The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 134: The Argo Expedition – (1)

“…Please, grant me your counsel.”

Up to now, Heracles had completed eight of his labors.

The monsters he had slain were too many to count, and his name had spread all across Greece.

Wasn’t that enough to become a god?

Then why couldn’t he still ascend? What was he lacking?

Triton, who watched Heracles bowing his head slightly, lost in complex thoughts,

paused in surprise before suddenly bursting into laughter.

“Ah… Ahahaha! A mortal seeking advice on how to become a god! Ahahaha! You are truly amusing, Heracles!”

“…?”

“A regular mortal would struggle to even become a hero or a king, let alone a god. Keh-heh!”

As a look of confusion crossed Heracles’ face, Triton’s laughter grew louder.

“…Isn’t it natural to look upward?”

“Hahahaha! Right, it seems you’ve already surpassed the usual scope of a hero.”

Triton, who had been laughing for a long time, suddenly stopped and looked at him.

“Are you curious about the difference between gods and mortals, why you haven’t become a god?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Here’s Antaeus, the giant serpent Python who was slain by the sun god, and Ismenios, the dragon son of the god of war.”

Names rolled off the lips of the god who ruled the waves.

“Do you know what these figures have in common?”

“…Despite having gods as parents, they are not divine beings?”

“Correct. Divinity isn’t that simple.”

Heracles listened to him with more focus than ever.

Somehow, the tone felt dizzying, as if secrets of divinity were being revealed. He couldn’t afford to miss a single word!

“Lesser gods who have little impact on the world can be appointed by the great gods. But… you are a bit different.”

“Different? In what way?”

The god spoke.

Waves swirled in his eyes, shaking Heracles’ mind.

Was that his voice? It was like a sound piercing directly into his mind and resonating there.

It didn’t reach him through his ears but seemed to sink into his heart.

Because you, even with a mortal body, can rival gods.

Because you’ve achieved multiple feats that would make anyone a great hero for accomplishing even one.

Because your endurance surpasses that of others.

Because you…

Still need something. Something more…

If you don’t realize it yourself, you will never become a god.

“Ah…”

“Perhaps, you need to mingle more with humans. There’s a mortal named Jason who’s assembling an expedition… Why don’t you join them once this task is over?”

Jason’s expedition…

* * *

Jason (Iason).

The son of Aeson, the former king of Iolcos, who had been ousted by his half-brother Pelias.

Wandering the world, he arrived at a hero’s training Academy in Thebes.

There, he was taught by the wise centaur Chiron, alongside Heracles, Asclepius, and others, and returned to the mortal realm.

He planned to head to the city ruled by Pelias to demand his throne back.

But on his way to Iolcos…

He encountered an old, shabby woman and carried her across a river, losing one of his leather sandals in the process.

“Wait… Look, that man has only one sandal on?”

“If the prophecy is true, that man will claim the throne…”

“Oh, come on. Would King Pelias hand over the throne so easily?”

At that time in Iolcos, Hera’s oracle foretold that a young man wearing only one sandal would seize the throne.

Because of this, Jason was whispered about as he made his way to the palace.

“Hmm. So, you’re the son of Aeson?”

“Yes. I am Jason, prince of Iolcos. I have come to claim the rights that belong to me!”

“Hmm…”

Of course, Pelias did not want to give the throne to Jason.

But Hera’s oracle hung over him, and if he killed Jason, he feared the judgment he would face in the underworld.

Moreover, there were rumors lately that even his half-siblings, Poseidon’s other children, were becoming strangely kind…

‘Hera’s oracle, the watchful gaze of Pluto in the underworld, the strange behavior of my father Poseidon’s other children…’

Pelias thought it might be wiser to simply hand over the throne,

but his desire for power was too strong to relinquish, so he came up with a scheme.

As long as he didn’t kill Jason himself, he’d be in the clear, right?

“Jason. I can give you the throne, but don’t you think you need to prove yourself worthy of ruling this land?”

“Prove myself…?”

“I’ve heard that in the distant land of Colchis, there is a treasure called the Golden Fleece. That Golden Fleece is said to possess the power to restore a nation… Bring it back, and I will gladly pass the throne to you.”

Jason thought that even if he claimed the throne, the people wouldn’t follow him immediately.

As Pelias suggested, he was merely a young man who had proven nothing.

Thus, he agreed willingly to retrieve the Golden Fleece and, stepping out of the palace, cleared his throat.

Jason’s voice echoed in the open square, calling the people to him.

“I am Jason, rightful heir to Iolcos! I seek heroes to accompany me to Colchis in pursuit of the Golden Fleece. Applications will be open until the next Thanatos Day!”

“The Golden Fleece of Colchis? That priceless treasure?”

“If he brings that back, he might truly become king.”

