Confession (1)
[Thief God Hermes — Caduceus has been subjugated.]
[Hermes's oracle has lost its effect.]
[The fate bound to Hermes has lost its effect.]
[Olympian divinity is being manifested.]
[11 remaining.]
I felt a definitive impact in my fist. I knew instinctively that my long, bitter history with Hermes had come to an end. With a series of wet, crunching sounds, fragments of the giant serpent scattered in every direction.
“Geez, it’s going to take forever to clean this up.”
A glowing, brilliant orb lay on the ground. Was this some kind of divine artifact or something? I decided to pocket it for now.
“Sisyphus, are you okay?”
Clea approached me, covered head-to-toe in serpent gore. She looked so ridiculous that I couldn't help but snort.
“Look who’s talking.”
I brushed the debris off her hair. Only then did Clea seem to relax, her shoulders dropping as she let out a light laugh.
“We really won.”
She was still breathless, her face flushed with the lingering adrenaline of the fight.
Clink.
A thin ring of mana leaked from within her and shattered. It meant the contract that had bound us to Hermes was finally void.
“…Ah.”
Clea seemed quite shocked.
“Congratulations, Clea.”
“Huh? Oh… yeah.”
“So, you’re the hero Odysseus now.”
“…I suppose so.”
Clea’s expression was bittersweet. She had wanted to be a hero for so long, after all. Now that she could finally live the life of a hero, she probably couldn't believe if this was a dream or reality.
I gave her shoulder a light tap.
“Let’s go back.”
“Go back… me too?”
“Where else would you go?”
“…No, you’re right.”
And so, we headed back to the mansion together.
Back at the mansion, Sisyphus received a report from the defense captain. The battle at the northern defense line had also ended with the fall of Hermes. The skeleton soldiers, having lost their source of power, were swiftly mopped up by the heroes and the defense force. The defense of Corinth had concluded without major casualties. There were a few loose ends to tie up, but time would handle those. The threat to Corinth was effectively over.
“That damn thief god is finally finished!”
“To think he was a god who protected thieves—what kind of bastard was he anyway!”
“The heroes and the defense force did a great job. Let’s hold a festival!”
The residents cheered, diving straight into a festive mood. The cleanup of the damaged marketplace proceeded smoothly as they helped one another. Amidst the waves of people, a group stood watching the carcass of the magical beast that had been Hermes.
“Ambassador, the thief god has definitely fallen.”
“Indeed. The Lord of Corinth subjugated him. That god of Olympus.”
“This… is this not an incredible feat? We must inform the Athenian mainland.”
The three men reached a consensus. They were envoys who had come from the great city of Athens. Originally, they had come to negotiate aid for Corinth, which was suffering from the threat of magical beasts, but they had been stranded since the Cyclops attack.
“Did you see the Lord fighting?”
“I did. I have never seen such a valiant hero.”
“He was even a step ahead of that thief god in wisdom and strategy. I could only be in awe.”
“I thought we’d lose our lives in a foreign land by bad luck, but we met a noble person. It’s a blessing in disguise. Originally, this peninsula’s gateway is an unsuitable place for a polis to stand. If a war were to break out, it would be the first to be annihilated, attacked from above and below.”
“That is true.”
“That is why Athens had no intention of actively forming an alliance, but perhaps it would be more profitable to form a strong alliance now. Before Mycenae or Sparta snatch them up for no reason.”
“First, let’s request an audience with the Lord. The battle is over, so he should have time.”
The three envoys headed toward the mansion district. They managed to secure an appointment for the evening and finally met the Lord. As they waited in the reception room, sipping peppermint tea, the Lord soon appeared.
‘Gasp.’
Seeing the massive, hulking figure with black hair, the envoys grew tense. Facing him up close, his gaze was no joke. He was a barbarian who looked like he would throw a punch the moment they said something wrong. But their first impression vanished cleanly the moment the Lord opened his mouth.
“I heard you are an envoy delegation from Athens here for a treaty negotiation. Welcome.”
His voice was deep and his pronunciation crisp. He possessed a level of refinement rarely heard even among the intellectuals of Athens. It was hard to believe he was the same man who had been swinging his fists so violently earlier that day.
“We have come from Athens. We look forward to working with you.”
“Please forgive the rudeness of my attire. As you know, I am just returning from the defense battle.”
