137 Chapter 135: Caught by Mother-in-law

(Titus's POV)

Before me lay a figure, or what seemed to be one. His skin was a pale, dark shade, peeling like dried paint. He was all skin and bones, and he emitted a terrible odor. It was hard to believe, but this figure was a 22-year-old man named Meleager.

I glanced at Atalanta, who gave a nod with a sorrowful expression. "He is the person…"

"Leave it to me," I declared, then conjured an assortment of runes above the cursed man. As the spell was invoked, the curse began to lift, and the man gradually regained his natural color. It was an extensive process, taking about 30 minutes, but eventually, I succeeded in not only lifting the deadly curse but also in healing him.

He soon opened his eyes, and Atalanta was the first person he saw.

"Meleager… how do you feel?" Atalanta inquired, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Meleager rose from the bed and stepped toward Atalanta but was stopped by the blade of my spear at his neck.

"Hold your horses, Romeo. I understand you must be overwhelmed, but this woman is now with me," I stated, indicating Atalanta.

"Meleager, meet Ti- Hippomenes, my husband and the one who lifted your curse," Atalanta introduced me.

This revelation struck Meleager profoundly, awakening from death's brink only to discover the woman he loved, for whom he had even slain his relatives, was now with another man.

"I'll leave you two to discuss," I said with a stern look at Meleager, "But do not get too familiar with my wife, or I will not hesitate to send you back to the underworld."

In response to my threat, Meleager nodded quickly.

"Good," I said as I dematerialized my weapon and exited the hut. From a quick glance back, I noticed a smile on Atalanta's lips as she spoke with Meleager.

Regarding his story, it goes like this: Shortly after becoming one of the few female crew members on the Argo, she encountered the hero Meleager.

Meleager was charmed by Atalanta, and he invited her to the extermination of the Calydonian Magical Beast. The tale is about the extermination of the Calydonian Boar where Atalanta is most known for her participation in this hunt, but this resulted in giving rise to a tragedy right after this event.

To eliminate the magical beast sent by Artemis, who was angered by a king's neglect in offering her a sacrifice, Atalanta and the others made exhaustive efforts in their desperate hunt for the boar. Although Meleager delivered the fatal blow, he generously awarded the credit to Atalanta, who had been the first to wound the boar with her arrow, believing it was the honorable thing to do as a hero.

The men, however, were displeased with this decision. They could not accept it easily, claiming their skills surpassed Atalanta's, despite her being a woman. This dispute led to a sudden conflict between Meleager and his relatives, during which Meleager was struck with a deadly curse.

He would've been toast if we'd shown up any later, but I managed to bring him back. I wasn't too worried about Meleager messing with history; guys like him always find a way to stir up trouble again. But seeing Atalanta happy was what mattered most.

She had to really swallow her pride to ask for that favor. Being proud, asking for help isn't easy for her. So, I couldn't just turn her down.

Right then, Atalanta walked up and stood in front of me.

"You're not jealous?" She tilted her head, smirking.

"A bit, but for you, I'll do anything. Besides, I trust my wife more than anyone else." I smirked back.

Atalanta blushed and sighed, "He was the first guy I started to open up to. It was flattering when he offered me the prize for the hunt, but then, like other guys I've known, he crossed a line. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen. I felt guilty, and that's another reason I agreed to listen to my father, so I could find a cure for him with the dowry money."

I hadn't known that.

I smiled and patted her head, "Like I said, you're my wife. Talk to me about anything."

Atalanta paused for a moment, then hugged me tightly.

"Aww, hugs are nice." I hugged her back, my hands slipping down a bit to pat her butt. "And your ass is nice too."

"You really are a big pervert, huh?" Atalanta lifted her head, smiling helplessly. She didn't protest as my hands wandered over her body.

"Yeah, you've gotta deal with it." I sighed, feeling helpless about my bad habit.

Then Atalanta had an idea and asked, "Come with me."

---

From about 10 meters away, I spotted a deer with horns that shimmered like a rainbow. This creature seemed straight out of a fantasy. Atalanta had mentioned their meat tasted like honey.

So there I was, concealed in a bush, bow in one hand and an arrow poised to strike.

"Now, calm your nerves and match your breathing with your prey's," Atalanta whispered, her arms encircling me tightly.

