Chương 69: The first part of a weapon that can kill the gods!
[T/N: Two and a half chapters long.]
'Godslayer.'
'Favoured by the Gods.'
'Ordinary person.'
'These are the three possible paths that Jason is most likely to walk on in the future.'
'As for the original path of Jason, it is obvious that he has almost walked out of it now.'
'So... what will your future look like?'
Hecate asked softly in her heart.
And at the same time, with her vermillion eyes, Hecate stared in front of her at the boy, who has just received the Arrow of Moon Goddess from the Goddess of Moon Artemis and is standing in the field of pure white flowers.
Then, she sighed, because Hecate knows that from today onwards, she obviously wouldn't be able to use the excuse of doing experiments to ignore things outside her temple.
'You really are a scoundrel... a scoundrel who still hasn't given me a tribute!'
****"
"Thank you for your gift, great Goddess Artemis."
Jason smiled and took the arrow Artemis is gifting him, apparently completely unaware of what this silver arrow signifies and what Artemis has actually done.
After all, it is impossible for him to know on his own that Artemis has completely given him the right to control one of her accompanying divine artifacts; moreover, it is the strongest artifact in the possession of Artemis, that has accompanied her since she was born.
Simultaneously, although Jason isn't really proud of it, he has indeed gotten used to receiving various kinds of gifts from the gods.
After all, Jason believes and has even experienced that although Greek Gods can be really stingy when they want to, even among the mythological stories circulated in modern times, Gods in Greek Mythology are one of the most generous Gods.
Still, when Jason took the arrow, he couldn't help feeling surprised because as soon as he took the Silver Arrow of Moon Goddess, unlike the sword of Apollo that he is carrying, the silver arrow disappeared in his hands while informing him that it can be momentarily summoned back in the presence of the moon.
After all, Apollo has only 'lent' his golden sword to Jason while Artemis has actually 'given' her silver arrow to Jason.
But being unaware of this fact, just when Jason was wondering about the reason behind this...
"No, I should be the one thanking you Jason... This is definitely the best gift I've ever received in my life."
With her silver hair swaying with the breeze and standing in the rain of flowers and petals falling from the sky, Artemis stretched out her hand and gently stroked the lily petals on Jason's head.
And her blue eyes gazing at the blond teenage boy in front of her.
Then...
"Ah, I really can't bear it!"
Artemis suddenly acted and stretched out her hands to strongly hug Jason, who obviously failed to respond to a Goddess suddenly taking action.
"So cute, you really are a cute child, how can you be so cute!"
Then, Artemis, while still holding Jason closely, began ruthlessly rubbing Jason's face.
Next, Artemis buried Jason's head in her bosom and turned her head to look in the direction she knows Hecate is hiding, then she said with clear longing in her voice: "Hecate, I want him, I want this child, this child is just too cute!"
"I want him, I really want him, I really, really want him, Hecate, give him to me!"
"I am okay with it."
From the shadows, Hecate, who is wearing a long black dress, walked out slowly.
And as soon as Hecate appeared, the ghost butterflies who were still flying in the surroundings, after pausing momentarily on their tracks, immediately began gathering towards her.
"Ask him yourself..."
But Hecate didn't get to finish her words.
"You can't!"
Persephone, who has also run out of the shadows, grabbed Jason from Artemis's arms and said: "I can't give him to you, he is my brother!"
"And Artemis, you have already received such a good tribute, but I haven't received anything yet!"
By the time Persephone finished speaking her tone had become visibly jealous and she almost couldn't hold herself back, so to calm herself down, she began pinching Jason's face, which is looking at her in surprise.
"But I really want to..." Artemis played with the silver lily bouquet in her hand and looked at Jason with a longing look.
"A lot of people want this child." Hermes also walked out, under Jason's eyes that are clearly saying: 'Why are you here?'
With a wide smile, Hermes continued: "Athena and Hestia...they've been trying to get this child, from even before you have."
"What's so good about this fellow, why do I not know anything?"
