Fate: I Heard After Death, You Can Ascend to the Throne of Heroes?-Chapter 301: The Goddess of Youth and the Golden Apples

The day passed quickly.

Accompanying the dwarf Mime to forge a sword, sparring with Sigurd, and occasionally traveling to Midgard to trade forged items for supplies and food.

This was Promise's daily life in the Age of Norse Gods.

Although Promise suspected early that this was a script prepared for him by Odin, the King of the Norse Gods, in the ten or so years that had passed, Odin had never appeared once.

Apart from that...

At night, inside the dwarf's cave.

After finishing his evening routine, Promise lay down in his room.

The nights in the Age of Gods were quiet, and it didn't take long for him to fall asleep after closing his eyes.

However, in tonight's dream, several mysterious runes flashed before his eyes—runes that contained all the mysteries of the world in Norse mythology.

The runes formed a mist in Promise's dream, and it didn't take much long for the mist to dissipate.

When Promise opened his eyes again, he found himself transported through the mist to a breathtakingly beautiful sanctuary.

The light of the bright moon fell, casting a silver veil over the grassy ground.

Ahead, his emerald eyes caught sight of a clear and holy spring—the spring of Urd, used to nourish the world tree, Yggdrasil and keep it alive.

Beside the spring of Urd was one of the three thickest roots of Yggdrasil.

On the protruding root sat a stunningly beautiful goddess dressed in black, her night-like hair tied into a braid that cascaded down her back.

She was one of the three Norns of Norse mythology, equivalent to Clotho, the Moirai, in Greek mythology, the goddess who weaves the threads of fate—Skuld.

She held an ancient book in her hands and sat quietly on the root by the spring.

A small, emerald-green bird perched on her shoulder, keeping her company.

Mysterious and wise.

Promise's emerald eyes reflected the scene before him.

Seeing this, he was stunned for only a moment before he came to his senses, walked forward skillfully, and sat down next to the goddess.

The divine bird, serving as her messenger, merely glanced at Promise sitting nearby before continuing to preen its beautiful feathers nonchalantly, clearly accustomed to his presence.

Clearly, this was not the first time the Norse Norn had invited Promise into her dreams.

Skuld was also flipping through the book in her hands, showing no reaction to Promise's arrival.

And Promise just sat beside her as if he was not in a hurry either.

He looked around for a moment, then winked at the beautiful emerald bird.

The bird, noticing Promise's gaze, paused its grooming and carefully fluttered its wings, leaving the goddess's shoulder and flying back to the shrine of fate.

Soon, it returned with a paintbrush in its beak and a canvas in its claws, handing all of them to Promise.

The latter took the items, smiled at the bird to express his thanks, and then began to paint the sanctuary before him as he often did.

The bird initially showed a human-like interest, but when it realized that there was no trace of it in the painting, it quickly lost interest and returned to perch on the goddess's shoulder.

After that..the peaceful scene continued for some time before Skuld finally closed her book.

She looked up, one eye hidden by her beautiful hair, while the other, a beautiful eye, turned to gaze at Promise beside her.

Though he was only around ten years old and dressed in rough cloth, Promise, who was painting, illuminated by the moonlight, was still a mesmerizing sight.

"The wolf, the snake, and the tree... It seems that even here, you are still fulfilling the oath you made with your teacher."

Skuld spoke, her voice soft and as enchanting as ever.

"My oath between me and my teacher was to paint all the gods of the heavens."

Promise didn't look up, merely chuckling as he said, "So these things aren't actually part of it. They're... just things I want to paint."

If I want to paint them, then I will.

"...In a few years, I will find a way for you to see the wolf."

The god-slaying wolf imprisoned in Asgard.

"As for the snake, I have no way to help you as of now. As for the tree... you will need to travel through the nine realms and witness its beauty with your own eyes."

Skuld spoke, and Promise nodded his head in understanding.

Only the bird on her shoulder kept blinking, its gaze constantly shifting between the two of them.

After all, as the messenger of the Norn, it clearly understood their conversation and therefore knew exactly what they were talking about...

Which was why ...

'Is this something that you can say in such a casual tone?!'

Just as the bird was widening its eyes in shock, Skuld suddenly turned her head and looked at it.

The bird was stunned for a moment, then seemed to understand something, so, it took off again, flying toward a distant sanctuary not far from this one, another sacred place within Asgard.

Soon, it returned with something in its beak that Promise found all too familiar.

It was a golden apple...

Looking at the golden apple in front of his eyes, Promise's mouth couldn't help but twitch a little.

Clearly, he had guessed the reason Skuld had come to see him this time.

In Norse mythology, golden apples also exist, and they hold far greater significance than the golden apples of Greek mythology.

Because in Norse mythology, nothing is eternal. Even the gods suffer from the trials of aging, sickness, and death.

The power that keeps them young and alive is the golden apple.

Thus, in Norse mythology, golden apples are a normal treasure shared by all the gods.

The orchard of golden apples holds a status equal to that of the sacred spring of Urd.

Just as the bird came back with the golden apple in its beak and placed it in Skuld's hands, it looked up at the goddess and chirped softly twice.

Hearing this, Skuld remained silent for a moment before nodding gently to the bird.

