One week's time, and I will complete the trial given to me by the gods.
This was the answer Jason gave to Queen Hypsipyle, and it was even more so an answer to Queen Hera and the Goddess of Wisdom Athena!
To offer tribute to Athena, Jason decided to step onto the path of a hero, and at the same time, he would use his actions to tell everyone.
What it truly means to be a hero!
And at the same time...
Jason's Greek survival rules were revised once again!
Although this world would not have so many hero-saving-beauty scenarios for him to encounter, nor would there be so many opportunities for him to act chivalrously and righteously.
The blessings and indulgences of the gods were even harder things to enjoy.
Life is long, full of crises everywhere, and when traveling outside, one must stay low-key, avoid trouble if possible, and run if one can!
But—
A person's life always holds surprises at every turn; it cannot be smooth sailing!
Especially in this chaotic ancient Greek world where gods walk the earth, demigod heroes are commonplace, and monsters are as numerous as dogs.
No matter how cautious you are, you will always encounter unexpected "surprises"!
Therefore, remember this, Jason!
Before you become a god, before you possess the true power to break free from everything, you must learn to disguise yourself... disguise yourself deeply!
The mistake you have already committed once must absolutely not be repeated a second time!
Never... never show your weak side without reservation again.
Pull yourself together and give it your all!
...
Early morning,
On a small path on the island.
"What do you plan to do?"
The beautiful huntress Atalanta, dressed in emerald green attire, walked beside Jason.
Her holy azure eyes gazed at the youth's figure.
Even though he was no longer wearing that pure white sacred robe.
Atalanta knew he was still the most radiant star that had fallen to the mortal world, shining brightly on the Greek mainland!
"I will do my utmost to resolve all the crises on this island."
Jason replied faintly to Atalanta.
"Have you thought it through... What should I do?"
Jason turned his head to look at Atalanta, smiled faintly, and then said softly, "Could I trouble you to keep an eye on our companions for me? ... Leave this matter entirely to me.
And once this is over, it is time to correct the conduct issues on the ship!"
Since he was absolutely going to do it, he would naturally give it his all and do it to the best of his ability!
Now, Jason no longer viewed the crew members on the ship as burdens for this journey.
He would change them and turn them into his own strength!
Atalanta nodded lightly to Jason upon hearing this and then departed.
Watching Atalanta leave, Jason withdrew his gaze and scanned the surrounding fields that had long been abandoned.
Then he turned and walked toward the forest.
The island of Lemnos was inhabited only by women.
Because of the revolt a year ago, they had killed all the men on the island!
Thus, many of the crises existing on the island were obvious at a glance.
Oxen would not yoke themselves, and crops would not grow out of thin air.
In simple terms, the island lacked labor, which was one of the reasons they wanted to keep the heroes here.
At the same time, this was not the Land of Women from Journey to the West, with its magical river water; without men, new life could not be born naturally.
Moreover, they had killed the women from the Thracians across the strait, creating external threats.
Their disrespect toward the Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite had also brought them a curse.
But none of that mattered, because Jason had already devised a solution.
To offer the finest tribute to the great Goddess of Wisdom Athena with all his might... For this, he, who least wanted to become a hero.
Would make Jason's name resound throughout this world.
On this journey, he would be the most shining existence among the crew of the Argo, even though it gathered heroes from the entire Greek mainland!
Thus,
Time passed in the blink of an eye.
In an instant, a week had gone by.
On this day, the gods who knew of the matter gathered together.
Even the Goddess Hecate in the underworld and Queen Persephone of the Underworld appeared.
Athena had finally left that barren invisible island today.
Under Medusa's gaze of "you are finally leaving."
But Athena did not appear before any of the gods.
She hid alone in a white cloud, her golden eyes gazing from afar at the golden-haired, blue-eyed hero who shone like the God of Light Apollo.
Her expression was extremely complex.
She had fallen in love...
The goddess who should not love, who should not even understand what love is, had fallen in love.
And the one she loved was a mortal.
Even now, Athena felt somewhat at a loss, unsure with what face she should appear before Jason.
