The Name That Lingers in the Abyss
“Wait, who is Chrono?”
I was quite satisfied with the new lodging Socrates had provided. Unlike the modern world, Greece didn't have well-maintained roads in every city or neighborhood. Sometimes you had to forge your own path, and even on existing roads, you had to risk your life against bandits and monsters. You could say it was somewhere between the primitive Ancient Land and the bleak Middle Ages. The Mediterranean had relatively low tidal ranges and favorable winds, so sea routes were well-developed, making communication between the polis fairly smooth. Still, differences in civilization were inevitable. There was no set standard for what a noble’s mansion should look like; the variance was massive. It was common for a palace in one town (I won't name Sparta specifically) to be the equivalent of a commoner's house in another. In that sense, this mansion was excellent—not huge, but two stories tall, with meticulously carved stonework and joints assembled with advanced techniques. The doors and window frames were precise, ensuring proper privacy.
“Ah, I want to hit the gym.”
Unfortunately, today was a rest day. Routine is crucial. Muscles don't grow just because you lift iron every single day. That was a lesson I learned during my ten thousand years trapped on that mountain. In the beginning, I went through a plateau where my muscles wouldn't grow at all. The secret to breaking through that plateau was, counterintuitively, to increase my rest periods and take long breaks. Muscles grow while you rest. Sticking to the routine best suited for me was the most important thing. Still, it felt a waste to just lounge around in such a nice environment.
“I mentioned neck muscles to that guy Daedalus.”
The neck is actually a very difficult area to build up because the muscles are small. Alright, maybe I’ll train my neck today. I devised an exercise method in no time.
“Hup, hup.”
I lay on the bed, tied a rope to my forehead, and connected it to a dumbbell to add weight. “Hmm.” I inadvertently thought of the old days. To become strong, I had squeezed out every possible idea, utilizing my environment to the fullest. Every day. Ten thousand years ago. Nine thousand years ago. Eight thousand years ago. One year ago… I was climbing cliffs, so I mostly worked on my back muscles.
“Chrono.”
I used to climb the mountain while chatting with that kid. It’s been almost a year since I came out into the world. “I remember the first year was the hardest for me, too.” It was the period with the most incidents. I even lost Wilson on the first anniversary. Clink. The fragment of Wilson hanging around my neck fell against my chest. The necklace Clea had made for me was sturdy; I hadn't taken it off once since then. I stopped my workout and stroked the fragment of Wilson.
“Chrono must be bored.”
I wonder if the first year is the hardest for her, too. She is the goddess of time, and since the flow of time in Tartarus is different from the mortal realm, maybe not even a few seconds have passed for Chrono. Perhaps that space is even located in a future timeline. I had grounds for that thought.
“She said Olympus is at war with Gaia.”
If the contents of the comic books I read as a child in my previous life are correct, the war happening now is the Typhonomachy. The first war was the Titanomachy, centered around Zeus and Cronus. The war happening now is the second round. The weapon Gaia used to rally the Titans was the ‘God-Slaying Dragon, Typhon.’ In other words, the guy I took down before I left Tartarus.
“So, in reality, the God-Slaying Dragon is still fighting Olympus, and because Gaia used an oracle that no god could defeat the dragon, Olympus is struggling…”
In the original myth, Olympus eventually wins. Typhon was so powerful that they couldn't exterminate him, ending with him being sealed under a giant mountain. Is the Tartarus I was in that mountain? Then that means I was trapped in the future where Olympus had already won, along with Chrono. My head hurts.
“Should I have asked Chrono sooner?”
No, well. Chrono would have just answered in a way that was hard to understand anyway. She was always like that. I’m not even sure if she knew exactly, either. She was like a computer that had data stored inside, but the output device was a new model that wouldn't load properly. She was like a child and an adult at the same time. A mysterious being. Sometimes she was even cute. I spent nearly five thousand years with her, so I know her well. And I received her help for such a long time. The reason I was able to not give up until now is certainly thanks to the lessons I learned from my mother, Penthesilea, and the many teachings and exchanges I had with others, but… Chrono. It would have been impossible without her. Therefore, conquering Olympus is a foregone conclusion for me. I have to liberate Tartarus and get her out. Just as my mother said: I repay debts tenfold, and I never forget a kindness.
It was the moment I finished organizing my thoughts and let Wilson slip from my hand.
“How arrogant.”
At the sudden voice, I tensed my nerves and took a fighting stance. The surroundings were covered in dark mist.
“Zeus!”
“Hahaha, child of a human. Do you truly think so? You, who weren't born with even a fingernail’s worth of mana, intend to bring us down?”
“Don’t hide, come out! I’m ready to fight!”
“I see a pathetic figure trembling in fear. You haven't changed at all. Not since those weak days when I ordered you to push the boulder to the top of the mountain.”
“Whether I’ve changed or not, we can verify that by clashing directly, can’t we? Appear before me and fight!”
“Hahahahaha!”
Zeus’s voice reverberated from all directions. My heartbeat quickened. My blood surged backward. Without realizing it, I began to swing my muscles wildly.
…
………….
My vision went pitch black for a moment. Where am I? Ah, I see. Tartarus. I was being punished. The punishment of having to push a boulder to the top of the mountain.
“Open it. Open the exit!!”
I don’t know what kind of sound was coming out of my mouth. My consciousness had already left my body, hovering a step away, unable to even record the memories, just letting them flow by. For ten thousand years on that mountain. I often experienced this phenomenon. One year, the period for the seasons to change once and return to the start. Ten years, the period for a child to become an adult. One hundred years, the period for a human to finish their life and for a generation to change. One hundred times that. Ten thousand seasons. I only pushed the boulder. I don't even remember what the concept of a sound mind is anymore. Expecting to hold onto it is a luxury, isn't it?
