Chiron was willing to board the Argo, and Jason instantly felt much more at ease.
Compared to the matter of the Argo, the issue with Queen Hera that happened on the same day was another story altogether.
Which one was more important did not even need further explanation.
However, no one knew how the situation with Hera would develop next.
A half-month wait was manageable for now, but what if it dragged on for even longer?
The initiation and organization of the Argo voyage were Jason's own doing, so naturally, he could not turn a blind eye to it.
Chiron had actually considered this point as well, which was why he ultimately agreed to Jason's invitation.
Even though he had thought about staying out of it and not wading into the muddy waters, how could Chiron possibly refuse the request of his beloved student?
...
Mount Olympus, the gathering place of the Olympian gods.
Outside Queen Hera's temple,
After a period of waiting, the goddess of the hearth Hestia stepped forward and eagerly asked the mother goddess in a purple dress, the second-generation queen Rhea, who had finally emerged from inside: "Mother Rhea, is Hera willing to see us now?"
Rhea shook her head at Hestia and sighed lightly: "No, she still refuses to see anyone right now... Hermes, what about Zeus? Did you find him as I asked?"
"This..."
The expression of the messenger of the gods, Hermes, appeared somewhat awkward.
"Noble Goddess Rhea, King of the Gods Zeus, he... he has very important matters right now. He truly cannot return..."
Recalling the scene he had witnessed, where Zeus had turned into a bull and was, in various senses, "licking" that cow-herding nymph.
At this moment, Hermes, who had been sent back by Zeus, could only grit his teeth and reply to Rhea.
Upon hearing this, not only did Rhea's face darken, but even Hestia's did as well.
Clearly, they both discerned the specific implication from Hermes' words.
Seeing that both of their expressions had turned sour, Hermes thought for a moment and then added: "Moreover, Goddess Rhea, Goddess Hestia, I truly believe that even if we called King Zeus back, it would not help. The ones who could probably see Hera right now are only a few..."
"Which few?" Rhea pressed.
"The god of craftsmanship Hephaestus, the Goddess of Crossroads Hecate, there's a slight possibility with the goddess of agriculture Demeter, and then... Jason."
As the words fell, Rhea's expression involuntarily showed some helplessness as she said: "How could I not know these things? But I have already approached Hephaestus and Demeter's child; neither of them is willing to come.
As for that child Jason..."
"If Jason knew, he would definitely come!"
Hestia said.
Rhea nodded and replied: "How could I not know that? Jason is a good child, but right now..."
Before Rhea could finish her words, she was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the goddess of beauty Aphrodite, who said: "You all do not need to discuss it anymore. The matter will have a resolution soon... That child Jason has already arrived at the sacred mountain of Olympus."
"What?!"
Hestia widened her eyes and looked at the goddess of beauty Aphrodite in surprise: "Aphrodite, is what you say true?!
Has Jason already emerged from the underworld?
And how is he? Is he alright now?!"
"Yes." Aphrodite nodded lightly and then said no more.
Could she possibly tell them that she had not actually seen Jason at all?
But that Hephaestus had driven her out of the temple because Jason was about to arrive?
...
Several days after bidding farewell to Chiron,
Jason, dressed in white robes, rode on a celestial horse and once again arrived at that familiar temple.
And even before Jason reached this place, the temple doors that had been tightly shut opened, with two beautiful doll sisters guarding at the entrance.
The celestial horse flew past the two of them, the wind stirring their skirts while also carrying Jason's greetings to them.
When the celestial horse landed in the hall, Jason naturally saw his third teacher, who had already been waiting there for him.
The god of craftsmanship, Hephaestus!
Hephaestus was the child of Queen Hera and should have been one of Hera's proudest children.
For she possessed unparalleled creativity, and those dexterous hands of hers could craft the world's most exquisite artworks as well as the most powerful weapons.
But because of the birthmark on her face, Hephaestus was despised by Hera and thrown down from the lofty heights of Mount Olympus, breaking both her legs in the process.
If not for a kind ocean goddess who rescued her, she would have died long ago.
Since then, Hephaestus had worn a half-mask to cover the side of her face marred by the birthmark, leaving only the perfect side of the goddess visible.
And after arriving here, although she had created numerous dolls to fill the emptiness of the vast temple, she could never bring true vitality to it.
All of that changed with Jason's arrival, when he personally crafted that exquisite mask for her and placed it on her face.
"Hephaestus Teacher, I missed you so much!"
Upon seeing Hephaestus, before the gentle smile could fully form on Hephaestus' face, Jason, who had dismounted from the celestial horse, ran straight toward her.
