"Senior Brother Heracles, is that child alright now?"
When everything had returned to calm,
The next morning, following the guidance of the compass in his hand, Jason arrived at a thatched hut and saw Heracles, who was pacing restlessly.
He then inquired about the matter of the poisoned Iolaus.
"I am not sure... Last night, the great god of death Thanatos came to me and took Iolaus away."
"The god of death?"
Jason blinked at Heracles.
Taken away by the god of death... Was that not a sign that he was done for?!
"I am sorry, Senior Brother Heracles. I still could not save him..."
Jason showed an apologetic expression toward Heracles, which caused Heracles to be momentarily stunned.
"Ah, it is not what you think, Junior Brother Jason. If it had truly been the great god of death Thanatos yesterday, I would not have let him take him away.
Beside the god of death Thanatos was Asclepius. He said he had a way to save the child."
"Senior Brother Asclepius? I see. If it was him who came, then there is indeed no problem." Jason nodded in realization.
Asclepius was precisely the son of the god of light Apollo, the senior brother who had given the resurrection potion to Jason.
He was also the existence revered in later generations as the god of medicine.
Although he now resided in the underworld, due to his extraordinary abilities and his harmonious relationship with Jason, he actually lived quite well.
Jason would occasionally go to visit him.
"Yes, and this is largely thanks to you, Junior Brother Jason... Oh, right, Junior Brother Jason, what about the nine-headed serpent Hydra?"
As Heracles spoke, his expression turned serious as he said to Jason, "I am sure you now know how dangerous that monster is, Junior Brother Jason. I heard from the great god and messenger Hermes that the sacred fire of Goddess Hestia can prevent its regrowth. Let us go find Goddess Hestia now..."
Heracles, who had battled the nine-headed serpent Hydra once, had a full understanding of its terror.
And yet, only one night had passed, and Jason currently looked as if he had not fought at all.
There was not a trace of fatigue on his face, and his clothes were as clean as new.
So he subconsciously thought that Jason had used invisibility magic to skirmish with the nine-headed serpent Hydra for a while before returning.
However...
"Oh, no need. I already killed it."
After Jason replied nonchalantly, he paused slightly, as if thinking of something. Before Heracles could react,
He took out one of the nine-headed serpent Hydra's heads, its eyes still wide open in death.
"Oh, right, Senior Brother Heracles. Asclepius needs to research an antidote, so he might need a sample. You can offer this head as a sacrifice to the god of death.
Also, the poison of the nine-headed serpent Hydra is a rare deadly toxin in the world. Senior Brother, take out all your weapons. I will help you coat them with the venom.
This way, if you encounter difficulties in the future, you will have a trump card to use."
Heracles looked at the nine-headed serpent's head on the ground, then at Jason before him, and for a moment, he did not know what to say.
After a good while of recovering, he shook his head and sternly refused Jason's kindness, saying, "No, Junior Brother, how could we do such a thing? Teacher Chiron taught us to be upright and honorable. Such an unchivalrous act..."
"But Teacher Chiron also taught us to make reasonable use of all the resources around us and to protect the weak."
Jason interrupted Heracles's words and said seriously, "Heracles, you must understand that in this world, only the words of the victor are considered the great truth.
Moreover, do you not want that the next time you face similar difficulties, you lack a weapon to restrain the enemy and end up endangering those around you?
Listen to me. Come on, let your junior brother refine your weapons for you.
I am the disciple of the great god of craftsmen Hephaestus. Others would find it hard to receive such preferential treatment!"
Jason more forcefully took the weapons from Heracles, soaking the arrows in the nine-headed serpent's venom and also enchanting one of Heracles's daggers with the poison of the nine-headed serpent Hydra.
"Yes, that should do it... Senior Brother Heracles, remember to be careful when you use them. Do not lick them, or even the gods might not be able to save you."
When handing the prepared weapons back to Heracles, Jason even teased him.
"Lick them? Why would I lick them for no reason?"
Heracles looked at Jason in confusion.
Jason would occasionally say things that they could not understand.
"Because they are poisonous."
Jason smiled and skipped over the topic.
"Senior Brother Heracles, I have to go. I still have matters to attend to. Next time, let us drink together again.
Oh, right, Senior Brother, regarding the matter with Hydra, if anyone asks you, just say that you killed it. I only helped a little."
