Type-Moon: The Human Love Simulator [114]
Some islands bore the traces of human life, while others were untouched, wild lands teeming with animals and entirely devoid of people.
Any place where beasts roamed was the domain of Artemis. Although not the most aggressive of the Twelve Olympians, as the Mistress of the Wilderness, Artemis wielded great power.
The boat's arrival interrupted Athena, who had been gathering her thoughts. The wise goddess rarely spoke without preparation; she preferred to guide others into saying what she wanted to hear, which allowed her to control the conversation.
"Before we start our conversation, would you like to take a walk with me?" Athena suggested with a soft smile. "You usually enjoy a stroll after a meal, don't you?"
"Athena, you know my habits all too well," Suren replied, standing and stepping ashore. He extended his hand in invitation. "I'd be honored, Athena."
"...You do adapt quickly, Suren."
Even Athena was surprised by his ease. Despite her assurance that he need not be overly formal with her, Suren truly treated her without the slightest reverence, as if he were speaking to an equal.
But gods and mortals—were they ever truly equals?
Most Greeks, even those blessed by the gods, would never dare behave so freely in a god's presence. Suren, however, was clearly different.
In his heart, he respected the gods, yet he did not fear them. He performed his rituals meticulously, yet he could speak and walk alongside a goddess with unclouded ease.
"Of course, Athena. I'm nothing if not devout," Suren said, shrugging playfully. Taking her hand in his, he helped her step ashore onto the island.
Athena withdrew her hand in silence, but inwardly, she was pleased by his reaction.
As guides and protectors of humankind, the gods felt no need to hide their true intentions. When they made a demand, it was genuine, unlike human kings, whose whims could change at any moment.
Suren and Athena strolled along the shoreline, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility. Athena gazed into the distance, gesturing toward a point on the horizon. "Over there is where Heracles, the son of Zeus, once resided."
The son of Zeus, Heracles—the name alone was legendary.
Anyone remotely familiar with Greek lore knew of Heracles, the greatest of Greek heroes, whose heroic deeds and adventures filled countless tales. His exploits, especially the Twelve Labors, were unmatched—feats that no other mortal could hope to accomplish alone.
To this day, some revered Heracles not as a hero, but as a god.
But beneath his celebrated deeds lay a host of personal flaws.
In his youth, he killed his own teacher. He demanded extravagant rewards for his help, and at times his violent rages spared neither friend nor kin.
The list of his offenses was long.
"I've heard of him—a famous name," Suren replied. "Athena, Heracles must be your favorite hero, no?"
It was undeniable that Athena had offered her favor and protection to Heracles on many occasions. For a goddess, this was no small gesture.
"..."
Athena didn't respond. Instead, she continued, "Heracles once assisted Thebes against the tyranny of Minyae. He was unstoppable on the battlefield, and soon he had broken their forces entirely."
"He reduced their city to ashes, seized its treasures, and won the admiration of the gods for his courage."
Suren acknowledged that the Minyae's tribute to Thebes had been unjust. But one city conquering another was hardly unusual.
Once Minyae was defeated, Thebes absorbed its wealth and quickly rose to become one of the most powerful city-states, second only to Athens and Sparta.
But Thebes soon demanded tributes from neighboring cities as well.
Athena continued, "Heracles lived in Thebes for years, defending it time and again. The king eventually offered him his daughter's hand in marriage, along with the throne."
"So, in helping Thebes to vanquish Minyae, Heracles acted less out of heroism and more from human ambition."
Suren spoke plainly, yet Athena asked, "Don't heroes deserve a reward for rescuing people from disaster? Whatever they claim, isn't it rightfully theirs?"
At last, Athena posed the question she had been waiting to ask, eager for Suren's answer.
High above, the gods listened closely, curious to hear the mortal's reply.
"Could they not have done better?"
Suren understood Athena's perspective, but he didn't agree.
Her perspective resembled that of Zilu, who once argued that rescuers deserved whatever rewards they desired; that was the purpose of a hero's quest.
"In a world of scarcity, perhaps such an approach would be forgivable."
But Suren sighed, "Yet, in this abundant age of the gods, no one need suffer for want. Everyone here could lead a good life in this beautiful world."