But she still came... because she had to.
This was the tribute Jason was changing himself for, offering to her!
As Athena watched the youth's figure silently with an incomparably complex expression.
Hera's brows furrowed slightly as she surveyed the auras of the gods arriving one by one around her...
"This scene feels somewhat familiar."
Saying this, Hera, who inexplicably felt a sense of déjà vu, could not help but look down at Jason, who was being led by female attendants into the palace to meet Queen Hypsipyle.
Then, in a moment of daze.
Jason, dressed in black with the emblem of underworld butterflies, donned white robes and put on that exquisite mask...
Yes, the gods gathering one by one, gazing and watching from afar—this scene.
Was so similar.
So similar to the time with the white-robed hero Heracles!
Hera was stunned...
Her heart was filled with shock!
"What am I thinking!"
Startled, Hera shook her head vigorously, expelling this insane thought from her mind.
"The seven days have arrived... Hero from the distant land of Iolcus."
In the palace hall, Queen Hypsipyle, seated on the throne, gazed at the approaching Jason with eyes full of affection.
"Have you completed the trial granted to you by the great goddess?"
"Yes, Queen Hypsipyle."
Jason bowed to her and said, "I have completed it."
"Really?" Queen Hypsipyle blinked at Jason and said doubtfully, "But over this week, you clearly did nothing, just wandered around the island..."
"No, I have done it, Queen Hypsipyle."
Jason smiled at Queen Hypsipyle and said, "And next, I will prove everything to you... But before that, I hope my companions can come as well.
Because this is not only the trial granted to me by the great goddess; it is a trial for all the crew of the Argo."
Queen Hypsipyle stared at Jason.
As their gazes met, facing Jason's holy azure eyes that did not evade at all, that exquisite countenance...
Queen Hypsipyle was entranced.
After a long while, without giving an answer.
It was the elderly woman beside her who coughed lightly twice, bringing Queen Hypsipyle back to her senses.
Then she instructed her attendants to summon the crew of the Argo scattered around the island.
When they arrived here in confusion,
In broad daylight, many were disheveled, with obvious scratch marks on their bodies.
And they did not feel this was anything shameful.
Upon arriving and seeing Jason, many even smiled and greeted him.
"Jason, you're here too!"
"Haha, looks like you lost the bet. I told him you would come!"
"Jason, this island is great, right!"
Looking at them like this.
Jason's smile remained unchanged.
Until a while later, when Atalanta came to Jason's side.
"Have they all come?"
Atalanta nodded lightly.
"Then let us go together, Queen Hypsipyle... I will prove to you that the crew of the Argo has completed the trial given by the great goddess!"
After Jason said this, many of the crew of the Argo were stunned.
Trial?
The goddess's trial?
...What thing!
While they were bewildered, Queen Hypsipyle had already stood up and followed Jason out of the palace.
Along the way, they came to the abandoned fields.
"Queen Hypsipyle, the fields on the island have been completely abandoned because of that incident a year ago... Right?"
Faced with Jason's question, unnatural expressions flashed across the faces of many women.
In response, the accompanying heroes of the Argo were also bewildered.
That incident a year ago?... What incident.
"Jason, do you... want to solve the problem of the fields for us?"
Queen Hypsipyle said, scanning the heroes of the Argo present.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of many Argo heroes changed.
Because they were heroes, great heroes.
How could such crude labor be done by them!
Even though they had enjoyed nearly ten days of tender embraces on this island.
"No... Because even if we plant the fields now, it would only solve the temporary problem; it is not a way to resolve the difficulty."
"Then..." Queen Hypsipyle looked at Jason doubtfully.
The heroes of the Argo, who had breathed a sigh of relief, also looked at Jason doubtfully.
Jason did not speak again; he simply turned, took out the golden ear of wheat, and scattered seeds onto the abandoned fields before him.
Then, under the shocked gazes of Queen Hypsipyle and the women of the island, the seeds buried in the soil immediately took root, sprouted, flowered, and bore fruit!
