Chapter 39

Chapter 39 – Hermes’s Riddle

Damn it.

It was a literal case of giving an inch and taking a mile.

I threw a light jab, only to receive a direct punch in return.

This time, as I fell silent, the trickster god once again showed his amusement and started teasing.

“Kihihihi... What’s wrong? Your face is all pale.”

“I don’t know when or where an orbital strike might hit. Wouldn’t you have a headache in my shoes?”

I shot him a glare, but Hermes, floating in mid-air with winged shoes, just clutched his stomach and laughed.

“Brother Apollo and Lady Artemis had a tough childhood, so their bond is exceptional. Your worry isn’t entirely unfounded.”

“Th-that’s...”

To be honest, the information Hermes provided was quite, no, extremely helpful.

Where else in the world could you hear news from the distant kingdom of the gods?

That face going back and forth right in front of my eyes—it’s what they call a face that invites criticism—that irritating face was the problem.

“Oh... if I keep teasing, you’re really going to explode. Are you that worried?”

“Just a few days ago, I almost got my head blown off by that moonlight maniac while taking a walk in the forest.”

“Moonlight maniac... Pfft! Hahahahaha!! Unbelievable!”

Hermes laughed so hard at the nickname I gave, but wasn’t it really the act of a maniac or a brat?

For heaven’s sake, not only did she take a headshot without saying a word, but instead of being embarrassed about getting counter-attacked, she actually ran to her brother and pulled the ‘Brother! He hit me!’ card?

‘Atalanta is so brazen because she takes after her mother...’

Confucius! Mencius!

You were right!

People can be taught and rehabilitated, but a beast that bites humans must be beaten down!

‘Should I have plucked out one of her eyes, regardless of the aftermath?’

Though she was a god and wouldn’t die, what if she went mad because I held back?

If I was going to intervene, I should have properly crippled her to make her crawl...

‘If I had done that, it wouldn’t have been sunlight but lightning that struck.’

Even upon reflection, what I did was the best at the time, but I couldn’t help but think I should have finished it while I had the chance.

“Oh... You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?”

“What?”

“...Are you saying you should have ended it with Lady Artemis in the forest back then?”

As expected of the god who took a seat among the Twelve Olympians with just his quick wits.

He saw through my intentions exactly.

However, I couldn’t reveal that I wanted to mess with a god of the same rank, so I shook my head with a bright smile.

“No way, though I do feel like punching a young man laughing and flying around in front of me.”

“What...?! Someone as cute as me?!”

Before I could grab him, Hermes, who left behind a playful wink, disappeared with a bright light.

After Hermes disappeared.

I could follow the regular curriculum of the Forest of Heroes after three days.

Originally, students who first entered the Forest of Heroes would learn about the forest’s structure, guided by Chiron’s selection or a self-appointed guide.

“Let’s see, the infirmary, the central altar can be seen, the colosseum is... blown away...”

Despite several incidents in between, my guide, picked by Chiron, was still Atalanta.

Though she became a bit calmer, she was still active, and as soon as Hermes disappeared, she led me out of the infirmary.

“Alright! I’ve got everything planned out!”

Atalanta unfurled the map with a flourish and pointed out each location drawn on it.

“First, since we left the infirmary, we’ll drop by the Nymphs’ Forest for a quick look at their literature class, then we’ll greet Mother Chariclo. After a bit more walking, we’ll see the centaurs’ field practice area, and then...”

Excitedly chattering away, Atalanta hopped about like a little sparrow.

Her long-missed chatter was a welcome sound, so I quietly listened without interrupting, making Atalanta even more excited as she continued to explain the tour.

“And finally... the coastal running course! It’s usually a place we run every morning, but because of that Hercules boar, no one has run there for the past few months!”

Atalanta concluded the tour with a flushed face, boasting about how there would be a really beautiful twilight when we arrived at dusk.

“We might not have enough time for today.”

I said it like a joke, but it was true.

Given the map Atalanta showed us and the enthusiastic guide course she rambled on about, the day would fly by even if we moved quickly.

“So we need to hurry! When people get a headache from Hermes’s riddles, they usually take a lap around the forest to seek advice!”

“Hermes’s riddles?”

“Yes, Hermes loves playing pranks, so it’s a daily routine for him to hide our stuff and make us find it through riddles. But your face looked just like those who heard one of his riddles.”

When she entered, Hermes had vanished, leaving me alone to stew in my thoughts. She forcibly dragged me out.

Despite my gentle refusal, she continued to pull me out and started to guide me, showing such consideration.

Well, sometimes you have to take a detour when things are blocked.

“Then, beautiful huntress. May I ask for your guidance?”

At my jest, Atalanta giggled and nodded as if she were pleased.

“Of course! Today is going to be really fun!”

Atalanta’s cheerful laughter naturally reminded me of Neri, whom I hadn’t properly greeted a while ago.

‘...I wonder how she’s doing?’

Well, nymphs were always changing their interests so quickly, she must be having fun with her sisters by now.

“Then let’s go!”

With Atalanta’s lively voice, I moved my steps and thought of Neri, who would be chatting excitedly with her sisters in the sea, and I smiled slightly.