Chapter 65: I have no interest in becoming hero at all
[T/N: A double-sized chapter.]
Three years ago, Jason's first meeting with Atalanta was not a pleasant one.
Moreover, even at that time, Atalanta was with Jason for barely a week or so.
And in that ancient forest, it was Atalanta who has led Jason out while also dutifully protecting him along the way.
And although Jason fought along with her, what he had used every time for killing monsters was Apollo's sword, using which clearly doesn't require any skills.
Moreover, at that time, Jason was really unaware of many things, and the gods were guiding him to walk through the whole of his journey.
Therefore, it is not completely unexpected that the impression of Jason, Atalanta was left with is: 'He is a lucky person who is favored by the gods.'
However, ultimately, Atalanta has such a strong impression of Jason is also because of the gods.
With him carrying the sword lent by Apollo, using the compass given by Athena, riding the golden horned deer lent by Artemis, and him being the student of Hecate, it will be rather difficult for Atalanta to forget Jason.
So, after Artemis left, Atalanta looked at Jason, who is lying on her lap and sleeping soundly, with a complicated expression on her face.
After all, for Atalanta, a lot of things had happened tonight.
'My perception of him has been wrong all along, and do I not know him at all?'
Then recalling the two orders Jason has given her in front of Artemis, with her emerald eyes silently staring at Jason, Atalanta couldn't help falling into deep thoughts.
*****
After a quiet night.
The next day, when the early morning sun shined on Jason's face, he subconsciously rolled over.
'...Well, what is this, so soft and fluffy?'
So Jason doubtfully stretched out his hand and touched it.
Then, due to still feeling unsatisfied with just the touch and wanting more, Jason pinched it.
"Do you not want your hand?"
But sound with obvious killing intent in it immediately woke Jason up.
And after opening his eyes, what appeared in front of Jason is Atalanta's icy gaze, as well as her belly he was just rubbing and pinching.
'Fortunately, it wasn't her chest, otherwise, Atalanta would have directly shot.'
"...Cough."
With a light cough, Jason took back his hand and quickly got up with a blank face.
And after getting up, he stretched while feeling very satisfied, obviously because last night he slept very comfortably.
Then, Jason originally thought that Atalanta would again start asking for trouble with him, but he found that Atalanta doesn't seem like she has any intention of doing so.
But soon...
"Grumble~grumble..."
So, the atmosphere between both of them became a little awkward.
"Then, wait a moment, I'll find something to eat."
Looking at Atalanta, who has no intention of getting up even though her stomach is screaming with hunger, Jason naturally understood that her legs should have gotten numb.
"No need, I'll find something myself later..."
But before Atalanta could finish speaking, she saw Jason taking out a few seeds from the small silver bag.
And after throwing them on the ground, Jason took out a golden wheatear from the same silver bag.
Then Jason used the golden wheatear to sprinkle golden particles on the seeds and immediately, the seeds on the ground began to germinate.
And finally, in less than a minute, those seeds grew into a few medium-size apple trees and quickly began blossoming, then those blossoms soon turned into bright red apples.
Looking at all this, by this time, Atalanta's mouth has already slightly opened in surprise.
Then Jason picked up a few apples and threw them to Atalanta.
Atalanta subconsciously caught the apples, then looked at Jason, wanting to say something, but she saw him walking towards Pegasus while taking out a few grass cakes from his silver bag.
So, after hesitating for a while, finally, Atalanta silently began nibbling.
"Where is Goddess Artemis?"
After feeding Pegasus and noticing that Atalanta has finished eating, Jason walked back and asked.
"Already left."
"Alright." Jason nodded, then the two did not have any other conversation for a while.
Ten minutes later, Atalanta's legs returned to normal on their own.
And just when she was about to leave, Atalanta saw Jason again taking out the golden wheatear and patting apple trees with it.
Then all apple trees turned back into seeds, which were then collected by Jason.
Actually, Jason discovered this ability later on, while thinking that Demeter and Persephone's abilities should also include reversing the growth of plants.
So now, Jason only needs to lightly tap his favorite plants with the golden wheatears given to him by Demeter and Persephone, and they turn into seeds, which then can be easily recovered or collected.
