huh?

In the end, Bai Mo gave up explaining. He was tired. Whatever. As things stood, if Bai Mo admitted it, he was a son of Zeus; if he denied it, he was a son of Zeus forbidden from revealing his identity during his trials.

You could not change a fact someone already firmly believed.

That was something Bai Mo had come to understand deeply during this time.

The journey went smoothly after that, and Bai Mo found it increasingly easy to talk with the heroes aboard the Argo. The atmosphere even brought smiles to the icy face the Great Blade Martial God had trained into him.

"Hey, looks like you're in a good mood." Jason came over to Bai Mo.

"My mood has never changed."

"Heh, when I first met you, that icy look on your face scared even the temple maids away from you. Now look at yourself. Believe it or not, if we went back to Lemnos, those women would absolutely fight to throw themselves into your arms."

Bai Mo looked at his face reflected in the water. Indeed, even in Greece, with its exacting standards of beauty, his looks were among the rarest.

This time, though, Bai Mo did not argue with Jason. The easygoing life aboard the Argo during this time had given him a happiness he had never experienced in his life. This ship felt like home to him.

Meanwhile, among the clouds overhead, a young child holding a small bow watched it all. It was none other than Cupid, the little god of love, who was currently looking at the Argo with some distress.

This expedition of the Argonauts would lay the groundwork for the future Trojan War. The so-called Argonauts were merely the gods' pawns-yes, pawns for their amusement. As planned, these heroes would encounter more than enemies. Abandoning their wives, killing their friends-the humanity in these heroes' hearts would be erased, leaving divinity behind. Only then would they be suitable pawns.

And on this journey of continual loss, those aboard the Argo had a cheat that could speedrun it: Heracles.

The original plan had been to find a way to remove Heracles, but things seemed to have changed. This Bai Ermo's deeds were hardly any less impressive than Heracles's.

Thus, the gods issued an order: make Bai Ermo leave the Argo too.

The little god of love nearly swore aloud.

Do you think arrows of love are some kind of cure-all? I already arranged for the goddess in the spring to fall in love with Hylas, making Heracles stay on the island, and now you're telling me to add another one?

We're ready to launch the publicity, and you're telling me to change the plan?

And I can't just deal with him however I like. This guy is a son of Zeus! One wrong move and I'm dead.

Besides, I've already seen it clearly. Why does that guy have leaden arrows? Athena, you *****! You want me to handle something like this? Why don't you just have Hades take him on a trip to the Underworld? I can't do it!

However, the little god of love's tearful appeal was rejected.

The gods only had to issue orders, but the little god of love had so much more to consider.

Once they approached the island, Bai Mo disembarked with everyone else. It was merely an uninhabited island. It seemed people had lived there for a long time, but there did not appear to be anyone around. Perhaps they had moved away.

The page Hylas picked up a bronze jug and prepared to look for spring water, chatting with Bai Mo, who had accompanied him for some reason.

"Um, Lord Bai Ermo, are you really a son of Zeus?"

"Would you believe me if I said no?"

"Lord Bai Ermo, I understand. You must be like my master, unable to mention it during your trials. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Silly boy, do you even need to tell anyone? Once these heroes return to Greece, I won't be able to wash this rumor off even by jumping into the Styx. Besides, you only asked that question because you wanted the answer you wanted, didn't you?

Bai Mo no longer had the energy to explain. He simply said, "As long as you're happy," leaving Hylas rather puzzled.

Then Hylas seemed to muster his courage, looking as though he wanted to say something, but Bai Mo interrupted him first.

"I'm not gay. I'm not interested in men."

"That's not what I was going to say! Lord Bai Ermo, what are you thinking?"

"Oh, it isn't? But you look constipated. Do you need the toilet?"

"No... Honestly, now I don't even know whether I should say it."

"Go ahead. Do I look like someone who gets angry over words?"

Then Hylas exhaled and said, "It's just... my master is still undergoing his trials. I think you and my master are half brothers, both working hard because of your trials. I hope you can help my master in the future."

"Impossible."

Bai Mo rejected Hylas's request outright.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't trouble you like this."

"No, Hylas. I mean I can't help him. No one can help him except Heracles himself. Just watch. The gods aren't benevolent beings. Believe it or not, when the time comes, they'll absolutely refuse to count Heracles's trial of slaying the Hydra."

Hylas could scarcely believe Bai Mo's words, yet for some reason, he could not bring himself to doubt him, because this unfathomable son of Zeus possessed a wisdom he could not see through.

"Heracles can only complete his trials by relying on himself. Don't worry. Heracles is strong. He won't lose his life during his trials, and he won't allow it either."

Bai Mo pointed a finger at the sky.

Those words reassured Hylas.

They also worried the little god of love in the sky.

As the saying went, the wise did not fall in love. The little god of love was worst at dealing not with the arrogant, but with the wise.

"What am I supposed to do?" The little god of love helplessly grabbed his hair.

