Chapitre 23: chapter 23 ( edited)
In a situation where it seemed impossible to please everyone, a draw was the safest outcome. Sometimes, finding a middle ground was the only way to escape unscathed.
"Wow, this is perfect!" Cyd stretched his left hand towards the sun, admiring the vibrant hues of the orange crystal on his wrist. The crystal's warm glow shimmered in the sunlight, casting intricate, fiery patterns that danced across his arm.
"No, it's not good at all!" Atalanta stormed up to Cyd, her face flushed with anger, and grabbed him by the collar with a force that left him momentarily breathless. "Are you mocking me? I don't need your pity! Do you think I'm a sore loser? Just remember, if I win, I really will kill you!"
Her eyes blazed with a fierce intensity, making her seem as terrifying as an enraged lioness ready to pounce.
Cyd nervously glanced at Atalanta, who seemed poised to strike him down with her wrath.
"But it's a draw now," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Then let's have a rematch!" she demanded, her tone resolute.
"And what if it's another draw?" Cyd asked a hint of desperation in his voice.
"Then we both lose, and you can do whatever you want with me, but I'll still make sure you regret it!"
Cyd buried his face in his hands, overwhelmed by the absurdity of the situation. What kind of predicament is this? This girl is so stubborn it's almost comical. She just wants to kill me at this point.
"So… Can I ask you not to murder me?" Cyd pleaded, hoping to appeal to her sense of mercy.
"No," Atalanta replied firmly, her expression unyielding.
Well, I definitely shouldn't have boarded this ship. Last night's friendliness was just a facade. This situation is straight out of Greek mythology.
"Alright, alright, I'll agree to another match, but let's get something straight," Cyd raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I'm not trying to humiliate you or anything."
"I know. The rules will be the same as before!" Atalanta's eyes narrowed with a steely resolve. "This time, I won't hold back!"
Five Minutes Later
"So, I guess I won," Cyd said, extending his hand to Atalanta, who was sitting on the ground, her pride wounded and her spirit defeated.
"I… lost…" she said softly, her shoulders slumped as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
Normally, Atalanta would have never taken Cyd's hand, no matter the circumstances. But defeat had humbled her, and she reluctantly accepted his assistance.
Shouldn't I have done this from the start…
"Could you… help me bring back some food?" Cyd asked, trying to sound as humble as possible.
"Ugh… No, I refuse!" Atalanta took a deep breath, clearly struggling with her frustration. After a moment, she sighed and nodded. "Fine, I'll do it."
"Well… Hercules eats a lot, so…"
"I know!!!"
"Um… Do I really need to—" Cyd began, but Atalanta's fierce glare made him retract his hand and step back, his smile fading.
"I'll keep my promise!" she said, though her anger was palpable.
With a determined huff, Atalanta grabbed her bow and stormed off into the dense forest, her steps sharp and purposeful.
As he watched her go, Cyd found himself contemplating the strange satisfaction he felt from the whole ordeal. Why do I feel this odd sense of accomplishment? It's like I've won something more than just a contest. He touched his chin thoughtfully as he walked back to the Argo.
"Where's Atalanta?" Hercules asked, tilting his head in confusion as he glanced around.
"She went hunting for us. I couldn't help, so I came back to help you," Cyd said, mimicking Hercules' stance and crossing his arms in front of the Argo with a confident air.
"Atalanta is a good person," Hercules said approvingly, his eyes shining with respect.
"Yeah… I guess?" Cyd shrugged, feeling a bit awkward under Hercules's gaze.
Inside the City
"This is what life is about!" Jason declared, a satisfied grin on his face as he was surrounded by beautiful women, each vying for his attention.
Forget the heroics, the Golden Fleece, and the Argo. He had completely cast aside these grand goals.
His original motivation for this arduous journey had been the throne. But what had he really sought from the throne?
Power? Wealth?
No! It was women!
In this world, power attracted women, and wealth kept them close. It was the way of things. But now, he realized that he didn't need to struggle for those things. All he needed was to be a man in a world full of temptations. Why risk his life for something so dangerous when he could enjoy the pleasures of the present?
"Forget the Golden Fleece!" he said, basking in his newfound freedom and indulgence.
Unbeknownst to him, a silver-haired woman in a flowing Greek gown watched him coldly from behind a pillar. Her eyes were filled with disdain as she observed Jason's revelry.
Jason shuddered, sensing a presence, and instinctively glanced toward the pillar, but it was already empty. As he scratched his head in confusion, the woman beside him spoke, her voice laced with intrigue.
"The queen is still a virgin."
Jason's eyes widened with excitement. Great! With this knowledge, I can have the throne, wealth, power, and women!
"Wow~ Atalanta, you're amazing," Cyd marveled at the impressive array of wild game laid out before him.
Don't call me that!
Atalanta, panting from the exertion of the hunt, was on the verge of lashing out at Cyd, but she remembered their bet and, with a frustrated huff, turned her head away, trying to hide her satisfaction.
Is she not angry?
Cyd blinked, surprised by her reaction. He had expected her to be furious, but her flushed cheeks (from the heat of the hunt) and averted gaze made her look almost… tsundere. Actually… she seems quite pleased!
Cyd's eyes lit up with realization.
"Let's eat," Hercules said as he dug a pit in the ground and began to expertly start a fire.
Atalanta pulled out a knife and skillfully skinned the game, her movements precise and practiced. Hercules hung the meat on a grill he had taken from the Argo, and Cyd… just held out a bowl, eagerly awaiting the food.
"Thank you, Atalanta!" Cyd said gratefully.
Atalanta's eye twitched as she handed Cyd a freshly cooked wild boar leg. She wanted to shove it into his face but managed to restrain herself.
She's not angry!
Cyd looked at Atalanta's slightly reddened face with delight.
"Huh? Do you want me to feed you like those women?" Atalanta's eyes widened in surprise.
It seemed that Cyd's look was misinterpreted as a sign of impatience.
"No, no, no! Atalanta, that's not what I meant!" Cyd protested, his face flushing with embarrassment.
"Open your mouth!" Atalanta commanded her tone a mix of exasperation and determination.
"Ah…"
"Isn't this great?" Hercules said cheerfully as he picked up a wild boar leg from the grill and wandered off to patrol.
Wait, don't leave me!
"Thud—"
Cyd was knocked to the ground by the force of the boar's leg being shoved into his mouth. He reached out toward Hercules's retreating figure, hoping for some assistance.
"Today, you've shamed me, and I'll make sure to repay you a hundredfold in the future!" Atalanta said, her voice low and intense as she straddled Cyd and pressed the boar leg into his mouth.
"Ata, ugh… I'm sorry… It's too big, ugh… I can't get it in, ahhh!" Cyd mumbled, his words muffled by the meat.
"Should I have come later?" The silver-haired girl sitting on the edge of the Argo watched the two by the campfire with a soft, amused smile.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone