A Loving Father and Filial Daughter, Setting Each Other Up
Everyone in the arena gasped, their blood pressure spiked, and they felt an urge to pin the doctor to the ground and beat him up.
It was intentional, absolutely intentional!
You've got it. You're not making him die, you're making him unable to die even if he wants to.
At this moment, Samael's eyelids twitched, he felt inexplicably guilty, and a hint of suspicion appeared in his eyes.
Now, he had something he wanted to ask.
Is this VIP service expensive?
"The Goddess of Hunting worshipped by Arcadia, right? Her Highness Artemis's oracle states that Atalanta was raised by the sacred beast she sent. King Iasos, you abandoned this child since birth and have never fulfilled your parental duties for Sky Father. You have no right to decide her future, so the goddess decided to send her followers to Mount of Ares to avoid harassment."
From this day forward, Atalanta will be under the protection of Mount of Ares and will possess the freedom granted by law!
The Divine General of Healing handed the moon-white parchment scroll to the blank-faced old King. Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone whose blood pressure was soaring, he fumbled around for a while and reluctantly took out a golden parchment scroll with a sun pattern.
The Delphic Oracle! Even Apollo, God of Light, has come out to lend his support?
The audience was thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, eagerly awaiting the "God of Healing" to unleash an even bigger bombshell.
However, Asclepius hesitated for a long time before muttering as he tore open the seal and revealed the contents.
"The Delphic Oracle has decreed that Hippomenes violated the rules of the Olympus, and Theseus's self-defense was a counterattack that did not interfere with the game; therefore, the result is valid! This despicable man will be banned from participating in any form of athletic competition!"
Delphi has always been the host of the Olympus, and even the relatively neutral Apollo, God of Light, believed that Hippomenes deserved his fate, so the outcome this time was no surprise.
After reading it aloud, the god of medicine disdainfully stuffed the famous Delphic Oracle into his sleeve, bypassed the completely stunned King and a certain demigod, and came before Hippomenes, giving the patient a brief glance.
"Finally, please remember to come to the Mount of Ares within seven days to turn yourself in and accept a Shiki trial."
"What? I'm not going! Why should I go?"
Startled awake, Hippomenes turned pale and staggered backward, shaking his head hysterically.
"Because you are suspected of murdering a demigod during the competition. He is the adopted son of Princess Athena."
The God of Healing slowly revealed the victim's identity, while the demigod of the Sea God Temple beside him trembled with rage, as if he were witnessing a replay of the Sea God's murder case.
"I'm not going! The Golden Apple was a gift from Aphrodite, and she orchestrated all of this. Go find her, why are you fixated on me!"
Hippomenes, who had retreated to a corner, seemed to hear endless mockery that went straight to his brain. Everyone's eyes were filled with malice and contempt. This dramatic ups and downs in his life caused this young Divine Kin, who had limited resilience, to roar nervously, like a hyena full of grievances.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the arena changed drastically, and the demigod of the Water God Temple on the stands even more so, his pupils contracted sharply.
The God of Medicine glanced at the deranged youth with a look of utter disbelief, then silently took a few steps back, creating some distance between them.
"Boom!"
In an instant, the sky darkened, and a blood-red ring of light appeared on the clouds, interlocking and rotating. Accompanied by a man's angry snort, a sharp beam of light slashed down, and Hippomenes, who was standing on the ground, was instantly vaporized in the blood-red light.
As the crimson pillar of light gradually faded and dissipated, the demigod, who had been pulling King Iasos away in a hasty retreat, looked at the giant crater on the ground, which was emitting blue smoke, with a look of horror. He gasped and cursed under his breath.
Idiot! If you keep refusing to let it go, at worst you'll get a life sentence. Maybe if the gods are in a good mood, you'll be spared and released from the prison on Mount of Ares.
They openly shift the blame to the gods, truly believing that the God of love and beauty wouldn't kill someone.
Even if Aphrodite is too lazy to shed blood, her bunch of lovers could take your life in a heartbeat!
The one who just made the move was none other than Ares, the Ares, God of War and the goddess's long-term lover.
Moreover, because of the previous trial at Mount of Ares, this brute has a grudge against His Majesty Poseidon. Now he's taking this opportunity to kill you, and you have nowhere to seek justice!
"Friend, you don't look well. Do you need any treatment?"
The renowned healer nearby approached and inquired with a kind expression.
The demigod of the Sea God Temple looked on warily, a chill running down his spine. He hastily forced a stiff smile, his tone righteous and stern.
"I'm fine! I didn't do it! Hippomenes blasphemed the gods and deserves to die! I will relay the details to His Poseidon. That's all, I'll be going now!"
Having said that, the demigod, who already had a strong psychological trauma from the doctor in front of him, immediately struck his trident. A halo of light rippled across the ground, and clear spring water gushed out from the cracks in the earth. A chariot Marat emerged from it.
Then, he jumped onto the water-patterned chariot and sped away without looking back, wanting to get as far away from this godforsaken place as possible.
"Ugh, why don't they just follow the doctor's orders? Honestly..."
The God of Healing glanced at the deep pit beside him, shook his head, and then lightly waved his serpent staff. The pure white halo condensed into a fine rain, sprinkling onto the arena in front of him, as well as the streets and alleys of Arcadia.
The contestants, each bearing their own injuries, found their wounds healing from numbness and itching. Those afflicted with disease were also expelled and cleansed of the black mist that had been breeding disease within them by the surging divine power, and their energy surpassed what it had been before.
After healing, Asclepius nodded to Samael in the crowd and walked slowly towards the city gate.
Sure enough, love doesn't come so easily.
The ancient snake rolled its eyes, tugged at the somewhat familiar owl on its shoulder, stroked it a few times, and looked at the crowd gathering towards it with various purposes, raising its voice.
