Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Oath of the Styx River
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“Heave-ho!”
“Huh? Eek!”
Chuckling softly, I hooked my arms around her waist and neck and rose to my feet in a single stride. The elegant huntress let out a scream, but by the time she snapped out of it, she was already hanging off me like a koala, nestled right in my arms.
“Waaah!? W-wait a sec! This is way too embarrassing!?”
“Let’s see here... Whew, you really went all out, didn’t you?”
Maybe it was the mischief bubbling up after so long, but I had no intention of letting go of Atalanta as she wriggled in my embrace.
Her frame was a touch smaller than mine, and with her chin resting on my shoulder, she squirmed faintly as if urging me to put her down.
But her body was honest despite her words, and soon enough, she was nuzzling into me with a dreamy sigh.
“Hmph!”
“There, there, good girl?”
What could I even say? It was like Eros’s golden arrow had pierced right through both of us.
I had no desire to let go of the warmth in my arms, and Atalanta, her face flushing as red as her hair, buried her head against my shoulder all the same.
That sight drew a quiet chuckle from me. I adjusted my arm to cradle her hips more comfortably, stroked her head as the red tint deepened, and slowly took in our surroundings.
The Colosseum, which had enclosed us so tightly just moments ago, was now little more than a skeletal frame that looked ready to crumble at a tap. The shockwaves had even reached the forest beyond the ruins, leaving parts of it obliterated.
At least there was no loss of life—no groans from Blood Scent or anyone else reached my ears.
“Nngh...”
“Wait, is there a survivor left?”
“Nah, I doubt it. The nymphs and centaurs evacuated the second you two started fighting, and Jason and Theseus led everyone else to safety.”
“So why didn’t the exalted huntress join them?”
“...I dunno!”
The redheaded beauty, her face beet red, pounded lightly on my shoulder.
That adorable display stirred up even more mischief in me—a natural instinct for any man, no doubt.
“H-hey... D-don’t make fun of me...”
But what was with that dying wild boar wail?
I turned slowly and spotted Heracles crawling on the ground, his eyes swollen shut like ping-pong balls.
“Eek! P-put me down, quick!”
Atalanta shrieked and wriggled free from my arms upon realizing someone else was watching, but she had nothing to worry about.
I’d focused my attacks on his face—the only spot my blows could really land—while dodging those tree-trunk arms and legs of his. His whole face was so puffed up he couldn’t even see.
“Y-you’re still alive?”
“Pfft! Hahaha! You know it!”
Heracles laughed with a lightness in his gut, as if the rampaging beast from moments ago had vanished, looking somehow relieved.
“Nngh...! Never in my life have I been beaten so black and blue.”
“Same here—never faced such fierce strikes before.”
“Hahaha! That’s music to my ears!”
His puffy face split into a grin as he threw his head back in hearty laughter, clearly delighted.
“Haha... Haah, guess I should apologize first.”
“Hey, don’t move. You’ll reopen your wounds.”
To be fair, the bruises on his face from my fists were minor.
But his chest, where he’d taken the full brunt of Wave-Splitting Heaven Strike, bore five vivid gashes.
“Nngh... Th-this is nothing...!”
“Hey, Atalanta, got any of that potion you used to heal me?”
“Huh!? P-potion? I used it all up earlier.”
“Eh? So the real Atalanta’s right there now? Ow ow ow...!”
Atalanta flailed her head in denial, while Heracles squinted at the voice through his swollen face and yelped in pain.
“A mountain of a man like you, making a fuss over a puffy face?”
“When have I ever taken a beating like this anywhere? Whew... It hurts...”
I shot him a look of disbelief, but he jutted his lips out like a sulky child, genuinely aggrieved.
“Did you smear something on those fists or what? Never felt pain like this except from Master Chiron.”
Of course not—it was the martial art of a monster from the Heavenly Demon Cult’s ten-thousand-year history who clawed his way to cult leader solely with punches and kicks.
Legend had it a master once declared he’d conquer inner energy arts using only pure physical techniques and set out from the cult.