Hecate continued in an indifferent and light tone: "This fellow hasn't offered a tribute to even his teacher in such a long time, whoever wants him can take him, I won't care."
After all, due to Hecate having the hikikomori attribute and not interacting much with others or interfering with matters outside her temple, most, including Jason and Hermes, tend to overlook the fact that at the end of the day, Hecate is also a Greek Goddess with similar attributes, so...
As soon as Hecate finished speaking these words, even Hermes was stunned and looked at Hecate with a strange gaze.
"Oh, I never thought I will get to see Hecate throwing off such a petty temper tantrum." Persephone looked at Hecate with a look of discovering something new.
In this regard, after thinking only for a moment, Hecate decided to maintain her silence by tilting her head and not speaking anymore.
Seeing this, although Jason is a little confused about why so many Gods are here, he still knows what he should say at this time, so he gently left Persephone's embrace.
Then immediately, while apologizing to Artemis, he said seriously: "I'm sorry Goddess Artemis, Goddess Hecate is my teacher and the goddess I believe in, so although my heart is very excited for being able to receive your care, I will never leave her!"
"Moreover, this time, I'm not the only one who has offered this tribute..."
While saying this, Jason tilted his head to look at Atalanta, who still has not walked out of the shadows in the distance, then said softly to Artemis: "Noble goddess Artemis, I believe, in this world, no one will respect and worship you more than her!"
"Yeah, Artemis and Hecate, both have very good believers, but I don't."
Persephone pouted while saying this.
"But, you have a brother who loves you, sister Persephone."
"You, little guy." Persephone couldn't help pinching Jason's face with both of her hands, and tittered while saying: "You are still as sweet and loveable as always!"
But Hermes, who was watching all this from the side, couldn't help but groan twice in his heart.
At the same time, Hermes sighed in his heart while thinking: 'As expected of an existence that can attract so many Gods' attention, even I couldn't help but marvel at his speaking skills.'
'In just a few words he has made everyone feel happy, even Hecate, but still, not a single sentence was a lie.'
"Yeah, Artemis, just give up."
So to stop this, Hermes finally said: "After all, this child, even while facing the choice between Hera and Hecate, has chosen Hecate."
These words are obviously the most convincing for her, so Artemis, who is still playing with the bouquet of silver lilies in her hand, had no choice but to give up while feeling unhappy.
But Jason expressionlessly looked at Hermes while thinking in his heart: 'Damn it!'
'Can you not mention this matter?!'
However, Hermes winked at Jason with a smile on his face, as if he is saying: 'I am helping you.'
But, seeing this, Jason immediately became fully vigilant in his heart and almost showed it on his face.
Because, looking over the past experiences, Jason has concluded that whenever he has met Hermes, it has absolutely resulted in something troublesome!
And Jason is going to soon discover that it indeed seems to be the case this time too.
On the other side, Hecate, who has although hasn't visibly changed her expression upon listening to Jason's words, the corners of her mouth have risen up a little, looked at Jason and spoke.
"Jason, come with me... also, Artemis, you have actually given your arrow to this child."
"But I think this child's tribute is totally worth it!"
None of the Gods here refuted Artemis' words.
But when Jason saw this scene, he immediately turned his head to look at Hermes in suspicion while thinking.
'No, it can't be, right?
'I have just met him and I wouldn't have...gotten into another trouble again, right?
So, under the rain of flowers and petals that has almost reached its end, Jason left with Hecate while feeling confused.
And after Hecate took Jason to a quiet place where others aren't looking, she set up a spell to let the butterflies around her spread out and stop other gods from seeing or hearing anything from here.
Then without waiting for Jason to ask, Hecate spoke straight to the point.
"You're in trouble, and that too in a very big trouble."
"...Is there anything wrong with my tribute to Goddess Artemis?" Jason thought for a moment, then asked in confusion.
"There's nothing wrong with your tribute to her, the problem is that... it's too good."
"Too good?" Jason is obviously confused and thought that Hecate is trying to imply something else, and not exactly how good his tribute is.
