I Don't Recommend It – Hiding Quietly Until Dawn Is Best
The Secret Book's opinion was reasonable, but Peleus was already cautiously heading toward the source of the faint sounds. Of course, he knew it was dangerous.
—But something's drawing me in?
—That's probably manipulated. Monsters that lure and devour nighttime wanderers all work that way. Their pitiful voices carry magic, dragging you in despite the obvious danger to any third-party observer.
From the Secret Book's perspective, he must look like just another victim seduced by some unidentified monster.
—Still, it's not like we have zero cards to play. You've got the divinity Zeus bestowed.
—How can you be so cocky when you don't even know what it does yet?
—"Improvise," they say. It'll work out somehow. Plus, this royal armor I'm wearing is undoubtedly a top-tier treasure. It won't budge against most attacks.
—With conditions like these, checking it out once shouldn't hurt.
—Fine. You're not totally naked, so I won't object. But bolt if it looks dicey.
—Got it. I value my life, after all. Hell, I'd ditch you if I had to.
—As if.
Crackling footsteps echoed through the piles of ancient fallen leaves. Peleus had thought this was an animal trail, but closer inspection proved otherwise.
—Something heavy passed through here. What the hell could it be? Looks like a big beast slithered across the ground, but no clue.
—What else? The monster that's gonna eat you.
—Shut up and let me think.
He spotted sticky fluid still clinging to the leaves on the ground, along with dark bloodstains soaking the area.
—Something huge is definitely wounded. Could it be that man-eating giant?
—If so, what an entertaining situation, Peleus.
—Why?
—The lunchbox is delivering itself right now. Want me to call it in?
……. Fair point. But Peleus had no intention of going down easy. He patted the royal sword at his waist. Not quite Zeus's sword, but no ordinary blade either. Even if cornered, he'd get a stab in and buy time to escape.
"It hurts…. I curse you. The gods…."
The ominous voice grew clearer as he approached. Definitely not King Atreus.
—Looks like you're in for a midnight brawl with a forest monster.
—Keep talking, but your feet aren't stopping. That curiosity of yours is something else.
—Yeah, I gotta see who—or what—that voice belongs to.
Snap.
A twig cracked underfoot. The groaning cut off abruptly, like crickets silencing at a human's approach.
"Who goes there…? You. Did you hear Us…?"
A rasping voice called out toward him.
"I was drawn by the voice in agony. I'm Peleus, currently under Mycenae's protection."
"Mycenae…. Ruled by a tyrant, but… far better than that filthy city of Delphi, which worships Apollo and Artemis…."
Deep malice toward the twin gods seeped through the speech. Bad vibes. Time to back off?
Squelch.
His foot sank into something sticky. Looking down, the ground was drenched in blood with an inhuman texture. Certain now that a monster lurked in the shadows, Peleus reached for his sword.
Then the voice returned.
"No need for caution…. We are in no state to oppose a hero like you…. Peleus, We merely beg your mercy…."
The tone was far weaker than before. He was sure the thing was dying. Waiting until dawn to check the corpse safely wouldn't be bad.
But that felt like a wasted burst of courage—no payoff.
"Very well. I'll take a look at who you are and your condition."
Steeling himself, vowing not to flinch at whatever emerged, he stepped forward. Torchlight revealed the figure, drawing a low groan from his lips.
It was a colossal serpent, evoking documentary anacondas—but its night-sky-black scales defied comparison. Over fifteen meters long, its body was wretched: coiled in agony around a dead tree, bleeding profusely. A glowing white arrow pierced deep; its state was dire at a glance.
—Know what that is?
He asked the Secret Book, but it had no answer.
—Never heard of a snake like that. Not ordinary, though. Focus on the arrow, not the snake.
Following the advice, he approached and examined the nail-like arrow pinning the serpent to the tree. It emitted a faint, mystical glow. Yet the wound festered with necrosis, reeking hideously. Then he recognized it.
"What? That's Artemis's Arrow?"
No doubt about it.
"You are wise… Do you recognize it…?"
He nodded at the serpent's question.
"That subtle glow is the lunar power Artemis imbued."
The serpent refuted bitterly.
"Wrong. Precisely… it's the authority of the moon goddess Selene, stolen by that wicked Artemis…."
