I saw in his eyes that the warnings were already over.
"......Poseidon."
A god who might be even more famous than Zeus in Greek myth.
In Greek mythology, the three most powerful gods are usually named as Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
Among them, Poseidon exerted the greatest influence on humans, partly because the sea, his domain, is inseparable from human life, and partly because the gods of Greek myth generally have temperaments that seem modeled after their symbols.
Poseidon possessed the patience of the sea and, at the same time, the fickleness of the waves. It sounds contradictory at a glance, but it means his caprice does not arise from emotion.
Poseidon’s fickleness has no reason. He just does it “because.” As the waves that surge in the sea have no will of their own.
In short, he is the worst matchup for me.
'Why is Poseidon here.......'
From the moment I decided I would cross the sea, the thought of Poseidon had brushed through my mind.
But in this world, the gods have already departed to the world of salvation. Their power is manifested through divine power, and for descent they require places like sanctuaries or temples and the faith of many people.
No matter that the sea is Poseidon’s realm, to have a god simply seated here in the middle of this vast ocean with no sign beforehand—
'Could it be an illusion? No, that can’t be.......'
At least the pressure I’m feeling now is not something that can be done with sleight of hand. It’s similar to when I met Rudra, one of Elodie’s divine powers.
If I were to fight now—what are my chances of winning.
If Belphegor, once one of the Seven Deadly Sins, was on about the same level as Poseidon, then probably around twenty percent.
From the start I put the odds below fifty-fifty against Belphegor, too. The only way I had to bring him down was to land high firepower with precision, and if that failed, I was as good as dead.
But we’re not on land now—we’re at sea. In Poseidon’s domain.
Of course, if I must fight, I will, but I want to avoid it if at all possible.
'I also have my promise with Malia.'
An order not to do anything that would leave lasting wounds.
If I end up fighting Poseidon, that becomes a ridiculous proposition.
[Do you know me, human?]
Poseidon looked at me and asked then.
I was surprised by the question.
'......Poseidon doesn’t know me?'
This isn’t my first time meeting a god of Greek myth.
I met Hephaestus, Edwin’s divine power, and later Hestia, Heldre’s divine power.
Hestia already knew me before we met and told me the gods were opposed among themselves.
So most gods should know me. Yet Poseidon, of all gods, does not.
"Do you not know me?"
I asked, just in case.
Poseidon answered indifferently.
[Must I remember any one human?]
He truly doesn’t know me. From the way he speaks, it seems no human at all remains in Poseidon’s memory.
[Well, it’s no matter anyway. Seeing you come this far despite my warnings, that ship you ride must be lacking a rudder. I shall personally turn its bow for you.]
Koo-goo-goo—
Poseidon’s hand slowly rose. He pulled his hand back, like people splashing water at each other at the beach.
If a hand that size did such a thing, it would obviously become an irresistible wave; as Poseidon said, we would be hurled back the way we came. Whether the ship remains intact is a problem for later.
In the meantime, I worked my brain fast.
'If he doesn’t know—how much doesn’t he know? Is Poseidon not in communication with Olympus right now?'
If no solution comes to mind, I’ll have to fight. But until the very last moment, I want to craft an answer somehow.
If I’m lucky, we might pass this with no great trouble,
Chuk—
"Ah."
The moment that thought came, something was in my hand.
It was Mjölnir.
Just a moment ago I’d been thinking of a peaceful option.
[......!]
Poseidon’s eyes flew wide.
Flustered, I spoke first.
"No. I didn’t grip this in order to fight, I—"
[Mjölnir!]
Poseidon shouted.
The reason his eyes widened was not what I thought.
'He recognizes Mjölnir?'
If he does not converse with the gods of Olympus, how does he know Mjölnir, a thing of Norse myth, Asgard?
'......No, that’s the wrong way to think.'
For an Olympian god like Poseidon to be cut off from Olympus yet converse with Asgard makes no sense. My categories are wrong.
Poseidon is not conversing with Asgard.
In the past he conversed everywhere—Olympus, Asgard, anywhere—but now he converses with no one.
'So it’s shocking to him that I’m holding Mjölnir. In his memory, this object belongs to Thor and Thor alone.'
And the truly shocking thing is likely—
[How does a human command Mjölnir!]
—that.
It’s similar to the reaction Renzo showed.
Of course, what I showed Renzo then was only a trick. Mjölnir was a fake, and because it was within Menosorpo’s area I could “control” it.
But this time it’s real.
I am truly handling Mjölnir now—because Mjölnir has permitted me.
"......We only wish to pass through this sea. That is all."
I spoke carefully, confirming Poseidon’s hand had halted.
But Poseidon’s gaze was fixed solely on the Mjölnir in my grip.
[Speak. Why is Mjölnir in your possession?]
"......"
[I said, speak!]
Kwaaaaa!!
Suddenly the ship heaved. A shift of waves with no prelude. A god’s authority.
"Elodie!"
