The next morning, in Calydon.
Led by the eldest, Atalanta, the trio made their way toward the royal palace's reception hall.
Of course, aside from the owl scout perched on his shoulder—a presence he couldn't exactly get rid of—Samael had no intention of flaunting any of those attention-grabbing relics. He followed quietly behind the huntress, keeping as low a profile as possible.
As they passed through the central gate, two guards crossed their spear-shields to block their way. A white-robed priestess emerged, offering a polite nod before leading them into a side chamber. There, she lifted a black silk veil, revealing a crystal orb resting upon an altar beneath.
The priestess extended her arm, motioning for them to place their hands upon the orb one after another.
The three exchanged uncertain glances, faint frowns forming on their faces.
"Honored guests, this is a required procedure for all participants in the hunt. Every hero must undergo this test."
Seeing their skepticism, the white-robed priestess promptly offered an explanation in a calm, earnest tone.
The Calydonian Demon Boar was an exceptional Magical Beast blessed by Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. It could strengthen both its defense and Mana by devouring flesh and armor alike.
For years, this monster had ravaged the lands of Calydon.
Before this hunt, King Oeneus had organized his own warriors and Magi numerous times, even recruiting heroes from other cities to subdue it. Each expedition had ended in disastrous defeat—their bones and armor all becoming food for the Demon Boar.
With every feast, its body grew larger, its power greater.
Now, the situation had worsened further. The beast's hide was not only extremely resilient and resistant to Magecraft, but it had also learned to devour and absorb the runes inscribed upon discarded weapons and Magecraft circles.
Ordinary heroes stood no chance—rumor had it that even dragons from the nearby forests had been hunted and consumed.
"You have come here, answering the call of justice to rid Calydon of its plague. We must gather accurate information for verification and do all we can to ensure your safety."
Her tone was courteous, but the implication was clear.
Not just anyone could join the Calydonian Hunt.
Those without sufficient strength to protect themselves would be better off withdrawing early.
Samael, ever inclined to see through human intentions, suspected Calydon's motives weren't purely noble.
More participants meant more offerings—and the more the Demon Boar devoured, the faster it would evolve, making the hunt exponentially harder.
Thus, King Oeneus had spared no expense, emptying the royal treasury and appointing his beloved son, Meleager, as leader. He had called upon heroes from all across Greece to form a united hunting party.
Calydon could no longer bear any more failure. One more disaster, and the beast might well bring ruin to the kingdom.
So their caution and gravity were understandable.
Once the reason was explained, the trio voiced no objections. One after another, they stepped forward and placed their palms upon the crystal orb, channeling their Ether into it.
At once, the Magecraft array activated. Three golden beams of light flared upward, each taking form—an olive branch of deep green, a crimson moon of the underworld, and a golden bow and arrow.
Three divine seals, shining brightly.
This ten-pull... talk about luck—three golds! In this era, did that make him a whale?
Samael withdrew his hand and flexed his wrist, a faint grin tugging at his lips as he recalled his past life's gacha games.
According to the white-robed priestess, this "gacha pool"—ahem, crystal orb—displayed gold, silver, or bronze auras depending on the strength of one's bloodline and the purity of their Mana.
The ranking coincided almost perfectly with Mesopotamia's own classification system.
Since Greece was still in its thriving Age of Gods, there was no such thing as the "black iron" tier yet.
But such human-made devices could only provide a rough estimate. If Samael wished to conceal his true nature, it would be child's play.
Besides, the owl perched on his shoulder—Athena's little spy—would ensure that, even without his effort, the Goddess of Wisdom herself would handle any necessary cover-up.
Tsk. Didn't think I'd ever pull from a gold pool myself... and clearly, I'm at least a five-star limited character, right?
Once the test was complete, the Ancient Serpent leaned against a marble pillar, glancing at the two "four-star" companions beside him with a faintly amused smile only he understood.
Three God's Blessings.
Athena, Goddess of Wisdom.
Hecate, Goddess of Mysteries.
And Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt.
The white-robed priestess gazed at the results, visibly taken aback by such a high-quality lineup. Her solemn gaze finally rested on Atalanta.
"Please wait here for a moment. I shall inform His Highness the Prince to receive you."
The priestess forced herself to remain composed. After offering a respectful bow, she pushed open the door and hurried out.
Left waiting in the side chamber, Atalanta frowned slightly. Her hunter's instinct sharpened, sensing something off about the white-robed priestess's behavior just moments before.
"Don't worry, big sister. The people of Calydon will probably treat you like a goddess. After all, you're Artemis's messenger. They've suffered enough from that boar—they're desperate for the huntress goddess's decree to reach them. This whole hunt might as well have been arranged for you."
Samael gave Atalanta a light pat on the shoulder, blinking with a faint, knowing smile.
Hearing that, Atalanta fell silent, thoughtful. The tension in her body gradually eased.
Truth be told, Samael's speculation wasn't without basis.
He had crossed paths with Artemis before. The goddess of the hunt was, by nature, vindictive and somewhat petty, but she still possessed a sense of principle.
After tormenting the Kingdom of Calydon to vent her anger, she now seemed to have sent an emissary to clean up the aftermath.
In the historical Calydonian Hunt, Atalanta had been the first to pierce the Demon Boar's hide, wounding it. Samael suspected that it was that very arrow which broke the blessing Artemis had bestowed upon the creature, allowing the hunt to finally succeed.
...
After a short wait, heavy and steady footsteps echoed down the corridor.
A young man in bronze armor, his brown-golden curls glinting under the torchlight, strode into the chamber with a bright, open smile. His demeanor was warm and confident.
"I am Meleager, organizer of this hunt. Thank you for coming such a long way. I hope we can work together to slay this beast!
Once the task is done, Calydon will offer appropriate rewards for your efforts.
In addition, a large group of experienced hunters is already tracking the Demon Boar, searching for its lair. Tomorrow morning, once we've confirmed its location, we'll set out immediately.
Until then, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to tell me. I'll do my best to provide it."
Samael could tell at a glance that this prince of Calydon was a man of decisive action. He wasted no time on unnecessary ceremony, speaking clearly and directly.
And throughout his speech, Meleager carried no air of arrogance or superiority—his tone was modest, his attitude sincere.
The trio found themselves satisfied, their expressions softening.
After chatting briefly, the prince cautiously brought up Artemis, the goddess of the hunt.
When he heard that Atalanta had come to Calydon in obedience to an oracle, Meleager's eyebrows lifted, and visible joy flashed in his eyes, mingled with relief.
The huntress, quietly observing, noticed it all—and couldn't help acknowledging Samael's earlier guess.
So he was right again. She found herself quietly admiring this perceptive follower of the Orpheus cult.
Such sharp insight—truly fitting for a devotee of Athena.
"By the way," Meleager added, "many Greek heroes have already gathered in the main hall. Why don't I take you three to meet them? After all, you'll be working together soon."
With that, the prince rose eagerly and led the way.
The trio exchanged brief glances, nodded in agreement, and followed.