The Duel (1)
"Excuse me... Brother... I've come to see Lord Sisyphus."
"Ah, you must be Perseus, right? Please, come in."
Alcyone greeted Perseus and Cassandra warmly as they visited the mansion early in the morning.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Thanks to the wonderful inn you recommended, it couldn't have been better. The dinner was delicious, too."
"I'm glad. Now, could you come and stop my brother? He's been in a foul state since this morning."
"A foul state?"
As Perseus and Cassandra stepped out into the backyard, they found the ground completely dug up. *Thwack!* In the middle of it, Sisyphus was shoveling dirt with terrifying speed, like a mole. "Wilson! Wilson!"
"He's been like this since dawn. He says Wilson is missing and he has to find him."
Cassandra crouched down next to Sisyphus. "By Wilson, you mean that stone fragment you always carry around, right? Sisyphus, there are rocks everywhere—how are you supposed to find it?"
"There's no way I wouldn't recognize it. Wilson!!"
"Ugh, we're going to be here all day at this rate. Just wait."
Cassandra drew a magic circle. Green mana traced the lines, and then—*Flash!* Her eyes trembled.
"What is it? You said you lost it, but it doesn't seem like a big deal."
"Did you find it? Where is it?"
Sisyphus’s head popped out of the dirt with a rumble. Cassandra recoiled and replied, "Let's see... it's tomorrow. Sisyphus will still have lost that stone tomorrow."
"I knew it. There's no way I'd lose Wilson."
Since Cassandra had stated the prophecy in reverse, it meant that Sisyphus would at least recover Wilson within the day. Sisyphus felt his heart ease.
"If that's settled, give me some breakfast. I want to taste how special a meal in a Greek noble family is."
"Why are you eyeing someone else's home-cooked meal? Get your own."
"My magic isn't free. You took the prophecy as you pleased, and now you're going to wipe your mouth and act like nothing happened?"
"Your prophecy was the price for forming a party. I consider that already paid."
"That was only for the prophecy regarding the gods. It’s only fair to pay for additional prophecies. You’re a big guy, why are you being so petty? Especially when you eat meat by the mountain like a barbarian."
Cassandra leaned down to tease Sisyphus’s barbaric face. "Oh my, what’s this? You shaved?"
"Don't touch me without asking. How rude."
Sisyphus rose from the pile of dirt with a rumble.
"Hmm." Cassandra looked up at Sisyphus and curled her lips into a smile. "Pass."
"Pass what?"
Cassandra patted his chest, brushing off the dirt. "You said you were a noble, and it wasn't a lie. But you really need to wash up. You smell terrible right now. You didn't know?"
Sisyphus raised his arm to sniff his own armpit, and his face twisted into that of a demon. "What is this?"
"Did you happen to bathe yesterday, Brother?"
"No. Did you?"
"I scrubbed myself raw at the inn. We’ve been on a boat for months, so of course..."
"It’s not just that. It’s rotting. Smell this."
"As much as I respect you, Brother, that’s a bit... I’m fine. They say there’s a limit to the stench a person can endure in a lifetime. I’m still too young to lose my sense of smell."
"You’ve got a sharp tongue."
"I learned it from you, Brother."
"Wait here."
Sisyphus grabbed some lye and bolted toward the river, disappearing in an instant. Twenty minutes later, he returned, dripping wet.
"Is it better now?"
Sniff, sniff. "Not much of a difference."
"What, why?"
"Ahahaha, you walking around spreading that smell, you’re just like a Cyclops. Sisyphus, were you actually born from a magical beast instead of being a Spartan?"
"You haven't been flicked on the forehead by a Cyclops, have you?"
"You’re so impatient. Wait. Let me smell it one more time."
Cassandra brought her nose to Sisyphus again. Sniff, sniff, sniff, sniff. ...*Inhale.*
"What are you doing?"
"Hah."
Cassandra, who had been frantically inhaling Sisyphus’s scent and nearly buried her face in his armpit, finally came to her senses. "Ahem, it certainly smells... no, it is quite pungent. It wasn't this bad even when we were sailing. Still, it shouldn't be a big problem, right? It’s just a little smell. It’s not even that strange."
"Wipe the drool off your mouth."
"*Gulp.*"
"It’s annoying. It’s already bothersome enough that people mistake me for a Spartan because of my hair color, and now I’m going to be called a Cyclops?"
"Cyclops... ah." Perseus nodded as if he had realized something. "Brother, you communicated strangely well with that Cyclops yesterday, didn't you? That guy even recognized you as the leader."
"It was a good thing there was a smart one among them."
"It’s likely a side effect of inheriting the 'Cyclops Strength' trait from Polyphemus."
"What’s that?"
To Sisyphus’s question, Perseus calmly explained. "There was a friend in a previous party who caught a young Cyclops and gained that trait. Simply put, you’ve gained some of the characteristics of a Cyclops. Try opening your palm and focusing."
Sisyphus focused his mind as Perseus said. Then—*Pop!* A large eyeball popped out of his palm.
"Damn it, what is this?"
"It’s a Cyclops eye. You can see well, right?"
"What kind of disgusting trait is this?"
"They say it’s useful once you adapt, as your field of vision widens. It’s free to open and close, and the third eye is convenient because it can pop out anywhere on your body."
Sisyphus frowned, and the eye on his palm vanished. "The side effect is that your body odor becomes as strong as a Cyclops’s."
"What did you say?"
"My phrasing was poor. It’s not so much a side effect as it is part of the trait, including the body odor. They say Cyclops have a habit of finding their mates by scent rather than appearance."
