Chapter 162
“What’s wrong with you now?”
Everyone seemed to be happy that they are now able to escape this place, but the little girl called Sinya alone seemed somewhat devastated.
“Sinya, what’s wrong?”
“Are you hurt?”
“Hm? No. Ah, where did Atlas go?”
“He went up the treetop to pick the golden apple!”
“I see. Then we should be back to work until Atlas comes back. We cannot rest.”
“Why? If Atlas comes back with an apple, we don’t need to water the tree anymore, do we?”
“That’s too bad for Genus’ tree who had been keeping the apple for us all this time. We must take care of it until it grows up safe and sound.”
“Ah, right.”
“That’s right. Good call, Sinya.”
“Alright. Let’s get back to work.”
The children walked away in threes and fives, nodding their heads.
Only when all the children around them had walked away to the distance did Sinya rise from where she collapsed and stood before Hades.
Sinya asked with her hands trembling. “Why, why are you holding this for him?”
“What?”
“Why are you taking Atlas’ punishment in his stead?”
“No, I’m not taking his punishment. I’m holding this up just until he comes back with that golden apple or whatever.”
Though Hades spoke with the softest expression in order to soothe Sinya, she started trembling even stronger.
“Atlas had wished for his punishment to be over for the longest time. Do you think he would be willing to come back and lift back up Mundus without a fight? Why have you done such a thing for children who has nothing to do with you?”
“What are you talking about, are you saying that he will not come back?”
“No, he will come back but he won’t take back his punishment.”
Hades winced.
This child named Sinya seemed to be very wary against Atas for some reason but Hades could not see the reason why.
“Are you about to say that kid has deceived me just because he doesn’t want to lift this up anymore? That it’s a lie that you would grow up if you eat that apple or pear or whatever?”
“No, that is not a lie.”
“Then what’s the problem? It would be a matter of time for you to all grow up when that kid brings the apple back, you could all wait together to enter that portal, no? Are you perhaps worried that that kid may not take this back because he doesn’t want to endure that time?”
Hades himself did not know either just how long it would take for the golden apple to be planted and raised and yield fruit as many as the children here.
If Atlas were to decide to change his mind because he didn’t want to continue the punishment of holding up Mundus as Sinya was worried about, that would be slightly troubling, but…
‘Though they have lived for a long time, it seems that these children’s mind is as young as their bodies.’
Though he seemed more mature than the other children, Atlas may throw tantrums and say that he never ever wants to hold up Mundus again just as Sinya was worried about.
If so, Hades would have to threaten Atlas, as much as he didn’t feel like doing so.
It was only his two arms that he couldn’t use, there were no limitations to him using his abilities.
Hades asked Sinya, thinking it isn’t a big deal, “The kid is a wind elementalist. He could have thought of a way to save himself alone but he had been holding this up all his life for the sake of you kids, right? and you do not trust him?”
“For our sake? That’s not true.” Sinya shook her head sternly.
“None of the children here have harmed their parents out of their own accord.”
“I know. It’s that lizard’s specialty to punish people for sins that shouldn’t even count as sins.”
“But Atlas is the only exception. He has strangled his mother and father, the ones who birthed and raised him, to death.”
“What?”
“And so, he was punished to hold up Mundus. Do you think he didn’t put down Mundus because children would be crushed to death? The moment Mundus hits the ground, Atlas will perish. Because he has carried out the punishment given to him by father.”
“Wait, so…”
“I’m saying that all the children here can reach Mundus safe and sound as long as their body grows, but not Atlas. He was not promised the end of punishment.”
Hades’ eyes narrowed.
So Atlas was not holding up Mundus all his life worried that the children may be crushed to death.
Holding this up itself was a punishment for him. He was holding this up all this time because he would perish the moment Mundus hit the ground.
“Wait. Let me… think.”
Recalling Atlas’ innocent gaze, Hades closed his eyes shut and let out a long sigh.
Well, such was the consequences of doing something out of character.
‘But ignoring these kids and just passing by would also be…’
Hades froze while looking into Sinya’s face without much thought.
-Yes, it’s the first time we saw a grown-up. Children, maybe, but grown-ups don’t usually pass through here to get to Mundus.
