I Became a Slave to a Mythical Shepherd

Episode 55. surprise attack

“The Temple of Poseidon comes into this alleyway!”

At the banquet last night, Kiknos, who was very satisfied with my flattery, assigned 10 attendants, saying that he hoped that there would be no inconvenience in living in the colony.

Among them, I threw an iron coin to the guy who knew the way well and told him to guide me to the temple, and I was able to reach the temple of Poseidon in less than 5 minutes.

Next to the salty harbor, the temple was located. Barnacles clung to the temple’s flooded foundations like armour.

As soon as we came to the entrance of the temple, Hector and I took back the gold plate we had left with the attendant and walked up the stairs.

Upon hearing the news of our visit, the priests waiting at the entrance split left and right to lead us inside.

It was a temple that gave off a cool feeling by mixing aquamarine and jade and decorating it in bluish green. Among them stands a majestic statue of Poseidon covered in silver.

There is a sheer cliff behind the god statue and the altar. The sea ripples beneath it.

After biting the priests, we put a golden plate on the altar. The prayer was recited by Hector.

“You who shake the earth and make the mountains tremble.

It is because of your grace that the ships of the world go far away and return to their places, and it is because of your anger that the ships of the world meet the waves and sink to that deep blue death.”

Slowly, a salty wind blows from the god statue.

Divine aura comes It seems that the lungs are clearing.

I feel weird.

In the Iliad, Poseidon was the god who disobeyed Zeus’ orders and helped Greece and destroyed Troy. I’m praying like this right now.

No matter how I feel, with each inhalation fresh, ocean-scented air bursts into my lungs.

Hector shut his mouth, enjoying the salty smell.

Now it is my turn to continue Hector’s prayer.

“…we have blasphemously killed your subjects and seen their blood. As an apology, I offer you handsome bulls and your treasures from them.

Please accept it.”

Soon, the wind winds around the golden dish. The dish, which was quite heavy, could not withstand the strong gust of wind and trembled.

The heavy carcass of the bull next to it also flutters in the wind, and naturally falls off the altar and into the blue sea beyond.

however,

– Ting. Ting. Ting.

The gold dish, which had been shaken a few times, only showed a slightly swaying appearance, but did not move.

Just as we looked at each other in wonder, the sea breeze stopped like magic.

The salty air that used to surround the statue of the god has gone, and now only the subtle scent of the fragrant wood burning inside the temple can be seen.

The gold dish lay there again, as if someone had glued it to the foundation.

“…Could it be that Poseidon hated us?”

I said as I put the golden plate that was on the altar back into my backpack. Hector shakes his head.

“No way. Since the bull was drunk, he must not be angry. Besides, I’ve subdued mermaids dozens of times, and there’s no reason to show your anger now.”

Hagisa… If he was really angry, at least he should have ended without accepting the sacrifice.

It is not so awkward given the sluggish nature of the Greek gods that they only skip offerings and do not resolve their grievances. But in the first place, we didn’t even do anything to upset Poseidon.

Anyway, it was a clear fact that Poseidon didn’t take the gold dish, so we just stood there for a while, not knowing what to do.

After praying a few more times and after quite some time, we returned to the inn where Aeneas was waiting. Aeneas was already packing his servants to leave.

“Paris, Hector, are you here? Did you return that valuable-looking bowl?”

“You didn’t take it. We’ll have to keep it for a while, huh?”

I took off the backpack containing the gold plate and left it with the servant.

Aeneas also tilted his head and only asked what had happened.

It is ominous. Even though I gave my wealth back to God, it was rejected.

A moment of silence follows. He seemed to be thinking about how this bad omen would affect his future journey.

“Okay, wake up first.”

And the first to realize the futility of such worries was Hector, the oldest among us.

Attendants pack their backpacks, we dress neatly, and the guards start arming themselves.

Soon, at the gates of Colonai, we were greeted by Lord Cyknos and left.

I took out a gold plate on the carriage for a while and looked at my face.

