There was no saving him.
If Pegasus could speak, it would surely sigh exactly that.
Three years of companionship was neither too long nor too short.
In that time, Pegasus had witnessed far too many scenes of Jason being so excessively cautious that even a horse like itself felt speechless!
After confirming Chimera's death and offering his highest thanks to the Underworld gods who had lent their aid, Jason declared he was willing to offer Chimera's corpse on the ground as a sacrifice.
No one responded. After waiting a little longer, Jason dispelled the magic circle.
The battle over, Jason's gaze naturally drifted toward the crowd of onlookers in the distance. After a moment of thought, he turned and patted Pegasus.
"Brother horse, let's go."
Pegasus neighed softly and crouched. Jason mounted it.
As Pegasus took to the skies and they prepared to depart,
"Please wait! Wait, great god!"
A burly middle-aged man with a large beard, clad in silver armor, galloped over on horseback. He arrived beneath Jason and bowed. "I am the king of Lycia. Great god, on behalf of the people of Lycia, I thank you for slaying the monster Chimera. Please allow me to know your honored name!"
Pegasus turned its head to look at Jason, clearly asking what to do.
"Hmm… Honorable King of Lycia, there is no need for such formality. I am no great god, merely a mortal."
Jason thought for a moment, then spoke to the astonished king and the equally shocked warriors farther away who had heard him, "I came here only because I received an oracle from the great Goddess of the Sacred Flame, Hestia.
Now that Chimera is dead, I have fulfilled Lady Hestia's oracle. If you wish to give thanks, thank the great Goddess Hestia instead."
With that, before the king of Lycia could say more, Jason lightly tapped Pegasus's head. Pegasus flapped its wings and soared higher into the moonlit night.
To the people below, the youth riding the heavenly horse looked as though he were returning to the brilliant stars above.
"A hero who is no god, who came in obedience to the oracle of the great Hestia… Great hero, please leave us your name!"
The king of Lycia shouted loudly.
Not long after his voice rang out, he noticed with slight confusion that the hero who seemed about to return to the stars appeared to be flying away even faster…
"What are you all standing around for? Chase him!"
The stunned king quickly grew furious and barked at his attendants.
Only then did the others snap out of their daze. They mounted their horses and galloped below, shouting as they rode.
They begged Jason to leave his name and invited him to visit the kingdom of Lycia, promising the highest honors!
Yet their pursuit and cries earned no glance back from the hero.
Instead, Pegasus only flew higher and faster.
In the end, Jason left them only his retreating silhouette.
A hero who had fallen from the stars, who had slain the monster Chimera in accordance with divine will, who then rode the winged heavenly horse back into the embrace of the night sky.
A dazzling star among the heavens.
Beneath the moonlight, Hestia, who had secretly followed, naturally took in the entire scene.
Hidden in the shadows, she watched Jason flee in panic from the loud pleas of the people below.
Hestia covered her mouth, letting out quiet giggles, her eyes blinking as she sighed, "Ah, as expected, little Jason is so special, so handsome, and so utterly adorable!"
Now high in the sky, Jason finally stopped hearing and seeing the people chasing him below. Only then did he pat his pounding heart in relief.
"Whew, why chase me like that? You scared me to death! I even left you Chimera's corpse. Can't you just let me go in peace… Right, brother horse?"
Pegasus turned its head and gave Jason a sideways glance.
Toward this version of Jason, it truly… truly did not know what to say!
Jason ignored Pegasus's speechless expression and continued, "Sigh, I never thought I'd end up using the Underworld Domain. It has a one-month cooldown… Oh well. At least Chimera is finally dealt with."
He took out the directional compass from the silver herb pouch, confirmed the direction of Calydon, and gently patted Pegasus beneath him.
"Brother horse, let's not rest tonight. Lady Athena only gave me one week. Once we reach Calydon, I'll make it up to you!"
What?
Another all-nighter shift?
No way!
Pegasus was just about to protest.
But Jason immediately produced a cake made from the most delicious grass mixed with various fruits. Well, after using Pegasus as a guinea pig for three years, if he didn't offer proper bribes midway, Pegasus would have quit long ago!
Making the cake itself was not difficult. Back then, to please his senior brothers, Jason had worked as a chef for a while.
As for why cake existed, it was naturally to please Medea and Hecate.
