Bonus Chapter!
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"Why do I get the feeling someone's gossiping about me behind my back?"For some reason, a chill ran down Suren's spine. He pulled his cloak a little tighter and, taking a deep breath, stepped into Hestia's temple.
Compared to the temples of Athena or Hera, Hestia's was much simpler. While it retained the divine elegance and dignity of any godly sanctuary, it simply couldn't compete in scale with the temples of Athens's patron deity and the Queen of the Gods.
Not that Hestia would care, likely enough.
This was a goddess on par with Zeus himself, honored across every Greek city-state.
Hestia, the goddess of the sacred flame, food, and the hearth. Before Prometheus stole fire, the sacred flame belonged solely to the gods. But when Prometheus brought it to humankind, Zeus granted Hestia dominion over the fires of the human world.
Fire was the cornerstone of civilization, essential to human progress and evolution.
But sacred flame wasn't even Hestia's most important role—her primary domain was food.
To rule over the flames and nourishment of humankind was the true root of Hestia's strength, and her powers meant that mortals dared not neglect her worship.
With such powerful authority, it was clear that Hestia had incredible might. She simply had no interest in rivalry.
Reflecting on the lore of Hestia, Suren thought to himself, "The last time Hestia attended a meeting of the Twelve Olympians was centuries ago. She hasn't appeared before the other gods in ages."
"Zeus is certain that Hestia's fine—Olympus's sacred flame only grows stronger. She just doesn't like socializing."
"She's even been considering giving up her seat among the Twelve, although she hasn't found the right successor. Once Zeus's next son ascends to godhood, Hestia plans to retire."
Even to the most power-indifferent gods, a seat among the Twelve Olympians was precious, representing followers and faith, both essential to divine power. While Hestia might not crave power, she certainly respected her authority.
Suren nodded to himself. "She's a bit of a homebody goddess…with a slight fear of crowds."
"Let's give it a try. I wonder if swearing my oath here to Hestia will earn me her blessing."
In front of Hestia's sacred flame and her statue, Suren took a sincere breath and vowed, "O Goddess Hestia, I, Suren, vow to cherish my family, to be faithful to my family, and to live as a man who values his home."
"…"
And with that… nothing happened.
No priestesses, no blessing from Hestia—nothing changed.
Suren scratched his head in mild disappointment. "Maybe Hestia just didn't hear me?"
In fairness, he knew he shouldn't be greedy. He already had blessings from Artemis, Athena, and Hera. Expecting more might be asking too much.
Yet Suren couldn't shake the feeling of insecurity. And besides, it seemed like a fair trade; he'd already vowed loyalty to marriage, which meant loyalty to his household…
To make such a promise and get nothing in return felt like a bit of a loss, didn't it?
Driven by a subtle desire, Suren found himself hoping for Hestia's blessing.
It was like a strange urge to complete a collection—without Hestia's blessing, Suren felt oddly incomplete.
It was just one last step…then he'd have all he needed.
But if Hestia wasn't even here, then it was no wonder that neither Juno nor Pallas had encouraged him to come to her temple.
Clearly, those two priestesses had known Hestia would be absent—she'd been reclusive for quite some time.
Suren was debating whether he should go back to Pallas and ask that strangely confident golden-haired girl if she knew anything, when a soft, slightly timid voice broke the silence beside him.
"Uh…um…"
"Were you the one just now, swearing to always be faithful to your family?"
Suren looked around. The temple was empty—who was speaking?
Wait… could it be Hestia herself?
His eyes widened. The other goddesses had sent priestesses as their intermediaries, but this time, the goddess herself had appeared.
Gathering his wits, Suren replied, "Yes, it was me. I, Suren, vow to always be loyal to my family."
"Oh…such a lovely and precious child…"
After these words, a long silence fell, as if the goddess were fumbling for her next words. When she spoke again, her tone held a hint of uncertainty. "Um, Suren…are you still here?"
"…I'm here, Goddess Hestia."
Suren wondered if the goddess was a bit too…soft-spoken? She seemed like she'd be easy to sway.
