Chapter 39

Damn it.

It was a literal case of giving an inch and taking a mile.

I threw a light jab, only to receive a direct punch in return.

This time, as I fell silent, the trickster god once again showed his amusement and started teasing.

“Kihihihi… What’s wrong? Your face is all pale.”

“I don’t know when or where an orbital strike might hit. Wouldn’t you have a headache in my shoes?”

I shot him a glare, but Hermes, floating in mid-air with winged shoes, just clutched his stomach and laughed.

“Brother Apollo and Lady Artemis had a tough childhood, so their bond is exceptional. Your worry isn’t entirely unfounded.”

“Th-that’s…”

To be honest, the information Hermes provided was quite, no, extremely helpful.

Where else in the world could you hear news from the distant kingdom of the gods?

That face going back and forth right in front of my eyes—it’s what they call a face that invites criticism—that irritating face was the problem.

“Oh… if I keep teasing, you’re really going to explode. Are you that worried?”

“Just a few days ago, I almost got my head blown off by that moonlight maniac while taking a walk in the forest.”

“Moonlight maniac… Pfft! Hahahahaha!! Unbelievable!”

Hermes laughed so hard at the nickname I gave, but wasn’t it really the act of a maniac or a brat?

For heaven’s sake, not only did she take a headshot without saying a word, but instead of being embarrassed about getting counter-attacked, she actually ran to her brother and pulled the ‘Brother! He hit me!’ card?

‘Atalanta is so brazen because she takes after her mother…’

Confucius! Mencius!

You were right!

People can be taught and rehabilitated, but a beast that bites humans must be beaten down!

‘Should I have plucked out one of her eyes, regardless of the aftermath?’

Though she was a god and wouldn’t die, what if she went mad because I held back?

If I was going to intervene, I should have properly crippled her to make her crawl…

‘If I had done that, it wouldn’t have been sunlight but lightning that struck.’

Even upon reflection, what I did was the best at the time, but I couldn’t help but think I should have finished it while I had the chance.

“Oh… You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?”

“What?”

“…Are you saying you should have ended it with Lady Artemis in the forest back then?”

As expected of the god who took a seat among the Twelve Olympians with just his quick wits.

He saw through my intentions exactly.

However, I couldn’t reveal that I wanted to mess with a god of the same rank, so I shook my head with a bright smile.

“No way, though I do feel like punching a young man laughing and flying around in front of me.”

“What…?! Someone as cute as me?!”

…Should I kill him, Dianes?

Hold on, my inner Heavenly Demon.

Even though his handsomeness and annoying cuteness made me want to lash out, I barely managed to hold back with all my patience from three lifetimes.

Honestly, if I had regained my martial skills from my previous life, I would have sent a pebble flying at his shiny forehead.

“Ugh… What should I do?”

He is just a fly, but, no, he is still a god. Am I being too harsh?

I started to devise a plan, thinking of him as just a naughty kid running around the room.

‘Should I start training right away? If I use the Absorption Technique and get poison from Asclepius to convert it into venom… But absorbing such negative qi would make it difficult to advance later… Still, I need to stay alive first…’

“Ahem!”

“…What is it?”

“Exactly. What are you worried about? Right now, you have the god of strategy and cunning who repelled Apollo without saying a word in front of you! Moreover, for heaven’s sake! That god is so merciful that he hasn’t forgotten the one chance he declared!”

Strategy and cunning, my foot, more like the god of fraud and trickery.

But the blond, curly-haired one’s words made sense.

In the myth within my memory, Hermes, who stole all of Apollo’s cattle yet managed to win his favor and even received a lyre from Apollo in return, gaining the title of the god of herding, might have a clever trick up his sleeve.

“Well, should I write a poem as Lord Hermes suggested?”

“Nah, that’s too weak. Even if Apollo praised your poem highly and vowed to meet you later, it’s not as great as a brother’s love for his sister.”

Seeing Hermes shake his head as if just thinking about it made him exhausted, this idea was a pass.

Initially, my calligraphy teacher also said this about composing poems.

‘Forced poetry is worse than street noise; if inspiration strikes, don’t put down the brush, but if your heart isn’t moved, don’t even grind the ink,’ he repeatedly emphasized.