“O-of course. We are the ones who apologize for the intrusion at such a late hour when you must be busy.”
Even though the delegation represented the nation of Athens, they found themselves showing respect automatically. It was because the man before them, despite clearly being a young man in his twenties, possessed a dignity as if eons of time had been condensed within him. There was an aura that only intellectuals could recognize.
A young woman sat next to the man. She appeared to be his second-in-command.
“…….”
A moment of silence passed. The Athenian envoys exchanged glances. They felt awkward about bringing up their business first. That was because, in terms of national power, Athens was far superior. Athens was a great power, sometimes called a kingdom. On the other hand, Corinth was just a single city, a polis not yet recognized as a nation in the international community. This request for diplomatic relations had also been initiated by Corinth. Though it was a request from his biological father, not the current Lord. However, since they were the ones who had come to the mansion first and taken up his time, they were in a position where they had to bow their heads first.
Eventually, the youngest envoy spoke up.
“First of all, congratulations on the subjugation of the thief god. With this, Corinth has escaped a great threat.”
“I will gratefully accept your congratulations. But is the subjugation of an Olympian god something to be celebrated?”
Sisyphus asked a fundamental question. The envoys looked at each other before lowering their voices to answer.
“I believe it is the same for Corinth, but there is likely no polis in Greece that truly worships Olympus.”
“At best, perhaps only black magicians.”
Sisyphus furrowed his brows. For him, having lived his whole life in Corinth, this was quite a fresh perspective. He had assumed that Olympus was an object of religion and worship in Greece. After all, there were massive statues and buildings everywhere he went. Well, Cassandra hated Apollo, but he had just assumed she was an outlier.
“Our nation wasn’t originally named Athens, either.”
“Athena just descended on her own because she thought it was the most successful city in Greece and slapped her name on it.”
“Our ancestors were greatly aggrieved by that…”
“There are even records that the city was a mess because she waged a war against the god Poseidon to take over the city at the time.”
What kind of guys are the Olympians, anyway? Sisyphus tilted his head.
“Does the kingdom not pay taxes to Athena through sacrifices? Then what does Athena return to the kingdom?”
“She helps during magical beast attacks. She gives power to dispatched heroes, or bestows divine artifacts. Sometimes she gives soldiers directly.”
So, it’s like that? It’s like climbing a tower, paying the constellation, and buying buffs or items. The problem is that the constellation is the one who built the tower and set the difficulty.
“However, according to facts revealed recently, perhaps those magical beasts are not natural disasters, but were sent by Olympus…”
“Ahem, watch your words. That is in the realm of speculation.”
“I apologize. That was a slip of the tongue.”
It wasn’t much of a slip. Since it was Athens, which had the most intellectuals, it seemed someone had already figured out the truth about Olympus and the magical beasts. Or perhaps they had known all along and were forced to keep quiet.
Sisyphus thought this and spoke.
“Magical beasts are a headache for every polis. I trust Athens feels the same.”
“That is true. Especially recently, heroes are becoming increasingly scarce…. Lord, I believe what Corinth desires most from diplomatic relations with our home country is the establishment of a ‘Guild.’ What do you think?”
It was as the envoy said. It was difficult to respond to all magical beast attacks with just the defense force. This time, they were lucky that Perseus or Theseus’s party was there. Since heroes didn’t stay stationed in one polis, having a guild would allow for faster preparation against attacks.
“However, that condition is difficult right now. Athens is also suffering from a shortage of manpower…. That does not mean we refuse diplomatic relations. Athens wishes to form a friendly alliance with Corinth. Could you not consider it in trade?”
Sisyphus crossed his arms. ‘They’re saying something tasteless.’ Corinth was already the gateway between the peninsula and the continent, making it the center of trade. Trade was something they should be bowing to us for, not something we should be begging for.
“If a guild cannot enter, there is no need for negotiations.”
“Please wait a moment. That is the Ambassador’s opinion, not necessarily our entire opinion.”
The young envoy stepped forward urgently.
“I am a special envoy dispatched from the Eranoi Guild side. As discussed, it may be difficult right now, but I can promise that it will be the top priority for construction as soon as personnel are expanded.”
“I don’t need empty promises. But.”
Sisyphus pulled out a piece of parchment.
“I can promise something right now. I could impose a fivefold tax on imports and exports coming to and from Corinth in Athens.”
“Gasp.”
