Maybe Heroes Should Adapt? (Bonus Chapter)

Griffin, the mythical beast that guards the Golden Mountain (Olympus) in Greek mythology, has its origins in ancient Babylon and is both powerful and mysterious.

Its eagle-headed, lion-bodied form has influenced cultures from East Asia to Western Europe (the winged mythical beasts of ancient China bear its shadow), making it part of a worldwide eagle-worship tradition and one of the most widely spread mythical figures in the ancient world.

There are also legends that say the Griffins belong to Zeus.

But that is not important.

What is important is that the Griffin currently guarding the Golden Mountain is in its active period, and this is his chance.

Athena gave him the information on this Griffin, then brought him to the foot of the mountain and left him to fend for himself.

I wonder when I will be able to take revenge on the Goddess of Wisdom?

Originally, his primary target was Hermes, but after seeing him get whipped so miserably by Goddess Hera.

Even Thaumas felt a bit of pity; forget it, better to let Hermes go.

Now, the primary target has become Athena!

Sooner or later, I will present you with a "big gift"!

Of course, these are all secondary.

The main goal now is to craft a saddle capable of taming the Griffin. He originally wanted to ask Hephaestus for help, but Athena seemed unwilling to let him do so.

The Goddess of Wisdom would rather see the miracle of a hero.

According to the Goddess, Griffins seem to be quite fond of treasure, so he specifically utilized the power of Hera to obtain many gemstones.

Hera believes that Thaumas was born noble and should enjoy wealth.

The specific way this power works is that as long as he needs money or things related to the concept of wealth, he will inexplicably obtain them in all sorts of strange ways.

For example, finding them, having people being chased by enemies give him their treasures, winning prizes while shopping, etc. How should I put it? No effort required, and yet there is money!

This is a power everyone envies!

(May the great Goddess Hera bless me to get rich this year!)

Suddenly, the life of a mortal feels dull and tasteless!

As expected, he still prefers being a hero! This feeling of helping others and bringing hope and miracles to them is indeed quite good.

So, "First, the Griffin's physical data."

He took out the information Athena gave him and examined it carefully.

After looking at it for a long time, he sighed, truly worthy of being a deity!

Is the data actually this detailed?

Then, next are the materials.

He picked up the bronze block given by Athena, hmm? Wait, has he seen this somewhere before?

!

Isn't this from the temple of Hephaestus?

He remembered there was a huge pile of bronze blocks in the forge, and even quite a few used for decoration.

The Goddess of Wisdom really only provides wisdom, while everything else is pilfered and taken...

But since there is so much, he can operate boldly. He also has some hard bones of the Nemean Lion here, which can be used in the forging.

As for the leather, that left him in a bind.

"Eh? Without leather, the saddle I make will definitely be uncomfortable to sit on, damn it!" Thaumas squeezed a piece of bronze until it exploded in frustration.

Hmm, very stress-relieving!

A decent way to vent.

"Child, if it is leather, you need not worry.

There are many Snow Leopard in this vicinity; you can try hunting some.

Additionally, I will tell you a secret: that Griffin is currently not on Olympus. Their species originally belonged to Zeus, but that little fellow snuck down.

This is also the opportunity that the great god Zeus is willing to give you.

By the way, it does not like to eat humans; instead, it has a special fondness for horses.

You can start from that angle."

The voice of the Goddess of Wisdom sounded from his Bracelet.

Hmm--

He has to take back what he said just now.

What was it he said?

Oh, right!

The great Goddess of Wisdom is actually quite useful!

"A Snow Leopard?"

Thaumas picked up his bow and arrows, speaking slowly.

It had been a long time since he tested his own skills; come to think of it, he had always wanted to become an archer.

But since no legends regarding that had been left behind, perhaps this time would be the chance.

Though, this was merely wishful thinking.

Thaumas made a prompt decision, donning his armor, throwing on his cloak, slinging his quiver of poisoned arrows over his back, tucking a sharp dagger into his belt, and heading out with his Longbow in hand.

The Snow Leopard is a large feline, known for its unique markings and its life in high-altitude regions.

Their hunting behaviors and habits are distinct, showcasing their unique adaptability and strategies as predators of the highlands.

Snow Leopards primarily hunt by ambush.

They lurk in dry, cool environments, especially rocky terrain, which is the home turf of the Snow Leopard and their primary hunting ground.

Upon spotting prey, the Snow Leopard lunges out rapidly, using its powerful forepaws and sharp teeth to attack with a very ferocious temperament.

In the Age of Gods, this innate ferocity is even more pronounced.

But fortunately, they are solitary animals.

Adult Snow Leopards leave their parents to start families of their own.

This makes them perfect practice targets for Thaumas.

"I offer my respects to the great Goddess of the Hunt, Artemis; bless my hunt with success." Thaumas pressed his palms together and swore to the sky, though since it was still daytime, the moon was not visible.

And so, Thaumas lay quietly in the snow.

Mount Olympus has a high altitude, and in winter, there is plenty of snow even at the base of the mountain.

Thaumas had been eyeing this beast for a long time.

It was Thaumas's target for today.

In truth, the hunting success rate of a Snow Leopard is relatively low, with only about one success in every six attempts.

Once a hunt fails, a Snow Leopard may face the threat of death due to excessive energy expenditure.

Therefore, Thaumas was waiting for its failure.

Although he was invulnerable to blades and spears, if the Snow Leopard decided to run, he might not be able to catch it. Thaumas did not want to use his poisoned arrows, as he still wanted to eat the meat...

It, like Thaumas, stayed behind the rocks, quietly waiting for its prey to take the bait.

It's here!

In an instant, The Snow Leopard kicked off the ground, locking its gaze onto an Argali in the herd, charging at it ferociously.

Although the Snow Leopard's thick tail and relatively short forelegs are not suited for rapid running, they are still capable of short-distance, high-speed pursuits.

Such pursuits are typically used to hunt prey that has already been spotted but not yet captured.

The moment the Snow Leopard appeared, the Argali reacted, scattering in a panic.

But the Snow Leopard's target was clear, and in the end, after the chase, it sank its teeth into the neck of the Argali.

Then, Thaumas also kicked off with ferocity, Holding his Longbow in his left hand and his dagger in his right, he dashed forward.

Also in an instant, The Snow Leopard, having let its guard down, fell in regret.

Hm?

Why are the magical beasts of the Age of Gods so weak?

No, wait—it's because he has become this strong!

It seems I should hunt a few more to properly familiarize myself with this current power.

Well then, the day is still long...

PS: There really isn't any more this time, not a single drop left.

Ah—! There's still the bonus chapter for the contract; I really tried my best, let's do it tomorrow.