Atalanta had been in a very good mood today.
Because the goddess she revered, Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt, had actually summoned her this very night.
And she had even thoughtfully prepared her favorite apples.
If only… this guy in front of her didn't exist!
"Heehee, little Jason, guess who this child is?" Artemis, with her beautiful long silver hair, immediately pulled Jason over to stand in front of Atalanta.
She completely failed to notice that the moment Atalanta turned her head away from the beautiful smile she had shown Artemis, her expression instantly switched to gritted teeth and a murderous glare directed at Jason.
Is it really that serious…
Jason felt speechless and helpless.
He had heard from his two senior brothers that Atalanta had come, and he also recalled that Atalanta would indeed appear here and shine brightly during the hunt for the Calydonian Boar, so he had already anticipated that he would meet her sooner or later.
But he never expected Artemis to be this impatient.
"Who is she, Lady Artemis?"
Jason then put on a very confused look and asked Artemis while Atalanta shot him a subtle, disdainful glance.
"Heehee, little Jason, you really can't guess? …You forgot, she's Atalanta! The same Atalanta who used to sleep together with you!"
The moment Artemis finished speaking.
Jason immediately felt Atalanta's killing intent toward him almost materialize… It was impressive that Artemis, standing so close, still hadn't noticed.
"Lady Artemis!" Atalanta was a little flustered and angry; even the tips of her ears turned red. Clearly she remembered what had happened back then.
This was only because it was Artemis. If it had been anyone else, or if only Jason were present, Atalanta would have already drawn the Bow of Heaven and prepared to blow his head off.
"Ara, Atalanta, don't be shy… Besides, weren't you looking forward to seeing little Jason?"
"I was not!"
"Really? But…" Artemis tilted her head. "Just now you were clearly asking me whether little Jason would come this time."
There was something like that?
Jason blinked at Atalanta.
Upon hearing this, Atalanta instinctively wanted to deny it, but because "one must never lie to a god," the denial got stuck in her throat.
She opened and closed her mouth speechlessly, then said in a slightly raised voice, "T-That was only because you, Lady Artemis, kept intentionally or unintentionally bringing him up just now, and you were the one who said that he and I would meet again someday!
…What are you looking at? I wasn't thinking about you at all, not even a little!"
Atalanta glared at Jason.
Jason couldn't help feeling a bit depressed.
Did I even provoke you?
He briefly recalled the events from three years ago.
Fine, I did provoke you… But do you have to act like a furious stray cat the moment you see me?
"No lying, little Atalanta."
As soon as Atalanta finished speaking, Artemis pouted unhappily, walked up to her, pinched her cheeks, and said, "You clearly think about little Jason every day and were looking forward to meeting him. I know everything."
"Y-You're making that up, how could I possibly…"
"You can't lie to me, Atalanta." Artemis pouted. "Otherwise I'll be sad… You were, right?"
"I… I…"
Watching Atalanta's face turn bright red and become unable to speak.
Jason was stunned.
He stared at Atalanta in shock.
Atalanta, you're actually after my body.
I never thought you'd be this kind of Atalanta!
"What nonsense are you thinking!"
Although Jason didn't say it out loud, seeing the dumbfounded look on his face and the way he even took a step back.
The furious Atalanta grabbed the half-eaten apple she had just been holding and hurled it at Jason.
Jason caught it with one hand, and only then did Atalanta finally calm down a little. She said to Artemis, "Yes, you are right, great Lady Artemis. I have indeed always remembered him. I shouldn't have lied to you, therefore…"
She stepped forward and declared to Jason, "Jason, let us duel, right here under Lady Artemis's witness!
The loser will be at the winner's complete disposal… For the past three years, I have been waiting for this day!"
…Oh, so that's how it is.
Women really hold grudges.
Jason suddenly understood and took a bite of the apple to calm his nerves.
"I see… But I refuse!"
Naturally, Jason rejected her. There was absolutely no reason to accept.
The loser at the winner's disposal… Whether he won or lost, it was nothing but trouble in Jason's eyes!
"Refuse… You actually refused, and right in front of Lady Artemis?!" Atalanta's eyes widened in disbelief.
This was in the presence of a goddess.
He actually refused a duel!
"Yep, I refuse."
Jason nodded and took another bite of the apple.
"You… Wait, this apple… Hold on, isn't this the one I just bit into?!"
Jason looked at the apple in his hand, then at Atalanta who was pointing at it with wide eyes.