"Your advice isn't helping. I'm getting distracted because your chest is pressed against my back. I want to grab them now," I responded.

Atalanta sighed, a mix of annoyance and embarrassment, and flicked my head. "You can touch me whenever you like, but let's focus on the task at hand."

I nodded, and at that moment, I let the arrow fly. It zipped through the air and struck the deer in the neck.

"Yes!" I exclaimed, ready to jump out of our hiding spot, but Atalanta held me back.

"Don't celebrate yet. During a hunt, always watch for a few minutes. Predators often follow prey, and you might find another target," she advised. True to her words, another deer with rainbow horns appeared.

At her signal, I readied another arrow, but she stopped me just as a fawn came into view.

"We never target a mother or her offspring. As much as we need food, we must also respect nature," Atalanta explained as she stood up.

We approached our catch, and Atalanta began to show me how to skin it and prepare the meat. She also taught me how to preserve valuable parts like the horns and liver for the market.

"How does it feel, your first hunt?" Atalanta asked, arms crossed.

"It's... different," I admitted, scratching my head, a bit embarrassed.

I had always thought hunting was all about archery and taking down animals, but I was mistaken. I might have been skilled with a bow, but Atalanta showed me hunting was about more than just weaponry.

I was genuinely amazed at how fulfilling hunting could be. It made sense why it was such a prominent profession among the Greeks.

Atalanta turned to me, a sigh escaping her lips.

"Titus... This is the only way I can repay you. I know you're a good person and probably have your own goals, but I've benefited a lot from your help."

She rubbed her arm, gazing up at the sky. "Nero taught you about royalty. Lady Boudica helped you raise many children. Lady Tamamo healed you, while Lady Scathach trained you to your current skill level. Morgan became queen for you, against all odds, and Artoria endured loneliness for your sake."

She then rested her hand on her belly. "On the other hand, I feel completely useless. I can't offer you my virginity or bear your child. I haven't taught you any valuable skills; all I can do is cry and complain like an idiot. Teaching you some basic hunting techniques is the least I could do. I'm sorry..."

Her words sounded genuine, but the real issue was with me. I had grown too strong and independent to need anyone else to teach me something new. So I understood her frustration—it was the same frustration I felt for Nero or Tamamo when I couldn't do anything to save them.

I wrapped my arms around Atalanta from behind, holding her gently. "You know, I was also pretty lost and broke before, but we've managed to figure things out together. And..." With a smirk, I flipped up her skirt and slid my hand under her underwear, exploring her soft peach.

"Ah~!" Atalanta moaned, her body tensing as someone touched her in such an intimate way for the first time. But I didn't stop there; I lowered her blouse, gently caressing her breasts with my other hand.

"Even without sex, we can still enjoy each other's bodies however we want," I said with a smirk, my fingers teasing her womanhood while other hand massaged her breasts.

Atalanta blushed and looked at me, shaking her head with a helpless smile. "You are a lost cause."

Then silence fell between us as we grew closer, but suddenly, I caught a whiff of something unpleasant.

*Sniff* *Sniff*

"Ugh, what's that smell?" I wrinkled my nose, sniffing around. Initially, I thought it was coming from Atalanta, but then I realized it was actually me.

"I forgot to mention, if you don't wash off the blood from the rainbow deer, it starts to stink," Atalanta explained, sniffing herself where my hands had been exploring. "I smell pretty bad too."

"Sorry..." I withdrew my hands slowly. "Let's take a bath together and then kiss."

Atalanta blushed and nodded softly

---

"Titus, your back is wide and strong. You look average, but you are actually quite muscular," Atalanta remarked as she rubbed my back. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, applying shampoo to my hair. Hearing such comments wasn't new to me, but I was considering changing my appearance. Perhaps using some magic to acquire white hair and blue eyes, similar to a character from a certain anime.

I then turned to wash Atalanta's hair. Her hair felt rough, lacking any silkiness, likely a result of her tough upbringing. I decided to apply both shampoo and conditioner, as I had experience washing Nero's hair and found it manageable.

Atalanta was naked, her face flushed with embarrassment, and her gaze fixed on my Stand. Her hands moved everywhere except near my privates.

"You know, you do not have to be shy. It is not as if it would be your first time touching it," I said with a smirk.

