Night was the time of the moon.
Though the goddess of night might have a slight objection to this.
In the Kingdom of Colchis,
Inside Atalanta's room.
"Little Jason!"
Soon, almost the instant Jason's front foot stepped into the room, the Moon Goddess Artemis, who had been waiting for him for a long time, came toward him.
Under Atalanta's helpless gaze, where her eyelids twitched, Artemis happily hugged Jason.
And Jason, slightly stunned by this, then skillfully caught her.
Artemis seemed very happy and somewhat excited.
Because to speak of it, it had been a long time since her last meeting with Jason.
Though usually, Jason and Atalanta's little heads had not escaped being pelted with pebbles by the sulking Artemis.
But this time, it was ultimately Jason's 'invitation'!
Mm, that was right; it truly was Jason's invitation.
Artemis's appearance was not unexpected.
It was just that her using sweets as an excuse to linger had somewhat caught Jason off guard.
The initial gift offered to the gods: the romance of pure white lilies under the moon.
The first return gift received from the gods: the arrow of the Moon Goddess Artemis.
This arrow was the Moon Goddess Artemis's companion divine instrument, a divine tool that had appeared alongside her since her birth.
The personal divine instrument of a chief god naturally possessed tremendous power.
Jason had used it a few times: once in Calydon, it destroyed a mountain range; once, it obliterated a small island.
Evidently, although Jason could use it, he could not precisely control this power.
Thus, just now, when drawing the bow, Jason had called upon Artemis, requesting her assistance.
To help him eliminate all the enemies before him without destroying the terrain here.
This was also why, after shooting the arrow later, Jason did not go to check the battlefield and deliver finishing blows as he usually would.
And as the condition for this 'summoning of the goddess', it was the sweets made by his own hand tonight, offered to the Moon Goddess Artemis.
"Enough, enough, great Goddess Artemis!"
One second, two seconds... About half a minute passed.
Seeing that Artemis was still clinging to Jason and not letting go, Atalanta no longer hesitated and stepped forward to pull her away.
But then she discovered that she could not budge her at all...
Artemis hugged Jason, closed her eyes, and called out: "No, I refuse!
Usually it is you hugging, so what is wrong with me hugging little Jason today? Stingy, Atalanta is truly stingy!"
"Goddess Artemis, what are you saying? When have I ever hugged him!" Atalanta raised her voice.
"Hmph hmph, you have, and I saw it!"
Artemis puffed her cheeks at Atalanta and said: "Little Atalanta, you liar; I hate that the most!"
"I..."
Atalanta did not know what to say to Artemis for a moment.
Then, she glared fiercely at Jason.
Seeing this, Jason felt depressed yet amused.
"Goddess Artemis... Goddess Artemis." Jason called to her softly. Once Artemis looked at him, he chuckled and coaxed her: "Goddess Artemis, you came this time because of the sweets, right?
I need to go to the kitchen now to prepare desserts for you.
So, Goddess Artemis, could you wait a little on the side?"
Upon hearing this, Artemis was about to say something.
Then she heard Jason add: "Goddess Artemis would not want me to fail to fulfill my promise to a great goddess and commit the sin of disrespect toward a goddess, right?"
Hearing this, Artemis finally released Jason.
Jason also let out a sigh of relief.
Who knew that he had nearly suffocated just now from Artemis's 'affection'...
As expected of the goddess of the hunt; her strength was truly formidable.
Thinking this in his heart, Jason naturally did not show a trace of it on his face.
And just as Jason was about to enter the room...
"Elder brother... Great Goddess Artemis, and Miss Atalanta, good evening."
Medea, dressed in a light purple gown, suddenly appeared and said this, respectfully bowing to Artemis.
"You are...?"
Artemis tilted her head at Medea.
"I am called Medea, the daughter of King Aeëtes of Colchis. At the same time, I am a student of Teacher Hecate and elder brother Jason's younger sister."
Medea gave a brief self-introduction.
Then she said: "I came here to invite you all, elder brother... Great Goddess Artemis, my father is already in a panic, urgently gathering people to come receive the great you."
"To see me?"