"This era should inspire joy in everyone, not merely serve as a backdrop for heroes' grand stories."
Suren's views clashed with the common mindset. To him, an age of plenty ought to elevate people, to fill them with pride and dignity. Yet here, even in an era blessed with abundance, heroes' ideals remained primitive and brutal.
Who among them could truly want for anything?
In this age, resources were so abundant that even the sky-roaming Bull of Heaven could be sustained. The energy consumed by that beast in a second was an incomprehensible figure by modern standards.
They could have done better.
And Suren sought to make this world better still.
"Suren," Athena sighed, "you realize… gods and heroes aren't obligated to save humankind."
"No…" Suren replied, his expression softening. "Athena, gods do love mankind, don't they?"
"If they didn't, they wouldn't protect people from monsters. If they didn't, they wouldn't set trials and give guidance."
"So gods are indeed guardians and guides for humanity, aren't they?"
Suren's voice grew stronger as he continued, "In this age, when life could be so wonderful, it should be shared by all people. Humans should be able to live in peace, to express the full beauty of their lives…"
"Isn't that, too, what the gods hope to see?"
Athena was momentarily at a loss. She felt a strange stirring in her heart; no one had ever expressed such a clear insight into the gods' purpose—and he was correct.
Not only did Suren possess an immortal spirit, but his thoughts aligned with the gods, allowing him to speak to them as equals.
She could only ask, "Is this the golden age you dream of?"
"Yes, this is the golden era of harmony between gods and mortals that I wish to bring to life."
For the first time, a fierce ambition shone in Suren's eyes, a resolve to leave his mark upon the world.
In that moment, Athena understood that Suren was no ordinary mortal. His ideals, his moral rigor, his vision—they marked him as a man apart.
What Suren found intolerable, he would seek to change, even if that meant changing the very nature of his world.
To bring about a brighter age…
To make this beloved Greece of the gods' era even more perfect, Suren could not allow even a speck of imperfection to mar it.
Even when facing Zeus himself, the one who ruled all, Suren had dared to challenge his authority. Zeus had not answered his declaration of war but watched silently.
Perhaps, even then, the wisest of the gods had glimpsed the potential within Suren.
Now, hearing his words, Athena finally understood the reason for the aura of otherness that clung to him, the ideals that set him apart from all others.
"Suren, you realize that, even as one of the Twelve, I cannot accomplish what you envision."
Athena reached out, her pale hand gently tracing the outline of his noble face. "You'll suffer greatly."
"But someone must do it, don't you think?" Suren said. "I'm willing."
For the first time, Athena, goddess of wisdom, war, and victory, felt her heart waver. She didn't yet understand the new emotion stirring within her.
But rather than resist this unknown feeling, Athena, who usually needed control over everything, found herself open to it.
Her hand moved unconsciously to her chest as she contemplated what this feeling might mean for her.
Yet one thing she knew—
She, too, wished to support Suren.
Who wouldn't be drawn to such a noble soul?
---
Zeus closed his eyes, and finally, he understood Suren's vision.
The Golden Age…
What a beautiful dream.
Suren, is this who you truly are?
Do you realize that what you seek is opposition from all the world?
Suren's ideals were too flawless, too pure; they stood out sharply against the grain of not only this era but of all eras. Such unyielding morals would inevitably provoke the ire of others, for humans are beings filled with both light and shadow, kindness and selfishness.
Let me see how far your will can carry you, noble hero.
Suren, if ever you grow weary… lay down the crown.
---
The gods, too, had heard Suren's ideals. They exchanged glances, most unable to comprehend his vision.
In truth, only Zeus possessed a wisdom truly transcending the ages. Even Athena had needed Suren to lay bare his philosophy before she could fully grasp it.
Poseidon scratched his head. "What was he on about? Was it just a slight against Zeus? Because if so, I'm in!"
Apollo shook his head. "No, Poseidon, Suren didn't insult Zeus outright. But his ideas are difficult for us gods to accept—I can't say I approve."
Apollo felt no fondness toward Suren. With such a divinely attractive face, Suren usually made a strong first impression on any god. But thanks to Artemis, Apollo ignored his beauty and regarded him with suspicion.
