The God of Madness, Dionysus (2)
We headed straight for the temple of Dionysus. The city was utterly drenched in madness. Everywhere I looked, there were people completely wasted, starting brawls, setting fires, and looting. "I have no idea what he's thinking."
In the original myths, Dionysus is famous for being the first to create wine. In my world, that was a historical fact that had actually occurred. Naturally, alcohol has as many downsides as it does upsides. Where there is alcohol, debauchery follows, and those who lose their reason to drink find it all too easy to commit crimes. In the myths, there were frequent instances where citizens, drunk on the wine Dionysus provided, failed to recognize their own kings and beat them to death. It seemed the same event was about to unfold here in Crete.
"Sisyphus, what about those people?"
"There's nothing we can do. If you try to help them, you'll just end up getting stabbed. This is all happening because of the Mad God's mist, so stopping him is the faster route."
"Then why is he turning the city into this?"
Clea's question was valid. Even I couldn't quite grasp his intent.
"Let's go ask him. I was planning on finding out what Olympus is up to from that bastard anyway, along with the principles behind the oracles."
"Do you think he'll just answer us if we ask?"
"Wouldn't he spill the beans after getting slapped a few times?"
"That's true, I suppose."
"Theseus seems to have quite a grudge against Olympus, too. I wonder if he went to the palace because of something important?"
"It must be because of Princess Ariadne."
"Does Theseus know the Princess?"
"Probably."
I remembered that in the original myth, when Theseus subjugated the Minotaur, he received help from the Cretan princess, Ariadne. But their relationship ends in tragedy. They promise to leave for Greece together, but Dionysus kidnaps Ariadne. And the two never reunite after that. Well, whether it's the fate of Crete or Theseus, it has nothing to do with me. But if that is the fate ordained by the gods...
"It wouldn't be any fun if things just went that way."
Whatever happens, I have no intention of letting things flow according to their will.
"Sisyphus, it's just ahead."
The temple of Dionysus began to come into view. Because we ran a bit fast, Cassandra had been left behind somewhere. She's got strong survival instincts, so she'll be fine.
"Who goes there!"
"Intruders! Blasphemers!"
"Stop them!"
A swarm of cultists poured out, thrusting their spears at us. Looking at their beet-red faces, it looked like every one of them had liver enzyme levels in the triple digits.
"Ugh!"
"Oh, my!"
Just as I was preparing to fight, a spark flashed, and before I knew it, the bastards were tied up in a corner with rope. Clea wiped away a bead of sweat and fanned herself through her hood.
"You're fast. Aren't you tired?"
"You have to run at least this much. It's cardio."
"You're a commendable one."
"Sisyphus, you use your body too recklessly. Like how you went off on your own in the labyrinth earlier."
"I just had a feeling."
The Fred told me he wanted to collide with something.
"From now on, exercise some restraint. I can't predict what kind of dangerous stunt you'll pull next, so stay out of my sight as little as possible."
"Are you raising a child?"
"You'll end up getting hit by some weird oracle and end up in real trouble. Safety comes first. If it's anything, I'll knock them down from the front, so just stay behind me."
"Why are you so angry?"
"I'm not angry."
Clea grumbled. Well, I suppose I did spend ten thousand years just building muscle and doing image training. Clea would be more well-versed in hero activities than I am. She did handle the monster subjugation in the labyrinth quite well, after all.
"Huff, huff. Wait for me!"
Cassandra came running up, her whole body jiggling. In reality, she was basically walking.
"Why, why are you looking at me like that?"
She isn't exactly reliable, but since she's here, maybe I can stay behind a bit like Clea said.
"No, it's just... it's going to be tough."
An Olympian god is right in front of us, and I'm supposed to endure this? Alright, this is a Christmas present. I'm going to tear it open right now.
"Sisyphus! Oh, seriously."
I leaped and ran toward the temple. *CRASH!* The main gate looked like it had a complicated locking mechanism, so I kicked it in and smashed it. I went to the audience chamber and ripped open the curtains of the bed inside.
"Oh my, a handsome man has fallen from the sky."
"Kyaa, a Spartan!"
"Come here, I'll whisper heroic poetry in your ear all night long."
Dionysus wasn't there, just some courtesans in see-through clothing beckoning to me.
"Sisyphus, you shouldn't look!"
Clea jumped on my back and covered both my eyes.
"I have another eye."
*Pop.* I pulled out a third eye from my palm.
"Ugh, seriously!"
Clea struggled, trying to grab my hand. If she does that, I can see again. You're such a fool.
"Dionysus, where did that bastard go?"
I searched the temple from top to bottom, but there wasn't a trace of him.
"Could this be related to us clearing the labyrinth?"
"Hey, Compass."
"Don't call me that? I have a personality, you know."
"What are you doing not using it when it's moments like this? Hurry up and find him."
"Ugh, I'm going to die before my time."
Cassandra cast a spell. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment.
"...Oh my god."
"What did you see?"
Cassandra's face turned deathly pale, and she slowly turned her head.
"Absolutely do not go to the royal palace. There's no way the island of Crete is going to sink and perish... right?"
***
*BOOM!* Theseus entered the main palace without hesitation.
"What on earth is this state of affairs?"
The flames had already spread to the Palace of Knossos. On the way here, all the guards were already dead. It was the citizens who had turned into a mob and occupied the palace.
"Theseus."
The party members were also tense at the situation before them. King Midas lay on the floor, soaked in a pool of blood. It was easy to guess that he had already breathed his last.
"Haa, haa."