"Oh my, does that mean the smell Sisyphus is giving off is a courtship ritual?" Cassandra laughed and teased Sisyphus.
"Actually, I’m not entirely sure. There’s also a theory that Cyclops only find the scent of the opposite sex they are attracted to pleasant."
Cassandra’s expression froze. "No way. That must be wrong information."
"Yes, well. It’s the habit of a magical beast, so it wouldn't be accurate."
"I don't need it! Hey, how do I get rid of this?"
"Wait, you’re getting rid of it? It’s a bit of a waste."
"Priests at the temple can remove 'trash' traits."
"I haven't heard that our temple does that kind of work."
"It only works at high-level temples designated by the Guild. The temple access pass the Guild gave you is for exactly that purpose."
"Do I have to pay?"
"It’s expensive."
Good grief, they sell artifacts used by gods to heroes, and now this. Their greed knows no bounds. Greece is just like any other place where people live. Sisyphus clicked his tongue.
"Where is the temple?"
"Let’s see. The closest ones from here would be Thebes or Athens. Ah, if you’re looking for a temple city entirely, there’s Delphi."
"Too far."
In any case, it seemed impossible to remove this trait right away. *Pop.* Sisyphus looked at the eyeball that had popped out on his palm. A strange field of vision unfolded, showing his palm and his face at the same time. 'Sending the Cyclops, Hermes is definitely nearby.'
Hermes is the god of thieves. The image of him racing and flying everywhere with his winged shoes was vivid in his mind. 'There’s no guarantee I can catch up to that speed.'
Even if it looked a bit weird, this eye might be useful if he ever got caught from behind.
"Hey, Perseus. Try throwing a rock at me from behind."
"Yes, sir."
Perseus obediently threw a rock as Sisyphus commanded. "Hmph." *Pop.* As Sisyphus focused, a third eye popped out from the back of his head. His vision widened to 360 degrees. *Thwack.* Sisyphus caught the rock flying toward the back of his head.
"Oh, you’ve already figured out how to use it."
"Not bad. Let’s go with this for the morning training."
"Yes, sir."
With a *whoosh*, large rocks began to fly through the air.
"I’m hungry." Cassandra sat crouched, watching them. Meanwhile, Theseus’s party left the hospital with bandages wrapped around them. "Sisyphus, I must meet that lord." Theseus’s interest was entirely focused on him. If there was a hotshot hero active on the Peloponnese Peninsula, it was undoubtedly himself and Perseus. That Perseus had promoted to Alpha before him while subduing Medusa. Yesterday, he had realized his secret. Sisyphus. That man, who was clearly a hero of Sigma, must surely be acting as Perseus’s mentor.
"What will you do when you meet him?"
"He’s the lord of a polis that has developed this much. Despite his appearance, he must be a significant intellectual. I will be taught how to become stronger by him."
"What if he refuses?"
"Our party has a reward to receive from Corinth, don't we? We can negotiate."
Theseus’s party headed for the mansion. Theseus entered confidently as an important guest. Hearing that the lord was in the backyard, he headed there without delay. And she witnessed it.
"Brother, keep going!"
"*Huff, huff, huff, huff.*"
Perseus was throwing large rocks around wildly. Sisyphus was constantly running, catching the rocks, and pushing them back toward Perseus. ...What kind of training method is this?
"Add more weight."
"I’m out of mana. Let’s eat, okay?"
"Five more sets."
Looking closely, Sisyphus was facing away. The Theseus party stopped in their tracks at his divine skill of catching rocks, even those with weight added, without even looking.
"W-what on earth is this..."
"...I see. So this was the reason they were strong."
Theseus left with a light laugh. "Theseus, are you sure you don't want to talk to them?"
"Look at them. They’re training in the time it would take to say one more word. Even the day after such a battle." Theseus opened his fan. "A hero constantly whips himself regardless of time and place. I had forgotten for a moment."
Sisyphus. He had tasted a glimpse of a great hero, and that was enough. Theseus left the mansion without hesitation.
***
We decided to eat after finishing the morning training. Cassandra was happy that we were finally eating, as if she had been waiting for a long time. I really like that I can supply good protein with fresh meat instead of jerky. I told Alcyone in advance, and she thoughtfully prepared exactly the menu I needed. Pork and beef stew, and egg salad. A perfect diet. The training of catching and throwing rocks behind my back was also good because it stimulated my upper body overall. Especially the part about having eyes in the back of my head was convenient, just as Perseus said. Still, the smell is annoying, so I’ll have to get rid of it soon.
"It’s been a while since the whole family gathered for a meal. You heroes should eat to your heart’s content, too."
My father, holding a knife, also looked happy. It had been so long that I didn't remember the etiquette well, so I asked Alcyone to teach me. As I diligently cut the meat with the tool, I felt like I had finally returned to being an intellectual. It was when the mealtime was flowing in a friendly atmosphere.
"Ah, you were all gathered here."
Someone seemed to have entered the dining room.
"Salmoneus, how dare you set foot here again? Guards!"
"Please wait a moment. My business is only with him."
Hmm, protein supply is indeed best after exercise. I can feel my muscles stretching and liking it. "Sisyphus, as the king of a nation, I officially challenge you to a duel!"
What is this, who called me just now?
"Alcyone, give me some more eggs."
Somehow, Alcyone didn't react. Why is the atmosphere at the table like this?
"Who is the bastard interrupting my meal?"
I stood up from my seat.