Became the Weapon Monopolist of the Gods-Chapter 56: Hydra of Lerna (1)

The task has changed.”

That was Heracles’ first remark when he visited the statue of all things early in the morning.

I could tell that Moira had granted my request.

However, the subject of the change was still Heracles, and the condition was that only those without the “thread of fate” could assist, but still, that was a limitation.

I already knew this, but to confirm, I asked again.

“Are you saying the task has changed?”

“Dreams came to me and delivered my father's will.”

“Oneiroi, I suppose.”

“Yes.”

The ‘dreams’ that Heracles referred to were the gods of dreams, Oneiroi, who conveyed Zeus’ will through dreams.

The Oneiroi, beings who were dreams themselves, were often used by Zeus to convey his will.

‘Though they were more often used to sow discord than to deliver messages.’

Zeus had used dreams to manipulate humans. It was through dreams that the Greek coalition army made a wrong decision during the Trojan War, due to Zeus’ meddling.

The Oneiroi were nothing more than Zeus’ personal messengers.

The official messengers of Olympus had their own separate existence.

That ‘official messenger’ had visited Mycenae that morning.

Chirp, chirp─ chirp, chirp─

The birds chirped, and Helios’ chariot heralded the beginning of the day in Mycenae.

The golden roof of the royal palace sparkled under the sunlight.

The large garden was filled with fragrant flowers.

The royal guards stood with heavy spears in various locations, and officials hurriedly passed through the corridors.

At that moment.

Whoosh─

A strong gust of wind blew from the sky.

In the humid air, the sudden breeze swept through the palace, and people instinctively looked up at the sky.

There, a boy was floating, his back to the sun.

The boy wore a golden hat adorned with feather decorations.

In his hand was a staff entwined with two snakes, and his feet were adorned with winged sandals.

Every time the sandals cut through the air, fine light traces were left behind.

The boy descended lightly, as if walking {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} through the air.

The officials and guards of the royal palace gazed up at the sight, mesmerized.

I, too, stood among the officials and looked at the boy.

─────

When the boy’s feet touched the ground, the surrounding air seemed to lighten.

A soft breeze rustled the leaves, and the birds sang.

It felt as if the entire space was welcoming the boy’s presence.

As the boy stood on the ground, he surveyed his surroundings.

His mischievous golden eyes glinted as they caught the sunlight.

Though his eyes were playful, they definitely did not hold the gaze of a ‘human.’

It was natural.

The boy was not human, but a god.

As the boy scanned the surroundings, his gaze finally settled on me.

His golden eyes curved, and his lips twitched.

─It’s you.

The wind whispered in my ear.

─The one who twisted Zeus' will.

“......”

I didn’t answer.

Even if I didn’t respond, the boy already knew the answer.

The boy smiled lightly and withdrew his gaze from me.

At the same time, his lips parted.

“The King of Mycenae, Eurystheus, must uphold the will of Olympus.”

The boy’s voice flowed like a gentle breeze but carried a deep resonance.

“I, Hermes, the messenger of the gods, have come to deliver Zeus’ will.”

The messenger of the gods.

The one who conveyed the will of Olympus.

The voice of Hermes, the god of travelers, resonated in waves throughout the Mycenae palace.

Eurystheus, the king of Mycenae, rushed out and kneeled before Hermes.

“E-Eurystheus will uphold the will of Olympus.”

Perhaps in a rush after waking up, Eurystheus looked disheveled.

“Where is Heracles?”

“He is here.”

Heracles boldly stepped forward and stood before Hermes.

He appeared calm, as if he had already predicted the situation.

Hermes smiled at Heracles and spoke.

“I shall deliver Zeus’ will.”

Whoosh─

The staff, Caduceus, entwined with two snakes, struck the ground.

“The contents of Heracles’ task have changed.”

Fate began to move.

The message delivered by Hermes was simple.

A helper could now participate in Heracles’ 12 Labors.

However, this help could only come from those who were not bound by the laws of fate, and the task must remain Heracles’ to carry out.

However, if Heracles deemed a situation to be ‘inevitable,’ the helper would not be allowed to interfere.

‘Is this a regulation for Iolaus?’

Heracles involved his nephew Iolaus in the hunt for the Hydra.

It was Heracles’ history, a fate set by Moirae, that could never be changed.

Eurystheus, after hearing Hermes’ words, asked.

“Do you mean someone who is not bound by the laws of fate?”

“Yes.”

Eurystheus looked confused.

It was understandable, as even the gods could not escape the laws of fate.

In essence, it meant no one would be able to help.

It was a clause with no clear reason for change.

But Hermes did not explain this to the confused Eurystheus and disappeared.

He flew away into the sky, just as he had arrived.

‘He’s covered in artifacts.’

That was my impression of Hermes.

