Chapter 120: Perseus (12)
Leaving behind Njord’s wails over the gold, Perseus carefully stowed away the final gift from Athena—the sword called Harpe—along with all the other tools she had bestowed.
With the kibisis, it wasn’t particularly difficult, but in any case, now everything was truly prepared.
“Now that I look at you… you really do resemble Lord Zeus.”
“Hmm… Do I? Even so, I’m a priest candidate of Lord Poseidon.”
“Ah. I only meant the resemblance. There’s no need for you and Lord Zeus to get involved.”
Perseus nodded at Athena’s words. At this point, even if he received something because Zeus was his father, it would only feel awkward.
Above all, he and his mother had their contract with Neptune.
“More importantly, be careful when you meet the Graeae sisters. They’re quite eccentric. If possible, dealing with Diogenes wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”
Perseus gave a slightly awkward smile at Athena’s tart remark.
Of course, he fully intended to storm Diogenes’s mansion, but openly declaring to the goddess who governed this city that he would rob one of its great nobles felt… a bit much.
Seeing Perseus’s reaction, Athena said no more.
She judged that further divine intervention would not be good.
“Yes, that’s for you to decide. Make good use of that mage if you can. Toss him in front of most gods, and they’ll run away.”
“Yes?”
“There’s no fool who would touch a human under Lady Demeter’s full protection. And in my opinion, he seems connected to the Lord Poseidon you serve as well.”
At Athena’s words, Perseus swallowed hard as he watched Njord—who still hadn’t given up lingering glances at his own pouch, perhaps unable to let go of the golden sword.
‘Then all that behavior was an act?!’
“Ah. It’s not an act. He genuinely loves gold. Lord Poseidon is the same… In any case, make good use of that mage. Farewell.”
With one last meaningful look at Njord, Athena vanished. The sanctum that had been hers instantly reverted to an ordinary room.
Perseus glanced at the spot where Athena had disappeared so abruptly—unlike her dramatic arrival—then shook his head at Njord, who still couldn’t tear his eyes away from the kibisis he had received.
“I don’t know what’s what anymore. It’s all shrouded in veils and mysteries.”
***
The first to greet them upon leaving the sanctum was the priest who had guided them earlier.
“You’ve had an audience with Lady Athena.”
“Ah, yes. She just ascended.”
Perseus bowed politely once more to the priest who had been waiting.
Having met and felt Athena in person, the priest now appeared completely different from before.
At first, he had seemed like a madman who got along with Njord…
But now Perseus could sense Athena’s aura filling the man’s entire being. From this, he could guess that the priest was one of her closest confidants.
At Perseus’s suddenly respectful attitude, the priest waved his hand and spoke in his usual light tone.
“I’m indeed closer to Lady Athena than most, but please treat me as you did before. I’m just an ordinary priest, after all.”
“Yes? But—”
“Rather than that, here.”
Smiling at Perseus’s hesitant expression, the priest handed him something.
It was a round medallion, intricately engraved with a crossed shield and trident.
“This is given to those who have had a direct audience with Lady Athena. It will allow you to receive help from her worshippers or priests in other cities.”
Perseus flinched slightly at the unexpectedly valuable gift.
Athena’s followers and priests were renowned for their strength and wisdom, and most city-states had a temple to her.
In short, it was a free pass for aid almost anywhere.
“Huh… Are you sure I can accept this? It seems far more precious than I thought.”
“Yes. Those who have seen Lady Athena in her sanctum are considered our siblings. Feel free to use it generously.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Perseus accepted the medallion.
Even just in Athens, all sorts of things had happened.
Considering what other cities might hold, it was right to accept it without pride for now.
“Thank you. I will use it only for righteous purposes.”
At Perseus’s words, the priest gave a satisfied smile, creating a warm atmosphere.
Except for the one mage wearing a bored expression.
“Perseus, how about using that medallion for some war games? The kids here are strong—it might be fun to watch.”
“……”
“……”
***
Lightly ignoring Njord’s words, the two continued their friendly farewell until the very end.
—Ugh. If you’re not going to use it for something fun, what’s the point of a medallion like that? Humans really don’t know how to have fun. If it were Athena, she’d jump at the chance.
Grumbling about not getting to do what he wanted, Njord’s complaints went in one of Perseus’s ears and out the other as Perseus shared his impressions of the temple with him.
“It really was impressive, Njord. To think a temple could casually give out a medallion like this—the power behind it is incredible. If the temple on my home island were like that, it would be wonderful. Priest Dictys would be so happy.”
