"Yes, I understand."
Medea replied softly. While looking at Hecate, she vaguely sensed that Hecate was slightly different from usual, but naturally she would not say anything more.
After all, Hecate was a true goddess, Medea's own teacher, and the very deity Medea worshipped.
One week later, Hecate completed the current stage of her experiments and stepped out of her divine temple.
Just as she was about to leave the underworld and reached the gates guarded by the hellhound Cerberus, the ferocious three-headed dog immediately lay down before her the moment it saw her.
Its tail wagged nonstop as it let out low, submissive whines toward Hecate.
"You stay here this time." Hecate gently patted its head. "I'm only going to take care of a small matter. I'll be back soon."
With those words, Hecate walked out through the gates of the underworld.
She paused briefly outside the gates, extended her hand, and a single underworld butterfly materialized out of thin air. Soon, more and more butterflies glowing with faint blue underworld light gathered around her.
When the swarm of butterflies that had collected around her scattered and flew away, Hecate vanished from the gates of the underworld.
In an instant, she arrived in the Arcadia region, in the mountains where Jason and the others lived and studied under Chiron.
"This place will do."
Because she possessed underworld attributes and did not particularly like sunlight, Hecate sat down in the thick shade of a large tree.
Her lips moved slightly. Under the effect of divine speech, the beautiful goddess Hecate transformed into an old woman with a full head of white hair, leaning on a cane.
Not long after, two figures wearing the special apprentice uniforms made by the centaur Chiron approached the area.
They were Jason and Meleager, the one who would later initiate the hunt for the Calydonian Boar.
Jason carried a bamboo basket on his back, while Meleager, who was several years older, held a hunting bow and had a quiver slung over his shoulder.
"Today's herb-gathering task is complete. Thank you so much, Senior Brother Meleager! We even got lucky and caught a few wild rabbits. When we get back, I'll personally roast some rabbit for you!"
On the way home, the blond, blue-eyed Jason, who appeared to be only about twelve years old, said with a smile to Meleager.
Meleager replied that it was nothing, but his eyes visibly lit up the moment he heard Jason would personally roast rabbit for him.
He even unconsciously licked his lips and smiled very happily.
After all, he was a transmigrated foodie from the 20th century. Even though he had barely cooked before crossing over, the food he made now naturally surpassed the cooks of this world by several streets!
The two got along extremely well. In fact, Jason had already achieved his initial goal.
In just one month of interaction, Jason had successfully built good relationships with most of the current students under Chiron!
Since he had only become a disciple a week ago, Jason was now the youngest junior brother, the smallest among all the students.
His appearance was naturally attractive, and thanks to being a transmigrator, his mouth was sweeter than most. On top of that, the majority of these students had not yet been tempered by society.
At the same time, Chiron was happy to see the relationships between his students grow closer, so Jason naturally managed to quickly befriend everyone.
"Huh…?"
Just as Meleager quickened his pace in excitement at the thought of eating Jason's roasted meat, he suddenly spotted Hecate not far ahead.
"Jason, look over there… Isn't that an old lady?"
Jason looked up and scanned the area. He quickly noticed the silver-haired old woman.
"It really is an old lady… Why is she here of all places?!"
Meleager looked very surprised and was about to walk over to her.
"Wait, wait!"
To his shock, Jason immediately reached out and anxiously pulled him back. Under Meleager's puzzled gaze, Jason leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Senior Brother Meleager, let's go, hurry!"
"Go?"
Meleager looked at Jason in confusion. "Why should we go…? Teacher Chiron taught us to respect our elders and to help them whenever we can!
"An old lady in such a dangerous place—we should help her and escort her home!"
You're the one who just said this place is dangerous! If it's really that dangerous, how could a real old woman possibly appear here?!
It's a god…
Jason instantly realized what was happening!
Jason was different from Meleager and the others. Having been influenced by the modern internet and having read some mythological stories, Jason was extremely familiar with this kind of trope!
But Jason could not tell Meleager the truth. Putting aside the fact that people in this world revered the gods and whether Meleager would even leave if told, Jason also had to consider whether the god on the other side would get angry if he exposed the disguise.
Therefore, after his eyes darted around for a moment, Jason put on a serious and righteous expression and said to Meleager, "Senior Brother Meleager, you're right. We really should follow Teacher Chiron's teachings and help our elders!"
With that, Jason took two resolute steps forward.
Then his expression suddenly changed. He turned pale, clutched his stomach, and said, "Ouch, ouch, my stomach suddenly hurts so much… Senior Brother Meleager, you go ahead alone. I must have eaten something bad last night. I'll go back first and ask Teacher Chiron for some medicine!"
Before Meleager could react, Jason turned and bolted.
Meleager stared blankly at the direction Jason had run. He really wanted to point out that someone running that fast clearly wasn't sick…
Completely baffled and unable to make sense of it, Meleager hesitated for a while before finally walking over to Hecate.
"Old lady, are you all right? Is there anything I can help you with?"
Hecate, disguised as an old woman past her sixties, stared speechlessly at Meleager and then at Jason's figure disappearing into the distance at lightning speed.
For a moment, confusion filled her eyes for reasons she herself did not understand.
Her target was Jason, not Meleager, so she naturally had no interest in wasting words on him.
She had even prepared lines in advance, but now she simply recited them indifferently to Meleager: "Sleep."
With those words, Meleager collapsed softly at Hecate's feet.
Hecate stood up and thought for a moment.
Then she transformed into underworld butterflies and vanished, reappearing directly in front of Jason this time.
Now she took the form of a young woman with a bamboo basket on her back and a limp, sitting beside a clear stream.
Soon enough, Jason—who had been running for a while, patting his chest and congratulating himself on his quick wits—arrived nearby.
"Good, good, good, I ran fast enough. Otherwise…"
As he spoke, Jason spotted Hecate from afar, sitting with her back to him.
Jason froze.
He paused briefly.
Then silently turned around, tiptoed away… and slipped off with a face full of horror!
He ran again?
Hecate, who had been watching Jason the entire time, naturally noticed. Her brows furrowed.
Ten minutes later, Jason—who had just turned a corner and was still reeling from the encounter—suddenly discovered a weeping little girl sitting beneath a large tree beside him…
Jason fell silent for a moment.
"Oh no, why is there a little girl here?!"
Then he exclaimed in surprise, "This is far too dangerous! Thankfully, Teacher Chiron's place isn't far. I need to hurry back and call the senior brothers for help!
"Little girl, don't be afraid. Just stay right here and don't move. I'll bring people to save you very soon!"
Hecate, now in the form of a little girl, gained a few black lines on her forehead as she watched Jason speak with righteous indignation before quickly walking away—practically wishing he could sprout two extra legs!
Not bad, kid. At such a young age, you even know how to use Chiron's name to pressure others… Do you think I don't know exactly how far we are from Chiron's cave?!
Meanwhile, Jason was inwardly crying out in misery.
Good grief—first an old woman, then a young lady, now a child… Are you going to turn into a baby next?!
No, great god, please don't come looking for me! I can't see anything, I really can't see anything, I don't know anything, I truly know nothing at all!