Bonus Chapter!
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The next day, taking advantage of Cynthia's deep sleep, Suren donned his leather armor, picked up his bow, and slipped out of the forest.Fifteen years since his abandonment here, he was finally seeing the wider world.
It wasn't that he hadn't considered leaving for the human world before. It was just that, first, Cynthia had always been against it, and second, he'd felt it would be too dangerous at the time.
As it stood, his archery skills were his only real talent—Cynthia had been firm about not teaching him what she called "women's arts."
Cooking was an exception. After all, even heroes needed to know how to prepare a meal. It wasn't like he could bring a cook along on every adventure, right?
"This is Greece during the Age of Gods…"
Suren held up a rather crude map in his hand. The lines were abstract, with city names marking general directions.
Naturally, Cynthia had made it for him.
The poor doe was so innocent, it was baffling. He couldn't fathom how she'd survived for so long with so little understanding—perhaps Artemis's protection was that potent.
At least the locations of Greece's two major city-states, Athens and Sparta, were clear. And Athens wasn't far; supposedly, all he had to do was follow this path straight ahead to reach it.
Three days later, Suren finally saw the gates of Athens.
The map's lack of scale had made the journey considerably longer than he'd anticipated. If this distance took so long, how far would the other cities be?
Suren had no money to his name, and while hunger wouldn't be a problem, he had other needs besides food and drink.
"Where can I even get some money?"
He gripped his bow thoughtfully, muttering, "I could try hunting to trade… but Greece hardly seems short on resources."
The land was so rich with nature that it nearly overflowed. Any forest was its own ecosystem, providing humanity with all they could need in terms of raw materials.
Suren wasn't even sure if his catch would be worth much here. If regular game didn't bring in money, was he supposed to hunt mythical creatures?
But he didn't yet have the strength for anything on the level of a divine beast.
Leaving the forest had introduced a whole new set of concerns he hadn't anticipated.
As he wandered along the path, a bent old woman hobbled up from the opposite direction. She eyed Suren and said, "Young man, could you give me your bow?"
…
Straight to the point, huh?
You're probably a god.
Suren sighed, rose to his feet, and handed over his bow. "I am just a mortal, unable to discern which noble god has graced me with their presence. But whatever you ask, I shall do."
He had no interest in dancing around with this obvious deity. If they wanted to play games, so be it.
After all, as long as he didn't directly challenge or expose her, she couldn't punish him unprovoked.
Besides, he still had the blessing of Lady Artemis. That had to count for something.
The gods may be capricious, but most of the time, they wouldn't mete out punishment unless a mortal had transgressed. Even when they tricked mortals, they typically followed certain rules.
"Wrong. I am only a humble mortal, far from daring enough to impersonate a god."
The old woman glanced around the area, noting only birds perched in the trees and animals rustling in the grass. This was the Age of Gods, after all; life thrived everywhere.
"I came here because of a prophecy from Lord Apollo."
In addition to being the god of light and music, Apollo was the god of prophecy, with powers akin to the Moirai, the sisters of fate. His prophecies were absolute.
"Would you like to hear it?"
"You're already here, and you took my bow as payment," Suren muttered, rubbing his brow. "Very well, Lord Apollo—what do you have to tell me?"
Apollo was, after all, the brother of his own goddess, Artemis, so he shouldn't be too hostile.
He'd barely left the forest and was already receiving a prophecy. Hopefully, this was meant to help…?
"Suren, if you continue drawing near to Artemis, you will die by your own arrows. This is Apollo's warning to you."
The old woman's body glowed with divine authority, and Suren recognized the aura—it felt familiar from years of proximity to Cynthia.
But…
Why did Apollo's presence feel no stronger than Cynthia's?
Suren stood calmly before the god's presence, his composure unusual for a mortal. Rather than trembling with fear, he simply thought, Is that all?
Effortlessly, he lowered his head in respect. "It is an honor, Lord Apollo."
Apollo merely looked at him, as if imparting his warning was all he'd come to do.
The old woman and his bow vanished, leaving Suren alone on the path. He sighed, "These gods are just…"
He trailed off, noticing the magpie in a nearby tree was staring at him with strikingly wise eyes, while a squirrel on the ground nudged his leg.
