Moonlight poured down; the night sky was filled with stars.
Inside the kingdom of Iolcos, songs and dances rang out.
The people cheered the return of the Argo's heroes and the wise King Aeson's restoration to the throne.
Yet all of it seemed to have nothing to do with Jason, captain of the Argo and son of Aeson.
The person who should have been one of the absolute protagonists of the night had quietly slipped away.
Without disturbing a single soul.
Only the beautiful huntress in emerald-green clothing, Atalanta, who had long foreseen this, chose to see him off once more.
And it was also their final parting.
The sacred Pegasus spread his wings and soared beneath the stars.
Silently carrying Jason and Atalanta, he merged into the starry sky and left the land of Iolcos behind.
Time passed. No one knew how long.
At Atalanta's request, Pegasus descended in a forest clearing.
"This is far enough."
Atalanta landed lightly from the horse's back. She looked at Jason sitting atop Pegasus beneath the moonlight and spoke softly.
"You can go now. Go do what you have to do."
Jason gazed at Atalanta. Hesitation filled him.
He wanted to say something, yet found no words.
In truth, he had not wanted Atalanta to discover him tonight.
After all, the hall had been so painfully awkward earlier that day.
Yet Atalanta understood him far too well.
"…I'm sorry, Atalanta."
In the end Jason did not choose to leave without a word.
He dismounted instead.
A complicated flicker passed through Atalanta's eyes.
"Why are you apologizing to me?" she asked calmly. "You have no reason to apologize at all… do you?"
"I think I do." Jason smiled at her. "I feel like I do. So… I'm sorry.
But we will definitely meet again.
The natural paradise Arcadia, right?
I've remembered it!"
As he spoke, Jason stepped forward, suddenly took Atalanta's small hand, and gently kissed the back of it.
Then he looked up at her staring eyes and smiled.
"Beautiful princess, in the near future I will definitely come find you.
We still have a promise, after all. I haven't taken you to the Underworld to meet my teachers yet."
Hearing this, Atalanta could not help smiling as well.
"You really are selfish… when you've already refused everyone."
"But since you were selfish first, I suppose I can be a little selfish too… right?"
Soon, beneath the stars, on a grassy lawn,
Atalanta sat down and gently lifted Jason's head as he lay down, placing it on that soft, springy spot.
"Is this your idea of being selfish?" Jason asked.
"Yes." Atalanta smiled lightly and looked up at the bright moon shining most brilliantly among the stars.
"This really is my selfishness."
They were, after all, bathed in moonlight.
Even the beautiful moonlight gently drove away every insect around them.
Jason followed her gaze to the moon.
A trace of awkwardness flashed through his eyes.
Fortunately, no moonstone came crashing down tonight.
Whether it was the indulgence, silent permission, or doting of that beautiful goddess, or someone had stopped her, he did not know.
"This is a reward for me," Jason said to Atalanta.
"I know. You only ever rest with your head on a goddess's lap, after all." Atalanta replied calmly. "I'm not a goddess, just an ordinary woman. Sorry about that."
Jason wisely chose silence.
Whoever answered that question was an idiot.
"But whether you like it or not, you're staying put tonight… Rest. Then set off again,
great hero Jason who wears the white holy garments and rides the sacred Pegasus."
As those words fell, a gentle voice like wind chimes began to sing in the night.
Atalanta sang the lullaby she had secretly practiced who-knows-how-long to master.
Her soft voice sealed away whatever Jason had been about to say.
The melody was gentle, like ice cubes clinking in a glass on a summer day, sinking deep into the heart.
Jason gradually became lost in that pure singing.
And slowly closed his eyes.
"…I'll wait for you."
Then, beneath that suddenly silenced heavenly voice, the half-asleep Jason heard the soft whisper by his ear.
A strand of pale-green hair brushed across his face.
It tickled a little.
"This time it's your turn to come find me. It's my turn… to wait for you."
…
The next morning, Jason felt a slight noise beside his ear.
He had finally enjoyed a good night's sleep and was about to turn over and continue when,
the next second, a faceful of cold water splashed over him and shocked him completely awake.
He shot upright and opened his eyes to see Cerberus holding a large lotus leaf, covering her mouth and laughing merrily at him.
Pegasus innocently blinked at Jason from the side, as if to say he had tried to stop her but failed, so it really wasn't his fault.
Jason looked gloomily at the little white-haired loli in a short black dress who resembled Lady Hecate.
He couldn't help asking, "Why are you here?"
"Why am I here?"
