For a week, Jason spent every day in close companionship with Artemis.
However, what inevitably surprised people somewhat was that during this week, Artemis truly fulfilled her duties as a 'teacher.'
She devoted herself wholeheartedly to teaching Jason the techniques of archery.
Jason already had a solid foundation laid by Chiron. Under Artemis's careful guidance, his progress was naturally exceptionally rapid.
During this period, after briefly handling the matter of that woman named Niobe, and with Artemis's mother, the Goddess of Childbirth and Midwifery Leto, being immensely satisfied with it, her fondness for Jason increased by another level.
On this morning, in the temple, Jason sought her out.
"You say you hope not to kill Tityos?"
Sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, basking in the morning sunlight, Leto furrowed her brows slightly upon hearing Jason's words. Looking at him in his white robe before her, she said, "What exactly do you mean, Jason?"
"It is like this, Goddess Leto. That giant Tityos is useful to me... Do you know of the prophet Prometheus, the foreseeing god?"
"Prometheus?" Leto gazed at the respectful Jason before her with slight doubt, then nodded lightly and said, "Of course I know him... But what does this have to do with that giant?"
"I once swore an oath to rescue Prometheus, because he helped me in the past. Of course, I also know he committed an unforgivable sin and received punishment from the great God King Zeus. Therefore..."
"Therefore, you plan to have that giant take Prometheus's place in suffering the punishment?"
The connected relationship, simple to deduce, naturally dawned on Leto.
"Yes, Goddess Leto."
After speaking, Jason could not help but look at Leto with some trepidation.
Seeing this, Leto could not help but smile and said, "Child, you do not need to be so afraid. You are the child my daughter favors, and moreover, the student favored by my niece.
The day before yesterday, you even resolved a trouble for me and vented my anger.
At the same time, this giant who dared to offend me can be used to replace that capable god, taking his punishment in his stead. That is indeed a fine choice."
As she spoke, Leto nodded and stood up. She said to Jason, "Let us go find Artemis now. I will explain the matter to her. I believe she will be very willing to assist you."
Seeing Leto agree directly, Jason felt a sense of relief in his heart.
Having Tityos replace the original centaur Chiron to liberate Prometheus was actually something Hecate had suddenly mentioned when she found Jason last night.
Originally, Jason had planned to go with Heracles to sever Prometheus's chains and then seek forgiveness from God King Zeus.
For this matter, Jason naturally had some confidence in his heart.
Now, the war with Typhon was imminent, and Prometheus had already been tormented for hundreds of years. Zeus's anger had long subsided.
Under such circumstances, the possibility of him making things difficult was naturally not great.
However, evidently, having someone who could replace Prometheus was naturally better.
And coincidentally, Tityos was just qualified for it. After all, he was a sinner who attempted to defile Leto, the mother of Artemis and Apollo.
Moreover, in truth, in the story about Tityos, his final outcome was imprisonment in the underworld, where two giant eagles endlessly pecked at his innards.
Where do eagles exist in the underworld?
Evidently, this was Zeus's handiwork!
As for Tityos ultimately possessing Zeus's bloodline and being Zeus's child... Would Zeus truly care about that?
When they found Artemis, she had just finished her morning bath.
Her slightly damp skirt clung to her fair skin. Although her attire remained dignified and her smile pure and innocent, under that touch of moisture, it added a hint of allure to her sanctity.
This made Jason involuntarily turn his head away, not daring to look more.
Over this week, there had been many times when Jason did not dare to look directly at Artemis.
She was the embodiment of purity, a rare unstained white lotus in the turbid Greek myths, one of the three virgin goddesses.
She was a goddess to be admired from afar.
But such a her was actually somewhat natural.
And because of this naturalness, she often unconsciously revealed her own allure. Her destructive power was greater than that of a seductive enchantress who bewitched hearts.
It was just like how the wisest goddess Athena became blind because of love... Even knowing it was blindness, she still plunged into it without hesitation.
It made people unable to help but turn their gaze.
"Mother, Jason, why have you come?"
Artemis looked at Jason and Leto, who had arrived together, with doubt.
Then, Leto conveyed Jason's idea.
Upon hearing that she could not personally slay the bastard who dared to profane her mother, Artemis's brows furrowed.
