The Hero of Crete and the God of Madness

The hero of the beta-rank, Theseus ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Arrow-Rain, had returned to Athens after completing her first commission. The request had been simple: pacify a band of bandits that had begun to run rampant along the path to western Delphi. It was a chore hardly suited for a beta-rank hero, but she had taken it as a light warm-up. As she collected her reward, the guild was abuzz with chatter.

"Hey, did you hear? That Spartan party."

"You mean the one they call the Perseus party?"

"Is that Spartan guy Perseus?"

"No. That man had a different name."

"Sisyphus! It was definitely Sisyphus."

"He's sweeping up all the commissions, isn't he?"

It was indeed Sisyphus. He was already making a name for himself in Athens. "I heard the Theseus party arrived, too."

"The celebrities of the peninsula have finally crossed over."

"Why are they all gathering here suddenly?"

"Rumor has it the King is calling for heroes. I mean, look at Heracles and Jason—aren't they in Athens, too?"

"Even if there are many demonic beasts, is it really that dire? We're talking about Sigma and Alpha ranks here."

The heroes whispered among themselves. "Why, there's that rumor, isn't there? That the number of poleis struck by 'Divine Punishment' is increasing."

"Surely not in Athens...?"

"If a real divine punishment hits, I'm running away, no questions asked."

Theseus walked out of the guild, pretending not to hear. "Theseus, are you alright?" asked the healer, whose bangs were grown long enough to cover her eyes. Theseus realized her mistake. Her hands were trembling.

"Tsk."

Divine punishment. A phenomenon where a polis vanishes overnight due to a disaster beyond resistance. Once such a demonic beast appears, there is no way for even the most capable heroes to stop it. Sacrifices become useless. The appearance of Medusa and the Gorgons was one of the most famous instances of divine punishment. Theseus's hometown, Troezen, had been annihilated by such a calamity. It was a tragedy that occurred shortly after she had decided to hide her name, Theseia, and live as the hero Theseus. It had been a sea spirit controlled by Poseidon that had attacked. Because it was a small polis, the village had literally disappeared in a single morning. Theseus had lost her only blood relative, her mother, that day. It was also the reason she despised the gods.

"I'm fine, Pio."

Theseus answered the healer with composure. Her companions were all in the same boat. The warrior Idas and the mage Lynceus had incurred Apollo's wrath after defeating him in a chariot race, and the healer Asclepius was a walking corpse already killed by Zeus. Aiming for the position of a high-ranking hero was not for the sake of honor. It was to cultivate the strength to oppose the gods. But.

'I am still far from enough.'

After facing Hermes, she knew well what a chick trapped in an egg she was. Far from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠defeating a god, she was struggling to even touch their minions. She knew the terrifying nature of the oracles well. There were things that could not be achieved with spirit alone. The wall of reality was formidable. She had thought a path would open once she reached Athens, but naturally, there was no dramatic change. Here, too, the fundamental work of a hero—receiving and resolving commissions—was no different. Her strength remained the same. She felt that if she wanted to become strong enough to oppose the gods, the location was not what mattered.

"I need to meet Sisyphus."

Theseus reached that conclusion and headed straight for that strange Spartan. She still had questions about how a Spartan could be the lord of a city like Corinth and possess such refinement, but that wasn't what mattered. Sisyphus was strong. That was an indisputable fact.

The Theseus party headed to the inn where Sisyphus was staying.

It was an inn known for its meal service. However, the chef looked incredibly exhausted. It seemed the Sisyphus party was in their room.

—Hiiik...! Three...! Haa...! Four...!

She stopped dead in her tracks before knocking. A woman's moan, as if wringing out her vocal cords like a rag, was leaking from inside. She wouldn't interfere in someone else's private life, but in the middle of the day? As expected of a Spartan.

Clang.

Sensing Theseus's presence, the door opened first. With a burst of sweat, Sisyphus appeared, his rugged upper body bare. Through the gap, she could see the mage sprawled on the floor and Odysseus striking a bizarre crouching pose. Sisyphus frowned the moment he saw Theseus.

"Shh. Wait a little longer."

Was he angry because she interrupted his private time? Barbaric Spartans were known to become ferocious if interrupted during copulation. In truth, the reason Sisyphus felt uncomfortable with Theseus was nothing special. From his perspective, it was because he had money to pay back to Theseus. He looked like a loan shark coming to collect. Still, Theseus thought that since Sisyphus was an intellectual, he wouldn't say it outright, so there must be some meaning behind it.

"Hmph. You speak as if you already knew what I was going to say, Sisyphus. Does this mean it's not the right time?"

"Yeah. You were the one who said it wasn't urgent."

"Did I say that...? I don't recall."

Look at him flip his attitude like a pancake. You really can't live with debt, Sisyphus thought.

"What will it take for you to let it go?"

"Just answer one question."

"That's not difficult. As long as it's not my body as collateral."

"Sisyphus, how were you able to reach that level?"

Hmm. Is she talking about muscles? Seeing the scene of him training inside, this woman must have become interested, too.

