Fire Horse Doesn't Want to Go Back with the Hero (Extra Chapter)

On a certain dark grassland, A peculiar black horse was quietly grazing on the grass.

It had a single horn upon its head, and its mane and hooves were covered in purple fur.

Unlike its three brothers, it was not flamboyant, having reined in the flames that usually engulfed its body.

Yet, even on this dark grassland, it remained like a beacon, scaring away the surrounding animals.

At this moment, Thaumas had already landed on the grassland, riding his Griffin.

Thaumas took out a piece of gold and tossed it to the Griffin, which happily clamped the gold in its beak and ran off to play; the dark night could not hinder the Griffin's vision.

During these few days of darkness, Artemis and Nyx had both been forced to work overtime without rest, and the moon had to ensure its light covered the earth so that the world would not fall into total darkness.

Thaumas did not light a torch; relying on the moonlight, he could see the path clearly enough.

Besides, such a large mass of light would appear too abrupt in this dark night.

It would be hard not to attract attention.

He walked slowly toward the fire horse, controlling his steps to avoid drawing its notice.

Phlegon represented the arrival of night and the appearance of the stars, so it had a particular fondness for the dark.

Once Thaumas drew near, he whispered:

"Hello there! You lost soul."

"Hiss—" Phlegon let out a low cry, then stared at Thaumas with vigilance, its pitch-black eyes flickering with light.

It assumed a combat stance, then stepped backward, inch by inch, without making a sound.

Hm?

A workaholic horse?

Seeing this, Thaumas sat down slowly on the spot, careful not to startle the fire horse.

If his movements were too fast or too large, this timid fellow might just run away.

Although he could catch up with the Griffin, he might not achieve his goal.

Thus, Thaumas sat down and whispered to Phlegon:

"Hey, Phlegon, I've been entrusted by the gods to bring you back. You've played long enough; it's time to return, isn't it?"

"Hiss—I refuse! Going back to work every day, leaving early and returning late—only when I sleep at night can I enjoy my favorite time. Now, as long as I don't go back, it is always night! I won't go to work!" Phlegon roared.

Oh, so it just didn't want to work.

That's quite normal. After resting at home for a few days, one never wants to go back to work. If it weren't for the money, who would actually want to work?

It's just like studying; when at school, one desperately thinks about when to go home, but when at home, one hopes for an extended holiday.

Phlegon currently had what amounted to a very long vacation, and making it go back to work was truly difficult.

After all, there is no such thing as a day off for the sun.

Hmm, I need to think of a way!

Hm?

Is something strange again?

!

"Wait, you can talk! Phlegon!" Thaumas was shocked.

After all, he had been with the Griffin for days and had almost learned beast-speak; having this fire horse suddenly speak made it hard for Thaumas to accept for a moment.

He was already considering whether to change his mount.

"Ugh?" The Griffin to the side seemed to sense something and looked at Thaumas with confusion; its intuition told it that something bad was about to happen.

But upon finding no abnormalities, it continued to fiddle with the gold in its claws.

After all, its intuition also told it that it wasn't a big deal and could be ignored; it trusted that Thaumas could handle it himself.

"I am a one-of-a-kind divine beast, so what if I can talk! I am not like those lowly species like the Griffin; they are merely creatures of fantasy, while I am a divine beast! And you, get away from me at once! Don't let me see you again." Phlegon had started to chase him off.

"Are you really not going back, Phlegon? Giving up your large bed? Are you truly willing to sleep in the wild?"

"Hiss~ Although I miss my room, compared to daily work, I would rather give up the room and feed the gods prepared for me!" Phlegon refused.

Come to think of it, Thaumas only mentioned the room, so why did it add the feed? Is it that greedy?

"Well, then I'll tell you a secret. Do you want to know? Don't worry, it won't threaten you."

"Hm? Tell me! If you please me, I'll share a mouthful or two of this grass with you and let you have a taste."

Phlegon pointed to the ground beneath its feet; clearly, it considered this grassland its territory. But to only offer a mouthful or two—you really are stingy!

"Thank you, but I don't need the grass. I'm telling you, you absolutely cannot tell the other fire horses."

"No problem, no problem. I despise those three shiny fellows. Seeing them every day while I work makes me feel ugly. The dark night is what I prefer. I won't tell them a thing!"

"I heard—and mind you, I only heard this!—that the Sun God Helios has stepped down!"

"!Hiss--!"

"It's absolutely authentic. I heard it from the God of Light Apollo and the Goddess of Wisdom Athena themselves! They told me personally! Do you think that could be fake?"

"Although it surprises me, so what? I'm not going back anyway."

Not taking the bait? No matter! The main point comes next!

"Hey, Phlegon, don't you want to enjoy the night while also having a big bed and feed?"

Thaumas was already well-versed in the art of temptation. As long as there is desire, no life is invulnerable! If there is no desire, then he would simply create one!

"Hm? What do you want to do? Let's get this straight: I will absolutely not pull that Sun Chariot! Absolutely not!" Phlegon insisted.

"Rest assured, I, Thaumas, have a great reputation! Otherwise, the gods wouldn't have sought me out to bring you back."

"Then tell me!"

"Do you know the Goddess of Night Nyx?"

Nyx, Depicted as a woman wearing a black, star-patterned veil. Carrying the infant God of Sleep or God of Death, she rides a carriage pulled by black horses into the sky every evening, responsible for shrouding the earth in night and immersing the world in tranquility.

It is said that even the Sky Father Zeus deeply respects this "subduer of all" goddess and holds her in high regard; it is even rumored that Nyx is the foster mother of Zeus.

Nyx not only holds a lofty divine position—being one of the few great deities in Greek mythology to possess immense power across all mythological systems—but she also wields the formidable strength to restrain both mortals and gods alike.

"That goes without saying! The night is what I love most! Are you belittling me? Are you questioning my knowledge and insight? I am a divine beast!"

Mm-hmm, a divine beast, just a bit cowardly and arrogant.

Hm? Cowardly, arrogant? He's just like Jason!

Huh, it really is just like him!

No wonder communicating with him was so simple, and there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Since it's just a mere Jason, things are much simpler!