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

Aegina cried for a long time,

And at the moment she cried, Promise left.

He sat outside the room of the tower, waiting for Aegina to regain her composure, but he never expected to fall asleep leaning against the wall.

Having not rested for nearly three days, and having worked at the highest intensity on the painting, Promise now felt as exhausted as he had when he first started training under Chiron, not wanting to move a single finger.

He didn't know how long he slept, only that when he woke up, he was lying in Aegina's bed inside the room.

And Aegina sat quietly beside him, still looking out the window.

The only difference was that she clutched the painting tightly in her hands, as if afraid it would disappear the next moment.

The afternoon sunlight shone into the room and onto the goddess's frail figure, making her appear like a painting herself, showcasing her helplessness and confusion vividly.

Seeing this, Promise still felt a headache but got up from the bed and said, "Thank you, Goddess Aegina."

The latter still didn't respond to him.

When the rain cleared and everything was exposed under the sunlight, Aegina found it easier to see how her cherished kingdom had become so dilapidated.

Watching her children suffer under the curse.

So even though Promise had poured his heart into delivering to her the most beautiful moment in her heart once more, she still harbored deep-seated aversion towards the boy, feeling the heavy presence of Hera's influence on him.

"Goddess Aegina, may I ask if you can now listen to my request?"

Aegina didn't answer immediately, and Promise, not in a hurry, waited quietly for a long time before he got a response.

"Speak."

Aegina uttered her first words in a long time, her originally melodious voice now filled with deep exhaustion.

"Please order your people to build a sacrificial altar for me," Promise said. "An altar dedicated to the most noble goddess, Hera!"

When Promise finished speaking, Aegina turned her head to look at him.

Even she, at this moment, looked at Promise with a look of astonishment, doubting what she had heard.

And the latter, clearly aware of how outrageous his request was, quickly explained, "I intend to offer a tribute to Hera and pray for her blessing!"

At that moment, as Aegina stared at Promise's determined expression, she finally 'understood.'

She 'finally realized' that Promise did not know everything, that he did not know that the one who had caused this calamity and cast the curse was Hera!

After all, she had not told her people about Hera's divine punishment.

Telling them would only hasten their deaths and further anger Hera, possibly ensuring that her people would not find peace even in death.

Even the messenger of the gods, Hermes, would not wisely report such matters immediately.

Usually, such events would be widely publicized only after they concluded.

With this in mind, Aegina finally 'understood' that this child might indeed have just accidentally learned of the situation here and genuinely wanted to help.

Despite some doubts in between, she instinctively considered this the best explanation.

Otherwise, she could not fathom why Promise, as Hera's cherished follower, would stand against Hera!

Even the goddess of justice, Themis, held doubts and questioned Promise with the scales of judgment.

With this thought, Aegina felt jealous, jealous that the ugly Hera had such a devoted follower!

Then, an idea sprang to her mind.

In that instant, Aegina decided to build a sacrificial altar for this boy, placing it not far from her tower.

And when the boy offered his tribute and prayed for the goddess's descent, she would walk out of the tower and stand beside him.

As a goddess, Aegina naturally did not fear Hera's cursed plague.

More so, she wanted to witness Hera's appearance and see her cherished follower praying for her to lift the curse.

Aegina thought that at that moment, Hera's expression would be quite spectacular!

Thus, she smiled, a smile filled with hidden malice, confusing Promise with its intensity.

"Very well!"

She agreed to Promise's request with a voice dripping with hatred.

And all of this was observed by Athena and Themis.

They sat as spectators, being extremely wise gods themselves, and naturally understood immediately what Aegina was thinking.

Aegina intended to spite Hera and use Promise to do it!

Even Themis raised an eyebrow at this.

Athena didn't bother to hide the disdain and scorn in her eyes but held back Themis from intervening.

"There's no need, because she hasn't realized that the boy already knows everything but, is still trying to help her. So... in the end, she will only reap what she has sown."

Themis understood Athena's meaning and stopped.

So, Aegina gave the command.

Even though her kingdom, which had gathered around her, was already on the verge of collapse, when she gave the order, the people still gathered, dragging their weary bodies to build the altar for the divine offering.

Despite their despair, a glimmer of hope appeared on their faces at this moment.

Seeing the sky finally clear up and hearing Aegina's decree, they naturally believed that their goddess had finally found a way to save them. 

They thought that their days of hopelessness were finally coming to an end.

And in the future, their goddess would surely guide them again, leading their kingdom back to prosperity!

This scene made Aegina, who had calmed down and felt guilty for using a child, reaffirm her resolve.

Thus, after a week,

As night fell and the goddess of the night, Nyx, hung the stars high in the sky, with the light of the full moon illuminating the land of the divine era, in the torch-lit night...

The cursed people raised their torches high, standing outside the flaming altar, eyes filled with hope as they gazed at the young boy standing before it.

The flames illuminated the boy's slightly immature face and his clear emerald green eyes under the night sky.

At this moment, Promise was dressed in a light blue ceremonial robe given to him by Aegina, meant for offering sacrifices to the gods.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he cast the offerings into the altar.

"To the noble and great Queen of Olympus, the kind goddess who governs marriage and childbirth, your loyal follower, Chiron's student, Promise, expresses the highest respect and offers all the precious wealth on my body!"

With that, Promise threw everything he had into the altar.

The wooden bow made by Chiron during his training on the mountain, the money he and Jason had looted, and the items Jason had forcefully given him before he left.

And the two golden apples he hadn't eaten until now.

When he took out the canvas and paintbrush, Promise hesitated a little.