"Speaking of which, Lord Bai Ermo, are there really men who are interested in men? I'm still carrying that arrow."

"Hylas, did you know? There's a very fast way to grow stronger in this world, called [Ultimate Insult]."

"Just hearing that name scares me a little, but what does it have to do with my question?"

"The so-called [Ultimate Insult] involves cutting off a man's left arm, then finding four gay men to play with him for three months without sleep or rest. If he survives, he can grow stronger."

"He'd definitely die!"

"Right, but aren't you curious who discovered this method could make someone stronger?"

Hylas fell silent. As the saying went, behind every absurd rule was an even more absurd story. Indeed, if no one had tried it, how would anyone know this method could make someone stronger?

"So... someone like me... is the type those gay men like?"

Hylas asked rather shakily.

"Yes."

He received an affirmative answer from Bai Mo.

Then Hylas silently clutched the arrow against his chest more tightly, treating it like a family heirloom.

Suddenly, a deer leaped out beside them, startling Hylas so badly he fell onto his backside. Seeing this, Bai Mo teased him a little before helping him up.

"Don't worry. Usually, only those naughty brats who don't know their place get treated like that. You're so well-behaved, Hylas. Who could bear to do that to you?"

Not only did this fail to reassure Hylas, it also made the little god of love's balls tighten overhead.

"Naughty brats who don't know their place"... He isn't talking about me, is he?

The little god of love felt a chill crawl up his spine.

The little god of love swore that after this job, he would disappear, vanishing off the face of the earth.

Then Hylas discovered a pool and happily went to fetch water. The spring goddess in the water had already been struck by the little god of love's arrow. At first sight, she fell in love with Hylas before her, this handsome, endearing young man.

A pair of hands made of water seized Hylas's ankles.

"Oh, darling, let's have a nice embrace."

Seeing her prey captured, the spring goddess felt incomparable joy. As for Hylas, the poor fellow was already sensitive, and this sudden attack made him instinctively lose his composure and scream.

"Ack! No, I don't want a nice embrace!"

He tried everything to pull out the arrow tucked against his chest, but the goddess in the water held him too tightly, and Hylas lacked the strength to break free. Seeing this, Bai Mo had already stepped up to the edge of the pool, ready to leap in, but the next moment, someone pulled him back.

What?! Bai Mo exclaimed inwardly. But the one stopping him was none other than Atalanta.

"Ugh, now I'm done for. Artemis will kill me, but that's still better than being punished by Zeus." The poor little god of love hid among the clouds and mist, tilting his head back to keep his tears from falling. More than anything, he was afraid. He knew better than anyone how unreasonable goddesses could be.

Still, he is a son of Zeus, after all. Artemis, your follower isn't losing out. I'd better shoot Bai Ermo quickly and get out of here. The little god of love was nervous, and cold sweat poured off him.

Clever people were difficult to make fall in love. The little god of love knew perfectly well that ordinary women would have absolutely no effect on Bai Ermo. Back on Lemnos, he had chosen to stay aboard with Heracles. Only this woman, Atalanta, was the most suitable.

Artemis was a virgin goddess, and Atalanta had sworn to remain chaste forever too. That was precisely why she was the best choice. Once Atalanta had relations with Bai Ermo, she would absolutely be too ashamed to face anyone, and Bai Ermo, who would have fallen in love with Atalanta by then, would stay with his lover, surely.

That way, both of them will leave the Argo, while Heracles will stay on this island to search for Hylas, who was taken by the goddess in the spring. That solves everything. I'm a genius.

What? What if Artemis comes after me later? You're joking. That's a problem for later. Wouldn't letting Bai Ermo keep acting aboard the Argo be far scarier than Artemis?

Every extra day alive is a win. Who cares if everything goes to hell afterward?

And now, Bai Mo was in trouble.

"Atalanta, what are you doing?"

"I don't know either... I was clearly hunting in the woods, but for some reason, when I entered the forest, I felt strange. That deer was very alert. I followed it all the way, but instead of the deer, I found you..."

Atalanta grabbed Bai Mo by the collar, their eyes meeting. Bai Mo's eyes held bewilderment, while Atalanta's-hah, hearts were practically appearing in them.

"Ah, so that's it. I understand."

"Atalanta, what exactly do you understand?!"

"Every hunt is a choice made by fate. Bai Ermo, I understand now. The prey fate wanted me to hunt wasn't anything else. It was you."

"huh?"

If Bai Mo could have made the confusion inside him appear on his face at that moment, he probably could have formed a dark battle mark. (Not really.)

But it was almost too late. The little god of love's golden arrow was about to strike!

Yet in that very instant, another arrow shot down from the sky, snapping the god of love's golden arrow!

"Ack, run!" The little god of love fled at once. It was Artemis! That love-brained goddess was here!

"How outrageous, doing something like this to my follower."

Artemis wore a terrifying smile, her face dark with anger. Then she drew her bow into a full moon. The goddess of the hunt never missed. The next moment, the little god of love's balls burst into bloom.