Chapitre 57: chapter 57
Today marks five days since Cyd fled his wedding. To collect the blessings of all 13 gods, he has been tirelessly traveling. He still needs to receive blessings from the Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite, the War and Wisdom Goddess Athena, Queen of the Gods Hera, Ruler of the Underworld Hades, King of the Gods Zeus, and the God of Fire Hephaestus.
However, an incomparably troublesome existence now blocks his path.
"You haven't given up!" Cyd dodged a sharp dagger, grabbed his attacker's collar, and threw her over his shoulder. "Atalanta!"
Three days ago, she had started attacking him relentlessly. Despite being amazed at her ability to catch up to him in just two days, even crossing the sea, the trouble didn't disappear because of his feelings. Over these three days, he had come to understand the terrifying determination of Atalanta.
Day and night, whether resting or battling, Atalanta's attacks never ceased until she was exhausted.
Cyd couldn't bear to hit her, but he had to defend himself. As he dragged the dazed Atalanta back, she twisted in mid-air, landed on the ground, and sprang back several steps.
"There's no hunter who gives up their prey," Atalanta said, drawing her bow to aim at Cyd.
"That's really sad," Cyd replied, scanning their surroundings. "But I told you, you have to stop."
"No, I've thought it through. As Atalanta, the only way to convey my feelings is to hunt you." She notched an arrow, her gaze unwavering. "Don't think you can escape. You should understand by now that pure speed won't shake me off. If you want to get rid of me, you'll have to defeat me."
"Yeah, I thought so too." In a flash, Cyd charged toward her, ignoring her sharp arrow.
"Don't think invulnerability means you can act recklessly!" Atalanta abandoned her bow and drew a rope from her waist.
"Sorry, but invulnerability does let me act recklessly!" Cyd accelerated, appearing in front of Atalanta in an instant. He raised his left hand to chop at her neck. "Rest!"
"...Cyd, you've changed me a lot," Atalanta murmured, her tone gentle as she extended her hands toward him.
Cyd's eyes widened, but before he could react, Atalanta hugged him tightly, the soft touch of her face against his confusing him. His raised hand hesitated.
"Bang——"
They both fell to the ground.
"Therefore... we're together..." The rope around Cyd's neck tightened as Atalanta held his head and wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling the rope taut until it left bright red marks on her hands.
"She really means to kill me," Cyd thought helplessly, the rope still tightening around his neck. Atalanta was no weaker in wrestling skills, and escaping seemed impossible. Was he really going to die here?
How could this happen...
Cyd yawned leisurely. His invulnerability wasn't just skin-deep like the Nemean Lion's; his body was immortal. Strangling him was futile.
"Don't move!" Atalanta's face turned red, feeling the difference in his reaction, but she didn't loosen her grip on the rope.
"..."
Finally, the rope couldn't withstand Atalanta's strength and broke. She pounded the ground in frustration with her now free hands.
"It's a pity, you were so close," Cyd said, pushing himself up. "A hunter shouldn't let the prey get so close."
"Mmh..." Atalanta closed her eyes in frustration.
She knew she couldn't win a hand-to-hand fight against Cyd. She considered using her archery skills to hunt him, but his invulnerability made her discard that option. Strangling him seemed impossible too. She needed a solid plan.
"Is that it? No final words?" Cyd sighed, standing up. He lifted his left hand, blocking the sun, and began walking towards Medusa, who waited nearby. "Actually, what did you want to say?"
"Why didn't you fight back?" Atalanta asked, lifting her left hand. Under the sunlight, a pure white mark glowed. Before Cyd left, her wrist had no such mark. She knew this was a sign of Hestia's blessing, a gift given only to those under her protection. Why did she, an Artemis follower, have Hestia's mark?
Atalanta tilted her head to look at Cyd's left wrist, where a similar pure white crystallization glowed. The answer seemed clear.
As if not realizing it, Hestia's Blessing, the patron goddess's gift, had responded to his true feelings.
"My anything will not do," Cyd said slowly, walking away towards Medusa. "Because I don't want to see you hurt... I don't want to see that expression again. If you feel the need to hunt me, do so until you can face your true self. I will always be ahead of you. After all, isn't your greatest skill to strike only after the enemy has struck? Then... farewell."
Atalanta pressed her lips together, watching him until his aura completely vanished. Bright red blood trickled down her leg.
"Why..."
Why didn't he understand her feelings?
"Do you look down on me?" she whispered. "I told you it didn't matter... why do you have to leave? Am I that weak?"
"I... will not stop," she resolved. "As Atalanta, what else do I have besides hunting?"
"I will hunt you, even if it means following you to the Underworld."
"Until you understand my love."
"This is my reply to you."
Atalanta slowly covered her left wrist and curled into herself.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone