Bonus Chapter!
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"Suren… do you disapprove of the heroes' deeds?"Behind him, Pallas sighed. "Did you know that most of these heroes' adventures are guided by Goddess Athena herself? Are you then condemning the goddess?"
Now, that was dangerous territory!
Suren quickly shook his head, cautious not to cross the line while speaking about Athena in her own temple. Instead, he used a classic line to sidestep the question: "Goddess Athena's intentions are good. It's just that those so-called heroic bandits executed them poorly."
Blame the misfortune on the victims and let the heroes bear the scorn.
If Athena's intentions were malicious, then those heroes would be even worse in their execution.
Though privately, Suren did feel that Athena's guidance for these bandit-like heroes was misguided from the start. Surely, she wasn't unaware that many so-called Greek heroes engaged in little more than pillaging.
Despite his misgivings, Suren didn't dislike Athena herself. After all, she was simply a product of her environment, responding to the mortals' prayers.
How could gods truly understand mortal minds? Would responding to mortals' desires then be a fault of the gods?
This was simply an entangled web, with no easy answer for anyone involved.
"Hmph~"
A light scoff came from behind him, but Suren didn't look back. He left Athena's temple with his life and limbs intact, evidently unscathed thanks to his carefully phrased response. It seemed Athena hadn't taken offense.
"Let's go check out Hera's temple!"
Leaving the temple of Athena, Suren glanced back at the grandeur of its golden halls. In Athens, Athena's shrine was nearly as resplendent as Zeus's own.
Fortunately, Hera's temple in Athens was also easy to find. Though slightly smaller than the others, almost every city-state maintained a temple for the Twelve Olympians, albeit with varying degrees of grandeur.
Compared to the crowd flocking to Athena's shrine, however, the activity at Hera's temple was noticeably quieter—this was Athena's domain, after all.
The recent thunderclap seemed to have roused a number of toga-clad priests, busying themselves carrying offerings to and fro.
Suren hesitated, wondering if he'd be able to get Hera's attention amidst all this commotion…
Maybe he should try Hestia's temple first?
Just as he was mulling over his decision, a refined, elegant voice spoke from behind him. "Beautiful youth, why do you linger here instead of entering Hera's temple and sincerely seeking her blessings?"
"Do you truly believe Hera values worldly riches over the heartfelt prayers of her followers?"
Yikes! No way to answer that without stepping on a landmine!
Suren cleared his throat, sensing it was time to put on a performance. He turned and found himself face-to-face with a priestess—a mature, elegant…big sister type. These priests sure do love to sneak up on people.
"Of course not. I believe Goddess Hera values each and every one of her followers."
Suren made his position clear with a nod, then added with genuine solemnity, "It's just that, seeing how busy the priests are here, I didn't want to interrupt. I figured I'd come to pray another day."
The mature priestess's gaze turned cold, fixating on the bustling priests with a cryptic expression…
Since when have they been this busy?
The woman before him was beautiful and graceful, a dignified vision with striking features and piercing eyes. Her arms, though partially hidden beneath her flowing toga, were as fair as lilies.
Her golden hair was gathered in an elegant updo, and a light veil covered her head, giving her the look of a married woman—an appropriate reflection of her role as a priestess of Hera.
Athena, the protector of unmarried maidens, had virginal priestesses, whereas Hera, the goddess of marriage, had priestesses who were married and mature. It all fit.
In terms of beauty, this woman rivaled the younger Pallas. But Suren was getting used to such sights. He gave her a polite nod. "Greetings, fair lady. I didn't catch your name…"
"My name is Juno." Juno's demeanor was elegant and reserved, exuding the maturity of a married woman. She turned and gestured for him to follow. "Come with me. The others' busyness is no reason for you to avoid honoring the goddess."
"If you would dare seek her blessing now, Hera would be pleased."
"On the other hand, if you turn away… Hera might be most displeased…"
"…."
With you putting it that way, how could I possibly refuse?