"Stop right here! I hereby declare in the name of victory that the competitors who adhered to the rules will be pardoned; those who blindly followed and harbored malice will be required to perform ten days of labor for the Kingdom of Arcadia. I will request the Arbitration Court of Mount of Ares to send someone to handle the follow-up. If there are any problems, contact your employers first!"
Samael decisively shifted the blame to King Iasos was standing in the stands.
Atalanta glanced at the figure, half fearful and half delighted, gradually disappearing into the crowd, and felt a wave of nausea. She immediately grabbed Samael's arm and walked out of the city without looking back.
On the open ground outside the city, Hippolyta, who had rushed out to chase after them, couldn't help but step forward and stop the two, asking them in a low voice.
"I defeated Atalanta, right? When are you willing to fight the Amazons with me?"
Atalanta's face stiffened, and just as she was about to reply, Samael grabbed her shoulder and pulled her backward.
Looking at the persistent Amazon Queen, the ancient serpent's smile vanished, his gaze turned sinister, and he slowly spoke.
"Hippolyta, that's enough. You seem to have forgotten that I saved your life in that canyon, and you gave yourself and your entire tribe to me."
You, including everything Amazon owns, no longer belong to you...
Using chips that don't belong to you to gamble again, even if you win Atalanta, the spoils of war won't be yours...
Hippolyta's expression froze, and she hesitated several times before speaking.
Samael grew impatient, his Serpent Eyes narrowing slightly.
"What makes you think you have the leverage to gamble with me? Trying to control me with those clumsy childish tricks is just too naive."
Immediately, the ancient serpent lowered his voice and looked down at the Amazon Queen, who was a head shorter than him, his tone carrying a hint of desolation and boredom.
"Enough with the jokes. It seems I've been too lenient with you lately."
Hippolyta stiffened, her eyes stinging from the towering shadow. She lowered her head, biting her cherry lips until they bled, her heart filled with defeat.
It turns out that her desperate struggle to escape her Amazons fate was nothing more than child's play in his eyes, and was never truly taken to heart.
From the moment I made the contract and left the canyon, I lost all my gaming experience.
"Alright, let's head to the Amazon. The unstable factors have been eliminated. Your sister seems to be waiting for you in the woods..."
Samael glanced at the shadowy figures in the forest, waved casually, and Hippolyta, pale-faced, bit her lip in disappointment and retreated.
I had hoped to remain friends, considering our shared mythological background, but unfortunately, you were not only impatient but also overstepped your bounds...
After seeing off half a friend who left dejectedly, Samael felt somewhat disheartened.
However, when his gaze fell upon the Amazon Queen's slumped shoulders, his hardened heart softened slightly.
"Regarding the arrangements for the Amazon's Day of Procreation and the disposal of the infants, take this as a sacrifice and ask the Goddess Athena. Her wisdom will give you reasonable advice."
Hippolyta instinctively reached behind her and opened her palm to see a snake with deep black scales, and was stunned.
When the Amazon Queen came to her senses, she looked around and found that Samael, Atalanta, and Heracles, who was hiding in the shadows, had all disappeared.
Sorry... and... thank you...
Hippolyta pursed her lips and tilted her head back, murmuring a sense of loss in her heart.
Meanwhile, the three arrived at two magnificent carriages adorned with intricate carvings of oak, laurel, and Olive Branch. Beside the carriage behind, several familiar faces, including Caenis Circe the Witch, seemed to have been waiting for a long time. A sunny young woman carrying a harp sat in the driver's seat, smiling brightly at them.
Immediately afterwards, Asclepius, God of Medicine who had previously offered VIP service, jumped down from a carriage in front, lifted the curtain, and revealed a figure with silver hair flowing down her shoulders.
"Hi~! I'm Art... cough, no, I mean Diana! Everyone, let's get along well as our companions on the next journey!"
How did I do, darling?
After speaking, the goddess smiled and gently rubbed the brown teddy bear in her arms. Facing the teddy bear with its contorted features, trying to escape, a foolish look appeared on her lips.
The unexpected answer left Samael bewildered. He glanced strangely at the bewildered Atalanta, his unease growing stronger.
"So, what does 'new journey' mean?"
"We need to get to the Kingdom of Iolcus as soon as possible to complete a trial. This trial is also a divine oracle given to you by Athena. We'll discuss the details on the way."
The medical genius raised his hand in an invitation, his expression serious.
The Kingdom of Iolcus? Isn't that Jason's homeland?
So, what comes next is the Argo Expedition to seize the Golden Fleece?
But even the Artemis, Goddess of Hunting, has personally intervened, so the situation is unlikely to be that simple.
Tsk, you dumped another mess on me with a VIP service that's all show and no substance. Athena, you really know how to calculate.
Samael secretly glared at a certain unfilial daughter, but when he thought of the snake scales Hippolyta received on her deathbed, he couldn't help but feel much happier.
You're always staring at me, are you bored? Perfect, I'll find something to do.
Whether you can successfully resolve the Amazons' reproductive issues and, incidentally, snatch Ares's beloved daughters from Ares grasp, is the test I'm giving you.
Meanwhile, in the palace of Mount of Ares, Athena was chasing Themis's queen on a chessboard, a smile spreading across her face.
I've given you the grand gesture, the highest level of treatment, but you're responsible for handling the aftermath yourself.
The hunter who wanted to abduct the goddess of the forest, Artemis's conditions were not so easy.
By the way, the plan is reaching a crucial moment. Mount of Ares has carried so much weight; it's time for you to help us draw Olympus's attention, Dad.
Almost simultaneously, the father and daughter, separated by thousands of miles, spontaneously raised the corners of their lips, revealing identical smiles, each giving the other a playful jab, their moods lightening.