still don’t know Poseidon well."

Though he has a somewhat proud and violent nature, he would never betray us. After all, Kronos's children, including myself...

"But after the big fight with Ares, there was even a trial, wasn’t there? If his feelings were hurt..." "Of course, he wouldn’t be pleased. Ares's punishment was also considered with Poseidon’s position in mind."

For immortal gods, the concept of time differs from that of humans. For gods, even a year feels like a fleeting moment, so a two-month punishment is extremely light.

Poseidon knows this. Yet, he probably accepted it moderately because he felt that his son’s actions were wrong, and I was aware that he sent Ares to keep Athena in check.

Though nominally, Ares has been punished, Poseidon might feel some satisfaction in that.

"But even if he glances at Ares with disdain, Poseidon would never ally with an external enemy." "That's true." "You informed Zeus of this as well, didn’t you? What did your father say?" "...He simply told me to send a messenger to thank Uncle Poseidon for not being swayed by Gaia’s persuasion. The king of the gods, who is usually so sensitive about his throne, didn’t even doubt it..."

See, Zeus isn’t a fool; he knows Poseidon won’t betray him. Even if he were to incite a rebellion, Poseidon wouldn’t drag in external enemies.

"Is that all you wanted to tell me?" "Oh, there’s one more thing. Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, will be arriving here shortly..." "Why is Iris coming here?" "I’m not sure? Perhaps she’s trying to invite Uncle Hades to Olympus again?"

I doubted that but nodded to send him off. Both Iris and Hermes are coming to the Underworld? Usually, if they had something to say, wouldn’t they send just one?

As Hermes said, after a while, a messenger entered the audience chamber.

"My Lord Hades, the goddess of the rainbow has arrived at the entrance of the Underworld." "Let her in." "However... she was holding a human infant."

"...?"

The goddess of the rainbow, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, wore a rather awkward expression. It was likely due to the infant cradled in her arms.

"Greetings, Lord Hades. Lord Zeus asked me to deliver this letter." "Yes, but what about the infant you’re holding?" "That... first, the letter..."

Iris rummaged through her robes and pulled out a piece of parchment.

However, there was something unusual about the power contained in this parchment. It felt as if it had been sealed away to prevent anyone else from seeing it.

Crisp—

As I unfolded the parchment, a jolt of energy tickled my hand, but I ignored it and began to read the contents.

"Dear Hades, it’s Zeus. I didn't intend to ask for your help, but somehow it has come to this."

Does he have a request for me?

"I’m sure you’re curious about the infant the goddess of the rainbow Iris is carrying. Can you hide this child from Hera for about a month? I understand the implications of allowing a living being to dwell in the Underworld, but Hera is trying to kill the child with poisonous snakes..."

So it seems Zeus has secretly fathered another child. But to ask me for help means Hera's fury must be tremendous.

Indeed... this letter states that even after hiding the child in mountains, caves, or other gods' abodes, Hera somehow found it. Since the mortal realm cannot escape Hera’s gaze, he is thinking of hiding it in the completely different world of the Underworld...

If I can protect the child for just one month in the Underworld, he must believe he can find a way to divert Hera’s attention or change her mind. Perhaps he plans to hide the child here and there until her fury subsides. But to ask me to hide his illegitimate child—what kind of child could it be?

"This child is my son, and I have named him Heracles (the glory of Hera). Surely, this child is destined to be the prophetic hero who will triumph in the fight against the Gigantes."

Wait, the child’s name is... Heracles?
Heracles. Heracles. As I pronounced it a few times, it felt strangely familiar.

I had definitely heard this name before. A memory more deeply rooted than being struck by Eros's arrow... it was none other than...

"Tell the goddess of the Styx to immerse this infant in the River Styx." "...My Lord Hades?"

The most famous hero in Greek mythology, the hero of heroes. The great hero Heracles, who would shine in the battle against the Gigantes in the future.

We have won.

"...What?! You want me to immerse him in the River Styx?" "Yes. The weak human body will improve somewhat after being submerged in the waters of the Styx."

