Chapter 9: It Is Time for Atonement

Date: 2024.07.09

This was the entrance to the Underworld, the place where the dead pass the sentinels of the boundary and head toward the River Acheron.

“Hup.”

Hermes, the Messenger God, stretched as he landed on the ground where a thin mist clung to the floor. Tilting his head, he let out a long “Whew” of a sigh.

“I’ve searched everywhere in the living world, but…”

Hermes had been traveling far and wide in search of Kore. However, no matter how many corners of the mortal realm he turned, there wasn’t a hair of that woman to be seen.

“…Hmm.”

Scratching his back absentmindedly, Hermes narrowed his eyes. Memories of what happened just a few hours ago flickered through his mind.

He had been stomping his feet in frustration after failing to find Kore despite scouring the surface, when he happened to spot her mother, Demeter, in a city to the northwest. Hermes had brightened up instantly.

‘Could it be that Kore already returned to Lady Demeter?’

‘If so, I can arrange a meeting between Lord Hades and Lady Demeter, and Hades can settle the situation by paying proper compensation for the damages…’

…Such were the hopes he had harbored.

“So even you, Hermes, could not find her?”

However, upon descending to Demeter, Hermes found himself in a state of panic.

“The sun chariot has crossed the sky multiple times already, yet that child still hasn’t returned home. What am I to do? What if she is dying somewhere…?”

It was because Kore had not returned to her mother, and even Demeter could not find her daughter. Whether she had been searching day and night, deep shadows had formed under Demeter’s eyes. The vegetation around her—flowers and weeds alike—had long since withered and died.

It was a literal wasteland. Even the mischievous Hermes was nearly swallowed by Demeter’s destructive melancholy.

“I heard there were many nymphs there?”

“Yes. Cyane was there. But she cried so much she turned into water. I can’t communicate with her. It looks like it will take a long time before she returns enough to even speak.”

Hermes saw clearly how her arm, holding a torch, trembled ever so slightly.

“Helios! Did you happen to see Lady Demeter’s daughter?”

Unable to watch any longer, Hermes pointed his finger toward the sky and called for Helios, the Sun God.

…And then, that damn, tactless Sun God glanced down at him and said:

“Wasn’t she kidnapped by the King of the Underworld?”

“……What?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but I saw the King’s chariot through the crack in the cliff where that child fell.”

The guy was spouting such nonsense. And right in front of a mother searching for her missing daughter!

“Hades… I’m going to kill that bastard…!”

“No, Helios saw it wrong! You brat, get down here and explain yourself this instant! You must have seen me talking to Lord Hades!”

“I will not permit a marriage by kidnapping! Even kneeling and slamming his head on the ground in front of me wouldn’t be enough!”

“Aaaaah! Don’t grab my hair, Lady Demeter! I’m not Lord Hades!”

After barely calming Demeter, who was threatening to usurp the throne of the Underworld, Hermes had no choice but to explain everything that had happened between Kore and Hades. It was less for the sake of Hades’ honor and more for the survival of his own lush, precious hair.

Hermes rubbed his still-tingling scalp.

“Honestly. If he ‘isn’t entirely sure,’ why does he keep flapping his jaw… Talking way too much… Maybe I should have just made the first move.”

The Sun God probably babbled on because he wanted to be helpful to the Earth Goddess he was indebted to, but for Hermes, he just wanted to pluck all the hair out of that guy’s head.

“Next time I see him, I’m going to transfer the sun’s fire and turn him bald.”

Having planned the creation of a second sun, Hermes scanned the dead passing over the boundary. He briefly observed their pockets or sleeves to check if they had their passage money, then suddenly pursed his lips.

‘By the way, if I find Kore, who should I take her to first?’

The person who first commissioned the search for Kore was Hades. But the mother of the missing Kore was Demeter. In terms of fairness, he should go to Hades first, but in terms of desperation, there was no reason he couldn’t go to Demeter first.

After a brief struggle, Hermes laughed and raised his arms.

“Ah, whatever! I’ll decide when the time comes!”

First, he had to find Kore to do anything. Worrying about the whereabouts of a woman he hadn’t even found was useless. If it really became a problem, he could just ask Kore herself. Ask her who she wants to go to first.

Humming a tune, Hermes kicked off the ground again. He spotted Hades’ aides just as he was leading the dead like a sheepdog. Wandering the open space between the riverbank and the fortress wall, Hermes’ gaze turned toward Hydra.

‘Why is that girl, who usually lives inside the palace, out here?’

Beside the water snake was Thanatos.

“Hydra? Thanatos?”

Sensing an anomaly, Hermes touched down again. The eyes of Hydra and Thanatos also flew toward the guide of the Underworld.

“Hello, Lord Hermes. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“What is someone who practically lives in the palace office doing out here? What are you doing with Thanatos?”

Hermes opened his arms toward Hydra, then frowned at the bundle of papers that entered his vision. His finger pointed to the sheets.

“What’s that now? Looks like… a list of furniture.”

“It’s a list of things to put in the Bride’s room.”

At Hydra’s innocent voice, Hermes’ pupils froze. He slowly lifted his head.

“……Bride?”

“Ah, normally we should call her Her Majesty the Queen, but since she hasn’t had the wedding with Lord Hades yet, we’re calling her ‘the Bride’ amongst ourselves.”

