章 144: When the Moon Goddess Gets Jealous, It’s Truly Terrifying!
The people Atalanta had killed were two centaurs.
Their names were Rhoecus and Hylaeus.
In the original Greek myth, Atalanta also killed these two because they, consumed by lust for her beauty, attempted to assault her, so she ended their lives without hesitation.
Now, they had once again appeared before Atalanta, spewing vulgar insults and humiliating her with their words.
So Atalanta agreed to let them both challenge her together.
Moreover, during the challenge, when the centaurs realized they couldn't catch up to Atalanta, they were ready to attack and attempted to injure her instead.
But even then, Atalanta swiftly claimed victory.
And after that, she shot her arrows without hesitation, killing them both.
Although her actions were justified in every way, the sight of their corpses at her feet, their blood pooling on the ground, and Atalanta standing tall, bathed in moonlight, left a chilling impression.
This display of power silenced any further challengers—no one wanted to risk their life.
Among those deterred was a young man named Hippomenes.
He was the very man who, according to myth, had won Atalanta's hand using three golden apples.
But this time, when he prayed to the gods for help, no god or goddess answered his call.
The Goddess of Beauty, who was supposed to help him, did not appear.
Because during the day, Apollo watched over this place, and at night, the Moon Goddess Artemis would also come here to kept vigil.
Therefore, the original act of cheating would naturally only bring endless wrath from the gods.
Besides, the gods all knew one thing in their heart: the young hero would arrive soon.
Because this was Atalanta's destined fate, and it was foretold by Clotho, the Goddess of Fate.
It was the prophecy she had shared with Atalanta.
More importantly, Promise had long ago made a vow to Atalanta—a promise to race her.
What's more, he was the hero fated to rewrite destinies under the eyes of the gods.
Thus, the fate of the young man, Hippomenes, was to lose the race and suffer an injury, standing among the defeated challengers, just like all the others who had tried before him.
The three days passed quickly.
On the final day, as the last rays of sunlight vanished in the sky, and the stars and moon rose to bathe the earth in soft, radiant light, everyone believed that it was all over.
Even King Iasus had given up.
"It's over, Atalanta. You've won,"
He said with a sigh.
"You won our bet, I will not restrict you anymore, from today on, you will go with those heroes to participate in the adventure called the Golden Fleece!"
Why had King Iasus not wanted Atalanta to embark on the journey?
Why had he prayed to the gods and searched for the daughter he had once abandoned?
Because now, Atalanta's name had become widely known, her fame far exceeded the legends of old.
After all, she was a prominent figure in Promise's stories.
She had played a significant role in many of his tales, and more importantly Promise had mentioned her name in every tale that spread his reputation far and wide.
Faced with the reality that the daughter he had once discarded had now become a hero of great renown and unmatched beauty, King Iasus had been both shocked and thrilled.
At the same time, as the king of a country, he was very clear about Atalanta's current "worth".
Her fame and beauty could attract the greatest warriors and heroes from all over the world.
And, these suitors would bring with them riches and treasures in their pursuit of Atalanta.
Also, there were actually countless people who wanted to obtain the Golden Fleece, but in the end only Jason and his companions succeeded, while all those who had ventured before them had perished on the journey.
So, King Iasus had compromised, hoping to keep Atalanta safe.
He had expected Atalanta to be pleased, but she didn't respond to him at all.
Instead, she stood silently by the wooden post, holding the bow and arrow in her arms, bathed in the soft glow of the moon, quietly waiting.
...Waiting for someone?
It was only then that King Iasus realized the truth.
And not just him.
Even the spectators, who had been waiting for the event to end and were prepared to celebrate Atalanta's victory, were stunned into silence.
After King Iasus spoke, they finally understood.
At the moment when it all should have ended, looking at Atalanta still standing there, they finally realized that the huntress wasn't standing by the wooden post because she was waiting for the race to end.
Instead, she was waiting for a challenger... someone she had been expecting all along.