Originally, the poems I offered to the temples of Ares and Zeus were written out of nostalgia. Even if I forced myself to write, the patron god of bards wouldn’t be convinced.

“And if you seek answers from me, use the opportunity I’ve formally granted. Where do you think you’re trying to get a free oracle?”

“Tsk.”

Did he notice?

He would always scratch where it itched and opened up nicely when asked.

He was indeed a difficult opponent.

“Then, I formally request an answer from Hermes. What can I do to avoid the wrath of Apollo?”

Asking a god for an answer could be considered seeking an oracle, so I kneeled on the ground to show my respect.

Then, Hermes, seemingly satisfied, crossed his arms and began to speak in a majestic tone.

[Good, traveler from afar. I bless your new journey and will teach you how to avoid the wrath of the sun.]

Hermes emanated a divine aura so powerful that it was hard to believe he was the same light-hearted god from earlier.

His appearance, regardless of how friendly and light-hearted, was still that of one of the principal gods of the grand myth of Olympus.

[Seek the tale of the child born without the aid of a midwife, who gained divine calling. In this forest where heroes are nurtured, show the answer to the sons of Hephaestus who reside deep within, and the path will open.]

“…What?”

I knew it would be like this.

When I heard the word oracle, I had a feeling, and of course.

Hermes, who spouted something barely understandable while radiating divine power from his entire body, was smiling contentedly.

[The oracle is over! My duty bestowed by the queen is done. May you stay safe until we meet again! A new friend I met after a hundred years!]

“No, wait! Give me some hint…!”

-Whoosh!

Before I could grab him, Hermes, who left behind a playful wink, disappeared with a bright light.

After Hermes disappeared.

I could follow the regular curriculum of the Forest of Heroes after three days.

Originally, students who first entered the Forest of Heroes would learn about the forest’s structure, guided by Chiron’s selection or a self-appointed guide.

“Let’s see, the infirmary, the central altar can be seen, the colosseum is… blown away…”

Despite several incidents in between, my guide, picked by Chiron, was still Atalanta.

Though she became a bit calmer, she was still active, and as soon as Hermes disappeared, she led me out of the infirmary.

“Alright! I’ve got everything planned out!”

Atalanta unfurled the map with a flourish and pointed out each location drawn on it.

“First, since we left the infirmary, we’ll drop by the Nymphs’ Forest for a quick look at their literature class, then we’ll greet Mother Chariclo. After a bit more walking, we’ll see the centaurs’ field practice area, and then…”

Excitedly chattering away, Atalanta hopped about like a little sparrow.

Her long-missed chatter was a welcome sound, so I quietly listened without interrupting, making Atalanta even more excited as she continued to explain the tour.

“And finally… the coastal running course! It’s usually a place we run every morning, but because of that Hercules boar, no one has run there for the past few months!”

Atalanta concluded the tour with a flushed face, boasting about how there would be a really beautiful twilight when we arrived at dusk.

“We might not have enough time for today.”

I said it like a joke, but it was true.

Given the map Atalanta showed us and the enthusiastic guide course she rambled on about, the day would fly by even if we moved quickly.

“So we need to hurry! When people get a headache from Hermes’s riddles, they usually take a lap around the forest to seek advice!”

“Hermes’s riddles?”

“Yes, Hermes loves playing pranks, so it’s a daily routine for him to hide our stuff and make us find it through riddles. But your face looked just like those who heard one of his riddles.”

When she entered, Hermes had vanished, leaving me alone to stew in my thoughts. She forcibly dragged me out.

Despite my gentle refusal, she continued to pull me out and started to guide me, showing such consideration.

Well, sometimes you have to take a detour when things are blocked.

“Then, beautiful huntress. May I ask for your guidance?”

At my jest, Atalanta giggled and nodded as if she were pleased.

“Of course! Today is going to be really fun!”

Atalanta’s cheerful laughter naturally reminded me of Neri, whom I hadn’t properly greeted a while ago.

‘…I wonder how she’s doing?’

Well, nymphs were always changing their interests so quickly, she must be having fun with her sisters by now.

“Then let’s go!”

With Atalanta’s lively voice, I moved my steps and thought of Neri, who would be chatting excitedly with her sisters in the sea, and I smiled slightly.