The Hydra (1)

Life has become surprisingly comfortable since I made Athens my base of operations. The mansion provided by the royal family is quite pleasant to live in. Perhaps because of that burglary incident a while back, I’ve even been assigned a personal guard.

"Good morning, Sisyphus. I see you've been to the temple."

"Arkas, have you eaten yet?"

"Yes. Just as you suggested, I’ve reduced my grain intake in the mornings, and I feel much more refreshed."

Arkas is a member of the Imperial Guard, originally from Thebes. It’s a bit strange for a hero of his caliber to be stuck with such menial tasks, but he was specifically dispatched to me. We’ve become quite familiar, and we often engage in a light bout of arm wrestling whenever we cross paths. Upon returning, I never skip the routine I developed over ten thousand years, ensuring my muscles get the proper stimulation. Twice a week, I have Merope’s check-up. I scan the guild for requests, and if something decent pops up, I knock it out in a day or a three-day excursion before heading back. Isn't this what they call a "god-tier life"—a diligent, productive existence? I almost want to brag to my lazy past self.

"Sisyphus, there's a strange smell lately."

"That Cyclops bastard. Is it still that bad?"

I still haven't managed to erase that Cyclops power trait. I had sold off the treasures I received from the Princess of Crete and saved up a fair amount of money from requests, determined to finally get rid of it, but guess what happened?

Why am I periodically cursed with such shitty traits? In the end, I had to spend my gold coins to erase that one, so the smell remains. Meanwhile, Cassandra is thriving.

"Hoho, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sisyphus. Look at this. I acquired the Giant Heart trait from that giant frog subjugation request the other day. My mana capacity has doubled!"

Even when we hunt the same magical beast, Cassandra gets good traits. Well, I am Sisyphus, the man marked by every god on Olympus. My innate Luck stat must have gone past negative and burrowed straight into the underworld. But what can I do about it?

"No, wait. If I find someone like the Goddess of Luck and beat the hell out of her..."

"Sisyphus?"

"Oh, sorry. My mind wandered. I'm sorry about the smell, just bear with it a little longer. I'll buy some perfume or something."

"Huh? No, that's not what I meant. I don't... I don't dislike your scent, Sisyphus. It's just that I smell another bitch... another woman on you."

"What are you talking about? Speak clearly, don't mumble."

"Ah, no..."

Clea’s head drooped lower and lower as she spoke, as if she were trying to dig a hole into the ground. Ever since she became a hero, she seems to have less confidence than before. Why is that? But a life of only such routine would be boring.

"The black-haired Spartan, Sisyphus. You have a fine body, just as I heard."

An event has occurred. I was leaving the mansion to grab lunch with Perseus when we ran into something.

"I hear my servant was indebted to you."

A sturdy man draped in a lion's skin. He was about my height. "Brother, do you know this person?"

"No."

The moment I saw him, I felt it. Muscles recognize muscles. Before we even spoke, our pectorals were already locking eyes. 'Quite impressive.'

Thump, thump. Every step he took echoed with heavy weight. Behind him stood three other men. Two were sturdy, one was small. I recognized the small one immediately.

"The petty thief from last time?"

"Petty thief? Watch your mouth, Delta-rank! That was a misunderstanding, wasn't it? I am Hylas, the hero of Beta!"

Right, that was his name.

"Mind your manners, Hylas."

"I apologize, Master."

The large man hoisted a massive sword onto his shoulder as if showing it off. "Sisyphus, I've heard rumors of your heroic tales. You've achieved great feats, haven't you? Seeing you in person, you don't look like a coward who would bluff with unearned fame. I applaud you."

He turned his head to his servant. "Hylas, your misunderstanding was understandable. It happened without you meeting him directly. Apologize for that."

"Understood. I am sorry, Sisyphus."

"Now, our servant has apologized, and as a great hero, it would be logical for you to show mercy and reconcile, wouldn't it? What do you think?"

Hmm. I try not to hold prejudices if ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I can help it. But... every word this guy uses is grating. His blatant display of weaponry is one thing, but he's not some ignorant brute like his size suggests. He is carefully imbuing his words with intent. The intent to stand on top.

"That phrasing is incorrect. Reconciliation is only possible when both sides are at fault. This time, we were the ones unilaterally harmed, so whether or not we forgive you is our freedom."

Perseus stepped in. He said exactly what I was thinking.

"Haha, well now. We came here to talk things out nicely, so why be like this?"

"For someone who came to talk, you didn't even introduce yourself, which is very rude. You must be aware that this is not the attitude of someone seeking an apology."

"Hahahaha." He nodded as if he found it absurd. "I am Heracles, the hero of Sigma, son of Zeus, the god of the sky. Will you listen to me now?"

Well, I expected as much. It's hard to imagine anyone else as ignorant-looking as him being Heracles. It’s quite arrogant to assume everyone in the world naturally knows who you are.

"I am Perseus, the hero of Alpha, son of Dictys. You may have come here to downplay the wrong your servant committed as a mutual squabble, but that matter is already closed. We received compensation through a meeting, so we have no complaints. Please leave."

