Chapter 45

Chapter 45 – The Taboos Of The Forest

Evening time when everyone gathered.

It wasn’t as luxurious as a freshman welcome banquet, but anyone would be astounded by the sight of the dinner tables set up around the large, blazing Hestia bonfire in the plaza.

From mountains of soft, white bread to dates soaked in honey and olives, salads piled high with vegetables and cheese, yogurt and dill, refreshing tzatziki sauce made with spices, and warm vegetable soup fusillade with steam rising from it.

And if you turned your eyes to the fragrant smell wafting from the bonfire, you would see centaur chefs diligently grilling all sorts of meats imaginable in this era on a large charcoal grill.

With the beautiful scene that made one’s stomach rumble just by standing, their mentor Chiron called the gathered young heroes one by one.

What’s going on? Out of curiosity, everyone gathered around, and a small silver girl, previously hidden by the large centaur, was looking at them with sparkling eyes.

“Oh my! Who is she?!”

“She’s so cute!”

“Wow... who is this? A new member?”

“She’s too young, though?”

“But she’s really pretty...”

While everyone, regardless of gender, was making comments about the strikingly innocent silver girl.

Chiron introduced her to them in a booming voice.

“She is the one who has graced us with her presence this evening, Sister of the Thousand Waves, Nereid nymph. This is Nesneria. Please give her a warm welcome!”

“Hello! I’m Nesneria! I came from the sea!”

-....

The young heroes were shocked.

The muse of the deep sea, daughter of the old man of the sea, Oceanus, the beautiful young goddess protected by Zeus and Poseidon, had come here now?

The young heroes, already well-versed in the tale of Perseus and Andromeda, were half worried that upsetting the little nymph might result in the entire forest being swept away by a tidal wave.

The men were half-preoccupied with thoughts of how they might strike up a conversation with the beautiful nymph.

While the women were half-filled with jealousy towards the cute and beautiful nymph, coupled with a desire to hug her at least once.

The dining hall fell into a momentary silence of astonishment.

However, the surprises did not end there.

As soon as Chiron’s introduction concluded, the beautiful disaster dashed somewhere on tiptoe and flung herself into the arms of a black-haired young hero.

“Hehe, Dia! I did well, didn’t I?”

“...Yeah, yeah, you did well without getting nervous.”

Nesneria, with a bright smile, rubbed her white cheek against Dianes’s face.

The scene resembled that of siblings with a significant age difference, or lovers who had grown up together since childhood.

Currently, Dianne was a highly notable figure in the Forest of Heroes, both in a good and bad sense.

A young hero who had sunk Hercules with a single blow using mysterious magic.

Most people felt refreshed that he had given Hercules, who had reigned as the tyrant of the forest, a solid blow.

Some even blushed at his beautiful appearance, which would make him look like a pretty woman if dressed up nicely.

Among them, there were also those who envied the newcomer who suddenly entered the forest and attracted everyone’s attention like a rolling stone.

The dinner, which had quickly become lively again thanks to Nesneria’s innocent words and actions, regained its vitality.

The women, who couldn’t resist anything cute, led the way as everyone gathered around the new faces, Nesneria and Dianes.

And there were those who couldn’t join in the atmosphere and drifted to the outskirts.

Initiation ceremony.

It was a term referring to the violent acts they carried out under the pretext of sorting out the hierarchy whenever freshmen arrived.

Late at night, they would quietly call someone out, and as other gang members surrounded them, Orion would enter like a champion of the Colosseum, flaunting his bulk, and literally educate the newcomer.

Watching this, the gang members would spit or insult, and Orion would literally trample the freshman.

Unable to admit the humiliation of being treated so badly, the victim couldn’t say anything to Chiron, and since there was a gang member skilled in magic, they used tricks so that not even Chiron or the nymphs could find them.

Chiron, too, could only have suspicions but couldn’t reproach them.

Because of that, while Orion reigned over the forest, no one could challenge or oppose him, and he and his gang roamed freely, causing all sorts of havoc and avoiding Chiron’s watchful eyes.

But when it was Hercules’s turn, Orion had his arms broken and was begging for mercy at his feet.

The gang that attacked simultaneously on Orion’s orders also suffered the humiliation of having their limbs broken.

If even half of the power of Dianes, heard on the wind now, was true...

They might once again face the nightmare of Hercules.

“What? What’s with those eyes? Do you have a problem?”

“N-no! Of course not!”

“Ha, but don’t you think today’s not a good day? Everyone’s gathered, and on top of that, Master Chiron is...”

The gang desperately tried to persuade Orion, but their leader had already been ignited for a long time.

“Tsk, you cowards. I’m ashamed that you’re my subordinates.”

“....”

The gang lowered their heads and inwardly gritted their teeth at Orion, who was mocking them arrogantly.

‘He got beaten up by Hercules, too!’

‘He talks big but desperately avoids him...’

-Clang!

“Eek?!”

When Orion suddenly threw the wine jar he was holding, the gang looked up in shock.

Then, with a face flushed red, Orion snarled fiercely and glared at them.

“What is that reaction? Are you seriously doubting me right now?”

“N-no!”

“We’re just... just worried about you!”

The gang desperately shook their heads.

Orion looked around them, smiling contentedly at the fear directed at him on their faces.

“Don’t worry. This time, we’ll move with a solid plan.”

As if guided by Athena, the giant with blue hair shook his head and grinned wickedly at the perfect plan that flashed in his mind.

“No matter how much that brat tries, he’s just an orphan who doesn’t even know what kind of lowly god his parents were.”

The giant’s eyes, as he spoke, were fixed on the white nymph, who was laughing innocently in the center of the bonfire.