'Too good?... Wasn't that just a little romantic arrangement, and even if it was good, is this really a problem?'
Seeing Jason's puzzled appearance, Hecate thought for a while, then due to curiosity, decided to first ask Jason: "If you need to offer a similar tribute, can you do something as good as this one? "
"Well, yes."
Jason nodded and explained to Hecate without any concealment: "I can also use different styles to do something similar, and actually even better because it's very simple."
If it wasn't for the short time constraint, due to Athena only giving a week's time time to Jason with this being the fifth day and Jason not willing to drag the first tribute for too long hence deciding to deal with it in one day, Jason indeed believes that he could have done better.
As a matter of fact, Jason had indeed made a few better plans but decided to scrap them due to the time constraint.
And a few of those plans are, dying the entire mountain white with flowers, finding a few cute creatures to decorate the scene, making a white carriage that Pegasus can pull then taking Artemis on a tour to the sea of white flowers, and finally, coming up with a few beautiful pieces of music, preferably with birds dancing on them or letting the nymphs in the forest sing and dance together.
So while thinking of his other plans, Jason sighed under Hecate's strange gaze and said honestly.
"Yeah, in fact, I overestimated just a day's time, it was really too short, that's why I was only able to create a barely passable effect."
'...Simple?'
'Barely passable?'
Hecate's gaze at Jason in front of her became increasingly strange, and due to being surprised, she couldn't think of anything to say in reply...
After all, as a transmigrator who has grown up in the era of information explosion, for things like this, Jason really does have too many ideas that no one can easily compare with, and that's why Jason feels that he really hasn't spent too much effort in preparing Artemis's tribute.
"This...is that so..." Hecate nodded a little stiffly.
"Well, yes, so Teacher Hecate, what's wrong with my tribute?" Jason looked at Hecate in puzzlement.
After being silent for a while, Hecate said, "It's all right, Persephone wants one too."
"Oh...then I might be able to discuss this with God Hades."
"...I want it too."
"...Well, Teacher Hecate, did I just hear something?" Jason opened his eyes wide and looked at Hecate with a shocked expression.
Hecate did not speak, rather she waved her hand and a magic wand appeared in it.
"Wait, I didn't hear anything just now, but I understood, I understood everything now!"
But when Jason saw Hecate's action, he hurriedly changed his words, although, he also knows that Hecate can surely sense just how much of it is actually true, even without her godly senses.
However, upon hearing Jason's obviously fake words, Hecate put away her magic wand with a calm expression, then after gradually calming down her emotions, she said: "Since you have already figured it out in your heart, it's fine, and this matter, although will be troublesome for you, is not necessarily a bad thing."
"From this day forward, many gods will indeed look forward to your tribute, but they will also give you the best things in return."
"As for what they will give you... you can test it out yourself, but something similar to what Artemis has given you."
"...In other words, this matter was indeed deliberately planned by Goddess Athena to play out like this, right?" Jason asked with a forced smile.
"Um, but...I don't think she would have guessed that you will turn this into such a big matter." After saying this, Hecate couldn't help but unconsciously smile while thinking.
'Who would have thought that the wisest Goddess of Wisdom would have to actually face defeat, once again, in front of this child.'
"A big matter?" Obviously, now Jason has begun to slightly doubt if his tribute was really something that can be considered average.
But looking at Jason, who is still unaware of the actual situation, Hecate felt like she can't think of something to say for a while.
"In brief, remember one thing, from now on, the tributes you will be offering them must be given by putting your heart into it."
"Teacher, you can rest assured about this." Jason nodded earnestly and continued in a serious tone: "No matter which god I am dealing with, I will never dare to act half-heartedly!"
"...This, in fact, I want to say that when you present your tribute, you should not put too... Forget it, consider that I haven't said anything about this."
Then, Hecate hesitated for a while about how she should tell about Artemis's Arrow, but finally gave up, and continued: "As for why I have said that this will be trouble... I think your personal experience will explain it better than my words, and it just happens that there is a test piece nearby to test out the return gift you have just received."
