Jason had already prepared his escape route.
The three slots granted to Jason by the God of the Abyss Tartarus were originally intended to allow him to call upon aid to resolve three troubles on his behalf.
But he could never have anticipated that Jason would actually consider using them on himself...
Jason had not failed to consider using them on Hera.
And then what?
Would he face endless pursuit from Zeus and the other gods?
After all, the king of the divine court in the current world was ultimately Zeus.
"However, the world is vast. If it truly comes to fleeing, leaving ancient Greece behind is not out of the question." Jason toyed with the three black chess pieces in his hand, murmuring to himself before shaking his head gently.
"But things have not reached that point by a long shot, and most importantly, there is no deep-seated grudge between the Goddess Hera and me to begin with.
I am not some extraordinarily fated protagonist, after all."
As he said this, Jason could not help but laugh.
"My parents in this life are still alive and well, and my teachers dote on me endlessly... And when it comes down to it, in the matter with the Goddess Hera, it seems I am the one at fault."
With that, Jason let out an involuntary sigh.
On the day Hecate had given the Flower of Time to Hera and revealed Jason's original fate, while Chiron informed Hera of all this.
He had naturally also told Jason about the ill-fated connection between him and Hera.
Only then did Jason realize that he seemed to be, indeed, a betrayer.
However, this matter could not truly be blamed on Jason.
Because he had transmigrated at the precise moment when the original Jason arrived at Chiron's domain to take him as his master.
Although Jason had once sensed that the process of coming to Chiron to study under him had gone a bit too smoothly.
But having just transmigrated and learned that he was Jason, he was in a period of utter darkness regarding his future, with no spare time to ponder such things.
At the same time, this was not Chiron's fault either.
Leaving aside the fact that in this world, it was common to believe in multiple gods.
Entrusting a child who wished to change their own fate to a god who controlled the 'miracles' within destiny.
This was undoubtedly the best choice possible.
Chiron had simply not anticipated that the gods would take such a liking to Jason, each one wanting to claim him exclusively.
"No wonder the Goddess Athena told me that the Scales of Judgment entrusted to me by the Goddess Themis... this divine artifact capable of weighing all things in the world would become the key to this journey."
Thinking of this, Jason could not help but raise his left hand, watching as the emblem of the scales gradually manifested on his left hand in response to his thoughts.
The emblem of the Goddess of Adjudication, the mark of succession to her divine seat.
He nodded lightly in agreement. "Indeed, at that time, all words would seem utterly pale and powerless.
Only something with sufficient weight could touch a god's heart."
After confirming the items he had at hand and once more simulating the scene of meeting Hera in his mind, over and over.
As time slipped away unnoticed.
When the sky had fully darkened.
Jason finally stowed everything away.
He turned his head and gazed out the window at the sea surface under the night sky.
"It seems that for the short term... I will not be able to sleep again."
With that, Jason left his room.
"Are you there, Argo?"
As soon as he spoke, amid a gathering of golden particles, the spirit of the Argo appeared beside Jason. She had pale blue hair reaching her waist and wore a maid outfit.
"I am here, Master Jason." The ship's spirit said softly to Jason. "May I ask, my master, what are your orders?"
"Where are we now? Have we passed through that dangerous strait area yet?"
The dangerous strait area?
The ship's spirit could not help but glance at Jason.
That strait area had been blasted to smithereens with a single cannon shot. What danger was left?
"We have passed it, Master." The ship's spirit replied. "And I am constantly monitoring our surroundings. So far, no dangerous creatures have been detected."
"Mm." Jason nodded. "Stay vigilant. Lord Hermes has already warned us. The trial awaiting us lies ahead!"
"Yes, as you command, Master Jason."
As the ship's spirit spoke, she dissolved into points of light and vanished before Jason.
Jason continued forward and soon arrived at the foredeck.
Borne on the gentle breeze from the sea's horizon, he spotted Atalanta, bathed in moonlight, devoutly praying to the Goddess of the Moon Artemis.
Jason looked around and saw that she was alone, so he approached.
"Why are you still so antisocial?"
The beautiful huntress had already noticed Jason's arrival but did not immediately answer his question.
After finishing her prayer, Atalanta stood and turned to Jason.
"Leaving aside your rudeness in interrupting my prayer to the great Goddess Artemis.
As for being antisocial, Captain Jason, what right do you have to call me out on it?"
Atalanta glanced askance at Jason. "You have handed almost everything over to the Argo and to Heracles and the others to handle."
