Because Asterios had returned quite late, and then added the time spent hunting and cleaning the prey, by the time he finally ate at Atalanta’s home, it was already dinner.
He sat there in his seat, with Atalanta’s Adoptive Father opposite him.
Atalanta was busy at the stove, while the two of them waited to eat.
Atalanta’s Adoptive Father looked at Asterios with a chuckle, while Asterios sat in his seat, modest and upright, allowing himself to be scrutinized by Atalanta’s Adoptive Father.
How should one put it?
It was like a father-in-law looking at his son-in-law, the more he looked, the more pleased he became.
By this time, the sky outside had dimmed, and it was already dark.
The Adoptive Father watched Atalanta; he looked at the busy young girl, his heart filled with a sense of relief.
After a while, Atalanta brought over the roasted meat and barley cakes.
As soon as she set them down, she immediately turned back to fetch the soup she had made, fresh vegetables, and figs.
“It’s a bit simple, please don’t stand on ceremony.
After all, I didn’t expect this child to suddenly invite a friend home for dinner.
To be honest, if I had known earlier, I should have prepared some bread.” The Adoptive Father smiled, reached out, ladled himself a bowl of soup, and then took a barley cake and began to tear it apart.
Asterios also smiled and replied that it didn’t matter, then began to eat in a relaxed manner.
“My daughter has a stubborn temper.
She doesn’t really get close to boys her own age, so she doesn’t have any male friends.
Back when we moved to Colchis to live, she got along quite well with girls her own age.
At that time, I was still lamenting in my heart, wondering when she would treat boys with the same attitude.” The Adoptive Father’s story made Asterios pause for a moment, then he smiled and said he hadn’t expected them to have been to Colchis, as that was very far from here.
“It is indeed very far, but at that time I thought I was still young, and I had to find a way to save up some dowry for this child.
Life here is peaceful, certainly, but it is very far from wealth.
I have to consider this child’s future, after all.” Hearing this, Atalanta’s face flushed completely red; I’m afraid her face could be used to fry an egg right now.
Asterios, however, just smiled.
He said that if one wanted wealth, that was very simple.
It was just that he really didn’t have much interest in wealth and fame.
“I heard from Chiron that the Goddess who protects you is the Goddess of War, Athena.
What is her promise to you?” The Adoptive Father asked about this aspect with a smile, and Asterios truthfully answered with the two paths Athena had prepared for him.
A hero whose name would go down in history, or a wise king praised by all—Athena had already chosen the paths for him.
Asterios could even guess which city-state Athena had chosen for him, but he just didn’t have much interest in these things.
The Adoptive Father sighed; this was the future of those beloved by the gods on this land.
The gods had long since prepared everything for him, yet he himself was simply not interested.
At least, he had no interest in being controlled by the gods to walk those paths.
“This child of mine once vowed to the Moon Goddess Artemis to remain chaste for her entire life.
You understand now, right?” The Adoptive Father said this, the last thing they considered troublesome.
Upon hearing this, Asterios, who had been drinking soup, burst out laughing and spat it out.
Fortunately, it went into his bowl; otherwise, he would have sprayed it all over the Adoptive Father sitting opposite him.
This was truly the first time he had heard of this.
He had only known about the incident where Atalanta was saved by Artemis, which Chiron had told him.
As for this vow of chastity, he really couldn’t hold it in.
To whom?
To Artemis?
Huh?
What kind of comedic plot is this?
To that Artemis?
“Have you met Artemis?” Asterios turned his head to ask Atalanta, and Atalanta immediately turned her head away, saying she hadn’t met her, but so what?!
“I was saved by Lady Artemis and raised on the milk of a mother bear.
What is wrong with making such a vow to that Lady Artemis?!
You fellow, could it be that you are mocking me in your heart?!” She wasn’t wrong, after all, Asterios was indeed holding back laughter in his heart.
But never mind, it was better to save some face for Atalanta.
She would find out when she saw her herself later.
“This matter is not difficult; I will have a solution.” Asterios looked back at Atalanta’s Adoptive Father and said this with a rather confident demeanor.
This made the Atalanta beside him become disdainful.
Could this man be bragging?
This was a vow she had made to the Moon Goddess; what way could he possibly have to resolve this vow?
Overall, for Asterios, this dinner was a good meal eaten in a very good mood.
Because this, which would be the most difficult problem for any other future suitors Atalanta might have, really didn’t amount to anything to him; one could even say it was like a joke.
To be honest, Asterios even wanted to ask Atalanta if she thought Artemis would know about this matter~?
Because he was in a good mood, Asterios walked back step by step, slowly.
But just then, Aphrodite gently floated behind him, wrapped her hands around his neck from behind, and then rubbed her delicate cheek against Asterios’s cheek.
“Hmm~ still such a pleasant scent, it truly delights me…
Ah~ this is the scent of Hephaestus.
You child, did you actually sneak off to his place~?” Her soft voice seemed to be stirring Asterios’s heart, but Asterios calmly responded, telling her that he had to find a way to make her behave and be more honest in the future.
Always hovering around a mortal like him was not a good thing; perhaps there might be other gods among them who would get jealous.
“What?
Did Hephaestus complain to you?
Or did Ares descend to earth to cause you trouble?
Or perhaps Poseidon or Hermes?
I don’t think that’s likely~ They aren’t very willing to offend me; after all, they have witnessed the jealousy and anger of a Goddess many times~ although that was all seen from Hera~” Aphrodite’s indifferent remark about other matters made Asterios laugh.
The chaotic situation among the gods was something Asterios couldn’t even be bothered to talk about.
However, for this group of gods who were originally a space fleet, Asterios really couldn’t apply human ethics to them.
That would be too strange; even Asterios would find it hard not to laugh.
“And I am now wholeheartedly devoted to you~ The gods all know that Athena has adopted another child, but only I am the most interested in you~ After all, I am truly very curious about what kind of brat could interest that yellow-haired girl Athena, and now you have indeed not disappointed me~” Aphrodite whispered these things in Asterios’s ear, and Asterios fell silent for a moment.
Do all the gods know?
That is truly…
Maybe it’s not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”