Only then did the lead envoy realize he had made a wrong proposal. To cross to the peninsula, one must pass through Corinth, the gateway. To trade with the numerous massive poleis like Mycenae, Sparta, and Olympia, Corinth’s cooperation was essential. Even if their national power was greater, the one holding the leash was Corinth. To them, who had never encountered the concept of tariffs, Sisyphus’s statement came as a shock.
“T-that is absolutely…! Athens wants a friendly alliance with Corinth above all else.”
“Then you should bring what we need as well. Where is there such a thing as empty friendship?”
“Hmm…. Then, if it is the next condition, I can speak well to the upper Guild Master Association.”
“Speak well, then.”
Sisyphus sat back, relaxed. The guild envoy pleaded desperately.
“It is for the Lord to register as a hero in our guild and be active.”
Unlike the other envoys, that had been his goal from the beginning. He was a man who had subjugated a god. It was too much of a waste for such talent to be sleeping in such a small city.
“If you register now, the joining fee and measurement fee are free. We will also give you a temple usage pass. How about it?”
At the envoy’s proposal, Sisyphus made a face like he’d eaten dung. Thud. He placed something on the table.
“…Huh? A hero registration card?”
“I already did it, so why are you asking me to do it again? How many times are you guys going to try and sell me the same thing?”
“Gasp.”
Seeing Sisyphus’s rigid registration card, the guild envoy’s face stiffened. Drenched in cold sweat, he hurriedly took the other envoys aside and whispered.
‘A-Ambassador! He’s not an ordinary hero!’
‘What are you talking about? I thought it said Delta.’
‘Omega! The mark of Omega was engraved on it!’
‘What.’
The envoys realized it then. The Lord of Corinth, Sisyphus. Not only did he already have the qualifications of a hero, but he was a very special individual. The request for guild construction in the territory had already been discussed at the top, so they must have offended him by saying something else.
‘T-this is a disaster.’
He didn’t know where the communication breakdown had occurred. If they ruined diplomatic relations with an Omega hero whom they should have naturally accepted, they wouldn’t have to worry about going to work when they returned to Athens.
“Hahaha, are you talking about installing a guild in the territory? Of course, we must do it. We will immediately dispatch contractors and a branch manager to ensure it is completed within three months.”
“We were rude. Athens will accept all of Corinth’s conditions for diplomatic relations.”
“We will continue to support your hero activities.”
At the envoys’ attitude, which had suddenly done a 180-degree turn, Alcyone was dumbfounded and asked Sisyphus.
“Brother, what happened all of a sudden?”
Sisyphus replied.
“I didn’t know tariffs were this scary either.”
After finishing the meeting with the Athenian envoys, Sisyphus also talked with Perseus and Cassandra.
“We’re going to Athens.”
“Gasp, really? Wow, I heard Athenian apple pie is delicious. That’ll be fun.”
“It seems you want to erase the power of the Cyclops somehow. I’ve already grown fond of Corinth, so it’s a shame.”
“It’s not just the smell; there’s more to look into.”
Sisyphus said, examining the crystal of power he had obtained from Hermes.
“The eye was helpful when fighting Hermes. Perhaps I might need some kind of characteristic like this when beating up other gods.”
I’m confident in my fists. But it’s useless if I can’t land them. It would also be a big problem if I were hit by a trick before I could land a punch.
“And the oracle.”
The powerful force of magic. The power of the real magic used by the Olympian gods was on a different level. It was fortunate that Hermes was stupid, but I needed to know how to deal with a god who properly handled magic.
Athens was the city where the most heroes gathered. Technology and magic must be the most developed there. I intended to gather information there until the location of the next god was identified. And get rid of the smell, too.
“Sisyphus, since you subjugated Hermes, wasn’t the god-hunting over?”
“No.”
“Eek…. Why do I keep thinking I followed you wrongly?”
“You should have been careful when making the contract.”
And so, the next destination was decided.
Night fell after the schedule was finished. A knock was heard at the ear of Sisyphus, who was lightly doing weight training in his room.
“Sisyphus, are you free for a moment?”
Platinum blonde hair fluttered through the crack in the door.
“Clea.”
“I heard from Alcyone that you’re leaving for Athens. …Is it true?”
“Yeah.”
Creak, the door opened slowly. Clea slowly revealed herself under the shimmering moonlight.
“…I have something to say.”