After the initial panic, Jason thought about it carefully and realized that meeting Medea right now was actually… not that bad!
After all, the current Medea was only about ten years old, a little loli whose mind had not yet fully matured. She was at the perfect stage to be shaped and guided.
Although making her hate him would technically be the safest route, with Hecate still present, Jason immediately abandoned that option.
Thus, the second best choice was naturally to build a good relationship with her and become sworn siblings!
There is a famously vicious saying in the world: "May all lovers in the world become brother and sister."
So while she was still young, for the sake of his own future, Jason decided to raise her himself and turn Medea into a little sister who respected him!
What Jason never expected was that the process of becoming sworn siblings with Medea went unbelievably smoothly.
To be precise, when Medea returned and heard the proposal, far from being shocked, she was overjoyed!
She reached out, grabbed both of Jason's hands, leaned in close to his face, and said with extreme excitement, "Junior Brother Jason, are you serious? You really want to become brother and sister with me? You… you don't actually hate me?!"
Medea had always been looking forward to meeting Jason.
But after they met, she felt as though her enthusiasm had been doused with cold water. She could clearly tell that Jason was avoiding her.
That was why she had been feeling down these past few days.
Hecate, watching from the side as Medea beamed with delight and Jason wore a stunned expression that screamed "Coach, this isn't how the script goes," could not help laughing.
She had no intention of stopping them. The moment she put the two of them together, her attitude had already been clear.
You two can sort yourselves out!
And this was only possible because Hecate truly regarded Jason as her student now; it was trust he had earned through his own efforts.
Soon the two of them swore an oath before Hecate that from this day forward they would love each other like true siblings…
"Big Brother Jason." After the oath, Medea happily wrapped her arms around Jason's arm. The smile blooming on her face was as beautiful as a flower.
Jason was several years older than her. Although Medea was technically his senior sister, in the end she obediently called Jason "Big Brother."
Compared to Medea's radiant smile, Jason's own smile looked rather forced.
Um… I feel like I may have just made an incredibly stupid decision…
But it was too late to back out now, especially in front of Hecate. Jason could only silently swear to himself that he would definitely raise Medea properly.
He would teach her what it meant for an elder brother to be like a father and that big brothers must never be defied!
Hecate, who had left them to their own devices, thought this outcome was actually quite good. At least the two little ones would not end up on bad terms, and she was happy to see them getting along.
Some time later, Hecate brought the pair to the Underworld proper.
At the River Phlegethon, the unquenchable river of fire.
From the endlessly flowing flames, a nymph emerged and approached Jason, who had left the temple and followed Hecate here.
"It has been a while, Lady Pyrrhia." Jason greeted the nymph who had cared for him for three months with familiar warmth.
"You little rascal, you finally remembered to come visit me."
Pyrrhia walked up to Jason, pinched his cheek, and said, "I thought you had forgotten all about me… Lady Hecate, it has been a long time. And this is…?"
As she spoke, Pyrrhia looked curiously at Medea, who wore a light purple dress and gave off an innocent yet radiant impression.
"She is my other disciple. Her name is Medea."
Hecate explained briefly. After the two sides exchanged a few words,
Medea could not help asking Hecate in confusion, "Teacher Hecate, didn't you say we were going to Lord Hades's palace to meet Lady Persephone?"
"I was originally planning to bring you there, but…"
"But there is no need, because I am already here."
A soft ringing sounded beside his ear. Jason, completely unprepared, felt someone pat his head. Several strands of golden hair fell onto his shoulder, and a faint fragrance reached his nose.
Golden-haired and golden-eyed, wearing a beautiful pale yellow dress, Persephone suddenly appeared before Medea and the others.
She very affectionately pulled Jason into her embrace.
"It has been a while, Hecate… And thank you again for that day, little hero."
As she spoke, Persephone smiled and patted Jason's head once more.
And just as Jason managed an awkward laugh in response,
"You did not have to rush over like this." Hecate walked up, tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, and smiled at Persephone.
Persephone was one of Hecate's few true friends. Seeing her always made Hecate happy.
"It is fine. Hades still has some matters to attend to anyway, and this concerns our little hero, after all."
Persephone said this while patting Jason's head again.
Hecate nodded, then began chatting with Persephone. Jason took the opportunity to slip away and hide to the side.
"So that is Lady Persephone…? Big Brother Jason, are you really okay with what happened?" Medea scooted closer. After curiously studying Persephone for a while, she looked at Jason with worry.
"It is not that everything is completely fine."
Pyrrhia also came over and whispered to Jason, "Because it concerns you, I paid a little attention. I heard the earth is gradually withering. Even Queen Hera went to Demeter, but it was no use."
As for Zeus…? He was too busy avoiding Demeter right now.
Before Jason could respond,
"Do not worry. No matter what happens, I will definitely make sure Jason is safe." Persephone walked over with a smile.
At that, Pyrrhia looked a little embarrassed.
After all, Persephone was about to become Queen of the Underworld, her direct superior!
"Um… Lady Persephone, may I ask you something?" Jason thought for a moment, then asked cautiously.
"Just call me Sister Persephone. There is no need to be so formal. You are my little hero and Hecate's student, after all… Medea, you can call me sister too."
Persephone said gently to Jason with a smile. It was clear that because of what happened before, she held a very favorable impression of him.
As soon as she finished speaking, just when Medea looked terrified at the thought of showing such disrespect to a goddess,
"Sister Persephone!" Jason instantly switched and called her "sister" with honey-sweet lips. His decisiveness even stunned Hecate for a moment.
As for Jason himself, his reasoning was very simple.
Jason's Survival Rules, latest edition!
In this world, there will not be countless damsels in distress waiting for him to save, nor countless opportunities to play the righteous hero.
The favor and affection of the gods are things only protagonists are destined to enjoy.
Life is long and full of dangers. When you are out in the world, you must stay low-key, avoid trouble when you can, and run when you must.
But—!
No one's life will ever truly go exactly as planned without a single obstacle. So when you encounter trouble you cannot avoid, enemies you cannot escape,
then resolve the situation and the enemy as quickly as possible!
If you cannot resolve them, then turn hostility into friendship, turn enemies into allies, and make big problems small and small problems disappear!
Especially when dealing with gods!
If you realize there is no way to avoid them, then act!
Act obedient, act cute, act dumb!
Flatter them in every way possible and strive never to offend a single god!
Call them sister, call them brother; if all else fails, you can even call them dad!
However, if in the end you discover that no matter what you do, you cannot win their favor and your relationship with the god keeps worsening, then…