The King of the Underworld is Tired

Chapter 142: The Story of Orpheus – (1)

Orpheus.

He was born between Calliope, the eldest of the Muses, and Oeagrus, the king of Thrace. A demigod.

Recognizing his musical talent, Apollo himself taught him how to play the lyre.

He was considered to possess heroic qualities solely through his music and was admitted to the hero training Academy of the Underworld.

On the Argo, he subdued the Sirens' singing with his lyre and even calmed storms.

Renowned as Greece’s greatest musician, he married Eurydice, one of the Dryad nymphs.

But unfortunately, while Orpheus was away on the Argonauts’ expedition, his wife…

"Excuse me. Might you be a nymph…?"

"Eek?! Don’t come any closer!"

"Wait a moment…"

Snap.

“Kyaaa!”

Aristaeus, the god of farming, rural life, and beekeeping, tried approaching her to speak.

But she mistook his approach for something malicious, fled, and was bitten by a venomous snake, dying as a result.

How many times had beautiful nymphs been victimized by male gods?

But in truth, Aristaeus had no ill intent and felt only bitterness over the misunderstanding.

Upon returning from his expedition, Orpheus found his wife’s corpse and broke down in tears on the spot.

“Eurydice! Eurydice! I will bring you back, no matter what!”

Resolving to go to the Underworld, Orpheus discovered the path through Thebes was blocked…

So he had to find another way to descend to the Underworld.

Taking only his lyre, Orpheus set off and, guided by his musical talent, asked for directions until he reached the entrance to the Underworld.

A path descending into unmistakable darkness.

“Hoo…”

There was no guarantee that he could save his wife by going there.

Nor was there any assurance that the god of the Underworld would take mercy on his skill and revive his wife.

For a living mortal to enter the Underworld—such a journey would surely end in death.

The chances of retrieving Eurydice and returning alive were slim.

But Orpheus didn’t care.

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Standing at the threshold to the Underworld, he checked the strings of his lyre one last time.

Drawing upon the grief he felt at witnessing Eurydice's death, he began to play slowly.

♬♪~♩

More deeply than when he calmed the storm, more intensely than when he defeated the Sirens…

If this was not the best performance of his life,

He would never be able to bring Eurydice back.

* * *

Orpheus closed his eyes and moved forward.

Even without sight, it didn’t matter. His music was guiding him toward his goal.

~ ♪♩

The mournful sound of his lyre… caused the stones in his path to move aside.

The aura of the Underworld, which could chill the living to death, could not penetrate his music-guarded body.

In the pitch-black darkness where he could not see an inch ahead,

Only the clear sound of Orpheus's lyre resonated…

The first river of the Underworld, Acheron.

The ferryman Charon looked at the mad mortal entering while strumming a lyre and scoffed.

But the melody Orpheus played soothed and healed Charon's wearied soul from years of ferrying the dead.

The aching notes seemed to convey the pain of humankind, and Orpheus’s closed eyes and tears added to the emotion.

Charon, who had ferried souls across the river for countless ages,

For once, felt his heart waver.

“Please, take me across… Charon.”

“…Just this once, mortal.”

Charon, who never allowed the living to pass, motioned for him to board.

~ ♪

“Ugh… Mother… I’m sorry.”

“Sniff. Damn it. What is it about that lyre?”

“Sigh…”

As he played his lyre, tears welled up in the eyes of Charon and the other souls crossing the Acheron with him.

In an instant, the boat was filled with weeping, and the mournful cries of the dead echoed over the river.

The second river of the Underworld, Cocytus.

The river of lamentation was, as its reputation held, frigid enough to deter even the disembodied souls.

In the waters of Cocytus, one's past is reflected…

“Hahaha! You are truly beautiful. Now we will be together forever…”

“Of course. Even among the nymphs, I…”

There, Orpheus saw the moment he married Eurydice.

The knife-like pain tore through his heart, and without hesitation, he crossed the river of Cocytus.

The Third River of the Underworld, Phlegethon.

