The bet between Athena and Ares!

[T/N: 3 x Chapter]

Actually, Greek Gods have a really strong desire of competing against others, so much so that even in Jason's previous world it had become a well-known fact.

Therefore, even if Rhea is the previous Queen of Gods, who had never really taken interest in interacting with humans, it obviously doesn't mean that she doesn't possess this desire in her.

After all, even the gentlest Goddess Hestia also has such a desire for comparison in her heart.

So when Rhea learned from Athena, who did this because of believing that Jason will show a very interesting expression, that Athena, Hestia, Hephaestus, Hecate, and even Artemis, who had made Atalanta do it in her place, had all given a lap pillow to Jason to make him fall asleep, Rhea also decided to do the same.

Because, just like Artemis had once explained to Jason that since Apollo and Athena have given gifts to Jason, she also must do the same to show that she is not inferior to others, Rhea's current idea is also somewhat similar and it is for the same reason that Amphitritie is also regretting not doing the same.

Of course, these Gods are competing in such a way only because they have a certain favorable impression of Jason, after all, if Jason encounters Hera, at the very least, their meeting won't end with Jason falling asleep on a lap pillow.

And obviously, Rhea is very satisfied with the way Jason had completed the task she had given to him, and she has a rather good impression of Jason and is very interested in his future journey.

Moreover, it is due to the same reason that Rhea has decided on her own accord and had taken the initiative in proposing that she will mend the relationship between Jason and Hera.

But currently, although Jason doesn't know that, due to Athena, all these goddesses are treating the matter of giving him a lap pillow as a kind of achievement that all of them want to get to show that they are not worse than others, he has still helplessly concluded that he will be possibly seeing more days like this in the future.

Therefore, Jason didn't try to avoid it and honestly lay down on Rhea's lap while thinking: 'Anyway, it is not like I am going to lose anything from this.'

So, just like this, Jason wearing white clothes with blond hair and emerald eyes, once again fell into a deep sleep on a goddess's lap while listening to the delightful song sang softly by the goddess.

*****

The next day, Jason woke up in the late morning and as already expected by him, he found that Rhea had left.

After all, just like Rhea had said yesterday, Jason really does believe that he had spent too much time in this place due to working as carefully as possible, and now, it is about time for him to again continue on his journey.

Although, the real reason Rhea had let Jason go is that her children and even their children were continuously urging her and a few of them were about to get upset at her for keeping Jason with her for so long.

So, in late morning, after Jason woke up due to Golden-Horned Deer lightly rubbing his cheek, he opened his sleepy eyes and said: "Good morning, Sister Deer."

Then, Jason stood up and looked around, after not finding the figure of Rhea, he cleaned himself in the nearby forest stream and ate a few ripe fruits already collected by birds and small animals.

So, after storing the rest of the ripe fruits in his silver bag, Jason, to continue on his journey, walked towards Golden-Horned Deer, who bleated softly and squatted in front of Jason.

But after Jason sat on Golden-Horned Deer, who immediately started walking, and then took out the compass given by Athena to check the direction, to his surprise, he found that Golden Horned Deer is once again walking in a different direction.

"Sister Deer, before going to God of Light Apollo, do I need to go somewhere else too?"

Hearing this, Golden Horned Deer nodded in response.

So Jason thought for a few moments and asked with a somewhat strange expression on his: "Could it be... to meet Goddess Artemis?"

'I can't be, does Artemis wants me to accept Atalanta's punishment...'

Although Artemis really does want to 'punish' Jason in place of Atalanta by a punishment along the line of permanently keeping Jason in her personal garden, fortunately for Jason, this isn't the case, for now, so Golden Horned Deer shook her head.

Seeing this, Jason breathed a sigh of relief, but then he felt even more curious, so after again pondering for a few moments, he thoughtfully asked: "Could it be... to meet Goddess Athena?"

This time Golden Horned Deer neither shook her head nor nodded, but she softly bleated once.

But upon seeing this, Jason smiled because he understood the meaning of Golden-Horned Deer that is although he isn't going to meet Athena, it is definitely related to Athena.

So, Jason stretched out his hand to touch the head of Golden-Horned Deer and said: "Thank you, Sister Deer."

And at the same time, Jason thought in his heart: 'Looking at the situation, it seems like Athena might want to make me encounter something related to Apollo's tribute...'

