The Expedition to Mount Athos
This place is the underworld connected to Thebes, a training ground for heroes.
Today, as always, Chiron and the instructors of the deceased are teaching aspiring heroes.
Suddenly, the sound of a bell echoes through the air.
Deng - Deng - Deng -
"This sound clearly means... gather at the building, doesn’t it?"
"Let’s hold off on training for a bit."
At the call of the wise centaur, the heroes began to put down their weapons and gather at the building formed in the gorge.
They all looked as if they had just finished an intense training session, panting or sweating profusely.
"Alright! Everyone, gather around. Today, a special guest has come to visit us!"
"Teacher Chiron, if it’s a special guest..."
"Who could it be? There are already many great heroes here..."
The aspiring heroes turned their eyes to the surrounding instructors of the deceased at Chiron's words.
It was understandable, as great heroes like Perseus, Cadmus, and Bellerophon were teaching them.
If someone is more special than these great heroes... could it be a god?!
No, surely a god wouldn’t come here in person...
Just as the thought of a god began to rise in their minds, someone entered the gathering place.
A massive man with incredible muscles and shining armor.
As he entered, all eyes were drawn to him, and he confidently faced Chiron on the podium and spoke.
"Are these the ones who wish to become heroes? Chiron."
"Indeed, Lord Ares. I have heard from Lord Hades that you will be helping us greatly for the next two months."
...?! Who? Did Teacher Chiron just say Ares...
No, is he really a god? Even Ares, the god of war?!
One of the twelve Olympian gods who oversees war and the son of Zeus?
Now that I think about it, this overwhelming presence.
The power I feel...
"Ah! It is an honor to meet you, Lord Ares! I am from Sparta..."
"I greet the god of war. You have always granted us your blessings on the battlefield..."
"Golden-helmeted Ares! It is a privilege to meet you in person!"
As they thought this, they hurriedly knelt or bowed, showing the same reaction as any other mortal would when facing a god.
Anyone would react this way when seeing the god of war before them.
However, Ares did not turn around, still speaking with Chiron.
As if only Chiron had the right to converse with him here.
"Well, it seems I have found myself working in the underworld again. Though it is only for two months."
"Have you worked in the underworld before?"
"Yes. During the Great Flood, I fell victim to Athena's cruel scheme..."
"Hahaha! That is a story I would love to hear someday."
The aspiring heroes listened intently to the conversation between the centaur sage and the god of war.
Wasn’t there a wealth of secrets and stories of the gods hidden within their natural dialogue?
"By the way, it must be quite the challenge to train mortals to be able to take down at least one monster."
"Still, they are all excellent students. It feels rewarding."
"Since I am here, shall we see their levels one by one? Then..."
As Ares spoke with Chiron, he glanced around.
The mortals dared not meet the gaze of the god and lowered their heads...
But one boy mustered the courage to briefly meet the eyes of the god of war.
"Ugh...!"
"Oh... What is your name?"
Though he could not endure the gaze and quickly looked down...
Ares, thinking that he had shown quite a bit of courage among the humans present, spoke to him.
"I... are you speaking to me? It is an honor! I am Peleus, a mortal! O god of war!"
"You have quite the spirit for a mortal. Then you shall be the first to begin."
At the same time that Ares was conversing in the training ground of the heroes,
In the fortress of Hades, the lord of the underworld, the messenger god of Olympus had arrived to deliver new news.
"Hermes, you have been visiting the underworld quite often lately."
"Hahaha. My father said that a hero of prophecy has been born, so I should keep a close eye on the movements of the Gigantes..."
Hermes scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish at my question.
But a hero of prophecy.
Of course, I have confidence in Heracles, but what do the other gods think?
"Do the other gods of Olympus believe Zeus's words?"
"Not at all. Especially Hera, who was furious and shouted, causing quite a stir in Olympus. As far as I know... she said, 'The god of seduction has fathered a bastard, and now he has no excuse, so he is using the hero of prophecy as a cover!'..."
