The Argonauts of the Argo
As the sun was setting, many heroes gathered around Perseus and Jason.
It was fate.
Naturally, the gathered heroes were all those Jason had in mind, and they likewise showed that they had been watching each other closely. Since the age had changed and they had crossed into the era of descendants, some of them had also changed gender, yet like magnets, they accepted each other regardless of gender.
“It looks like it’s finally decided. I was so nervous I might not be chosen. Isn’t that right, Sister?”
“Yup~! I was so scared I might be abandoned, my heart was pounding!”
Originally twin siblings, Zetes and Calais had become siblings in this era. Handsome and beautiful siblings with white hair and blue eyes, their appearance was strikingly odd for people who inherited the blood of the North Wind god, with their large wings on their backs.
“Ooh~! The young Jason took his time preparing for the voyage~! We feel like we gathered a bit too quickly~! But thinking of it as destiny~! As a musician, I’m thrilled~!”
“I don’t like hearing about fate and destiny, but since I’m the one who inherited Peleus’s nickname and met the person who inherited Achilles’s name, I’m actually feeling a rare sense of connection.”
Orpheus, the handsome young man with golden hair and clear blue eyes, strummed his lyre while intoning their fate. The tough man who inherited Peleus’s nickname fixed his black eyes on Achilles and sent her a lewd gaze. His short, curly brown hair and scruffy beard were striking, yet despite receiving his father’s name from Achilles, he seemed to have a lot of interest in her body.
“We’ve only just met, and you’re already lusting after me. It’s really beastly. I suppose that’s the charm of the men of this land, but I don’t like it at all.”
“Is that so? Well, you came from the Amazons, so you’d be conservative in those parts. I like this free-spirited atmosphere, though, so I feel a bit sorry. Hehe~.”
“Ancaeus… You’re gay, right? And you don’t even care about age for men, so you seem a bit too progressive.”
“Progressive? As a resident of this land, isn’t that an extremely ordinary sexual preference? If you just leave the helm and the night helm to me, it’s fine. I can handle anything.”
“Eh? Uwaaaah! Damn it, let go! I have absolutely no interest in that side!”
“You’ll get used to it. Sex with women stems from the desire to reproduce, so it’s not pure, but sex with men has a purity without that impurity. And isn’t this side mentally better?”
“I don’t like that! Even if it’s impure, I want a woman!”
“O-Oh… The Greek men are really scary… I wonder if I should have left my hometown Amazons…”
Antiope, the legendary Amazon who had made a name for herself as a sister of the two great Amazon queens, shook her head at their stupid antics. Like Adanasia Achilles, she was a beautiful woman with long black hair and black eyes, but her tanned, sunburned skin and messy short hair told everyone without words what kind of woman she was.
Following in the footsteps of the Amazon Antiope, the man who had made a name for himself as the helmsman of the Argo spoke a line that fit this land’s residents. The helmsman with a gay preference, Ancaeus, was a handsome man with short brown hair and eyes like Peleus, but his actions weren’t charming at all.
The man who had suddenly recoiled from such an act of the gay was Meleager. He was a hot-blooded young man with fiery red hair and eyes, inheriting the blood of the war god Ares. Though he wasn’t showing any sign of the hot-blooded god’s blood right now as he writhed on the floor to escape Ancaeus’s gay tastes, he certainly wasn’t.
Looking at the companions’ banter, the burly man—the great Heracles—laughed loudly.
“Huhuahahahahahahah! Kheehu! Kheehuhehuhehu!”
The giant with wild black hair fanning out like a lion’s mane and beast-like black eyes was handsome, and every time he laughed, his veins bulged and his muscles swelled. Even if all the heroes here tried to fight him, it seemed no one could win in a strength contest.
“They’re such unique types! This voyage is going to be so much fun! Don’t you think so? Right?”
“Yes. As Heracles said, everyone has strong personalities. Their temperaments match the prophecy given by the goddess Athena as well. Heroes with their own tasks gathered, so this journey is certain to end safely.”
Iolaus, the one who had led the victory over the Hydra, was also a woman in this era like Achilles. She wrapped long cloth around her head to her very hair, acting like a prophet, so her appearance was hidden.
“My ancestor Hipponous was also indebted to the goddess Athena. It was Athena who prepared the plans for the Argo so that my ancestor Jason could sail on it, and even more, she gave prophecies even in this era. What a devoted person she is. So, what did Athena say? She must have said something helpful to us.”
Bellerophon stroked the chin of the Pegasus he had brought and asked. He was a handsome man with golden-yellow hair and arrogant black eyes, yet despite asking about the prophecy, he only paid attention to his favorite horse and didn’t listen at all.
“Yes. This expedition won’t fail, and you must listen well to succeed.”
“……What?”
At those words, Jason lifted his head and showed a happy expression. He shook his tied ponytail and hid no joy.
“What’s going on? The one who usually didn’t get involved even after we entered the era of descendants has given a direct answer. Did something change in his heart?”
“As Bellerophon said, not even Boreas, who gave us blood and left us a nickname, would say a word unless Athena….”