A realization dawned on him.
This "walking with the gods" ability of his might not be all it seemed.
This golden talent… may bring as many troubles as it does benefits.
"These gods sure are… generous and compassionate." Suren pinched his nose. "To think Lord Apollo would go out of his way to warn me. Much appreciated!"
In Greece, reverence for the gods was a crucial survival skill. Defying a god's will often ended in a grim fate.
He offered a sincere word of thanks to the siblings Apollo and Artemis, then continued on his way.
Unfortunately, his luck had worsened since leaving the forest—he didn't even have his bow now.
After he'd traveled some distance, the magpie on the branch finally spoke. "Artemis, if you keep this up, I will make my prophecy come true."
"Oh, how could you!" squeaked the squirrel below, its voice tinged with a hint of frustration. "You promised me you wouldn't interfere!"
"I promised that once you sever your oath, I won't stand in your way. But until then, you're to keep your distance from him."
"Apollo, you're the worst!"
…
Apollo ignored his sister's protests, thinking, This warning alone may not be enough. If I can ensure Suren finds a companion, Artemis might abandon this foolishness.
"Hmm… Should I enlist Aphrodite's help?"
Just picturing the goddess of love, Apollo shook his head. "No, no, that would be a disaster. With Suren's beauty, Aphrodite would likely seduce him herself. That would only worsen things with Artemis… Better find a mortal woman instead."
"Or perhaps… I could ask Athena? Her wisdom is second only to Zeus's."
---
After Apollo's priest left, Suren looked down at his empty hands, finally grasping the reality of his world.
This was the Age of Gods.
In Greece, pleasing the gods was a matter of survival.
A god asks for something—do you give it?
A god delivers a prophecy—do you follow it?
A god disregards all rules—do you feel wronged?
Here, human achievements and epics meant nothing. It was the will of the gods that ruled both earth and sky.
"So, my first priority should be finding a powerful patron to swear loyalty to." Suren didn't dare say it aloud, calculating inwardly, Thankfully, Cynthia taught me about the gods.
If he wanted to thrive in Greece, securing the protection of a powerful god was essential. With the right "divine backing," one could live a blessed life. But align with the wrong one, and you might as well restart your life in Greece from scratch.
The thickest "leg" to cling to was, of course, Father Zeus himself. But for Surenn, Zeus was out of the question. The old lecher was not easy to please. As king of the gods, Zeus was worshipped throughout Greece, with temples in every corner of the land.
Suren couldn't imagine having anything that would make Zeus willing to bestow his blessings.
The ruler of the Underworld, Hades, was famously aloof—perhaps he'd seek his favor only after death. Poseidon might sound powerful, but he wasn't exactly a reliable ally; even Ares, the god of war, was hardly an option. What good was a god of war who was notorious for losing?
Apollo, while respectable, was not the most powerful option—and besides, earning his favor was already proving difficult.
From their recent exchange, it was clear that Apollo harbored little fondness for him. Although the god hadn't cursed him, seeking out Apollo's favor now was a lost cause.
Reviewing what he remembered about the gods and their preferences, Suren found that most of the male gods were either lacking in influence or incredibly hard to please. None seemed viable.
On the other hand, many goddesses were more approachable, and several wielded significant influence.
"Hestia appreciates those who care for their families… That seems like a simple enough condition."
Suren scoffed inwardly. What, were Greek men that irresponsible?
Surely being family-oriented was a basic trait, not something rare enough to earn a goddess's blessing.
In reality, the "heroes" of Greek households often left their children with their wives, seeking immortality through fame and adventure, abandoning their families to pursue glory. Many children grew up without ever knowing their fathers, leading to countless stories of father-son conflicts as a punishment for the men's neglect.
Clapping his hands together, Suren made a decision. "Alright, I'll head to a temple of Hestia, swear in front of her sacred flame to be a good, family-centered man…"
Hestia, the eldest of the Olympian gods, had once been pursued by both Poseidon and Apollo. Zeus had even granted her the privilege of "first claim" on all offerings: if an offering wasn't dedicated to any specific god, it automatically belonged to Hestia.
