The King of the Underworld had given Thaumas seven days.
This was the first night.
With Nightfall's help, Thaumas and Athena arrived in the Underworld.
That night, Thaumas did nothing, merely wandering around Hell Gate and the Styx River.
Athena silently kept him company without disturbing him. She believed the hero would bring about a miracle.
Thaumas carefully observed the surroundings of the Styx River and Hell Gate. Sure enough, the place was as desolate as the legends claimed, devoid of any life from the mortal world.
There were only strange, pitch-black "creatures." Who had designed this environment, anyway? It was truly terrible.
And so, the second day arrived.
Thaumas went to see Cerberus.
"What do you want again?"
"Get lost! I don't want to see you!"
"Aren't you supposed to be atoning for the King of the Underworld? Why are you still here?"
Cerberus's three heads spoke in turn.
"I came to ask for your help. And didn't I say I'd spread the story of your loving relationship? This is a perfect opportunity. Don't you really want to have three times as many Honey Cakes?"
Thaumas smiled. Anyone who knew him understood that he was about to begin his eloquent persuasion.
"Hm? Let's hear it."
"I'm not listening!"
"Righty, shut up! Go on, sir. If you can do it, we'll definitely help."
The heads that wanted to listen won two to one.
"Since Hell Gate has been destroyed these past few days, Cerberus, I need you to guard this place. Don't let a single soul pass through. Make them all stay here.
"If they ask why, tell them Hell Gate was damaged and is being repaired, so passage is forbidden for now. Don't let anyone through.
"If they toss you Honey Cakes, don't let them pass even if it's one cake. This will also help spread the story of your loving relationship.
"I believe that for the sake of earning three Honey Cakes every day in the future, you'll be willing to give up this one.
"Do you understand?"
Thaumas spoke sternly.
"Why?"
"I don't understand. It's too complicated!"
"If that's the case, why should we stop them for you? As long as they have three Honey Cakes, we can let them through."
Hearing this, Thaumas gained a little more respect for the intelligence of the middle head.
"That's true, but have you considered that these souls only have one honey cake each? They didn't bring more because they believed the old legends.
"If you want to tell those who come later about the requirement of three Honey Cakes, you need to do something famous—something even the gods will remember. After all, the gods will help us spread these stories to the mortal world!" Thaumas patiently explained.
"I see. Then I agree!"
"I don't understand. I'll follow you two."
"I'll stop every soul. The rest is up to you, Thaumas. I'll take a gamble with you. If it fails, I'll just find another job! But if it succeeds, it'll mean triple pay! I'm in!"
After discussing it, Cerberus's three heads all nodded in agreement.
Thus,
Thaumas hurried to the next location.
On the banks of the Styx River,
"Mr. Charon, these gems are worth a million gold coins. They are all payment for passage.
"Over the next six days, including today, please send every soul across the river without exception. I'll cover their passage fees."
Thaumas took out a bag of gems and handed it to Charon.
"Oh! Oh! Oh! What's gotten into you, sir? This is far too much, far too much!"
Though Charon said that, his grip was tighter than anyone's, as though he wanted to weld the bag to his hand.
"It's fine. The extra is compensation for your hard work, Mr. Charon. Please, I'm counting on you!" Thaumas bowed.
After Charon solemnly swore his promise, the old man, who looked utterly ingratiating, respectfully saw Thaumas off.
Once Thaumas left, Charon was serious for once, continuously ferrying the souls of the dead to the other side, though he had no idea what Thaumas intended to do.
But Charon knew Thaumas was a thoughtful child. He could tell from their previous conversation on the boat. Charon believed Thaumas would not do anything pointless, and he even began to look forward to it.
What would this human, blessed by so many goddesses—even Nyx, Charon's mother—bring to this dark Underworld?
After that, Thaumas quietly waited for three days.
During that time, Thaumas asked Nyx to go have a talk with Hades. Believing Thaumas had been bullied, Nyx gladly went and promised she would have a very thorough chat with him.
Well, Thaumas absolutely did not have any desire for revenge.
On the fifth day,
Hell Gate was already crowded with souls, far beyond Thaumas's expectations.
Thus,
Thaumas jumped onto the remains of Hell Gate and shouted:
"Souls of dead humans! Hear me out! I am the culprit who gathered you all here! I am also the true criminal who destroyed Hell Gate!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an uproar broke out among the crowd. Some cried out in misery and complained bitterly, while some even wanted to rush up and beat him to death. But Cerberus let out a savage howl, and no soul dared make another sound.