Artemis began to speak on Suren's behalf, but Apollo's furious glare stopped her short. In that moment, the naïve goddess's expression grew unusually shrewd, much like Athena's.
Artemis knew that saying more would only add fuel to Apollo's anger, so she reluctantly held her tongue.
She understood Apollo's patience was wearing thin; if his resentment for Suren sparked violent action, there'd be no knowing what she could do to stop it. Whatever Apollo might do, Artemis would never bring harm to him—he was her only kin.
After a moment's thought, Ares spoke. "I'm with the Silver-Bowed One. This philosophy… it's beyond Athena and Zeus. I can't see the future in his vision."
Aphrodite, her gaze flitting thoughtfully between Athena and Suren, finally turned away. "I don't fully understand it, but isn't it interesting? I'll support him!"
In the face of passionate love, logic and principles rarely held sway.
The goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite, was impulsive to an extreme. More powerful than Artemis, more possessive than Hera, and more unpredictable than Athena, she was a force wherever she cast her gaze, a figure whose whims often left chaos in their wake.
As for Hera and Hestia, they needed no convincing—they were already on Suren's side. For the other gods, though, while some, like Apollo and Ares, openly resisted Suren's ideals, most were content to simply observe.
In a way, Suren had been right about one thing: gods, at their core, loved humanity.
Many of the gods viewed Suren's ambitions as a child's play, a naïve dream. They couldn't understand it, but they were willing to humor it.
For them, an immortal lifespan allowed for endless diversions, and watching Suren's journey was like witnessing the unfolding of a hero in a grand tale.
"Perhaps this child will surpass even Heracles," Hermes mused. As the messenger of the gods, he had encountered more mortals than any of the others. "I can sense there's something different about him."
"That much is obvious…"
Aphrodite looked knowingly at Suren, who stood beside Athena.
After all, no matter how far Heracles went, he would never be more than a beloved "pet."
Athena's fondness for heroes was well-known. Her affection for guiding them on their journeys was practically legend among gods and mortals alike.
For her devotion, she was known as the "Mother of Heroes," a goddess who always stood on humanity's side, and the one who adored humans most.
But until now, Athena had only viewed heroes as protégés, assisting them in their quests, aiding them in their achievements.
Now, however, Athena's feelings toward Suren seemed to extend beyond mere guidance. She wanted something more…
"An intriguing young one… let's see if he can keep Love and Beauty herself intrigued."
---
Athena had departed, leaving Suren unaware that this entire encounter had been an examination conducted under the watchful eyes of the gods. He merely thought she had come to chat out of restlessness.
After all, sometimes the gods simply had nothing better to do.
Still, Suren found it odd that Athena had paid him a visit without offering any guidance—as if she'd come solely for conversation.
Unable to make sense of it, he decided to let the matter go. By now, he'd found the island where Europa had been residing.
Europa, daughter of King Agenor of Phoenicia, born in Asia, raised far from her homeland.
"Who are you?" Europa asked in surprise. She had not expected to see another human here on the island, much less one of such striking appearance—and someone who, against all odds, had somehow bypassed Zeus's restrictions to reach her.
Before being taken by the white bull, Europa had had a strange dream. In it, two women had appeared—one identifying herself as Asia, the other as Aphrodite. They fought over her, and in the end, Asia had lost to Aphrodite.
Though Aphrodite had won, she too seemed unable to claim Europa for herself, instead declaring that Europa—Europe—was destined to become Zeus's new bride.
The next day, Europa was whisked away by the majestic white bull, a symbol of Zeus's divine authority.
She wasn't foolish; she recognized the might and status of both Aphrodite and Zeus. In Phoenicia, their names carried the weight of divine reverence.
Yet how Europa felt about her fate—whether she accepted it or yearned to resist—was a mystery known only to her.
"I am Suren," he introduced himself. "At Cadmus's request, I have come to return you to Phoenicia, to reunite you with your family."
He continued, "Moreover, I am here under the guidance of Hera, the Queen of the Heavens. Whatever the reason, I have found you."