The goddess of the hearth might sound like a humble kitchen deity, but her dominion covered the sacred flame, food, and family protection. Since Prometheus's theft of fire, all the warmth of mortal hearths was under Hestia's care.
She was a powerful goddess.
And, wonderfully, Hestia was also easy to please!
She didn't demand elaborate offerings or randomly assign difficult tasks. In fact, if you called on her, she might even lend a helping hand.
"Let's see… Since she's the goddess of family, I'll probably get even stronger blessings once I actually have one."
Suren's mind raced. "I remember Hera favors those who are faithful in love—sounds like the perfect pairing with Hestia's requirements!"
"Could I gain both Hestia's and Hera's blessings?"
The goddesses' patronage was indeed tempting. Not like the difficult demands of the male gods.
Queen Hera, with her famously unfaithful husband, was deeply partial to those who embodied devotion and pure love.
Swearing by Hestia's flame to be a good, family-oriented man might earn her quiet blessings, with Hestia observing over time to decide whether to grant her favor.
But swear by Hera's statue to remain loyal in love, and she would almost certainly bless you on the spot—and likely keep a close eye on you.
Of course, if you broke your oath, Hera would make sure you regretted it deeply.
Hera's power matched her temper. She was notorious for showing no mercy to Zeus's lovers and illegitimate offspring, even defying Zeus's authority.
As queen of the gods, she wielded a level of influence far beyond even Hestia's right to claim the first offerings. Zeus had publicly shared half his divine authority with Hera in a ceremony before the other gods.
Zeus had had seven wives in total, some divorced and some deceased. But Hera had risen to become the one true queen.
"Yes, Hera's got the clout; definitely a goddess worth having on my side."
Once he realized he could worship multiple gods for different blessings, especially with Cynthia's confirmation that the Greeks didn't mind this approach, Suren was all in.
The Greek gods were remarkably relaxed about shared worship, with no issue if someone prayed to multiple gods at once. In contrast, monotheistic religions wouldn't even allow a totem, let alone other deities.
Suren began considering other gods.
Hephaestus? Not much use there; blessings from a god of forging wouldn't help, as he wasn't a blacksmith.
Aphrodite? She was out; her favor would conflict with Hera's. As the goddess of love and, well, one-night stands, she was not exactly pro-monogamy, and Hera would definitely have issues with that.
Hermes? The god of thieves and commerce—hardly impressive, and essentially just Zeus's errand boy.
---
"Ah, there's Athena as well!"
Suren's eyes lit up. For men, especially those with a taste for adventure, Athena was the ultimate Greek powerhouse to ally with!
This was the 'Mother of Heroes.'
Zeus might sire a scattering of demi-gods here and there, but he barely engaged with mortals otherwise.
Among the gods, only Athena rivaled Zeus in power! And she earned her title as 'Mother of Heroes' because so many epic sagas began with the guidance of this very goddess.
As for Athena's conditions for bestowing her blessings…
"Adventurous spirit? And unabashed ambition and desire?"
"Isn't that me to a tee?"
"If I weren't adventurous, wouldn't I just stay under Cynthia's protection, living out a quiet, happy life?"
Suren entered the city-state of Athens, named for none other than Athena, who had gifted it an olive tree upon its founding.
And so, in Athens, olives held an especially revered status.
Suren walked into Athena's temple, which was bustling outside, but only a select few were allowed inside to kneel before her statue. Most people merely laid down offerings, said a few words, and were then sent away.
Kneeling before the statue was a privilege, reserved as a tool priests used to keep nobles and kings in check. Only during major celebrations or royal sacrifices could people approach the statue.
Suren, unaware of this, strolled into the temple without hindrance and soon found himself standing before Athena's statue.
The statue's majesty and beauty were complemented by a basin of burning embers and flickering candlelight on either side.
Curious about the temple's quiet, Suren clasped his hands together and spoke to the statue. "Goddess Athena, please grant me the blessing of a fulfilling, exhilarating adventure!"
"And, if it's possible… let me achieve what I seek through this journey."
Now, did Suren truly crave adventure?
