Walking Along the Base of the Wall 2/2
"My man, I've never seen a work of art like this before. The Argo must be the best ship in the world!"
Jason, having shed his flamboyant gold-threaded silk robe and donned a loose-fitting sailor's suit, affectionately embraced Samael's neck, gazing excitedly at the Argo anchored on the sea.
"Yes, the Argo is the best ship, and Jason will become the best captain."
Samael snapped out of his daze, patted his half-friend on the shoulder, and smiled encouragingly.
"Well, it's not that good. It's all thanks to the blessings of the gods and the help of everyone."
Even so, the blond-haired youth couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth, revealing a hint of pride. This was a rare moment of prestige in his more than twenty years of life, and he had become the focus of the entire city.
He couldn't help but feel a little smug, and continued to waddle into the crowd, his face flushed and spittle flying as he boasted about the divine grace he had received from his stroke of good luck.
Samael glanced at Jason, who was leading the heroes on a tour of the Argo, shook his head quietly, and sighed inwardly.
God's gifts often come with a high price.
It has to be repaid.
And the price is your souls, your destiny, your lives!
The ancient serpent walked onto the deck, leaned against the ship's railing, and recalled Athena's warning from a few days ago, its gaze obscure and somber.
The world only knows the epic and fantastical adventures of the Argonaut Expedition, but what about after their return?
The Twin Swordsmen brother died in a conflict, and his sister perished with him, transforming into the Gemini ...
The god of medicine created Elixir of Immortality, disrupting the order of the underworld. He was struck dead by Zeus's lightning and became the Ophiuchus ...
The genius singer Orpheus, for allegedly disrespecting Dionysus, was murdered by his madwoman servants, who tore his body to pieces and threw it into the wilderness, where it became the constellation Lyra...
Atalanta transformed into a lion to pull the chariot of the Old Gods...
Caenis was buried alive by the centaurs and suffocated to death...
Prince of Calydon's life-threatening wooden carving was burned by his mother and grew cold...
Heracles later became addicted to Hydra and took his own life...
Even Jason, who considered himself "lucky," fared no better. Because he betrayed his wife Medea, his two sons and his first wife died tragically, and he lost the protection of the goddess Hera. In the end, he fell asleep at the stern of the Argo, and when the ship capsized, it crushed him flat...
In fact, most of the Argo Heroes died violent deaths.
Athena was right. The ship had become a great altar, and the Argo Heroes were the offerings placed upon it to please and sacrifice to Olympus.
However, I'm afraid you don't have the appetite to finish this sacrifice, Zeus.
Samael looked up at Sacred Mountain Olympus, which stretched between heaven and earth, his eyes flashing with cold light.
But then again, the King of Gods actually intends to sacrifice all 50 heroes of Argonautica this time. It seems that he has accelerated his recruitment efforts for Paradise Island recently, as if he is somewhat wary of them.
Could it be that our plan has been leaked? That shouldn't be the case.
Thinking of this, Samael frowned and decided to pay more attention to this voyage and speed up the search for Paradise Island.
Just as the ancient serpent was deep in thought, the bustling noise of the port interrupted his thoughts.
Local soldiers carried flour, smoked meat, salt, fresh water, and other supplies for the voyage to the vicinity. Argos, the giant under the command of Queen Hera, casually tossed the items onto the deck of the Argo for the heroes to receive.
Ever since witnessing the multiple miracles, the old King was terrified and had been hiding in the palace, refusing to come out. In order to get rid of his nephew, who was considered Plague God, as soon as possible, he even assigned his palace guards to help with the preparation of supplies, as a gesture of goodwill to show weakness.
Thanks to the city-wide mobilization and the fact that Iolcus is a coastal port, Jason's paper-based needs for maritime supplies were fully met within just half a day, with even some items left over.
As evening approached, Samael requested additional oranges, grapes, lemons, and other fruits, which were moved into the warehouse. The Argo, fully loaded, sank deep into the waterline, gleaming in the setting sun.
"The wind is just right!"
"The wind speed is just right!"
"All crew members are on board! The Argo is ready!"
With their natural advantages, the heroes, who were appropriately positioned in their respective roles, sent signals from all directions as the hatches closed.
"Alright! Weigh anchor and set sail!"
Jason, standing at the bow of the ship, took several deep breaths to barely suppress his excitement. Then, he solemnly drew the bronze sword from his waist, raised it solemnly forward, and simultaneously let out a slightly trembling shout and encouragement from his chest.
"Above the gods, glory shall surely belong to the Argonaut Expedition!"
"All, move out!"
At the same time, as if the gods had heard this earthly murmur, pure clouds dispersed, and a fierce wind blowing from the side stirred up the waves, billowing the giant sails and propelling the massive and majestic Argo out of the harbor, setting it sailing on the vast waves of the sea.
The people on the shore, seeing the majestic ship rushing into the deep sea that mankind had once conquered, cheered and threw flowers at it, feeling extremely proud.
In this era, heroes and adventures are revered. If Jason can truly bring glory to Iolcus, then he, as the heir, is undoubtedly the rightful King!
After all, only heroes like these can better protect the city and its people.
As the coastline gradually disappeared from view, Jason, who had been maintaining a tense posture, immediately revealed his true colors, his shoulders drooping and his whole body collapsing loosely.
After pretending to wipe away his sweat, the captain leaned over to Samael and complained.
"It's too late, we'll probably have to travel at night, which doesn't feel like a good omen."
Moreover, if I hadn't been prepared and hadn't hidden some Asclepius- made stamina potion in my sleeve, I'd be exhausted before we even set off. I truly envy you bunch of gods with bloodlines that are even more beastly than animals."
Samael disgustedly tossed away the paw that was resting on his shoulder and chuckled mockingly.
"What's wrong, Captain? We've only just set off, and you're already having second thoughts?"
"Yeah, I regret it. If I had known my uncle would kick me out so quickly, I should have taken the opportunity to enjoy myself last night and made those beauties who came to my door weak in the knees!"
Jason smacked his lips, making no attempt to hide his lament. His face betrayed no feigned regret, revealing his scumbag nature of being driven by lust rather than love.
"I don't know if their legs are weak, but I think it's true that your legs are weak. You might not even be able to get out if you have to hold onto the wall."
Samael, with a disdainful expression, began to mock Captain Jason with practiced ease.
"Stop cursing! Stop cursing! Who can compare to an animal like you!"
After a moment of stunned silence, the blond youth realized what was happening and his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. After all, in the face of Samael's impressive record, even livestock would probably have to bow their heads in shame. It was better to change the subject and not humiliate himself.
"Alright, enough with the banter. Sailing at night is quite risky. Let's double-check the sea charts and routes of the King of Colchis, just in case something goes wrong."
As they spoke, Jason, holding the foster son of the Goddess of Wisdom, beckoned Heracles and the others to the captain's cabin. There, they spread out a map, analyzed the potential troubles of the journey, and discussed the necessary preparations.
As he got into character, the blond young man, who exuded a carefree and dissolute air, appeared calm and composed. Even the heroines, including Atalanta, who didn't have a good impression of him, couldn't help but nod in agreement with his arrangements.
This guy has become surprisingly reliable without anyone noticing.
Argo is the best ship, Jason is the best captain!
As the newly appointed captain glanced at the gradually spreading night sky over the sea, the image of his friend's praise flashed through his mind, and a smile unconsciously bloomed on his face.