And before him, a delicate woman was guarding the corpse. In her hand, she held the sword of a fallen guard. It was Princess Ariadne. She had a terrifying expression that Theseus had never seen before. Perhaps not even realizing that Theseus had entered the palace, she held her sword and shot a resentful glare toward the enemy. It was a curse upon the mob that had murdered her own father. The kind princess who prioritized the citizens and the city above all else was no more. There was only a vengeful spirit who had lost her family, brimming with killing intent.
"King Minos did not offer his faith to Lord Dionysus and plotted treason. The royal family deserves to die!"
"Look here, there are still plenty of disbelievers who doubt Him! The only one who can save Crete is Lord Dionysus!"
The devotees led the mob and shouted. Everyone's eyes were unfocused. They were drunk on alcohol and drugs and were not in their right minds.
"Do you think you can murder the King and get away with it!"
The Princess swung her sword, filled with rage. Before Theseus could even stop her, the devotees and the mob were slaughtered.
"Ugh, attacking with mana!"
"The mad princess is killing people!"
Theseus ran over and grabbed Ariadne's arm. He barely managed to stop her, but a countless number of the mob had already fallen to her blade.
"Ariadne, pull yourself together."
"Haa, haa."
Bloody tears streamed down the princess's eyes. She, too, was under the influence of the poison.
"Oh, Hero! You've caught her well. The disbelieving royal family that deceives Lord Dionysus will face divine punishment... Ugh!"
A rain of arrows pierced the throat of a devotee rushing toward them. Theseus looked around at the surroundings filled with corpses, looking disgusted.
"Magnificent, Hero."
*Clap, clap.* With the sound of applause, someone entered the palace. A handsome young man wearing a laurel wreath and dressed in purple. The Mad God, Dionysus, revealed himself.
"You, what did you do?"
Theseus glared at him menacingly. Dionysus put a finger to his lips, *shhh*.
"Have you forgotten the rules already? You may only ask questions when I permit it."
He lifted a golden cup. It was filled with sloshing wine. "Hero Theseus, in recognition of your merit in subjugating the Minotaur, I shall personally bestow this cup upon you."
"I don't need it. The smell is absolutely atrocious. If I put that to my lips, my nose will rot off."
"How is it that you heroes have such foul mouths? Very well. I will permit three additional questions and answers."
Dionysus smiled and acted relaxed.
"Why did you do this? You said I would be the one to subjugate the labyrinth."
"Crete is fated to perish. I have bestowed my mercy upon those who are to find rest, granting them one final debauchery."
"You madman."
"To me, the God of Madness, that is the highest of compliments."
"Was mana your goal from the start? Are you trying to destroy Crete just to collect mana? You'll burst at the seams. What on earth are you planning to use it for?"
"A pity. The third question is void. Do not interfere in the affairs of the gods as a mere human. Just as the eagle in the sky does not know how the whale in the sea hunts, there are realms in this world that you must not know."
Dionysus laughed heartily.
"And I will specially correct the second question for you. You should have asked, 'Was it your goal to destroy Crete to collect mana,' or rather, 'How exactly was I collecting mana in Crete?'"
"What's the difference between the two?"
Dionysus's laughter grew louder. Like a man completely intoxicated.
"The labyrinth! Do you still not know? The labyrinth was my excellent source of mana. Excellent power sources called 'heroes' kept appearing, and all I had to do was collect them."
"So it was you who was killing the heroes, not the Minotaur."
"There is no difference in the result of fate. The process shouldn't matter, should it? But you subjugated the King, so now the well has run dry. It has no more value, does it?"
"What did you say?"
"The destruction of Crete is a tragedy that occurs because you subjugated the labyrinth, Hero Theseus."
Theseus snorted in disbelief. Dionysus sprinkled the remaining wine in his cup over the corpses.
"Look at this scene. It is ugly, ugly, and utterly hideous. Human nature is this foul. They mistake debauchery for madness and don't even recognize their own benefactor, the King, and kill him. Do such beings have any value in living!"
Dionysus spoke passionately.
"You might have thought I was spreading madness."
He declared with a resolute expression.
"I am collecting your weak madness to bring about peace. How can you not call this noble?"
Theseus clenched his fist tightly. Her fingernails dug into her palm, emitting mana. He judged that there was no need to listen to any more of that psychopath's nonsense. Subjugate him. When his mind was dominated by that single thought.
"No, Theseus."
Delicate fingers grabbed her wrist. Ariadne's large pupils were trembling. Theseus hesitated. His body was full of injuries from the battle with the Minotaur. Should he enter the battle now and start a fight with low odds of winning? Or should he run away with Ariadne?
"Weak. That is your true nature. Hero Theseus."
That sentence pierced his ears. True nature. Theseus, too, had been constantly doubting and searching for his true nature since coming to Crete. Is he a hero, or a king? Is he one who fights here, or one who runs away?
'I still haven't broken the habit.' He should have moved before thinking. Even though he was a few seconds late, it would be fine. The moment she wrapped herself in mana.
"Nature, my ass."
―*CRASH!* The wall of the palace was breached, and he flew in.
"Gah!"
With a single strike, he delivered a headbutt to Dionysus's back, sending him flying.
"You drive people into extreme situations and then talk about 'nature.' Hey, should I throw you into a pit of crocodiles and see if you cry or not?"
Sisyphus walked in, loosening his shoulders.
"Th-this blasphemer...!"
Dionysus stood up, spilling blood from his face, which had been mangled by the impact. *Zzzzt*, the illusion broke, and his true form began to be revealed. The face of the handsome young man disappeared, wrinkles appeared, and his beer belly began to bulge out.
"Your true nature must have been a pot-bellied drunkard."
"You bastard!!"
Madness filled the room.