Europa fell silent, then spoke with resignation, "Thank you for your kindness, noble hero, but I cannot leave yet. Zeus has not come, and I must fulfill my destiny."
"Destiny is not so important that it can't be deferred," Suren replied, his gaze unwavering. "The gods won't mind."
He held her gaze, his eyes clear and firm. "I ask you only this: Do you wish to see your family again?"
"If you do, I will help you. Don't ask me why—perhaps I am simply a decent person."
Europa had never met anyone like him, but faced with his question, she could not lie to herself. "Yes, noble hero. I yearn to see my family again."
"Then come with me."
He offered his hand, helping her onto the small boat. The white bull watched in silence, offering no resistance.
Destiny cannot be denied, Suren. Remember well the teachings Hera has imparted to you.
---
The journey back was smooth, strangely so. Suren barely needed to steer the small vessel; it moved with the current, swiftly and directly carrying them toward Greece.
The speed was remarkable—so much so that Suren half-wondered if a great sea creature might be carrying them along from below.
Regardless, the fast travel was welcome, and he silently thanked Poseidon for this assistance, offering the occasional tribute to the sea god in addition to his prayers to the other goddesses.
The trip there had taken months, but the return journey required less than a week. Soon, Suren found Cadmus in Delphi.
"You returned with my sister so quickly?"
Cadmus was stunned by Suren's speed. His own quest had barely begun, and yet Suren had already fulfilled his mission.
"Amazing, truly," he breathed. "You are unmatched, Lord Suren."
Indeed, this was the man who had dared challenge Zeus himself on behalf of a stranger—a hero of such strength and mercy, one who embodied purity.
With a look of awe, Cadmus added, "You are truly a man who can free the afflicted from all barriers, a true saint."
Little did Cadmus know that his casual reference to Suren as a "barrier-breaker" would one day resound across all of Greece.
"No need to thank me. You can now return home and speak with your father."
Suren nodded to Cadmus and turned to leave, while Europa, watching him go, felt their fated encounter coming to an end. To him, she was likely just another challenge, another chapter in his journey.
So be it. She too had her own destiny. This was always how things were meant to end—there was no reason for lingering attachment.
And yet… why did her heart ache with resentment?
A deep, gnawing bitterness filled her soul.
Why me?
Why must I bear this duty of bringing forth the progeny of Europe?
This was the will of the gods—who could possibly help me now?
---
Meanwhile, Jason continued his tireless worship of Hera, offering endless treasures to the Queen of the Heavens as proof of his devotion.
Some of these gifts were well beyond what a dethroned prince could afford, so he relied on Heracles's "assistance" to "borrow" the rest.
At last, after countless sacrifices to Hera, Jason received the favor he had so desperately sought.
Hera answered him.
"Permission granted. The Argo shall set sail on its grand voyage. Gather Greece's greatest heroes to embark."
"Hail to the merciful Hera!" Jason nearly wept with relief. At last, his efforts were rewarded.
"The greatest heroes…" Jason pondered for a moment. "Heracles? Of course—the 'Glory of Hera' himself!"
Only the gods knew of the strained relationship between Hera and Heracles. To the Greeks, however, strength equated to greatness.
And without question, Heracles was mighty. Not a single hero in Greece dared to claim superiority over him.
---
"Hera! So now it's Hestia's turn, is that it?" Athena had tracked down Hera, ready to admonish her for bypassing their usual decorum.
By Hera's side, a flickering flame pulsed subtly—whether in approval or in silent rebuke, it was hard to tell. This was none other than Hestia herself.
Despite her shy, reclusive nature, Hestia had come. The only person she might emerge for was Suren.
"Sending Suren to meet Europa was just meant to broaden his perspective," Hera replied, sitting tall with her queenly dignity intact. "The next true adventure lies in the journey of the Argo."
Seeing Athena and Hestia's disapproving expressions, Hera added reluctantly, "It's a grand expedition—one of Greece's greatest ventures, gathering all of its heroes. We all can guide Suren, can we not?"
The Argonaut expedition, second only to the Trojan War in legend, was a monumental Greek event led by Jason and fifty heroes. It was filled with countless tales of adventure.
Thus, Hera's justification was, at least in part, sincere.