"You knew?" Atalanta turned even redder.

"Yes, every night, a naughty girl would visit my little dragon," I replied with a grin. "I have lived a long life, young lady, and I am far more observant than you might think."

Atalanta groaned and, after a moment's hesitation, began to touch my Stand.

'Hora. She is suitable for breeding,' my Stand, Anya D. Platinum, commented.

'Sorry, but she is not an option for now,' I informed my Stand. A romance was out of the question, as it conflicted with our mission's requirements. Although Atalanta was beginning to show signs of affection towards the opposite sex, we could not pursue that path. Not in this lifetime.

"It… really is big…" Atalanta muttered while caressing my rod.

"I may be impressive, but I've heard tales of even greater stature from distant lands," I mused, shaking my head slightly as I encouraged Atalanta to turn around. Gently, I began to massage her back. Her frame was slender, yet the fine curves that adorned her back were unmistakable. As a huntress hailing from another era, her physical form differed from that of individuals in the present day, bearing unique traits that spoke of her distinct origins.

I then requested her to stand so I could attend to washing her buttocks and legs.

"It's rather embarrassing for a lady to have her man wash her private parts," Atalanta complained, though she complied nonetheless.

"Yeah, but I'm quite the enthusiast and have a fondness for women's legs and buttocks," I admitted honestly as I began to wash her ass. While her cheeks may not have been as aesthetically pleasing as Tamamo's or Scathach's, they were perfectly shaped and appealed to my tastes.

Atalanta moaned softly when I started exploring her sensitive areas without hesitation.

'It's so soft. I wonder how it would taste...' I pondered, rubbing my chin as curiosity consumed me. Without further ado, I leaned in and...

*LICK*

"YEEP!" Atalanta yelped, her body jolting with surprise. "What the…?"

"Now, before you complain about it being dirty or that I shouldn't lick it, just know that I won't listen. Don't mind me," I explained, burying my face in her womanhood and starting to pleasure her with my tongue.

"How could I not mind- hmm~!!" Atalanta moaned loudly but soon gave up. "Okay, can you stop for a second?"

I raised my eyebrows in curiosity, but Atalanta responded by pouring a bucket of water over me, washing away all the soap from both of us. She then approached, positioning her knee on my shoulder, presenting her lower half in full flash.

"You may now lick there to your heart's content. It does not violate my vow, so it is acceptable. Enjoy as much as you wish," Atalanta said, her cheeks flushed and her eyes narrowed.

Acknowledging her gesture of affection, I chose not to protest. However, in the midst of our interaction, I noticed a hint of displeasure on her face. Pausing, I inquired, "What's the matter? You seem to be enjoying yourself."

"Humph. It's not as if I was expecting a kiss or anything," Atalanta retorted, her attempt to conceal her bashfulness falling short.

I laughed softly, and seizing the moment, I captured her lips with mine. Initially taken aback, she quickly wrapped her arms around my neck, immersing herself in the moment. As it was her first experience, I kept the kiss gentle.

After several moments, our lips parted, leaving a slender, silvery connection between us. I looked into her eyes and asked, "How was it?"

"Incredible... No wonder everyone desires to kiss you," Atalanta replied, her gaze intense. Her pupils dilated, and her breathing became heavy as she began to confess her feelings for me.

Just as she was about to express her love, my instincts alerted me to danger. In an instant, I conjured my Gungnir and deflected an incoming attack.

"GYA!" I clenched my teeth, surprised by the force of the assault but successfully parrying it. "Show yourself!"

In response to my demand, a woman emerged from the shadows. She appeared as a young woman with round blue eyes and long white hair, with the lower portion tied to a large circular ornament. She wore a long white dress with a red hem at the bottom, adorned with a silver necklace and a pair of sandals. Gripping a bow, her aim was directed at me.

"Atalanta, how dare you become involved with a man when you have taken a vow of chastity?" The woman's tone was stern, her expression clearly indicating her anger.

Yup, there was no mistaking her identity. She was my mother-in-law and Atalanta's adoptive mother, Artemis, the goddess of hunt and chastity.

===

WHERE ARE POWER STONES?

500 PS to BONUS!

Also, if you want to read in advance or support me, visit:

www.patr eon.com/J_Titan