If he turned away now, Juno would probably whisper to Hera about his "lack of respect," and he could already foresee the backlash. Priests really do match their gods in temperament, don't they?
Pallas, too—she may have seemed young, but she was sharp, her words a blend of truth and half-truths. Clearly, she had learned well from the goddess of wisdom.
This priestess, Juno, was likely just as tricky. If Hera heard whispers about his reluctance, it could end very, very poorly.
"Wait…Juno?" Suren furrowed his brow in thought. "This name sounds familiar—something in the style of Cynthia's, but I can't recall where I've heard it."
Suren's mind was packed with knowledge, like a library where unimportant details were quickly shelved away. Had her name been Jupiter or Mars, he would've known immediately…but Juno?
As he pondered, he followed Juno into Hera's temple, proceeding unhindered into the main sanctuary.
At the heart of the resplendent temple stood Hera's statue, her figure regal and poised. A grand crown adorned her head, and in her hand, she held a scepter, her expression one of authority.
Suren didn't focus on the statue's details—it was a stone likeness, after all; how much resemblance could it bear to the real goddess?
He was already here, with no offerings and no choice but to follow through. After all, he'd just praised Hera's magnanimity. How would it look if he refused to address her now?
With nerves on edge, Suren clasped his hands and offered his plea. "Queen Hera, golden-shoed Hera, white-armed Hera, goddess upon the golden throne…"
"Suren swears to you, he will remain loyal to love and marriage, becoming a true, devoted husband, a champion of pure love!"
In that instant, the temple fell silent—then, with a rumbling boom, all the candles flared to life, bathing the once-shadowed sanctuary in bright, golden light.
This…
What did it mean?
Hera…
"Hera has heard your vow." Juno smiled warmly, a touch of pride in her voice. "Congratulations, beautiful youth. You've won Hera's favor. From now on, her gaze will be upon you."
Just like that?
Wasn't Hera's gaze always trained on Zeus?
So… I get the King of the Gods experience, huh?
Suren silently exhaled in relief. It seemed he could finally enjoy a peaceful life, basking in the prosperity of the godly era without needing to battle endless misfortunes.
This was the life he'd always dreamed of. He hadn't asked for much—only that men and women alike could live peacefully.
He relaxed and joked, "So Hera's fond of faithful lovers like me, huh?"
"Yes."
Suren may have been kidding, but Juno answered in earnest. "Hera greatly admires your vow of 'pure love.' She will grant you the blessings and protection you seek."
"In the name of the Queen of the Gods, Hera will watch over you."
Oh…well, then.
Suren hadn't expected his vow to work so well.
Not that he was naive—living in the classical Greek era without any divine ties was a pipe dream. Since he couldn't avoid the gods' influence, why not seek the most powerful protector?
Classical Greece may have been wild in morality and philosophy, where love was open and fleeting, with Aphrodite known as the goddess of one-night stands. A single night of romance still counted as love here.
But as a god, Hera was responsible for guiding human civilization, and so she carried the divine role of "marriage," imparting that idea to humankind.
"Who would've thought loyalty alone could earn a goddess's favor…" Suren thought to himself, amused. "Pallas made it sound like Hera was high-maintenance and difficult."
Best to keep that to myself. If Hera heard it, Pallas might suffer for it—Hera was known to hold grudges.
"Juno, if earning the goddess's blessing is this simple…" Suren's expression grew wry. "Could it be that I'm the only one to have met this condition after all these years?"
"...."
Juno let out a cold scoff. "With that unfaithful King of the Gods setting an example for all of Greece, it's no wonder most men here prefer flings with multiple women instead of upholding…my lady's ideals of marriage."
"Besides, Suren, Hera's favor toward you isn't simply due to your vow of loyalty in love."
A smile curved on Juno's lips. "It's also because you've given Hera a fresh concept…'true love,' a rather appealing notion."
Pure, unadulterated love—such an idea was practically unheard of in this era of ancient Greece.