Iris looked at me in shock, but my resolve remained unchanged. Regardless of laws against the living entering the Underworld, this must be allowed. The memories of a past life flashed in my mind. It was the fact that Heracles was indeed the prophetic hero.

If the living can withstand the power of the River Styx... they will have a body so resilient that it won’t be easily harmed by ordinary weapons. If fully submerged, it could prevent the prophetic hero from meeting an untimely demise.

"But this child is a human hated by Hera..." "Then why did you come all the way here on Zeus's request... No. If Hera realizes, say that it was because of my request that it couldn't be helped."

Did Iris, Hera’s attendant, bring this child because Zeus asked? If Hermes had sent the child along, perhaps Hera would suspect, so he must have persuaded Iris to do this.

To secretly deliver the illegitimate child to the Underworld through one of Hera’s confidants...

What did Zeus use to persuade the goddess of the rainbow? Did he vow never to lay eyes on Iris again and swore by the River Styx?

"Yes... I understand." "Good. Be sure to tell the goddess of the Styx to fully immerse the child. Remember that."

Just in case something might happen where the child isn’t completely submerged, I made sure to emphasize it. Watching Iris depart with a reluctant expression toward the goddess of the Styx made me smile involuntarily.

One of the worries threatening our gods has been partially resolved. If I can raise this Heracles well to become a great hero... the Gigantes will all meet their doom.

Soon, the goddess of the Styx entered the audience chamber. The child in her arms was enveloped in the aura of the Styx, visibly changing in form.

As expected of Zeus's son, he was enduring the power of the River Styx well.

The goddess of the Styx, having handed Heracles to one of the handmaidens, spoke with a worried expression.

"Hades. Since he is Zeus’s son and destined to be a hero, I immersed him in the water. However, if I keep releasing humans who have gained the strength of the river into the mortal realm..." "Hmm. I understand. If heroes imbued with the power of the Styx roam the mortal realm, it will disrupt the balance there."

This child, once he grows up, will likely join Chiron’s tutelage when he ascends back to the living realm, right? If Heracles comes to the Underworld's training ground, I should tell Chiron to ensure he receives proper character education.

Having grown into a powerful hero fully immersed in the River Styx, he must be trained well not to harm others carelessly.

"Of course, I plan to ensure he receives proper education under Chiron later. Naturally, I won’t be raising a multitude of heroes who have been immersed in the River Styx." "That’s a relief. By the way, why are you treating this child with special care despite having seen so many heroes?"

Of course, I can’t say that I know from past experiences that Heracles will defeat the Gigantes.

"Looking at the letter Zeus sent... it states that he nursed on Hera’s milk and killed two poisonous snakes immediately after birth." "Poisonous snakes...? How did that happen..." "I suspect Hera sent them. He is an illegitimate child, after all." "Ah..."

The black-haired goddess nodded in understanding. I added a bit more explanation to her, who clicked her tongue at the sight of Heracles.

"The one who brought this child is Iris, the goddess of the rainbow, and Zeus asked me through a letter infused with lightning." "She probably nursed him while Hera was asleep. Her wrath will pierce the heavens." "Right. He may not live an easy life. Filled with the corpses of monsters and human jealousy..."

I turned my gaze toward the child held in the handmaiden's arms.
Heracles was sleeping peacefully, unaware of the events to come.

In truth... the child born deliberately by Zeus for the gods’ victory is none other than Heracles.
It’s certain that from birth he was nourished by Hera’s milk and had the strength to kill poisonous snakes...

But I worry that he may be thrust into a difficult fate. Still, having been immersed in the River Styx, I hope it will aid him in overcoming that fate.

"Uwaah! Waaah!" "No...!" "Ah! Hades! Look away for a moment. He can’t withstand the power of your gaze and is crying!"

At the goddess of the Styx's flustered voice, I hurriedly averted my gaze and looked elsewhere. Had I been staring too intently? Sometimes I make such mistakes...

I can't feed him the food of the Underworld for a month, so I need to find a wet nurse or figure out a way to bring food from the mortal realm.