บท 37: Promise Completes His 'Revenge'
The hunting ritual concluded, and the moon goddess Artemis would bestow a gift.
But only one.
Would it be Actaeon, cursed into a monster, or Meleager, bearing the fate of saving his kingdom?
Once again, fate presented itself before Promise.
Everyone turned their eyes to him, even the goddess of fate herself perked up in curiosity.
"In that case, please grant us a new hunting ritual, great goddess Artemis."
To everyone's surprise, when faced with this fateful decision, the boy did not hesitate for long before answering, "Please grant us the honor of slaying the Calydonian Boar!"
"... Weren't you participating in this hunt to save him?" Perhaps due to his prompt reply, the moon goddess Artemis paused for a moment before pointing to Actaeon and asking.
Hearing this, Actaeon was also stunned, looking at Promise in disbelief.
"That's right." The latter nodded, admitting to Artemis, "That is indeed my purpose. After all, this is the choice I made before the goddess of fate."
Observing the situation from the side, Atalanta tilted her head in confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening.
After all, she still didn't know what was going on.
Seeing her reaction, Artemis couldn't help but laugh, reaching out to rub Atalanta's face while she was still unresponsive, "Haha, little Atalanta, your expression is so cute right now."
"G-Goddess Artemis?!" Atalanta's eyes widened, her body stiffening, but her face soon showed joy and satisfaction.
At that moment,
"The goddess of fate delivered an oracle, revealing the destined future of a fragile young man named Actaeon and Meleagros."
A gentle voice echoed as the goddess, who had been silently watching, finally stepped onto the stage once again.
She appeared from the moonlight, her long silver hair flowing, shining like the Milky Way under the full moon.
"The moon goddess Artemis cursed Actaeon, who hunted her golden-horned deer, turning him into a monster destined to die at the hands of his unsuspecting friend, Meleager.
Meleager would then stand before Artemis, praying for her blessing to save his country."
Athena, with her golden eyes, looked helplessly at Artemis, who was petting a cat.
She had not intended to appear yet, but she realized Artemis was not suited for this task.
Even though she had explained the steps to Artemis, Artemis still managed to make a mess of everything.
"But the future that awaited Meleager was not a happy one. Flames would consume everything he held dear, and he would die at the hands of his beloved mother!"
"Thus, the fragile young man learned of all this. At the same time, he was actually a friend of both Actaeon and Meleager, having spent unforgettable times together under the guidance of the wise centaur Chiron."
"So on that day, before the goddess of fate, he made a choice. Despite the destined future, he... still wanted to change everything!"
At this moment, Actaeon and Atalanta couldn't help but naturally focus on Athena, who was slowly approaching.
They listened to this story and watched her smile gently as she approached Promise.
"Because he couldn't bear to see his friends harm each other, nor could he bear to see his friends die so tragically..."
Athena arrived in front of Promise smiling as she gently patted his head.
"Though he was so fragile, like he could be blown over by the wind, he still completed the nearly impossible hunt. And at this moment... he finally stood before the goddess!"
Athena's golden eyes gazed at the boy, who was quietly watching her.
"But the goddess's promised gift was only one, and the young man ultimately made a choice, pleading with the goddess to look upon Calydon, the place she had once abandoned, and bestow a new blessing."
"But... what about the cursed Actaeon?"
"Have you abandoned him?" Athena asked with a smile.
"Of course not," Promise shook his head. "Because I have already made a promise to the goddess of fate to show her a better future."
"So, what are you going to do?" The goodness continued to ask, stepping aside.
Promise then looked at Artemis, took a deep breath, and stepped forward to face her, saying, "Beautiful goddess Artemis, I know my friend Actaeon committed an unforgivable act.
Everything that has happened so far is his deserved punishment. Therefore, I won't defend him on this matter. But I think he now understands everything and regrets it deeply."
As he spoke, Actaeon, still in shock, suddenly felt a tickle in his throat.
He couldn't help but cough heavily, and then, to his surprise, found he could speak!
Actaeon was not a foolish person.
After a brief moment of shock, he immediately looked at Athena, then hurriedly got up and stood beside Promise, bowing his head in repentance to Artemis, "Yes, beautiful and kind goddess Artemis, I regret my reckless actions every moment.