Actually, although Jason's interaction time with Athena may be one of the shortest and possibly even smaller than Hermes, both of them have still developed an inexplicable tacit understanding between them.

After all, just like Athena had understood many things about Jason, with his observant nature, Jason had also understood a few things about Athena, although it is not much, Jason had still understood the basic character of Athena.

Therefore, among the various gods and goddesses that Jason had encountered till now, in his heart, apart from Hecate and Chiron, the one Jason trusts the most is not Persephone, Demeter, or even his other teacher Hephaestus, rather, it is Athena.

Because Jason believes that although Athena had indeed indirectly caused a lot of trouble for him, as the God of Foresight Prometheus had said, Athena had indeed been guiding his path with her wisdom.

After all, although it had only been a few months since he had left the mountain, how could Jason not notice the sheer growth in such a short time along with a path prepared by Athena for him, walking on which he can continue growing for sure.

And Jason is obviously not ignorant enough to believe that he would have been able to do all this in such a short time without Athena's help.

Also, even if Jason still doesn't know, although the event that is going to happen next is the result of an accident, Athena had turned even this event into something that will tremendously help in Jason's growth.

*****

On the same day, just after sunrise and before Jason had woken up.

At the top of the mountain on which Sisyphus is punished to push the boulder.

A goddess wearing pure white clothes with silver hair and golden eyes, under the early morning sunlight, is standing at the highest point and is watching the crowd below that is gradually gathering to watch today's challenger.

And the bright smile on the face of this Goddess is clearly showing that she is in a very good mood.

This Goddess is obviously Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, one of the twelve main gods of Olympus.

But this time, Athena isn't standing here alone.

"What do think, Ares?"

While pulling up a few strands of silver hair on her earlobe, Athena said to the burly-looking God standing beside her and said in a slightly ostentatious tone: "This is the work done by my believer Jason, even if he possesses the brute strength to directly complete this task, he passed the test of Rhea without even using it and his solution has also been approved by Rhea as the better one."

Indeed, the burly-looking red-haired God, who at this moment is standing beside Athena, is God of War Ares, one of the twelve main gods of Olympus.

While Jason was learning the skills of playing harp from Queen of Sea Amphitrite, Ares was tasked by Hera to look for Heracles with blond hair and emerald eyes, and rides a Pegasus, because after the effect of Hermes's divine power wore off, Hera soon found that Lamia's matter is very suspicious and wants to find out the truth.

However, because of all gods being strangely 'cooperative', Ares had almost failed to find who this new 'Heracles' is.

But, just when Ares was starting to feel a little bored and was about to go back after searching for a few more days and then report that he hadn't found 'Heracles', Jason and Geryon broke out into a war which led to Jason using the silver arrow of Moon Goddess.

Therefore, being the God of War, Ares, who was already bored due to searching for clues, quickly sensed that Artemis's natal artifact has been used in war and decided to check out what is happening.

But when Ares saw that the person, who had shot the silver arrow of Moon Goddess, is dressed in white with blond hair and emerald eyes, and there is even a Pegasus standing not too far from him, Ares naturally guessed that this person, Jason, is exactly the Heracles he had been searching for.

But all this was seen by Athena, who was also watching Jason's battle against Geryon, so she understood that if she doesn't take immediate action things will possibly turn for worse.

So on that night, Athena quickly appeared in front of Ares while being dressed in her golden battle armor and carrying her spear and shield, then fought against Ares even before saying a single word.

Because Athena believes that if she needs to convince Ares of something, she first needs to fight against him and defeat him.

And after Ares was caught by surprise, he immediately began to fight back in anger, but, as usual, Ares soon discovered that he isn't able to defeat Athena, again.

Indeed, Ares had never managed to beat Athena, not even once, even if he is the God of War.

And this fact is actually so famous that it had been widely spread even in the Mythological records.

After all, the divinities owned by Ares are only of war and courage, but in fact, these two divinities are also owned by Athena along with quite a few other divinities and her main divinity of wisdom.

Therefore, even if Athena is primarily known as the Goddess of Wisdom and the Goddess of Heroic Endeavor, she is in fact also the Goddess of War and Courage, and she is actually significantly stronger than Ares, God of War and Courage.

So, after completely defeating Ares, feeling that it is almost the right time to talk, Athen began a 'reasonable' and 'logical' discussion with Ares, which even included mentioning Rhea, Zeus, Artemis, Apollo, Hades, Demeter, and Hestia to suppress Ares's thoughts of disclosing Jason's identity to Hera.

