Type-Moon at the Start, but an A Certain Magical Index Magician

"Because you're worried?" Mephistopheles asked.

Watching Atalanta nod, Mephistopheles fell into thought. In the end, he could only spread his hands. "Honestly, I can't think of anything you could give me that I actually need."

Atalanta raised an eyebrow at that. It might have been the truth, but saying it so directly was indeed rather offensive.

It was like saying, "You're too weak. I don't need your help." And it was not merely a rejection of her strength, but a rejection in every possible respect.

It even denied her figure and her status as a sexual object.

"Ah, is that so?" Atalanta said, though her tone was somewhat stiff.

"Don't be angry. What I just said was from the standpoint of staying rational and not mixing in any improper thoughts. I can admit that your charm as a woman is excellent. You don't need to doubt yourself on that point. I didn't mean to deny it."

Atalanta looked at Mephistopheles, only to find him wearing a smile. There was no particular meaning visible in that smile, while those pale blue eyes were incredibly captivating, like Mystic Eyes that could see through one's heart.

"Just treat what I said earlier as nonsense. We never discussed that sort of thing." Mephistopheles smiled and continued.

"What you excel at and the path I walk are different, so I truly have no need for anything you could obtain. Not only you—there are very few people in this world who can help me. To put it extremely, perhaps there isn't a single person who can help me where I need it.

"Mm, don't take that out of context. I mean that on my path of cultivation, no one can give me knowledge or anything like that. At most, they can offer advice based on their own experience, but that advice might not be useful at all, because my magic is simply too special."

Those words sounded incredibly arrogant to Atalanta, yet his attitude made her relax completely. She could not help but laugh. "You make it sound like even the gods can't help you."

In response, she saw him smile and say lightly, "Do you think the gods were included in what I just said?"

Atalanta opened her mouth. She wanted to say "no" outright, but since he had asked that question, there was only one answer.

Mephistopheles's earlier words had included the gods!

But what arrogance was this? He actually claimed that even the gods could not help him on his path of cultivation!

"There are two people in the world. One has reached the absolute pinnacle of farming, while the other is merely decent at hunting and is still working hard to learn.

"Though one is at the pinnacle while the other is merely passable, that farmer with supreme skill cannot teach the hunter how to hunt, because the farmer does not understand hunting at all.

"My relationship with everyone else in this world can be compared to that. The gods are the farmer with the greatest skill, while I am the hunter who is not particularly skilled. If I want to improve my abilities, I can only keep moving forward on my own."

Mephistopheles roughly explained the relationship between his current magic and the gods' magic through that analogy. Though it sounded a little strange, Atalanta understood what he was trying to convey.

"So what you mean is that the magical path you walk is a field even the gods have never set foot in?!"

"Yes, that's what I mean." Mephistopheles nodded. "So I really don't know what reward I should ask for. If you truly feel that something like a meal cannot make up for the value of the magic I intend to teach you, then how about this..."

Mephistopheles thought of a plot he had seen in some martial arts television drama long ago, then said, "If I ever need your help in the future, help me once. And I can guarantee that it won't go against your wishes."

"It won't go against my wishes?"

"It means it won't be something that makes you feel especially troubled. After all, with no restrictions at all, it would become coercion." Mephistopheles even took the initiative to suggest, "We can have the gods bear witness to ensure the validity of this agreement."

"I can accept a proposal like that..." Atalanta murmured. She felt that in certain respects, Mephistopheles was indeed very proper, very polite, and quite considerate of others—far better than those people who had nothing but violence on their minds.

However, Atalanta still shook her head. "But I need to speak to Lady Artemis about this first. If Lady Artemis does not allow me to do it, then I will not accept."

Mephistopheles nodded. "Of course. I already said this can be carried out under the gods' witness. If you think Artemis is suitable, then have her bear witness."

Thus, the girl corrected Mephistopheles's "mistake" once more. "It's the great Lady Artemis!"

"Yes, yes, the great Lady Artemis." Mephistopheles said it, but he still did not look respectful in the slightest.

Seeing how perfunctory he was, Atalanta frowned. "Why do you have no reverence for the gods at all?"

"I respect them very much, and I like Artemis too!" Mephistopheles immediately replied. He looked so sincere that there was not the slightest sign of lying.

Jason found Castor, who was with his younger sister.

Castor looked somewhat puzzled as Jason approached. "Aren't you going to keep your sweet little lover company?"

"Hypsipyle is the queen here. She has things to handle during the day as well." Jason said, unsure of how to begin asking his question.

However, the "kind-hearted" Castor asked first, "Did you come to me for something?"

"Yes. I wanted to ask if you know of Guiding Light."