While riding on Pegasus, just when Jason was about to leave, he looked at the relatively quiet forest around him and even wondered if Artemis has forgotten that Atalanta is still here.
"Well...are you interested in going back by riding on Pegasus?"
So, knowing from Pegasus that the return journey will be a little long, Jason subconsciously asked as an act of politeness.
But Jason obviously didn't think Atalanta would agree to go back with him, because he believes Atalanta hates him or at the very least has been purposefully targeting him.
As matter of fact, after meeting this time, it is not like Jason is completely unaware of the reason why Atalanta is targeting him.
Jason naturally knows that it was mainly him who started it by first having a bad attitude towards Atalanta back then.
But Jason also believes that what actually fueled Atalanta's dislike towards him are Gods, and if Jason has to describe it in a few crude words then he would say: 'Atalanta's case is rather similar to Antaeus's reason for fighting me but less ugly and less severe.'
After all, Jason is well aware of the fact that almost every person in this world believes in gods and worships them, not to mention Atalanta, who is the most loyal and sincere believer of Artemis.
And Jason has never been unaware of his situation, that he has indeed been helped and favored by an unusually large number of gods, including Artemis.
So, Jason believes that at that time, Atalanta, who could be regarded as the first one to know just how much Jason is favored by the gods, naturally noticed Artemis taking care of Jason as well as favoring him.
Therefore, Jason obviously doesn't think that it is strange for Atalanta to subconsciously compare herself with him while trying to figure out the reason for it, then wanting to prove that she is better than him in front of Artemis.
However, even after guessing all this, Jason doesn't feel like he is liable for accompanying Atalanta in her troublesome games.
But when Atalanta looked at Pegasus and Jason, who has invited her, she thought for a while, then she stepped forward and lightly jumped up to sit behind Jason.
"...Eh?"
Jason got visibly startled by her acceptance.
"What's wrong?"
Atalanta, who is sitting sideways on the Pegasus, asked lightly.
"Ah, no, it's nothing..." Jason looked at Atalanta from the side in puzzlement, then thought for a moment, and finally patted Pegasus while thinking: 'Forget it, it's better like this.'
"Brother Pegasus, let's go."
However, Pegasus didn't start moving and under Jason's suspicious gaze, Pegasus softly neighed twice.
After knowing each other for more than three years, how could Jason still not know what Pegasus is trying to express by this, so a few black lines appeared on his forehead.
Therefore, immediately after Jason took out two pieces of grass cakes from the silver bag and Pegasus finished eating them, Pegasus happily stretched out his wings and began flying up.
And soon after Pegasus gained the height in the sky, Atalanta subconsciously grabbed Jason's clothes.
And sensing this, through the corner of his vision, Jason noticed that Atalanta is looking downwards at the land with a very surprised and happy expression.
And after looking at Atalanta behaving like this, Jason suddenly realized something: 'Atalanta is only sixteen now... around the same age as the physical age of me in this world.'
Therefore, even after almost guessing it, Jason decided to ask.
"Hey, Atalanta, why did you decide to duel me?"
After being silent for a while, Atalanta replied: "Because I think I am stronger than you and better deserve the favor of Goddess Artemis."
'Sure enough, as expected.'
So, Jason asked with a helpless expression on his face: "Then, you have lost last night, you should be convinced, right?"
"I'm not convinced...but I won't challenge you, even if I know that last night you have deliberately defeated me in that way."
Hearing this, Jason couldn't help but glance back at Atalanta in surprise.
Seeing that at the moment Atalanta is holding down her hair with her other hand, Jason thought for a while, and suddenly asked: "If I say now, that my second order to you from last night is invalidated, what would you think?"
Atalanta just glanced at Jason before replying: "Go and discuss this with Goddess Artemis."
"Forget it." The very next moment, Jason replied.
"...I have heard Goddess Artemis say that you haven't rested for more than three years?"
"Well, yeah." Jason nodded.
"To become a great hero?"
"No, I'm not interested in hero business, and I don't at all want to become a hero."
