Jason's eyes flickered as he cleared his throat and explained awkwardly.
"Ahem… you should take along those companions who aren't too badly injured. I'll stay behind to pilot the Argo and bring the wounded back home to recover.
"As captain, I have to prioritize the safety of most of the crew. Quite a few of them are seriously hurt already and aren't in any condition to jump straight into another adventure."
The Argonauts exchanged glances and nodded faintly, clearly understanding the captain's intentions.
"Hmph! You coward. If you're scared, just say it outright. If you want to run away at the last minute, why dress it up in such righteous words?"
Leaning on a long spear and limping out from the rear hall, Caenis showed no appreciation at all, letting out a scornful snort.
As the accusation rang out, more and more Argonauts began to look uneasy, their gazes turning scrutinizing as they examined the captain in the crowd.
Jason's breathing grew unsteady, his face flushing with embarrassment. He wanted to argue back, but in the end, he couldn't find the words.
Just as Jason was feeling utterly mortified, Samael raised a hand and gave the captain a firm pat on the shoulder, speaking in approval.
"You're right. No amount of temporary glory is worth putting your crew's lives in danger. You really are a qualified captain."
"We do need to think about the majority of the crew. Besides, crossing the Underworld and searching for Paradise Island is a task where quality matters more than numbers. Too many people would only be a burden. I'll take along a few companions who are willing, and I'll leave it to you to bring the rest back to Iolcos."
With the firm support of the foster son of the Goddess of Wisdom, the Argonauts gradually put their doubts to rest and understood the captain's good intentions.
Even the hot-tempered Caenis, after some reflection, realized her assumption had been unfair and took the initiative to apologize to Jason.
As the crew reconciled, Jason responded with vague murmurs, his gaze instinctively avoiding theirs. Turning his head, he tried to look for his old friend for help, only to find that Samael had already led several familiar figures out of the hall.
…
At the secluded harbor agreed upon with Poseidon, Samael came to a stop.
"Hmph. That guy was clearly planning to bail out. Was it really necessary for you to cover for him?"
Artemis lifted her eyes slightly, bluntly calling out Jason's true intentions.
The companions from War God Mountain, along with Atalanta, Medea, and Circe, remained indifferent, clearly unconcerned with the captain's choice.
At the very back, Heracles glanced toward the reception hall, let out a quiet sigh, and shook his head with a frown.
It was obvious that quite a few of the Argonauts had already seen through Jason's thoughts. His attitude genuinely disappointed those who were close to him.
Samael turned around and smiled faintly, clearly unconcerned.
"He's not wrong. The Underworld, steeped in death, isn't a place the injured should be going."
"And now that Paradise Island's location has been identified, we don't need the Argo as a cover anymore. Aside from a handful of people, the rest wouldn't be much help anyway. I can't just leave everyone behind in Atalanta."
"Poseidon's territory isn't exactly safe, either. Besides, seeking benefit and avoiding harm is human nature. His decision isn't entirely irresponsible. When it comes to escorting the remaining crew safely back across the Oceanus Sea, no one is more suitable than that captain."
"So there's no need to be overly harsh."
Under the Ancient Serpent's calm and rational explanation, Artemis's anger finally eased somewhat. Even so, judging by her expression, her poor impression of Jason wasn't likely to disappear anytime soon.
After all, spending so much time together inevitably bred familiarity, and the captain's choice at this moment carried the faint taste of betrayal.
Samael wasn't surprised in the least.
He knew Jason's personality well. With the Golden Fleece already secured and the throne seemingly within reach, expecting him to risk his life again was unrealistic.
Even the earlier plunge into the Eye of the Tidal Sea to explore Atalanta had only happened because Samael had half-bluffed and half-pressured him into it.
Now that things were escalating one crisis after another, the combat strength he and Artemis had revealed, along with the divine forces involved, had long surpassed ordinary limits.
Given Jason's instincts, he had likely realized he was tangled up in something far beyond him. Choosing to pull back at this point to preserve his own life was hardly strange.
That being the case, Jason choosing to retreat meant Samael would also hold something back.
For example, what Samael didn't mention was that Jason's uncle, the king, might have been timid, but he was hardly lacking in ambition. Once the Golden Fleece was secured and the Argonauts returned to their homelands, the king turned on his nephew, casting him out and forcing him to live a life of wandering and hardship for half his lifetime.
Everyone was an adult. Choices came with consequences.
