"[Then are we going to the capital now?]"
Gregory asked Frondier.
But Frondier shook his head.
"We should, but later. There’s still time."
There was time until the date of the vote.
He intended to make the preparations he could in the meantime.
"[That’s true. Then where are you thinking of going?]"
"Let’s go to Poseidon first."
"[......Ah, that weird old man.]"
Gregory answered with cold eyes.
Gregory had also seen Poseidon on the way to Agoris.
Even so, the reason he’d been able to come to Agoris without issue was because Malia had witnessed that scene through Frondier’s sight.
Malia had told Gregory what to say if he met Poseidon.
—We are companions of the pilgrim. Do you know the name Frondier?
"[With that one sentence, Poseidon’s attitude suddenly changed completely. It surprised me.]"
"As expected of my mother."
"[But why to Poseidon? Don’t tell me you’re going to report about Heracles? You’re more diligent than I thought.]"
The rough situation between Poseidon and Frondier—Gregory had heard it from Malia and roughly knew it.
The order Poseidon had given Frondier. Bring Heracles.
Since he’d at least confirmed where he was, was he planning to report that?
"That as well, while we’re at it."
"[So there’s a different real purpose?]"
"Rather than a purpose, it’s like a simple measure."
"[A measure?]"
"Right now several gods of Olympus must be possessing humans, right? They’ll be coming this way from the continent of Falind too."
"[That’s right. ......Ah.]"
The gods who had possessed humans in the continent of Falind would cross over to Agoris.
Which meant they would inevitably run into Poseidon.
"They’re all gods of Olympus, so if they meet, a longed-for family reunion...... it would be nice if it were."
At that, the corners of Frondier’s mouth rose.
Seeing that face, the crow shook his head.
"I was thinking of making it a little more poignant."
***
Falind and Agoris, the sea between them is wide.
The monsters here are gigantic, and their nature is different ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) from those on land, so most humans who see them for the first time go through an ordeal.
The threat called the “monsters outside.” The unknown terror that exists in the abyss of the sea.
Whether Falind or Agoris, it is the same that only a very few humans have gone beyond the shore.
For that reason, during the long years Poseidon’s body was bound to the sea, he had almost never met a human.
For a very long time, he had been alone in the sea with no one to talk to.
Poseidon is the god of the sea.
One might think, what could a sea god have to complain about being in the sea, but the long years of being unable to hear the voices of faith are tedious enough.
That is why, when Poseidon spotted Frondier’s ship,
it wasn’t mere caprice that he lent an ear to his voice.
"To think such a devout one still remains in this land. Perhaps my worries were for nothing."
Poseidon recalled Frondier’s figure and nodded in satisfaction.
Frondier, who, in accordance with Thor’s will, had set sail from the continent by ship. He had undertaken a voyage full of danger toward lands unknown whose existence he did not truly know.
Moreover, he had not been cowed by Poseidon’s power, had kept calm, and had conveyed his will. He even had sufficient force to contend with the sea’s monsters.
Even a god like Poseidon found it hard to imagine just how grueling the training Frondier must have gone through to carry out Thor’s will had been.
"Thor, you have a believer anyone would covet."
Meeting such a believer was both delightful and reassuring, but it was also a pity that he was another god’s believer.
That Frondier had been given the order to bring Heracles—there was that reason as well. If he gave a reward befitting a human who had fulfilled an oracle, Frondier might choose to follow Poseidon.
"But telling him to bring Heracles might have been excessive."
Heracles would be stronger than anyone on the earth. On top of the traits of being half-god, half-human, he had received all manner of achievements and grace.
Heracles wouldn’t recklessly harm humans, but bringing him would be difficult.
Quite some time had passed since then, so it might be right to assume Frondier had failed.
"[Hm?]"
Just then someone came flying toward him.
Poseidon sensed it at once. It was Frondier.
Frondier had wings strange and demonlike. But he could not deceive Poseidon’s eyes.
Frondier’s wings were undoubtedly from Helheim. He had said he was Thor’s believer; indeed he was being greatly influenced by that world.
"He’s flying in as if in a hurry. This time he’s alone."
Previously Frondier had come by ship. This time he was flying here alone.
Heracles wasn’t anywhere around. So the mission had failed after all.
"Lord Poseidon."
Upon arrival, Frondier bowed his head politely to Poseidon.
"It is an honor to see you again."
"[Indeed. What is it? Judging by the look of it, my order has yet to be fulfilled.]"
Poseidon asked in a relatively warm tone.
Bringing Heracles was a difficult task. It was understandable.
Frondier nodded.
"I learned where Heracles is, but he didn’t listen to me."
"[Of course. Heracles is a coward who fled from war. It seems he no longer listens to anyone.]"
Poseidon shook his head.
He was just thinking, I should cancel the oracle and give a different order, when—
"We scuffled a bit, but I returned without issue."
"[......You scuffled?]"
Poseidon heard something unbelievable.
"[Are you saying you fought Heracles?]"
"......Ah. To be precise, at first I mistook his son Telephus for Heracles. So while I was fighting Telephus, I met Heracles."
"[You fought Telephus?]"
Frondier had just said he had "scuffled a bit" with Heracles, and that with Telephus he had "fought a battle."
In other words, he had clearly used different expressions, and what happened with Telephus had been a battle itself, without question.
"[Are you all right?]"
Poseidon, unusually, asked with concern. A battle with Telephus—right now he might look fine, but it wouldn’t be strange even if he had a hole pierced somewhere in his body.
"Ah, I’m fine. As for Telephus, aside from briefly blinding him, there are no injuries."
......What was he saying.
