"Iskios! Please insult me!"
"...."
Pollux... Earlier during the break I chased him off with a string of curses, yet that damned fool still hasn't learned. Even as he rowed, he got himself worked up and begged me to hurl insults at him.
I wondered how it had come to this... then remembered this was end-of-days Greece and quietly accepted it. So I ignored Pollux's demand; other than that, the voyage went smoothly.
"Heracles! Let's have a contest!"
"A contest...?"
While at sea, Jason suddenly challenged Heracles to a rowing match. Of course, I'd forgotten they were friends with me. Madness...
Soon everyone stopped rowing and started betting on who would last longer—Heracles or Jason. A few of us—I, Orpheus, and Atalanta—decided to watch.
Heracles rowed on the right, Jason on the left, and the match began. Almost everyone bet on Heracles winning—after all, he's strong, invincible, the mightiest. Though he isn't a Kaiba-man, is he?
As time passed, the finish line neared and the island ahead came into view. And at that very moment, it happened.
"I-I've lost...!"
"Ah..."
Jason gritted his teeth in frustration and let his oar drop, conceding defeat. At the same instant, Heracles's oar snapped clean in two.
Because both occurred together, the result was effectively a draw. But Jason refused to accept it—true to form for a Greek man.
Upon reaching the island, Heracles went off to find wood for a new oar, and the other heroes disembarked and scattered at will. Some sprawled on the ground, others ran about like children.
Jason inspected the ship for damage, Atalanta ventured alone into the woods to gather food, and Hylas—the pretty boy Heracles brought along—said,
"Ah, then I'll go fetch water."
He grabbed a jar and started toward the forest. But I caught his shoulder before he could go. Frankly, I couldn't just leave this frail kid on his own.
"I'm coming with you."
"I-Is that really alright?"
"A weakling like you will get kidnapped if you go alone."
Again, this is end-of-days Greece—an era ruled by violence and base instincts. Pretty faces like Hylas always become targets. If Hylas vanished without a trace—kidnapped—imagine how Heracles would react.
Honestly, the expedition would be in serious trouble if Heracles went missing. So I followed Hylas as his bodyguard. Soon enough, I realized my choice was right.
-This isn't the Avengers; it's the Argonaut expedition!-
I followed Hylas to a spring in the forest and watched him draw water when he spoke up.
"Um, Lord Iskios. May I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
"I heard you once received a proposal from Apollo. Do you have a type?"
I didn't understand why Hylas would ask such a thing, but I sighed at his curious gaze. His look was pure curiosity.
Since childhood, gods and mortals have courted me—my face unleashing hidden desires. Even Apollo spent two years using every resource to find me.
Yet I've never let a single person—man or woman—touch me, not even a god. If marriage ever comes up...
"A type...? There isn't one. I'm too busy living alone. I'm not letting anyone touch me. Understood?"
"Ah, y-yes... I'm sorry..."
My reply was laced with murderous intent, and Hylas trembled and apologized. In truth, I'd never once considered marriage.
I had no intention of it. In this grim era, making a family only brings trouble. Dealing with Apollo alone was enough; I couldn't handle more.
As Hylas finished drawing water, I suddenly snapped and grabbed him by the left arm.
"Who's there?!"
"W-what's wrong?!"
Hylas didn't understand my sudden outburst, but I sensed countless gazes on us at the spring.
As I dragged Hylas out of the spring, beautiful nymphs emerged from the water, one by one. I clicked my tongue in annoyance.
Since Apollo chased me, I've become hyper-sensitive to stares. If someone watches me, I instantly know who it is and their intent. These gazes were many—and brimming with lust for Hylas and me.
"Are you the legendary Iskios? I'd love to see the face beneath that mask~!"
"And the boy's cute too... won't you play with us?"
"Eat shit."
As a nymph stepped forward to seduce us, I stuck out my middle finger, and Hylas and I vanished before their eyes.
Startled, the nymphs looked around in confusion and began searching the forest for us.
These nymphs panicked. Rumor had it only one pretty boy and the masked Iskios could steal hearts—even Apollo's. Now both had disappeared without a trace.
Where could we have gone? The answer was simple: we hadn't moved. We were hidden in the shadow of a tree beside the spring the whole time.
"Knew it. Glad I followed you."
"Th-thank you..."
Hylas trembled with fear, unsure of what had happened, but he felt safe because I'd hidden us.
Though prickly and wary, I never abandon the weak. I never back down if something's at stake.
I claim to hate attention, but in this era, I'm still a hero—odd, maybe, but a hero nonetheless.
"Alright, let's slip out of the woods slowly. We can hide in shadows, but we can't move while invisible. So we have to be covert and swift..."
After ensuring no eyes or sounds tracked us, I hoisted Hylas onto my back and sprinted through the forest, weaving between trees.
My sprint was silent, precise, and graceful. I thought we'd break free of the woods, but a scream tore through the trees.
"Kyaaaa!!"
"W-what is that!?"
"...."
I stopped in my tracks. I recognized the scream—it came from one of the nymphs who'd tried to hunt us. Hearing it, I gently set Hylas on the ground.
"Hylas. Run to Heracles now. Don't look back, understand?"
"W-what do you mean, Lord Iskios?"
"Something's wrong. I'm going to check it out!"
"Ah! Lord Iskios!"
Without turning back, I dashed deeper into the woods at full speed. I heard Hylas calling after me, but I didn't slow down. As I weaved through the trees, my senses sharpened.
Maybe the scream was a trap. I hoped that was all it was, but what I saw was worse than my worst fears.
"Frogs...?"
In the forest ahead, frogs croaked ribbitribbit, and discarded clothes lay scattered among them.
Clothes... frogs. Clothes... frogs. My mind raced to the worst conclusion.
"Oh, God..."