Perhaps not entirely. Unlike those Greek fathers who'd abandon their kin for their pursuits, Suren wouldn't mind staying in a small city-state, living in peace. Wouldn't that, too, be a form of happiness?
As for saving humankind…
Please—this was classical Greece, the zenith of the godly era, where gods and mortals mingled freely. Let the gods handle any looming catastrophes; no need for a mere mortal to shoulder the burden!
This simulation felt refreshingly stable, certainly more than late-era Britannia.
For Suren, this peace and stability were a dream come true—a world where laughter echoed, and people freely pursued their desires.
However—
In godly Greece, encounters with deities were unavoidable. The land was steeped in divine presence: mountains, rivers, the underworld, even creatures and weather all bore their gods. You could flee to the deepest woods and still stumble upon a goddess bathing, only to be turned into a deer and slain.
To live a truly secure, enviable life here, one needed powerful allies. Finding the right patron deity to support was critical.
If, amidst his adventures, he could find a purpose in realizing his life's worth, then all the better.
Originally, Suren had thought pledging himself to one of the Twelve Olympians, Artemis—the goddess of the hunt and the moon—would be enough. She had her twin, Apollo, after all. The two shared a bond so close that to cross one was to cross them both.
After fifteen years of fervently offering sacrifices to Artemis, and having all of them accepted, he felt confident he'd secured a worthy patron.
And yet, it seemed even that wasn't enough.
It was Cynthia who revealed Artemis's struggles, awakening Suren to her frailty. This goddess, who projected such strength, was actually vulnerable—so vulnerable, in fact, that even love could threaten her life.
So now, Suren sought out the one true power in Greece, the goddess who could grant him true protection.
Athena—the goddess of wisdom, war, and victory, the goddess born from Zeus's head, carrying away a third of his wisdom upon her birth.
"With Athena's blessing, I should be safe, right?"
Suren thought this to himself when a soft chuckle drifted to his ear.
"I've never seen a supplicant prayer quite like you. Are you truly sincere in seeking the blessings of Goddess Athena?"
Suren turned, catching sight of a radiant young woman with an aristocratic priestess's toga draped over her shoulders. An olive wreath crowned her golden hair, which gleamed in a way that marked her as more than mortal.
In this era, golden hair symbolized divinity.
But that same thought also made him skeptical; this girl likely wasn't a deity.
For gods possessed authority, not divinity.
"Pallas is my name."
The girl's gaze softened when it met Suren's, a glimmer of admiration flashing in her amber eyes. She watched him with newfound gentleness, charmed by his beauty.
Pallas spoke softly, "Beautiful youth, what might your name be? Have you encountered some hardship?"
Greek gods were all beauty-lovers—Zeus was hardly the only one with a weakness for looks. All gods adored beauty.
Aspiring priests had to fit specific standards: men were to be statuesque, with glistening, sculpted physiques; women, graceful, with soft, alluring forms that accentuated feminine beauty.
Suren may not have shown the temple crowd the physique beneath his leather armor, but his striking features and radiant soul had clearly captured Pallas's interest.
Divine sight differed from human sight. Where mortals saw surface details, gods could perceive one's soul directly. For humans like Kaelar, tapping into such insight required daunting geasa, but gods could see with such clarity by nature.
"Pallas… why does that name sound familiar?" Suren muttered, before responding respectfully, "Lady Pallas…"
Pallas frowned, cutting him off. "I am yet unmarried, so please don't address me so formally."
"Very well… Miss Pallas, are you saying my simple prayer may not earn the goddess's blessing?"
Suren grimaced. "But I'm penniless as it is. Even my last bow was taken by Apollo, who left me a prophecy about it piercing me one day…"
"Apollo…" Pallas chuckled, bright and light-hearted. "Young man, your worries are nothing to Athena!"
Suren was quietly impressed by Pallas's confidence. She wasn't the least bit daunted by Apollo's name, clearly showing she'd earned Athena's favor and protection as her priestess.
"As for your concern about the ritual," Pallas said, watching his worried expression soften into a more melancholy beauty, "well, it's not entirely hopeless…"
"Regardless, Goddess Athena has heard your request."
"Thank goodness. Thank you for your guidance, Miss Pallas."
