Chapter 111 – Justification And Desire
Huh, look at this guy.
Theseus boldly pointed his sword at , challenging to a duel.
Though I could see his dark intentions clearly, he appeared like a prince on a white horse trying to rescue a tragic heroine.
With all eyes already on us, openly provoking to a duel was one of two things.
‘He’s either cornered, or he has sothing up his sleeve.’
Or it could be both.
Anyway, it was quite a fresh experience.
I had encountered enough political scheming in the past that it wasn’t surprising, but to think the one trying to play politics this ti was none other than a hero from mythology.
‘In the end, whether here or there, people live the sa, huh?’
Whether it was this smart-looking prince or that psycho from the Zhuge family who manipulated people with a friendly smile.
Ultimately, if you trace back the origins of war, its essence was always greed.
Now, let’s think about it.
Theseus was known for his wisdom and military strategy, second only to Jason in the Forest of Heroes.
Soone like him, no matter how much he tried to rationalize it or take down, must have known that ordinary strategies wouldn’t work against .
‘Unless he really brings in soone like Chiron or Hercules. There’s no chance of winning.’
So, what was it then?
What could he possibly be aiming for by challenging ?
The way he looked at Atalanta was unusual, but…
‘Oh, no way.’
His nickna was “the Wise Hero” after all. He wouldn’t have escalated things like this just over Atalanta, right?
More likely, his goal was to challenge , either to win or, even if he lost, to tarnish the reputation I had gained from yesterday’s duel.
That tarnished reputation would be his to claim. Even if I overwhelmingly beat him, he could still play the sympathy card.
In the end, I’d be seen as nothing more than a powerful villain, while the sympathy and glory, along with Atalanta, would fall into his hands.
It was a shallow but calculated plan.
‘Tsk, tsk, tsk… Such a promising guy wasting his talents on tricks like this.’
It was a typical example of a jealous talent I had seen countless tis while climbing the ranks of the Demonic Cult.
These guys have considerable personal skills but waste their good brains and abilities on petty politics.
And judging by how confidently he was speaking…
“I saw it too! He quietly called Atalanta and ruthlessly assaulted her!”
“He even dropped her from a high place!”
“Even when the woman cried with a broken arm, he continued with his fists….”
Aha, bingo.
Here they co, the instigators.
A quick scan of the area with my senses revealed that it was the demigods Troy and Athens, always seen around Theseus, who were eagerly spreading the rumors.
The problem was that it was working.
Even I thought the Reverse Heavenly Cultivation technique I showed yesterday was rather unsettling.
-Murmur, murmur.
-Whisper, whisper.
Hmm~
The fragrant scent of jealousy and suspicion.
I could eat three loaves of bread without any yogurt at this rate.
“Hey, hey… Theseus, why all of a sudden…?”
Even Hercules, clueless as ever, was taken aback and tried to stop Theseus, but I raised my hand and silently gestured for him to stay out of it.
If a promising strategist like Theseus was going to try so political maneuvering, I had to play along.
With quests continuing day after day, and not even having received all the rewards yet, another new quest popping up was slightly exhausting.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen soone like this kid, who openly displays such stark jealousy and greed, so it was quite amusing.
In that case.
Shall I overturn the board they’ve set up first?
“Alright, I accept it.”
-!!
“What…?”
Perhaps they didn’t expect to accept so readily, as Theseus and the audience gasped in surprise.
But it was too early to be shocked.
“Surely, you don’t an to suggest a one-on-one duel with …”
“…Yes, it’s frustrating, but I am too weak to rescue her from your grasp! However, my comrades, a righteous army, will face you!”
“Oh…”
I was once again surprised.
He openly declared that he would gang up on , yet still managed to look so righteous and upright while saying it.
There really is sothing to be said for having a good appearance.
But that was still within expectations.
A quick glance around showed about two hundred or so young heroes, all glaring at with grim determination.
Besides that, considering Theseus’s reputation, if people were summoned with various promises and persuasion, it would easily exceed five hundred.
But even among those standing around with that air of righteous indignation, I could see fear and doubt in their eyes. The battle was already lost before it had begun.
Theseus likely expected this, planning for the heroes to turn their awe of into fear and resentnt, isolating and furthering his own cause.
It was indeed a clever sche from the Wise Hero.
However, I intended to exploit this in reverse.
“As you all know.”
When was it? I heard that in Athens, sages would hold public debates on a large stage in front of the public.
A true duel of words, using every manner of rhetoric and logic to achieve one’s desires.