This river of fire, said to purify souls by burning them, looked truly scorching.

Would he be consumed the moment he stepped into it?

Its flames seemed capable of incinerating his body instantly.

But…

It could not be hotter than the fire burning in his heart from losing his wife.

The Fourth River of the Underworld, Lethe.

The infamous river that erases memories of the living world.

However, Orpheus, playing his lyre, leapt in without hesitation.

As long as he could keep the memories of his time with his wife, that was enough. His sole wish was to bring Eurydice back to life.

An intense determination. A clear purpose. A blazing will. His lyre supported all of it.

The hero, who had ventured into the Underworld solely to retrieve his wife, possessed an unbreakable resolve.

Yes, even the waters of Lethe couldn’t erase his memories.

~♩

Crossing the final river, Styx, he advanced toward Hades’ fortress.

Accompanied by the souls shedding tears at the sound of his lyre, he finally encountered Cerberus, the hound guarding the gates of the Underworld.

“Grrrr…”

Cerberus, about to tear the living human to pieces, halted and growled.

This was the first time the beast had experienced an emotion like sorrow, and it subdued his ferocity.

In addition… Cerberus was confused.

Having crossed the rivers of the Underworld alone, Orpheus's soul had changed significantly since the start.

Just as Heracles had raised his status by earning worship and completing great feats,

Orpheus, overcoming insurmountable trials with only the power of music, was growing stronger.

With his status as a demigod elevated, Cerberus, now unsure, eventually stepped aside to let him pass.

* * *

Thus, Orpheus arrived before Hades, ruler of the Underworld.

Beside the god on his throne, a beautiful blonde goddess was shedding tears at the sound of Orpheus's lyre, yet the dark-haired god himself remained unmoved.

Was it possible that even Orpheus's most powerful performance could not sway the lord of the Underworld?

Stopping his lyre, Orpheus urgently knelt and cried out.

“Lord of the Underworld! I am Orpheus, a lowly mortal. I beg you, please, bring my wife Eurydice back to life!”

A moment of silence passed, and then the god who ruled the Underworld spoke.

“Bring the dead back to life? You came to the Underworld relying only on your musical skill?”

“…I beg you, please!”

“There is a precedent with Tantalus. If her death was truly unjust, I may consider it. Wait here.”

With a wave of Pluto’s hand, an attendant approached and exited the room.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the attendant returned and whispered something into the god’s ear.

“Your wife, the nymph Eurydice, died by accident, bitten by a venomous snake. While it is a rather tragic event… it presents no particular issue.”

“W-what?”

“As a reward for reaching the Underworld unaided as a mortal and facing me, I won’t take your life. Now, return, hero of music.”

At Pluto's merciless words, which showed no trace of mercy, Orpheus felt his heart break.

No, after all, Pluto was also the ruler of the Underworld… But he couldn’t give up like this.

He had to bring Eurydice back, no matter what.

What was the point of leaving the Underworld alone? If he couldn’t take her with him, he would rather die here…

“Please. I beg you!”

“You must think reviving a nymph is trivial for me. That must be why you came to the Underworld.”

“……”

“You’re right; it’s not difficult. But precisely because of that, I cannot bring her back.”

“Why…?”

“If I were to resurrect the dead at will, the boundary between the living and the dead would collapse. This is directly tied to the balance of the world. Unless it is a deeply unjust or horrifying death, like in the case of Tantalus… I cannot do it, even if Zeus himself asked.”

Orpheus looked up at the king of the Underworld.

The blonde goddess beside the throne seemed to want to support him, but she said nothing.

No one would dare to infringe upon Pluto’s authority as ruler of the Underworld.

Still, he could not give up…

Even if he risked Pluto’s wrath and ended up in Tartarus, he would bring Eurydice back…!

“Just once… please listen to my music.”

“Hm?”

“I shall play a performance that will touch even your heart! Please, bring Eurydice back to life!”

Gritting his teeth, the grieving husband raised his lyre once more.