MTLNOVEL Chapter 16: Chapter 16: All Good Things Must Come to an End
"I went to see Absyrtus. He was the leader of the pursuers, and also my younger brother. I told him that I wanted to follow Lord Moran… After that, I found an opportunity to use magic to make him faint, and I used a little trick."
Medea said this very casually,
As lightly as if she were talking about afternoon tea.
"The most important thing for an army is the commander, right? Hmm… I used illusions to create an illusion that they couldn't ignore, and that's why the pursuers couldn't advance."
"Um, I don't know if it's convenient for me to ask, Medea, what did you make them see?"
Jason asked inquisitively, like a curious child.
Moran had already guessed what it was.
"It's simple. What I made them see was the illusion of their commander being dismembered into pieces, floating on the sea. Hehe, there's nothing more demoralizing than that, right?"
Medea's words were as innocent as a child's,
But the information contained within was chilling, and even Jason doubted whether he had heard correctly.
Such a bloody and terrible topic,
Spoken by the innocent and romantic Medea,
Made everyone present feel a sense of absurd strangeness.
It was no exaggeration to say it was chilling.
"T-that's so…!"
"Hmm? Mr. Jason, why are you backing away so much? Did I do something wrong?!"
Medea asked with a blank expression,
Which made everyone even more speechless.
Their predictions were probably completely wrong.
A seemingly innocent person can be darker than anyone could imagine. Medea actually had such a hidden, scheming side.
The others cast pitying glances at Moran.
Being loved by such a princess with hidden depths,
Was indeed not an easy thing.
"Although there were some deviations, the result was good. Medea, I'm glad that you took what I said into consideration."
Moran directly praised Medea.
At least, she didn't commit the inhuman act of killing a family member.
"Lord Moran…"
Medea's face turned slightly red.
She lowered her head, feeling a little flustered.
Lord Moran was probably praising her, right?
Just thinking about it made her happy.
She had hesitated before drawing her blade against her younger brother, remembering what Moran had told her before.
[Nothing can be obtained by abandoning something else.]
The happiness obtained by killing a family member,
Abandoning love for family in exchange for love for a partner,
No, that couldn't be considered love.
Medea might not understand the reasoning behind Moran's words even now, but she didn't want to disappoint Moran.
Absyrtus's death would cause her pain.
Medea also had the heart of an ordinary person.
The day Medea truly understood that Moran was thinking of her, the happiness that truly belonged to her would arrive.
[One year passed, and they returned to Iolcos.]
[Along the way, they encountered hardships, which they saw as adventures and irreplaceable times.]
[The Argo reached its destination.]
[All good things must come to an end, and this was also true for the Argo heroes, who had created countless legends.]
[Atalanta also said goodbye to you.]
"It's over…"
"Atalanta, you can come with us."
"I…"
Atalanta paused, not saying anything.
Unlike when they had first arrived in Colchis a year ago,
Medea was now intimately embracing Moran.
Some time after boarding the ship,
She had been conveying her sincere and passionate love to Moran every day.
Faced with such a proactive and adorable girl,
Moran naturally had no reason to refuse. He couldn't ignore this innocent princess.
The two of them had fallen in love as a matter of course.
They were only one step away from going beyond being lovers and becoming a true couple.
Atalanta had been watching the whole time as a witness.
That happy scene was something that she and Moran had never had in the past, and she couldn't even feel a sense of frustration.
Perhaps Medea was the most suitable for Moran.
They would be happier together.
"No, I can't… Medea, you're more suitable to be with Moran. I wish you happiness."
Atalanta couldn't break her vow of virginity,
But she also couldn't ignore her feelings.
"Atalanta…"
Medea didn't know what to say.
She hoped that Atalanta could be more straightforward,
But Atalanta wasn't the kind of person who would break her vows.
It was a question of choosing faith or love.
Medea couldn't help but turn her gaze to Moran.
She didn't mind if Moran had other women besides herself. That heavy love had that kind of tolerance.
"I'm going back to Arcadia."
Atalanta turned around,
As if she wanted to completely suppress her feelings.
Of course, Moran couldn't do nothing.
He said the words that contained all the feelings in his heart:
"Atalanta, after I've dealt with everything, I'll go to Arcadia. I don't believe in any gods.
In my eyes, whether it's Medea or you, you two are equally important to me—I love you!"
"…"
Atalanta still didn't respond.
She walked towards the outside of Iolcos.
[Watching the disappearing green figure,]
[Medea gently comforted you, who were feeling downcast.]
[You weren't someone who would be defeated by setbacks.]
[You decided that after dealing with the Gorgon sisters, you would find Atalanta again and settle things.]
…
[Under the night sky watched over by the bright full moon,]
[An elf-like figure leaped through the forest, from ancient tree trunks to cliffs in the mountains.]
[She was running at top speed all the way,]
[Clutching her heaving chest.]
'He loves me, he loves me—he said he loves me!'
Atalanta looked up at the moon and released her emotions.
The feelings that she should have given up had resurfaced once again.
Even after being with him until now,
Her heart would still beat wildly for him.
The only thing stopping her was the vow she had made in the past, and she had been struggling with how to deal with it.
But now, who could care about so much?
[He really loves me.]
The important thing was hearing Moran say that.
The pessimism that had been binding her until now was swept away, and she was immersed in such joyful emotions.
Recalling the sincere tone he had used when he said those words,
She couldn't help but break into a sweet smile.
Atalanta didn't want to just give in to fate, nor did she want to break the vow she had made.
That doesn't mean there's no way at all.
She can choose to face the vow she made, the goddess Artemis whom she worships.
Atalanta has a goal other than faith.
She wants to obtain this true love.
Returning to Arcadia is her first choice; perhaps she can meet Artemis there.
Do vows and love really conflict?
Why can't she have them both?
She understands that she wants to have both, and she feels ashamed of her greed, but there's nothing she can do.
If only it could be realized.
To work towards it, to reach for happiness.
That's a principle of action she's never had before, not the wildness brought from that forest, but the pursuit that sprouted from the moments spent with Moran during the voyage.
She has also fallen in love with this man.
"Moran… after I've dealt with things in Arcadia… you don't need to come find me; I'll come back to find you…!"