"You really are... favored by the gods."
After bidding farewell to the goddess Hestia and following the direction she pointed out toward the kingdom, Atalanta could not help but say this to Jason.
And on the back of the heavenly horse, hearing the slightly envious remark mixed in with Atalanta's sigh, Jason was momentarily stunned before a faint bitter smile appeared on his face.
However, Atalanta, sitting behind Jason, naturally could not see it.
"Hmm... maybe so."
Without turning his head, Jason said faintly, "Although I am just an insignificant and tiny human, to be so cherished by the great gods is truly my utmost honor... You think so too, right, Atalanta?"
By now, Jason no longer denied that he was favored by the gods... After all, whether it was the twelve main gods of Mount Olympus or even more ancient deities, such as the second queen of the gods, Rhea, Jason had met them all.
Presumably, in the mythological histories, there were very few legends of anyone achieving this... After all this time, Jason still had a certain degree of self-awareness.
Yes, he was indeed favored by the gods... However,
Was this really a good thing?
If this was truly a tremendous blessing,
Then after witnessing Jason's 'miracle,' Hecate would not have said that the fates of those favored by the gods and those destroyed by the gods were separated by just a thin line.
However, for someone like Atalanta, who was born and raised in this world, not to mention that she had survived from childhood because she encountered a goddess and even received the goddess's blessing as a fortunate one,
This must certainly be a good thing, something worth envying.
Therefore...
"Of course."
Atalanta's response was completely natural as she said, "To be so valued by the gods is naturally our utmost honor!"
"...Is that so."
Jason turned his head and glanced at Atalanta.
Then a faint smile appeared on his face as he said, "Speaking of which... Atalanta, it's because of this that you decided to follow me on this trip, right?"
Atalanta was slightly stunned.
"You came along because you wanted to see what kind of person I am, the one favored by the gods, right?"
That was indeed the case.
All along, this was the point that had drawn Atalanta to Jason.
After all, three years ago, Artemis's affection for Jason had left an extremely profound impression on Atalanta.
Not to mention that at the time, it was not just Artemis, but also Apollo, Athena, and Jason's teacher Hecate, along with other noble gods.
And now, after experiencing the Calydonian Boar incident and seeing more things about Jason, Atalanta found it hard not to pay attention to him.
Why exactly could he be so valued by so many gods? ... It was precisely because of this that Atalanta chose to follow Jason on this journey.
"...Yes."
Since Jason had pointed it out, after a moment of silence, Atalanta admitted it quite straightforwardly, saying, "And the goddess Artemis told me that if I wanted to know the answer, I should just watch you closely."
"Oh, so have you found the answer?"
"No." Atalanta's reply was without hesitation as she said, "On the contrary, I'm even more puzzled now!"
Jason turned his head to look at Atalanta, only to receive a glare from her in return... Clearly, over these past few days, Atalanta had accumulated a certain degree of dissatisfaction toward Jason.
"Why the gods pay so much attention to me? ... To be honest, I don't quite understand it myself."
With a light chuckle, Jason turned his head back.
As expected, compared to Medea, Atalanta was obviously a bit more adorable.
At the same time, such a thought could not help but surface in Jason's mind.
Originally, it was very simple. Even adding the fateful encounter from three years ago, the time Jason and Atalanta had spent together did not exceed half a month or so.
But in this mere half month, Jason had already clearly recognized what kind of person Atalanta was.
Whereas with Medea, his cute little sister and senior apprentice, after spending a full three years together,
There were many times when Jason still did not know what Medea was thinking.
A girl who is too clever... for Jason, is really not such a cute creature.
"If you can find the answer, I would actually quite hope that you could tell me."
"Why?" Hearing this, Atalanta felt a bit puzzled.
"Because then... I could change it!"
With a hint of light laughter, Jason gently pulled the reins of the heavenly horse in his hand. After the heavenly horse neighed softly, it dove down toward the kingdom below that was now visible.
And because of this sudden movement, Atalanta, startled, instinctively reached out and hugged Jason.
...
...
In the evening,
In the kingdom of Inachus, the king and father of Io.
Because nightfall was approaching, the flow of people in the kingdom was slightly more than usual.
In this world, life at night was not particularly vibrant.
Even if it was vibrant, that was only for the powerful nobles.
Jason and Atalanta walked on the streets, while the heavenly horse had been dismissed by Jason, who told it to wander around on its own during this time.
And for these two visitors from afar, although they attracted some gazes, they did not cause a commotion.
Because he was, after all, a mage... Although he had not yet graduated from the goddess Hecate, Jason could still use simple disguise magic.
One could say that for such a practical and simple magic, it would be strange if Jason did not learn it.
Therefore, what appeared in the eyes of the ordinary people around them now was not the handsome Jason, nor the extraordinarily beautiful huntress.
They were just two extremely ordinary people.
"Shall we go to the palace now and meet that King Inachus?"
On the way, Atalanta looked at Jason, who was gazing around at the surroundings, and could not help but ask.
"No rush... Let's wait a bit longer."
Jason replied to Atalanta with a light smile, "If we go now, there would be too many people... I do not like that."
Atalanta quickly understood what Jason meant.
Because this existence who fundamentally did not want to be tainted with the name of a hero, even if he was forced to reveal his name, would most likely use Heracles as cover.
And back then in Calydon, Jason had similarly preferred to stay in the shadows, not drawing attention.
Hearing this, Atalanta's brows furrowed slightly as she said, "Then what do we do now?"
"Let's walk around... Speaking of which, I have not really taken a good look at this world. Even though I have been here for so many years already."
After a slight pause, Jason replied faintly.
And hearing Jason's words, Atalanta naturally could not help but look toward Jason, her eyes filled with doubt.
Clearly, she did not understand the meaning behind Jason's words.