"Most of you were sent here by Mr. Charon. Homeless evildoers make up the majority! Only a small number of you are kind people."
Thaumas delivered his conclusion in a single sentence. From his conversation with Charon aboard the boat, he had already learned what sort of people wandered on the other side of the river.
"So, you are guilty!
"I destroyed Hell Gate, so I am guilty as well.
"And now, you have a chance to atone for your sins! If you are lucky, the King of the Underworld may even lessen your punishments!
"Those who committed the most heinous crimes would originally have their souls annihilated, yet now you have a chance to survive!
"Those burdened by grave sins may also have a chance to lessen their crimes.
"Those with only minor faults may even be directly forgiven.
"And as for those kind and virtuous people, I beg you to grant me your precious kindness once more and help me through this crisis!"
Thaumas shouted these words.
He
was going to hold a repentance,
a repentance of sin and punishment,
a repentance of turning over a new leaf and promoting virtue!
He would use this repentance to cleanse the filth that had accumulated upon Hell Gate over countless millennia!
After he finished speaking, the souls began chattering among themselves. In their hearts, they all hoped the Underworld gods would punish them less severely. If they could be forgiven by the King of the Underworld, that would naturally be the greatest fortune.
There was no doubt that they were deeply interested. That was simply human nature.
Driven by profit, drawn by profit.
"Two days from now, the King of the Underworld will come here. Then, an opportunity that comes once in a thousand years will appear! Those willing to help me, or willing to seize this opportunity, sit where you are and prepare to repent with me!" Thaumas shouted.
After he spoke, no one moved. They feared Cerberus.
Thaumas did not move either. He simply stood there, standing and standing. He believed human kindness would answer his call, and human evil would answer its own desires.
Soon, someone left. And when others saw someone leave, the herd mentality naturally led some of them away as well.
Thaumas was not discouraged, because he would not force anyone.
For example, the souls stranded on the other side of the river—Thaumas had already helped them take the first step. If even they did not believe him, why would Thaumas continue helping them?
Good advice could not save those determined to die.
Although Thaumas could not let go of his urge to help others, he would help people only if they were willing to accept that help, rather than accepting it while gossiping behind his back.
He wanted to help people, but that did not mean he wanted to humiliate himself. He was not a saint. He was only human.
Where some left, others remained. Slowly, more and more of those standing sat down.
Like followers gathering around a seeker of the Way, more and more people were drawn to him and sat down. They simply sat there.
Just as water always flowed into low places, a group of seated people gathered around Hell Gate.
Among them were souls who were purely kind and only wished to help, souls guilty of heinous crimes who merely wanted lighter punishment, and ordinary people swept along by the crowd.
All kinds of people gathered here.
It was like a small reflection of human society.
The number of souls was already immense, yet it continued to grow. Cerberus and Charon were working hard.
Over those two days, Thaumas gave the gathered souls simple instructions and quietly informed those who had sat down.
Then, after the night of the seventh day had passed,
though the Underworld had no night. It was always rather dark.
Hades, accompanied by Nyx,
arrived!
"So, where is your atonement? I heard you wanted to give the Underworld a form of life? A flower, perhaps? Since you have obtained Demeter's power, take it out!"
Hades nodded. After seeing the glimmer of green within Thaumas's Bracelet, he understood "everything" and spoke with a measure of approval.
The King of the Underworld rarely received gifts. Even someone as cold and indifferent as him felt somewhat pleased, for the gods truly loved humanity.
Besides, Hades was not wrong. That had indeed been what Thaumas originally intended to do.
But fortunately, wisdom had advised him otherwise. If not, he would have missed the miracle that was about to unfold!
"Lord Hades, please do not be impatient. The gift I am giving you is not a flower from the mortal world," Thaumas said.
"Hm? Then what is it?" Hades admitted that he was now curious.
"Hm? Child, what gift are you giving Hades? Is there one for me too?" Nyx interjected.
"The King of the Underworld will know soon enough, and Goddess Nyx may watch as well! But I'm sorry, this gift is for the King of the Underworld," Thaumas explained.
"What? You didn't even prepare a gift for Mother! Fine, I'll forgive you this time, but you must remember to prepare one next time!" Nyx gently stroked Thaumas's head.
"Yes! I definitely will, Goddess Nyx. I'll remember!" Thaumas said.
"Then let us begin, and witness this beautiful miracle together!
"Honored Lord Hades, King of the Underworld! I shall present you with a Miracle Flower, and also a Repentance Flower!
"This is an offering from me, and from every human soul present here, to the King of the Underworld!
"Please accept it!"
Before you continue