Suren scratched his head, feeling a nagging sense of recognition. Greek myths—he clearly hadn't read enough of them; her name was so familiar, yet he couldn't quite place it…
Whether Athena truly heard him or not, he appreciated having someone to offer comfort.
"Seems I'll need an offering," he pondered aloud. "Miss Pallas, are you a priestess?"
"Me?" Pallas pointed to herself. "You could say that."
"Well, it's like this…" Suren adopted a respectful tone. "Do you know the preferences of Queen Hera and Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth? What sort of offerings would appeal to them?"
Cynthia had shared with him some gods' likes and secrets, though her naiveté from years spent in the forest left Suren skeptical of her intel.
While Cynthia was unlikely to lie, she might not know the full truth herself.
Besides, blind trust leads to missteps; it was better to consult a professional priestess for clarity.
Cynthia's errors on Olympus gods' preferences might result in mild neglect, but priests' mistakes could spell serious consequences. The gods were well-versed in tormenting mortals.
"Hm? So… you wish to receive blessings from three goddesses?"
Pallas's face bore a peculiar expression—a mix of astonishment and admiration, as if she had never encountered such a bold, ambitious man before.
Other goddesses might feel wrath or jealousy, but this goddess appreciated ambition, especially in men or would-be heroes.
Pallas stared at Suren in silence, lost in thought, until Suren grew nervous. Did Cynthia truly pass him faulty information? Was multiple patronage a taboo?
It couldn't be! Cynthia was a goddess herself; surely her advice wasn't outright false. But if she had heard flawed rumors, her innocence would be on another level altogether.
Just as Suren was sinking into nervous overthinking, Pallas suddenly laughed—a sound like the melting of ice at the dawn of spring. Her bright smile dispelled much of the tension in the air.
"From the primordial god Chaos down to the establishment of the Olympian pantheon, never has anyone managed to gain the blessings of three goddesses."
"You certainly dare to dream!" Pallas's eyes sparkled with amusement. "But, I do admire ambitious men."
"So, if no mortal has ever received the blessings of three or more goddesses, why don't I help you become the first…?"
Admiring Suren's courage, Pallas shared every detail she knew about pleasing Hera and Hestia in ritual. Cross-checking her advice with Cynthia's, Suren found their information matched perfectly.
"Furthermore, let me give you a hint: Hera values grandeur. She never travels without a display of royal authority…"
Here, Pallas began to share sly, private stories of the Queen, heedless of propriety. In a conspiratorial whisper, she confided, "Zeus descends quietly to avoid Hera's watchful eye, afraid she'll catch him sneaking away. So, whenever you see stormy skies, it's almost certainly Hera herself."
"If you go empty-handed seeking Hera's blessing, she'll assume you're belittling her queenly dignity. Don't expect any blessing then! In fact, if she's in a bad mood, you might just get a curse~"
"Thank you—I'd no idea about such nuances."
Suren smiled with gratitude, though he'd already known this tidbit, which was precisely why he wouldn't first seek Hera's favor. One wrong move might have him cursed into some monstrous form, left to guard a cabbage patch until Athena guided a hero to kill him.
Seeing the girl's casual demeanor, Suren couldn't help but marvel at how Athena had spoiled her. He offered a gentle warning, "Pallas, it's best to show a basic respect to the gods…"
Are you asking for trouble?
"Oh, don't worry~" Pallas waved him off. "Do you really think Hera's so free that she'll happen to hear…?"
Boom!
Thunder boomed across the sky. Suren paused, quietly inching away from Pallas.
Keep your blood off me.
And if lightning strikes, kindly step aside…
Pallas pursed her lips, a slight blush of embarrassment appearing on her face. "Pure coincidence. See? I'm still standing."
"Just remember, without a worthy offering, you're better off avoiding Hera."
The thunder didn't abate, and as Pallas continued her critique, Suren couldn't shake the feeling that it was creeping closer…
Honestly, he was tempted to clamp his hand over her mouth.
Are you really going to keep talking? Do you have a death wish?
"Alright, alright, I get it! No one understands Queen Hera better than me now—there's no need to elaborate."
Suren hastily cut her off. "Let's talk about Hestia!"