On the other hand, the heroes expressed dissatisfaction, led by Zetes and Calais. Especially the North Wind siblings (Zetes and Calais), who hid their distress as they flapped their wings on their backs. To calm such heroes, Iolaus, who had come as Heracles’s aide, whispered in a thin voice.
“It wasn’t a sign of a calamity. Nor was it to test us. Athena is acting with real benevolence, so you must not doubt her.”
Even if that’s what she said, how many people would actually believe it? Thinking of the heroes who had been swayed by the gods so far, and since they were descendants, their caution became even stronger.
“I’m fine, so just tell me. What did Athena say?”
“Before giving the full prophecy, Athena said this. Only those with strong ambition to be heroes. Although your ancestors suffered a miserable end, their names still echo today, so this is evidence. If there’s a coward who fears trials and turns away from great deeds, he won’t become a true hero, so get off the ship.”
“Ah……”
Many heroes flinched at Athena’s prophecy. Especially those humans who feared that a god’s intervention would bring misfortune. Their ancestors had especially staked their lives on great deeds and fame, so they had come to realize that while they suffered a miserable end, they had obtained what they wanted.
“I forgot my roots for a moment. That was the most necessary word for us descendants.”
“As expected from the goddess of wisdom… Hehe~.”
Peleus and Ancaeus sighed in admiration, but Iolaus’s words didn’t end there.
“The prophecy Athena gave was this. Everyone knows their own tasks, so if you don’t covet others’ positions, you’ll surely reach Colchis by following the legacy of your ancestors and have the chance to make your names known. Furthermore, even if an incident occurs that tests the heroes during the expedition, as long as you keep this promise, you’ll easily overcome it, and if there’s something difficult for human strength alone, leave your fate to the gods’ generosity.”
“O! Destin-y! Finally I’m throwing myself into the waves of fate like my ancestors! How long I’ve waited for this! Now it’s time to show off my lyre skills! Surely a beautiful journey awaits us!”
“Hey, Orpheus. Just shut up. This isn’t a romantic story like you say.”
Thriirring~!
At Peleus’s scolding, the lyre sounded sadly. Jason shrugged his shoulders, ignoring Orpheus. He, with his sharp mind, had interpreted Athena’s prophecy left behind and given an immediate answer.
“In this case, it’s clearly talking about waves or storms. I heard our ancestors suffered in storms. Since Athena brought it up, it means we’ll have to suffer natural disasters once or twice.”
“Tch. Is it the gods’ wrath? I hope you prepare countermeasures before leaving. If we’re swept away by the sea, I’ll run to the sky with my steed.”
“Hey, Bellerophon~! Let’s not think only about our own survival! Don’t you have any good countermeasures? Your ancestor was also a hero with deep ties to the gods.”
“Unfortunately, my ancestor Hipponous was a great fool who received a direct punishment from Zeus, you see~! I also don’t have a good impression of the gods, so I can’t give any good answer.”
Bellerophon brushed back his golden hair and nodded toward Perseus.
“How about you? The Perseus of this era is said to serve the Twelve Gods with utmost devotion. The story of the new temple that opened in Argos has spread throughout Greece. As a priest managing such a place, is there anything you want to say?”
“I serve the Twelve Gods and Hades. So, if it’s about waves, I can ask Poseidon. I’m not sure if he’ll listen to my opinion, though.”
Perseus’s overly polite response made it even harder to decide. While Jason was pondering how to take this, Heracles asked Iolaus.
“Iolaus. You’re a priest too, right, shorty? As the same priest, how do you feel about that guy?”
“I occasionally speak as someone who meets gods, but Perseus is very polite, yet in reality, he’s a superior priest to me. Athena likes Perseus 2 very much, so it’s not impossible, I think. I dare say that even if a wave that swallows an island comes crashing down, if Perseus begs Poseidon, peace will come as if it were a lie.”
At those words, Jason showed a smile full of satisfaction.
“Then let’s focus on calming the gods’ wrath. Someone might think it’s trivial, but it’s the most important thing.”
“I understand. Then I’ll take the role of calming the storm. We have the North Wind siblings here, so it should be easy to meet the wind god.”
“Hmm. I’ll entrust it to you.”
With Iolaus and Perseus 2’s roles decided, the other crew members smiled and looked at Jason. Their eyes were pleading to give them positions as well.
“Hahaha~! Hahahahaha~! Everyone has good eyes, but I don’t decide anyway, right? We gathered for that in the first place.”
『──Hmm.』
Their positions didn’t overlap to the point of arguing over such things in the first place. At Jason’s words, everyone nodded, and Orpheus didn’t miss the chance, strumming his lyre and giving a high voice.
“Oho~! Although we’ve only just met today! We gathered here without any discussion! Like we were always supposed to do, we’ve shared friendship! What kind of coincidence is this? We’ve been assigned the necessary positions! There won’t even be a fight! This is clearly fate! Isn’t it?!”
“Yeah, I know you like fate. I was already tired of hearing it hundreds of times, but I can’t deny the truth. ──Hey! Anyone who agrees with Orpheus’s words?!”
Thick~!
At Jason’s shout, everyone raised their hands with annoyed expressions.
『The meeting with them is fate.』
No one denied it.