But no, she was the elder of the Olympian goddesses, the Queen of the Hearth, a goddess who had turned down countless suitors. She was surely more resilient than she sounded…
"Um, er, according to the rules…"
Hestia hesitated, then asked, "Suren, you swore to be loyal to family. As the goddess of the hearth, I'm quite pleased. So, what is it you truly wish for?"
Wait…what did he want, exactly?
Suren fell into thought. What had driven him to seek out the goddesses' blessings?
For security?
No, while he wasn't as powerful as the gods, he was confident that, as a mortal hero, very few could actually threaten his life.
And he was sure the gods wouldn't harm him. Even without divine blessings, he had that confidence.
Was it happiness or relief?
Not quite; happiness was abundant in this lush, godly era of Greece, and the prosperity he dreamed of had already been achieved here.
Could it be…companionship?
Suren wasn't sure. For as long as he'd walked this path, he hadn't felt like he was searching for anything in particular.
After a moment of silence, Suren sighed. "I…don't know. Maybe I shouldn't have come today, Hestia, considering how lost I feel."
"…Suren." Hestia's voice came softly, a smile in her tone. "Everything you've been worrying over… none of that matters. Why don't we start with a good meal?"
Before him appeared a bountiful feast, and, along with it, a figure—a petite beauty with dark hair, somewhere between a young girl and a maiden. Her twin ponytails framed her face, and her golden eyes sparkled with the divine light of a goddess.
The goddess of the hearth and sacred flame herself, Hestia.
Hestia's golden eyes reflected a glimmer of admiration as she looked at Suren, captivated by his beauty. A bit nervously, she added, "Suren, let's eat. Nothing can ease worries or doubts quite like a hearty meal."
"Thank you for your kindness, dear goddess."
Suren's face relaxed into a smile, and looking at Hestia, he asked, "Goddess Hestia, would you join me for lunch?"
"Oh…um…well, okay!"
Having gone so long without seeing anyone, the goddess had hoped to quietly slip away while Suren was eating. But his invitation left her body frozen in place.
Although shy and introverted, Hestia was no pushover; not even Zeus could force her to do anything against her will.
But seeing the gentle look of anticipation in Suren's eyes—those handsome features and that soul even more radiant than his beauty, combined with the heartfelt oath he had just made…
All these things together made Hestia bite her lip. Though somewhat stiffly, she nodded.
As a goddess who avoided socializing, Hestia hadn't interacted with anyone in years. She didn't even have the standard entourage of nymphs who served most gods, instead choosing to spend her days in solitude…
And now here she was, sharing a meal with a mortal for the first time. It was a marvel, truly.
Mortals had a way of making miracles happen, didn't they?
After a lovely meal with Hestia, Suren stretched, his expression content and serene as he looked at her. "Thank you, Goddess Hestia. This meal has meant more to me than any blessing could."
"Thank you for your kindness toward a mere follower."
"It wasn't kindness to a follower," Hestia replied with a gentle laugh. "You are the only one who has ever shared a meal with me."
Hestia wasn't Athena, nor Hera, nor Artemis. She spoke little, kept to herself, and hardly ever beat around the bush. Her words came out direct and honest.
She might feel shy about it later, but what's said is said—no regrets.
"That's why I'm grateful, for your kindness." Suren smiled. "This was my true reward—a memory more precious than any blessing."
To him, dining with her was an experience far more valuable than receiving a divine boon.
Hestia spoke with directness, and Suren returned the same.
Different goddesses called for different faces, after all.
Hestia bit her lip, a little at a loss against such a charming mortal.
"…"
With a ripple of flame, Hestia vanished, just as Suren hadn't known exactly when she'd appeared, nor did he notice exactly when she left.
Suren added another log to the sacred fire, murmuring, "I'll miss you, Hestia."
The flames flickered in response, as if acknowledging his words.
As Suren left the temple, he patted his stomach thoughtfully. "Is it my imagination, or will I never feel hunger again after eating Hestia's food?"
Was that a blessing from the goddess?
Suren wasn't sure. It felt more like a subtle gift, like how Achilles gained his invulnerability after being dipped in the River Styx by his mother.
