Chapter 106: Atalanta's Kiss
"So this is why you dragged me in here the moment I set foot on land?"
In the city state of Athens, inside the Temple of the Goddess of Wisdom, Rowe withdrew his gaze from the three small purple heads peeking out from behind a gauzy curtain and looked forward again.
The Goddess of Wisdom, whom he had not seen for some time, was as composed and elegant as ever. A plain white dress wrapped around her slender, fair body. Her crossed legs were revealed where the hem opened, her hips resting on a throne of stacked stone, curving outward in a full, rounded line. Above that, her figure tapered into a narrow waist with a faint, gentle swell.
With her flawless features, silver hair, and red eyes, Athena faced Rowe and let out a small, amused laugh.
"On this land, other than you, there is no one who meets the criteria."
Rowe fell silent, thinking it over.
When the Argo had sailed near Athens, he had received an invitation from the goddess before him.
She had used Zeus's call for "the strongest human to participate in the Olympian War" as her pretext to seek his aid.
Naturally, Rowe did not refuse.
The Argo dropped anchor at Athens. Heracles remained behind to guard the ship, that symbol of adventure, while Rowe and Atalanta came ashore and entered the city.
Now, he and Athena were meeting alone in this temple.
"Zeus's prophecies have never been wrong," Athena said. "The cracks in the Abyss of Tartarus have already widened to a point that is difficult to mend in a short time. Although he has ordered us to wait, all of us understand what this disaster means. Whoever can gather the strongest heroes during this calamity will hold real authority in the world that follows."
Her lips curved into a bright smile. She rose, the sheer fabric of her dress swaying lightly, then stepped down from the stone throne and, as if casually, took a seat opposite Rowe.
"So I chose you."
The faint fragrance that followed her movement brushed past, but Rowe only asked, "How many Titans are coming out of Tartarus?"
"The exact number is unknown." Athena's expression turned serious. "What is confirmed for now is that there are at least several hundred giants on the level of gods, along with multiple Titans on the level of chief gods."
"But you can relax a little. You will not be fighting alone."
She misunderstood his silence as worry and leaned forward slightly, closing the distance. The plain white dress slipped down with the motion, accenting an expanse of dazzling skin. A faint blush flashed across her pale face.
"We gods will all assist you."
"That will not be necessary." Rowe refused at once.
What he truly worried about was not that there were too many giants, but that there might not be enough to kill him.
However, hundreds of god class monsters and several chief god class Titans should be more than enough to pose a proper threat to his life.
"You may rest assured as well." Athena's lips parted as she added softly, "After this battle, you will become the only hero in Greece acknowledged by all the gods."
"Is that not what you desire?"
She blinked at him, eyes gleaming.
"Then I look forward to working together."
Rowe finally smiled.
Then he froze.
At some point, Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and War, had drifted very close. Through the veil of her simple white dress, her body's curves were faintly visible. The light fragrance grew stronger. Her long, graceful form seemed almost within reach.
A delicate blush colored her face, and her lips shimmered faintly with moisture.
Rowe quickly turned his head aside and coughed several times.
Athena seemed to jolt awake. She pulled back at once, straightened her spine, and sat rigidly upright again.
"Do not misunderstand. I simply wished to confirm your condition."
Her tone snapped back to righteous seriousness.
"After all, the war to come is no joke."
The shift from absent mindedness to dignified indignation was completed in an instant.
These goddesses…
Rowe's eye twitched.
I should keep a very safe distance next time.
But before that.
"I agree to this," Rowe said. "However, I have one condition."
"What is it?" Athena was taken aback.
"Do not wait for the giants to climb up."
Rowe smiled.
"We will go down through that rift and enter Tartarus ourselves."
Athena's eyes widened slightly.
She stood there, stunned, until Rowe said, "I will depart as soon as I return," then turned to leave.
In the worldview of the Age of Greek Gods, Tartarus had always been an object of dread. Even the Olympians feared it more than they feared the Underworld of Hades.
Hades presided over death that could be called a kind of rest.
Tartarus, on the other hand, represented endless torment after death.
It was true purgatory, the place where the gods cast their unforgivable sinners.
And Rowe wanted to go there himself and block the enemy at the source.
"As expected of the one I have chosen," Athena murmured when she finally recovered. A bright, satisfied smile returned to her exquisite face.
If they did not wait at Olympus and instead went straight to Tartarus…
Then at the start, it would only be the two of them.
The Goddess of Wisdom could already sense that her chance to be alone with the sage had arrived.
"Sister, sister, what is wrong with Lady Athena? She looks kind of scary."
"Euryale, you must not speak so carelessly."
"But your body is trembling too."
"No, Medusa is the one who is trembling."
…
Outside the Temple of Athena, on the wide stone road, Rowe stepped out of the divine hall and stopped.
To one side, a girl who had been waiting for a long time turned her head slightly.
Atalanta still wore her cloak. Under the hood, her cat like eyes flashed with irritation when they met his. She promptly looked away, as if to say:
You made me wait too long. I am not happy.
But she could not do anything about it.
Though Atalanta did not think much of Athena after witnessing the "dispute" with Artemis last time, Athena was still a goddess, one of the Twelve Olympians equal to Artemis, and one of the only three major goddesses.
Atalanta had no choice but to show respect.
So she had waited outside.
What truly bothered her, however, was something else entirely.
"You are going to Tartarus?"
In the next instant, she snapped back toward him, displeasure completely forgotten.
Worry surged past it in a single breath.
"You heard?"
"You did not bother to hide it."
Atalanta pointed at the wall behind her.
With only one wall between them, and ears as sharp as hers, there was no way she would miss a conversation spoken at that volume.
Since she had heard everything, Rowe did not try to deny it. There was no need to hide this part.
"Is it not perfect to accomplish two goals at once?"
If he went down to intercept the Titans in Tartarus, the gods above would be less likely to obstruct his attempt to die.
If he still failed to die there…
Then he could simply follow Tartarus's path to the Underworld.
He could hide there for a thousand or eight hundred years, let the miasma of the Greek Underworld wear away at his vitality. Even if he did not die at once, he would eventually be spent.
Would that not be ideal?
As Rowe calmly mapped out a path that circled closer and closer to death, Atalanta's annoyance only deepened.
She knew very well that the man in front of her was strong.
He was the Sage of Uruk, a legend who had walked the world a thousand years ago, capable of matching chief gods and standing above all the living.
But she was still angry.
Angry that he always threw himself into danger so lightly.
Angry that he spoke of risk as if it were nothing.
Angry that he did not value his own life at all.
Annoyed. That was all.
Atalanta bared her small fangs.
Rowe instinctively tried to pull his hand back.
But this time, that was not what she was aiming for.
Her target was his lips.
Her lips pressed against his.
The scent of the girl closed around him all at once. Rowe stared, surprised, at the huntress who had suddenly risen on her toes to kiss him.
If he did not care, was it because he had lived too long in a world where no familiar face remained?
Then.
You are my prey.
So I will stay right here.
And hold you tight.
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