Jason originally wanted Heracles to simply claim the credit and pretend he had never seen him, but considering Heracles's personality and the fact that Hera had been watching the whole thing, he gave up on that.
"Senior Brother, if you truly want what is best for me, do not refuse... Because right now, I am Jason, the child of Hecate, Jason, not that one."
After Jason subtly conveyed this to Heracles, Heracles recalled the matter of the white-robed Heracles's identity. Both the goddess of wisdom Athena and the goddess of crossroads Hecate had come to him.
They had asked him to help conceal the identity.
Thus, after a moment of hesitation, he finally agreed to Jason's request.
Afterward, Jason did not stay with Heracles for long and returned to the side of the golden-horned deer, continuing on his journey.
After bidding Jason farewell, Heracles also returned to Eurystheus.
He continued with his twelve seemingly impossible tasks.
At the same time, the reason Jason was in such a hurry to leave was that he was waiting for an oracle, waiting for the oracle to meet Hera in the identity of the white-robed Heracles.
He did not believe that after Jason's appearance, and especially after defeating the nine-headed serpent Hydra, Queen Hera would not seek out the white-robed Heracles.
But even after several days, or even a full week had passed.
When the beautiful golden-horned deer carried Jason to the destination of this journey, the kingdom of Iolcus, this land that originally belonged to him... No, to the true Jason, the true Jason's kingdom,
Queen Hera still had not come to find him,
To find the white-robed Heracles.
And the reason was very simple, because not long after killing the nine-headed serpent Hydra,
That goddess with a head of beautiful silver hair, whose golden eyes represented absolute wisdom, had returned.
Athena had returned from the Isle of the Invisible.
On that Isle of the Invisible, she had planted deep "seeds."
And upon her return, she very easily stabilized Hera.
She made Hera temporarily set aside the idea of summoning the white-robed Heracles to meet Jason and stab that golden dagger into Jason's heart.
And the reason she gave was also very simple.
"Beautiful and great queen of the gods Hera, punishing a mortal is naturally the simplest thing for you, but... Are you not even a little curious?"
When Athena returned and learned of the recent events, she found Hera and said to her, "Are you not curious about what kind of hero the child you favored the most back then has grown into?
Are you not curious about how he, who disappeared for several years, has developed under the guidance of the goddess of crossroads Hecate and the teaching of the centaur sage Chiron?
Moreover, even if you are not curious, should you not consider the child, the white-robed Heracles?
He is a truly great hero.
If Jason is not even worthy to be his opponent, do you want to stain that child's glorious life with a blemish?
To make him do something unworthy of a hero?"
In just a few words, Athena made Hera fall into hesitation.
"Then, Athena, what do you say I should do?"
Then, the hesitant Hera naturally asked the wisest among the gods, Athena.
The corners of Athena's mouth curved upward slightly as she said to Hera, "It is simple, great queen of the gods Hera. What you need to do now is very straightforward.
From today onward, keep watching this Jason closely.
At the same time, bestow various difficulties upon him.
If he can become an opponent worthy of the white-robed Heracles, then he will naturally overcome the difficulties you grant him.
And if he cannot, then he is not worthy of the white-robed Heracles making a move.
At the same time, he will end in the punishment you give him.
And when he dies, I can assure you that I will cultivate the white-robed Heracles into the greatest hero.
A hero who can replace this Jason in the future, come to the sacred mountain of Olympus, fight alongside us, and defeat the ancestor of all monsters, Typhon!"
And so, Queen Hera was convinced.
She even expressed thanks to Athena for it.
Because she felt Athena was right. Having that adorable child kill Jason would indeed dirty his hands.
She would handle it herself.
Thus, from that day on, the gaze of a certain goddess followed Jason almost around the clock.
For a long time, in the eyes of this great queen, there was only Jason.
This child she hated the most...
Regarding this, many gods secretly asked Athena what she was up to.
And to their inquiries, Athena merely smiled and said nothing.
Only when the god of craftsmen Hephaestus, Jason's teacher, asked did she tell him the truth.
"Because that child Jason promised me that he would resolve the matter with Goddess Hera himself. And everyone can see clearly how much Hera loves Jason's other identity.