The concept of 'true love' could translate into divine power and authority, something both Aphrodite and Hera could potentially embody.
But for 'true love'—a love defined by fidelity—Hera, as the goddess of marriage, had far more right to it than Aphrodite.
Otherwise, giving 'true love' to Aphrodite…would just make it a mockery, wouldn't it?
"Huh?" Suren didn't fully grasp the significance, but he knew enough to understand that Hera had gained something from this. Relaxing, he laughed, "As long as it pleases the goddess, that's fine by me."
"Hera really is more…"
Suren had been about to say that Hera was more agreeable than Athena, but halfway through the sentence, he stopped himself. He realized he'd gotten a little too comfortable, to be spouting such careless comparisons.
He quickly clamped his mouth shut.
"Oh? Suren, beautiful and brave youth, why don't you continue?" Juno's gaze was both elegant and serene, as she looked at him with amusement. "This is Hera's temple—no one here would dare harm you. Speak freely."
Uh-oh…
Now I'm even more terrified.
Suren felt a bit stiff, struggling to think of a way to wriggle out of this situation.
"Juno, must you always press others this way?" A crisp, youthful voice rang out. "Can't you see how uncomfortable he is?"
"…"
Suren looked toward his savior, and there, he saw Pallas, wearing an olive wreath. At the sight of her, Juno's gentle smile instantly turned to a stoic expression, and her fair arms slipped out of her toga's folds.
"Pallas, shouldn't you be attending the rites in Athena's temple? What brings you here to my Hera's sanctuary?" Juno's tone was as cold as a blade. "And no need to worry—I won't badmouth Athena like some people."
"Hmph! It wasn't badmouthing!" Pallas seemed unfazed by the remark. Instead, she replied confidently, "I only stated a fact—Hera does enjoy pomp and circumstance!"
Suren, puzzled, asked tentatively, "Juno, Athena's temple is pretty far from here. How did you even hear that?"
"Oh, Hera told me." Juno lied smoothly, her gaze shifting back to Pallas. "After all, the gods need to let their followers know who their true enemies are."
"Suren, tell me…do you think Hera is a petty goddess?"
Suren wasn't fazed by the trap. He instinctively responded, "Goddess Hera is anything but petty. She's a magnanimous goddess who rewards those who seek her favor."
Pallas gritted her teeth, thinking, This Suren—such a striking beauty, yet where is his sense?
He wanted adventure, so I crafted the perfect adventure for him! Not only did he turn it down, but now he's actually suggesting, right here in Hera's temple, that Athena isn't as generous as Hera?
Everyone in Greece knows Hera is the most temperamental of the gods, while Athena is the most benevolent!
Athena was fuming inwardly. Every Greek worships me with gratitude, all while fearing Hera's wrath. And here comes Suren, declaring Hera the best goddess?
Even if Hera's blessing was admittedly more beneficial…
With a strained tone, Pallas replied, "Is that so…? Perhaps you should reconsider."
Now it was Juno's turn to come to Suren's defense. With a gracious smile on her elegant face, she said, "Pallas, are you trying to intimidate Suren with this line of questioning?"
Pallas: "?"
Suren raised a hand to clarify. "Goddess Athena is, of course, also very generous. She responded to my prayers immediately. It's just that I wasn't too keen on the adventure she arranged for me, so I declined."
"That's on me, not the goddess."
"You…you figured it out?"
Pallas-Athena looked taken aback, wondering if Suren had recognized her true identity. She'd thought she was acting perfectly!
"Figured out what? That the goddess responded to my prayer?" Suren replied casually. "Wasn't it obvious? You mentioned a hidden treasure trove—that had to be Athena's inspiration."
"Aren't you priests supposed to convey the gods' will?"
"Well then, could I ask why you disliked the adventure the goddess offered?"
Pallas visibly relaxed, returning to her lively, playful self as she asked, "I'll need to tell the goddess her followers' wishes, after all!"