Especially now, knowing the great trouble I have caused Promise, I am ashamed and feel unworthy of living in this world..."
Actaeon felt truly ashamed and even considered dying right there.
"What are you saying, Actaeon?
I have already made a promise to the goddess of fate. Neither you nor Meleager are allowed to die, I said so!"
But before he could finish his words, Promise interrupted angrily.
The boy turned to look at Artemis again and said, "Beautiful goddess Artemis, although I have already made my choice, as I answered to the goddess of wisdom Athena, I do not wish to see my friend die in front of me.
The reason I chose Meleager is because I understand that one must bear the consequences of their own mistakes.
Therefore, I hope the goddess Artemis can give him a chance to atone for his sins.
Also... do you remember what I said at the beginning?"
Promise took out a small notebook from his belongings once again.
Looking at Atalanta, Artemis, and Athena beside him, he finally turned to Actaeon and smiled, "I came here to seek revenge!
Actaeon, I haven't had the chance to avenge myself on you yet, so how could I let you die so easily?
So, beautiful goddess Artemis, please grant me the chance to take my revenge on Actaeon!"
"What kind of revenge do you want?" Artemis asked with interest.
"Under the watchful eye of the great queen, I will embark on an adventure to find the Golden Fleece with Jason." Promise replied, "It is an unknown adventure, filled with countless dangers, but at the same time, it is undoubtedly a great adventure!"
"The reason I am here is to find crew members, so Actaeon's strength is necessary for me.
As for the punishment..."
As he spoke, he looked at Actaeon's current state and couldn't help but laugh, "I think he looks pretty good as he is now!
So, goddess Artemis, let him accompany me on this adventure in his current form!
And I will tell the world that he is your messenger, goddess Artemis. You love humanity so much that you sent him to us to help complete this grand adventure.
And in the end, when we return with glory, kind goddess Artemis, please restore his name and let Actaeon return to the world of men!"
...
When Promise finished speaking, even Atalanta understood his intention completely.
She then looked at her beloved goddess and said, "Goddess Artemis, I think this... is not appropriate!"
After speaking, she took a few steps to Promise's side, pointed at Actaeon, and said to the curious Artemis, "Because I cannot judge whether he can complete this great mission and bring back glory, so goddess Artemis, please allow me to accompany him on this adventure.
I will supervise him and restrain him throughout the journey.
And finally, bring that glory back to you, goddess Artemis!"
Promise was slightly stunned at hearing this, then looked gratefully at Atalanta.
Seeing this, the latter turned her head away proudly, not looking at him.
After all, she had not forgotten that during tonight's hunting ceremony, in front of goddess Artemis, Promise had defeated her, causing her to be humiliated in front of her most revered goddess!
But even so, after learning everything from the goddess of wisdom Athena, she still chose to stand by Promise's side.
At that moment, Artemis suddenly felt her clothes being gently tugged.
She looked down in confusion and saw the golden-horned deer biting her clothes.
When the golden-horned deer saw Artemis looking at it, it walked over to Actaeon.
Although it hesitated for a moment, it eventually stood beside Actaeon and gently licked his stunned face with its tongue.
At that moment, Artemis's gaze at Actaeon finally softened a bit.
"Are you willing to accept?" She asked Actaeon.
Actaeon looked up, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Then he glanced at Promise, and finally lowered his head again, his eyes red, "Of course! Kind goddess Artemis, I will return with glory for you!"
"Alright then." The goddess smiled at Promise and said, "I will grant you this, little Promise. Complete your adorable revenge!"
At that moment, when Promise finally heard these words from Artemis, the tension that had been building up within him finally eased a bit.
Just as he couldn't help but smile, he suddenly felt something on his face. Instinctively turning his head, he saw Athena beside him.
Her beautiful golden eyes, reflecting Promise's figure in the moonlight, gently poked his youthful cheek with her fair fingers.
When Promise finally turned his head and looked at her,
Under his puzzled gaze, which carried a sense of foreboding,
Athena adorably blinked at Promise and her mouth slowly curved into a smile!
...Wait, what are you planning now, wise goddess?
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