Hydra scratched her cheek with an embarrassed look. A stunned Hermes blinked in confusion.

“Anyway, Lord Hades is going to renovate the palace for her. Haven’t you heard, Lord Hermes?”

“……Hades is getting married?”

“Uh… it doesn’t seem like things are going perfectly, but it definitely seems like he likes the Bride. We were just about to head out and look for her.”

“…….”

Hermes’ eyes shook violently. What on earth was all this?

‘So you’re saying that right after Lord Hades caused a traffic accident, he’s going straight to a wedding?’

Hermes was a god who had come straight to the Underworld after receiving the request from Hades and meeting Demeter. To him, Hades’ behavior—wanting to hold a wedding in such a chaotic and complicated situation—was bizarre beyond belief.

‘No, does he even have the mind for that? What kind of schedule is this?’

The will to hold a wedding despite the accident showed a madness worthy of the King of the Underworld, who knew no rest. Hermes’ voice turned displeased.

“So, who is this ‘Bride’? Is she a god, a nymph, or heaven forbid, a human? Even I haven’t heard the news that Hades was getting married.”

“Eh, really? I heard she’s Lady Demeter’s daughter?”

Hydra added in a puzzled tone. At that moment, Hermes’ face turned pale white.

‘What kind of nonsense is this?’

Demeter’s daughter is the victim who was hit by Hades’ chariot, and that victim is getting married to the guy who ran her over?

“Wasn’t she kidnapped by the King of the Underworld?”

Then, Helios’s babbling flashed through Hermes’ mind.

“…….”

Dark, ominous imaginations began to spread through his head. Hermes slowly spread his trembling fingers. Each finger, folding one by one from the thumb, was slick with the cold sweat that had seeped out.

‘Fact: Hades intentionally hit Kore with his chariot. So she couldn’t resist.’

‘Fact: Kore, seeing through Hades’ sinister intentions, ran for her life.’

‘Fact: Having narrowly lost Kore, Hades asked Hermes—that is, me—to find her while hiding his true intent.’

‘Fact: Since I am the fastest god in the world, I will find Kore faster than Demeter, Hecate, or the nymphs.’

‘Fact: Thus, I am falling into Hades’ trap without even knowing it…’

If this was all true…

“My god.”

Hermes felt like he should resign from his title as the God of Lies. Hydra, seeing Hermes suddenly looking horrified while counting his fingers, tapped him on the shoulder.

“By any chance, did you see a woman like her on your way? We were searching because we thought she might still be in the Underworld.”

“……About that search.”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Did Lord Hades order it?”

“No, it wasn’t that.”

“Then why are you looking for Kore?”

“……Uh.”

Glancing toward the Acheron, Hydra lowered her head slightly. She whispered in a hushed voice.

“It seems she dislikes the Underworld. I heard she paid Charon with flowers and a bit of grain.”

“…….”

“So we were whispering about how to persuade her—whether to find her and ask what the problem was, or beg her to come back promising to treat her well.”

Hermes smacked his forehead.

‘Lord Hades really has the best luck with subordinates. Fine, I get it.’

“Isn’t this guy a complete lunatic?”

Unconsciously blabbing his inner thoughts, Hermes kicked off the ground. His shoes were headed far away, toward Hades’ palace standing tall on the hill.

The center of the Underworld, Hades’ Palace.

Hades, who was processing work faster than usual, suddenly lifted his head at the scent of the wind.

“Ah, right. Hermes.”

He stood up, acknowledging the Messenger God in front of him.

“…….”

But strangely, no response came from Hermes. Hades tilted his head. Looking around the office, he pulled over a nearby chair and pushed it toward Hermes.

“You look a bit more haggard than when we last parted. Did I ask too much of you?”

Hermes avoided Hades’ eyes. Then, as if he had made a decision, he lifted his gaze directly.

“I have come to declare war on the Master of the Underworld.”

“……What?”

Hades’ eyebrows twitched.

“You know my old, worn-out senses can’t handle your nonsense. If it’s too much trouble, just tell me if you found the child or not.”

“……I think I found her.”

“Really?”

A hint of joy mixed into Hades’ expression. Watching that, Hermes slowly shook his head.

“But I’m not bringing her to you, Lord Hades. I’m more afraid of my hair loss than I am of you.”

“Why all of a sudden? Did that child say she’d pluck all your hair out if you brought her to me?”

“It’s not that, but…”

“Then why the hesitation? Bring her at once. Tell her I’ll just pay the compensation and send her back.”

Hermes squeezed his eyes shut in hesitation, then his expression hardened. He raised his right hand as if taking a solemn oath.

“First, raise your right hand like I am, Lord Hades.”

“Why the right hand all of a sudden?”

“…….”

Opening his eyes again, Hermes stared at Hades in silence. Unable to take it any longer, Hades finally raised his right hand.

“Fine. I’ve raised it.”

“Good. Now, place that right hand over your heart.”

Taking a deep breath, Hermes earnestly pressed his hand against his chest.

“Now, it is time for atonement. From now on, honestly ask yourself the question I am about to pose.”

“…….”

“Have I… recently become a piece of trash who wants to possess a woman even if it means deceiving others?”

Hermes is truly going for it! Would you like the next chapter?