Persephone departed with Hades.
After sensing Demeter's aura approaching, Hermes retrieved his caduceus and Talaria and naturally slipped away.
Thus Jason and Hecate appeared before the golden-horned deer.
After comforting the deer for a moment, Jason's eyes spun as he turned to Hecate. "Teacher Hecate, are we heading to the Underworld now?"
"Yes." Hecate looked at Jason, who clearly had something more to say, and asked, "What, is there somewhere else you want to go?"
After a brief hesitation, Jason carefully watched Hecate and said, "Before we go to the Underworld, I would like to see Teacher Chiron one more time."
"Go if you want. Why are you staring at me like that?"
I'm just afraid you'll get angry… Thinking this, Jason flashed Hecate an especially brilliant smile.
Soon afterward, with Hecate's divine power and before Demeter could return,
Jason and the golden-horned deer were teleported together to the region of Arcadia,
outside the Pelion cave of the centaur sage Chiron.
After arriving, Hecate did not follow him inside. She simply left an underworld butterfly on Jason.
When he wished to leave, he only needed to call her name beneath the moonlit night.
"Oh, right."
As she turned to depart, Hecate suddenly seemed to remember something. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly into a smile that made Jason feel uneasy.
"When you come to the Underworld this time, be mentally prepared. Another surprise is waiting for you there."
With that, Hecate vanished.
Surprise…? Besides tempering my soul with underworld flames, what other surprise could there be?
Though puzzled, Jason could not figure it out for the moment. He walked into the Pelion cave together with the golden-horned deer.
The instant he entered, he saw Heracles, who happened to be coming out.
"Junior Brother Jason…? Junior Brother Jason, you're back!"
Having not seen him for nearly half a year, Heracles had grown taller and even more muscular. Upon spotting Jason, delight lit up his face.
In his excitement, he rushed forward to give Jason a bear hug.
Jason had not even reacted yet
when the golden-horned deer unceremoniously kicked the charging Heracles away with one hoof.
"Wait, Sister Deer! He's my senior brother, my best friend!"
Jason's heart nearly leapt out of his chest!
Sister Deer, you're really bold! Do you have any idea who you just kicked? That's Heracles, Zeus's illegitimate son!
"Ouch… What… what is this deer?" Heracles, now sprawled off to the side, climbed back to his feet and looked at the golden-horned deer with some astonishment.
"Senior Brother Heracles, this golden-horned deer was sent by the noble goddess Artemis to protect me. She didn't mean it!"
Jason hurriedly helped Heracles up while explaining and revealing the deer's identity, urging Heracles to behave.
Jason clearly remembered that one of Heracles's Twelve Labors involved hunting the very same golden-horned deer.
"Lady Artemis?"
Heracles stared at Jason in slight shock.
As one of the Twelve Olympians with temples all across Greece, Heracles naturally knew who she was.
Just as Jason was about to give Heracles a brief explanation,
the sound of hurried hoofbeats approached.
The centaur sage Chiron, having sensed Jason's presence, came rushing over.
Seeing Chiron, Jason immediately abandoned Heracles and jogged toward his teacher.
He stopped in front of Chiron, his emotions visibly heightened. "Teacher Chiron…"
"You're alright… That's good." Chiron crouched down, patted Jason's head, and gently brushed the dust from his clothes with concern.
Although Jason had spent less time with Chiron… to be precise, since crossing into this world, he had actually spent less time with Chiron than with Hecate,
when it came to trust, Jason trusted Chiron far more.
Because Jason knew Chiron truly cared for him and always had his best interests at heart!
Heracles had only just begun lessons with Chiron, but seeing him unwilling to leave Jason now, Chiron told him to come along back inside.
Thanks to Jason, Heracles—who had once been secretly called a monster—had managed to build some friendships with Chiron's other students.
Yet among all of Chiron's many disciples, his relationship with Jason was clearly the closest!
Whether that was ultimately good or bad… was hard to say.
Because a terrifying goddess was involved between them.