After eating Hestia's meal, it seemed Suren would never again have to worry about hunger.
This era, full of miracles, gods, and mysteries, was truly astonishing.
Try as future scientists and sorcerers might, they could never understand the secret to going without food yet still sustaining the body's needs.
It defied both science and magic!
"Lady Hestia, I think I understand what I need."
A quiet smile graced Suren's face as he looked at the bountiful world of the godly age around him and said, "I want to be a simple man. Only then can I truly honor this glorious era of ancient Greece."
In Britain, he had merely sought to help Artoria build a kingdom where people could live peacefully.
Now, in the godly Greece of this era, that goal—a lifelong struggle—had already been achieved by divine guidance.
Now, Suren could finally live for himself, freely and fully savoring the beauty and abundance of this age.
---
In the Age of the Gods in Greece, living as an ordinary, unassuming person might not be so bad after all.
And for a man seeking an ordinary life, the first step was to establish a family, get married, and have children.
Besides, Suren had already vowed to Hera that he would be a pure-hearted warrior, a good husband. So, one way or another, a perfect love was essential.
Love, strictly speaking, fell within the domain of Aphrodite's power, but Suren wasn't exactly eager—
No, he absolutely couldn't seek Aphrodite's help, since Aphrodite's blessing would conflict with Hera's.
In Greece, crossing Hera was the worst idea imaginable. Suren mulled over his options and gradually formed a plan.
So, he returned to Athena's temple, once more encountering the priestess named Pallas.
With a smile, Pallas asked, "What's the matter, Suren… did you fail to get Hestia's blessing?"
After all, Hestia hadn't shown herself in centuries. Even Zeus found it difficult to meet with her, let alone a mortal.
At every Hearth Festival, Hestia would avoid the gods altogether and slip off quietly to some random city-state to celebrate on her own—her social anxiety was legendary.
And surely this anxious goddess wouldn't make an exception just for Suren, right?
Athena had assumed Hestia wouldn't see Suren, and she'd even been preparing to help him gain Hestia's favor.
Then, she'd guide Suren toward adventure step by step.
But Suren simply rubbed his stomach and said, "Well, technically, it seems I didn't get Hestia's blessing."
All he'd done was share a meal with the goddess—hardly worth mentioning…
Although he wasn't exactly lying, since Hestia hadn't actually promised to bless him.
"I have a way to help you get Hestia's blessing!" Pallas said playfully. "Want to know what it is, Suren?"
"If you want to know, just say three times, 'The wisdom of Athena is unmatched in the world!'"
"Oh, well…" Suren scratched his head awkwardly. "I've already received a gift that's more precious than any blessing, so… let's call it a day."
"…" Pallas's amber eyes cooled, her playful demeanor vanishing. "Oh, I see. Never mind, then."
Suren wasn't oblivious; Pallas's disappointment was obvious. He took a deep breath and flashed a smile—the very smile Cynthia had once ordered him never to show other women.
In the sunlight, his radiant smile seemed almost divine, like the god of beauty himself. Even Aphrodite, who embodied humanity's ideal of beauty, could hardly match this pure and untouched expression.
"Sister Pallas, please don't be upset. I came here hoping to seek your advice, but… there was a small twist."
His eyes narrowed charmingly as he shamelessly used his 'Divine Visage.' Beauty was a form of capital, after all. Though Suren rarely leaned on his looks, he knew well enough how effective they could be.
He wasn't foolish. Pallas had clearly gone to great lengths on his behalf, and his "never mind" practically implied her efforts had gone to waste.
She had every reason to feel upset.
Pallas faltered, meeting his clear, earnest gaze, and she softened against her will.
With a light huff, she replied, "Hmph, fine. I'll forgive you this time. But if there's a next time, I really won't help you."
Suren quickly nodded, soothing the refined yet beautiful priestess. The atmosphere warmed once more.
Pallas couldn't help but ask, "So, Suren, if you don't need my help with Hestia's blessing, why did you come to me…or rather, to Lady Athena's temple?"