"That's because of that."

Sisyphus pointed behind him. His thumb happened to be directed toward Cassandra, who was sprawled out.

"...That?"

"Yeah. You behind her, are you interested, too?"

"Eek, me?! Ah, no!"

The healer, who had been half-hidden behind Theseus, shrieked and hid.

"Don't bother Pio. She isn't as healthy as you."

"You have to build muscle to become healthy."

"That would only be under the condition that muscle can actually be built. We have a lot of bad blood with the gods, too."

Since she was already a dead soul, her body wouldn't change, which was why she said that. Sisyphus decided to just brush it off as some sort of curse.

"You defeated the God of Thieves, Sisyphus. It's a feat no other hero has achieved until now."

Theseus's eyes sharpened. "I can't pry if it's a secret, but how on earth were you able to do it?"

"Hmm."

Sisyphus crossed his arms. He recalled the memories of being trapped in the mountain for 10,000 years, pushing the boulder and training.

"I listened to my mother's words well."

"Your mother's words...?"

"Yeah."

Theseus also recalled her own memories. She had chosen the path of a hero on her own, but her mother had originally wanted her to take up arms and find her father. As it happened, that father was not far away. The King of Athens. He was her biological father.

"Theseus..."

The healer Pio knew Theseus's situation well. Because she was also a woman and they had been in the same party for a long time, she understood immediately what Theseus was thinking.

"No. I am a hero, not someone meant to be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a king."

Theseus was certain. At the same time, a realization dawned on her.

"But that doesn't mean I can't fulfill my mother's dying wish."

It was true that the Athenian dynasty currently lacked an heir. However, that didn't mean Theseus would inherit the throne just because she found her biological father.

"I see... The reason I was afraid to find my father was because I hadn't yet completed myself as a hero. Since I lacked confidence in myself, I was subconsciously assuming I would live as a princess."

Theseus brushed her hair back. "I have gained enlightenment. Indeed, truth was hidden within my mother's words. Sisyphus."

"?"

Why is she muttering to herself and getting all satisfied? This woman isn't right in the head either. So, is she going to exercise or not? Your muscles are cooling down, you idiot.

"I will become a great hero. And when I have become someone I am not ashamed of, I will go find my father. That's it. The commission from the Cretan city-state will be a good challenge."

"Theseus, are you planning to accept the Minotaur King subjugation commission?"

"Yes. There, we will... subjugate the God of Madness, Dionysus."

"Is Dionysus in the city-state?"

Upon hearing that name, Sisyphus thrust his face forward.

"Didn't you know? The Cretan city-state is the domain of the God of Madness. It's a labyrinth city filled with alcohol and drugs that make you lose your reason, occupied by pleasure and debauchery."

"Didn't they say Olympus emptied the continent because of the war?"

"As far as I know, the God of Madness is in Crete."

"Hmm."

Sisyphus knew Dionysus well, too. Before being trapped in Tartarus, he had been tortured by every god during the trial held on Olympus because of his ten days of immortality.

'That guy was a psycho, too.'

It was just a passing bad relationship, but it was impressive enough to remain vividly in his mind. 'The situation is such that the whereabouts of Olympus are unknown, to the point where Athena isn't even in Athens. I have to catch that guy and force information out of him.'

He was even the God of Wine. Since he would have alcohol by the barrel, if he forced him to drink and get drunk, he would spill whatever he knew. The information he wanted to know first was certain.

'I need the principles of the oracle and how to deal with it.'

Sisyphus was convinced.

"Was the departure in a month?"

"Yes."

"I'll go, too."

Theseus curled the corners of her lips. "If you are with me, it will be more reassuring than any chariot, Sisyphus."

Snap. She opened her fan.

"I look forward to it. Ah, but wash your body when we go on the expedition. The smell is so foul I can't stand it."

"Ah, the trait."

"Then."

Theseus gave a light wave. The healer bowed her head as well.

"What is it. So, are you not exercising?"

Sisyphus closed the door in disappointment. He looked pitifully at Cassandra, who had collapsed onto the bed.

"Hey, are you slacking off again?"

"I, I wasn't. That plank or clank thing is so painful. That's right. A prophecy! Hehe, I finally made a prophecy, didn't I? Hurry up and bow your head in the plank position."

"Do it."

Cassandra stood up and pointed confidently at Sisyphus.

"Sisyphus, you will go to the island of Crete and you won't be able to meet the God of Madness, Dionysus!"

She had finally made the prophecy of Olympus she had wanted so much, so he couldn't say anything now, right? He had been tormenting her using the excuse of prophecies all this time, hadn't he? Cassandra expected victory, but Sisyphus had a look on his face as if he'd eaten ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dung.

"Why, why is that?"

"I know that too, you brat. You're truly useless."

"Huh? I finally did it, so why is that your reaction!"

"Get down and do two more sets."

"I don't want to! I won't! I said I don't want to! Don't grab my belly fat! It's not a handle!"

Cassandra's indignant screams continued.