Seeing this, many elders directly knelt down and shouted miracle, miracle!
At the same time, before Jason could explain, many Argo heroes, seeing the beautiful women who had shared intimate moments with them casting adoring gazes toward Jason, secretly grumbled about it.
This was the blessing granted to Jason by the great Goddess Demeter of Agriculture and Persephone.
"Jason, you are going to give it to them?"
Atalanta frowned as she looked at Jason.
Indeed, this solved the farming problem, but...
"No." Jason shook his head and said to Queen Hypsipyle and the women of the island, "This is the blessing granted to me by the great Goddess Demeter and Persephone, so I cannot give it to you.
I made these abandoned fields yield produce merely to express my thanks to you."
"Thanks?" Queen Hypsipyle looked at Jason doubtfully.
"Over this period, we have enjoyed the generous hospitality you provided, yet we have given nothing in return... To receive without giving back is to feel guilty, so we should naturally express gratitude."
When Jason said this in a matter-of-fact tone.
Queen Hypsipyle was stunned, and the women of the island were also stunned.
Even the heroes of the Argo were all stunned together.
"I did not need it... Over this time, the food I ate was all hunted by me myself."
And in the midst of everyone's silence, Atalanta unceremoniously added another knife!
When she finished, in that instant, even Heracles' face could not help but show some embarrassment.
"No need for that, Jason."
Queen Hypsipyle's gaze softened as she said to Jason, "You are guests; this is what we should do..."
"No, respected Queen Hypsipyle." Jason shook his head, interrupting Queen Hypsipyle, and said, "Guests from afar should indeed be entertained carefully, but to keep taking without giving in return is the act of scoundrels.
We are heroes of the Argo, heroes watched by the gods, not scoundrels!
Therefore, it is only right that we give you something in return!"
When Jason finished saying this.
Queen Hypsipyle was speechless.
The heroes of the Argo were also speechless.
And some heroes with conscience, like Heracles, had already lowered their heads in shame.
Watching this scene in secret, many gods revealed smiles.
Goddess Hestia and the others gazed at Jason with gentle eyes.
"...He pulled it off quite convincingly."
Hecate said.
Persephone looked at Hecate, then could not help but chuckle.
Because Hecate, when you say that, with that proud expression of "this is my student, my child," can you at least try to hide it a little?
"I understand." Queen Hypsipyle came back to her senses and looked at Jason with eyes full of admiration and affection.
"I will immediately call people to harvest these crops..."
"No, respected Queen Hypsipyle, I said this is the trial granted to me by the great goddess. The heroes of the Argo will resolve this trouble for you."
As Jason's words fell.
"That's right!"
Heracles roared, then glared hatefully at the stunned crew and said, "What are you all standing around for? Do you plan to leave everything to Junior Brother Jason... No, Captain Jason?!"
Under Heracles' voice, the crew snapped awake.
Just as they hesitated and prepared to harvest the crops.
"No need... I said from the beginning that we can manage for a while, but we cannot solve the problem, because we will leave sooner or later."
Jason stopped everyone.
"Then..." Queen Hypsipyle looked at Jason.
The women of the island also looked at Jason.
The heroes of the Argo looked toward Jason as well.
"We must leave, so we cannot help you with plowing or harvesting, but besides us, and besides you, there are actually others who can do it."
"Who?!" Queen Hypsipyle looked at Jason.
Jason smiled and did not answer Queen Hypsipyle's question.
He turned his head and whistled a clear, crisp sound toward the forest.
The next moment, the mystery was revealed.
Birds of all kinds flew out from the forest, monkeys ran out from within, and field mice scurried out from the fields...
When the creatures of the island emerged, surprising everyone.
What shocked everyone even more was that they began harvesting the crops in various ways and piling the harvested goods before the women of the island!
"Queen Hypsipyle, do you still remember what I told you... I possess the ability to listen to the voices of all things." At this point, Jason spoke.
"Thus, over this time, I wandered all over the island and reached an agreement with these creatures of the island.
From today onward, during the times to come, the creatures of the island will plow, guard, and harvest the crops for you.