"My, what stubborn people. Don't you think that 'compensation' was excessive?"

So that was his goal. He came to get the mansion back for Hylas. Heracles' teeth were bared. Sharp, beast-like fangs glinted. Whoosh. His arm began to move. No one else had perceived it yet. He intends to show his martial prowess to Perseus, it seems.

Clack. I caught his wrist.

"Solid forearms. Do you go to a gym?"

"...How did you catch that?"

Our arms were locked in an X-shape, frozen in mid-air. A subtle, invisible clash of strength. I locked eyes with his white pupils. They were eyes that reminded me of Zeus.

"Beasts who think they can stand on top by using numbers, weapons, and displays of strength are everywhere."

"You dare insult my Master?! You bastard!" Hylas, Heracles' servant, stepped forward.

"Athens is a city of intellectuals. You don't seem to realize how you're being perceived. However."

Bang! Our arms finished the struggle and broke the lock.

"That’s not our style, is it? Stop yapping and do whatever you want."

He wanted a provocation, so I gave him one. Heracles' lips curled upward slowly.

"Keuhahaha."

He’d been hiding it well until now. His true, primal instincts were bursting out, and the expression on his face—licking his lips as if he wanted to tear my throat out right then and there—was no different from a beast.

"It’s been a while. Someone who dares to challenge me without fear, even though they aren't a magical beast."

CRASH! Heracles slammed his sword into the ground with brute force.

"As a Sigma, I can't just wrestle with you, a Delta. It would be a problem if I killed you by mistake. I understand you have no intention of reconciling."

Hylas stepped between us and shouted with gusto. "Foolish bastard! You’ve just been marked by Heracles! Do you know his nickname? He’s the 'Disaster Hunter.' He’s never satisfied unless it’s a disaster-class magical beast or a divine beast!"

He pulled a request form from his robes. "We are going to subjugate this disaster-class beast now. The Hydra. A giant snake with nine heads. It’s not a snake; it’s a siege tank. A disaster-class that appeared on the coast of Marathon two days ago! No one but a Sigma-class hero like Heracles could even touch it!"

"Hmm."

The Hydra. A magical beast famous for growing two heads every time one is cut off. Its venom is so lethal that it’s often used to hunt other magical beasts. I wonder if it would be useful to collect some of that poison.

Hylas spread his hands wide. "There are ten! The teeth of the Nemean Lion, the charging power of the Bull, the kick of the Centaur, the bones of the Giants. Heracles has ten powerful traits. You can't even compare! Watch your back at night. Pray you don't cross paths with Heracles again!"

"Stop it, Hylas. You look pathetic yapping like that."

"I apologize, Master."

Perseus asked Heracles, "Heracles, why did you become a hero?"

Heracles laughed heartily and replied, "Because the gods of Olympus are watching me. Can't you feel their gaze? If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you achieve great feats, reasonable rewards follow. Money, fame, women. And even stronger mana and power. If you’re a hero, you must have felt it too."

"Rewards are something that follow as a result."

"It’s the same thing in the end. If you get the attention of the gods, there will come a day when you’re invited to the celestial palace. You only live once; as a man, shouldn't you aim for the highest seat?"

He was rambling on, but I had no interest. My attention was fixed on the request form Hylas was holding. I snatched the request from his hand.

"Hey, you bastard, give that back!"

"Looks decent enough."

"What? And what are you going to do if it is?"

I didn't answer.

"Y-you crazy bastard..."

Heracles, having no more business here, pulled his sword from the ground and hoisted it onto his shoulder. "The Hydra is my prey. I can feel the gaze of Athena somewhere in Athens right now. It’s a sure-fire opportunity to score points."

Heracles walked away after saying that. The latissimus dorsi on his back bulged in a strange way. Hmm, can mana become like steroids if you get addicted to it the wrong way? Heracles' eyes were definitely not normal.

"Perseus, do you like mana too?"

"I hone my techniques diligently, but I wouldn't want to end up like that."

"Right. You'll live longer if you work out hard with me. In my opinion, that guy won't last ten years."

"As expected, you see a lot of things, Brother. I would have been in big trouble if not for your advice when I returned home. Oh, speaking of which, I almost forgot."

Perseus returned the Stone of Petrification to me. After we reunited, he had told me the story of his hometown. His uncle, the King of Polis, had fallen for his mother and tried to kill Perseus because he was in the way. He said he escaped the crisis by counterattacking with the Stone of Petrification. The throne is now being taken over by Dictys, Perseus's biological father. In other words, Perseus has suddenly become the Crown Prince. It was a pretty dynamic story, but he told it quite calmly.

"Let's go hunt that snake, too."

"I was waiting for that. I will prepare immediately. The local residents must be suffering."

"Yeah."

Marathon is a city not far north of Athens. It was a coastal city, about one-fifth the size of Athens. We packed our bags lightly and three days later...

"My umbrella! My umbrella flew away! I bought it with so much money!"

Amidst a storm that drowned out even Cassandra's screams, we arrived at the coast of Marathon, where the Hydra had anchored.