"With all the misdeeds he has committed, it is no wonder many gods do not trust Zeus..."
"Hera is said to be watching the mortal realm with fiery eyes. She is planning to kill that Heracles."
Does she know that I have been hiding Heracles for a month?
Perhaps she does.
Thus, I cannot hide him in the underworld for much longer.
Hera's anger is justified...
Especially since Zeus has secretly made her suckle him, she must be even angrier.
But Heracles is indeed the hero of prophecy; how can I convince them of this?
I had him bathe in the River Styx to prepare for such a situation, but there are still uncertainties.
No matter how much Heracles grows after bathing in the River Styx, if Hera's direct punishment is cast upon him, he would surely perish.
So what I must do is...
"Hermes. Deliver my words to Hera."
"To Lady Hera?"
"Tell her that trying to kill a newborn will only dirty her hands as the queen of the gods, so how about waiting until he grows a bit before giving him tasks?"
If the queen of the gods, who is angry at a bastard child, can calm her emotions for a moment and listen to my words...
Aside from the sudden encounter with the Gigantes or receiving Gaia's direct wrath, there should be no threats to Heracles.
And according to Hera's tasks, dealing with monsters would provide the great hero with valuable real-world experience.
"Yes. I will mention that when I return to Olympus later."
This might be something I cannot do to my nephew...
It is no different from tempering a person to create a great hero who can overcome the Gigantes.
No matter how much mortals call me the god of mercy,
I am still a deity ruling over the underworld.
Having heard the opinions of Olympus regarding Heracles, it was time to get to the main point.
The fact that Hermes had come here means that something has occurred in the mortal realm.
"You came to the underworld to report on the movements of the Gigantes, right? Go ahead and tell me."
"Yes. Recently, strange things have been happening. The monsters that the heroes are supposed to catch after training in Thebes keep disappearing."
"The monsters are disappearing?"
"Yes. Perhaps Lady Gaia has decided to prevent the heroes from completing their tasks? The Gigantes are bound in the plains of Phlegra..."
Is she now actively hindering the heroes? It seems Gaia's prophetic abilities are starting to take shape.
The suspicion that the human heroes and the Gigantes are somehow related may have turned into certainty.
If this continues, it may become difficult to raise Heracles into a great hero.
The locations of the monsters he was supposed to kill might change, or they could be killed by other heroes...
"So, after my brother Apollo and I searched the mortal realm thoroughly, we found that the monsters were surprisingly close."
"Close by?"
"In the northern part of Greece, near the region of Macedonia, on Mount Athos. If the monsters are gathered in one place, this could actually provide many heroes with an opportunity to achieve great feats, right?"
Gaia must have moved the monsters to prevent the heroes from achieving great feats.
It would not have been difficult for the earth goddess to influence those born and raised from the earth.
"Therefore, Sister Athena plans to personally deliver an oracle to recruit an expedition. She intends to gather heroes in the Macedonia region and provide various support."
"However, that might be what Gaia desires. It could lead to the heroes' annihilation instead."
Gathering a large-scale expedition of heroes...
But the monsters summoned from various places might end up annihilating the heroes.
That is the scheme of the earth goddess Gaia.
However, Olympus would not fail to recognize this...
At my question, Hermes smiled and spoke.
"But to become a hero, a mortal must overcome such hardships, right?"
In other words, only those who can break through Gaia's traps can prove themselves as true heroes.
If Athena has even delivered an oracle, heroes from all over Greece will flock to join the expedition.
And many mortals will surely perish.
"... That is true. So, who will lead the expedition?"
"The hero who will lead the expedition to conquer Mount Athos is quite interesting. It seems that a mortal whom Sister Artemis is very interested in... Ah! I remember now."
Olympus must have already chosen the hero to lead this task.
Supporting someone who shows potential to become a great hero is indeed a matter of focus and selection.
"It is Orion, the son of Uncle Poseidon."