"...Eh?"
Atalanta is obviously stunned by Jason's reply.
Then after turning her head to look at Jason, Atalanta frowned and asked with clear scorn in her voice: "Is it interesting to tell such a lie?"
"I didn't lie... besides, is there any point in lying about this?"
'What a joke?!'
Atalanta's first reaction is obviously to not believe in Jason's words, after all, she thought: 'You are already a hero and you are even the rumored Hero loved by the gods!'
'Although, it was the result of me accidentally speaking out a few words about you.'
"You don't want to be a hero?"
"In no case."
"Then why have you still come here, to Calydon?"
"Mainly due to the guidance of Goddess Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom."
Atalanta, who has been closely staring at Jason, gradually realized that Jason is not lying, after all, she also knows that it is just not worth telling a lie using the name of Gods.
Just when Atalanta was inevitably surprised by hearing this, Jason's complaining words reached her ears.
"That's why I was actually quite angry upon seeing you again."
"Because I have heard that the rumors in Arcadia were the result of you intentionally or unintentionally spreading out the words... But thinking every time you meet me, you seem to have been at a disadvantage and suffering losses, so I decided to just let that go."
Hearing what Jason has just said, Atalanta felt that it is extremely ridiculous and had even gotten a little angry, but finally, she held it back and didn't say anything more about this, instead she frowned and asked: "Then...during the last three years you have been working sleeplessly for the sake of what?"
"You want to know?"
Jason looked back at Atalanta, then smiled faintly, and said: "Actually, there is no big reason behind it or even something worth hiding, I just want to survive, and then try to live happily...in this era."
'...What is this guy talking about?'
'Are you really the one favored by so many great gods?'
'You are actually saying that you have worked so hard, just... just to survive?!'
Jason could naturally read the shock clearly written on Atalanta's face, but he doesn't intend to explain it any further.
After all, Jason doesn't think it is possible for him to explain to Atalanta, who sincerely believes in Artemis, that in this era, the more the gods pay attention to someone the more difficult it will be for that person to live happily.
Because Jason has personally experienced in both worlds that what the vast majority of people pay attention to and remember are basically the glorious moments of Heroes favored by Gods, and seldomly pay attention to the tragic endings most of them have met.
Jason doesn't know if it is because of god's malice or some other reason, but among the many heroes of Greece, there are very few who have met a good end.
Jason can still remember the tragic ending of many Greek heroes from myth, like Meleager being killed by his own mother, Heracles dying due to being poisoned by his wife before Zeus decided to turn him into God, Atalanta being turned into a lion, Achilles being killed by one of the most cowardly heroes of Troy, Jason being killed on his own sheep, Theseus being betrayed and pushed off a cliff, Odysseus being killed by his son, and even many more similar cases.
Therefore, Jason believes that being a Hero in Greece is definitely one of the most dangerous professions.
Still, Jason also knows that many don't think like him so he believes: 'Whoever loves heroes, can work for becoming one, anyway I don't at all have any interest doing so.'
And just when Atalanta felt like her cognition has almost collapsed because of Jason's words, they arrived outside the Kingdom of Calydon.
So after letting Pegasus land on the ground, Jason looked at Atalanta, who is still staring at him with an extremely strange look, then thought for a while and said to her: "Atalanta, are you interested in doing me a favor?"
"It's about offering a tribute to Goddess Artemis..."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
GlaiveIris
GlaiveIris Do you know about the end of Odysseus, a legendary hero in Greek Mythology...
Again, there are many versions of it but the most famous version is:
Telegonus, the son he fathered with Circe while on Aeaea, went to Ithaca to meet his father after reaching adulthood.
Landing on the shore, he killed a few sheep to satisfy his hunger. Odysseus was not happy with this act and came out to confront him.
In the fight which ensued, Odysseus was deadly wounded by Telegonus’ spear tipped with the poison of a sting-ray.
After finding out the identity of his victim, Telegonus took both Odysseus's wife Penelope and Telemachus, Odysseus's son with Penelope, to Aeaea, where Circe made all three of them immortal.
Afterward, the two sons married each other's mothers.
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