章節 55: Hunting Competition
"From every perspective, tonight has truly been a long night..."
Athena left after saying those words.
And before Promise had a chance to respond, she had already disappeared from his sight.
Feeling a mix of relief and astonishment, Promise looked at the beautiful scenery in front of him and couldn't help but sigh.
It was a miracle he survived the night.
He felt more exhausted than the day he caught the Pegasus.
After all, getting caught by Hera for supposedly having an affair... he wasn't Zeus; it was just too strange!
Thinking this, Promise instinctively looked at the he and noticed it was looking at him with a curious, almost human-like expression that seemed to say, "enjoying the drama?"
This annoyed Promise, and he gave the Pegasus a couple of light slaps on the head.
Not long after, the Pegasus, running through the sky, took him back to the kingdom of Calydon. However, it didn't stop there.
Instead, it circled above the kingdom of Calydon before flying towards the outskirts.
After some searching, it finally landed beside a quiet river.
Before Promise could ask what was going on, he suddenly heard someone calling him.
Turning around, he saw a tall creature running towards him... the giant deer Actaeon.
Oh no, it should be called Chopper!
Besides him, under the moonlight, Promise also saw the quietly following Atalanta and Meleager.
They all gathered by the river... now, everyone was here.
"Is it over?" The huntress, who had walked up quickly, looked at Promise as he dismounted from the Pegasus.
She also glanced at Actaeon and Meleager.
Seeing this, Promise naturally understood what she was asking.
After all, during that hunting festival, she had already learned from Athena about Promise's bet with the Fates concerning the destinies of these two people.
"Yes, it's over." The boy nodded gently.
He then looked at the excited Actaeon, who had understood, and at the surprised Meleager, who was staring at the Pegasus.
Thinking for a moment, he continued, "But although that matter is over, I still have something important to do, and for this, Atalanta, Meleager, and... "
Pausing for a moment while looking at Actaeon, Promise held back his laughter and said, "Chopper, I need your help."
Due to the agreement with Artemis, Actaeon couldn't reveal his true identity before returning from the quest for the Golden Fleece.
"Just tell us what you need, Promise. Even if it's ten tasks or a hundred, I'll definitely help you complete them!" Actaeon, visibly excited, promised Promise.
However, during his loud proclamation, not only Promise but even Atalanta couldn't help but cover their ears, as his voice was as loud as a beast's roar.
"That's right, Promise," Meleager said, snapping out of his reverie. "You helped me solve the problem that has plagued my kingdom for so long. Tell me what you need, and no matter what it is, I will do everything in my power to help you!"
"Well... actually, the task I need to accomplish next should be beneficial to both you, Meleager, and your kingdom," Promise said, thinking for a moment before continuing. "I need you to discuss something with your father and mother... I need to make an offering to the goddess Artemis. But it's something that I can't complete alone."
"To be precise, I need the help of everyone in your kingdom!"
At this, Atalanta gave Promise a strange look.
Unlike the others, she knew what he intended to do.
"You need an entire kingdom's help just to paint a picture?" she thought incredulously.
"Meleager, though I did receive a gift from the goddess Artemis and had the help of the goddess Athena in hunting that boar, those were my actions alone and have nothing to do with you or your kingdom," Promise continued. "However, if you and the people of your kingdom can offer something that pleases Goddess Artemis, she will not only forgive you entirely but also bless you."
Meleager fully understood now and nodded in agreement. "Promise, you're right. Though the monster is gone, we still need to offer something to the great goddess to seek her forgiveness."
"I believe my parents will agree... No, actually," he said, recalling the recent scene where Athena had introduced Promise to the entire kingdom of Calydon.
He couldn't help but smile and added, "Considering what happened, they'll agree to whatever you ask, even if you want to marry my sister!"
"Oh, by the way, Promise, are you interested? Let me tell you, I have two very beautiful sisters..." Meleager's voice trailed off as he noticed the atmosphere had turned awkward.
Especially since the Pegasus was looking at him like he was an idiot.
"Marriage isn't on my mind, Meleager. You know my dream," Promise said, shaking his head.
His words left the three of them in stunned silence.
Pursuing a grand death wish?
Probably only Promise in the whole world had such a dream.
Wait, does that mean if he gets married, he won't be thinking about dying? Meleager couldn't help hut fall into a deep thought.
"Promise, are your injuries healed?" Atalanta, who had been quiet until now, suddenly asked.
Promise looked into her serene green eyes and took a few steps, saying, "Oh, I'm fully healed, and I feel more energetic than ever."
The injuries he had from taming the Pegasus were still fresh since it had only been three days, but now they were gone, clearly due to Athena's "reward."
And his high spirits were likely due to eating the golden apple earlier.
Seeing this, Atalanta said, "If that's the case, then let's have a hunting contest. Regardless of who wins, I'll help you with that offering."
"A hunting contest?" Actaeon and Meleager were both surprised.
"Now?" Promise was also taken aback, but not by the idea of a hunting contest—rather, by the timing.
"I can tell you're in excellent condition right now," Atalanta said, gazing intently at Promise. "Even though you just finished a hunt, you're not tired."
After all, that hunt had merely been a formality led by Athena; the real challenge was facing Hera.
"Alright," Promise agreed after some thought.
In truth, he had long known that Atalanta would find an opportunity to compete with him.
After all, this was one of the reasons she had followed him after the hunting festival.
In her faith, which has now wavered slightly, she had failed in a hunt before the goddess Artemis.
And because she felt a sense of dissatisfaction she naturally wanted to make up for it.
She hadn't shown it along the way because she understood the importance of the tasks at hand.
But now that everything else was finished, and only the final offering remained, it was naturally the time.
"You can have Pegasus help you since it's your tamed power," Atalanta said and then without waiting for Promise to respond, she turned and left.
Promise and the others watched her leave, her green hair glowing softly in the moonlit night, her tall and athletic figure exuding a unique charm.
"So that's it," Promise said, patting the Pegasus beside him and then speaking to Meleager. "Lend me your bow... ugh, I still can't pull it!"
Holding the bow Meleager handed him, he realized with frustration that he was still quite weak.
And eating golden apples all the time wasn't a sustainable solution, especially since they mostly increased his health limit.
He needed to find a way to strengthen his physique.
Just as he was pondering this...
"Use this instead," Actaeon, now a giant deer, handed Promise a light bow, one even Greek women might disdain. "This is the bow you left on the mountain that day. I've been carrying it for you."
Promise took the bow, nodded to the two of them, and then mounted the Pegasus.
"Pegasus, let's give it our best shot. I know we'll probably lose, but we need to show a serious attitude. Otherwise, Atalanta will think we're underestimating her, and she might really chase us with arrows!"
The Pegasus neighed in response, indicating it didn't understand why it had to get involved in their competition.
Only after Promise tapped its head twice did it reluctantly agree to work overtime.
Actaeon and Meleager watched the two leave, standing silently by the river for a while.
Finally, Meleager broke the silence. "Hey, Chopper, don't you think their relationship seems really good?"
Hearing this, the latter said nothing and merely patted his shoulder as he stared blankly at their retreating figures.
Unsurprisingly, Atalanta won the final competition, and she won easily.
The hunting contest took less than two hours.
Yes, Promise had the help of Pegasus, but once they started, he realized that this winged horse was more of a hindrance.
Every time it approached, all the game would scatter.
Without the Pegasus's help, Atalanta quickly felt the hunt wasn't even a contest but more like bullying.
Frustrated, she stopped the competition early but then suggested a race with Pegasus.
This time, Promise declined, after all, it would be better to wait until he had more golden apples in his bag before considering such a challenge.
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