In response, Hephaestus gently received him.
But after only a moment, she lightly pushed the Jason in her arms away.
Then she had Jason stand properly and carefully examined his body bit by bit.
It was only after Jason repeatedly assured her, even nearly swearing an oath to prove that he was truly fine, that Hephaestus finally set her mind at ease.
"Um, Hephaestus Teacher, I heard that you almost sent your dolls to dismantle Queen Hera's temple and even nearly got into a fight with Goddess Athena... Is that true?"
Then, as Jason squatted down to face Hephaestus seated in her wheelchair, he asked cautiously.
Upon hearing this, Hephaestus' expression became somewhat unnatural, and she asked in return: "Who said that?"
"Hecate Teacher... She also told me not to let you know that it was she who informed me of these matters!"
Jason, who unhesitatingly sold out Hecate, said.
After hesitating for a moment in response, Hephaestus had no choice but to admit it.
Once she admitted it, she then looked at Jason cautiously.
"What is it, Hephaestus Teacher?"
Seeing this, Jason asked curiously.
"Um, Jason... You don't blame Teacher, do you?" Hephaestus said softly to Jason: "Will you hate Teacher because of this?"
"Why would I hate you, Teacher, over something like this?"
Jason felt somewhat depressed.
"Because Jason, you actually do not like others making decisions on your behalf in these matters without your input, do you?"
Hephaestus' beautiful eyes gazed at Jason with worry.
Seeing this, Jason could not help but laugh.
"Yes, actually, I really do hate that sort of thing, but... you teachers are the exception."
As Jason spoke, he reached out from his squatting position and gently took Hephaestus' hand, smiling at her as he said: "Because I know that Teacher, you must have done it for my sake... However, it would be even better if you could discuss it with me beforehand. Would that be alright, Hephaestus Teacher?"
"Yes, Teacher promises you. As long as you do not hate me, that is enough." Hephaestus let out a sigh of relief and smiled at Jason once more.
"By the way, Teacher, there is actually something I wanted to ask before that... Why are you all targeting Goddess Athena?"
Jason could understand targeting Hera.
But Athena...
Jason tilted his head toward Hephaestus.
Seeing this, Hephaestus blinked and said to Jason: "Because in the end, is not all of this Athena's fault?"
"Um... Why is it Goddess Athena's fault?" Jason said, feeling somewhat unable to comprehend: "No matter how you look at it, this should actually be my fault, right?
Goddess Hera saved me back then; she is my lifesaver.
I should have become her child from the start, yet in the end, I chose Hecate Teacher and betrayed her...
Goddess Athena has always been helping me!
Without her, I might not even have had the chance to reconcile with Goddess Hera..."
"No reconciliation is fine; it would be the same without her!" Hephaestus replied instantly.
"Um, Hephaestus Teacher, Goddess Hera is still my lifesaver after all..."
"Then let me ask you: between Teacher and Hera, which one is more important!"
Jason was momentarily dumbfounded, and looking at Hephaestus, who was pouting at him, he could not help but find it somewhat amusing.
Hephaestus would listen to Jason in almost everything, except when it came to the matter of Hera.
"Of course, Teacher, you are more important in my heart."
However, for such a loaded question, Jason naturally navigated it smoothly.
Just as Hephaestus' lips curved upward in delight from this, Jason seized the moment to change the topic: "Then, Hephaestus Teacher, what exactly did Goddess Athena do wrong?"
Jason tilted his head as he looked at Hephaestus.
Hephaestus blinked at Jason in return: "You... really know nothing? You truly did not notice anything?"
"Know what? Notice what?" Jason became even more puzzled.
"...Um, never mind." Hephaestus said, unable to hold back a laugh.
"Hephaestus Teacher, why are you laughing?"
"I am laughing at Athena... Her title as the goddess of wisdom is going to weep because of you."
"Ah, why?!" Jason was utterly confused.
He was truly baffled right now and had no idea what Hephaestus was talking about.
"Forget it; it is better if you do not know. From today onward, just be more careful around her..."
"Hecate Teacher said the same thing... But why do I need to be careful of Goddess Athena?" Jason tilted his head, looking perplexed at Hephaestus.
"Because, um... Never mind, do not worry about it."
Hephaestus' eyes darted around as she halted the topic. And when Jason was about to press further, she preempted him by saying: "But speaking of which, did you not hate Athena? Why does it seem like you are defending her so much?"
"Hate? Why would you say that? I do not hate Goddess Athena at all!"