When the island came into view, the heroes rowed with all their strength and drew rapidly toward it.
Before long, we had reached the island at great speed.
"My, what splendid gentlemen. Where have you come from?"
"From Greece, across the sea."
As we disembarked, the women on the island came toward us and the ship.
The women who lived here told us that this was Lemnos Island, and that only women lived on this island.
At the news that the island was filled with women, the male heroes were already turning their eyes toward them.
"...What an unusual island. How on earth does it sustain itself?"
"...Astellon. You are not like them, are you?"
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean, Atalanta?"
"...No. Forget it. I apologize for asking such a rude question."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
At my words, Atalanta had already silently pointed out some of the men mingling with the women, and I quickly understood what she had meant when she spoke to me.
"...I'm different. I have no reason to give my heart to a woman I've only just met... and my current position makes that even more so."
"...Yes. You were like that."
"Ah, Atalanta. I'm going to go make a new oar."
"Very well. Return safely."
After speaking with Atalanta, I recalled the oar that had been broken in my duel with Heracles and headed into the forest to find a suitable tree from which to make a new one.
"Hm? Hylas, was it? What brings you here?"
"Ah. Lord Astellon."
Before long, I ran into Hylas, who had joined the expedition alongside Heracles.
"I came to draw water."
"Is that so? Then come with me."
"Pardon? But don't you have something to do?"
"Well... I do need to make a new oar, but... looking at the others, it seems we'll be staying on this island for quite a while. We have time, so let's walk around a bit."
"In that case..."
And so Hylas and I wandered through the forest until we discovered a great spring.
"There's a spring over there."
"Ah, yes! We should hurry, draw some water, and head back."
After finding the spring, we approached it, and Hylas bent down to draw water.
At that very moment, I sensed something suspicious from the spring and hurriedly shoved Hylas away from it just as he was reaching for the water.
"Hylas! Get away!!"
"Ah! W-what is it?"
"My, what a perceptive man."
"And that man is handsome beyond belief~♡"
"He's exactly my type..//"
The calm surface of the spring rippled, and one by one, dazzlingly beautiful women emerged.
They had flowing hair, seductive eyes, and an inhuman aura radiating from their entire bodies. They were the fairies of the forest, the nymphs.
Had things gone as they originally intended, they would have dragged Hylas, who had come to draw water, straight into the spring. But perhaps because of my response and my unexpected looks, they seemed to have changed targets and were now sending me blatant, unabashed stares.
"Hylas, stand behind me."
I narrowed my eyes and placed my hand on the holy sword at my waist.
The nymphs giggled and sent ripples across the water as they drew closer to my feet.
"Don't look so scary, silver-haired handsome man. We only want to play with you a little."
"Just look at those eyes... That cold voice makes me want to melt you even more."
Their voices were laced with magic that made the mind go hazy.
Ordinary men would already have leapt into the spring, but beside me, a goddess of an entirely different order was already watching the situation in secret.
[Heh-heh, my disciple. You're quite popular with the fairies, aren't you? But be careful. Once you fall into those girls' love, it's a swamp you can't escape from until the day you die.]
The voice of Lady Hecate from within the shadows was a little colder than usual.
There was an air about her, as though she were looking down on lesser beings who dared to lay hands on what belonged to her.
"This is the first time I've seen Lady Hecate react like this."
At Lady Hecate's words, I tightened my grip on the sword hilt.
Then, helping the flustered Hylas back to his feet, I spoke coldly to the nymphs.
"I appreciate the offer, but I have a teacher to serve and friends waiting for me. I don't have the time to indulge your games."
"My, are you refusing us? Once you've set foot in this spring, you won't be able to leave as you please!"
The moment one nymph reached out from the water to seize my wrist, I drew the holy sword just a fraction and split the surface of the spring with nothing more than its arc.
The silver radiance pushed the water aside to both sides, bringing with it a chilling pressure.
"If you block my path, I won't remain patient any longer. I'd prefer it if you stepped aside while I'm still speaking politely."
At the overwhelming divinity and force pouring from my holy sword, the nymphs flinched and drew back.
Even so, they bit their lips in disappointment, but the extraordinary magical power I was releasing and the majesty of the holy sword left them unable to come any closer.
"Let's go, Hylas. Did you get the water?"
"Ah... yes! Yes, Lord Astellon! Thank you so much. That was almost disastrous."
With a frightened expression, Hylas gathered the water jars and hurried after me.
After that, we left the forest, and I found a tree that was suitably sturdy and evenly grained, then cut it down in a single stroke.
"This should make an oar that can withstand Heracles's strength."
When we returned to the village, as expected, the heroes were already feasting with the women of Lemnos.
Only Atalanta stood apart, arms crossed, looking at them as though they were pathetic. But when she saw me appear carrying the wood, she let out a sigh of relief and came over.
"You were later than I expected. Did something happen in the forest?"
"Ah. Nothing much, I think... probably?"
"Hm? What's that supposed to mean?"
At Atalanta's question, I told her what had happened earlier, and as she listened, her face took on a colder expression than before, while for some reason the air around us seemed to grow chill.
Then Atalanta's eyes gleamed sharper than usual, and before I knew it, her hand was resting on her bow.
"The nymphs... tried to drag you in?"
Atalanta's voice was low, very low.
A murderous aura poured from her entire body like a beast that had spotted its prey.
"I had no choice. I was saving Hylas. And the matter's already been settled."
As I replied lazily and shrugged, Atalanta snorted and turned her head away.
But I did not miss the faint red at the tips of her ears.
"Hmph. It's that handsome face of yours that's the problem. For a king to nearly be bewitched by fairies in the forest... how pathetic."
"I wasn't bewitched. I simply did what I had to do."
"Fine. If you ever have to go into the forest again, call for me. I'll put an arrow through those fairies so they never dare poke their heads out of the water again."
Behind Atalanta's rough manner of speaking lay a strange mixture of possessiveness and concern.
Before long, night deepened and the banquet on Lemnos Island reached its height.
Jason and the heroes, drunk on wine, seemed to have forgotten the hardships of the voyage beneath the women's laughter.
I sat in a quiet corner, carving the newly acquired wood and shaping the oar.
[My disciple, that girl Atalanta... she seems quite angry? Human emotions are fascinating. I thought jealousy was the exclusive province of gods.]
Lady Hecate's form flickered faintly within the shadows.
She came up behind me and brushed my silver hair with her cold fingers.
"Jealousy? She's probably just worried about me as a comrade."
[Is that so? The force you showed when driving those fairies off earlier was splendid. But do not forget. You have already set foot in my vast "night." There is no way you could be satisfied with a mere little spring, is there?]
The goddess's voice tickled my ear like sweet yet deadly poison.
Her presence was so overwhelming that it erased even the noisy din of the banquet hall in an instant.
I stopped carving the wood and lifted my head to look at the night sky.
"Lady Hecate, I am no one's possession. I am the king of my country, and a warrior of this ship."
[Heh-heh. That is precisely what I like about you.]
Lady Hecate, satisfied, sank back into the darkness once more.