"Oh, it's like this…"
Suren replied sincerely, "I've figured out the kind of adventure I'm looking for, and I came to pray to Lady Athena for it."
"Oh?" Pallas's eyes brightened. "Well, tell me about it…"
"Uh, what I mean is… could you tell Lady Athena about it for me?"
"Lady Athena, please bless me with a happy, fulfilling love!"
Suren stood before Athena's statue, a trace of hopeful anticipation in his voice. "This is the life I desire; this is my true wish."
"You're asking Lady Athena for love?" Pallas asked, surprised. "If it's love you seek, why not go to Aphrodite?"
"My views on love…might differ from Aphrodite's."
Suren replied calmly, "So, I believe that only the wise Lady Athena can truly understand me and grant my wish."
"...Beautiful Suren, your prayer, your desire, Lady Athena has heard it."
With delight, Pallas announced, "The goddess is pleased with your faith and has decided to guide you toward a journey of your own."
"First, borrow the highest divine fire from Hestia to burn away your mortal body. I have some sacred ointment for you to apply afterward, which will grant you an invulnerable physique."
"Huh?" Suren was baffled. "I just want to live a peaceful, ordinary life. Why would I need an invulnerable body?"
What kind of 'ordinary' person has invulnerability?
Not even most Greek heroes could boast that kind of resilience!
Pallas turned away without telling him the full truth. Not only would he gain an invincible body, but the divine fire burning away his mortal form and restoring it with sacred ointment would actually be the first step toward godhood.
Legend had it that Achilles, famed for his invincibility, was nearly forged in divine fire by his mother, Thetis. The ritual was interrupted, so she had to settle for dipping him in the Styx, granting only partial protection.
The Styx offered invulnerability against gods and mortals alike, but it couldn't match the permanence of being reforged in divine fire—the gold standard of immortality.
"Just think about it. Even an ordinary person would want a strong body, right?"
Pallas explained with feigned seriousness, "How else will you live safely? Greece is a land of constant disaster!"
Suren gave her a suspicious look. "It feels like you're tricking me… but I can't prove it. Alright, I'll go ask Hestia for divine fire."
"After fortifying your body, the next step is to find someone skilled in combat to train you."
Pallas pointed to herself. "I am the priestess of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, warfare, and victory. In terms of martial arts, not even Chiron could match me. I can teach you pankration!"
"I know where this is going…" Suren replied dryly. "Finding true love involves being a good fighter, right?"
"Like a peacock flaunting its feathers, or a ram locking horns…males always compete for mates by showing their strength."
"Exactly!" Pallas grinned. "See, you already understand. So, are you interested in learning?"
"Of course. And honestly, I'd much rather learn from a humanoid like you than a centaur…"
Suren didn't doubt Pallas's claim of surpassing Chiron in skill. After all, they were in Athena's temple. If Athena had no objections, it likely meant she endorsed Pallas's prowess.
Plus, a centaur's anatomy—two hands and four hooves—differed greatly from a human's. Training under Master Chiron would probably be quite challenging.
Pallas continued, "Once you have an invulnerable body and refined martial skills, you'll need a trusty weapon to protect yourself."
"Hephaestus, god of the forge, owes Lady Athena a favor. You could use that favor to have him craft a weapon suited just for you."
"...This is all starting to sound awfully familiar."
Suren rubbed his forehead. "It feels like major déjà vu, but you make a good point. Alright, let's go with your plan."
"So, after getting my weapon, what comes next?"
"With your weapon in hand, you'll be ready to embark on your adventure."
Pallas's tone turned earnest. "Do you have any special skills?"
Suren understood that Pallas, like Cynthia, was referring to skills related to 'manly' prowess. Of course, he wasn't about to reveal his cooking skills, even if he was quite the chef.
After some thought, he replied, "I'm pretty good at archery. Cynthia told me my skill with a bow is second only to Apollo's."
Apollo, the Lord of the Silver Bow, was the god of archery and the greatest archer in Greece.
Even Artemis, famous for her hunting prowess, couldn't rival her brother in archery.
Of course, they were the best among gods—Apollo for the males and Artemis for the females.