Who would have thought that while Medea and the others had only a moderate reaction to the dessert, brother horse instantly fell in love with it?
At the sight of the cake, Pegasus's eyes lit up. It swallowed it in one gulp and neighed softly.
"Hmm… When we reach Calydon, I'll give you five more!"
Pegasus shook its head, clearly dissatisfied.
"Ten! No more than that!"
Only then did Pegasus cheer up, flying several times faster.
This made Jason secretly smile.
He might not have golden reins to drive Pegasus, but he had carrots!
Just as the pleasant transaction was concluded and Jason thought he could finally rest,
Pegasus suddenly halted mid-flight.
"Hm? What is it, brother horse?"
Pegasus turned its head, looked at Jason with something resembling pity, then banked and flew back the way they came.
"…Wait, wait, brother horse!"
Jason's eyes widened. "N-No way! Didn't we just see her not long ago?!"
Pegasus neighed lightly.
Resign yourself to fate, young man!
And so, not long afterward…
"Little Jason!"
Pegasus landed beside a clear spring. After waiting a moment, Hestia, whose mood seemed rather excited, threw herself at Jason. Helpless, Jason could only catch her.
"Lady Hestia, is there anything else you need to instruct me about? …I have already successfully dealt with Chimera."
"Mhm, I saw everything."
Hestia rubbed her cheek against Jason and smiled while stroking him. "As expected of little Jason. You did it beautifully."
"Then may I ask why Lady Hestia is… Lady Hestia, you know I need to hurry to Calydon, right?"
Jason asked cautiously.
"I know. Because of Athena, right? …Little Jason, you've been naughty." Hestia gently pinched Jason's cheek.
Under Jason's puzzled gaze, Hestia puffed out her cheeks a little. "I already know everything. You offered a tribute to Athena, didn't you?"
"…Tribute?" Jason blinked.
Then he remembered the lyre Athena had swiped… After all, it had only been the day before yesterday.
"Yes! Athena even came to brag about it right in front of me!"
Hestia pinched Jason's cheek again and looked at him expectantly. "Where is mine… Little Jason, since you prepared a tribute for Athena, you definitely prepared one for me too, right?"
Hearing this, Jason opened his mouth speechlessly, momentarily at a loss for words as he stared at the expectant Hestia.
Athena… You could have just taken it! I wouldn't have minded if you treated it as an offering! Why did you have to go show off to others?!
Failing to meet a god's expectations could be extremely terrifying!
Jason knew this very well.
For example, the incident at Calydon: the king had forgotten to offer sacrifice to Artemis during the harvest festival, and the angry goddess had sent down the monstrous boar.
Another example was one of Heracles' Twelve Labors involving the Cretan Bull: King Minos of Crete had tried to pull a fast one on Poseidon during a sacrifice and ended up angering the sea god.
And now, Jason naturally was not foolish enough to say the lyre had been stolen by Athena and was not actually an offering.
But if he tacitly agreed, then right now he would have to offer something to Hestia… No, it would not stop there.
Jason instantly realized something was wrong.
Because Athena would never brag only to Hestia…
Dear heavens, Lady Athena, you didn't visit Demeter, Artemis, and Apollo too, did you?!
And had she?
At that very moment, not far outside Calydon in an ancient forest, Athena sat before Artemis, Goddess of the Moon and Hunt.
She played beautiful melodies on the silver lyre in her hands.
"Envious, aren't you?" Athena smiled at Artemis. "This is a gift little Jason carefully prepared just for me!"
"A gift from little Jason?" Artemis blinked, placed a finger on her lips, and said enviously, "How nice… I want one too."
"Don't worry," Athena replied with a smile. "Little Jason will definitely prepare a gift for you too. Because if I'm not mistaken, Hestia should be with him right now."
"Hestia went to see little Jason? …What does that have to do with my gift?" Artemis tilted her head.
Athena merely smiled slightly and offered no further explanation.
She continued plucking the strings, letting pleasant notes fill the air.
Twelve offerings to the gods, twelve gifts from the gods.
Little Jason, our "game" has already begun.
How many offerings can you produce that will satisfy them?
And how many gifts from the gods will you receive in return?
Trials of equal value yield rewards of equal value… That has always been Athena's style.
Athena silently recited this in her heart, then tilted her head, gazing in Jason's direction. The corners of her mouth slowly curved upward.