Wager for Thetis' Hand
I hurried toward the port. The sea army was arriving amid the storm. With battle no longer necessary, I had to explain the situation and prevent any clash.
"Peleus."
"Speak, Your Majesty."
"According to prior intelligence, the one commanding the sea army is Oites."
"Oites, huh..."
It sounded familiar from the Secret Book. After a moment's thought, I recalled it.
"The Seahorse General, right?"
"You know him?"
"Of course. His little sister is the famous Thetis, after all."
Beyond that, Oites was the protagonist of several famous tales. He loved betting against human heroes, sometimes wagering their lives. Of course, the results always ended in victory for the Seahorse General—except for one instance.
"I've heard he's got a fiery temper, Your Majesty. He'll probably be itching to crush the Amazons. I doubt he'll just turn tail if we tell him to go home now that negotiations are done."
"That's precisely what worries me. Artemis's nymph mentioned he plans to kill us all to build his fame."
The simplest solution here would be to abandon the Amazons and let Oites do as he pleased, but it was too late for that. To truly undermine Artemis, the best move was to fully bring the Amazons' forces under Iris's wing.
"Peleus. Couldn't you negotiate with Oites? If you avert this battle, our tribe will never forget the favor."
"You're quite desperate, Your Majesty."
"I ask this shamelessly. Curse me inwardly all you want. But if you save our tribe, I'll do anything for you."
"I understand your noble intent."
It aligned perfectly with my own wishes. I wanted the Amazons as useful limbs, not slaughtered by Oites.
"Hmm..."
I racked my brain for options. Then I remembered an anecdote from the Secret Book about Oites. He had a penchant for bets...
Whoosh!
By the time we reached the pier, the waves were raging. This unannounced typhoon was no natural storm. Something was approaching.
And then, a massive silhouette erupted from the sea in a spectacular spray.
"Gasp!"
I couldn't help but startle. It was an enormous sea Cyclops. Unlike their land-dwelling kin, these were adapted to ocean life, with gills and vibrant dorsal fins.
But that was just the beginning.
"Every monster under the sun's showing up."
Following the sea Cyclops came countless Scyllas with serpentine heads, beautiful sirens, heavily armored merfolk astride giant seahorses, and more. Mythical beings poured from the depths in droves.
It was an overwhelming force; everyone watching was awestruck.
-Triton's definitely pulling his weight here... but isn't this overkill? With that lineup, the Amazons wouldn't stand a chance—no bones left behind. Just those distant sirens starting to sing would wipe them out near-total.
I shook my head, and the Secret Book chimed in, noting how brutal the undersea wars must be.
-Dagon the Sea God rules countless seafolk and wreaks havoc down there. Repelling them requires an army like this.
-Fair enough. I've heard there are whale-sized beasts among the seafolk, monsters that make the ocean tremble with their power. Probably monster clashes raging below right now.
Leading such a force into the human world left us speechless.
The Noble Blood of the Great Ocean has arrived. Worship him.
The sirens' ethereal song echoed. Those gathered at the pier staggered and knelt. Their melody gripped human hearts with irresistible magic—no one could resist.
Only hero-level figures like the queen and Atalante stood firm.
Splash!
The sea parted, revealing a seahorse dwarfing all others—larger than an elephant, with crimson scales and fins like resplendent wings. A vision of beauty.
Astride it sat a handsome man. I knew at once he was Oites, the Seahorse General.
"Impressive..."
Despite his derogatory nickname, he lived up to being Thetis's brother, the ocean's foremost beauty. His allure was mesmerizing, fit for awe. A coral crown suited his stern visage perfectly.
But his fierce eyes and resolute demeanor promised a tough opponent.
Prince Peleus of a foreign land. Oites, son of the 'Old Man of the Sea' Nereus, has come. Greet me with proper respect.
His voice carried divine gravitas. Demigod or not, a god was a god—and his battle prowess was said to surpass demigods. No underestimating him.
"I greet the one seated on high. I am Peleus, a humble scribe."
Amid the kneeling crowds, I alone stepped forward. Onlookers, overwhelmed by divine presence, froze in place.
Peleus. I come at Triton’s behest to aid you.
The Secret Book had noted his strong personality, yet he afforded me, a mere human, basic courtesy.
But that leniency evaporated when he spotted the queen behind me. Oites's face twisted in displeasure.
A woman bearing Artemis’s power! This must be the Amazon queen. Why is she with you?
Now came the delicate part. How to defuse him without igniting his temper?