"Really?" Suren mused. "Goddess Athena truly is the most patient goddess with her followers…"
Suren found himself thinking that godly Greece had its charms—its deities were surprisingly tolerant.
"She's certainly patient…with you."
Juno's cool voice cut in from the side.
Suren pretended not to hear, pressing on with his thoughts. "It's simple, really. I don't like acts of banditry. To me, adventure should be joyful and harmonious—a journey free of bloodshed and guilt."
"I'd rather help others find peace and avert disasters, not plunder their wealth just to glorify my own name."
"I see… Suren, you really are a unique individual."
Pallas fell silent, contemplating. Now she understood why Hera was so fond of him—it wasn't just his beauty or his loyalty to love; it was the potential within him.
From Suren, Hera had glimpsed a new form of love, and Athena saw a path of reason and virtue.
Perhaps this young man truly could show the gods a new way forward.
"I'm just an ordinary person," Suren replied calmly. "Must tradition always be right?"
"But you do realize that the gods guide the actions of mortals?"
Pallas's eyes gleamed with humor. "Do you still hold to your ideals?"
"I do. Perhaps it isn't mortals who need to change, but the gods themselves." Suren's tone was serene. "That's why I refused the adventure Athena had in mind. It simply wasn't what I wanted."
And because it wasn't what I wanted, I chose not to do it.
Even if it came as a gift from a god.
Suren knew he risked angering the gods, possibly bringing ruin upon himself. But if they couldn't tolerate a mere mortal's honest thoughts, he would inevitably clash with them anyway.
Be it now or later, it made little difference.
Pallas pressed further, "Aren't you afraid of offending the gods? Olympus has its share of very petty deities, after all."
Saying this, she cast a sidelong glance at Juno, making sure Suren saw it.
Suren wisely remained silent, unwilling to be dragged into a squabble between goddesses.
Juno sneered. "Words and actions are measured differently. With Suren's intelligence, I'm sure he can tell the difference between those who talk a good game and those who actually follow through."
Her words jabbed at Pallas, implying that while Pallas had offered nothing but words, Hera had openly granted Suren her favor and blessing.
Listening to their clash made Suren's head spin. The rivalry between these women is terrifying. He massaged his temples. "I'll be going now. If fate allows, I'll see you both again!"
"Where are you off to?"
"I'm off to find Hestia." Suren smiled. "The way I see it, a man loyal to love can't neglect his home. Since I swore to Hera that I'd be true to love…"
"It's only right that I visit Hestia and vow to be a faithful family man as well. Who knows? Maybe I'll earn an extra blessing!"
Suren made no attempt to hide his intentions. Pallas already knew the breadth of his ambitions, so she simply regarded him with an appreciative smile. "Suren, if Hestia blesses you as well, you'll be the first man in history to receive blessings from three goddesses."
"Until now, no mortal has ever achieved such a feat, beloved by so many goddesses."
As for Artemis?
Athena had never considered her bratty little sister a real contender.
"Then I'll be making history?"
Suren shrugged, hardly taking it seriously. Having won Hera's approval so easily, he suspected his unorthodox values made him quite popular with the goddesses of this era.
If it worked with Hera, surely Hestia would feel the same?
"…"
Pallas could see his confidence swelling, but she chose not to caution him. Instead, she said, "It's quite the challenge!"
"Suren, if you fail, come find me. I, Pallas, will help you reach your goal."
Juno maintained her poised, graceful smile as she added, "And you're welcome to seek Hera's aid, Suren. She holds you in high regard."
Once Suren had left, Juno—no, Hera—allowed her smile to fade as she turned to Athena. "Coming into my temple to steal my follower, Athena, your boldness knows no bounds."
Athena didn't flinch. Confident in her strength, she twirled a lock of golden hair and responded coolly, "Suren…was not your follower to begin with, Hera."
"He first appeared in my temple. You, as a latecomer, should be thanking me for my generosity."