That afternoon, after Hermes delivered the news of the changed task, Heracles prepared to depart for the Lerna Swamp.

Heracles, however, looked different.

Where his usual bare chest once was, he now wore the pelt of a lion that Vanesha had tailored for him. A bow and sword were strapped to his back.

“How does it look?”

“It suits you well.”

With the lion pelt, he now resembled the Heracles I knew.

The Nemean Lion’s pelt was, after all, Heracles’ symbol.

“Eun-gong, we will meet in the swamp.”

“Seo-jun, I will see you later.”

Vanesha and Jeanne greeted me before disappearing.

As they were on a timed schedule, they had to make the most of their time.

“Let’s go, Heracles.”

“Let’s.”

Heracles and I left the statue of all things together.

We headed from the southern city of Argos, Mycenae, to the Lerna Swamp, where the Hydra awaited.

By the time we arrived at the swamp, it was already late at night, and the sky was covered in darkness.

The atmosphere of the forest, cloaked in shadows, was chilling. The sounds of beasts could be heard from somewhere.

However, I had no intention of turning back.

“Let’s scout first.”

“Scout?”

“I’ve heard the Hydra is nocturnal. It will be best to find it under the cover of night.”

“That’s a good point.”

Heracles agreed.

To hunt the Hydra, it was important to gather detailed information first.

It was the perfect time to find a creature that slept during the day and moved at night.

I also called out to Vanesha and Jeanne for precaution. I informed them of my plan.

“Hmmm, you mean we’re going to check it out secretly?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Eun-gong, please hold my hand.”

Vanesha extended her hand.

“?”

I, puzzled, carefully took Vanesha’s hand.

The moment her soft touch reached my fingertips, Vanesha tightly grasped my hand.

For a moment, I was surprised.

“Huh?”

A strange sensation flooded me.

It was as if—

I had disappeared.

No breath, no warmth, no air...

My very existence had blurred.

I stared at Vanesha with wide eyes, and she smiled at me.

“You can share abilities when you touch.”

“Oh, I see.”

I had never experienced anything like this before, so it was new to me.

Though a little awkward, since I wasn’t sure if it was necessary to interlock hands.

“Jeanne, please hold my hand.”

Vanesha extended her remaining left hand toward Jeanne.

Jeanne looked displeased but reluctantly took Vanesha’s hand.

“Once you’re ready, let’s go.”

“Understood.”

With our hands held, we moved toward the Lerna Swamp, where the Hydra awaited.

The forest, difficult to distinguish from the surrounding darkness, was eerily silent. There were no animal sounds, not even the hum of insects.

It was as if the entire forest had fallen into silence.

“Eun-gong, watch your step. There’s a rock ahead.”

“Yes.”

With the limited visibility, I relied on Vanesha as we moved forward.

How long had we been walking?

Heracles suddenly stopped.

“We’re at the swamp.”

The thick fog had spread beneath our feet. The Lerna Swamp lay beyond it.

The deep darkness of the Lerna Swamp.

Only the faint, blue moonlight reflected off the decaying trees of the swamp.

“Eun-gong.”

Suddenly, Vanesha tightened her grip on my hand.

She was staring intently at the swamp with narrowed eyes.

As if something were there.

And then.

Bubbling─

Strange bubbles rose from the water where Vanesha had been staring.

The thick fog seemed to writhe as the swamp shuddered.

Swish, swish.

There was a sound of movement from within the water.

Dark blue water splashed as a massive shape slowly emerged.

One, two, the heads of enormous serpents shot up.

It was a creature with twelve heads.

“Grrrrr...”

The heads twisted and snarled, each seemingly with its own will, moving in different directions.

Twelve pairs of glowing red eyes burned ominously in the darkness.

From its wide, gaping maw, a deadly venomous scent slowly wafted.

It wasn’t just any beast.

It was an immortal creature that transcended death.

Even if one head was cut off, two would grow in its place.

The immortal monster unleashed by Typhon, the storm god, and Echidna, the mother of all monsters.

It was the Hydra.

Ssshh─, ssshh─.

The swamp’s surface rippled as the Hydra’s body slowly moved forward.

As it moved, the fog of the swamp thickened.

I swallowed nervously.

‘This is beyond imagination.’

Its breath, its blood, its saliva, its very body.

Everything about the Hydra was poison.

This wasn’t something that could be solved by simply setting a fire.

And so, we finished our reconnaissance of the Hydra.

When we left the swamp, Heracles spoke.

“I will bring my nephew.”

“...Are you planning to fight that monster?”

“It’ll be fine.”

Heracles didn’t waver even after seeing the Hydra. He trusted his nephew completely.

I understood why when I saw Heracles’ nephew.

“I greet you, Heracles.”

A massive build, a muscular body.

There, another Heracles stood.