“Uwaaaaah—!!”
When my body, acting on its own, raised my right arm to destroy everything in sight—
—Rustle.
I felt a warm sensation around my waist.
“It’s okay, Sisyphus.”
“……Chrono.”
Right. Come to think of it, whenever I lost my mind like this, she was always the first to run to me. For thousands of years. Without fear, without getting tired of it. Repeatedly, repeatedly.
“It’s okay.”
Golden eyes looked up at me. At the smile she gave me, the tension in my body slowly dissolved.
“……Chrono.”
“Yes.”
“Wait just a little longer. I’ll come to get you soon.”
“……Yes.”
Chrono buried her head in me. And then.
“Sisyphus, you need to take a shower.”
“Damn trait.”
“Hehe, I like it.”
Leaving those words behind, only a cluster of golden light remained. I lost consciousness.
—Crash!
Clea’s senses sharpened at the sound of objects being violently broken upstairs.
“Sisyphus?”
Startled, she left her room. Cassandra was fast asleep in the living room. It seemed she was the only one who heard the noise. She quickly climbed to the second floor.
“Sisyphus, I’m coming in.”
Clea, who burst into his room, gasped in shock. Sisyphus was kneeling on the floor, head bowed, muttering like a broken man.
“…Chrono, where did you go? I see. The Olympus bastards took you away already. I won’t forgive…”
“Sisyphus!”
Clea rushed to him to check his condition. His eyes were unfocused. No matter how much she called him, there was no response. He hadn't lost consciousness; he was moving by spinal reflex, like a sleepwalker.
“…Training, must, train.”
“Sisyphus, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“Must get stronger… push the boulder…”
His words were unintelligible. He didn't even recognize her. She scanned the surroundings. There were no intruders. But there was a strange trace. A cluster of light, scattered with golden mana, was fading away.
‘Did I use a skill when I came in?’
It could have been the trace of her using speed to rush in. It wasn't the work of an intruder, nor was it the injury she got in Crete. Then there was only one cause left. This was a past injury. Indeed, it was certain that Sisyphus had been involved in something very big during the one year he left Corinth.
“Calm down, Sisyphus.”
Clea grabbed his arm, but it wasn't a strength she could stop. Sisyphus didn't recognize Clea and his breathing became increasingly labored.
“More, must get stronger.”
“No. Sisyphus is already strong enough.”
“Must take down Olympus. Must repay my debt to Chrono.”
Sisyphus’s muscles bulged. She could tell he was agitated and extremely tense. “Must get stronger!” If she left him like this, something really bad would happen.
“Sisyphus!”
She didn't know why he was like this. She didn't know what had happened at all. But for now, she wanted to stop his pain immediately. She wanted to stop him. Clea instinctively hugged Sisyphus tightly.
“…….”
Fortunately, his movements gradually stopped. She felt his muscles relax. Clea felt relieved inside. Only then did she realize she had done something quite embarrassing. It was the first time she had hugged Sisyphus.
‘……Ugh.’
Skin pressed against skin with only a layer of cloth between them. She could feel the blood flowing beneath, the heartbeat, the chest rising and falling with his breath. Clea closed her eyes tightly to avoid thinking strange thoughts. This wasn't the time for such foolishness. Her priority was returning Sisyphus to comfort.
Sisyphus, perhaps because it had an effect, calmed down. Clea opened her eyes as she felt a gentle hand stroking the back of her head.
‘…Huh?’
When she lifted her head, she saw a face of Sisyphus she didn't know. It was, how should she put it… a tender expression, as if he were treating a beloved lover.
“Sisyphus—”
“Thank you, Chrono.”
Clea’s heart sank. That name he kept repeating. She had an intuition. It was a woman’s intuition. It certainly wouldn't be the name of a friend or colleague.
“Your hair has grown long.”
Sisyphus said, stroking her side hair. A strange emotion, both pleasant and bitter, welled up inside her.
“Wait a little longer. I’ll come to get you soon.”
Clea’s lips trembled. Sisyphus, with his unfocused eyes. What is he seeing right now? It was certain that it was a woman other than her. Just who could it be? What kind of woman could she be to remain deeper in Sisyphus’s subconscious than me, who has been with him since childhood?
A sticky emotion flowed down from her heart. Still.
‘If Sisyphus can find comfort…’
Even if he mistakes me for that woman…
“Yes, I’m here. Sisyphus.”
Clea hugged Sisyphus’s waist even tighter. He leaned his body against her in response. Familiarly. She hated that familiar attitude so much, but it was as comforting as it was hateful. So Clea decided.
‘……I don’t know.’
She decided to give up on thinking.
I woke up, and my body felt terrible. I shouldn't do neck exercises. It felt like I had fainted because the blood wasn't circulating.
“Did that bastard Dionysus leave a curse behind?”
The 1072-year-old alcoholic geezer’s final wine-pouring show that gave everything. Well, since I jumped in with my bare body, it might have had an effect. I thought of the goddess who welcomed me with a beaming smile. I was about to leave the room thinking I should visit the temple, but Clea was there.
“Hello, Sisyphus.”
For some reason, her eyes were swollen.
“Didn't you sleep well? You don't look good.”
“No, I slept well. Maybe I’m just not used to the bed.”
“Maybe that’s why I tossed and turned, too.”
“I have one thing to ask you.”
“Yeah.”
Clea asked me with a serious face.
“…By any chance, who is Chrono?”