Demonic cults and righteous sects alike pointed fingers, calling him mad. But his fists toppled famed factions of the Central Plains one by one, until even Shaolin’s abbot bowed his head.
Then the world hailed him with awe as the Infinite Fist Demon.
He returned to the cult, ascended to leader by the law of the strong, cultivated the Heavenly Demon Divine Art to unify heart, energy, and body in transcendent unity.
And that peerless brawler, who overcame even death, later stormed the Yellow Springs, beat the grim reapers senseless, and kidnapped me back.
“Hurt that bad, huh?”
“Yeah, how to put it... Like it punched straight through my muscles into the bone?”
Oh, Fist Demon Master. You succeeded.
Your raw punches earned the nod from history’s most famed external arts master.
“Nngh... Heave-ho...!”
“Eh-hey, just lie there. What’re you trying to do, getting up again?”
“Haha... Hold on. Forge the sword white-hot, and the scabbard comes free too.”
Despite my protests, Heracles staggered to his feet and promptly dropped to one knee before me.
“...What’re you doing?”
Ignoring my question, he flashed a bloody grin, then thumped his fist against his bleeding chest and bellowed.
“I’m sorry, and thank you. Despite my failings leaving me wounded and fallen in battle, I refused defeat and rampaged madly, troubling you.
Son of Alkmene, descendant of Zeus bearing Hera’s grace, I swear by the River Styx:
Whenever you call, I shall cast all aside and rush to repay this debt.”
“What?”
“A-a Styx oath!?”
Heracles has sworn by the River Styx.
Binding chain forged between souls.
Irrevocable upon activation.
The Oath of the River Styx!
To swear by that river goddess, bearer of the underworld’s fates, invites punishment worse than death if broken.
And to utter such a grave vow over a mere loss of reason in battle?
My jaw dropped in shock, and Atalanta clapped a hand over her mouth.
But the musclehead just giggled to himself and flopped back down spread-eagled.
“Hey, losing your head in a fight happens. But jumping straight to warp speed like this!?”
“Pfft, nah. This is what it takes for a great hero to own up.”
I’d started to relax, figuring it was just an unspoken code of honor with no magical effect, when...
-Boom!
A colossal weight surged down my spine, chaining me to Heracles like iron links.
“...”
“Ooo...?”
A chilling heaviness enveloped our oath, plummeting into the river of fates below.
I could feel this reckless great hero’s vow etching itself into the Styx.
“Whew~ Didn’t think it’d actually trigger. Guess I’m kinda impressive, huh?”
“You wild boar-brained idiot... You think this is funny?”
I rubbed my temples and glared, but the deed was done.
This guy, living in Greece, had to know how grave a Styx oath was—and the weight it carried once invoked. Yet he blurted it out anyway.
And it actually activated. Felt like a hammer to the skull.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that. I know full well how heavy it is.”
“Then why’d you go and swear it, you young punk?”
“We’re not that far apart in age, you or me... Heh heh heh.”
Even those arrogant gods feared the repercussions and never uttered it lightly. Heroic boldness, or just plain crazy?
Weirdly, I was more pissed than the one who swore it.
But Heracles sobered up and looked up at me gravely.
“It’s not just an apology or settling a debt. You taught me a real lesson.”
His battered limbs, the five crusted gashes oozing on his chest.
Gazing down at them, he continued.
“I was so arrogant. The world outside teems with powerhouses like you.
Here in this little forest, I got lost in playing boss with the others, slacking on training and learning.”
Uh...?
Hold on, there’s a misunderstanding here.
“Thanks to you, my eyes are open. To meet another master here in this forest!
Shall I fear a mere oath when it’s carved into my flesh!?”
Something was very, very off.
This guy was seriously deluded.
Even outside, there’s no one your equal—and certainly not in this forest among your lackeys.
“Hey, wait a sec?”
“I’ll train harder, learn more. Here’s to working together!”
Even with eyes swollen to slits, he was every inch the great Greek hero.
That pure respect surging forth with majestic vigor gave me a throbbing headache.
“Wow, first time seeing Heracles ask someone for anything.”
“Atalanta...”
She poked my side innocently, whispering without a clue how I felt.