I shouted, and at the same time formed wings with Heukcheon and shot into the air.
The wave surged to an abnormal height. Up to the base of Poseidon’s neck as he looked down on us.
Whiiish!
Poseidon then pressed the risen wave down in an instant. The ship, suddenly left hanging in the air, would be violently pulled down by gravity, but—
"—‘Moon.’"
Inies would not permit that.
Dwoong!
The ship did not crash; it simply floated as it was in midair.
The massive vessel, at a single utterance from Elodie, slowly descended at a gentle pace.
Meanwhile I rose to meet Poseidon at eye level.
"Please calm yourself, Lord Poseidon."
I spoke to him with courtesy.
But Poseidon only repeated himself.
[How did you obtain that Mjölnir.]
I still did not answer.
I know this will stoke Poseidon’s anger, but it is virtually the only bargaining chip I have.
And it is also the means to learn what situation Poseidon is in right now.
If I obediently blurt things out as they come, I might keep my life, but I won’t be able to advance beyond this.
'Right now I don’t even know why Poseidon is here. I don’t know how much of the situation he understands, and if he does understand—whether he will be an enemy or an ally.'
Therefore there is only one thing to do here.
Make Poseidon speak information himself. Without letting him notice that I want that information, and at the same time ensuring that information comes from Poseidon’s own mouth.
To do that—
"......Would you care to guess?"
[What did you say?]
"It is not a question I can answer."
I said it.
Words that were, quite literally, a gamble with my life.
If he takes it as provocation, a fight will be inevitable, but if not—
[......Ho.]
The raging waves subside.
The ship, lowered to the surface, settled into calm.
[To say such a thing even in this situation—there must indeed be something.]
Poseidon spoke in a suddenly quiet tone, as if his earlier force had vanished.
......His fickleness is like the waves.
Truly, a caprice that makes the heart quiver.
[I knew Thor had left Mjölnir on the continent. So it isn’t strange for it to fall into human hands. But I cannot understand Mjölnir obeying a human’s command......]
After saying that, Poseidon looked into my eyes.
[And it seems you are not receiving his divine power, either.]
"......That’s correct."
For now I nodded, as if everything he said was right—so Poseidon could let his imagination roam.
[Indeed.]
Poseidon spoke as if he had realized something.
[Thor gave you Mjölnir! Knowing that, Mjölnir heeds your words!]
"......!"
I opened my eyes wide there.
The point is to neither affirm nor deny.
[And Thor has put a gag on you. Forbidding you to divulge that he gave you Mjölnir. That is why, even now, you keep your mouth shut before me.]
......Aha.
So that’s how this situation looks to Poseidon.
'Is it not strange, to Poseidon, that Thor would give Mjölnir to a human?'
At least to that extent, Thor is cooperative toward humans.
Or, that’s what Poseidon thinks.
If so—
"......As expected of Lord Poseidon."
I bowed my head.
Poseidon’s face brightened as if satisfied.
[Keeping silent before me is insolent, but if it is a promise with a god, I can understand. And you believed I would arrive at the answer myself. A brash human.]
Rather than “believed,” I was hoping he’d land on any answer at all.
"Forgive my rudeness. A promise with Lord Thor is weightier to me than anything."
......I can already imagine what kind of faces Elodie and the others below are making as they hear me.
[So that was it. That is why you did not retreat despite my warnings and came all the way here. You did not ignore my warning; it was a ‘pilgrimage’ with your life on the line.]
"I received Lord Thor’s order and sailed from the Empire to this place. But we are woefully ignorant right now. We know our actions have offended your will, Lord Poseidon. I beg your forgiveness."
[No, that is not ignorance. It was an action taken with many things steeled in advance. We have always called that courage. One of the things in which gods can never surpass humans.]
Poseidon suddenly began to speak like imparting mythic teaching.
Since I was at it, I said,
"We received an oracle on the continent where we live, that another ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ continent would appear if we crossed this sea. The road ahead is harsh and fearsome, but under divine care we have come safely this far. Yet to think Lord Poseidon would be here. Forgive us for not offering prayer first."
[I understand. In Etius, they do not know of my existence.]
"How is it that humans now have forgotten the place of Lord Poseidon? How can such folly take root?"
I only ask with courtesy, and with meekness.
To that, Poseidon said,
[You would not know it, but humanity has a history of rebellion. We called it ‘Ragnarök.’]
"......A history of rebellion......."
[But that failed.]
"Truly, that is a fortunate thing."
It was a lie that felt like my guts were twisting.
[And what do you think it means, that the rebellion failed?]
"......I am too lowly to know."
[A simple matter.]
Perhaps my politeness and humility had worked; Poseidon spoke in good humor.
[It means not all gods left this land.]
TL Note: Guys, don’t worry about the chapter numbering — I intentionally skipped chapter 388 because there was an earlier numbering mistake. It doesn’t affect the book in any way, since all the chapters have been translated.
