This youth who had crossed worlds was no saint.
Moreover, he struggled while bearing the name Jason and the fate of Jason, simply wishing to live peacefully in this world.
Therefore he did not want to become entangled in too much karma.
Though things rarely went as planned.
There is a saying: the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Though this youth did not deny the saying, he had no desire to be the hero who shouldered that responsibility.
Yet that did not mean he would knowingly turn a blind eye and ignore the deaths of others.
Thus Hestia knew that although Jason always spoke of being selfish, if something truly happened, this child would absolutely step forward with an attitude of "this is such a pain, this is really such a pain."
He did not want to do it, was unwilling to do it, but that did not mean… he would not do it.
Hestia smiled and said nothing more to Jason.
"Then go, child."
Before leaving, Hestia once again patted Jason's head and smiled. "Do whatever you wish. If you do not want to meet the king of Lycia, then do not go."
Hearing this, Jason let out a huge sigh of relief.
After nodding gratefully to Hestia, he mounted Pegasus and, under her blessing, set off on his journey.
Not long after Jason left, Hestia gazed at his departing back, then suddenly patted her forehead as if remembering something.
"Oh no, I forgot to ask him for an offering… That child too. If I don't mention it, he doesn't even prepare one for me!"
As Hestia spoke, she recalled how Athena had come to her the previous night, proudly showing off the lyre.
Hestia's lips puffed out slightly, and she followed after him.
In the sky, Jason, riding the pure-white Pegasus, was currently complaining while patting the horse's head.
"Brother horse, you're really not loyal. We've known each other for years. How can you sell me out so decisively every single time!"
Pegasus neighed lightly twice, as if replying that if it didn't sell him out, what else could it do? It couldn't resist the gods!
"Even if you sell me out, couldn't you at least give me a little warning beforehand? Next time whoever appears, if you don't warn me, believe me, I'll pluck every single one of your feathers and turn them all into flying potions!"
At those words, Pegasus let out a loud cry and started bucking wildly in the sky.
Jason was so frightened he quickly hugged it tight and soothed it with kind words, saying he was only joking, before Pegasus finally stopped tormenting him.
Helpless, Jason took out the directional compass Athena had given him, silently recited Chimera's name in his heart, and headed in its direction.
The monster Chimera that Jason was now going to face was a child of Typhon and Echidna.
Yes, the same family as the three-headed hellhound Cerberus that guarded the Underworld, the Hydra that Heracles would later kill, and the invulnerable Nemean Lion.
Thus it was stronger than an ordinary chimera.
In the original myth, it would be slain by the hero Bellerophon, guided by Athena.
Athena had given Bellerophon golden reins to tame Pegasus, and with Pegasus's help he ultimately killed Chimera.
But now, Pegasus was already Jason's mount.
And with Hestia taking over the matter, naturally there was no longer any role for Bellerophon.
Pegasus was extremely fast. By sunset, Jason arrived above a barren land where Chimera, possessing the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and a serpent for a tail, was battling numerous armored warriors.
When Jason arrived, the battle below was utterly tragic.
With a single breath, the enormous Chimera unleashed flames that burned wildly, preventing the warriors from approaching easily.
Ordinary arrows and weapons barely scratched it.
Thus, even though hundreds of warriors surrounded it, the fight was almost completely one-sided. Beneath Chimera's ring of fire, no one dared enter.
They could only watch as more and more warriors were seized by the serpent tail, dragged into the flames, and devoured!
Jason frowned. He turned his head to look at the setting sun, then at the sword of Apollo, God of Light, hanging at his waist.
"It seems there isn't enough time… Couldn't you have given me just one more day?"
Jason sighed lightly, complaining a little, then gently patted Pegasus's head.
"Here we go, brother horse!"
Pegasus neighed loudly. Looking down at Chimera with its lion head, goat body, and serpent tail, its expression grew serious.
Then, carrying Jason who held on tightly, it channeled its magical power and began galloping at full speed.
Its pure-white body emitted holy light that enveloped both it and Jason, ultimately transforming into a dazzling shooting star beneath the darkening sky.
It charged straight toward Chimera!
"Look! What is that?!"
Below, the warriors struggling against Chimera quickly noticed what appeared to be a shooting star falling from the approaching night sky.
Such an enormous surge of magical power was noticed not only by the warriors below but naturally by Chimera as well.
Enraged and blood-drunk, upon sensing the threat from Pegasus, it raised its head and let out a piercing roar of fury.
Finally, under the astonished gazes of the many warriors surrounding Chimera, the falling star collided with the monster.
BOOM!
A tremendous explosion shook the earth.
It was as though a real meteor had struck the ground. A massive crater appeared, and Chimera naturally lay sprawled within it.
Even Jason, riding Pegasus high above Chimera, was shocked. Though he was not truly immortal, he had been washed by the waters of the Styx and tempered by underworld flames, so he emerged completely unharmed from such speed and force.
"Not bad, brother horse! So you're actually this strong!"
Jason lavished praise without reservation and patted Pegasus's head.
"Hiiiin—!"
Pegasus flying above Chimera neighed loudly and, under Jason's praise, raised its head proudly.
Even the flapping of its wings became several times more vigorous.
The warriors on the ground, snapping out of their shock, instinctively turned their gazes toward the holy heavenly horse.
And so they naturally discovered Jason.
At that moment, the last ray of sunset shone upon Jason.
Clad in white, his golden hair blazed brilliantly beneath that final light.
Though most of the warriors on the ground could not clearly see Jason's face,
a star that had fallen from the heavens, a god descending to the mortal world to save mankind. That was the thought in the hearts of most warriors who witnessed the scene.
Some were so moved that they dropped their swords and shields and knelt on both knees to worship Jason!
"Hm?"
Jason frowned and looked down at Chimera.
He paid no attention to the reactions of the people around him, for beneath his emerald gaze, Chimera, having taken a direct hit from Pegasus, rose to its feet.
Shaking off the dust, it glared furiously at Pegasus and Jason and let out an even more piercing roar!
"I knew it. Things wouldn't be that simple."
Jason sighed, drew a replacement sword from the silver bag Athena had given him (one that stood in for Apollo's divine blade), and then leaped down from Pegasus!
His flowing white robes were strikingly visible beneath the rising moonlight. Without a second thought, Chimera opened its jaws and breathed a torrent of fire toward Jason.
"Careful!"
Seeing this, many of the surrounding warriors involuntarily held their breath.
The flames engulfed Jason's body, swallowing him completely.
Under Chimera's corrosive magical fire, even Pegasus had to fly higher to avoid it.
At that moment, many hearts sank into despair, believing that not even a god could slay this monster.
Chimera looked smugly at Pegasus. Pegasus looked at Chimera like it was an idiot.
Then, from within the flames, Jason in his snow-white robes burst forth.
He delivered a powerful kick straight to Chimera's head!
BOOM!
Chimera was once again slammed to the ground.
Jason climbed off Chimera, looked at the sword in his hand that had been burned away, and sighed in annoyance. "Ah, what a pain!"