chapter 27

Every day, one can go to bed with different women without any danger, as long as you can endure their requests. These heroes have the strength to farm, but they want to enjoy themselves instead. "We are heroes, you are just civilians. Why should we farm when we only need to enjoy ourselves?" This seemingly unreasonable idea is actually quite normal in this world. Cyd sits on the ship's mast, overlooking the heroes, who are quarreling over trivial matters.

The Goddess of War and Wisdom, Athena, leaves the Kingdom of Women that evening and finds Cyd, fulfilling her commitment. "How can I teach you to be blessed by the God of War, Ares?" Athena's confident voice reverberates in Cyd's mind. Indeed, among all blessings, obtaining one from Ares should be the most difficult, even more so than from Hades, the Ruler of the Underworld. Although Athena and Ares both represent war, there is a fundamental difference between them: Athena embodies peace, while Ares embodies pure, tyrannical war. However, Athena can guarantee that Ares will bless him voluntarily.

Cyd wonders about the method. "That child, though stubborn, if you show bravery, courage, and integrity, it will be enough to please her."

"A goddess..." Cyd covers his face. Why?

Even the captured status of Hephaestus, the male god, is not as bad as Ares'. He has the skill to turn Zeus into a goddess! But it's impossible; otherwise, how would Hercules have been born? Cyd gives up pondering and leans back against the ship's mast.

Trying to please the god of wisdom with wisdom and the god of war with war is the correct approach. However, starting a war is not possible in this lifetime. When Cyd is pondering, the quarrel on deck escalates.

"When will they stop quarreling?" Cyd asks Atalanta as she approaches him.

"Who knows? After leaving that island, they began anticipating the next one. Perhaps it will be a place where they can lead a comfortable life," Atalanta says, curling her lip. "But Hercules insists that the supplies are sufficient, and there's no need to go to another island. Unfortunately, there's only a small outpost near where he wants to go."

"I bet Jason is going to the islands, right?" Cyd rolls his eyes.

"Although he's the team leader, he knows that these heroes will believe anyone who can win over their support. Supporting most people's choice is key to maintaining his position as team leader," Atalanta explains. "A very wise choice."

"If Hercules were the team leader, the journey wouldn't be so absurd," Cyd sighs. "~ I don't plan to continue being involved anyway."

"are you getting off at the next island?" Atalanta asks.

"No, but I also don't plan to disembark at the next island. My intuition tells me that these fellows will get into trouble," Cyd points to his head.

"Right? Although I won't join them, I'll still hunt," Atalanta says calmly.

"Ata, can you bring back some food for me?" Cyd tugs at Atalanta's clothes. "I'll starve to death if I have to eat dry rations on the ship."

Atalanta smirks. "Is this an order?"

"It's a request."

"I'll consider it after I've eaten my fill," Atalanta says, turning away.

But the quarrel on deck eventually ends, and the Greek heroes abandon Hercules again, choosing to land on the next island.

"I hope the next island is Colchis!" Hercules prays fervently, though he knows it's unlikely. Even as the son of Zeus, he couldn't make Jason go to the next island.

However, the next island appears halfway through the day.

"Goodbye, I'll watch the ship here," Cyd waves to Hercules.

"Please," Hercules sighs, following the group. He now suspects more than ever that he was sent to clean up after them.

After Cyd watches Hermes leave the group, he mutters to himself, "I guess it's time for Kami-sama to come out."

Five minutes later...

"I guessed wrong," Cyd awkwardly lowers his head. He certainly doesn't have super perception capabilities; it's just a gut feeling. But apparently...

"How did you know I would come?" Hermes pops up.

"I thought you'd show up," Cyd admits.

Hermes puts a hand on Cyd's shoulder. "You made the right choice by not going with them."

"It seems my intuition was wrong," Cyd says, not quite believing it.

"There's a one-eyed giant on this island, and it's one of his sons," Hermes explains, pointing towards the sea. "Be careful."

"I thought I should jump into the sea immediately," Cyd says with a wry smile. "But if this giant's son has any connection to Poseidon, I'd be in even more trouble."

"You won't sink," Hermes points to Cyd's left wrist. "Didn't you notice? You've been blessed by the third god."

"What?!" Cyd opens his mouth, noticing a sky-blue crystal shining quietly on his wrist. "It wasn't there a moment ago!"

"Perhaps you think you're just a dispensable mortal in the eyes of the gods, but they're not blind. Poseidon ranks you as important. You were already blessed by him before you decided to come to this island, and now you've been blessed again," Hermes explains with a faint smile. "You've accomplished what most people can't do in a short period. You can truly be called a hero."

"I'm a somewhat unusual average person," Cyd says, curling his lip. "Why are you telling me all this about the blessings?"

"Because of my blessing, I can't lie to you," Hermes shrugs. "So, I didn't lie to you about Artemis."

"Can I take back those words?"

"Unfortunately, no!"