And as their condition, you will also provide them with food and no longer hunt the creatures of the island wantonly...
Under the witness of the great gods, can you do it?"
Did this even need any hesitation?
Queen Hypsipyle and the women of the island gazed excitedly at this scene before them, exchanged glances, and with Queen Hypsipyle at the lead, they one by one swore oaths to the gods, invoking the vows.
"Thank you, Jason. I... I do not even know how to thank you properly!" Queen Hypsipyle said excitedly to Jason.
"No, you do not need to thank me, respected queen. The ones you truly need to thank are the creatures living alongside you on this island."
Jason said seriously to Queen Hypsipyle, "All things in the world have spirits. They agreed to my request, offering you their pure hearts. I hope... you do not disappoint them. Remember, from now on, treat them well!"
"Of course, of course!"
The women of the island all expressed their agreement.
And seeing this scene, Athena inexplicably felt... a twinge of discomfort.
Pure hearts offered wholeheartedly, yet met with disappointment...
At that moment.
"Next, Queen Hypsipyle... and everyone on the island, I hope you will join me in receiving a great existence."
"A great existence." Queen Hypsipyle was stunned.
"Who..."
Before the words were finished, everyone felt a blur before their eyes.
Beside Jason, there was one more person.
No, a god!
It was a goddess with red hair reaching her waist, recognized by the world as the most beautiful.
The Goddess of Beauty, Aphrodite!
Jason bowed to her, then looked at the stunned Queen Hypsipyle and the others, saying, "Once, because of disrespectful words, you offended the great Goddess Aphrodite, receiving her punishment, your bodies emitting an unbearable foul odor, which ultimately led to a great mistake a year ago.
You killed all the men on the island, your former husbands... Am I right?"
After Jason spoke, aside from the few like Heracles and Atalanta who already knew, all the crew of the Argo were stunned.
Then many looked at the beautiful women who had accompanied them these past days with shocked gazes.
Their bodies could not help but shiver!
"You prayed to me for seven days and seven nights, summoning me here..."
At this time, Aphrodite spoke, looking at Jason before her with furrowed brows, saying, "Could it be just to plead for them?!"
After saying that...
"You, you... Could you be!"
An elderly woman on the island widened her eyes, then knelt in fear and worshiped, saying, "Great Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite!"
"Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite?"
"Wait, this... Yes, that's right, this is the great Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite!"
After recognizing Aphrodite's identity, even Queen Hypsipyle knelt in fear before Aphrodite and paid her respects.
Aphrodite ignored them entirely; she quietly looked at Jason.
"No, great Goddess Aphrodite, I am not pleading for them... But I will bring the matters of the island to a conclusion."
"A conclusion?" Aphrodite stared at Jason for a moment, then nodded lightly and said, "Speak."
Upon hearing this, Jason bowed to Aphrodite once more, then looked at Queen Hypsipyle and the island's residents, saying, "Before that, I hope Queen Hypsipyle and you all can help me with something... Because besides the great Goddess Aphrodite, the arrival of another goddess is needed to end the island's matters.
To end the trial faced by the crew of the Argo."
"Thus, I hope Queen Hypsipyle and you all can join me in invoking the great name of that goddess... I believe that benevolent and great goddess will surely appear before us upon hearing our call."
"Who?" Queen Hypsipyle looked at Jason.
Everyone else looked at Jason as well.
Jason smiled lightly and then said, "The queen of the Olympian gods, the great goddess who governs marriage, fertility, and the protection of women in the world.
Queen Hera!"
"....Ah?"
Hera, who had been watching the scene below, was stunned.
Me?
Queen Hypsipyle and the others were also puzzled, but after seeing everything that had happened before them, they unconditionally believed Jason's words.
Thus, they all began calling the name of Queen Hera.
With each call, Hera naturally stepped out from the light and appeared before everyone.
After Hera emerged, enjoying the gazes of all on the island converging upon her.
A smile could not help but appear on her face.
Seeing this, Jason breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
He secretly thought, it was worth setting up such a grand stage.