"Guiding Light?" Castor repeated the title, then revealed a faint smile. "It's been a long time since I heard that name."

He really knows! Jason was delighted inside and hurriedly asked, "Then which god is Guiding Light exactly?"

"That is an ancient god, representing the light that guides ships through the darkness. It is a twin god." After saying that, Castor asked again, "Why are you suddenly asking me this? Where did you hear that name?"

Jason was somewhat confused by those words. "You don't know?"

"I don't. Though I know of that god, I don't know much about him. Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Looking at Castor's curious eyes, as well as Pollux, who was idly eating fruit nearby, Jason hesitated for a moment before choosing not to voice his thoughts. He merely said, "It's nothing. Thank you for telling me."

At that moment, Castor suddenly said, "Right, everyone seems pretty happy. How about we rest for a few more days?"

"That makes sense. It would be good to get some proper rest. We might have a hard time finding another place this suitable for resting later." Jason nodded, then left.

Watching Jason leave, Castor sighed in relief and took out the stone tablet he had hidden away, continuing to carve it.

"Brother, did you make that suggestion at the end because you were afraid Jason would immediately gather everyone and leave?"

"He probably won't leave, but we need to prepare for the worst. I can tell he likes Hypsipyle very much and doesn't want to leave like this, but he needs a reason. Now that I've given him a reason for everyone to rest, Jason will definitely stay here for a while longer." Castor stopped carving. "It's done!"

He happily handed the stone tablet to his sister. "Take a look. There shouldn't be any issues with the contents, right?"

The siblings carefully read through the story carved upon the tablet several times. Only after confirming there were no problems did they finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Let me see. This is written quite well. If this story spreads, the two of you will truly become inseparable—twin gods born together, with the elder brother descending into humanity because of people's prayers. Yet in truth, he has always been a god and was never human."

At the sudden voice, both of them looked toward Mephistopheles.

"So strong!"

"No wonder he went and killed Typhon!"

The siblings were both shocked by Mephistopheles's sudden appearance, while Mephistopheles continued reading the story on the tablet and even offered a comment or two.

Then Mephistopheles pointed to one section. "This part can be changed. You've already become human, and that cannot be changed. So we can start from that point."

Castor hurriedly asked, "How should it be changed, Mr. Mephistopheles?"

He was now completely filled with respect for Mephistopheles.

"Castor became human because of humanity's prayers, but he is ultimately a god. A god's divinity will always exist and cannot perish. As long as he wishes it, he can restore his divinity at any time. No existence can deprive him of it.

"It is merely because he enjoys traveling among humans that he generally still walks the human world in the identity of a human."

After speaking, Mephistopheles glanced at Castor. "How does that revision sound?"

That alteration was indeed better than the original. It greatly reduced the conflict with his human identity, and might even grant him the ability to freely shift between human and god. Its chance of success was far higher than what he had initially written.

Castor suddenly became curious. What exactly did Mephistopheles do, to so precisely grasp that difference and write such content? Did magicians need to study this sort of thing too?

Someone Has Already Paid Your Reward

Mephistopheles did not wish to involve himself too deeply in matters concerning the twin sons of Dioscuri. He had only offered advice just now, simply because, as someone who had studied both mythology and magic, he had a small suggestion to make.

After all, looking at that still somewhat immature story, Mephistopheles truly could not bear to watch any longer.

It was better to add some restrictions early, lest creative humans add all sorts of inexplicable restrictions in the future. After all, no one could guarantee that once this new story emerged, some deranged person would not create all kinds of bizarre fanworks.

For example, insisting on writing that Castor fell in love with another woman, making his sister Pollux insanely jealous. In the end, Castor decided to beat his own sister to death, only to be killed by her instead, after which his yandere sister held him as they ascended into the sky and became Gemini or something.

Rubbing his chin, Mephistopheles watched the siblings happily go off to spread their story and muttered, "This story doesn't seem impossible to write either."

Then he shook his head. "What a pity. It would affect the true bodies of Castor and Pollux, so forget it."

The already pitiful twins had to be congratulated for escaping an undeserved disaster.

Night quietly arrived once more, and Lemnos Island once again filled with singing and dancing.

It had to be explained once again that the women here were extraordinarily warm and hospitable—so warm and hospitable that if Mephistopheles stayed too long, the two people aboard the ship might directly grab him by the ears and drag him back.

At that moment, as a devout follower of the moon goddess, Atalanta knelt upon the deck and prayed to the bright moon high above.

She told her goddess Artemis everything Mephistopheles had said to her, as well as everything Diana had said, then asked softly:

"Great Lady Artemis, how should I choose?"

