Mount Olympus.
In the current age, the gathering place where the Olympian gods reside year-round.
Within a pavilion surrounded by flowers that bloom eternally through all four seasons, inside the temple of Hera, Queen of the Gods.
Hermes, having hurried back from Demeter's temple in the mortal realm, arrived here.
At this moment, Hera, the beautifully alluring woman dressed in magnificent robes, was entertaining her second elder sister, whom she had asked the God of War Ares to invite.
It was none other than Demeter, Goddess of Harvest, her golden hair tied in a long braid.
Also present was their eldest sister, Hestia, with her long brown hair, seated beside them.
"Hera, that is enough. I have already been away from home for several days. It is time I returned."
Demeter, who had clearly been distracted the entire time, kept trying to leave.
"Do not be in such a rush, Second Sister."
Hera smiled as she detained Demeter and said, "Persephone will not return for several more months anyway, as agreed.
This banquet was originally held because I, your little sister, feared you would be too lonely at home. That is why I invited you as a guest... Why are you in such a hurry to go back, Second Sister? Is there some urgent matter at home?"
Demeter looked at Hera, who was beaming at her. Although she had already guessed that Hera knew Jason was staying with her, this matter could not be spoken of openly. She could only helplessly turn to Hestia.
Hestia had come precisely to help Demeter, but this time Hera's attitude was unusually firm.
And just then, guided by the nymphs, Hermes, the golden-haired youth wearing his winged cap, arrived.
"Great Mother of the Gods Hera, and Lady Demeter, Aunt Hestia, it has been a while."
Removing his winged cap, Hermes smiled and greeted the three goddesses.
"You are back... Then I assume the task I entrusted to you is complete, and you have already met that child Jason."
Seeing Hermes return, and noticing Demeter and Hermes both frown slightly at the mention of Jason's name, the corners of Hera's mouth lifted. A triumphant expression appeared on her face.
"Yes, Mother of the Gods Hera. Following your instructions, I successfully met the child and conveyed your words to him."
"Words?" Demeter could not help but immediately ask Hermes, "What did you say to that child?!"
"Relax, my Second Sister."
Hera toyed with a lock of hair beside her ear and said with unusual delight, "I have no intention of making things difficult for that child... Though there was indeed some unpleasantness between us, that is already in the past.
As Queen of the Gods, I naturally would not stoop to the level of a mere child.
So I merely had Hermes deliver some words on my behalf and offer him a new choice!"
As she spoke, under the frowning gazes of Demeter and Hermes, Hera stood up and declared, "As long as he swears to leave Hecate, that cursed daughter of the star goddess Asteria, then I shall magnanimously forgive all his past offenses!
And once he returns to my embrace, I shall swear in the name of Hera, Queen of the Gods, to protect him completely for the rest of his life!"
When Hera finished, the expressions of both Demeter and Hermes changed slightly.
Hera, seeing the shift in their faces, appeared extraordinarily satisfied.
This was the exact scene she had wanted to witness, which was why she had kept them here!
Thus, the corners of her mouth rose higher as she continued, "He was originally a child I favored. Though I do not know what potion that daughter of Asteria fed him to make him lose his way, it does not matter. I am willing to forgive him magnanimously!
Hermes, tell my dear sisters which one that child ultimately chose!"
Although she had not yet heard the answer from Hermes, Hera, utterly confident in herself, stood exceptionally proud and smug before her two elder sisters.
Because this was the simplest of choices.
Even if it were not her, both Hestia and Demeter knew which option was correct!
Indeed, Hecate, the Goddess of Roads, did possess some standing.
Even Hera did not dare utter direct insults toward her and only dared speak ill of her mother Asteria.
But in this world, she, Hera, was the Mother of the Gods. She was the lawful wife of God-King Zeus, the Queen of the Gods revered by the current world.
Any normal person would never think of offending her!
Everyone would certainly choose her.
Therefore, Hera had no doubt she would win... She never once believed Jason would not choose her again and return to her side!
Unfortunately...
"Um..."
Hermes hesitated for a moment, swallowed, and kindly suggested to Hera, "Mother of the Gods Hera, it might be better if I told you this in private..."
"It is fine. After all, I still need to properly thank my two sisters later." Hera, still oblivious to anything amiss, declared proudly, "My child has been well taken care of by them during this time!"
...Hermes covered his face.