If what he said casually was indeed true…
Perhaps it was that cunning lizard god’s plan that Hades got here after passing through Shesep’s first gate.
Abel was the first weakness of Hades, who had lived a life as a cold-blooded tearless man.
It was an unavoidable truth seeing how he had come to hell in order to save Aisha and to an extent, Abel.
It must be because he saw Abel in these children, that he felt for these children who he would originally have passed by coldly.
Indeed, he would be going through quite some trouble before reaching Gaionia if events like these kept happening.
‘That slimy cunning punk.’
Hades swore at Gaionia with his face crumpled inside his head. He continued to talk to Sinya, who still looked devastated.
“I understand what you mean. But there is no need to worry. I may have my two arms stuck here but I have enough strength in me to threaten that young thing’s life.”
“…”
“I said it’s really fine. He’s been holding this thing up his whole life just because he doesn’t want to perish, hasn’t he? Someone who fears death could be threatened with death. If he really deceived me, I can burn his head off when he comes back me. So don’t you worry.”
If Sinya’s words were right, Atlas’ goal was to keep Hades holding up Mundus.
Because Atlas himself would perish if Mundus hit the ground.
But Hades had the ability to burn him alive the moment Atlas was within his field of vision.
Since he was someone who had up Mundus all his life not wanting to die, in the end, won’t he take this back in order to live?
“Okay…”
But Sinya didn’t seem to trust Hades’ abilities. She nodded with an expression that clearly didn’t look okay.
The child stared at Hades with a heartfelt look on her face for some reason for quite some time, then slowly stepped by his side and got seated.
“You know, if things don’t work out as planned,”
“…”
“Put Mundus down and don’t look back. You came here because you have something to do, didn’t you?”
“What?”
“Even if you feel sorry for the children, don’t let your heart weaken. You have no time to waste here.”
“Enough.”
Just why,
Why was it that there were so many people around Hades who could so calmly about their deaths… Hades could not understand.
He looked down at Sinya seated beside him aloofly and spoke.
“Nothing doesn’t work out as I’ve planned. You won’t be crushed here either.”
“Okay…”
Sinya gave a short reply and kept silent again for a long time.
As the silence continued throughout the tedious wait for Atlas, Hades asked after a quiet musing.
“Why are you being punished here?”
“Hm…”
Sinya hesitated a little but answered. “A very long time ago, I ended up dying earlier than my parents. I thought that my parents would live happily with my older brother even without me but that didn’t seem to be the case.”
“…”
“Mother must have been so sad that I died. She apparently coughed blood and died while lamenting for me.”
“And that…”
…is her sin? Making her parents die of sorrow?
Hades bit down his lips firmly, holding back curses escaping between them right away.
And after that, the two of them kept silent as if they promised to do so.
More time passed and children’s cheer was heard under the tree in the distance.
Atlas came back.
Because of Sinya’s words, Hades greeted him very tensely.
But contrary to his expectations, Atlas came running with an apologetic look on his face.
“Haa, ha… Bro! You must have been exhausted!”
“…”
Staring at Atlas evening out his breath as he leaned over his knees, Hades replied.
“It’s fine. Did you bring the golden apple or whatever?”
“Of course I have!”
Atlas smiled, taking out the apple from his inner pocket.
“It’s not golden though.”
Atlas gave a smile holding a red apple.
“What the.”
Without a moment to even panic, Sinya shot up from her seat to charge at Atlas.
Then she shouted as she held Atlas by the collar with her tiny body.
“You bastard!”
“Ohh, Sinya. Long time no see.”
“You evil! Punk!”
The children gathered around the two looked baffled seeing Sinya and Atlas fighting.
“Come now, what’s wrong?”
Sinya thew her small fists at Atlas’ chest as he tilted his head down with a brazen expression.
Smirking at the wobbling little movements, Atlas flung Sinya off with slight mana added to his hand.
“Ack!”
The sharp wind made a scratch on Sinya’s stomach like a blade and threw her across the dry land.
Hades was about to move towards Sinya and froze. He couldn’t do anything while holding up Mundus.
“You filthy dog…”
All he could do was spit out curses at Atlas as he gave a mocking grin.