Three years ago, Jason and Atalanta's first meeting had not been pleasant at all.
And one must not forget that back then, Atalanta had spent nearly an entire week together with Jason.
They had walked out of that ancient forest under Atalanta's guidance, and the whole way she had dutifully protected Jason very well.
At that time, Jason truly knew nothing. The entire journey had only been possible because the gods were guiding him.
Therefore, it was not difficult to understand why Atalanta's final impression of him was "a lucky guy who only got this far because he was doted on by the gods."
But in the end, the reason Atalanta remembered Jason so deeply was precisely because of the gods.
The sword bestowed by Apollo, the directions given by Athena, the Golden-Horned Deer from Artemis, and even a goddess for a teacher… Atalanta would have found it impossible to forget him even if she tried.
After Artemis left, Atalanta looked down at Jason sleeping soundly on her lap. The expression on her face could not help becoming rather complicated.
After all, a lot had happened tonight.
"Have all my perceptions of him been wrong? Do I not understand him at all?"
Recalling the two commands Jason had issued to her in front of Artemis, Atalanta fell silent.
Her emerald eyes stared wordlessly at Jason. No one knew what she was thinking at this moment.
The night passed without a word.
The next day, when the morning sunlight shone on Jason's face, he instinctively rolled over.
…Hmm, what is this? Soft and smells nice?
Jason reached out in confusion and felt around.
Then he gave it a squeeze.
"Do you no longer want that hand?"
A voice filled with killing intent instantly jolted Jason awake.
He opened his eyes. What met his gaze was Atalanta's icy stare and the fact that he was currently grabbing and squeezing her stomach…
It was fortunate that it was not her chest, or Atalanta probably would have attacked on the spot.
"…Cough."
Jason let go after a light cough and stood up quickly with a blank expression.
After getting up, he even stretched comfortably… Clearly, he had slept very well last night.
Originally, Jason thought Atalanta would inevitably cause him some trouble, but he discovered that she said nothing more.
And very soon,
Growl, growl…
The atmosphere between the two immediately became rather awkward.
"Um, wait here a moment. I'll go find something to eat."
Seeing that Atalanta's stomach was already rumbling but she still showed no intention of standing up, Jason naturally understood that her legs had gone numb.
"No need. I'll go find something myself in a bit…"
Before Atalanta could finish speaking, she watched Jason take several seeds out of a small silver pouch.
He tossed them onto the ground and then pulled out a golden ear of wheat.
Holding the golden wheat, he sprinkled it lightly over the seeds, and the seeds on the ground immediately began to sprout.
In less than a minute, they grew into a moderately sized apple tree that quickly blossomed and bore bright red apples.
…Atalanta's mouth slowly fell open.
Jason picked several apples and tossed them to Atalanta.
She caught them instinctively. She was about to say something, but then she saw him take out some green grass cakes to feed Pegasus.
After hesitating for a moment, she silently began eating.
"Where is Lady Artemis?"
After feeding Pegasus and seeing that Atalanta had finished eating, Jason walked back and asked.
"She already left."
"I see." Jason nodded, and the two of them did not speak further.
Ten minutes later, Atalanta naturally regained full mobility.
And just as they were preparing to leave, Atalanta watched Jason take out the golden wheat again, tap the apple tree lightly, and the tree instantly reverted to seeds that Jason collected…
This ability was something Jason had discovered later. Any plant he liked could be turned back into seeds and easily stored simply by tapping it lightly with the golden wheat bestowed upon him by Demeter and Persephone.
"Um… Atalanta, would you like to try riding Pegasus?"
As Jason mounted Pegasus and prepared to leave, he looked at Atalanta who had been unusually quiet all morning, so quiet that Jason even wondered if she had been swapped with someone else. He subconsciously asked.
However, he did not actually expect Atalanta to follow, because he knew she disliked him… or rather, that she had it out for him.
As for why she had it out for him, the reason was actually very simple, and Jason naturally understood it.
First, there was naturally his terrible attitude toward her back then.
Second, it was because of the gods.
The vast majority of people in this world worshipped the gods, and Atalanta even more so. She was Artemis's most faithful follower.
Back then, she could be said to be the very first person to realize just how greatly the gods favored Jason.
And among those gods was Artemis herself.