Hestia should be safe enough; as the goddess of the hearth, she seldom left her temple and rarely manifested outside it.
Pallas thought a moment, then nodded. "Hestia is much easier to please. Only, she's older now, detached from most matters. Her temperament is slow and forgetful. If she agrees to bless you, you may have to wait a long time."
"But if fortune smiles, and she sees your face, I doubt she'd refuse."
Pallas mused that this man was indeed lucky; she seldom visited Athens, but here she was, crossing paths with him.
No god would dislike a follower like Suren. Beyond his soul's comforting radiance, his striking face alone could make any deity linger in admiration.
"Is that so…"
Suren couldn't help but sigh. Winning a powerful patron wasn't easy, but if he wanted a peaceful, stable life, he'd have to fight for it.
"First, I'll need a plan to make a memorable impression on Hestia at our first meeting."
Lowering his head, Suren thought aloud, "I'll need to make sure she remembers me…"
As for Hera, he would think about her later. For now, a quick stop by her temple to get his face recognized should suffice. He didn't even need to ask her for anything directly—just loiter a bit and hope she noticed him.
But how to truly stand out to Hestia? This goddess had rejected numerous gods' proposals, even convincing Zeus himself to name her head of the goddesses.
A title neither Hera, the queen, nor Athena, his beloved daughter, had ever received.
She had high standards, with the power and calmness to back it up. She wasn't one to scramble for power…
Maybe I should just knock over her sacred fire basin in front of her statue. That'd definitely leave a lasting impression.
Pallas leaned close, her face inches from Suren's, studying his divine beauty from every angle before finally making up her mind. "If I help you succeed…how do you plan to thank me?"
"Wait, you actually have a way?" Suren couldn't help but exclaim. "Pallas, you're not joking, right?"
"Well, I can certainly boost your odds, but there's no guarantee that Hera and Hestia will accept."
Pallas crossed her arms, a confident smile lighting up her face. "It's still better than you wracking your brains alone, don't you think?"
That much was true.
Suren couldn't come up with a strategy himself, so enlisting this clever, mysteriously confident girl who seemed to have all the answers wasn't a bad idea.
At least she was Athena's priestess—unlike himself, who had nothing.
"Here's what I'd suggest: start by earning enough money to win over the city's priests, then use that wealth to organize a grand festival for Hera with the help of Athens' citizens and priests. That should definitely attract Hera's attention."
"A city-wide celebration on that scale is sure to catch her eye, and once she notices, you'll have the chance to meet her and request her blessing."
Pallas's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she offered her advice. Oddly enough, the idea of helping him plan seemed to excite her even more than it did Suren himself.
"As for the money?" She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I'll tell you about a hidden treasure, though it's guarded by the Gorgon sisters—those nasty little monsters. Slay those three little beasts, and you'll have more than enough riches…"
"…Let's not." Suren shook his head. "To chase wealth and fame by barging into others' lives, killing the owner to steal their treasures, and then calling it 'adventure'…"
"Maybe that's Greece's idea of a hero, but to me, they're little more than bandits."
Suren recoiled at the thought of becoming that type of bandit-like hero. He wanted to settle down in this beautiful godly age, live out his days as a simple mortal, and stay out of the limelight.
But no matter how prosperous or divine an era, Suren would never forget humanity's true virtues or let this splendid age's peculiarities taint his spirit.
He hadn't lost himself in Britannia, so why would he do so here in Greece? Suren was destined to change the world, not let the world change him.
"Urgh…"
For some reason, Pallas looked visibly disheartened, the lively, cheerful girl wilting a bit. Seeing her lose her spirit, Suren prepared to leave.
Her ideas may not have been ideal, but Suren did enjoy talking with her.
Besides Cynthia, she was the second intelligent being he had met and come to know.
---
A/N: I know Type-Moon's Greece doesn't match classical Greek mythology.
But it's Greek myth ingrained in my mind, so I naturally slip in those elements. Just consider it a blend of the two.
T/N: I don't know much about Type-Moon's Greece either, just that the gods were actually aliens? and like machines I think? ask me about gil though 99% guarantee I can answer anything
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]