"Yes." Medea nodded and smiled: "But I think that tonight, Goddess Artemis, you probably do not wish to meet my father and the others.
Therefore, could I invite Goddess Artemis, Atalanta, and elder brother to come to my place?
I will set up special magic so they cannot find us.
At the same time, I have always kept ready there the utensils that elder brother usually uses.
This way, I believe elder brother can make even better sweets to offer to you, Goddess Artemis.
And tonight, you, Artemis, will not be disturbed by others."
Hearing this, Atalanta immediately looked toward Jason.
Then, looking at Jason, she looked at Medea.
After gazing at each other for a while, her eyes became full of suspicion...
Your sibling relationship is actually blood-related, right!
Under this persuasion, Artemis naturally would not refuse.
Jason and the others followed Medea to her room.
And here...
"Goddess Artemis, long time no see."
The goddess of fate Clotho, who had been waiting for a long time, came forward and greeted Artemis.
"You are... Clotho?"
Artemis thought for a good while before recognizing her and said in surprise: "Why are you here?!"
"Because of some small matters... As for why I am here, I heard that this child Jason's culinary skills are extraordinary. Those who attended the Lord of the Underworld's wedding all praised it endlessly.
This time, with the opportunity, I naturally wanted to follow along and taste it... May I?"
Facing Clotho's inquiring gaze, Jason naturally nodded.
Artemis had a slight complaint about this, as she wanted to monopolize it, but after Jason noticed and coaxed her a bit, she immediately beamed with joy.
Artemis was different from Athena; she did not understand restraint, patience, or self-control.
But precisely because of this, she was quite easy to understand.
Just as the initial oracle from Athena had said.
Moon Goddess Artemis was the easiest to deal with yet also the hardest to deal with among the Olympian gods.
And Atalanta watched from the side.
Especially watching Jason coax Artemis seamlessly, she wanted to cover her face.
But now, she would not say anything about it.
Turning a blind eye, at most, when her gaze met Jason's, she would roll her eyes at him in annoyance.
Then Jason entered the kitchen and began preparing the sweets.
The ingredients and such were naturally all in the silver bag.
As Jason entered the kitchen, he discovered that not only did it have his familiar tools, it was practically identical to the kitchen in Hecate's temple in the underworld...
"My little sister, you truly have put thought into this... Thoughtful to the point that it even makes me a bit afraid."
Jason murmured with a bitter smile, which happened to be overheard by Medea, who had come in to help.
At this, Medea was stunned for a moment. After pondering for a while, she said seriously to Jason: "I understand, elder brother. I will not do this again in the future."
Seeing that Medea had heard, Jason naturally felt a bit awkward and said: "Little sister, you misunderstood; I did not mean to blame you..."
"Elder brother, you do not need to say more. I know what I should do."
Medea replied softly: "In the future, I will not act on my own... Elder brother, you dislike this, right?"
Hearing this, Jason turned his head to meet Medea's amethyst eyes.
His expression could not help but appear somewhat embarrassed.
Medea was extremely intelligent and very considerate... Setting aside prejudices, she was actually quite exceptional.
But perhaps precisely because of this, it allowed one to slightly understand why, in the original fate, that person called 'Jason' disliked her, even feared her somewhat.
Because she was too outstanding.
And such an evaluation was truly not excessive.
Even without being influenced by this Jason, do not forget who helped the original 'Jason' complete all the trials in the original fate.
And after he brought back the Golden Fleece, she racked her brains to help 'Jason' become king.
Moreover, it was Medea who single-handedly planned for three years, using a golden arrow to shatter the destiny named Jason, allowing her elder brother to fully emerge.
The only flaw in this woman Medea, which was also her misfortune, was that her luck was truly too poor...
Of course, now, because of the influence brought by the flapping wings of that 'butterfly'.
It was not so easy to say.
After all, now she was a girl who had already received the favor of the goddess of fate.
With Medea's help, everything proceeded smoothly.
Medea had stayed in Hecate's temple with Jason for three years, after all.
Thus, soon, he personally offered to Goddess Artemis sweets that were in no way inferior to those at the underworld wedding back then.
Artemis was a goddess who was hard to handle but also easy to handle.