Even though it was shining bright yellow in the sunlight, it was gloomy as if it were in the shade.

“… what the hell is this?”

Hector didn’t answer.

It was as if he was silently reciting a prayer.

***

Even if you look at the map even for a moment, you can see that the route of this journey is twisted very inefficiently.

Troia and Dardanos are close by.

Colonai and Antandros are not too far.

Then, according to common sense, it would have been a reasonable route to go from Troia to Dardanos to see Aeneas, and then head to Colonnai to meet other royals and take me to Antandros.

However, it did not.

First of all, it was necessary for me and Hector to take over Aeneas, the successor of Dardanos, and in addition, the order of visits was determined by examining the hierarchy among the cities.

Because of that, when we marked our route on the map, it looked like an N upside down.

It goes south for a while, then turns north again.

Anyway, thanks to such complex and subtle considerations, the distance traveled has increased dramatically.

-Mulkyung.

As such, we had enough motivation not to avoid taking shortcuts.

“Ugh… do I really have to pass this way?”

“If you want to go north to Dardanos in time, this is the best place.”

Even if it’s next to a swamp.

My face frowns at the unpleasant dampness and the characteristic pleasant smell. The guide, who was rescued from the site, casually inhales the smell and walks ahead.

Similarly, some with a strong tolerance for odor catch a frog jumping nearby and put it in their bag, but the rest, not in the mood to do so, pant from exhaustion from the unscheduled forced march.

“It’s still before the sun goes down… but it won’t be long. Bugs will boil around here, so you’ll have to get out of here to camp.”

Aeneas whispers to me.

“I will probably get out. I’m sure I’ll fall asleep in a state of exhaustion, but…”

I said, staring blankly at the uninhabited wagon, fearing that it might overturn. If there is no energy, the thoughts disappear on their own.

Hector, perhaps noticing the tiredness of the party, calls out to them to take a break and leave.

All of us stretched out on the floor and grumbled, regardless of social status, whether we had to go through this hard road.

Even if I’m a bit short on myself, I wandered around looking for a nearby grass field to try lying down on the floor.

“… Mr. Paris?”

Then, at the sound of Aeneas calling me, I hurriedly get up.

Aeneas’ expression hardened. Without a word, I ran to where he beckoned.

“What is going on?”

“Please be quiet for a moment.”

Aeneas led me out of sight of the rest of the soldiers and pointed out a bush in the middle of the far swamp road.

“That, what do you think?”

“Uh… isn’t it full?”

“Aren’t you suspicious? What is the difference between the color of the soil in one place and the other?”

“is it?”

“Wait a minute.”

Aeneas carefully pulled out a single spear, but threw it with all his might into the bush he had just mentioned.

And at the impact of the spear, the ground where the bushes had grown fell down like a lie.

As they hurried out after Aeneas, they found sharp-edged wooden spears stuck in the deep pit.

“…are they thieves?”

“No, they prefer to be captured alive. It’s rare to set up a trap to kill like this.”

Aeneas looked around nervously and said,

“Paris-sama, should I call Hector-sama?”

When I nodded to Aeneas, Aeneas also stood up. We headed straight to the place where the soldiers had just been released.

A few took turns standing guard, while others untied their armor straps or poured water from a bucket on their heads to rest.

Aeneas runs straight to Hector and whispers in his ear what we have just seen. Surprised, Hector gestured to the local guide who briefly guided us here.

For some reason, the guide came toward us, glancing around. Hector gives him a kind smile and pats him on the shoulder.

“Hey, the soldiers are so tired. Can you tell me how far I will have to go to get out of this swamp?”

“Ah, I see!”

“Aeneas, could you wait here for a moment? I’m only going to take Paris for now.”

“Ah, I see.”

Nervous at Hector’s call, the guide guided us to the ‘safest and fastest route’.

Just now, on exactly the same path that Aeneas had led me.