So, tell me, while Hera is focused on Jason instead of the white-robed Heracles, will she... fall in love with this child anew?
Will she discover that these two children are the same person?
And when she falls in love again and painfully resolves to have the white-robed Heracles deal with Jason.
Or when Jason resolves to confess everything to Hera.
What do you think her mood will be like when she learns that the two are the same person?"
After saying this, Athena giggled.
Hephaestus, on the other hand, looked at Athena with a slight daze and said helplessly to her, "If Hera finds out, she will not let you off."
"That is why I did not tell Hestia and the others, but only told you, child of Hera, god of craftsmen Hephaestus."
Hearing the words "child of Hera," the gaze Hephaestus directed at Athena could not help but become dangerous.
After a long while,
"Do not play too far, Athena... My disciple is clear about love and hate. If you do not want to be hated by him, it is best to know some limits.
Moreover, if you go too far, even if my disciple might forgive you.
I..."
If previously Hephaestus was angry,
Then now, Hephaestus directly released killing intent toward Athena...
"... You teachers, each one spoils that guy unreasonably." Athena could not help but roll her eyes at Hephaestus and said, "Hephaestus, in the end, it was I who handed that child over to you, right?
If not for me, he would not have become your disciple!
Moreover, speaking of which, are we not friends?!"
"If he is well, then we will always be friends. If not..." Hephaestus revealed a faint smile toward Athena.
Athena's mouth twitched.
"What is the use of being fierce with me? If you are so bold, why not compete with Hecate!"
"You do not need to tell me; I will... Once the matters on that child settle down a bit, I will not hold back with Hecate!"
Seeing Hephaestus so serious, Athena could not help but slap her forehead with a smack.
"It is hopeless, truly hopeless with you."
...
...
"This place... is Iolcus, huh..."
Jason gazed distantly at the town before him.
A strange emotion flowed through his heart.
Since the matter with the nine-headed serpent Hydra ended, Jason's journey had been quite smooth.
After a week, the beautiful golden-horned deer had brought Jason to the kingdom of Iolcus.
Along the way, no goddesses appeared to give Jason a lap pillow for sleeping.
The reason was very simple: Queen Hera was watching...
And now, because of Athena's words, Queen Hera not only spent most of the twenty-four hours a day watching Jason.
She even directly appeared, arriving in the kingdom of Iolcus before Jason by one step.
And she directly revealed her identity, coming before the current king of the kingdom, Pelias, Jason's uncle!
Therefore, the very next second after Jason temporarily left the golden-horned deer outside the city and walked into the city himself.
"Golden-haired, green-eyed man wearing black clothes with patterns of underworld butterflies... It is you. Come with me!
Our king has something to discuss with you."
Jason, who had entered the town using invisibility magic, was spotted and seized by the gate guards the instant he passed through the city gate.
After a slight stun, Jason made no resistance.
He allowed the soldiers to lead him toward the castle... Because his invisibility magic being seen through could only mean a god had intervened.
He just did not know which one...
Pondering this in his heart, Jason followed the soldiers into the castle's palace.
All the way to the front of the king of Iolcus, his uncle Pelias.
Seated on the throne, Pelias looked down at the youth brought forward by the soldiers.
Even though he had already prepared himself mentally to some extent.
But when he saw this golden-haired, green-eyed man, handsome and dashing like the god of light Apollo himself, appear before him,
He was still surprised.
And merely at a glance, Pelias felt an inexplicable pressure from Jason.
This made his gaze instinctively shift to the side.
Shifting toward the unremarkable woman with a head of golden long hair sitting in a corner of the palace.
That was precisely the noble goddess who had disguised her appearance: Queen Hera.
Hera was naturally captivated by Jason's features, after all, during this time, she had been watching Jason every day, even when Jason was sleeping...
Along the way, Hera had several times wanted to strike at Jason herself.
Or send monsters to kill Jason.
But in the end, Hera held back.
Because she felt Athena was right. She should grant this Jason, who had betrayed her, the most severe punishment.
Let him taste the flavor of regret!
And in her view, Jason undoubtedly valued the throne greatly.
Otherwise, he would not have returned here immediately upon appearing.
That was why she had appeared one step ahead, before Pelias.
And in her heart, she had secretly decided that she would absolutely not let Jason obtain the throne.
She would shatter everything of Jason!