So, after sensing Jason's care and effort in the sweets, Artemis was thus satisfied.
After Clotho finished eating and narrowed her eyes, she even asked Jason for some more.
Saying she wanted to bring them back for her sisters to taste.
And then...
"Mm... As expected, little Jason, you are so cute and so amazing!"
Artemis could not help but come to Jason again.
She hugged the seated Jason from behind, leaning her body against him.
The soft sensation that he had often felt in his childhood reappeared in Jason's perception, making his body tense instantly, not daring to move a bit.
"Little Jason, come away with me. Make delicious things for me every day, okay?" Artemis once again had the idea of abducting Jason.
No, to speak of it, she had never given up on it at all!
And this time...
"Goddess Artemis, what are you saying!" Atalanta widened her eyes and raised her voice: "You are a virgin goddess!"
"Eh, that is right." Artemis tilted her head and replied to Atalanta: "But what does that have to do with me taking Jason away?"
"Of course it does! Goddess Artemis, what do you intend to do!"
"I do not intend to do anything; I just want to take little Jason away and bring him to a place only I can find, where no one else can locate him."
Artemis stated matter-of-factly to her loyal follower.
Hearing this, let alone Atalanta.
Even the goddess of fate Clotho and Medea beside her were stunned.
The rabbit-shaped sweet in Clotho's hand even fell directly from her mouth, staring at Artemis in a daze without any goddess-like poise.
You are even more excessive than Athena and the others in wanting to snatch from Hecate... Eh, no.
Clotho thought again about yesterday, when Athena had pressed Hecate in battle and nearly incidentally destroyed this kingdom.
It seemed like they were about even...
"...Lady Artemis!"
At this moment, Atalanta, not knowing what to say, gritted her teeth and squeezed out this sentence to Artemis.
Seeing this, Artemis shrank her head.
She said weakly: "What is wrong? Is it not allowed?"
"Of course not! ...Lady Artemis, come here; I have something to say to you!"
"Eh... No way!"
Artemis pouted, willfully hugging Jason's neck tighter.
"Cough cough..." This made Jason, who originally did not dare to move, cough awkwardly twice.
Just as the situation seemed slightly out of control,
Medea cast a pleading gaze toward Clotho, but Clotho indicated she could not help.
"Artemis, Queen Hera is calling you."
Pressing down the green feathered hat on his head.
The messenger of the gods Hermes appeared right on time.
After smiling and nodding to everyone present, he looked at Artemis.
After a slight pause, he continued smiling: "And it is not just Goddess Hera the queen; Athena, Goddess Hestia, and Goddess Amphitrite are all calling you and had me pass a message to you."
As he spoke, Hermes coughed lightly.
His lips moved slightly.
The words of the others entered only Artemis's ears.
Artemis pouted at this.
Only then did she reluctantly release Jason.
She let out an unhappy hum and left...
"Atalanta."
Seeing this scene, the now-relaxed Jason hurriedly called to Atalanta.
And signaled her to chase after quickly.
"Artemis likes you very much and has always been good to you; you know that, Atalanta... Just now, you were a bit disrespectful to her."
Hearing this, Atalanta no longer hesitated and got up to chase after her.
At the same time...
"Mm, little Jason, you are quite understanding."
Hermes, who had entered the kitchen at some point and now emerged from it, smiled at Jason: "Since you have prepared sweets for everyone, I will not urge you further."
As he spoke, Hermes glanced at Clotho.
Then, without saying more, he continued to Jason: "However, the matter of the winged sandals, I, Hermes, have noted!
Until we meet again, Jason."
After speaking, Hermes took the sweets prepared early in the morning for the gods and left the room.
Thus, aside from Jason, the scene suddenly left only Clotho and Medea.
The sudden silence lasted for a while.
Until the goddess of fate Clotho broke it.
"Child, you are somewhat... not easy, are you?"
As a goddess who loved to watch the drama, Clotho smiled and gave a fair evaluation.
"But in just this short while, I have fully understood why everyone likes you so much...
Child, that was your request, right?"
Clotho said: "Otherwise, Artemis's arrow would have long since leveled the ground outside."