Hestia thought it over, then nodded. "Very well. Then we'll guide Suren together on this journey!"
Athena's brows lifted slightly; she hadn't expected that. Hestia was always one for fairness and goodwill, inviting her into this shared task without hesitation.
After all, by strict rules, Hestia was at a disadvantage. Athena had guided Suren through the Calydonian Hunt, and Hera had introduced him to a broader understanding of the world.
Hestia had yet to intervene personally.
If it were her alone, Athena would have taken the task without hesitation, excluding others.
But lately, a twinge of guilt hit her—she realized that she'd started wanting to keep Suren's attention all to herself.
---
Elsewhere, Atalanta, the renowned heroine and princess of Arcadia, had somehow tracked down Suren's home in the forest and decided to pay him a visit.
"Ta-nyan? You're here?" Suren was surprised, but quickly smiled in welcome. "I told you to visit sometime. Since you came all this way on your own, I guess I lucked out!"
He was free at the moment, more than willing to show Atalanta around the forest.
"Oh?"
Before Atalanta could respond, she caught sight of the statues of the three goddesses inside Suren's cave—and, not far off, a faint presence hinting at Artemis herself.
She hesitated, her expression turning rigid. Suren's favor with the gods was far greater than she had imagined.
"Actually, it's not by chance that I found you," she admitted, managing her surprise. "I sought Lady Aphrodite's aid to locate you."
Atalanta's expression softened as she gazed at him, not shying away from the direct approach. "Lady Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. Anyone seeking true love can go to her, and she will grant her blessing."
Even a scoundrel like Hippomenes could win Aphrodite's support. For her, as long as it was love—any kind of love—she'd offer her aid.
But to enlist her help, one had to think carefully about how to repay her. Otherwise, Aphrodite's curse could be a fate worse than death.
"So…," Suren said, catching on to her meaning, "you're saying you're in love with me, so you came here to find me?"
What was Aphrodite's game this time? As always, her plans were a little too convenient.
"I just thought you'd make an ideal husband," Atalanta said, calm and straightforward.
"Wait, let me get this straight. We've met less than five times, right?" Suren raised an eyebrow. "Weren't we just close friends?"
"We are." Atalanta met his gaze directly. "But I think you'd be the perfect companion. I'd like us to hunt together from now on."
"Let me process this—my best hunting buddy wants to be my wife…" Suren rubbed his temples, glancing over at her with a wry smile. "Forget it; let's eat first."
Suren gestured for Atalanta to join him at his small dining table. She didn't press the matter, understanding that her feelings wouldn't be reciprocated that easily.
But her mind was set. She would never give up.
With a sudden, satisfied smile, Atalanta flicked her green, cat-like ears. "As a friend, I'd like to invite you on an adventure with me. You won't turn that down, will you?"
"Suren, there's a hero whom Hera herself has endorsed, one who's building a ship under Athena's guidance—the Argo—and gathering Greece's finest heroes to join him…"
She looked at him with fierce conviction. "Of all the heroes I know, none embody 'hero' as perfectly as you. How could they embark on this journey without you?"
Suren caught on quickly. Hera's endorsement, Athena's guidance, the Argo…
Sounded familiar. Clearly, another assignment from the goddesses.
But…
Suren nodded. "All right, Ta-nyan, I'll join."
He'd known immediately upon hearing Hera and Athena's names that this was likely a mission crafted by the goddesses. And as the gods' regular go-to for tasks, he had no reason to turn it down.
Besides, it was the perfect opportunity to meet some of Greece's famed heroes.
After a quick meal, Suren paid homage to the statues of his goddesses.
"Hestia, Athena, and Lady Hera, please bless me on my journey—many thanks! And Lady Artemis, thank you for all you've done. I'll be sure to visit you again."
With a respectful bow, he followed Atalanta out of the forest.
---
By now, word of the Argo expedition had spread widely. Jason was searching for strong heroes to join him in his quest for the Golden Fleece from the kingdom of Colchis, hoping to reclaim his throne in Iolcus.
Atalanta, unaware of Jason's less-than-stellar reputation, had agreed to join him, trusting in Hera and Athena's endorsement and even convincing her "ideal hero" Suren to come along.