"Hah! Clever as ever, twisting truth to suit you," Hera sneered. "Since I've bestowed my greatest blessing on him, he's under my protection now. Watch yourself, Athena!"
"Hera, I'm neither Apollo nor Ares." Athena's tone remained calm. "Your threats don't faze me."
"Besides, Suren is also seeking Hestia's blessing. Would you prevent him from honoring her?"
As both the goddess of the hearth and queen among the goddesses, Hestia commanded respect, as did Athena, the goddess of victory. Both were Hera's equals in authority.
Zeus might have bestowed Hera with the grandeur of his reign, granting her a scepter and crown—the only goddess with such symbols of royal power, which traditionally belonged to the male gods.
But Hera's authority was still derived from Zeus.
He'd once proven his strength by facing off against the Olympian gods single-handedly. With his unmatched power, he'd prevailed against all, cementing his place as King of the Gods.
Hera, meanwhile, owed her status to Zeus's favor, not her own might. Against male gods, she could wield Zeus's authority. But when it came to Athena, Zeus's beloved daughter, Hera could expect no such support.
As for Hestia, Hera respected her as a revered elder among the goddesses.
"This is between you and me," Hera spat. "Leave Hestia out of it. You never miss a chance to twist things around, do you, Athena? I see you've spared no effort in wielding your 'wisdom' here."
It was a jab at Athena's title.
Why was it that Athena, goddess of wisdom, only possessed half of Zeus's wisdom?
Because Athena's mother, Metis—the previous goddess of wisdom—had been prophesied to bear a son who would overthrow Zeus. To prevent this, Zeus had swallowed Metis.
Thus, Metis, the rightful fourth King of the Gods, became incorporeal, while her divine wisdom was absorbed by Zeus.
Yet Athena's ceaseless stirring within Zeus's head caused him such agony that he ordered Hephaestus to split open his skull. Clad in armor and holding a spear, Athena emerged from Zeus's head, carrying away a third of his wisdom.
As a result, Zeus retained two-thirds of Metis's wisdom, while Athena inherited only a third.
"…"
Predictably, Athena's smiling face turned expressionless. She glared coldly at Hera, retorting, "I recently saw Zeus in the form of a white bull, carrying a girl named Europa."
"And the other day, there was a golden shower of rain. Such magic could only belong to a god." Athena's tone was icy. "Who but a god could turn rain to gold?"
"And furthermore—"
"Enough, Athena!"
Hera's expression grew visibly furious. Taking a deep breath, she said with a scowl, "Leave my temple. Now."
Athena's words alluded to Zeus's many liaisons. As his wife, Hera could hardly keep her rage in check.
The Goddess of Marriage and Fidelity…
It almost sounded like a joke. Hera was Zeus's seventh and final wife, though he did grant her honors no prior wife had ever known, along with a promise of eternal marriage.
Yet an eternal marriage filled with mistresses and a slew of illegitimate children…
Still, Hera could do nothing to stop Zeus, for this was his means of circumventing a curse of fate: as long as he continued to father children, his youngest son would never overthrow him.
Uranus was overthrown by his youngest son, Cronus, who was in turn overthrown by his youngest son, Zeus. If Zeus had a youngest son, that son would, inevitably, overthrow him.
Such was fate.
As Athena left the temple, Hera placed a hand on her chest and murmured to herself, "Suren…will you be the one fate has foretold?"
"The age of the gods is nearing its end…"
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Athena walked through the city of Athens, the city-state she had personally nurtured, watching with joy as it blossomed into the wealthiest, most prosperous city in all of Greece.
In the age of gods, divinities were born from human faith and, in turn, gained desires. These gods possessed wisdom and insight far beyond that of mortals and, loving humans, were willing to guide them in the right direction.
Such was their responsibility; for the gods were worshiped, and thus they cared for humanity.
Among them, Athena was undoubtedly the most conscientious. With her careful guidance, Athens had risen to be the foremost of the Greek city-states.
