Age of Gods, Greece.
Arcadia, inside the cave on Mount Pelion.
In the early morning, within a wooden house constructed from trees.
The centaur sage Chiron sat by the window, eyes closed, holding a golden lyre and playing a melody of exquisite beauty.
Outside the window, under the gentle caress of the morning sunlight, several small birds frolicked around the great tree.
Knock knock—
At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
Chiron paused slightly and said softly, "Come in."
With that, Chiron opened his eyes, stopped playing, and looked toward the boy who pushed the door open.
The boy was only a little over ten years old, a blond, blue-eyed little shota.
Though his features were still somewhat childish, there was a hint of heroism in his eyes—and that was precisely why Chiron had taken him as a disciple.
"Teacher Chiron, sorry to disturb you." The boy who entered performed the proper student salute to Chiron.
"Mm... Have you thought it over from that night?"
Chiron nodded lightly, speaking with a trace of expectation.
In his heart, Chiron believed in this boy, believed he wouldn't disappoint him. From the first moment he laid eyes on him, Chiron had known that once he grew up, he would surely become a towering great hero!
"Yes, Teacher Chiron." The blond boy nodded, then took a deep breath and said firmly to Chiron, "Please, Teacher Chiron, allow me to... drop out!"
"..."
The smile on Chiron's face slowly faded. Clearly, this answer did not satisfy him!
Chiron couldn't help but place a hand on his forehead, rubbing it lightly, and said, "If I remember correctly, Jason, it's only been a mere week since you arrived here... And when you became my disciple, you told me with unwavering determination that no matter how tough it got, you would persevere... I didn't remember wrong, did I?"
"No, you didn't. But that was then, and this is now."
Chiron was speechless, staring at the boy before him who met his gaze openly. In less than a week, he'd completely changed his mind. Chiron couldn't help but say, "Then, can I hear your reason?"
Chiron could sense that Jason wasn't choosing to drop out for something shallow like fear of hardship... but for a deeper reason!
"...Because my name is Jason."
After a brief silence, Jason answered him.
"Hm?" Chiron looked at Jason in confusion.
"Because now... I'm called Jason!"
That's right—the reason this boy wanted to drop out was that simple!
And for a transmigrator, that reason was more than enough!
Yes, the boy was a transmigrator. Once an ordinary college student on the blue planet, he had crossed over to this Age of Gods Greece due to an accident.
And he arrived right at the moment when Jason's uncle usurped the throne and exiled him along with his parents.
At that time, he wasn't yet called Jason.
So, after the transmigrated boy realized he was in this barbaric era, he thought it over and came here to become Chiron's disciple.
His goal: to learn some martial arts under Chiron for self-protection in this dangerous world.
After all, in an era where legal constraints were basically zero, dreaming of a peaceful life without the corresponding strength was pure folly!
Then, a week ago, he successfully became a disciple. On the day he was overjoyed, he also received a brand-new name: Jason...
Jason? ...Wait, wait, wait, JASON?!
You mean the Jason who provoked the traitorous witch Medea?
Jason?
You mean the Jason who looks like a great hero, but is actually just a plaything of the gods?!
Jason?
You mean the Jason whose life seems glorious on the surface, becoming a great hero whose fame spreads through the ages, but in reality is full of hardships, ending in tragedy without a peaceful death?
That day, Jason felt like a bolt from the blue exploding in his mind!
Just thinking about his future—which could only be described as miserable—made him realize that once he left the mountain after learning his arts, there would be no peace. Naturally, an idea formed in Jason's head.
Drop out!
He absolutely had to drop out!
He had no desire to experience a life like that!
Sure, some people might choose to live gloriously even in a short life, but as a fine young man from the 21st century, Jason had no interest in that!
He just wanted to live safely and happily!
"Therefore, Teacher Chiron, I want to drop out. I hope Teacher Chiron approves!"
Chiron was speechless, looking at Jason who bowed to him again, his eyes filled with determination.
Chiron naturally sensed that Jason had made up his mind. For a moment, he wanted to say so much, but the words reached his lips and he just couldn't figure out how to express them. In the end, he could only squeeze out two words: "No way!"
"Why not!"
"Jason, you're a promising talent." Chiron patiently tried to reason with him. "I see extraordinary potential in you!"
"I promise you, when you complete your training and graduate, you will become a towering great hero. By then, you'll receive the gods' favor, your fame will echo through the ages, and... right, you'll also be favored by many women!"
Seeing Chiron's earnest expression as he tried to persuade him, Jason felt his eyelids twitching wildly.
Become a towering great hero, receive the gods' favor, be favored by girls... Good grief, Teacher Chiron, you're cursing me, aren't you!
Towering great hero? Fame through the ages? ...Sorry, zero interest!
Is that sweeter than living happily every day? Sweeter than passing a peaceful life? ...Obviously not!
Compared to a life of grand achievements, sorry, I think being a salted fish suits me better!
"Teacher Chiron, what you say sounds pretty reasonable."
Hearing this, Chiron just breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: As expected of a kid, he can't resist the allure of becoming a great hero and attracting the opposite sex...
"But I'm still dropping out!"
The smile on Chiron's face stiffened again. After staring at Jason for a while, he said helplessly, "Alright, I understand your request."
He pointed to the door and said, "Go out first, let the teacher think it over properly..."
"Yes, goodbye, Teacher Chiron."
As Jason turned to leave, he paused slightly at the door, then turned back to Chiron and said, "Teacher, you have to think it over carefully! Teacher Chiron, you're so wise and righteous—you'll definitely approve my dropout, right!"
Chiron didn't answer, but Jason could clearly see more black lines appearing on Chiron's forehead, as if he was getting a bit angry.
So, naturally, he didn't dare linger and quickly slipped out.
After leaving the wooden house and basking in the bright morning sunlight, Jason kept sighing and shaking his head. "Looks like Teacher Chiron isn't planning to let me drop out... Well, that's Teacher Chiron for you.
Though it's only been less than a week since I became his disciple, with Teacher Chiron's personality, since I've become his student, he'll do his utmost to teach me. There's no way he'd let me drop out for no reason.
But if I don't drop out, I'll have to become a hero. What do I do..."
"Got it!"
After thinking for a bit, Jason's eyes lit up. "As long as I don't become a hero, it'll be fine!
As the saying goes, the master leads you to the door; cultivation depends on the individual!
If I don't even step through the door, don't cultivate, and just eat and laze around all day, won't that work?!"
"Yeah, that's right! Though it feels a bit sorry for Teacher Chiron, but... sorry, Teacher Chiron—I, Jason, absolutely will not become a hero!"
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T/N: I've been re-reading this for a while now and decided to re-translate the whole thing myself and finish it. I'm currently on chapter 50.
I've also been re-reading the Ayanokouji-gets-summoned-instead-of-Subaru fic, since it was never completed, I'm thinking of re-translating and finishing that one myself too.