"Test piece..." Obviously knowing what he has received is a weapon, Jason immediately guessed what Hecate is talking about, so he asked to confirm: "Teacher Hecate, are you referring to the Caledonian boar?"
Hecate nodded, and then said: "Also, among the gods to whom you will be offering your tributes next, the god you need to pay the most attention to is Apollo, understood?"
"Why?"
"Because now that you have obtained the silver arrow of the Goddess of Moon Artemis, then if you can make Apollo feel satisfied with your tribute, he may give you his golden bow."
"Oh..." Jason nodded a little blankly, obviously only thinking that both weapons will make a good pair, and being completely unaware of the fact that just like the silver arrow is the natal artifact of Artemis, the golden bow is the natal artifact of Apollo.
In this regard, Hecate decided to not explain anything for now, while thinking: 'When Jason gets both the golden bow of Apollo, the God of Light and the silver arrow of Artemis, the Goddess of Moon...'
'Then he will own one of the strongest weapons possessed by the Greek gods!'
'After all, a direct strike of Artemis's arrow launched by Apollo's bow is strong enough to pose a certain threat to every god!'
But Hecate did not say these words to Jason, for now.
Because Hecate believes: 'For the current Jason, not knowing... is possibly the best choice.'
Then Hecate couldn't help but sigh again, upon thinking: 'He has already obtained... a part of God-killing weapon.'
'Although, making Apollo feel satisfied enough to actually give his golden bow to Jason is an extremely difficult thing in itself...'
But, as the Goddess of Paths, Hecate, can feel that there is a possibility of Jason succeeding in doing so.
Therefore, Hecate thought: 'After all, this... is just the beginning.'
'Because Jason has just started his journey.'
'Just the next part of his journey I can see without even using my powers already includes the Calydonian wild boar, then meeting Hephaestus, the God of Smithing, to get an artifact that can conceal his identity, next is completing the promise he has made to Hermes.'
'And after dealing with the matter of God King Zeus, Io, and Hera.'
'He will finally deal with the matter of throne.'
'Because these are the checkpoints Athena has set for him to become a God.'
Thinking of this, Hecate looked at Jason in front of her, and after a moment of hesitation, she sighed, then stepped forward and hugged him in his arms while patting his head.
Now in this world, the one who knows Jason best is probably Hecate.
Therefore, Hecate believes that deep down in his heart, in fact, Jason doesn't actually want to walk on either of the three miraculous paths she has seen in him.
For Hecate, it is obvious that Jason doesn't want to become a man who has given up on himself or a man who has drowned in the favor of God.
But Hecate also believes that even in the current case, just because Artemis has given her silver arrow to Jason, especially after knowing what it signifies, unless something extreme and triggering happens, Jason would never be able to seriously point his weapon at Artemis.
"Teacher?" Unaware of thoughts going through Hecate's mind, Jason is naturally surprised by her actions.
"When you feel tired, remember to take a rest." Hecate touched Jason's head and said softly: "Understood?"
"...Hm." Jason nodded slightly in response.
"So... tonight, I will make an exception."
Hecate waved her hand, and a bonfire appeared beside them.
"...Actually, teacher... recently I have slept many..."
Jason, who was speaking in a low voice, upon noticing Hecate looking at him with an increasingly genial smile on her face, naturally didn't dare to say anything more.
'Tonight, teacher Hecate... as expected, is really a little angry about...'
After all, although Jason is sure that Hecate is different from other Greek Gods...
At the end of the day, Hecate, who, from Artemis and Persephone, has recently learned about Jason's interaction with other Goddesses since he has started this journey, is likewise, one of the legitimate Greek Goddesses...
[T/N: For those who might have not known, I don't upload on weekends.]
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GlaiveIris
GlaiveIris Do you know, in Greek Mythology, God of War Ares was actually hated by Zeus, so much so that he has once said that if not for the fact that Ares is his son, he would have surely thrown Ares into Tartarus along with Titans.
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