Only Sparta, devoted to Artemis and Apollo, rivaled Athens.
Every god had their own preferences, and Athena's was in nurturing and shaping her heroes and followers. Even if, to a god, her beloved creations were as fragile as leaves that she could destroy with a mere breath, Athena delighted in their growth and achievements.
Though Hera had hit her sore spots earlier, Athena had struck back just as pointedly, putting Hera on the defensive. So her mood, while not the best, wasn't too bad either.
Athena never let herself suffer in silence!
She settled her scores immediately!
Now she was contemplating how best to guide Suren on an adventure worthy of his potential.
If Suren disliked raiding and pillaging, well, there were other paths to adventure. After all, Athena was the goddess of wisdom, the one who guided heroes. With her blessing, how could Suren fail to become a great hero?
As Athena mused over how to craft a journey that would suit Suren's tastes, an unexpected visitor approached.
"Pallas Athena, I've come to seek your aid."
The handsome bard before her looked at the lively young goddess and made a polite request. "With your wisdom, surely you can assist me."
"Lord of the Silver Bow, Phoebus Apollo."
Athena returned his greeting with equal courtesy. Artemis and Apollo were siblings who, though less conspicuous on Olympus, possessed undeniable power, far surpassing Ares or Hephaestus.
Despite Apollo's request for her assistance, Athena spoke cautiously. "Please, share your concerns. Perhaps I may be able to help."
"It's like this: I recently discovered my sister, Artemis, has fallen for a mortal."
Apollo was utterly unapologetic, sharing his sister's secret without hesitation. "Perhaps you've noticed it too, Athena."
"…"
Athena didn't look surprised. She simply nodded. "You're referring to the forest outside Athens, where the goddess of the hunt has barred all mortals and gods from entering?"
"With Artemis's reputation, many assumed the goddess was just indulging a whim."
Athena smiled slightly. "But as the patron deity of Athens, surely it's reasonable for me to look into the truth, yes?"
Right from the start, Athena absolved herself of any connection to Artemis's secrets, deftly positioning herself in a way that offended no one.
Apollo, seeking a favor, could only acquiesce. Even if he hadn't come with a request, he'd have had no grounds to dispute her words.
"I didn't come to accuse you, wise Athena," Apollo replied with a wry smile. "I wanted to ask for your help in finding a way to keep Artemis away from this mortal named… Suren."
"Artemis is bound by her oath; she mustn't lose her virginity."
"That's easy enou—Wait, what? Suren?"
Athena was about to nonchalantly suggest having him killed or turned into a monster—classic Greek god solutions.
She'd even found it odd that Apollo, of all people, would be so soft-hearted. By his usual standards, Artemis's lover should already be a constellation in the sky.
But at the mention of Suren's name, she suddenly understood.
Of course, it had to be him…
Yes, only someone like Suren, pure-hearted, kind, and beautiful, could captivate Artemis and make Apollo hesitant to act.
Apollo continued, "So, I thought… if we could arrange for Suren to marry someone else, Artemis might give up on him."
Athena's amber eyes narrowed slightly as she replied with a sudden coldness, "This can be handled. Leave it to me."
"Then I'll rest easy!" Apollo exhaled in relief, a look of genuine gratitude crossing his face. "If you're willing to intervene, Apollo is indebted to you."
Athena's renowned wisdom in Greece wasn't limited to inventions and discoveries; it extended to schemes, subtle influence, and delicate social maneuvering.
The people of the godly age didn't differentiate between emotional and intellectual intelligence; they simply categorized all forms of discernment as 'wisdom.'
What Athena set her mind to, she usually accomplished—this, too, was a facet of her divine wisdom.
There was always a way to achieve her desired outcome.
She gave him a polite smile, and Apollo, taking his leave, vanished into thin air. Athena remained standing, her eyes narrowing in thought, until only a quiet sigh slipped past her lips…
"Artemis… you're so generous…"
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T/N: kaelar is back! banditry is a no no!
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
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