And so—
Five days later.
Jason finally emerged from the mountain range that had been blocking his path.
With Artemis accompanying him, the journey had been largely uneventful. However, unlike when he traveled with Apollo, things had been quite different.
When Apollo was by his side, he would raise his golden bow and shield Jason, ensuring that he barely needed to lift a finger.
This time, however, the beasts and monsters they encountered along the way were almost entirely handled by Jason and Atalanta working together.
As for Artemis? The goddess spent most of the journey sitting atop her golden-horned deer, watching them fight with great interest. Occasionally, she would step in to hunt something that caught her eye.
"Finally, it's over."
The moment they stepped out of the mountains, before Jason could say anything, Atalanta exhaled in relief, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Over the past few days, she had remained on high alert. After all, the other hunters had long since departed, leaving her as the sole guide.
More importantly, she had spent the entire time under Artemis's watchful gaze.
Seeing Atalanta like this, and recalling how much she had looked after him, Jason hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Thank you, Atalanta. You've done a lot for me these past few days."
Atalanta shot him a glance. "It's fine. I wasn't doing it for you. I was doing it for Lady Artemis!"
Jason chuckled at that before turning to Artemis, who had just gracefully leapt down from her golden-horned deer. Bowing respectfully, he said, "I offer you my highest gratitude, Lady Artemis."
"I've told you many times already—there's no need to be so formal, little Jason."
Artemis smiled, ruffling his hair before pinching his cheek in mock displeasure. Puffing her cheeks slightly, she added, "You're Hecate's child, and you're good friends with little Atalanta. You should listen to me!"
Who's good friends with him?!
Atalanta opened her mouth, but since she could hardly argue with her goddess, she struggled for a moment before ultimately saying nothing.
"I've really enjoyed these past few days... Ah, if you didn't have to continue your journey, I'd love to keep you both around and play with you a little longer."
Artemis sighed regretfully.
However, upon hearing this, both Jason and Atalanta simultaneously felt a few dark lines appear on their foreheads.
No, we don't want that!
After voicing her regret, Artemis tapped a finger to her cheek, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Now then, what should I give you? Hecate granted you protection, Athena guided you, and Apollo gifted you a sword to slay your enemies. So, what should I offer you?"
…Wait a second.
Jason blinked.
Did I just hear a rather alarming name?
He looked at Artemis, who was still deep in thought, entirely unaware that she had just blurted out something she wasn't supposed to.
Athena had explicitly instructed her not to mention it.
After a brief pause, Jason wisely shut his mouth.
Yeah, let's pretend I didn't hear that. But… so it was Athena, the goddess of wisdom…
As realization dawned on Jason—finally understanding that the silver-haired, golden-eyed goddess who had made him clothes during their first meeting was none other than Athena—Atalanta, who had been listening, couldn't help but twitch slightly.
She then turned her gaze toward Jason, dressed in white, his blond hair and green eyes reflecting the light.
She said nothing.
After traveling together for five days, she naturally knew that Jason carried a divine prophecy. However, since even Artemis hadn't mentioned it to her, she hadn't pried further.
"Ugh, this is tough… Little Atalanta, what do you think I should give to little Jason?"
Rubbing her temples, Artemis turned to Atalanta with an expectant look.
Obviously, giving him nothing would be best! Why should this guy get a gift from Lady Artemis?!
That was Atalanta's first instinctive thought.
"Artemis, you don't need to give me anything," Jason quickly interjected.
He wasn't particularly eager to deal with the gods, let alone accept their gifts.
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of Greek mythology knew one thing for certain: The Olympians were far too capricious!
One moment, they might admire you, showering you with blessings and raising you.
The next, they could resent you over the smallest slight and bring divine punishment down upon you!
Jason had no choice but to deal with them. He needed to learn from Hecate and had to rely on her to change his fate. Since this task was arranged by Hecate and directly concerned his future, he had no choice but to see it through.
"No way!" Artemis immediately refused. "I don't care about Hecate, but Athena and Apollo both gave you something. If I don't, won't that make me seem inferior to them?!"
…That's a reason?
Jason had no idea how to respond to that.
And yet, Atalanta nodded in agreement, thinking it made perfect sense!
After all, Artemis was not inferior to any god!
With that, Atalanta seriously considered the matter.
After a moment of thought, she suggested, "Lady Artemis, Jason already has protection, guidance, and a weapon. What he lacks most right now is… a mount!"
"A mount?" Artemis looked at her curiously.
Atalanta nodded. "He has everything he needs to move forward, except for a means of travel. A mount would help him cross all sorts of perilous terrain and carry him to his destination."
Atalanta finished speaking, and not only did Artemis seem intrigued—Jason himself found the idea reasonable.
Buying a horse was an option, but given that even Chiron's horse had been killed by monsters, any ordinary steed would likely just become monster food.
"Ah! Little Atalanta, you're so clever!"
Artemis beamed, ruffling Atalanta's hair before turning to Jason. "I've got it!
In that case, little Jason, I'll lend you my beloved golden-horned deer. It will carry you through ancient, uninhabited forests, across sprawling marshes, and over towering peaks, until you reach your destination!"
As she spoke, the golden-horned deer beside her let out a low cry before stepping forward to nuzzle Jason's face. Then, it turned to Artemis and nodded, as if accepting its task.
At this point, Jason knew better than to refuse.
And he had to admit—having a mount, especially one as extraordinary as this, would make his journey much easier.
"Well then, Deer Bro, I'll be in your care."
The golden-horned deer responded by licking Jason's face thoroughly, drenching him in saliva before turning its head away, looking utterly indifferent.
"Heehee! Little Jason, that's not 'Deer Bro'—you should call her 'Deer Sister' instead!" Artemis teased with a giggle.
Jason blinked in realization and quickly apologized to the golden-horned deer.
Mounting the deer, he waved goodbye to the two of them as he rode off.
Atalanta stood beside Artemis, silently watching Jason disappear into the distance.
Once he was gone, Artemis turned to Atalanta and asked with a playful smile, "What's wrong, little Atalanta? Do you want to go with him?"
"No way!" Atalanta immediately denied it.
Then she hesitated, adjusting her tone. "I was just wondering… can he really complete your task, Lady Artemis?"
"Hmm… Who knows?" Artemis replied. "But not just me—Hecate, Athena, and Apollo have all placed their trust in little Jason."
"Then… I suppose he must succeed. Because this is your mission, Lady Artemis!"
"Heehee… Let's just wait and see, then."
Not long after, Atalanta formally bid farewell to Artemis and set off on her journey home. After all, she had been away for five days—it was time to return.
Her uncle, who had taken her in, had been worried sick these past few days, pacing anxiously in circles.
At the same time, elsewhere…
...
The Underworld, Hecate's temple.
As Hecate stepped out of her temple, preparing to meet with Artemis—
"Teacher Hecate, are you heading out again?"
A hesitant Medea, after wavering for a long time, finally gathered the courage to call out to her.
"Mm." Hecate paused for a moment, turning to look at her student. "Is something the matter?"
"Well… Teacher Hecate, I just wanted to ask… how much longer until my junior brother, Jason, arrives?"
As she spoke, Medea blinked her beautiful violet eyes, gazing at Hecate with hopeful anticipation.