“But I’ve heard a fierce dragon guards it.”

“Isn’t that why he’s gathering heroes for an expedition? Like Orion did in the past.”

“They say the expedition to Mount Athos was a half-failure. Will this one succeed?”

Rumors about Jason’s expedition for the Golden Fleece spread across Greece.

Defeating monsters and retrieving treasures to achieve fame was in a hero’s nature.

Soon, many gathered in Iolcos, each harboring their own ambitions.

* * *

This is Iolcos.

The news that Jason was assembling an expedition drew in a massive crowd, though not everyone could join.

“Attention, everyone! We can’t all board the Argo! So, we’ll be selecting members!”

“The Argo? Is that the name of the ship?”

“I heard a rumor that the goddess Athena herself designed it, and the craftsman Argos built it.”

“But with hundreds of people here, how will he pick the crew?”

“Won’t Jason select them himself? The heroes from Thebes are known to be exceptional, so he’ll probably choose them first.”

At Jason’s call, the crowd buzzed with excitement.

Clearing his throat, Jason began scanning the crowd, selecting crew members one by one.

“I’m from Sparta, and I’m Tri—”

“Rejected. Rumor has it you’ve been going around killing people.”

“Jason, it’s been a while.”

“Oh, Peleus! Come on over. I heard you’ve been busy hunting lately.”

“Orpheus? You’re here too? It wouldn’t hurt to have someone play music on the ship…”

“They say the sirens’ songs are sweet beyond measure. I’m curious if it surpasses my lyre.”

“Hah! Anyone who’s heard your lyre would naturally hold it in higher regard.”

Slowly, Jason’s expedition crew began to take shape.

Among them were Atalanta, renowned as the best archer in Greece despite being a woman, and Meleager, famed as the best spear-thrower.

Various demigods and distinguished heroes were chosen, including the twin brothers, the Dioscuri, sons of Zeus.

“It’s been a long time. I think the last time we saw each other was in Thebes.”

“Jason, I never imagined you’d be assembling an expedition.”

“Tell me about it. He’s always been popular, but leading an expedition…”

After selecting the members based on Jason’s criteria, it turned out that they were all people who had trained in Thebes.

Whether it was due to their connections from Thebes or memories from their time in the underworld, everyone seemed to know one another.

Just as they were about to offer sacrifices to the gods for a smooth voyage and set sail, the dense crowd split in two, clearing a path.

Step, step.

“Wait… that person is…”

“He looks just like the rumors. Look at that build. They say he once beat the Nemean lion with his bare hands…”

“This expedition is as good as guaranteed to succeed now.”

A lion’s hide draped over his head, a golden sword at his waist, a club slung across his back.

But most striking of all was his immense, muscular frame.

There wasn’t a soul in Greece who didn’t know his name.

The great hero performing Hera’s tasks—Heracles.

“Oh, Heracles! We’re lucky to have you. I thought you’d be busy with Lady Hera’s labors!”

“Jason. Long time no see.”

The arrival of Greece’s most famous hero brought some joy, some relief, and, for those worried about being outshone, a touch of envy.

“I hadn’t planned to come, but Lord Triton advised me to.”

“Triton, who calls forth the waves? You met the sea god’s son?”

“He said joining this expedition would help me achieve my goal.”

Everyone here knew Heracles’ goal was to ascend to the heavens as a god.

It was something he’d often mentioned during their time training in the underworld.

“Are you okay with this? My participation might overshadow your accomplishments.”

A comment that might sound provocative to some.

But when it’s Heracles saying it, it takes on a different meaning. He was simply speaking the truth.

Jason’s expedition could risk being overshadowed by Heracles’ reputation.

Yet Jason, with a broad smile, clapped Heracles on the back.

“Hahaha! You’re worried about me? We’re each on our own paths, so it’s fine!”

“Different paths?”

“Yeah, your goal is to become a god. Mine is to become the king of Iolcos.”

Even in the underworld… Jason had always been the same.

His ambition wasn’t to become a hero, but to reclaim the throne of Iolcos.

“Is that so? For what it’s worth, I don’t plan to stand out. I wouldn’t want to steal all the glory from you all.”

“Oh, that’s news that’ll make the other heroes happy! Haha!”

Heracles looked at the man before him, whose confidence bordered on

 recklessness.

How this journey would end, he didn’t know, but meeting an old friend was a pleasure.

“Hahaha! Heracles, let’s spar again sometime!”

“Before I ascend to Olympus, I’ll give you a taste of my strength here on earth, so prepare yourself!”

“Enough with the grandstanding! Get on board already!”

“Hey, Heracles! Gained some glory, and now you’re brimming with dignity, huh? Hehe!”

One by one, the other heroes welcomed Heracles, who, with a faint smile, boarded the Argo.

The Argonauts. Set sail.