Then she saw that phantom again. Its appearance could not be made out, but she could feel that familiar power of the moon goddess as Artemis's voice once more rang by her ear.

"Atalanta, learning more things is not a bad thing. You only need to be careful not to be deceived. I can see that your future is full of danger, but I cannot explain it plainly.

"You may study with this man called Mephistopheles. He can be trusted. Even the gods cannot directly comprehend his power. If the gods wished to understand his power, they would have to begin learning from the start as well.

"If you can learn his magic, you will have more ways to deal with danger in the future. Even when that danger that is so terrifying to you arrives, you should be able to endure it."

I will encounter a terrifying crisis in the future? It seems Lady Artemis cannot tell me about this crisis for some reason, but she says Mephistopheles's magic can help me, and she says he can be trusted...

No, what should surprise me most is that even the gods do not know Mephistopheles's magic. But... after hearing his explanation during the day, all I can think now is, "So that's how it is."

Does that mean I had already believed what he said during the day? Since when did I trust someone so easily? And he is even a man!

Atalanta's mind raced wildly, but Artemis continued, "However, though he will teach you magic, you must be careful not to use it casually. This magic is too special and may draw unnecessary attention."

"I understand, great Lady Artemis. I will always keep your words in my heart!"

"Very good. Then beginning tomorrow, go and study magic with him. You may not be able to learn much, but I can guarantee that what he teaches you will be precisely what you lack.

"He possesses the ability to see into the future, so you may trust his judgment in that regard as well."

"Yes, Lady Artemis!" Atalanta said again, her heart once more filled with shock.

The ability to see into the future sounded like Apollo's priests, but Apollo's priests were blind, while this man's eyes were perfectly fine!

And casually revealing the future would bring tremendous punishment. Yet did this man look as though he had been punished?

No, not at all. On the contrary, he was living exceptionally freely!

As Artemis's figure vanished, Atalanta took a breath, then relaxed her whole body and lay on the deck, quietly watching the stars and moon in the sky. Under the moonlight, her previously clear mind gradually became drowsy, and she soon fell asleep.

"How was it? Just as I said, she'll come to learn from you tomorrow. Remember to teach her properly!" Artemis said to Mephistopheles.

Mephistopheles thought for a moment. "You actually won't let her use magic normally?"

"Your magic is too special. I'm afraid people with ulterior motives will target her. She isn't as strong as you, so it would be troublesome if she encountered danger."

Artemis sighed. "Though that child is very talented and has Clymene's bloodline, she is ultimately only a mortal..."

Clymene, the goddess of renown, was from the same generation as Zeus. Her father was Oceanus, and as Oceanus's granddaughter, Atalanta indeed possessed divine blood.

Unfortunately, that special bloodline had never manifested, as though she had never possessed divine blood at all.

However, after hearing Artemis say this, new thoughts emerged in Mephistopheles's mind.

"Perhaps I can make her stronger..."

"Not merely to deal with the future crisis?"

"After resolving that crisis, she might encounter other crises. So improving her strength a little would still be good." Mephistopheles smiled. "Don't worry. I'll only use her bloodline to make a little something. It's a simple and easy matter. She'll definitely learn it quickly."

Artemis blinked, unable for the moment to understand what Mephistopheles intended to do.

But then Mephistopheles grinned mischievously. "Hehe, this counts as extra work. You need to pay me!"

Thus, accompanied by a cry of "Ah!", the scene became somewhat unsuitable for children.

The next day, Atalanta found Mephistopheles. As though he had long expected her to come, he pointed to the space across from him. "Sit."

At his words, green shoots sprang directly from the ground. The tender branches continued growing and entwining over the shore, finally becoming a chair with a backrest.

Atalanta carefully sat down. The chair was incredibly soft and comfortable.

"Is this your magic too?" Atalanta asked curiously.

"Of course. The world is composed of five great elements. As long as I combine them, I can create whatever I want. Well, ordinary things only. I still cannot create souls."

Atalanta asked in confusion, "Create souls?" It was her first time hearing that souls could be created.

"That is the realm of the gods. I cannot yet reach that level. Perhaps in the future, I can study alchemy. There is research into the creation of souls within it."

"Alchemy?"

"Potions and all sorts of miscellaneous branches. It simply hasn't developed to that point yet."

Mephistopheles sighed. If the Hermes of this world were the thrice-great Hermes he knew, then he could pursue the mysteries of alchemy. Unfortunately, the Hermes here clearly was not.

Just as the Zeus here was not the Zeus of the original myth, the differences made it difficult for Mephistopheles to directly acquire the knowledge he wanted through the gods who existed in this world.