So, under the double pressure of 'strength' and 'logic', Ares obviously agreed to the terms of Athena.

But for Athena, doing just this much is not enough, because she doesn't want to let Ares go without earning something from him.

Which had led to the current scene.

"Hmph, it is nothing more than useless tricks, wouldn't it been enough to just smash this stone with one punch, he had just wasted so much time in vain!"

Ares, who is wearing scarlet armor, replied in a cold and disdainful tone.

But, upon hearing this, Athena did not get angry, rather she asked with a slightly mocking smile: "Oh? Then, do you mean to say that there is also a problem with Rhea's approval of this method? And even father-god along with all other gods and goddesses, who have approved this method, is also wrong."

"I didn't say that!" Ares glared at Athena, but then, he also replied with a mocking smile: "And Athena, if I remember correctly, he is not at all your believer, but is Hecate's!"

As soon as Ares spoke these words, Athena's smile slightly stiffened.

But when Ares saw Athena not speaking, he looked at Athena and immediately noticed the clearly unhappy expression on her face, so he laughed loudly while saying: "Hahaha, he is obviously not yours, but you still dared to claim that he belongs to you, you are really not feeling embarrassed, Athena! Hahaha..."

Listening to Ares's mocking laughter, the smile on Athena's face gradually disappeared and she glanced at Ares with a blank expression.

However, the next moment, Athena again turned her face to look at the heroic trial that Jason had created, then she narrowed her eyes and a smile again bloomed on her face as she said: "Ares... do you dare to make a bet with me?"

"Bet?" Ares, who was laughing wildly, upon hearing these words, abruptly stopped laughing, then looked at Athena in suspicion, and asked: "What bet?"

After all, Ares remembers that he had been swindled just too many times by Athena.

"Let's us just make bet on Jason." Athena pointed at a distance, where Jason had just woken and is about to again embark on his journey.

"If I win, then from now on, you are not allowed to tell Queen Hera anything about Jason."

"And if I lose, then I will declare to every God that I am not your opponent, and if not necessary, from then on, I will never appear at wherever you are! "

"Okay, I bet!"

After listening to Athena's words, even though he had already been swindled many times, Ares didn't think too much and immediately replied.

Because, in Ares's view, it is just a trivial matter for him not to tell Hera about Jason, but if he wins, then he will get to show off that he had defeated Athena.

"So tell me, how are we betting?" Ares asked impatiently.

"It's actually a very simple bet...and although it is Apollo's turn, I will, later on, explain to him that this delay is unavoidable."

"So, prepare your gift." Under Ares's puzzled gaze, Athena said lightly, "I will tell Jason to offer a tribute to you next."

"Offer a tribute...to me?" Ares frowned slightly.

"For you, the God of War, the best tribute one can offer is a spirited and carefree battle... isn't it?"

Ares nodded, but he still didn't loosen his brows, after all, he has personally seen what exactly Jason is capable of at full strength, so he believes that except for the weak minor Gods, actually there aren't many creatures who can be a worthy opponent of Jason.

Obviously, Athena also knows this and had guessed what Ares is thinking, so she continued: "Don't worry, while offering a tribute to you, he will not use the silver arrow of Artemis or Apollo's golden sword, also, in a short time, he is incapable of using the Underworld Domain spell given to him by Hecate."

"And since it is a tribute to God of War, the specifications of his opponent naturally won't be weak."

Hearing this, Ares finally loosened his brows, then after nodding in satisfaction, he asked Athena in doubt: "In this case... Is a great war about to break out somewhere in the world?"

Because even if Ares can sense wars, it is only when the war is going on, and not even the moment before it has started.

"No." Athena shook her head.

"Then our bet..."

"Since I have said that Jason will be offering tribute to you before Apollo, then it is better to be done immediately." After saying this, Athena tilted her head and pointed to a distant place.

Ares looked in the direction pointed by Athena, but after looking at it, he was slightly taken aback and confirmed: "The Garden of Hesperides (Sacred Garden of Golden Apple)?"

"Yes, the Garden of Hesperides (Sacred Garden of Golden Apple)." Athena nodded and replied: "His tribute to you will be defeating the guardian of the tree of Golden Apples in the Garden of Hesperides, the hundred-headed dragon Ladon, without using the power of silver arrow, golden sword, and underworld domain!"