“If you come this far and cross that hill…”

The guide gestures and points out the surrounding landmarks. Hector points to the back of him and says.

“Can’t we just ride that mountain range? I’m afraid disease will spread around the swamp.”

“That is difficult. It will be difficult for 100 people to pass through at once because the alleyway is narrow.”

“Then, what about over there by the river?”

“That river eventually turns from east to west once and blocks the way to the north.”

As the guide walked in the direction Hector was leading, his gaze was taken in all directions.

and,

“Look.”

“yes?”

“Be careful with your feet.”

Before the guide could even notice, Hector kicked him in the stomach and threw him into the pit we saw earlier. I glanced at Hector and grabbed his rapidly falling arm.

“Quaaa!!!”

“Shut up. We are willing to save you if you answer the questions.”

“Ah… uhhh… Princes, please…”

“Who was instigated to lead us down this path? I won’t ask how you knew our destination. If we move in groups of about 100 people, that kind of information will leak anyway.”

“That, what is that…”

“Brother, do you think this bastard can afford it?”

Oops.”

“Kwaaagh!!! ‘Aruna’! ‘Aruna’!!”

As I ‘accidentally’ let go of his arm and then grab his wrist again, the terrified guide begins to cry out with tears on his face.

“A few days ago, after telling the priest that he had heard the news of rich people throwing iron coins, he prayed… and prayed…

‘Aruna’ whispered. Lead noble people here. He says he’s sending an army…”

“Ah…Luna? Who is it? older brother?”

I turned my head and called out to Hector.

Hector’s expression was pale. Like that of someone who heard something they shouldn’t have heard.

“You there.”

“Yes, yes…”

“You swear to tell the truth to the River Styx right now.”

“Mae, I swear! I will swear a hundred more times!!”

“Is it really true that the ‘sea’ gave you instructions?”

“Oh, that’s right! Soon His armies will come to surround you nobles!”

“Paris.”

“Yes, brother.”

“Let’s lift it up. There may be some more to go and interrogate. I think I got everything I could get.”

“All right.”

“Now, thanks for being merciful…”

The weeping guide struggles clinging to the wall of the pit and climbs up slowly, relying on my arm strength.

We tear off the hem of the guide who is sitting right next to the pit and bind his arms. After that, I ask more detailed about the situation before and after.

“Where exactly is the army coming from?”

“Hey, over that hill. Originally, everyone fell into the trap here, and when panicked, they jumped over the hill and attacked…”

“Signal? Could there be a signal between you and them to be exchanged?”

“It’s a whistle…”

The guide… hesitantly unravels the secrets one by one.

“It’s a whistle…”

“Yes, yes, yes.”

“Got it. Yes, Paris, you lead the guide…”

“older brother? Please wait a moment.”

“hmm?”

I kicked the guide.

“Ahhhhh! uh…”

I catch the guide again who is about to fall down the pit.

“If something as simple as a whistle is a signal, then you can always signal your comrades, right?”

“Oh, no! never!! never!!”

“We can clean you up anytime. Be sure to remember.”

“of course! Oh, my Gods!”

Hector comes out, looks at the guide who has been pulled up again, and sighs lightly. Still, he helped me as I gagged and bound my limbs.

After that, it was treated humanely.

…

“Quaaagh! Help me!”

“Paris! Stop, stop hitting!”

“You, you almost lost everything because of this bastard!”

After calling the soldiers and dragging the barely-breaded man away, we didn’t say anything to each other for a while.

I really almost died.

Hector asked me quietly.

“Paris, do you have any plans?”

“It happened that our soldiers had enough rest. If it had been as before, I would have brought my exhausted body all the way here, and over there, from over the hill, I would have suffered great damage from the unknown enemies…”

Just thinking about it is a terrifying possibility.

If it had not been for Aeneas’ keen eye, it would probably have been the same.

“I survived because I responded appropriately in advance. When enough time has passed, we send the soldiers over here to stand by.”

I draw my sword and point over that hill.

“And, this time we hit.”