"Yes, Goddess Clotho."
It was a fact that needed no concealment, so Jason replied.
Then he looked at Clotho and, after thinking, said: "Respected Goddess Clotho, is there something you need to entrust to me?"
"No, I have nothing to entrust to you, but... I do have a question that I truly want to ask you."
Clotho stared at Jason, her eyes meeting his directly, then said: "Because I have discovered that you are truly different from any existence I know... I even regret now that I promised Hecate too quickly.
Otherwise, I truly would want to carefully 'observe' you once with my eyes!"
Using her own power as the goddess of fate, who controlled 'the future'!
For these words, Jason did not reply but said: "Then, what matter does Goddess Clotho wish to inquire of me?"
"...About my divine duty."
Clotho stuffed a sweet into her mouth and said vaguely: "Jason, you also know that I am the goddess of fate, specifically the one in charge of the future.
I can see through the future of any mortal and even know the futures of gods, but I have always had a distress about this...
Should I truly remain completely indifferent to it?"
Hearing this, Jason could not help but look at Clotho.
He saw her saying this, her gaze becoming slightly dazed, and continued: "Fate is something predestined; as the goddess of fate, I am actually supposed to guard it.
That is my mission.
But because of it, I have also seen too many predestined tragic endings.
For this, I even often seal this power, staying in my temple and unwilling to come out... Jason, what do you think?"
Jason thought for a while, then shook his head lightly and said: "Goddess Clotho, I truly did not expect you would ask such a question."
Seeing this, Clotho's gaze dimmed slightly.
Then, just as she chuckled lightly, preparing to brush off the topic.
"Because your heart already has the answer, does it not?"
"...Mm?" Clotho looked at Jason in confusion.
"Yesterday, did you not already state the answer, Goddess Clotho? ...In Teacher Hecate's temple, to me and Medea."
Jason replied softly: "At that time, you praised me, saying that Medea and I escaped our fates through our own efforts and created a miracle...
Is that not the answer?"
Clotho was stunned for a moment.
The main reason she had praised them that way was because Jason and Medea's teacher was Hecate.
The representative of miracles in fate.
So she felt it was natural.
"Goddess Clotho, from what you just said, I have fully understood that you are a compassionate goddess; you want to help those tragic futures you see, right?"
Clotho nodded subconsciously.
"Goddess Clotho, I think that fate... is actually not unchanging, but changing fate is reserved for those who are prepared and make the effort."
Jason said: "Just as you expressed genuine joy and admiration for the efforts of Medea and me.
Your favor as the goddess of fate, your praise, naturally should be reserved for those who are prepared, know to seize opportunities, and strive for them!"
After Jason's words fell, Clotho was directly stunned.
She stood in place, stunned for a very, very long time.
"...Child."
"Mm?" Jason looked at Clotho.
"How about you leave Hecate and come to me instead?"
Ah, this...
Jason's expression immediately became somewhat awkward.
"Goddess Clotho!" At this, Medea raised her voice, widening her eyes at Clotho.
How are you joining in too.
"I was just joking... Mainly, I cannot compete anyway." Clotho stroked Medea's head while muttering her true thoughts.
"Jason, do you still remember the oath Goddess Hecate had me make yesterday?"
"Of course I remember." Jason looked at Clotho in confusion.
"That was said after consulting with the goddess of wisdom Athena."
Hearing this, Jason could not help but be stunned.
If it were just Teacher Hecate, Jason would not think much, only that his teacher might be afraid of Clotho seeing his future fate and thus restricted her.
But if Athena was added...
"Right, by the way, I am not suddenly remembering this to ask you; actually, someone asked me to come inquire of you. She said you would give me an answer."
Clotho continued.
"Who?" Jason asked subconsciously.
"The most just god in the world, the goddess of adjudication... Themis."
Clotho said this, looking at Jason before her: "You resemble her somewhat... However, even she did not answer this question for me.
But you gave me the answer I wanted in my heart!"
"Thus, Jason, I, the goddess of fate Clotho, hereby promise you that in the future, as long as you pray to me or make a request, I will, as the goddess of fate Clotho, grant you... a way out!"