I swallowed dryly, tension mounting. Oites exuded divine might, but the sea army arrayed like a backdrop was equally terrifying—a spectacle of grotesque, perilous ocean horrors. Even the distant Scyllas loomed like small mountains.
"We are deeply grateful for your swift aid to this unworthy one. But regrettably, I have secured the Amazon queen's surrender."
What? Is that your idea of words? Who permitted surrender?
"The ancients said the best victory is one won without fighting. I merely put it into practice."
Silence!
Oites's shout triggered an explosive surge of seawater, raining down like a deluge.
Whoosh!
But that wasn't all. The sea army stirred in response to their lord's fury.
Exterminating the bothersome Amazons is a prime opportunity. Yet you compromise like a coward!
"Oites. I understand your will. But didn't you come at Triton’s request to aid me? Sometimes negotiation yields better results than battle."
I invoked Triton, hoping he wouldn't defy his lord.
My hopes were dashed.
Silence! You dare invoke Triton to pressure me? I'm merely contracted to him—leading this army for pay. Not his lackey!
Now I understood: Oites wasn't Triton's subordinate.
"Did you assemble these sea monsters, Oites?"
Of course. They're not Triton’s personal guard—all serve for compensation. Only I can sway the sea Cyclopes. Even Poseidon or Triton couldn't command their loyalty.
No strict hierarchy, then. Makes sense—Oites wouldn't strut so boldly if he were just a subordinate.
The silent Secret Book offered counsel.
-Oites probably resents Triton. His water-god family was sidelined by Poseidon and Triton.
-Ah? Old guard displaced by upstarts, eh?
-Exactly. They've ceded sea hegemony and lowered their divine status, but their lineage runs deep. Best not prod their pride.
Following the advice, I apologized to Oites.
"Oites, my ignorance led to rudeness. I know your father, the 'Old Man of the Sea,' did great deeds to bring order to these waters."
Hmph! A human who knows a bit of history.
My sincerity softened his attitude somewhat. But he showed no intent to yield.
My promise to Triton was only to aid you in crushing the Amazons. Nothing more! Step aside, Peleus. Let the sea army sweep your foes.
Oites alone could overwhelm us; his army made it impossible. So, as per the Secret Book, I proposed a bet. He loved wagers, having clashed with humans multiple times.
"Oites. How could a lowly human defy a god's will? But I've already accepted the Amazons' surrender and vowed their protection."
So you'll defy me after all!
"No. But why not leave the outcome to the goddess of fate?"
I proposed the bet.
"A contest of strength between god and man is unfair. But a wager holds uncertainty, making the result worthy of acceptance. Oites, I'll stake my life as the prize. Will you accept?"
In the Secret Book's tales, heroes had to wager their lives for Oites to bite. Life was the minimum bet.
A wager? Intriguing. You've got guts proposing one to a god.
Oites looked genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected this amid his tirade.
Soon, mockery filled his face.
Why not? Foolish mortal!
I knew that attitude. Wagers always ended in the Seahorse General's "victory"—he claimed his opponent's life regardless. Petty to the extreme.
Arrogant fool. If you insist on a wager, so be it. What do you demand if you win?
All heroes who'd bet with him met death—lose, and he killed; win, and he killed for insolence.
Except one. The Secret Book omitted his name, but his method was brilliant. I'd follow it.
"My demand is simple. If I win, grant me marriage to your sister, the sea goddess Thetis. And withdraw your sea army."
What?!
Oites startled, his arrogant face flushing with dismay. Satisfying.
The secret to winning and surviving? Become Thetis's betrothed. Even cruel Oites wouldn't kill his sister's fiancé post-wager.
That nameless hero's ploy was ingenious. Whether he actually married Thetis was unknown.
Absurd!
Caught off-guard, Oites bellowed in agitation. I replied calmly.
"Why not? The sea goddess Thetis is fated by prophecy to marry no god—destined for a mortal union. If I win, I'll step up for the role."
Of course, I had no real intent to wed the ocean's supreme beauty. Even if Oites conceded, Thetis rejecting me would be madness. Ideally, it'd fizzle out quietly.
Hmph...
As Oites pondered deeply, I prodded lightly.
"Surely you're not scared?"
Wretch. Such obvious provocation!
His face wavered despite the retort. The essence of reverse psychology: even obvious bait hooks if it shakes them.
Finally, Oites accepted.
Fine. State the wager's terms.
Success. Oites took the bet. A way to save the Amazons had opened.
But every coin has two sides. An unexpected snag arose.
Virgin Goddess Hestia is deeply upset.
'You said you loved me... sob.'