Therefore, it was perfectly normal for Atalanta to subconsciously compare herself to him, to want to understand the reason, and to prove in front of Artemis that she was more excellent.
Thus, Atalanta looked at Pegasus and at Jason who was extending the invitation. She thought for a while.
Then she stepped forward, leapt lightly, and landed behind Jason on Pegasus.
"…Eh?"
Jason was stunned.
"Is something wrong?"
Atalanta, sitting sideways on Pegasus, asked calmly.
"Ah, no…" Jason looked doubtfully at Atalanta's profile, thought for a moment, and finally patted Pegasus.
"Never mind. Let's go, Brother Horse."
Pegasus did not move. Under Jason's puzzled gaze, it neighed softly twice.
After more than three years together, how could Jason not understand what Pegasus meant? A few black lines appeared on his forehead.
He immediately took two green grass cakes from the silver pouch and stuffed them into its mouth. Only then did Pegasus happily spread its wings and take to the sky.
Once Pegasus was flying, Atalanta instantly grabbed Jason's clothes. Out of the corner of his eye, Jason saw her looking down at the earth with an expression of great surprise and delight.
Seeing her like this, Jason suddenly realized something.
Atalanta was only sixteen years old right now… the same age as he was.
"Hey, Atalanta, why did you want to duel me?"
Atalanta was silent for a moment. "Because I thought I was stronger and more deserving of Lady Artemis's favor."
As expected.
Jason curled his lip. "So after losing last night, are you convinced?"
"I'm not convinced… but I won't challenge you again, even though I know you deliberately defeated me that way last night."
Hearing this, Jason could not help looking at Atalanta in surprise.
Seeing her currently holding down her wind-tossed hair, Jason thought for a bit and suddenly said, "If I said right now that I'm canceling the second command I gave you last night, what would you think?"
Atalanta glanced at him. "Go tell Lady Artemis yourself."
"Then forget it." Jason replied instantly.
"…I heard from Lady Artemis that you haven't rested at all for more than three years?"
"Mm, pretty much." Jason nodded.
"Is it to become a great hero?"
"No. I have no interest in heroes, and I don't want to become one at all."
"…Huh?"
Atalanta froze.
She turned her head to look at Jason, then frowned. "Is it fun to lie like that?"
"I'm not lying… Besides, why would I lie about something like this?"
What a joke!
Atalanta's first reaction was naturally disbelief. After all… you're already a hero! The one beloved by all the gods in the rumors!
Though that rumor had spread because she accidentally let it slip.
"You don't want to become a hero?"
"I don't."
"Then why did you come to Calydon?"
"Goddess of Wisdom Athena guided me here, so I came."
Atalanta stared straight at Jason and gradually realized that he was not lying. After all, this was not something worth lying about.
Therefore, just as Atalanta was inevitably shocked by this.
"That's why I was actually pretty angry to see you again."
"Because I heard the rumors in Arcadia spread because you let it slip… But every time we meet, you seem to be the one who suffers, so let's just let it go."
Hearing Jason say this, although Atalanta found it absurd, she ultimately held back and did not say much more. Instead, she frowned and asked, "Then if that's the case… what have you been working tirelessly for these three years without sleep or rest?"
"You want to know?"
Jason looked at Atalanta and gave a faint smile. "Actually, it's nothing grand. I just want to live happily and safely… in this era."
…What is this person talking about?
You're someone loved by so many great gods!
Yet you say you've worked this hard just… just to survive?!
Jason could naturally feel Atalanta's shock, but he had no intention of explaining further.
After all, he could not exactly tell Atalanta, who revered Artemis, that in this era the more attention one received from the gods, the harder it became to live happily.
Because what most people noticed were only the glorious moments of those favored by the gods. Very few paid attention to the tragic endings that most of them met.
Jason himself did not know whether that was the malice of the gods or something else.
But among the many heroes of Greece, very few actually met good ends.
Therefore, being a hero in Greece was definitely the most dangerous profession.
Whoever wanted it could have it. Jason, for one, had absolutely no interest.
And just as Atalanta felt her entire understanding collapse because of Jason's words, they had already arrived outside the Kingdom of Calydon.
After having Pegasus land, Jason looked at Atalanta who was still staring at him with an extremely strange expression. He thought for a moment, then said to her, "Atalanta, would you be interested in helping me with something?
It's about offering tribute to Lady Artemis…"