Setting aside the chaos roiling through the heroes' minds, Heracles' smile was completely genuine.
He'd experienced a lot during this period. Before boarding the Argo, he'd traveled across many places in Greece, clearing away local threats for ordinary people.
Yet, more often than not, what he received wasn't gratitude—but fear.
The very people he rescued feared him, this supposed "hero."
This wasn't what Heracles wanted. It wasn't that he craved gratitude—he simply believed people shouldn't fear those who helped them.
Driven by this confusion, he'd climbed the Caucasus Mountains to meet Prometheus and asked for the clay tablet Rovi had left behind.
But his doubts remained unresolved.
Only when he boarded the Argo and saw firsthand these so-called "heroes," did Heracles finally understand—
"Heroes shouldn't behave like that!" Heracles shot Jason and the others a disdainful glance, then turned to Rovi. "Of course, receiving rewards for deeds is natural."
"But if everyone behaved like them—taking whatever they please—what difference would there be between heroes and monsters?"
Jason and his men shivered.
Rovi smiled softly. "Then you've made your choice?"
"I have." Heracles returned a determined smile. "Fuck the Greek heroes—I'll walk only the path I choose for myself!"
"Believe me," Rovi replied earnestly, "you'll become a true Greek hero, unlike any of them."
"Um... If there's nothing else, we'll just get going, shall we? We wouldn't want to disturb your reunion." Jason still tried to slip away. "We have urgent business..."
"You bastards shut up!" This time, it wasn't Rovi who shouted, but Heracles. Zeus's muscular son glared fiercely at them. "You're standing before the Sage of Uruk, the Grandmaster of Mount Pelion's Cave—someone even Teacher Chiron wouldn't dare disrespect!"
Jason and the others were shocked.
Like Heracles, most of these heroes had come from Chiron's teaching at Mount Pelion. However, Chiron had focused solely on combat skills, overlooking character—perhaps because the concept itself scarcely existed in this era.
But Rovi understood it clearly.
"Grandmaster..." Jason quickly put on a pleading expression.
Before he could finish, he—and all his fellow heroes—vanished simultaneously.
Rovi simply waved his hand.
"Where did you send them?" Heracles asked curiously.
"To a place that'll help them 'reform'," Rovi replied with a mysterious smile.
Killing them directly would've been too kind. After all, death in the Age of Gods wasn't necessarily permanent. Given their backgrounds, resurrection wasn't impossible.
Thus, Rovi borrowed the triple-layered Authority gradually revealed by "Hermes," imprisoning them in an illusory void.
"If they don't strive earnestly, they'll die repeatedly. Only by strictly abiding by discipline and becoming true heroes can they escape."
Heracles recalled their behavior on the journey and figured this might be worse than death for them.
Yet, Heracles wore a satisfied smile. "Sounds good."
He respected their courage in braving the sea, but he'd grown tired of their arrogance. Having Rovi discipline them was perfect.
It was, after all, the "Sage's teaching."
As for the Golden Fleece—that was obviously out of the question.
Something Rovi held wouldn't easily be given up to Jason.
"Now, let's talk about you," Rovi looked back at Heracles again.
Waves gently crashed along the shores of Colchis. Heracles nodded slowly. "I'd like your advice on the tablet I received from Prometheus—"
As he spoke, he took out a clay tablet from the bundle tied at his waist.
Rovi immediately shivered.
Exactly as he suspected... yet another dark chapter of his past.
"Ahem, that sort of thing is still too early for you," he coughed lightly. Heracles widened his eyes slightly, watching as the tablet turned to ashes in his hand.
...Oh well.
"Forcing the issue won't do any good anyway!" Heracles shrugged, surprisingly carefree.
Rovi shot him a sideways glance, seeing right through him. "It's mainly because it wasn't yours to begin with, isn't it?"
"Details," Heracles waved dismissively.
But Prometheus might've cared a lot about those details... Rovi quietly remarked to himself.
"Then let's go!" This sentence wasn't directed at Heracles, but at the shaded woods by the beach behind him.
Heracles raised his eyes and saw a figure slowly emerge from the shadows.
Although clearly a girl, her entire body was wrapped in a green cloak, showing only faint traces of long, verdant hair falling from her hood...
A demigod?
Heracles glanced briefly, then turned his attention back to Rovi.
"Let's move!" Rovi grinned. "We'll take the Argo back."
He'd missed boarding it earlier, so naturally, he had to experience this legendary ship at least once.
"I'll handle the steering," Heracles volunteered eagerly.
"Hmph." Atalanta snorted softly from the side, saying nothing else.
When they'd arrived, the Argo was full. Now, returning, there were just three aboard. Yet, Heracles felt happier now than before.
The sails unfurled, and the ship set out across the sea breeze.
Heracles stood on the deck at the helm, adjusting the course, while Rovi and Atalanta went into the cabin.
"Finally, I can get some sleep!" Rovi lazily stretched and immediately dropped onto the bed.
Counting carefully, he realized he hadn't gotten much rest since arriving in Colchis.
Not because he didn't want to, but simply because he'd been too busy.
He'd always held a habit of sleeping whenever he found time, which hadn't changed to this day.
Atalanta: "..."
Isn't he ignoring me a bit too much?
She instinctively bristled but then paused.
Moonlight filtered through the window, softly illuminating the cabin. The girl's cat-like eyes slowly wandered around the space, neither cramped nor spacious.
Her nose twitched slightly as she looked at Rovi...
He's asleep?
This might be a good chance to mess with him a bit?
Atalanta smiled slyly.
She reached out her hand, gently touching his cheek.
"Hmph, even asleep, he's still pretty good-looking—" she couldn't help thinking.
What a strange guy.
That was Atalanta's strongest impression after interacting with Rovi recently.
He could be polite and respectful one moment, then foul-mouthed the next; he could strictly follow principles, yet behave shamelessly toward those who were shameless themselves. It was as if he had multiple personalities seamlessly merged into one person.
Like throwing all sorts of random things into a fire—yet the flames that emerged were radiant, warm, and comforting…
Cats had always loved warm places.
Atalanta was no exception.
She didn't really want to admit it, but that was the truth.
Perhaps this was the reason why Lady Enkidu, Lady Artemis, and Lady Athena were so captivated by him?
Or perhaps that was why she'd nearly lost her composure earlier due to Medea's "confession"?
Right. It's all this guy's fault!
"Mm..." Growing increasingly curious, Atalanta slowly leaned forward, resting her head gently on Rovi's chest.
So warm...
She carefully pressed her entire body onto him. Her slender, agile legs clad in black tights parted and came to rest on either side of the bed. Her toned hips subtly shifted up and down, and the beast ears hidden within her long hair quivered softly.
Even the tail, normally appearing only during high-speed movement for balance, slipped out now, swaying gently.
It softly twitched in the air.
A faint blush spread across Atalanta's face. She felt light-headed, like a cat who'd inhaled catnip...
Creak—!
The deck suddenly tilted, and with a thunderous sound of waves crashing, Atalanta's head slammed straight into Rovi's chest.
Rovi's eyes snapped open immediately.
And instantly met Atalanta's cat-like gaze, currently nestled in his arms.
Oh, no—
Her face instantly turned bright red.
"Oh, daughter of mine—did you finally decide you wanted to experience some fatherly love?" Rovi teased cheerfully.
"Waah!" Her embarrassment flared into anger immediately. Atalanta raised her head, baring her teeth, and fiercely bit down on Rovi's neck.
Wait... wasn't this position even more questionable!?