In response, Jason had no intention of explaining.
Yes, speaking of which, this transmigrator Jason had indeed arrived in this world about three or four years ago.
But in these years, Jason actually had no time to stop and take a look at this world.
Because of the gods' favor, and also for his own sake,
Jason had always been rushing about.
However, in general, Jason would not stop to look at the world he now lived in.
Having such a thought today so suddenly... it was probably because there was an extra Atalanta by his side.
Because although Atalanta did not understand Jason's meaning, she did not say much more and simply followed by Jason's side.
Even if the reason was because of the agreement between them... on this journey, Atalanta had to obey Jason's commands.
But to be honest, even though Jason still felt that Atalanta was quite troublesome, when she stayed by his side... Jason would truly feel a sense of ease.
...Alright, to put it in plain words.
Actually, it was just that Jason felt Atalanta's personality was a bit too straightforward, a bit too... foolish!
The two walked on the streets, and as time passed, nightfall soon descended upon the earth.
The pedestrians on the road thus became fewer and fewer.
Atalanta furrowed her brows and followed by Jason's side, wanting several times to ask Jason what there was to see in this.
But every time she wanted to ask, she would notice that Jason was looking around with an interested gaze, and as time passed, it gradually gave the Atalanta watching him a feeling that he and this place... were so out of place!
Out of place? ...What am I thinking? He is a hero, a person cherished by the gods. Of course he is different from others.
As Atalanta was thinking these things,
"Hey, Atalanta, do you know? ... Actually, it was not long ago, when I left you to go meet Teacher Hephaestus, that Teacher Hephaestus gave me three trials upon our first meeting."
"...Three trials?"
Atalanta looked toward the suddenly speaking Jason and asked in confusion.
"Yes... The first trial was a mountain of gold filling an entire hall of wealth.
The second trial was a room piled full of weapons.
The third trial was all sorts of strange female automatons... They were called automatons, but they were no different from humans.
They respectively represented wealth, power, honor, and women... Teacher Hephaestus told me to pick whatever I wanted, even if I took it all, there would be no problem.
And the goddess Hephaestus even swore on her name that no matter how much I took, she would absolutely not hold me accountable."
"...Why are you suddenly bringing this up?" Hearing Jason's words, after a brief moment of surprise, Atalanta said in confusion.
"Do you not want to know what I chose?" Jason looked at Atalanta with a smile.
Atalanta hesitated for a moment, neither nodding nor shaking her head, and just looked at Jason like that.
Clearly... she was still interested.
"From the ones representing wealth and power, I took a gem. From the weapons representing honor, I took a bow. As for women... well, I did not dare touch that!"
Hearing Jason's answer, although Atalanta felt very surprised, she easily believed Jason's words.
At the same time, she recalled the events from the last time in Calydon.
That time, Atalanta had pressed Jason on why he had acted so disdainful toward her at first, and Jason's answer was that she was too beautiful...
Thinking about it this way, Atalanta felt that Jason was really extremely strange.
Compared to others, he was just so unique.
...Is this the point that attracts the gods?
"So that means you do not like wealth, do not like power, and have no interest in a hero's honor or women either... Then what do you want?"
"The goddess Hephaestus asked me the same thing back then."
Jason smiled and replied to Atalanta, "And my answer was... I just want to live well.
To live on carefree in this foreign land, that's all."
Hearing this answer, Atalanta could not help but be stunned.
She had just thought of many possible answers, even guessing whether Jason was perhaps a supremely benevolent person who saved all beings...
Well, though she felt it did not seem like it at all!
But very obviously, just like how the Hephaestus of back then was stunned by Jason's such answer,
Atalanta at this moment also found this answer to be so absurd!
Even more absurd than the guesses she had just made!
Because living on? ...You say you just want to live well.
Are you serious?
Atalanta looked at Jason, and the Jason who smiled back at her did not continue to explain.
And the reason Jason suddenly thought to tell these things to Atalanta was naturally because Atalanta had said she wanted to understand him.
And also... a kind of inexplicable desire to confide, perhaps.
After all, how should one put it about Atalanta? In Jason's view, she was pretty foolish anyway.
"Alright."
Jason looked up at the sky and then said to Atalanta, "It's about time. We should prepare to go meet that King Inachus."
Thus, that very night, in the sleeping chambers of King Inachus, the two who used invisibility magic appeared before the elderly King Inachus who was preparing to rest.
"Noble King Inachus, greetings. My name is Heracles. Following the divine oracles of the goddess Hestia, the goddess Athena, and the god Hermes, I have come here. This is my assistant."
As King Inachus looked in surprise at the two who had suddenly appeared, Jason bowed to him and revealed his identity.
And regarding the name Heracles and the title of assistant, Atalanta, who glanced at Jason, said nothing.
"We have come this time precisely to rescue your daughter Io... May I ask, noble king, can you tell us where she is now?"
After the surprise, looking at the Jason before him dressed in white robes, with golden hair and green eyes, exactly like the hero in the divine oracle given by Hestia, King Inachus naturally became excited and immediately told Jason her location.
And he implored Jason to definitely save his daughter!
"I see... Rest assured. I swear on the name of the great gods, we will definitely rescue your daughter and bring her back!"
"By the way, King Inachus, I hope that you do not tell anyone about what happened tonight. Just pretend we never came.
I think by tomorrow morning, when dawn arrives, your daughter... will be back by your side."
After saying this, Jason went to the window and gently whistled to summon the heavenly horse.
Thus, the pure white heavenly horse, hearing Jason's call, flapped its wings and came from the moon to their presence.
Then Jason brought Atalanta and sat on the heavenly horse that came galloping.
Under the gaze of King Inachus, the two rode the heavenly horse into the sky, as if returning to the stars in the heavens.