As waves of azure light rippled outward from Thetis Island, Samael gathered his thoughts and looked over the group one by one. His gaze paused on Medea, a hint of hesitation flashing through his eyes.
To be honest, the journey into the Underworld carried too many unknown risks. Medea lacked combat experience, and he didn't want to drag the girl into it.
Besides, with that silly bird Circe around, if they ran into trouble, they could always reach out to Hecate, the goddess of roads and witchcraft.
Sensing Samael's intention, the ever-alert Medea suddenly rushed forward and clung tightly to the Ancient Serpent's arm. Her lips pressed together as she looked up at him with pleading eyes, refusing to let go.
"I want to stay by Theseus-sama's side. Even if I'm not very reliable… um… I can definitely be of help. Please believe in me…"
Perhaps because her voice was too timid to sound convincing, combined with her naturally pessimistic disposition, Little Medea soon lowered her head, her expression sinking into dejection.
"I… I don't want to board a ship to Athens by myself…"
"Isn't Caenis going too? Little Rod is coming along as well. It's on the way anyway. They'll protect you."
Circe, eager to get rid of this burden, immediately spoke up, nearly breaking her auntly composure as a smile threatened to spread across her face.
In that instant, Samael's thoughts exploded. He stared at the tearful Little Medea in shock, looking as though he'd just seen a ghost.
"You're planning to… go to Athens?"
"Yes. If… if Theseus-sama doesn't like me following him, Athens is your homeland, right? No matter what, I'll wait for you there until you come back!"
As if she had already pictured herself being sent off alone onto a ship, Little Medea looked utterly miserable, her eyes filled with a resolute determination to take root in Athens and wait.
"No. Absolutely not!"
"Huh?"
"You absolutely cannot go to Athens alone without me!"
"Then…"
"Just stay by my side and don't wander off. It's only the Underworld."
Samael forced a stiff smile as he tightly grasped Little Medea's soft hand, persuading her with an almost overbearing tone.
Caught completely off guard by this sudden happiness and noticing nothing amiss, Little Medea beamed with joy. Her heart overflowed with sweetness as she nodded shyly in agreement.
At that moment, the lingering horror in Samael's eyes slowly faded.
Just earlier, he had suddenly remembered that according to the epic Medea, this ill-fated sorceress, after betraying her former husband Jason, fled to Athens to escape retribution and became the new queen of King Aegeus.
And by sheer coincidence, Aegeus happened to be the king and father of his current identity, Theseus.
Which meant that if Little Medea were left to her own devices in Athens and fate followed its usual inertia, he might return to find himself with a nominal "stepmother."
Forget it. One more person meant one more ally. Once things had reached this point, avoiding entanglement was wishful thinking anyway.
Besides, he vaguely remembered that in some Greek legends, Medea reached the pinnacle of Age of Gods magecraft, obtained an immortal body, and ultimately became the queen who ruled over Elysium.
Maybe bringing this girl along would grant some hidden bonus. Decision made.
Having made up his mind, the moment the vortex leading to the depths of the Underworld opened, Samael scooped Little Medea up without argument and leapt straight down.
The God of Medicine, Orpheus, Atalanta, Heracles, Circe, and Artemis exchanged glances and nodded, following close behind.
Moments later, the deep vortex closed, and the sea surface returned to calm.
...
At this time, Poseidon stood atop the Interstellar Mountainous City, gazing down as his allies departed. Slowly withdrawing his gaze, he gripped his trident and strode step by step toward the center of the Grand Altar, softly chanting divine words.
In an instant, countless strands of starlight descended. From the altar rose a vast corridor of silver radiance, stretching outward into the scattered stars.
Poseidon placed a hand on the silver, light-formed spiral steps and ascended, walking leisurely through the star river. Along the way, within alcoves formed of luminous patterns, ten True Machine Gods of varying forms stood in silent ranks on either side.
At the end of the star river, a silver vortex spun endlessly. This was the core that carved spatial curves, extending countless spiral arms to construct the stellar vista of the Giant God Ocean.
At the very center of the starlight vortex stood a colossal silver-white metallic cocoon, over a hundred meters tall and shaped like a teardrop. Its surface was etched with dense, unknown incantations and the principles of advanced technological constructs, pulsing rhythmically like a beating heart.
A threat from the stars?
Hmph. Zeus, you're clearly afraid of challenging your own power.
And I… conquered it.
Poseidon gazed obsessively at this miraculous source that had granted him the flourishing kingdom of Atlantis and the audacity to challenge the authority of Olympus, his expression twisted with madness.
...
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