Then Jason gathered his spirits and bowed to Hera.
In this situation, Hera naturally showed Jason an incomparably gentle smile, telling him there was no need for such formalities.
"Speak, what do you plan to do."
Aphrodite said.
Hera looked at Jason, Queen Hypsipyle and the other women of the island, and the heroes of the Argo all looked at Jason as well.
"Great Queen Hera, Goddess Aphrodite, in my view, Queen Hypsipyle and they have two great sins.
First, they should not have disrespected the great Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite.
Second, they killed their own husbands.
This is an indisputable fact!"
Aphrodite and Hera both looked at Jason in surprise.
They had not expected Jason to pronounce judgment upon opening his mouth, rather than seeking exoneration...
"Since they are guilty, they should naturally receive punishment!
But...
I believe the noble and benevolent two great goddesses would not wish to watch as they on the island fall into despair and perish.
And the island perishes because it has no men to raise the next generation, right."
"Do you mean for me to find some men for them?" Aphrodite furrowed her brows as she looked at Jason.
"No, of course not, Goddess Aphrodite." Jason shook his head and continued, "Since they are guilty, they should naturally receive punishment.
And obviously, since they killed their own husbands with their own hands, the punishment they most deserve is, before receiving forgiveness from the two goddesses, to be unable to be touched by any man!"
As the words fell, the women of the island instantly panicked.
But Queen Hypsipyle quickly stopped them.
She took a deep breath, then... said with a face full of sorrow, "Hero Jason is right; we are inherently sinful... Before receiving forgiveness, how could we touch men and receive men's affection."
Seeing them so sorrowful, even the goddess of love Aphrodite could not help but fall silent.
And at that moment, Jason spoke again, saying, "Yes, this is the punishment they should receive, but... without men, unable to bear the next generation, the only fate awaiting the people of this small island is to wither away.
Benevolent Hera, Goddess Aphrodite, surely you would not wish to see such a thing."
"..." Aphrodite turned back to look at Jason.
After a long while, Aphrodite could not help but laugh.
With this laugh, among the Argo crew watching the goddess of beauty, countless revealed dazed expressions.
"Alright, child... Speak, how do you plan to resolve this matter."
"This... will require requesting the benevolent Queen Hera to descend a divine oracle to save this island."
Jason looked at Hera.
Hera blinked, about to say that she would bring some men over.
"Because of their sin, they should receive their punishment; they cannot marry or touch men's bodies anymore, but... such a sin cannot also deprive them of their rights as women."
Jason said, "Thus, benevolent Hera, you are the great queen among the gods; you are even more the mother of all children in the world.
I know you pity the people of the world, pity those abandoned, pitiable poor children in the world..."
When Jason said this, Atalanta, who was an abandoned orphan, could not help but glance at Jason.
"The women of this island are punished and cannot have husbands, thus unable to bear children, but we cannot deprive them of their sacred rights as women to raise the next generation.
Thus, great goddess Hera who pities the world's children, please bring those pitiable children here and let them raise them until they grow up."
After Jason finished, Athena and Hecate were the first to react.
Then they gazed at Jason below, and in different places, they both revealed smiles.
Signing a contract with the island's creatures to resolve the food issue on the island.
Summoning Goddess Aphrodite to resolve the conflict between these women and the goddess of beauty.
Summoning Hera and, through the mouth of pity for the world, finding abandoned orphans in the world to solve the issue of passing on the next generation on the island.
At the same time, these women on the island also received the punishment they should have.
When Queen Persephone of the Underworld looked at Hecate, who had a face of realization, and curiously sought an answer from her, then turned back to look at Jason...
"Hey... Why do I suddenly feel that Jason really resembles her a bit now."
"Who?"
"The goddess of judgment who handed the scales of judgment to Jason and prepared to have him succeed her divine position, Themis!"
That goddess clad in white robes, symbolizing moral perfection.
With eyes covered, symbolizing absolute justice.
Left hand holding the scales, right hand the divine sword, judging all in the world, including the gods—Themis!