Cerberus looked up at Jason, tossed the leaf away, put her hands on her hips, bared her little fangs, and said,
"Jason, you're seriously asking me that? Did you forget the promise I made with Lord Hades and the others when I came to the surface?
I'm not allowed to leave your side!
You just ran off without even telling me.
Are you trying to get bitten?!"
Her crimson eyes glared fiercely at him.
Jason's now-clear mind gradually cleared. He really did feel embarrassed this time.
To make up for abandoning her in the Underworld, Jason had begged and promised for ages before Cerberus finally forgave him.
The condition was that she could come to the surface and have fun with him.
Yet only a few days had passed before he completely forgot about her.
He hadn't thought of her at all when he fled.
"Sorry, sorry… By the way, did you see Atalanta when you arrived?"
Jason looked around as he spoke.
"She left."
Cerberus answered, "The moment she saw me arrive, she turned and walked away… What, are you going to chase her?"
Jason was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"No need. We'll meet again sooner or later anyway.
This time I'll be the one to go find her."
He turned back to Cerberus, skillfully pulled out a honey cake, and stuffed it into her mouth just as she was about to speak again.
He patted her head and asked, "Right, Cerberus, did you come alone?"
"What, were you planning to sneak Medea or that goddess named Thetis along too?"
Cerberus happily munched on the special honey cake Jason had made (much tastier than normal ones) and no longer minded having her head rubbed.
"Medea actually noticed when I left. She wanted to follow, but I shook her off.
You're always leaving us behind anyway. I didn't think you'd take her, and if I brought her you definitely wouldn't give me treats!"
Jason stared at her in shock.
As expected of you. Only when food is involved do you suddenly become this clever!
"But seriously, you're even more cold-blooded than me."
Cerberus mumbled through her cake, "You just up and leave without a word.
Aren't those people your good friends? Some of them are your teachers, your parents…"
Jason was silent for a while, then sighed softly.
"That's exactly why I chose to leave quietly.
Because I was afraid. Afraid they would try to keep me.
And afraid I would bring disaster upon them."
"Bring disaster?" Cerberus blinked, looked him over, then said, "I thought you were just avoiding trouble like always.
But now that you mention it… yeah, it makes sense.
You do represent trouble right now. One careless move and blessings or punishments could rain down.
Like yesterday. I almost dug a hole and ran back to the Underworld!"
Jason gloomily looked at her.
"You… don't tell me the other two heads were awake too?"
"Of course! We were looking for you. All three of us were awake."
Cerberus, the three-headed hound of Hades. In human form she possessed three distinct personalities.
"I see."
Jason sat down, gazing at the sun that had only just risen and the beautiful horizon.
For a moment he felt a little dazed.
Pegasus came over and sat beside him.
Seeing this, Cerberus also sat down and reached out to Jason for more treats.
"Don't eat too many. You'll get cavities."
Jason said as he gave her another cake anyway.
"I won't!"
Cerberus rolled her eyes at him.
Then one boy, one sacred horse, and one three-headed dog fell into a strange silence for a while.
"It hasn't even really started yet,"
Jason suddenly sighed, "and I already feel lonely… Back then I didn't notice, but now that I can't hear the senior brothers' noisy voices all of a sudden,
it really feels strange."
When a person grows used to liveliness, sudden silence always leaves the heart empty and lost.
"Then just call Medea and that ship spirit of yours over.
If you want, that goddess Thetis would probably follow you too."
At those words the inexplicable sadness in Jason's heart instantly vanished.
He looked at Cerberus expressionlessly.
"Have you been enjoying the drama a bit too much lately? Think about it. If something happens to me, you won't get any more honey cakes!"
"What's there to be afraid of? You have Lady Athena's shield now.
Worst case scenario you get locked in a little dark room.
Then I'll go help guard the door.
Who told you to keep eyeing my job, wanting to replace me as Lady Hecate's gatekeeper!"
Jason stared at Cerberus for a while.
Realizing that fighting her would only end with him getting bitten and it wasn't worth it, he gave up.
The sadness from earlier was gone, and thanks to Cerberus's interruption Jason even felt like he had come out ahead.
He stood up and stretched.
Pegasus let out a soft whinny and looked at Jason.
His hooves pawed the ground excitedly.
"He's asking where we're going next,"
Cerberus translated.
"I know. Did you forget I can hear the voices of all things?"
Jason said as he reached out to stroke Pegasus.
He smiled and continued, "Even you can't wait anymore, huh, Horse Brother… Though it has been almost a year since we last traveled."
"So where to?"
Cerberus asked.
