The Golden Apple (9)
[So, are we going to the capital now?]
Gregory asked Frondier.
But Frondier shook his head.
“We will, but later. We still have time.”
There was still time until the day of the vote.
He planned to make all the preparations he could until then.
[That’s true. Then where are we going?]
“First, to Poseidon.”
[……Ah, that strange guy.]
Gregory replied with cold eyes.
Gregory had also seen Poseidon on his way to Agoris.
The reason he was able to reach Agoris without any problems was because Malia had witnessed the scene through Frondier's eyes.
Malia had told Gregory to say this if he met Poseidon:
─We are companions of the pilgrim. Do you know the name Frondier?
[With those words, Poseidon's attitude suddenly changed. I was surprised.]
“That’s Mom for you.”
[But why are we going to Poseidon? Don't tell me, to report on Heracles? You're more sincere than I thought.]
The general situation between Poseidon and Frondier. Gregory knew roughly from Malia.
Poseidon's order to Frondier. Bring Heracles.
He had figured out where he was, so he was going to report it.
“That too, but it’s not the only reason.”
[Is there another real purpose?]
“Rather than a purpose, it’s more like a simple measure.”
[Measure?]
“Right now, several gods of Olympus are possessing humans, right? They'll be coming this way from the Falind continent too.”
[That's right. ……Ah.]
Gods possessing humans on the Falind continent were crossing over to Agoris.
In other words, they would inevitably encounter Poseidon.
“They're all Olympian gods, so if they meet, it would be a dream family reunion… but.”
Frondier's lips curled up.
Seeing his face, the crow shook his head.
“I want to make it a little more exciting.”
* * *
The sea between Falind and Agoris was vast.
The monsters here were gigantic and different in nature from the monsters on land, so most humans who saw them for the first time suffered.
The threat of ‘outer monsters.’ The unknown fear that existed in the depths of the sea.
Whether it was Falind or Agoris, the number of humans who had ever been beyond the coast was extremely small.
That's why Poseidon had rarely met humans during his long years bound to the sea.
He had been alone in the sea for a very long time, with no one to talk to.
Poseidon, the god of the sea.
One might think, what's wrong with the god of the sea being in the sea? But the long years of not being able to hear the voices of faith were quite boring.
That's why when Poseidon saw Frondier's ship.
It wasn't just out of kindness that he listened to his voice.
‘To think that such a faithful man still remains on this earth. Maybe I was worried for nothing.’
Poseidon nodded in satisfaction, recalling Frondier.
Frondier, who had begun his voyage from the continent on a ship according to Thor's will. He made a perilous voyage to an unknown land he did not know existed.
Moreover, he did not fear his power, maintained his composure, and conveyed his will. He even had enough force to contend with the monsters of the sea.
Even as a god, he could not easily imagine how much arduous training Frondier had gone through to fulfill Thor's will.
‘Thor, you have a believer that everyone would envy.’
It was a joyous and reassuring thing to meet such a believer, but it was a shame that he was a believer of another god.
That was one of the reasons why he had ordered Frondier to bring Heracles. If he gave a reward befitting a human who had fulfilled an oracle, Frondier might follow Poseidon.
‘But maybe asking him to bring Heracles was too much.’
Heracles would be stronger than anyone else on earth. A demigod who had received all sorts of achievements and favors.
Heracles would not harm humans recklessly, but bringing him would be difficult.
A considerable amount of time had passed since then, so it was safe to assume that Frondier had failed.
[Hmm?]
Just then, someone flew towards him.
Poseidon knew immediately. It was Frondier.
Frondier with strange wings that resembled a devil. But he could not fool Poseidon's eyes.
Frondier's wings must have come from Helheim. To think he was a believer of Thor, he was certainly heavily influenced by that world.
‘He's flying towards me in a hurry. He's alone this time.’
Last time, Frondier had come by ship. This time, he was flying alone.
Heracles was not around. So he had failed his mission.
“Lord Poseidon.”
Frondier arrived and bowed politely to Poseidon.
“It is an honor to see you again.”
[Yes. What brings you here? It seems my order has not yet been fulfilled.]
Poseidon asked in an unusually warm tone.
Bringing Heracles was a difficult task. He understood.
Frondier nodded.
“I found out where Heracles was, but he wouldn't listen to me.”
[I can imagine. Heracles is a coward who ran away from war. I suppose he doesn't listen to anyone anymore.]
Poseidon shook his head.
As expected, he had to cancel the oracle and give him another order, he thought.
“We had a little spar, but he came back without any problems.”
[……You sparred?]
Poseidon heard something unbelievable.
[Are you saying you fought Heracles?]
“……Ah. To be precise, I initially mistook his son Telephus for Heracles. So I was fighting Telephus when I met Heracles.”
[You fought Telephus?]
Just now, Frondier said he had ‘a little spar’ with Heracles, and that he ‘fought’ Telephus.
In other words, he had clearly used different expressions, meaning that his encounter with Telephus was undoubtedly a full-blown battle.
[Are you alright?]
Poseidon asked a rare, concerned question. A battle with Telephus? Even though he looked fine now, it wouldn't be strange if he had a hole in his body.
“Ah, I'm fine. Telephus is fine too, except for being blinded for a while.”
……What was he talking about?
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