"No choice in the matter. If we must speak of it, I am actually the youngest in terms of seniority."
Jason shrugged in reply. "There are quite a few inside who are my senior brothers... It is probably best if I am not on the scene."
"And then? What troublesome matter brings you to find me now?"
Before the momentarily stunned Jason could reply, Atalanta continued. "You have been holed up in your room all day today... Ever since Lord Hermes came to see you."
Atalanta's gaze had always been fixed on Jason.
Following him.
After a brief silence, Jason smiled and said, "If something happens and I do not return in the end, Atalanta, I hope you can lead the Argo safely back.
I have already spoken to the ship's spirit of the Argo."
"...I understand."
Her sacred azure eyes quietly regarded Jason for a time before Atalanta nodded.
"You are not going to ask me what it is about?"
"I have asked enough questions... all this time."
Recalling their first meeting, their parting, their reunion, and then parting once more, even Atalanta could not help but smile at this moment. "So now, there is no need to ask anymore.
Moreover, I know you will come back, Jason."
Hearing this, as he looked at the beautiful woman before him who had broken into a smile.
Jason's heart trembled slightly. Just as he opened his mouth to say something.
"Ow!" (x2)
Jason and Atalanta both clutched their heads simultaneously.
They heard the sound of two heavy objects landing on the deck. Looking down.
They saw two moonstones.
Ah, this...
Jason looked up at the bright moon hanging in the sky.
While Atalanta, who had picked up the stones, thought for a moment and said, "Thank you, great Goddess Artemis, for this blessing you have bestowed."
With that, Atalanta carefully stowed away the moonstones.
I feel like this is probably not a blessing...
Thinking this, Jason also picked up a moonstone.
Then, as he looked toward Atalanta, he saw her wink at him in the shadows and stick out her tongue at him...
...
The next day,
Shortly after noon.
"Master Jason, a massive magical reaction has been detected ahead... This reaction is even larger than that of the giant crab back then!"
The spirit of the Argo suddenly appeared beside Jason.
At this moment, Jason was in the Argo's training room, sparring with Heracles over archery.
"Can we avoid it?"
Hearing this, Jason pondered for a moment before replying.
"We could, if we wanted to... But to avoid it, we would need to break through a massive whirlpool at sea ahead."
The Argo hesitated for a moment before replying to Jason. "However, traces of power left by a god were detected inside that whirlpool..."
"Charge straight through." Jason, having formed an idea in his mind, interrupted the Argo's words.
"Charge straight through. Do not worry about anything else, Argo."
"Yes, Master Jason." In the face of Jason's command, the ship's spirit nodded and then vanished.
Heracles then asked Jason, "Is it the trial?"
"Yes... Lord Hermes told me that a sea monster named Scylla is waiting for us ahead."
"A sea monster? Just kill it then." Heracles replied.
"No, we cannot just kill her outright."
Jason shook his head. "That nymph turned into a sea monster partly because of me... But rest assured, Senior Brother Heracles, I will handle it."
With that, Jason said no more.
"I see." Hearing this, Heracles nodded. "Then I will go ahead and inform the others."
"Yes, thank you for the trouble, Senior Brother Heracles." Facing Heracles, who did not press for details, Jason let out a breath of relief.
Once Heracles departed and relayed this news to the many heroes aboard the Argo, the Argo also began its attempt to charge out of the massive whirlpool at sea.
But just as the Argo was about to break free from the massive whirlpool, the originally calm sea surface suddenly churned.
Then, from within that whirlpool, a gigantic sea monster burst forth!
That sea monster resembled a colossal king squid of the ocean, with twelve tentacles, its body even larger than the Argo!
But atop those tentacles was a ferocious human torso.
There was no doubt: this was the sea monster that devoured passersby, transformed into a sea demon by the potions of the Night Witch Circe, Scylla!
"Do not even think of escaping!" Scylla roared in fury as her twelve tentacles coiled toward the Argo, as if intent on tearing it apart.
But under the defensive barrier that the Argo immediately deployed, Scylla's immense strength could not shake the ship in the slightest.
This only made Scylla grow even more berserk.
"I know you are inside! I know who you are, you damned bastard!"
Scylla's tentacles lashed fiercely at the Argo.
Even if she could not shake the Argo in the short term, it still caused the ship to tremble violently.
Seeing this, Jason was not angered. Instead, he laughed.
"Argo, counterattack!"
"Counterattack? But Master Jason, Lord Hermes said..."
"Do not worry. We can counterattack now." Jason interrupted the Argo's words. "Because she... has taken the bait!"