Fine. You brought this on yourself. Do not blame me!
Helpless, Hermes quietly took two steps back, cleared his throat, and said, "The child Jason's choice... In the end, he chose... his teacher, Hecate!"
"Did you hear that, my beloved sisters?" Hera nodded toward Hermes and Demeter, whose expressions were gradually turning strange. "That child chose his teacher Hecate... Wait, who?!"
Finally reacting, Hera froze.
She whirled around and glared at Hermes. "You said that child... he chose who?!"
"The daughter of Asteria, Goddess of Roads, Magic, and the Moonlit Night, his current teacher... Hecate!"
When Hermes enunciated the answer word by word, Hera stood rooted to the spot, eyes wide, face filled with disbelief!
"Pfft..."
At that moment, Demeter, having recovered, could not hold back her laughter upon seeing Hera's expression.
Because the turnaround was simply... far too spectacular!
Hearing the sound, Hera spun around and fiercely glared at Demeter.
Demeter hurriedly turned her head away... then turned her back completely to Hera, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Even Hestia was now struggling to contain herself.
"Impossible, this is impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"
Hera gritted her teeth, staring at Hermes in disbelief. "Any normal person would choose me! Who am I? I am Hera, Mother of the Gods! How could he choose that wild girl Hecate?!
It was you... Yes, it must be you. You definitely did not relay my full message, did you?
I promised that if he chose me, I would grant him the kingship that should have been his, let him enjoy a lifetime of glory and wealth, and even help him undergo the forging of divine fire to become immortal!
How could he possibly refuse such conditions? Tell me why he refused!"
"Great Mother of the Gods Hera, I, Hermes, swear by the name of the great King of the Gods Zeus that every word I speak to you is true."
Hermes quietly took another step back and answered honestly, "I relayed every condition you offered to that child without omitting a single detail. Choosing Hecate was the conclusion he reached on his own.
The child said Hecate is his faith, that he sincerely loves and respects her from the bottom of his heart, and therefore he would never betray her, not even as a test from the great you."
Well done. Not bending to power. Truly the child I favor!
Both Demeter and Hestia could not help but nod inwardly upon hearing Hermes say this.
And Hera at this moment... her face was as unsightly as it could possibly be!
"Cough cough. Right, Mother of the Gods Hera, I just remembered I have something urgent... Ah, Great Father is looking for me. I must take my leave."
With that, Hermes quickly fled.
If he did not flee now, would he stay and endure Hera's wrath?!
Seeing Hermes escape, Hestia immediately dragged Demeter, who had originally wanted to watch the drama a little longer and even throw in some sarcasm to vent the resentment from being confined these past days, and hurriedly left.
Once they were all gone, Hera drove away all the surrounding nymphs.
"Jason... Jason, Jason!!!"
Even though they had already run far away, Hestia and Demeter could still hear that voice filled with fury clearly!
Because Hera was so enraged, her unstable divine power caused the entire Mount Olympus to tremble slightly!
What happened?
Naturally, the gods began to wonder.
And Hermes, as the messenger of the gods, spread news quickly. Soon, Athena, who was walking with the Goddess of Beauty Aphrodite, learned of the matter.
"This child... he really dares to act."
Athena blinked. Though she verbally tsked, Aphrodite noticed that Athena's mood had visibly brightened.
Daring to challenge what ordinary people would not: that is what makes a hero!
Although Athena felt the choice was irrational, it was precisely because it was irrational that she was extraordinarily satisfied with Jason's decision!
Seeing Athena actually so interested in a mere mortal... and not just Athena, it seemed many gods were paying attention to him, Aphrodite silently noted the name Jason in her heart.
Naturally, Apollo, God of Light, and Artemis, Goddess of the Moon, who soon learned of it, were also very satisfied.
They already had a poor relationship with Hera.
When the news reached Zeus, it is said his laughter echoed inside his palace for a very, very long time!
In the end, even Ares and Hephaestus, who had never met Jason, remembered his name because of this.
In one fell swoop, the vast majority of the Olympian gods now remembered this boy: the one who had made Queen Hera lose face twice in a row, and who, according to the prophecy of the three Fates, would one day save Olympus!
At this moment, although the path of an ordinary life had not become completely impossible,
Undoubtedly, Jason had taken another step closer to either the love of the gods or their destruction.
And his true journey, even now... had yet to officially begin!