"Cynthia…"
Pallas muttered the name twice, recognizing it as an alternate name for Artemis. Nodding, she said, "So it's her… Since you've earned Cynthia's praise, it means your archery is unmatched among mortals."
This was the source of Suren's confidence in his ability to protect himself in divine Greece. With a bow in hand, he feared no one. Even against an army, he was sure he could hold his own.
"Alright, off you go to borrow the divine fire!"
Pallas smiled as she watched Suren leave.
---
With no other choice, a suspicious but determined Suren returned to Hestia's temple. Standing before the sacred flame, he called out, "Hestia, are you there? Your friend and follower, Suren, needs your help…"
"...Suren."
That soft, shy voice emerged again, and Hestia asked hesitantly, "What would you like me to do? Or…have you finally figured out what it is you want?"
Suren had nothing to hide. "It's like this: I need to borrow the divine fire to temper my body, so I can gain an invulnerable physique."
"Huh?" Hestia was visibly shocked. A moment later, she reappeared before him, looking up at him with concern. "Suren, who told you to do this?"
"Lady Athena, the goddess of wisdom." Suren answered. "I finally understand what I want, so I made my request to her."
"But… the divine fire is agonizingly painful." Hestia's voice was gentle but anxious. "And you're not a demigod. The pain you'd endure would be infinitely greater than any hero's."
Once, Demeter had granted a mortal child the blessing of the divine fire. But the child, not being a demigod, had screamed so horribly from the pain that his mother burst in and interrupted the ritual, robbing him of the gift.
Later, Achilles, a true demigod, had no such trouble. With divine blood in his veins, he could endure the fire's purging and be reforged.
The divine fire burned away the mortal form, and with the application of sacred ointments, the ashes reformed into flesh, creating an invincible body from scratch.
"Well, I have to try, don't I?" Suren replied with a shrug. "Lady Athena wouldn't mislead me, right?"
"...Then I'll come with you," Hestia said suddenly.
Sometimes, gods could be quite idle. Even those who hadn't shown their faces in centuries were no exception.
Pallas had expected that if Suren returned, it would be with nothing more than a firepot blessed by Hestia. She was completely unprepared to see Hestia herself!
When she saw the small, adorable figure trailing behind Suren, Pallas's eyes widened in disbelief.
Hestia—you really outdid yourself!
You haven't shown yourself in hundreds of years, didn't you plan to resign from the Twelve Olympians altogether?
So why, of all people, would you show up for Suren…?
Even Zeus couldn't always count on Hestia's presence. Yet here she was, apparently for Suren. It seemed he had more influence than Zeus himself!
Seeing Athena, Hestia began to greet her, "Ath—"
But Pallas quickly stepped forward, saying, "I am Pallas, the priestess of Lady Athena. I greet you, honored Lady Hestia."
Huh?
Hestia blinked in confusion but quickly caught on. Athena wanted her identity to remain hidden, so Hestia simply nodded, meeting her as a goddess would a mortal without giving away Athena's secret.
"So, this was Athena's idea. I agree," Hestia said with relief.
Upon seeing Athena, Hestia felt reassured. She had feared that someone with ill intent was trying to trick Suren, but it turned out to be the wisdom goddess herself.
Since this was the work of the "Mother of Heroes," Hestia was at ease. Athena was known to forge heroes; it was only natural she'd want to help Suren.
"Hestia, didn't I tell you earlier that Lady Athena had already agreed to this?"
Suren's tone was light and pleased. "Now you can lend me the divine fire without worry, right?"
Hestia… Lady Athena…
Athena's brows drew together ever so slightly as she picked up on those two phrases. Simple as they were, they hinted at something significant.
"But… let's not rush."
Athena held back, noting the phrases for later. For now, the priority was the ritual.
With Hestia, goddess of the sacred fire, the ritual itself would be straightforward.
However—
As Hestia had warned, Suren would still have to endure the agony of the divine fire, which seared even the soul.
Athena guided Suren's hand to the divine flame, and immediately he felt an excruciating pain down to his very bones.
