Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Hermes' Riddle
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Damn.
I'd literally been paid back in my own coin.
To think that a light jab from me would lead straight into a full-force counterpunch.
This time, as I fell silent, the trickster god's eyes lit up with amusement again, and he started taunting me once more.
"Kee-hee-hee... What's wrong? Your face is as white as a sheet?"
"When I have no idea when or where an orbital strike might come raining down from the sky. Wouldn't your head hurt too?"
I shot him a glare loaded with my inner turmoil, but Hermes—shod in winged sandals and swaying in midair—could only clutch his belly and cackle.
"Apollo and Artemis had tough childhoods, so their sibling bond is something else, you know? Which means your worries aren't entirely unfounded."
"That so..."
To be honest, the info Hermes had shared was pretty helpful—hell, extremely helpful.
Where else in the world could you hear news from the distant realm of the gods?
It was that face bobbing in front of me—the smug, punchable mug that screamed "this is what schadenfreude looks like"—that was the problem.
"Ugh... Keep teasing me, and I'm gonna blow. That worried, huh?"
"Just a few days ago, I nearly lost my head to Moon-Gazing Granny on a stroll through the woods."
"Moon-Gazing Granny... Pfft! Puhahaha! Oh man!"
Hermes doubled over laughing at the nickname I'd coined, but seriously—wasn't that brat or her little pet the real culprit?
Good lord, she launches a headshot out of nowhere first, then runs crying to her big bro like, "Bro! He hit me!" instead of being embarrassed about getting outplayed?
'So Atalanta's shamelessness comes from her mom, huh...'
Confucius! Mencius!
You guys were right!
You can teach and rehabilitate a person, but a beast that bites people? You gotta beat it down!
'Should I have gone all out, consequences be damned?'
She's a goddess, so she wouldn't die, but I'd held back just enough that the crazy bitch went on a rampage instead.
If I was gonna touch her anyway, I should've smashed her properly so she'd be whimpering in a corner...
'Then it wouldn't have been sunlight—it would've been lightning bolts raining down.'
Even thinking back, that had been the best I could do at the time, but I couldn't help regretting not crushing her while I had the chance.
"Aigoo... You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?"
"Hm?"
"...Like how back in that forest, I should've gone all the way with Lady Artemis?"
Figures. A god who'd claimed a seat among Olympus's Twelve with nothing but his wits.
He'd pierced right to the heart of my thoughts.
Still, no way was I admitting I wanted to beat down a god of equal status, so I flashed a grin and shook my head.
"Nah. Though I did wanna sock this pretty young face flapping around and giggling in front of me."
"Eh...eh?! Me, this cute?!"
...Should I kill him, Dianes?
Hold it in, Heavenly Demon within me.
This handsome devil's cutesy act from a swarthy dude was igniting my killing intent, but I mustered the patience of three lifetimes to barely restrain myself.
If I'd regained my past life's power right now, a Finger Flick would've rocketed straight into that shiny forehead, no cap.
"Urgh... What to do."
Just a fly buzzing around? Nah, he's still a god—that'd be too harsh.
Treat him like a hyper kid bouncing around the room, I figured, and started brainstorming countermeasures.
'Hit the training hard? Swap in poison qi from Absorbing Star Art and Asclepius's toxins... But sucking up that impure energy would bite me in the ass when I try to advance later...
Still, gotta survive first...'
"Ahem!"
"...What?"
"Look. What're you even worried about? You've got the god of strategy and cunning right in front of you—the one who repelled Apollo without saying a word!
And get this! That god is so merciful, he hasn't forgotten the one chance he promised you!"
Strategy and cunning my ass—trickery and swindling, maybe.
But the golden-curled god had a point.
In the myths I remembered, Hermes stole all of Apollo's cattle clean, yet charmed him so hard he got a lyre in return and snagged the title of god of herdsmen. He might have a clever trick up his sleeve.
"Alright, should I write up a poem and offer it like you said, Lord Hermes?"
"Pfft, weak sauce. Even if Apollo raved about your poem and swore to meet you someday, it won't stack up to a brother's love for his sister."
