Fate: I Heard After Death, You Can Ascend to the Throne of Heroes?

Is there really such a good thing?!

In the room bathed in twilight, Promise was overjoyed, thinking to himself:

It seems that not all virgin goddesses are unreliable like that moon goddess Artemis!

This was an oath made by Athena in her own name, representing an irreversible and unchangeable promise. 

No matter what happens in the future, she will fulfill the content of this oath.

Thus, she will witness Promise becoming a hero and eventually grant him an end that will shock the entire world!

"Thank you for your grace, esteemed Goddess Athena!"

Faced with this heartfelt and sincere gratitude from Promise, the goddess couldn't help but smile again.

She stepped forward, gently pinching his still slightly childish cheek.

"You child, if others heard my vow that I will someday let you die, they'd be scared out of their wits, but only you would find it a delight."

"And also..."

Athena squinted slightly, her golden eyes staring at Promise, and her grip tightened a bit, "You were just thinking very disrespectful thoughts, weren't you?"

"Uh?" The latter blinked.

"I am a goddess, the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena. Do you think I wouldn't know what you're thinking inside, little Promise? You're quite bold!"

Promise's eyes widened, and before he could even explain himself, she chuckled, "Alright, I'm just teasing you. But I didn't expect you to actually be thinking disrespectful thoughts."

Laughing, Athena let go of his cheek.

She the turned around, her figure elongated by the evening light as she continued, 

"I didn't read your mind. 

Although I could, I didn't because you offered me a tribute... Even though I didn't read your thoughts, any god can subtly sense what you're thinking when you stand before them and ponder things related to them."

This was clearly a warning.

Promise breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Athena's back, feeling a bit scared and resolving to be more careful around these unreasonable beings in the future.

"Hmm, does this mean that Goddess Hera already knew?!"

Hearing this, Athena turned her head to look at Promise, puzzled at first.

But being the Goddess of Wisdom, she quickly understood what he meant.

"You're talking about when she appeared before you as an old woman... So you guessed my oracle from the start."

With nothing to hide now, Promise nodded honestly.

"Don't worry, she didn't know anything." Athena grinned, "Because at that time, I quietly made sure she couldn't hear."

"...So." Promise looked at her, "About this morning..."

"Hmm? What about this morning?" The latter smile was still bright.

"Nothing..." Promise lowered his head, not saying another word.

He silently added a tag to Athena in his mind: **Mischief Maker**...

Ah, no, no, I shouldn't think that.

Athena is a beautiful, elegant, kind goddess!

Yes, that's right!

Athena found his reaction amusing and then seemed to remember something.

After taking a glance at the painting she loved so much, she carefully placing the painting down and then took a strand of her long, beautiful silver hair.

Stepping forward,

In front of a confused but unresisting Promise, she bent down and wrapped the strand around his left wrist.

By now, the twilight had faded, stars adorned the night sky, and the flawless moonlight shone in through the window, illuminating them both.

"Alright." Athena stood up, looking at the puzzled Promise, and said, "Now you won't have to worry about anyone reading your mind, except for me... Remember, only me."

As she said this, she winked at him and continued with a gentle smile, "It can also protect you in your most dangerous moments.

After all, before I prepare that grand finale for you, Promise, you cannot die so easily. If you die without waiting for me, even in the underworld, I won't let you go and will pull you out from there!"

Hearing this, Promise had no time to react when suddenly,

"Promise, I'm back!"

Kicking the door open, Jason walked in with a big laugh.

Then he looked at Promise standing by the window, staring blankly at him, and asked in confusion, "Hmm, what are you doing, Promise?"

The latter did not answer.

After coming to his senses, he looked around.

Athena was nowhere to be seen, and the painting had also disappeared.

Only the night breeze and the bright moonlight gently caressed him, bringing a slight chill.

Promise recalled Athena's last words, those that seemed like a joke, with a smile, but without a hint of humor in her golden eyes.

'If I die before she prepares my finale, she won't let me go even in death...'

Indeed, virgin goddesses are truly terrifying!

At that moment, Promise truly felt uncertain.

Was his vow with Athena a good thing or a bad thing?

...

Athena, having left with the painting, walked away from the kingdom of Iolcos with a light step.

However, she did not return to Mount Olympus but instead went to a forest not far from the kingdom.