I didn’t know how skilled Theseus, future king of Athens, was at rhetoric, but if it was about playing with human desires, he was no match for .
‘Be grateful to .’
I shall turn these suicidal volunteer soldiers under your command into berserkers who would willingly jump into the fire.
“My lover, the Princess of the Sea, the beautiful nymph Nesneria, is the renowned Nereid nymph, by rank, the sister of Amphitrite, Queen of the Sea, and wife of Poseidon. She is the youngest daughter of Oceanus, the King of the Ocean.”
What is the heaviest, most absolute, and most provocative subject in Greece?
It is the gods.
Eternally immortal, beautiful, and powerful absolutes.
Among them, the nas of the ancient Titan giants appeared alongside the great gods of Olympus, silencing the murmuring crowd and even stopping Theseus, who was energetically criticizing .
The ancient-style instigation that disappeared in an instant was just a bonus.
“But as everyone knows, despite their beauty and kind hearts, her sisters, the sisters of the beautiful thousand waves, are so lonely deep in the sea.”
Beautiful spirits, kind hearts, lonely.
Moreover, they are not just common nymphs but are almost akin to minor goddesses, descendants of the Titan giants?
There could hardly be anything more captivating to young n’s ears than this.
In fact, their eyes, which had been solemn and drooping as if watching a suicide squad, beca so bright that they were practically glowing.
“In the midst of all this, when I went to the sea last ti, the sisters of my lover made a request to . Like their lovely youngest, they too wish to form beautiful connections, but they are afraid of the wicked n on land and the reckless gods, so they fear coming ashore.”
So they said they, too, want to et strong, heroic n to protect their dear youngest.
-….!!!
For a mont, I saw it.
The eyes and shoulders of the quiet young heroes trembled at my words, though everyone anticipated my next words.
Hoping for my assurance, they all looked at with longing eyes.
“Gasp…!”
The atmosphere flipped in an instant with just a few of my words.
Theseus, realizing too late that he should have stopped , held his breath, but the montum had already shifted to .
“Oooo… Could it be?”
‘…Who the hell are you, punk?!’
Amidst this, Hercules, standing by with a silly grin, was… best left ignored.
He was like a wild boar, and paying attention to him would be endless, so I decided to disregard him.
“Anyway, everyone knows. In this forest, except for Hercules, no matter how many co at , they can’t be my match.”
It wasn’t arrogance or pride, just a simple fact.
Those who witnessed the colossal battle yesterday, which even awed , couldn’t dare refute this grand premise.
I, the demigod called Dianes, am very, very strong.
So much so that none could stand equally against except for that Hercules.
“However, since ancient tis, the one who wins the heart of a beauty is neither the strong nor the wealthy. Only the courageous have won beauties, gained honor, and were recorded in history!”
Still, they needed a reason to fight .
Not just so noble cause or weak sense of justice.
If I gave them a real, visceral reason, sothing worth risking their lives for…
“As one who couldn’t refuse the wishes of the beautiful Nereid nymphs, daughters of Oceanus, sisters of the thousand waves, I promise.”
After the war with Theseus, those who will bravely stand against and who will leave a strong impression on shall return on the night of Deter’s harvest festival.
Under the moonlit beach, you shall hear the beautiful chorus of nymphs and have the chance to sing with them.
I paused here slightly, teasing them for a mont.
-…!!!
When the silent n’s desire reached its peak.
I roared like a lion, igniting their passions.
“How about it? Considering we’re all born with bells hanging down there, don’t you think it’s ti to risk your life for sothing worth it?!”
With my words, the quiet campfire turned upside down.
-Whoooooo!!!
-Dianes! Dianes! Dianes! Dianes!
The young heroes chanted my na like fanatics welcoming a god, raising their spirits.
Their appearance was as fierce and zealous as a desperate squad ready for a final stand.
“Ugh…!”
Theseus was bewildered by the sudden 180-degree shift in the atmosphere.
eting Theseus’s eyes, I couldn’t suppress my amusent.
Thus, all his sches were completely thwarted.
With such enthusiasm, the war would naturally go well.
However, what would remain in their minds after the war would not be them fiercely fighting under Theseus’s command or the evil demon Dianes.
It would be themselves, heading to et beautiful nymphs after a passionate battle, led by Dianes.
What? Losing the war but winning the ga?
‘What kind of boring nonsense are you talking about?’
If you’re going to make a move, you should co at it with the determination to devour everything.
“Grrr…”
“Haha, now I’m starting to get excited.”
Right?
The sight of Theseus, his handso face contorted with anger, made the goat milk I was drinking taste even sweeter.
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