In the Garden of the Hesperides, under the golden apple tree.
A low chant could be heard as Jason, lying on the lap of the goddess of wisdom Athena, slowly opened his emerald eyes.
Thus, quite naturally, Jason saw Athena's stunning visage before him, her beautiful golden eyes.
Blinking, Jason said softly in confusion, "Athena... Goddess?"
"Yes." Athena responded softly to Jason and gazed at him before her with a smile, saying, "You are awake... Do you need to rest a bit more?"
Jason did not answer; he just stared blankly at Athena. It was clear he had not fully come to his senses yet and was still somewhat dazed.
But soon, upon hearing Athena's faint fragrance and feeling himself pillowed on something soft, Jason gradually realized the situation.
Thus, after reacting, Jason immediately panicked and got up from Athena's body. Athena did not stop him.
On the contrary, she let out a pleasant light laugh at Jason's action.
"Lady Athena, this..."
Hearing Athena's laughter, as Jason felt somewhat embarrassed and subconsciously looked around, he then saw the hundred-headed dragon Ladon not far away, looking at him with a face full of resentment.
The instant he saw Ladon, Jason did not know what to say.
After all... dozens of resentful gazes looking at you like this in the darkness would be enough to scare anyone half to death!
"Congratulations."
At this time, Athena, who had stood up from the grass, smoothed her silver long hair and the white skirt on her body, then smiled at Jason and said, "You have passed Ares's test and gained his recognition.
Tomorrow at dawn, when the first ray of sunlight shines on you, he will come before you and hand over the gift.
And also... now on the entire Mount Olympus, the only one you have not met and dealt with is the goddess of beauty Aphrodite."
As she spoke, Athena blinked at Jason and said with a light laugh, "In other words, as long as you settle her next time, Queen Hera will not know your whereabouts for several years."
Hearing this, Jason was slightly stunned for a moment, but he was not very surprised.
Because back then, when he suddenly learned that he had to offer tribute to Ares, and Athena had even made a bet with Ares.
Jason had guessed that this matter might be related to Hera.
After all, back then at the goddess of harvest Demeter's place, the one who took Demeter away was Ares, and because of that, the choice back then had occurred.
"I understand, great goddess of wisdom Athena. All of this is also thanks to your guidance..."
Then, as Jason spoke words of praise, he carefully looked around for the demon spear given to him by Typhon.
Who would have thought that halfway through his words, he was interrupted by Athena, who had walked over, pinching his face.
"Really, what I want to hear is not these polite words... And stop looking; the spear that Hecate made for you, I have put it in your pouch."
Hearing this, as Jason looked at Athena before him and was stunned.
"That was made for you by Hecate... right?"
Athena repeated to Jason.
Seeing this, Jason opened his mouth wordlessly.
"Remember that." Athena then continued, "That is the weapon your teacher Hecate made for you to defeat the hundred-headed dragon Ladon."
Hearing this, under Athena's gaze, Jason slightly lowered his head and averted his sight... He did not know how to respond.
One absolutely cannot lie to the gods, because they can see through it at a glance.
But the matter of the demon spear obviously cannot be explained.
At the same time, and most importantly, Jason was not sure how much this goddess representing wisdom, Athena, had discerned through the demon spear!
And Athena, looking at such a Jason, finally confirmed the doubt she had always held...
There is definitely something wrong with this child!
This doubt had arisen in Athena when Hecate had deliberately, in front of the goddess of craftsmen Hephaestus, subtly hinted at Athena back then.
It was just that Athena still did not know what the matter was.
After all, the left eye of the prophet Prometheus, which foresees the future, was now suppressing Jason's fate, so even Athena could not see it.
Then, just as Jason was somewhat at a loss for how to speak to Athena, Athena, who had looked deeply at Jason, took the initiative to change the subject.
Regarding the unhealable wounds on the hundred-headed dragon Ladon's body.
Hearing this, after hesitating for a while, Jason took out the demon spear, pointed it at Ladon, and only then did the wounds on the hundred-headed dragon Ladon's body recover.
As for the wounds on Jason's body, Athena had naturally fully healed them while Jason was asleep.
"Sorry, Lord Ladon. I did not intend to offend you... Although I know my request is somewhat shameless, I still hope you can forgive me."
Facing Jason, who spoke to it sincerely, the largest azure dragon head on Ladon's body could not help but turn its head away, clearly not appreciative... Anyone who suddenly gets beaten like this would be angry!
Not to mention, it had almost died at Jason's hands!
But soon, Ladon realized it was being stared at... Stared at by Athena, who had slightly narrowed her eyes.
Thus, Ladon shivered slightly all over, and just as it was preparing to reluctantly forgive Jason.
"Jason, go pick two golden apples." Athena said, looking at Ladon, "Then give one of them to it."
Hearing this, Jason naturally understood Athena's meaning. He looked at Athena, received her nod of permission, and also took a golden wooden staff from her hand.
Jason then held the golden wooden staff and knocked down two golden apples from the golden apple tree. According to Athena's instructions, he handed one of them to Ladon.
Receiving the golden apple handed over by Jason, Ladon then happily forgave Jason... After all, though it had been frightened and lost quite a few heads on its body, heads and such could grow back.
A good thing like a golden apple is not so easy to obtain!
Seeing that Ladon had forgiven him, Jason breathed a sigh of relief... Actually, if Ladon really did not plan to forgive Jason, Jason might have prepared to secretly find an opportunity to deal with it...
"Lady Athena, this golden apple..." Then, just as Jason was about to give the remaining golden apple to Athena, Athena shook her head and said, "Keep it for yourself... It is also one of the returns for your tribute this time."
At this point, Athena suddenly paused, then smiled at Jason and said, "By the way, Jason, do you still remember our agreement?"
"Agreement?" Jason looked at Athena in confusion.
"When we met... That is, when you offered tribute to me!" Athena looked at the puzzled Jason and said word by word.
Hearing this, Jason instantly remembered.
Jason's other teacher Hephaestus had once told Jason about it, and Athena had prepared the return gift, which was a shield.
"But Goddess Athena, the lyre that Teacher Chiron gave me..."
"Hm?" Athena raised her brow slightly and smiled as she asked Jason, who was speaking softly, "Little Jason, did you just say something?"
"...No." Then, only to see Jason say to Athena with a serious face, "I did not say anything. I understand, Goddess Athena. I will do my utmost to prepare a tribute for you that will satisfy you!"
"Good boy." Hearing this, Athena nodded in satisfaction and stepped forward to happily pat Jason's head.
And Jason's heart at the moment was naturally quite helpless.
"However, my tribute is not urgent for now... Little Jason, do you still remember the oracle I gave you?"
"I remember." Jason nodded.
The god of light Apollo, he appears to be the happiest god, because he is the most handsome male god in the world; no one can refuse Apollo's charm.
But in reality, he is the most tragic god, because the thing he most wants to obtain, he has never gotten!
"Is that so..."
Athena nodded, took a step back, and said softly to Jason, "Then now, Jason, let me once again point out the path forward for you.
In the endless abyss of the underworld, at this moment, there is an acquaintance of yours wandering within it, and he has an extraordinary relationship with Apollo.
Go to the underworld to find him... Through him, you will offer a tribute to Apollo that will satisfy him!"
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New Story posted:
Transmigrated as Furina, in the Naruto world