To be precise, she was waiting for that one challenger.
"You kept saying he wouldn't come, but in your heart, aren't you hoping for him to appear?"
Looking at her, Meleager said with a wry smile.
Beside him, the giant stag Actaeon cast a sidelong glance at Meleager, whose body was covered in bandages, and couldn't help but feel exasperated.
You really should talk less, buddy.
'He wouldn't come'.
Atalanta kept telling herself.
After all, something like this wasn't worth his attention.
And even if he did come, was she supposed to lose to him?
Impossible!
She kept reassuring herself over and over again.
She knew she should turn around and leave, but she found that her feet were so heavy that she couldn't even take a single step.
The gathered crowd lit torches, their flames illuminating the moonlit plains.
The lake's crystal-clear waters reflected the stars above and the full moon of that night.
"Why isn't this over yet? Are we going to be here until dawn?"
Why does she give me the feeling that she is waiting for someone? Who is she waiting for?"
"Is there really another challenger?"
Such murmurs began spreading through the crowd.
Even King Iasus, Atalanta's father, found the situation strange.
More time passed.
"Isn't it odd? Shouldn't Promise be here by now?" Even Meleager, who had firmly believed that Promise would show up, was starting to frown, sensing that something was off.
Actaeon, the giant deer standing nearby, also had a puzzled look in his eyes.
Gradually, the night grew darker.
The cool night breeze grew colder, chilling Atalanta not just physically but emotionally as well.
Even Meleager was starting to panic.
"What's going on? Why hasn't Promise arrived yet? He doesn't know, does he?!"
Seeing Meleager's growing anxiety, Actaeon could only shake his head helplessly.
Don't ask me—I don't know either!
As time continued to pass, the once lively crowd fell silent.
Because they sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere.
Atalanta's figure, which had once been admired for its beauty, now seemed distant and cold... though she stood as tall and straight as ever.
Somehow, her presence stirred a strange sense of sorrow in their hearts.
"Isn't it almost dawn?" someone hesitated, speaking softly.
"Yeah, it's almost here... But really, is there still a challenger?"
"How about... one of you go up and try to challenge her?"
"No way! I'd definitely die if I went up now!"
And it would be an especially terrible death at that!
"Hey, giant stag."
Meleager, still bandaged up, took a deep breath.
"Maybe you should just take me and run. If we're still here when the sun rises, I'm afraid... we might not make it back!"
Oh, now you're scared?
Actaeon, the giant deer glared at him in disdain.
"No need." Suddenly, sensing something in the air, Actaeon lifted his head to look into the distance. "He's here."
How did Promise make his entrance?
Did he fall from the night sky, riding on a majestic white Pegasus, arriving in the most dashing manner at the very last second?
Without a doubt, that would have been the ideal—and probably the most likely—scenario.
Of course, this would only fuel Atalanta's annoyance to the max, especially since the night wind was already cold enough for her.
But the fact was, when Promise finally appeared, Atalanta was stunned, and all the anger and frustration that had built up inside her heart evaporated in an instant.
Because Promise wasn't riding a Pegasus.
No, he was slumped over the back of Goddess Artemis's golden-antlered deer... or rather, he had been saved by the deer, who had rushed him to the scene at top speed, bouncing and jostling the entire way.
Promise's usually neat black hair, always tied up neatly with Athena's silver thread, was now a wild mess,
Dust covered him from head to toe,
He had a few cuts and bruises, and overall, he looked completely disheveled.
He was just short of foaming at the mouth.
Atalanta stared at the sight, utterly speechless.
After all, since meeting Promise, she had never seen him in such a state, and a surge of anger rose within her.
As the golden-antlered deer gently lowered Promise in front of her, he barely managed to stabilize himself, not even speaking a word, fighting the dizziness and the urge to vomit.
His first words, as he looked up at Atalanta's gradually darkening expression, were:
"Atalanta... you know, goddesses... they can be so jealous!"
"Especially the goddess behind you!"
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