He thought for a moment.
Crunch…
And he deliberately bit the exact side Atalanta had just eaten from…
"Mmm!" Jason nodded. "Delicious!"
Atalanta fell silent, and this time even Artemis could tell that the trembling Atalanta was on the verge of exploding.
"Little Jason, really now. Didn't I tell you not to bully little Atalanta?" Artemis said with an amused smile.
Jason didn't reply. He had indeed done it on purpose because he was annoyed.
Whether three years ago or right now, Atalanta always acted as if she had a huge grudge against him.
Yes, Jason admitted that at the very beginning he hadn't treated her well, so it was understandable that he had left a bad impression. He could accept that.
That was why, later on, Jason had been very courteous and yielding toward Atalanta. Yet what was the result now?
Jason didn't want trouble, but that didn't mean he was afraid of trouble!
"Very well. Since little Atalanta wants to duel you so much, the two of you should have a match. After all, this child has been working hard for three whole years for this day."
When Artemis spoke, even though Jason wasn't very willing, he still nodded. "Then let's drop the part about the loser being at the winner's disposal."
"No, that cannot be dropped." Artemis said with a smile. "Because it's a duel, there must be a proper reward."
…Lady Artemis, I feel like you're stirring the pot here.
Jason looked speechlessly at the clearly excited Artemis, momentarily at a loss for words.
'Artemis, you see, seems to want to pair you up with Atalanta'… At the same time, Hestia's words from back then surfaced in Jason's mind.
And so, looking at the Atalanta in front of him, much of Jason's annoyance toward her suddenly dissipated.
Yes, gods never ask for your opinion. After all, they are pretty much the most willful beings in the world.
"Thank you, Lady Artemis."
After gratefully thanking Artemis, Atalanta looked at Jason with eyes full of fighting spirit.
Yes, she had indeed been waiting a very long time… for this battle!
Then, under Artemis's guidance, the two came to an empty grassy field.
Compared to the high-spirited Atalanta, Jason naturally appeared much less motivated.
Let's finish this quickly…
Thinking this, the moment Artemis signaled that they could begin, Jason immediately took out his staff and activated the invisibility spell engraved on it.
He planned to circle behind Atalanta and knock her out.
However, after a brief moment of surprise at Jason's disappearance, Atalanta did not panic too much.
Her figure instantly moved, running toward the nearby forest.
When Jason instinctively took larger steps to chase her.
"Here!"
She suddenly drew her bow, turned, and fired several arrows at Jason.
"Enough with the cheap tricks, Jason."
Seeing the sharp arrows stopped in mid-air by Jason, confirming his position, Atalanta stopped and said, "Even if you can hide your presence, I can still hear your footsteps. Don't underestimate me!"
Jason was silent for a while.
Then he dispelled the invisibility spell.
And just as Atalanta was about to say something with a slightly smug look, Jason's body began glowing faintly with magical light. He suddenly accelerated and charged toward Atalanta before she could dodge.
Startled, Atalanta tried to draw her bow to counterattack, but a burst of white light was thrown from Jason's hand and exploded brightly right in front of her eyes.
Instinctively closing her eyes and realizing something was wrong, Atalanta could only blindly draw her bowstring and fire back based on sound.
But by the time she turned her head and opened her eyes after shooting several arrows, Jason was already standing beside her.
And his staff was pressed against her back…
"You're right. I really did underestimate you just now, so thank you for the reminder." Jason revealed a faint smile and said to the completely stiffened Atalanta, "I had forgotten: never play the pig to eat the tiger, never look down on any opponent.
And never give your opponent even the slightest opening…
Oh, and Miss Atalanta, it seems you underestimated me as well."
"…Despicable!" Atalanta glared at Jason in fury.
Her hands tightly gripped the Bow of Heaven.
She lost…
Yet clearly, Atalanta was not convinced by this defeat.
After all, she hadn't even had the chance to do anything before losing in such a baffling manner.
That was why right now she truly wanted to draw her bow again and keep fighting Jason.
But Moon Goddess Artemis was watching from the side.
And under the witness of Moon Goddess Artemis, in this duel, she had undoubtedly lost.
Thus, Atalanta finally lowered the Bow of Heaven powerlessly.
"You win…"
These words were practically squeezed out through Atalanta's tightly clenched, unwilling teeth.
"From this day forward, I… will be at your complete disposal!"
[Image: "Aiya, so angry"]