"Teacher Chiron, you have no idea what I've been through ever since I left you!"
After following Chiron back to the wooden house, Jason looked left and right, confirmed that it was still daytime, and immediately put on a tearful expression. He began complaining to Chiron about all of Hecate's "evil deeds"!
For example, taking him to the underworld, throwing him into the Styx, dumping him beside the River of Undying Flames, and then ignoring him for three whole months.
"And now, barely after we reunited, she's already telling me to go find Prometheus and then search for the goddess Persephone, who's been hidden away by the goddess of agriculture, Demeter!"
Jason finished speaking to Chiron, then let out a long sigh and put on an expression that screamed my life is so hard.
Yet after hearing everything, Chiron's expression became extremely strange.
"So… Lady Hecate not only granted you an immortal body, but she's also planning to expend tremendous effort to temper your soul with undying flames?"
"Mm… it seems that way." Jason thought for a moment and nodded.
"Then what exactly are you dissatisfied about?!"
Chiron could not help but laugh. "Or did you really think anyone can just take a dip in the Styx or have their soul forged by undying flames?"
"Huh…?" Jason blinked in slight confusion. "Is it… actually very rare?"
It was no wonder Jason thought this way. Everything had felt far too easy, and as a transmigrator, he clearly remembered from his memories that another hero had once bathed in the Styx and gained an immortal body: Achilles.
But he failed to consider that if the waters of the Styx were truly that easy to use, Achilles' invulnerability would never have become so famous!
"Of course it's rare!" Chiron said with exasperation. "The very purpose of the Styx is to prevent the living from entering and the dead from leaving. Let alone humans—even ordinary gods would be corroded by its waters!
And most importantly, using underworld resources without permission would anger Lord Hades. Only someone like Lady Hecate could do it. If it were anyone else, once you entered the underworld like that, you could forget about ever coming out!"
After listening, Jason thought for a bit and nodded.
He wasn't stupid; he knew Chiron wasn't exaggerating. But still… it didn't feel real!
Well, mainly because the impression Hecate left on Jason was simply far too unreliable…
Seeing Jason's bewildered look, Chiron naturally understood that the boy had no real concept of how extraordinary this was. He said, "Never mind. Don't overthink it. Since Lady Hecate arranged it this way, she naturally has her reasons.
Didn't she tell you to go find Prometheus and Lady Persephone? Hurry and prepare. It would be best if you set off today!"
After learning that finding Persephone would bring Jason an enormous benefit, Chiron was now even more anxious than Jason himself!
Afterward, Chiron carefully examined Jason's current condition.
"What a superb seedling, truly superb… Very well. I'll find time to discuss it with Lady Hecate and have her spare a few days each month so you can come here to train under me.
With the foundation you have now, all you need is a little polishing, and you will surely become the most brilliant hero of this era. Your future accomplishments might not even fall far short of Heracles and the others!"
Jason had always possessed the potential to become a great hero. Now, after Hecate's enhancements, that potential had become even more terrifying.
"Hero, huh…" Jason muttered.
"You really don't seem interested in being a hero at all… At your age, shouldn't the most romantic dream be to become a towering hero whose name echoes through the ages?" Seeing this, Chiron asked curiously.
"But I think living a safe and peaceful life is far better than being any kind of hero."
Jason hesitated for a moment, then finally confessed to Chiron. There was no need to hide it anyway. "To be honest with you, Teacher Chiron, if this world weren't so dangerous, and if I hadn't luckily learned a portion of my future fate, I truly wouldn't want to do any of this!
Even now, everything I do—striving, growing stronger—is only so I can live the rest of my life in peace and safety! I have absolutely zero interest in being a hero, and I definitely will not become a great hero in the future!"
Looking at Jason, who spoke to him with complete seriousness, Chiron's mouth fell open.
He had thought that after Jason became Hecate's disciple, this mindset might change a little. He never expected it hadn't shifted at all!
"You… Never mind, never mind." Chiron instinctively wanted to lecture him, but remembering how he had tried to teach Jason every day during that earlier period only for the boy to remain completely unmoved, Chiron gave up.
Then he thought about it again. Right now, the most important thing was to carve and polish this piece of unrefined jade.
At the very least, Jason was no longer resisting learning.
As for his salted-fish mindset… if it's gold, it will shine eventually!
Once he was properly polished, how could anyone fail to notice his brilliance?
Especially that goddess on Mount Olympus who loved heroes the most!
Thinking this way, Chiron instantly stopped feeling upset and even flashed Jason a brilliant smile, leaving Jason utterly bewildered.
"As for the map, Teacher will prepare it for you shortly… Oh, right. Today happens to be the day your Senior Brother Meleager returns home. Pack up and go down the mountain together with him."
"Returning home?" Jason was stunned. "Is Senior Brother Meleager graduating already?"
"Mm." Chiron nodded and, after a moment, added, "Meleager is the prince of Calydon. The main reason he's leaving the mountain this time is that he has come of age and is no longer suited to continue studying with me."
"What about Senior Brother Heracles and the others?"
"It's not yet time for them." Chiron shook his head.
Soon afterward, Chiron brought Jason to meet Meleager and the others. When the senior brothers saw their little junior brother again after three months, they were all very surprised and also delighted by the reunion.
Watching from the side as Jason was warmly greeted and fussed over by everyone, Chiron nodded in approval, thinking that this child really was likable… Though he had to admit, Jason truly was very endearing.
After all, the boy's mouth was genuinely sweet, he was observant, and his words and actions were polite, making people feel comfortable.
In the current barbaric era of Greece, it would be difficult for him not to be well-liked!
Well, he was a transmigrator from an age of information explosion, so naturally he knew all the little tricks of conversation.
Under Chiron's escort, Jason and Meleager soon left the mountains where the centaurs lived.
Several days later, the two arrived on horseback at the kingdom of Calydon.
There, Meleager enthusiastically hosted Jason for a while and, when he departed, gifted him traveling funds and a sharp treasured sword.
Although Meleager wanted to keep Jason for a few more days, Jason was, after all, carrying a "divine mission," so Meleager could only let him go.
Thus, although this journey was very brief, it was the first time Jason formally left his name upon the land of the Greek Age of Gods.
And during this trip, Jason encountered certain people, certain events, and certain… gods!