The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 129: The Fourth Task – Triton’s Conch (2)

Heracles examined the figure that appeared amidst the crashing waves.

The being’s body was covered entirely in scales, and instead of legs, there was something resembling a dolphin’s tail…

From the intense power felt in the blue eyes staring in his direction, he could sense the being’s divine status.

“Lord Triton! That giant looks like a hunter pretending to be Heracles!”

“It's a relief you’re safe. I'll deal with that human myself, so you may leave.”

The nymph just called him Triton, didn’t she? Then that strange creature must be the eldest son of the god of the sea?

‘First, I need to clear up the misunderstanding about trying to abduct the nymph.’

“Are you really Triton, the son of Lord Poseidon?”

“If by Triton who commands the waves, then yes, that is me. With what nerve did you attempt to kidnap a Nereid?”

“I swear by the River Styx, I had no intention of kidnapping the nymph!”

//Serious misunderstandings between Greeks were often resolved more easily than expected.

Swearing by the River Styx was something everyone avoided. Therefore, forcing someone to swear on it was considered an extreme insult.

However, if one was truly innocent, they could prove their innocence with an oath by the River Styx.

“…Is that true? Then you really are Heracles…”

“Yes, that’s right. I’m only here because of the task Lady Hera gave me to retrieve your conch…”

At the mention of an oath by the River Styx, Triton’s demeanor softened, and Heracles used the opportunity to explain the task.

“…I see. So, you say Lady Hera gave you such a task. You must know how important my conch is to me… Are you asking to borrow it for a short while?”

“Once I present it to Lady Hera’s temple, I’ll return it immediately.”

Triton gazed at Heracles with curiosity, pondering for a moment.

“So, it was a misunderstanding. It seems I was in the wrong, and for that, I apologize.”

“……”

“But you really are that Heracles… Hmm.”

“Is there something you want to ask me?”

“I’ve heard that you once fought Lady Megaera, one of the three Furies. Though she may have gone easy on you, your skills must be impressive enough to contend with a god.”

Triton stretched out his hand toward the sea, and the waves responded with a loud crash.

The god standing before Heracles was the son of Poseidon and ruler of the oceans.

“I’d like to see for myself the power of the greatest among human heroes. How about we spar for a few moves?”

Another chance to face a god!

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This too was a challenge, a task, and an ordeal!

“…It would be an honor! Hylas, stand back!”

“Heh. Show me your full strength.”

Heracles grinned fiercely as he grabbed his iron club and charged forward.

* * *

The great hero charged at the god before him with all his might.

//His reliable friend, shock and awe—in other words, his iron club—was swung at Triton.

“…Oh ho!”

A blow aimed at his head.

Triton lightly twisted his body to dodge, but the hero relentlessly pursued him.

The same strength that had overcome the regenerative powers of the Hydra. If he could land hundreds, thousands of blows…!

Whooosh—Boom!

Triton responded to all of Heracles' attacks by dodging, forming water barriers, and even receiving them with his body.

When the hero’s iron club shattered into pieces against the god’s impenetrable flesh, Heracles threw a punch.

Thwack—

The fists of the hero and the god collided in midair, sending shockwaves all around.

Sand scattered in every direction, and the waves crashing toward them exploded in bursts.

They continued their battle without paying attention to their surroundings. A faint smile appeared on Triton’s lips.

At some point, the golden sword at Hercules’ waist leaped into his hand, slashing through the air. Triton’s claws met each strike head-on.

“Oh ho. Not bad. You don’t just rely on brute strength…”

Triton let out a sound of admiration. But Heracles was not satisfied.

What he truly wanted to hear wasn’t admiration but astonishment and acknowledgment.

Triton didn’t seem to be using his full divine power yet, but just once…!

“Hah… How is Lady Megaera so fast? She dodged my final attack…”

“That’s godly power… If you become a god, you’ll understand too…”

Faster. I have to move even faster. Break through the wind, straight to the target.

Even if I don’t have the same divine power, I can still…!

Whooosh—!!

“Hyaaaah!”

With each passing moment, Heracles’ attacks became more intense, and Triton’s eyes gleamed with interest.

In a flash, what appeared in Triton’s vision was Heracles’ fist flying toward his face.

With this, he would surely reach the god.