Long ago, Jason had already been noticed… or rather, chosen by a certain goddess.
It was precisely because of her that Jason's parents had been spared calamity, allowing him to safely reach Chiron and become his student.
And that goddess happened to have a connection with Heracles.
For a very long time, she had brought Heracles nothing but nightmares!
She was none other than Hera, Queen of the Gods, seated high among the Olympians, the only legitimate wife among Zeus's many women!
In nearly every Greek myth, a god stands behind every hero.
The reason Jason, a mere mortal and not even a demigod, would later be able to gather so many heroes, build the Argo, and set out for the Golden Fleece
was largely because Jason was Hera's chosen child!
Only now, midway through his journey, he had taken refuge under Hecate instead.
And for the moment, Hera was unaware of this… For reasons unknown, God-King Zeus had chosen to conceal the Persephone affair from Hera.
It was unnecessary, but mainly because Zeus had recently been caught by Hera while frolicking with a river goddess and was currently in the doghouse.
Soon, the three returned inside the Pelion cave. Jason hid nothing and recounted everything that had happened recently.
When Heracles learned that Jason had accomplished such an enormous deed and met so many gods, his mouth fell open wide enough to fit a large wild fruit.
"Junior Brother Jason, you… you actually pulled off something this great? You're amazing!"
"…If anyone else says that to me, fine. Senior Brother Heracles, please just stay quiet!" Jason rolled his eyes at Heracles.
"But… haven't you completely offended Lady Demeter now?" Chiron frowned with worry. "Though many gods favor you at the moment, Jason, if Demeter is truly furious and insists on pursuing the matter…"
They might not necessarily choose to protect you!
Jason understood this even without Chiron spelling it out.
"Don't worry, Teacher Chiron… I have a plan!"
Naturally, Jason had long since prepared countermeasures!
At the very least, he believed three goddesses would not easily abandon him:
Queen of the Underworld Persephone, his teacher Hecate, and the goddess of wisdom Athena!
With them present, even if Demeter did blame him, they could hold her back. Then Jason would have far more room to maneuver.
It was not some brilliant scheme; this entire "story" already existed in Jason's mind.
Persephone becoming Queen of the Underworld did not mean she could never return to the surface to see Demeter.
The biggest reason Demeter had always refused to let Persephone marry Hades was simply because she was an extreme daughter-con.
She feared she would never see Persephone again!
"As long as you have a plan, that's good."
Seeing that Jason was not lying, Chiron relaxed.
"Then, Jason, is there a particular reason you came to see me this time?"
Who was Chiron? The centaur sage, mentor to countless Greek heroes. Naturally he could tell Jason had been hesitating over something he wanted to say.
"…Nothing gets past you, Teacher Chiron." Jason smiled at Chiron and glanced at Heracles beside him.
"You can leave for now, Heracles."
Heracles opened his mouth, looked between Jason and Chiron, hesitated, then left.
"Teacher, you know I have never wanted to become a hero, right?"
"Yes." Chiron nodded.
"I don't exactly hate heroes, but if I had to become one myself… I don't want that!" Jason declared seriously, voicing his true feelings for the first time.
"Because a hero has to bear too much.
All I want is to live for myself, to live a safe and peaceful life! …I'm sorry, Teacher. I must be disappointing you."
"No, not at all." Chiron smiled and gently patted Jason's head. "Everyone has their own thoughts and aspirations. As your teacher, I only pass on what I can teach. The path you walk is yours to choose."
"Thank you, Teacher… If I had to sum up my wish in one sentence, it would simply be this… I want to survive."
Jason said softly, "I just want to survive. To live safely and peacefully, without being controlled by anyone! …That is all.
I originally thought that if I learned magic from Teacher Hecate, grew stronger, and walked a path different from the future I foresaw, I could achieve that.
But after this journey, after meeting those gods, I understand now.
It's impossible!
Because in this world, they sit high above us all!
Therefore, Teacher, I have decided. In order to survive… I will become immortal!"