But after listening, Artemis quickly accepted it and said, "Alright then. Since it is a request from my student Jason, as his teacher, I will definitely agree!"
After speaking, Artemis could not help but giggle.
Just then...
"A week has passed, Artemis."
Hecate, who had arrived unbeknownst at some point, dropped a light remark that made Artemis's face fall.
"Hecate, can you not yield a little? ... Mother, Jason, look at her, look at him!
I do not care. I want to be Jason's teacher. I want to find reasons to see Jason every day and play with him!"
Goddess Artemis, your true thoughts have slipped out.
Jason lowered his head, not engaging with this topic.
This topic truly could not be engaged with. If he really did, and they met every day, what would become of it?
Not to mention anything else, Atalanta would probably go mad.
Hecate ignored Artemis, who was coquettishly complaining in Leto's arms.
Leto amusingly watched her own daughter and her sister's daughter.
As the two vied for Jason, for a child, Hecate continued, "Since a week has passed, it is time for us to go subjugate Tityos... Oh, right. Athena told me that Heracles has completed the trial of the golden apples.
He is currently on his way back.
After dealing with Tityos, Jason, you should be able to rendezvous with Heracles just in time."
"Athena..."
Hearing her name, a thoughtful expression appeared on Leto's face as she looked at Jason.
"It seems the rumors are not false at all... Artemis, it looks like you have quite a few rivals."
As she spoke, Leto reached out with a light laugh and stroked Artemis's head.
"Hm?" Artemis tilted her head, looking at Leto with some confusion.
Forever walking the most correct path...
Although Athena was not present, her presence was evidently still strong.
This situation, proceeding slowly and somewhat unstably, was clearly maintained by Athena behind the scenes.
Yesterday, Hecate telling Jason to use Tityos to replace Prometheus was not an accident, but Athena informing at just the right time.
Leto actually felt some emotion in her heart. Although she had known about Jason's matters early on and knew he was highly regarded by the gods.
But all along, it had been hearsay without seeing. She knew one thing but not the others.
After a brief week of interaction, Leto realized how much attention Jason received.
To be precise, he had long transcended the scope of divine attention toward a 'child.'
Whether it was her daughter Artemis, her sister's daughter Hecate, or even that Athena.
Intangibly, Jason had become the center.
And to know, any one of these three, even among the goddesses, was outstanding... Not to mention, it seemed far from just these three.
From what Leto knew, this fellow seemed to charm both men and women.
Even her son Apollo liked him very much.
This...
Because the current world had not yet coined the term 'social butterfly,' Leto did not know how to describe it.
She only felt that this situation was somewhat absurd, yet... inexplicably very interesting!
Gradually, Leto gave up thinking.
Soon, Hecate, Jason, and Artemis found that giant named Tityos.
When they found him, he was sitting beside a small mountain, reaching out to grab the nearby small mountain, swallowing it along with the soil and the creatures within.
He dared to attempt to defile Leto, naturally having some capital.
His own strength was actually not bad, but before Hecate and Artemis, it naturally seemed insufficient.
However, Hecate did not act immediately. She even stopped Artemis, who, upon seeing him, was instantly filled with rage.
Under Artemis's puzzled gaze, Hecate turned her head to Jason and said, "You go."
"Jason goes?" Artemis was stunned, then looked at Hecate in surprise and said, "Hecate, are you mad? That is a giant, a god!"
"A secondary god at best, not even counting as a primary god... He cannot even fight Cerberus."
Hecate said flatly, "Incidentally, Jason, treat this battle as a tribute to the God of War Ares and God King Zeus."
Hearing these words, Jason, who had been somewhat puzzled, immediately understood Hecate's intent.
After nodding, he stepped forward to meet him.
Artemis looked at the giant Tityos, then at Jason, who seemed so minuscule in comparison, and could not help but anxiously say, "Hecate, are you sure this is fine?"
Hecate could not help but look at Artemis somewhat speechlessly and said, "In your heart, exactly how frail and helpless do you think he is?"
"But he is just a child!"
"A child..." Hecate could not help but laugh at Artemis's words and said, "A few years ago, he was indeed just a child.
But in merely a short few years, this child you speak of... has long been able to battle gods!"