He had worried about Frondier, but Frondier was speaking about Telephus’s safety.
In other words, was he saying he went easy on Telephus while fighting him?
"Is it the human peculiarity of arrogance? No, but this expression......."
Frondier’s face was composed. As if truly relieved that he hadn’t hurt Telephus.
"[......Then what do you mean you scuffled a bit with Heracles?]"
"Heracles seemed to find our battle, mine and Telephus’s, interesting. He told me to aim my strongest attack at him."
"[......And then?]"
For the first time in a long while, Poseidon was hearing an extremely interesting story.
The possibility that Frondier might be stronger than Telephus. It was something he had never considered.
Frondier shook his head with a wry smile.
"Nothing much happened. I only made a small scratch."
"[......A scratch? Is that really true?]"
"Yes? Yes, that’s right."
"[I will ask again. You’re saying you put a scratch on Heracles’s body? Are you not mistaking a torn garment for a wound?]"
"It wasn’t a mistake."
"[How can you assert that?]"
"Well, when you’re wounded, blood flows, doesn’t it? So,"
"[Blood flowed?!]"
In the end, Poseidon failed to keep his dignity and shouted.
"[You’re saying Heracles bled!]"
"Y-yes, that’s right."
By that point, Frondier too pulled his body slightly back, somewhat flustered.
Paying that no mind, Poseidon’s chaotic thoughts raced quickly.
"He put a wound on Heracles’s body......? A wound enough to draw blood?"
Of course, Frondier possessed Mjölnir. Poseidon knew that as well.
But that alone wouldn’t do.
Just throwing Mjölnir would not be enough to injure Heracles’s body.
Mjölnir was a powerful weapon befitting the weapon of the chief god, but it was a weapon nonetheless. It was not a god itself.
Heracles displayed feats on this earth that were no different from those of a god. To the naked eye he looked human, but there existed a gulf that humans could never cross.
Yet he had wounded Heracles’s body.
It meant Poseidon had to completely revise his estimation of Frondier’s strength.
"No. It could be that Frondier is lying."
Poseidon looked at Frondier.
However, Frondier’s face was not the face of someone telling a lie.
Poseidon knew Frondier only as a devout pilgrim.
He did not know that in truth, even if Frondier spouted any brazen lie, there wouldn’t be even a speck of a tell the size of a millet grain on his face, as if it were covered with iron.
"If that’s true."
He wanted to have him.
Poseidon began to covet Frondier.
Until now he had only been a bit envious of Thor, but now the story was different.
Power that could wound Heracles. Devotion that sailed to unknown lands in accordance with the will of an oracle.
Frondier would surely leave his name in the history of this earth. Poseidon was convinced of that even though he had met him just twice today.
The god whom such a hero believed in would be elevated all the more to an exalted existence.
"Lord Poseidon. I also came today with one more thing to tell you."
Meanwhile Frondier spoke quickly.
"Lord Poseidon, do you perhaps know of the existence of the Golden Apple?"
"[......The Golden Apple?]"
This question was one Frondier asked to make certain the connection with myth.
If what was happening now used the Golden Apple as its motif, then did that Golden Apple actually exist?
The Golden Apple originally meant to be given to the most beautiful goddess.
If so, depending on the result of the vote being held in the capital of Palma, would some reward follow for the one who got the most votes?
"But seeing that no one has mentioned it until now, it must be that the Golden Apple is merely a motif and nothing more—"
"[Of course I know.]"
Poseidon gave an answer that wholly refuted Frondier’s thoughts.
"[You’ve investigated that far. As expected, excellent.]"
Because Poseidon now wanted to draw Frondier over to his side, he became generous with praise.
But Frondier was busy hiding his trembling eyes.
"What does he mean, ‘investigated that far’?"
"[I told you before. There are gods bound to this land.]"
"......You did. You said if I brought Heracles, you would tell me those gods."
"[Continue the task of bringing Heracles. In the meantime, I will tell you the gods who are bound.]"
"But I failed to bring Heracles."
"[If you can’t resolve that, won’t it be delayed endlessly?]"
"......You’re right."
On the surface it sounded plausible, but in truth he simply wanted to keep drawing Frondier in by continuing to hand down oracles.
"[Among the gods bound to this land.]"
As he spoke, Poseidon thought.
Which god would be most suitable for Frondier to meet?
For one so devout, a god who would not be too troublesome, who had no interest in human strength and thus would not pointlessly get into a tug-of-war over him. Besides, since Frondier had asked about the Golden Apple—
As expected, there was only one.
"[Go and find Aphrodite.]"
"......."
Frondier had to answer.
But it took all he had just to barely suppress his trembling.
"......Go and find Aphrodite?"
She was in Agoris now?
"[What is it?]"
"Ah, it’s nothing. I was overcome with emotion at the thought of seeking the goddess of beauty."
Frondier answered reflexively. As excuses went, it sounded plausible.
"[Hahaha. You’re a man after all. It’s something to look forward to.]"
"......Where is she?"
"[She likes humans and enjoys being close to them. So when she suffered the same wound as I did, likely,]"
Listening to Poseidon, Frondier thought, No way.
No way, no way.
Poseidon said the very words of that no way.
"[She would have been in the capital. They call it Palma.]"
"......I see."
The Golden Apple and the three goddesses.
He had believed a demon was pretending to be a god. And that was not wrong.
It wasn’t that it was wrong—there was something he hadn’t known.
"Hera and Aphrodite. At least Aphrodite is not a demon’s imitation but the real one. Which means—"
A war between gods and demons.
It was not only the demons who wanted it—Aphrodite wanted it as well.
