Soon, it was time for Athena’s monthly visit to Asterios.
Looking at Asterios, whose body was now almost fully developed, Athena felt as if a lifetime had passed.
It felt like only yesterday he was so small, needing to hold her hand as she led him along; now, he was as tall as she was.
Moreover, every part of his body was robust and powerful, as if he had completely transformed into a true man.
This change momentarily left Athena speechless.
Instead, it was Asterios who smiled at her and reached out his hand.
Athena chuckled at his proactive manner, then placed her hand in his, and the two of them walked happily across the meadow.
“I visit you so rarely, you wouldn’t blame me, would you~?” Athena asked him with a smile.
Asterios immediately replied that he wasn’t so petty; he had always been a generous person.
Athena remained satisfied with his performance.
This child was just like her, completely different from her foolish brother.
In fact, Athena felt that most of those boisterous Greek heroes were not the type she favored.
“You’re getting older, Asterios.
Others your age are already thinking about how to achieve their own great deeds.
Yet you still only care about the peaceful times in Pelion Cave.
This is not the way of a hero.” Hearing Athena say this, Asterios tilted his head and said in a helpless tone, “I just feel I should think more and act only once I’m certain of what I should do.
Athena, I have my own thoughts, don’t I?” “Hmph~ Great deeds on this land are finite—once they’re done, they’re gone.
Wandering monsters, mortal kingdoms, grand adventures…
if you’re late, others will claim them.
Besides, I know your character; you aren’t the type who can unscrupulously violate morality.
But if someone like you remains unknown for a lifetime, wouldn’t that make me seem quite incompetent~?” Athena was a bit displeased now, though her tone remained mostly teasing.
She didn’t want the child she favored to waste his life away in Pelion Cave, spending his days as an ordinary person.
With her help, he could easily become a wise king praised by all, or the greatest legend in the mouths of bards.
Asterios stopped in his tracks, turned to look at Athena, and asked a question.
“You gave me my name, and we all know what it means.
Since I am your Star Fighter, it’s impossible for me to waste this life.
As you wish, I will become a hero, I will build my legend, and my deeds will become stories praised by everyone.” This was Asterios’s promise to Athena.
He naturally knew he would become a hero, do what must be done, and do what was right.
This was his duty.
He understood now that since he possessed power, he shouldn’t fret over why he had it, but rather use it to do what he ought to do.
Athena felt an even greater joy now.
Since Asterios had promised to do so, he would surely follow through.
This child she favored would be no worse than the weapon her father had forged to deal with the war against the Giant Spirits.
However, at this moment, Athena had no idea what kind of power Asterios actually possessed.
In her imagination, no matter what great deeds Asterios achieved, he would certainly require her help.
Her presence in Asterios’s life should be indispensable and inevitable.
It was just that no one seemed to have any intention of telling Athena.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to tell her, but rather they felt that as the goddess currently closest to Asterios, she surely must already know.
Asterios spent a peaceful day with Athena, a day that belonged to them.
Once the happy time with Asterios ended, Athena had to return to her daily work as the Goddess of War and Master of Wisdom.
After all, she wasn’t the type of goddess with nothing to do; she still had serious business to attend to.
But just after Athena left, someone else—or rather, another god—sought out Asterios.
Aphrodite appeared before him, lifting a wine flask and asking with a smile if he’d join her for a few drinks.
She was in high spirits.
Asterios gave a helpless smile, but then he nodded, indicating he accepted the invitation.
Aphrodite had brought not only fine wine but also delicacies.
“I’m feeling quite cheerful~ Asterios.
Compared to that dull-witted blonde brat, it turns out I’m actually the one who knows you better right now.” Aphrodite clinked her glass gently against Asterios’s, a drop or two of wine from her cup splashing into his.
If it were anyone else, they would likely feel a surge of pleasure and excitedly swallow the drink.
But Asterios’s friend was The Awakened One; his resistance to such things was naturally different.
“If you say that, I’ll think you’re simply so bored that you’ve become like someone with a mental disorder, spying on other people’s private lives.
I assume you wouldn’t go that far, would you?
Goddess of Love and Beauty~” Asterios responded to Aphrodite with a lighthearted attitude.
Aphrodite laughed, tilting her beautiful, snowy-white neck, and said she simply had nothing better to do.
After all, love is an emotion humans are born with; she merely possesses the power to amplify that feeling in their hearts, not that she is love itself.
“Knowledge is a good thing.
Prometheus, the God of Wisdom, is still chained to the Caucasus Mountains with a giant eagle pecking at his liver, likely because Zeus felt his knowledge would threaten the status of the gods.
And now, for me, knowledge of your daily life is equally delightful, because that blonde brat who favors you is completely ignorant of these things.” Having said that, she used two slender, white fingers to pick up a slice of beef and offered it to Asterios.
Asterios didn’t want to offend her, so he couldn’t refuse and opened his mouth to eat.
As he chewed the flavorful beef, Aphrodite leaned in and whispered into his ear.
“She’s like a little rule-following fool~ not even as good as a rule-breaker like me~ She doesn’t know about your budding love, your immense power, or the innocent feelings in your heart~ Asterios, you are so lovely, naive, and pure~ With such great power, why don’t you overthrow the God King and become the master of Greece?” In an instant, cold sweat poured down Asterios’s back.