Jason had already gathered an impressive lineup of heroes, including Heracles, Caeneus, Orpheus, the Dioscuri twins, Peleus, and others. Among them was an old acquaintance of Suren's—Peleus.
The moment Peleus laid eyes on him, he looked as if he'd seen a ghost. Stunned, he opened his mouth as if to speak, but then closed it, choosing instead to maintain a respectful silence.
Of the fifty Argonauts, nearly all were demigods, with divine lineage coursing through their veins. Those without were at least blessed with high-ranking divinity, like Caeneus, favored by Poseidon, or Atalanta, whose prowess matched even the demigods.
The Argo was filled with Greece's finest heroes—a monumental gathering that rivaled any event in the Age of Gods.
Suren hoisted a hefty object onto his shoulder, turning to Atalanta, who was also carrying supplies. "So, the first step in our grand adventure is… lifting this legendary ship from land to sea?"
Who in their right mind builds a ship on land?
After all, ships are traditionally built by the shore.
This one, however, with its fifty oars, had been constructed inland.
All right, he thought. Don't question the logistics of a divine era.
A vessel of this size would require machinery or a fleet of helicopters to transport in the future. Yet in the Age of Gods, the heroes didn't bat an eye.
Heracles, the mighty demigod, simply suggested, "We're fifty strong. Let's just carry it to the sea."
As soon as he laid hands on it, Suren realized something unusual.
Was it his imagination, or could he lift this ship on his own? It wasn't nearly as heavy as he'd expected.
Yet seeing the other heroes straining, sweating, and exerting their full strength, he kept his suspicions to himself. Clearly, for them, it was indeed a monumental effort.
After all, the Argo was Greece's grandest ship, built with divine assistance.
Atalanta, huffing beside him, muttered in frustration. "The ship was Athena's gift. Maybe placing it inland was part of the test?"
As an agile hunter, this kind of labor wasn't exactly her forte.
Noticing her struggle, Suren adjusted his grip to lighten her burden.
Once they'd launched the vessel, Jason—who'd barely broken a sweat, having strategically positioned himself behind Heracles—took the credit with a sweeping gesture.
After all, to the Greeks, everything somehow tied back to honor and valor.
This was, after all, the Argo, the grandest ship in all of Greece.
Jason was about to shout, "Argo, onward!" when another hero interjected.
"Hold on!" the man shouted, stepping forward with a fierce look. "I believe someone here hasn't contributed to our efforts yet still shares in our honor."
"And there's another issue," he continued. "The Argo has fifty pairs of oars, but we're one person over."
Suren glanced at Atalanta, who flicked her green cat-like ears back in confusion.
The Argo's fifty were Greece's crème de la crème, but that didn't mean all were illustrious heroes.
Suren had never met this man before, nor had Atalanta. Turning to Jason, he asked, "Jason, is this your addition to the roster?"
Suren had little patience for pointless conflict. He ignored those who weren't worth his time, knowing that acknowledgment could only encourage them.
Jason, who had seen Suren's skill during the Calydonian Boar hunt, laughed in response. "Friend, I am the captain of the Argo. I won't be rowing, so fifty pairs of oars fit perfectly!"
"Hmph. Just someone with a pretty face who caught Atalanta's eye, that's all," the stranger sneered, eyes narrowed with resentment. "Why should we share our glory with him?"
Suren sighed as he saw the man's jealousy turn to hatred.
But before he could respond, a streak of light shot past, followed by the hum of a bowstring.
Turning, he saw Atalanta lower her bow, her face cold and unyielding.
"There are fifty now," she said simply.
Atalanta's arrow had flown straight and true, piercing the man's brow and ending his life in an instant.
Suren watched with a hint of admiration. He had to admit it—she was skilled. She was no mere "cat-girl" but Greece's most formidable huntress.
"Was that necessary?" Suren muttered, though even he wasn't sure who he was speaking to.
Yet he knew she'd done it for his sake. And while he didn't need such gestures, he let it pass.
---
T/N: Ta-nyan is just a nickname :p I find it better than "Little Cat/Kitty"
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check!
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