Judging by how Hermes shook his head like the mere thought made him queasy, that was a pass.
My calligraphy master had lectured me on mindset when composing poetry anyway.
Forced verses are worth less than street noise—seize the inspiration when it strikes, but if your heart isn't in it, don't even grind the ink.
The poems I'd posted at Ares's and Zeus's temples had flowed naturally from old memories anyway. Forcing one now wouldn't convince the patron of bards.
"If you want answers from me, use the chance I officially gave you. You think you can sneak a free oracle on the sly?"
"Tch."
He'd caught on.
My masters back home would've spilled nicely if I scratched the right itch.
Not an easy mark.
"Then formally, Hermes, I seek your answer. How can I evade Apollo's wrath?"
Asking a god directly counted as properly requesting an oracle, so I knelt on the floor in respect.
Hermes grinned in satisfaction, crossed his arms, and opened his mouth in a dignified tone.
Very well, traveler from afar. I bless your new journey and shall teach you how to evade the sun god's fury.
Recall the tale of the child born without a midwife's aid, how he earned his divine office.
In this forest where heroes grow, deep within lies the sons of Hephaestus. Show them the answer, and the path shall open.
"...What?"
I knew it.
Got my hopes up at "oracle," but of course.
Spouting cryptic nonsense while radiating divine power, Hermes grinned in satisfaction.
Oracle ends! My task from the queen is done. Stay safe till we meet again, new friend met after a century!
"Wait, hold on! At least give me a hint...!"
-Whoosh!
Before I could grab him, Hermes vanished in a flash of light, leaving only a playful wink behind.
* * *
After Hermes departed.
I finally got to follow the Hero's Forest regular curriculum for the first time in three days.
New students entering the Hero's Forest are supposed to learn the layout under Chiron-selected or self-volunteered guides.
"Lemme see... Infirmary, central altar—check. Colosseum... flew over that..."
Despite the incidents, my guide—picked by Chiron—was still Atalanta.
She'd mellowed a bit, but the ever-energetic girl had dragged me out of the infirmary the moment Hermes vanished.
"Alright! I've got the whole plan mapped out!"
Atalanta unfurled the map with a flourish and pointed out each spot.
"First off, since we're out of the infirmary, we'll swing by the nymphs' woods for a peek at literature class. Then pay respects to Lady Karyklo. A bit farther, there's the centaur field training ground, and then..."
Chattering excitedly, Atalanta bounced like a little sparrow.
Her chirping was a welcome sound after so long; I listened quietly, which only hyped her up more as she rattled off the tour route.
"Finally... the coastal run course! It's supposed to be every morning, but no one's run it in months thanks to that Heracles wild boar rampage!"
She wrapped up the tour bragging how gorgeous the twilight would be when we arrived at dusk.
"One day won't cut it, huh?"
I said it half-jokingly, but it was true.
From the map and her bubbly rundown, even rushing we'd barely finish in a day.
"That's why we gotta hustle! When Hermes' riddles give you a headache, folks usually lap the forest asking for advice!"
"Hermes' riddle?"
"Yeah, he loves pranks—hides our stuff and makes us solve riddles to find it. Your face when you came in? Identical to everyone who's gotten one."
She'd walked in to find Hermes gone and me racking my brain, so she'd yanked me out forcibly.
Even as I softly declined—not in the mood—she'd insisted on starting the tour. Guess this was her way of cheering me up.
Well, sometimes you gotta circle back when you're stuck.
"Then, beautiful huntress. May I trouble you for the tour?"
At my teasing, Atalanta giggled and nodded eagerly.
"Of course! Today's gonna be a blast!"
Her delighted giggle reminded me of Nesneria, whom I hadn't properly greeted recently.
'...Wonder if she's doing okay?'
Nymphs flit from one fun thing to the next anyway, so she's probably gossiping happily with her sisters by now.
"Let's go!"
With Atalanta's cheerful cry, I stepped out, smiling faintly at the image of Nesneria chattering away underwater with her siblings.