After all, the canvas was something Chiron had crafted based on Promise's description, something that didn't exist in this era.

The paintbrush was a gift from Chiron to Promise.

But after a brief hesitation, he still threw everything in.

Although he didn't notice that as soon as he threw them in, they were intercepted by Athena, who was hiding among the stars.

Athena took the paintbrush and canvas, watching the ritual below, narrowing her beautiful golden eyes.

Because she was so focused on Promise, she didn't notice the slight smile on the usually stern face of the justice goddess, Themis.

With her eyes covered by a white cloth, she lost the sight of the physical world but gained the ability to see much more.

Unhappiness, anger, and a bit of jealousy...

Themis felt it necessary to find some time to remind Hera. 

After all, she had a pretty good relationship with Hera, even though she also got along well with Athena.

But still, she should remind Hera to keep an eye on her followers.

After completing all this, Promise continued, "I sincerely plead, noble and kind goddess, please respond to your loyal follower!"

The moment Promise's words fell,

Almost instantly, the most noble goddess on this land appeared before Promise.

Her beautiful golden curls flowed from beneath her crown, her magnificent face veiled in a faint layer of golden light.

Hera's amber eyes gazed at the boy before her, the boy who was offering sacrifices to her for the first time and pleading for her presence.

She arrived in the shortest possible time, wearing the most splendid divine attire!

Offering sacrifices to the gods and pleading for blessings... when Promise learned about Aegina's situation, this was the first solution that came to his mind.

And it was not unique.

The Calydonian Boar...

That was the punishment handed down by Artemis, the Moon Goddess.

To deal with this monster, another hero under Chiron's tutelage and a future member of the Argo, Meleager, who was also on Promise's grudge list, did something similar.

Informed by the Fates, he knew he couldn't seek help from other gods. 

So, he prepared for a long time, offering numerous sacrifices to Artemis, eventually gaining her forgiveness and permission.

Moreover, he received the goddess's blessing.

Only then could Meleager organize the Calydonian Hunt, inviting many heroes to participate and hunt down the monster.

Promise, although unable to offer as much wealth, understood something clearly as a transmigrator: to gods, the amount of the offering didn't matter much. 

Many things they desired were easy for them to acquire.

Therefore, in front of gods, the most important thing was sincerity.

Promise offered everything he had. 

For this, not only Hera but even Athena, faced with such sincerity, would find it hard to refuse Promise's request.

'Hera's indulgence'... indeed, the divine oracle Athena gave Promise referred to offering sacrifices to Hera, who would surely respond to his plea.

But it's called indulgence for a reason.

Indulgence means going overboard! 

'Just doing a little to please Hera would suffice, but you had to offer everything, including the two golden apples I gave you, and even the paintbrush...'

Athena was smiling,

But the paintbrush in her hand was transforming.

Seeing this Themis covered her mouth with her hand, unable to hide her smile any longer.

This meticulous goddess of justice laughed heartily, probably for the first time in hundreds of years.

Because,

This was such blatant dissatisfaction and jealousy!

Hey, wise goddess Athena!

"Most noble and beautiful Queen, thank you for answering my plea. Please listen to my wish."

Seeing Hera descend, clearly in a good mood, Promise felt relieved.

Honestly, he was a bit nervous inside... Even though he believed he had done his best, asking Hera to lift her own curse, especially given that Aegina was her rival, made Promise feel uneasy.

Knowing a lot, being a transmigrator, was indeed Promise's advantage.

But knowing too much, like the secret rivalry between Hera and Aegina, was why he chose to offer everything.

"Please, most noble one, remove the curse that has befallen this kingdom..."

Seeing his sincere plea, and Hera's expression remained serene, her golden eyes gazing deeply into his.

When Promise expressed his wish, the goddess Aegina also appeared there. 

She was dressed in her most elegant attire, ready to mock Hera and revel in Hera's bewildered reaction.

But...

"Okay."

Hera agreed without a moment of hesitation.

In that instant, the rare smile on Aegina's face froze.

Even before Promise could react,

"Hey, Hera, what are you saying? Do you realize where you are and who I am?"

Aegina stood in front of Hera, brimming with rage.

In response, the latter only gave her a fleeting glance and then continued to smile warmly at Promise.

"Is this your wish, Promise?" She asked gently.

"Yes... yes," Promise nodded, taken aback by Hera's reaction.

"Hera, you... hmph, do you even know this, Hera's follower!" 

Aegina, seeing that Hera ignored her, shifted her gaze to Promise with a hint of malicious delight, saying, "The disaster and plague that ravaged this kingdom, the divine being who destroyed everything, isn't someone else, it's this goddess you believe can save everything. 

Your kind goddess, Queen Hera... yes, it was she who destroyed it all!"

After saying this, Aegina laughed happily. 

She thought Promise would be in disbelief, causing his faith to waver, and panic in front of Hera.

However...

"Hm?" Promise looked at Aegina, puzzled, "I knew from the beginning. Didn't you ask me at first if it was Goddess Hera who sent me?"

Aegina was stunned, staring at Promise in disbelief.

Hera, who had initially been a bit confused, seemed to come out of her joyful daze, looked around, and finally at Aegina.

Realizing where she was and who Aegina was, she was also taken aback.

Meanwhile, hidden among the stars with Athena, Themis, who had been completely engrossed in the scene, placed a hand under her chin.

Coming to her senses, she glanced at Athena.

She saw that just a moment ago, Athena, who was filled with jealousy, now had a face full of delight, her lips curling into a smile, looking as if she had finally seen a long-awaited drama unfold...

Truly, you are something else, Athena!