In an instant, his mortal flesh turned to ashes. Within seconds, his hand disintegrated in the flames, but Athena quickly applied the sacred ointment, and his hand reformed.
The sensation of blood and marrow regrowing was unsettlingly strange—both numb and itchy—and as the nerves reconnected, a fresh wave of cutting pain washed over him.
But he kept his face steady and even smiled. "Not going to lie, this stings. Can we speed it up a bit?"
Hestia cautioned, "Suren, once the divine fire ritual begins, it can't be stopped. If interrupted, all your efforts would be in vain, and the parts already transformed would revert to mortal flesh."
"That's exactly why I want to hurry." Gritting his teeth, Suren watched as Hestia controlled the flames, reducing his body to ashes, while Pallas applied the sacred ointment to regrow his limbs and skin.
Though Athena meticulously applied the ointment to preserve his life, Suren could not escape the searing pain that accompanied the divine fire's cleansing.
Hestia's heart ached for Suren, but she couldn't accelerate the ritual. She had to keep a steady pace, ensuring every part of Suren's mortal body burned away completely.
In contrast, Athena admired Suren's resilience.
"Brave soul of my choosing, this is an unavoidable part of becoming a hero."
"I feel no sorrow for you; on the contrary, I am proud of your choice."
Watching him bear the agony of the divine fire, Athena grew more appreciative of the beautiful youth, certain that this hero was destined to be hers.
What Athena admired most was his unbreakable will. Even when facing a trial too harrowing for many gods, Suren maintained a dignified composure, refraining from writhing in pain or screaming aloud.
If anything, he grew even more beautiful.
Even as the fire consumed him, Suren managed a smile—a smile that could touch the heart of any god who witnessed it.
That smile, swaying in the firelight, kindled a thought within Athena she hadn't experienced before—
This smile, this rare and radiant expression, should belong to her alone!
Hestia, meanwhile, looked on with deep concern. Though her voice was soft and shy, her efficiency and precision showed just how reliable she truly was. Despite being the first time she'd used the divine fire to temper a mortal, she handled it all without a hitch.
No wonder she was hailed as the First Among Goddesses. Her shy demeanor revealed nothing of the resolve within.
Athena's support was equally flawless. Wherever the flames scorched, the sacred ointment was immediately applied to regenerate Suren's flesh, burning away all traces of mortal impurity and leaving an immortal foundation.
And so, with Hestia tending the flame and Athena applying the ointment, two of the most revered goddesses of Greece worked in perfect harmony to aid Suren alone…
All of Greece had never witnessed such honor granted to a single soul.
The ritual pushed Suren's soul to its breaking point, far beyond the threshold of mortal pain. No pure-blooded human hero could have withstood this agony.
Under ordinary circumstances, he'd have long since passed into the Underworld to face Hades.
But the sacred ointment held him together, binding his spirit to his tortured body and keeping him awake.
Suren could plead, resist, even scream…
The divine fire ritual was potent, but with one flaw—if interrupted, it would certainly fail.
In truth, creating an immortal foundation was no simple feat; there was no power in the world that didn't come with a price.
If Suren screamed loudly enough for an outsider to overhear and disrupt the ritual, he'd be spared this torment.
However—
Even in his heightened awareness, Suren's mind was sharper than ever. He remembered the myths of Peleus and Meleager, two who had undergone the divine fire ritual but failed.
Achilles's father, Peleus, had intruded upon the ritual, as had Meleager's mother, Althaea, disrupting his transformation.
The difference was that while Achilles's ritual failed, his mother, Thetis, quickly found an alternative by granting him invulnerability through the River Styx.
In contrast, Meleager's attempt ended in despair. Demeter, disappointed, allowed him to burn away to nothing in the divine fire.
---
T/N: I like my Suren well done thanks
Hi, trainers! I'm so excited to finally bring you Team Rocket's Second-in-Command! After translating over 300 chapters of this absolute gem, I can tell you it's everything—action, drama, and just the right amount of chaos. Luo Yuan isn't just a trainer; he's the trainer, slaying battles, running the underworld, and making us all swoon with his brilliance.
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