She walked deep into the forest until she reached a clear lake that mirrored the night sky like a mirror. 

There, Athena stopped.

Sitting gracefully by the lake, she smiled and carefully took out the painting, setting it up with great care. 

Then she looked towards the shadow of a distant tree and said in a boasting tone, "Come quickly, look at the tribute that child offered me!"

Athena's words elicited a soft, kind laugh.

In the moonlight, a tall centaur emerged from the shadows.

With golden hair and blue eyes, his face always bore a gentle, warm smile.

He was Promise and Jason's teacher, the most renowned mentor in ancient Greece, the centaur sage Chiron!

When Athena first met Promise and Jason and left the oracle, she had mentioned that he had Chiron's protection.

To be precise, it was a locator.

Chiron had been watching over the descended Promise and Jason all along.

However, there was one thing she had not mentioned at that time: Chiron not only watched over them but had also been silently accompanying them!

He stood there quietly, watching them from afar.

"Athena, you have an excellent student."

Athena's words made Chiron smile even more happily, as this was undoubtedly the highest praise and recognition for a teacher.

Then Chiron gently corrected her, "However, Jason is also an excellent child."

Athena did not respond, neither nodding nor shaking her head.

She just quietly admired the painting.

The forest returned to tranquility, until much later when Chiron sighed softly.

"Athena, about that vow..."

"If you've already seen it, then you know it cannot be altered," Athena interrupted.

"I know," Chiron sighed, his face showing a hint of sorrow as he pleaded with Athena, "But I sincerely hope that day can come a bit later."

"That I cannot guarantee. If a suitable end comes for that child, I cannot ignore it... Chiron, since it is his wish, why do you keep trying to stop it?"

Chiron was silent for a moment before answering, "Because I am his teacher."

.

.

.

Late at night, Athena returned to Mount Olympus, to her temple.

The eternal sacred fire illuminated the grand temple.

Busy nymph maidens and minor gods greeted her return, informing her that a distinguished guest had been waiting for her in the temple hall for some time.

Athena entered the hall and saw the god they spoke of, standing by the tall window. 

Her beautiful golden curls fell from her crown as she sat there, regal and dignified.

"Hera?"

She looked at her with surprise and curiosity.

"What brings you here?"

"Athena, where have you been?" Hera raised an eyebrow slightly, displeased at having waited so long. 

She stood up and said, "Never mind, this isn't the time for that.

Athena, I need you to devise a trial concerning the throne of the Iolcos kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Athena's face lit up with understanding.

So that's what this is about...

"Alright, but before that, Hera, I have something wonderful to show you!"

Saying this, Athena took out the painting again, proudly showing it to Hera. "Hera, look at this painting... it's a tribute from a child to me..."

Halfway through her excited explanation, Athena's voice caught.

She noticed Hera's gaze on the painting and her smile froze slightly.

Athena realized something was off. After all, this painting was a tribute from Promise to her!

..... 

"A tribute from a child?"

Hera looked at the painting of the radiant Athena, surprised. "A child from the mortal world... not one of the Muses, the goddesses of art?"

"No, it can't be. I remember none of them could paint something like this. I even see a hint of divinity in this painting!"

The goddess, intrigued by this, said to Athena, "Which child is it? Do I know him? Maybe he can paint one for me too?"

.....

"This..."

Athena felt awkward.

Under normal circumstances, Athena wouldn't hesitate, but after witnessing everything today and considering the prophecy from the Fate Goddess Clotho, she didn't need to think hard to guess how much Promise meant to Hera.

Hera's jealousy was well-known.

This was Promise's first painting, and Hera wasn't even the first goddess to receive a tribute from the child...

Athena wasn't afraid, but thinking about how she had created yet another problem for the child... even she felt a bit guilty after all the trouble she had caused Promise over the past couple of days.

So,

"Well, this child is a student of Chiron."

"Go ask Chiron, and you'll find out!"

.

.

.

At the same time,

In Promise's room within the kingdom.

In the candle-lit room, Promise silently looked at his Spirit Rank Card, specifically at the section detailing his heroic legend boosts.

[Presented a tribute to the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena.]

'...Huh, so offering a tribute can increase my legend points?'

'Seems like my painting skills aren't entirely useless after all.'

'I should definitely present tributes to all the gods!'

'Next time, I'll paint one for Hera!'

...