Mineta Prime Part 2

Mineta was drifting in the darkness. He was dead. Izuku Midoriya had killed him.

Though… he didn’t really care anymore. He had nothing left to lose. First he lost his hero career, then his friends, and now his life.

As he drifted through the darkness, he felt his body becoming lighter. It was as if he no longer had any weight. Even the concept of time seemed to disappear. He had no idea how long he had been there.

Then the drifting stopped.

Something was changing.

His body trembled. There was a strange movement beneath his skin. As if an invisible force was reshaping him. Mineta was transforming into a Husk.

(Note: For those who don’t know, a Husk in the Ultrakill universe is a physical body formed after a person dies. After all, the souls that go to Hell must suffer. Depending on the quality of the soul, these bodies—called Husks—are formed. The quality of a Husk is determined by a person’s willpower and their place in society. You already know what willpower is. A person’s place in society is determined by how many people feel strong emotions toward them. In other words, a king who is deeply hated can have a powerful soul just like a king who is deeply loved. For those wondering: in this universe many people hate Mineta, so his Husk is actually high quality. But his willpower is not strong enough. That’s why he cannot become a Prime Soul.)

Mineta’s soul began to take shape.

His bones lengthened. His body resembled a human, but it wasn’t exactly human anymore. His form had become thin and tall. His skin was pale and smooth. His mouth was barely there, as if someone had left it unfinished.

His right eye… had not formed.

An empty eye socket stared into the darkness.

When Mineta realized this, he flinched.

He had grown taller too. There was nothing left of his old short stature. Yet this new body didn’t feel like it belonged to him. It felt as if he were wearing someone else’s shell.

At that moment, a silhouette appeared within the darkness.

Before him stood a man who looked somewhat like a camel in posture. Yet he was clearly human. He was extremely muscular and carried an imposing presence.

His long white beard reached down to his chest. Around his eyes was a metal crown made of laurel leaves. It looked like the symbol of an ancient king.

On his head, a stone-like structure rose upward like another crown. Mineta couldn’t quite understand what it was.

He wore a blue Himation, clothing that looked as if it came from ancient times.

But the most striking thing about the man was the expression on his face.

It wasn’t harsh.

It was judging… yet at the same time merciful.

Mineta panicked.

Where was he?

Yet something was strange. Even though he should have been afraid of this man, for some reason he felt calm in his presence.

The man spoke.

King Minos:
“Do not be afraid, my child. I am Minos, the judge of Hell.”

Mineta’s single eye widened.

Mineta:
“So… I really died. I…”

Minos slightly bowed his head.

King Minos:
“Yes, my child. You are in Hell. Your soul has transformed into a Husk. Unfortunately, painful days await you.”

Mineta trembled.

Mineta:
“I-is this… my punishment?”

Minos slowly walked toward him. His footsteps echoed throughout the massive hall. It felt like an endless courtroom.

King Minos:
“If you tell me your sins, I will decide where you will go. But first, let me explain what you must know.”

Minos raised his hand. In the darkness, enormous stone doors appeared. Each one represented a different layer.

Minos continued speaking.

“There are nine layers of Hell. From the highest to the lowest:

Limbo…
Lust…
Gluttony…
Greed…
Wrath…
Heresy…
Violence…
Fraud…
and Treachery.”

The doors glowed one by one.

“Souls are sent to one of these layers depending on the sins they committed.”

Then he looked at Mineta.

“Now tell me your story.”

Mineta felt his chest tighten.

Mineta:
“I… I’m a pervert.”

Silence filled the hall.

Mineta continued.

“Because of my short height and useless Quirk, I was constantly bullied. At school… in life… everywhere.”

There was a broken tone in his voice.

“I always wanted to be loved.”

He lowered his head.

“So I tried many things. I exercised. I tried to be the top student. I tried to act cool. I tried to get people’s attention.”

Then he laughed bitterly.

“Especially girls.”

He closed his eye.

“And then… I decided to become a pervert.”

Even his own words felt heavy in his ears.

“And that was the worst decision I ever made.”

Minos listened silently.

“I entered the most prestigious hero school in Japan. I thought maybe a girl would truly love me. Maybe I would have friends. Maybe… I could become a hero.”

Mineta’s voice cracked.

“But my appearance, my Quirk, and my perversion… none of it changed anything.”

He took a deep breath.

“In the end I lost everything. My idol… my friends… my hero scholarship…”

Then he lifted his head.

“And finally my life.”

Silence returned.

Mineta kept speaking.

“When I acted like a pervert, I spied on girls. I tried to touch them.”

Then he quickly added,

“But I never committed serious harassment. I never blackmailed anyone. I never attempted rape.”

His voice became more serious.

“I never had perverted thoughts about girls younger than me.”

Minos listened carefully.

“I kept my limits… no matter what.”

Minos didn’t speak for a long time.

He simply stared at Mineta.

That gaze made Mineta’s insides tremble. His single eye drifted toward the floor.

Where would he go?

What kind of punishment would he receive?

Finally, Minos spoke.

King Minos:
“My dear child…”

He paused.

“The layer you will go to is the Layer of Lust.”

Mineta’s shoulders dropped.

Minos continued.

“I did not sense a single lie in your words.”

Then he spoke in a softer voice.

“And I believe you.”

Mineta slowly lifted his head.

King Minos:
“Your punishment will be to be thrown endlessly within violent winds.”

Mineta:
“And then?”

Minos’s face grew heavier.

King Minos:
“There is no ‘then,’ my child.”

Mineta’s chest tightened.

King Minos:
“You will suffer this punishment for eternity.”

Mineta stepped back.

Mineta:
“But why? I’ll already suffer my punishment! Why can’t I be forgiven?!”

Minos closed his eyes.

King Minos:
“Even though I oppose eternal punishment…”

He shook his head.

“I do not have the authority to decide that.”

He added quietly,

“Otherwise it would be blasphemy against God.”

An emptiness formed inside Mineta.

Why…

Why could he never find peace even once in his life?

Minos noticed this.

But there was nothing he could do.

Maybe… if it were possible.

Maybe if there were a chance.

Minos raised his hand.

A dark portal opened in the air. From within came the sound of howling winds.

King Minos:
“This portal will take you to the Layer of Lust, my child.”

Mineta looked at him.

He tried to smile.

But his mouth barely existed.

So he simply bowed his head.

Then he gathered himself.

And walked toward the portal.

He stopped for a moment.

He looked back one last time.

Then he stepped into the darkness.

The portal closed.

Minos leaned back on his throne.

He let out a deep sigh.

Hell was eternal.

But maybe…

One day…

This order would change.