"True at the root."
Apollo had stolen sun god Helios's power; his twin sister Artemis, the moon goddess Selene's. What a pair of thugs.
"Plus, the fletching from the Rhimtanis goose feathers seals it as hers."
The arrow's feathers were snow-white. Only obtainable from Artemis's sacred Rhimtanis geese. Fletched with them, unerring accuracy; infused moonlight slew any beast. Atalante had craved one to hunt the Calydonian boar—why here?
Whatever the backstory, one thing was clear.
"You're Artemis's prey, aren't you?"
"Indeed…. She hunted me relentlessly for ages. I evaded well, but… met my end like this…."
Things were getting interesting. Peleus suppressed a rising smirk.
—You're scheming something nasty again, huh?
—How'd you know?
—That sly look says it all.
Damn, gotta work on poker face. It loosens when he's pleased—trouble.
"Hero Peleus… Will you not save Us…? Just pull this arrow…."
Tempting offer. Very tempting. Artemis already grated on him just by existing. Thwarting her hunt? Priceless.
She'd invested ages to catch this serpent. Yank the arrow, and poof—ruined. How to refuse?
"I beg you…. I know you fear Artemis's wrath…. But no one will know of tonight's deed…. Even the forest nymphs are far off…. Aid Us, and I shall repay tenfold…."
Silence made it think he feared her. Far from it. Screwing Artemis? He'd do worse.
But extracting the arrow wasn't simple. Couldn't just grab it.
"Artemis's arrows hold her potent divinity. Ordinary mortals die touching them."
"Such a…!"
The serpent despaired but accepted, not pressing further.
"The flower cannot lead you… to death…. Forgive my reckless plea…."
It fell silent, head drooping as if enduring no more. It wouldn't last long.
"Hmm…."
Pondering the arrow, the Secret Book caught on and warned sharply.
—You're really gonna pull it! You idiot. Stop. You'll die for sure.
—In normal cases, yeah.
—You have a way?
He pondered silently, then decided.
—Might work. Zeus's power, right?
—That's raw potential, not a finished skill! Can't suddenly wield it!
Zeus granted possibility, not ready-made ability—like clay needing time to shape into pottery.
But Peleus felt he could.
Adapt Zeus's divinity to resist the arrow's power. A mere arrow's might? Supreme god's essence should suffice.
Explaining, the Secret Book balked.
—So how?!
—Just do it. Quit yapping.
No more explanation—he stepped up.
"I'll try pulling that arrow."
"You… stop. Dangerous…."
Not seeking permission. He lunged, hand outstretched.
—You mad bastard!
The Secret Book wailed in his mind, but focus drowned it out.
From forbidden tomes: divine power physically shatters frail human flesh—like a hammer to the skull. Boom. Done.
How to endure? Modern knowledge surfaced: ice experiments. Hammers shatter ice, but stuff it with cotton before freezing—fibers bind water into tough netting. Even sledgehammers fail. WWII British "Habakkuk," unsinkable ice carrier—flawed execution, brilliant concept.
He'd adapt it now. Spread Zeus's divinity like cotton netting through his body.
Tricky? Nah—imagination alone reshaped it effortlessly.
Divinity this easy?
Secret Book's reaction suggested otherwise.
—Wh-what! You molded divinity to your will? Instantly?!
—Big deal? If I think it, it happens.
—Not even Olympian lesser gods manage that speed! Peleus! What the hell are you?!
Secret Book freaked; Peleus shrugged. Natural as breathing.
Task done, he gripped the arrow without hesitation.
KABOOM!
Thunder roared in his ears. Brain flashed white, incinerating. Shock rattled from crown to toes—vision gone, mind nearly unmoored.
"Urk!"
—Peleus! Peleus! Peleus!
Brief blackout, then recovery. Blinking restored sight. Arrow in hand, sparking futilely like electricity.
He rolled his neck. Tough jolt, but held.
Perfectly fine.
—Peleus, you okay?!
—Yeah, just startled. Hit like a truck.
—Hah…. Haha!
Secret Book sounded dumbfounded, muttering.
—What insane talent…. Harpocrates, forgive me for saying You chose wrongly. A human like this won't appear once in a millennium….