Just as Heracles’ punch was about to land on Triton’s nose, the smile on the god’s lips deepened.

And then, with an explosive surge of dark blue energy—

—Whooosh!

In an instant, Heracles was flung away, tumbling across the sand.

Despite his body being strengthened by the River Styx, he felt a sharp pain.

Realizing he had been swept away by Triton’s powerful energy right when his punch was about to connect, Heracles spat out the sand that had gotten into his mouth.

As expected of Poseidon’s son. He might not be one of the twelve Olympian gods, but…

Clap. Clap. Clap.

As Heracles stood back up, he saw Triton clapping and watching him.

The god spoke in an excited voice.

“You truly are the hero of prophecy! Among mortals, there is no one who can stand against you. At this level, even he wouldn’t be able to kill you…”

“…Who is ‘he’?”

“If you take care of one little task for me, I’ll lend you my conch.”

“What is the task?”

“My half-brother, the Cyclops Polyphemus, needs a bit of educating!”

Since he said half-brother, it must be another son of the sea god. And Cyclops?

He must be talking about the one-eyed giants known for their great strength.

* * *

Polyphemus.

He was born between the sea god Poseidon and a nymph, a demigod.

Polyphemus originally liked a sea nymph named Galatea and chased after her.

However, Galatea despised Polyphemus… and fell in love with Acis, the son of Pan, the god of nature and herding.

"Ugh… Ughh! I’ll kill you all!"

Boom!

"Ughk!"

"Kyaaah! Polyphemus! Have you lost your mind?!"

Naturally, an enraged Polyphemus ripped a massive boulder from the ground and hurled it at them.

Galatea quickly escaped into the sea and survived, but Acis was crushed to death by the boulder.

Since then, Polyphemus has been throwing rocks at passing ships and living off cannibalism.

As Triton explained this story to Heracles, a bitter expression flickered in his eyes.

“My father, Poseidon, doesn’t really pay much attention to his children. But ever since that rogue died, he’s changed a bit.”

“…?”

“There was a rogue named Halirrhothius. No need to know about him. Anyway, around that time, my father started telling me to keep things in line a bit.”

Heracles had never heard of this Halirrhothius, but it seemed like the sea god could no longer overlook his children's misdeeds?

So Poseidon instructed his eldest son, Triton, to manage his younger siblings…

“Do I just need to stop that Cyclops Polyphemus from eating people?”

“Exactly. And tell him to stop throwing boulders at the ships passing by. Don’t worry about any retaliation from the sea god’s son.”

“I’ve heard that Lord Poseidon cherishes his children greatly.”

“You really don’t need to worry about my father’s wrath. As long as you don’t kill him or blind him, he’ll let it slide.”

Heracles took a deep breath and organized his thoughts.

If he could discipline Polyphemus, the demigod son of Poseidon, and stop him from wreaking havoc, he would be able to borrow Triton’s conch.

But discipline… That brought back memories.

“Aaagh! Teacher Chiron! I was wrong!”

“You still have the energy to speak? That means you’re not reflecting at all.”

“Aaaagh! Please stop hitting me!”

Whack! Whack!

“Hm… So, you caused trouble before you came here? Fine, get down.”

“What? What’s the problem with beating up an annoying guy… Argh!”

“Get down!!!”

No matter how much he thought about it, all he could remember was his teacher, Chiron, disciplining him with a switch.

Of course, no blow could actually hurt him thanks to his body being dipped in the River Styx, so Chiron mostly used words to teach him.

But he wasn’t so lenient with other aspiring heroes.

Chiron’s teaching involved plenty of switches and corporal punishment, strict education on moral character.

Now that he thought about it, if it was at that level, couldn’t he do the same?

If he didn’t listen, he’d just discipline him… Surely, that would work.

As Heracles ponde

red, Triton spoke.

“Have you finished thinking? If you don’t want to face Polyphemus…”

“I’ll do it.”

“Oh. So you’re confident in taking on a Cyclops giant. Very well. I’ll tell you where he lives.”

Heracles listened as Triton, smiling with satisfaction, gave him the location of the island where Polyphemus resided.

He also learned that Polyphemus lived in a cave, herding sheep, and, unlike other Cyclopes, he lived a bit farther away from them.