Listening to Perseus, Njord stopped his muttering and let out a wry smile.
The thing that impressed him about the temple was how happy it would make someone like Dictys—his own father.
Should he call it naivety, or deep filial piety?
He didn’t know, but one thing was certain: perhaps that was why the Moirai had chosen him as the world’s first hero.
In this land of Greece, there weren’t many who were both strong and genuinely considerate of others.
Of course, he still showed many signs of immaturity.
He had been so swept up in emotion that he hadn’t even noticed those watching over them.
“Perhaps that’s why they placed me by his side. He’s righteous but still so innocent. In that case, does my position make me like Merlin beside King Arthur?”
“Yes?”
“No, I meant where our next destination is. You said there were things to handle in Athens.”
Perseus slapped his forehead at Njord’s words.
He had been so distracted by the temple experience and the sight of a proper priest for the first time that he had momentarily forgotten something important.
“Sigh… I’m sorry, Njord. I got a bit carried away.”
“It’s fine. We only have one destination anyway. It’s okay to get distracted for a moment. Besides, you said there’s a priest of Poseidon by your mother Danaë’s side. In that case, rushing isn’t always the best approach.”
Perseus was touched by Njord’s kind words.
He was helping him against his will, yet he was this understanding.
If it were him, he’d probably be grumbling endlessly about a task forced upon him.
‘Truly, this feels like meeting a proper adult for the first time since Priest Dictys. Back home, the powerful ones were mostly rude types who came to ogle Mother or tried to exploit Priest Dictys.’
Perseus glanced at Njord once more and renewed his resolve.
‘Let’s do this well.’
***
Surprisingly, the first place Perseus and Njord headed was not Diogenes’s mansion but <Mermaid’s Tear>.
In front of the gorgeous three-story building,
The same guard who had guided Perseus the first time stood there unchanged.
“It’s been a while!”
Perseus greeted brightly.
At first, when he arrived in the city, he hadn’t known—but now he did. How kind the man handling security truly was.
After finishing his business at <Mermaid’s Tear> on his initial visit, the first experiences Perseus had were of people turning cold the moment he appeared poor or like a country bumpkin.
“Thank you for being so kind last time. I had to leave quickly, so I was in a rush.”
The guard bowed in return as if it were nothing and let them in without even checking the mage accompanying Perseus.
“Whoa. You must have some status? They let you in without any verification.”
“More than that, I think it’s because I visited once before. I came on the introduction of Priest Dictys—my teacher and someone like a father to me—and got information.”
“I see…?”
‘For that reason alone, letting even me in without any check seems a bit excessive… Well, whatever.’
As Njord and Perseus stepped deeper into the building,
The same scene as Perseus’s first visit unfolded.
The owner Euryte and her staff welcomed them.
—WAAAAAAA!
—Our cutie is back!
—This time you can play with the big sisters, right?
Amid the enthusiastic cheers, Perseus’s face turned beet red once again.
And his innocent reaction only made him even more popular.
Watching all this from the side, Poseidon nodded in acknowledgment.
“That kid is way better than Zeus.”
***
With Euryte’s help, the hall quieted down, leaving only the three of them.
However, Perseus had received so much affection that various marks remained here and there on his face.
He looked exactly like a debauched young master from a wealthy family.
“Really, it suits you well. Is it because you’re Lord Zeus’s son?”
When Njord whispered teasingly, Perseus bowed his head in embarrassment.
His ears turning red made one want to tease him even more.
Euryte licked her lips at the sight and said,
“Don’t be too embarrassed, Lord Perseus. Priests are naturally popular. Even the priestesses of Lady Aphrodite go around receiving so much love.”
Euryte’s words held some truth. In reality, except for priests of virgin goddesses, priests enjoyed immense popularity regardless of gender.
However, Perseus—who had grown up watching the austere and highly self-disciplined Dictys, a priest of Poseidon—found everything unfamiliar and embarrassing.
“Uh… That may be true, but… I’m a priest of Lord Poseidon. I believe I shouldn’t act freely and tarnish Lord Poseidon’s name.”
Flinch!
Euryte shuddered at Perseus’s answer.
A young priest giving such a textbook-perfect, admirable response. If she weren’t a priestess of Cybele, she might have raised him and devoured him herself.
“……”
Silence fell over the room.
Perseus was silent from embarrassment, while Euryte stared at the charming young man as if ready to pounce.
And Poseidon, observing all this from a third-party perspective, thought,
‘Is the pretty boy getting eaten today?’
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