Jason turned to look at her, then walked over.
He picked her up and placed her on Pegasus's back in front of him.
"The end of the world."
Jason gazed into the distance and answered, "The Shapeless Island… Waiting passively has never been my style.
I didn't know before, but now that I do, it's time to take the initiative!"
Jason understood Athena far too well now.
He knew that he and the three goddesses on that island were destined to share some kind of story.
Thus the sacred Pegasus spread his wings once more.
Carrying the white-clad youth and the white-haired, crimson-eyed little loli in his arms, he set off on a new journey.
Not long after Pegasus soared into the sky with a loud cry,
Atalanta, walking through the forest toward her home in the natural paradise Arcadia, turned her head.
She happened to witness the scene again.
Her emerald eyes reflected their figures until the sacred Pegasus flew into the clouds and vanished beyond the blue sky.
A gentle breeze blew, stirring her pale-green hair.
Watching him leave, reluctance flickered in Atalanta's eyes, yet a smile appeared on her face.
"Now… it's my turn to wait for you to come find me."
The breeze carried away that soft whisper. Her graceful figure turned and gradually disappeared into the shadows of the forest.
Atalanta chose to return to Arcadia.
Perhaps Jason reuniting with his parents had moved her.
The beautiful huntress decided to face the parents who had once abandoned her.
Medea and the Ship Spirit remained in the kingdom of Iolcos to keep Jason's parents company.
At the same time, Medea took charge of watching over the sleepless dragon that had followed the Argo and still guarded the Golden Fleece…
Sea goddess Thetis eventually returned to the embrace of the ocean with her sister Amphitrite.
Yet she often left the sea to walk on land, coming to the country where Jason was born, asking about him and waiting for him.
The centaur sage Chiron returned to the cave on Mount Pelion, continuing to await students who sought his teachings of martial arts and wisdom.
Thus the heroes of the Argo officially disbanded.
Though they were surprised by Jason's departure, none of them were angry.
After all, they had long grown used to it.
"Ah, our captain must have received another oracle and left!"
"Yeah, yeah! We can't fall behind either!"
"Time to go home… Now that I think about it, there's a lot waiting for me back home!"
"Right? And… I feel a little ashamed looking back. I think I made quite a few mistakes in the past. I hope I can make up for them this time."
"Black history, right? Same here. I'm embarrassed too!"
"Let's all do our best! If anyone runs into danger, don't be reckless. Send me a letter. I'll definitely come help!"
Laughing and talking, everyone returned to their own homelands.
The sudden end was only the beginning of new legends.
The tales of their deeds, sung by bard after bard, resounded throughout the Greek world and spread to every corner.
Having experienced the voyage of the Argo, they had clearly changed.
True heroes…
If the future ever recorded this moment,
it would undoubtedly leave an indelible mark!
It had begun with little birds carrying letters that guided them to the warship Argo.
It ended beneath a grand banquet.
The journey of the Argo and the Golden Fleece
brought tremendous transformation not only to the participating heroes and to Jason himself, but to the entire world of that era.
The heroes who scattered did not bring an ending.
They brought a brand-new beginning!
In this regard, Jason had once again fulfilled his promise.
He had offered the Pearl of Olympus, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, an answer that was nearly perfect.
He had even caused a monumental shift in the entire age of Greek mythology at this very moment, at this very turning point!
Jason had accomplished all of this, yet he did not stop to admire the change.
Because he had set out on his journey once more.
After the affair of the Golden Fleece, under the attention and blessings of the gods, he headed toward a farther, unknown horizon.
And… this was also his final journey.
————————————————————————
PS: This volume is finished.
(No actual volume break, just a note.)
So far the story has roughly four volumes:
Jason's childhood.
Jason leaving the mountain, forming the story of Artemis's arrows and Apollo's bow.
Forming the story of the wedding of Hades and Persephone.
The current Golden Fleece and the heroes of the Argo.
Now we have arrived at the fifth and final volume of the Greek mythology arc.
It will begin with the events of the Shapeless Island and serve as the concluding chapter.
Jason's final journey.
(Originally the Shapeless Island arc was meant to be part of volume 4. I had planned to take the entire Argo there, finish the fight, and only then have Athena give Jason her gift.
But after thinking it over, I abandoned that plan.
Because for the earlier Athena, the tribute she desired most was indeed "the most beautiful hero."
But for the current her, the tribute she truly wanted above all else was Jason himself.
Therefore Jason making his feelings clear was already the best possible tribute she could receive.)
So please look forward to Jason's final journey…
Ascension to godhood.