chapter 23

In a situation where victory and loss hang in the balance, how can one remain unperturbed? The tie was far from ideal!

"This is incredible," Cyd extended his left hand toward the sun. The orange crystal on his wrist glowed brightly under the sunlight, casting intricate patterns on his arm.

"This is not good!" Atalanta ran up to Cyd and grabbed his collar. "You're playing me! I don't need your sympathy. Do you think I'll back down? Let's be clear: if I win, I will really kill you!"

Cyd awkwardly looked at Atalanta, wishing he could disappear.

"But it was a tie."

Forget that. A tie is just as troublesome!

"Let's do it again!"

"And if it's another tie...?"

"Even if it's a tie, I will still kill you!"

Cyd covered his face. What kind of nonsense is this? How did it come to this?

"Uh... can we agree that you won't kill me?" Cyd asked cautiously.

"No. You can do whatever you want if you win, but I will kill you," Atalanta said earnestly.

Great, I should've known better. Last night's harmony was deceiving. This is very Greek.

"Fine, fine, we'll race again. But first, let's agree on the rules," Cyd raised his hands. "I don't want any misunderstandings."

"I know the rules. Same as before," Atalanta narrowed her eyes. "This time, I won't hold back!"

Five minutes later.

"Can I make a small request?" Cyd asked, extending a hand to the kneeling, defeated Atalanta.

"Ugh..."

Normally, Atalanta wouldn't take Cyd's hand even if it meant breaking her leg. But she had agreed to the rules. She lost, and she wouldn't go back on her word. So, reluctantly, she took Cyd's hand.

"I should've done this from the start..."

"Could you help me gather some prey to bring back?" Cyd asked cautiously.

"Fine... this is the fate of the defeated," Atalanta took a deep breath and nodded. "I understand."

"And, um, Hercules eats a lot, so..."

"I GET IT!"

"I didn't mean to... Ahhh! I didn't say anything!" Cyd quickly let go of Atalanta's hand and backed away several meters.

"I will keep my word!" Atalanta angrily grabbed her bow and disappeared into the jungle.

"Although this feels wrong, why does it seem like I haven't made a mistake?" Cyd mused as he returned to the Argo.

"Where's Atalanta?" Hercules, the ship's conscience, tilted his head.

"She's hunting for us. I couldn't help but come back to assist you," Cyd said, mimicking Hercules' stance in front of the Argo.

"Atalanta is a good person," Hercules nodded.

"Is she...?" Cyd wondered aloud.

Meanwhile, in the city.

"This is the life!" Jason, surrounded by beautiful women, smiled contentedly.

Forget heroism, the Golden Fleece, and the Argo. They were all distant memories. What was the point of his quest for the throne in the first place? Power? Wealth?

Wrong! It was for women!

With power, women flock to you. With wealth, they crawl into your bed. Why risk his life for something uncertain when he could indulge in this paradise of women without any effort?

"Damn the Golden Fleece!"

Lost in these thoughts, Jason and the other heroes laughed with their newfound companions.

"Truly pathetic," a silver-haired woman in a Greek dress muttered coldly, leaning against a pillar.

Jason, sensing something, glanced towards the pillar, but she had already disappeared. As a woman whispered sweet nothings into his ear, his worries faded.

The empress of the island had him enthralled.

"Oh, Atalanta, you did an amazing job," Cyd marveled at the variety of wild animals she brought back.

Who asked you to call me that!

Atalanta, breathing heavily, resisted the urge to punch Cyd in the face. She remembered their bet and, with a cold snort, turned away.

Isn't she angry?

Cyd blinked. He had called her "Ata" without thinking. He expected her to be furious, but instead, she seemed flustered, maybe even... pleased?

Cyd's eyes brightened.

"Dinner's ready," Hercules mumbled, digging a pit for the fire, expertly starting it.

Atalanta skillfully skinned the animals while Hercules hung the meat on the grill. Cyd, meanwhile, waited with a bowl in hand.

"Ata, could you pass the meat?"

Atalanta's eye twitched. She handed Cyd the freshly roasted boar, wishing she could stuff it into his mouth instead.

She's really not angry!

Cyd looked pleasantly surprised at Atalanta, whose face was tinged with a blush under the firelight.

"You think I'm like those women who can't feed you enough?" Atalanta challenged, her eyes wide.

Cyd's look of admiration was mistaken for doubt by Atalanta.

"No, Ata, that's not what I meant!"

"Open your mouth!" Atalanta ordered.

"Ugh..."

"Delicious," Hercules said, taking a piece of the boar from the grill and heading off to patrol.

Big brother, don't leave!

"Bang!"

Pushed to the ground, Cyd reached out helplessly towards Hercules.

"You humiliated me today. I'll repay you a hundredfold!" Atalanta fumed, shoving pieces of meat into Cyd's mouth.

"Ata wait... I can't... it's too much... ugh! It won't fit!"

"Am I too late?" A silver-haired young girl sitting along the Argo chuckled, watching the two bicker by the bonfire.