Then, the emerald bird flew off once more, this time bringing back a goddess who radiated warmth and gentleness, her smile as soft as a spring breeze.

"Goddess Idunn, it's been a long time."

Stepping down from the root of Yggdrasil, Skuld, holding her skirt, gracefully curtsied to the other goddess.

The goddess called Idunn returned the gesture with equal politeness.

Then, her amber eyes, filled with barely contained curiosity, turned to look at Promise.

"Is this the child?"

Idunn asked Skuld, who nodded slightly.

In Norse mythology, there are several deities, who, even if they are not the main gods, still have a special status that no one dares to provoke them easily...except that guy Loki, of course.

These two goddesses now standing in front of Promise were among them.

The Norn of Fate, and the Goddess of Youth.

In the Norse mythology that is bound to fate, the uniqueness of the Norns needs no explanation.

Compared to the three Fates of Greek mythology, their status is even more special.

Because they exist as part of Yggdrasil.

In addition to observing the world and weaving fate, no beyond that... their greatest duty is to maintain and monitor the youth and vitality of Yggdrasil.

Even though the ultimate destruction, Ragnarok, is inevitable, they all must fulfill their duties until the very end.

This is also the reason why, when Skuld saw a different future unfolding, despite the severe backlash from Yggdrasil, she chose to leave the sanctuary, determined to find Promise.

As for Idunn, the Goddess of Youth, there is a famous Norse myth about her.

The trickster god Loki, during one of his pranks, was caught by an angry giant who transformed into an eagle and carried him away.

To avoid torture and regain his freedom, Loki tricked the goddess of Youth, Idunn into being exchanged.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

The giant's goal was, of course, the golden apples, for in Norse mythology, it is said that no one but Idunn can pluck the golden apples from the tree.

Thus, without Idunn, the gods of Asgard quickly began to age.

Realizing the severity of the situation, the gods angrily condemned Loki, and a war with the giants nearly broke out over her disappearance.

It wasn't until Loki borrowed the feathers of a falcon from the goddess of beauty, Freyja, sneaked into the giant's castle, and transformed Idunn into a nut to hide her, that he managed to rescue her.

Only then did the gods regain their youth and strength.

From this, it's clear just how special and important Idunn is to the Norse gods.

And even after such a prank, Idunn never grew angry, earning her the title of the gentlest goddess among the Norse deities.

"Greetings, beautiful goddess."

Promise also stepped down from the roots of Yggdrasil and bowed respectfully.

Idunn nodded gently, her warm amber eyes blinking as she gazed at Promise, and she replied softly, "Greetings, child blessed by fate... It seems you do not belong here.

Although this era does not reject you, because you should not have existed here, Yggdrasil has not granted you its blessings."

This was the reason why, even though Promise had grown from infancy, his body had not gained any strength.

"I understand," Idunn said, then turned to Skuld. "On the first morning of every seven-day cycle, have your messenger come to me. I will pluck a golden apple for him."

Skuld nodded, curtsying gracefully once more to express her gratitude, then turned to the bird on her shoulder.

"From this day forward, you shall stay by his side. Bring him the golden apples and, in my stead, observe and record everything about him until the end of all things."

The emerald bird messenger was stunned for a moment, its beautiful eyes instinctively glancing at Promise.

Then, coming back to his senses, it flapped its wings anxiously, as if wanting to say something to the goddess.

But under Skuld's calm, unwavering gaze, it eventually lowered its head in resignation and agreed.

Thus, under the gentle smile of Goddess of Youth, the dejected bird picked up the golden apple once more and brought it to Promise, placing it in his hands.

Just as everything seemed to be proceeding normally and Idunn was about to leave, the moment she saw Promise receive the golden apple, Idunn froze.

Her amber eyes blinked several times at the young man as a look of surprise gradually spread across her face.

"Child, why... why do you bear the blessing of the golden apple tree?"

"No, this doesn't seem like a blessing... but rather... control?"

As she spoke, Idunn's eyes widened as she stared intently at Promise.

Hearing this, Promise was stunned for a moment before a feel in thought.

Looking at the golden apple in his hand, he suddenly remembered the golden apple tree that had been broken by Heracles and later nurtured by Chiron.

In Greek mythology, the golden apples were the treasures of Hera, the Queen of the Gods.

Thus, she naturally held the authority over the golden apples, and she had... shared that authority with Promise!

"Come with me!" Without waiting for anyone to react, Idunn suddenly reached out, grabbed Promise's hand, and led him away at a brisk pace.

The goddess of fate, Skuld was also stunned for a moment before she plucked a green leaf from the roots of Yggdrasil.

She inscribed runes on it and handed it to the emerald bird.

The bird, taking the leaf, hurried to Promise just before he left the sanctuary and placed it on him.

Skuld watched them leave quietly and did not follow them... To be precise, she could no longer leave this sanctuary.

It was Yggdrasil's punishment for her earlier departure.

Meanwhile, Idunn led Promise to the orchard of golden apples, running all the way to the ancient golden apple tree.

She caught her breath, her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked at Promise and asked, "Child, can you try something... try to pluck a golden apple from this tree?"

The bird perched on Promise's shoulder couldn't help but tilt its head at her words.

Because all the Norse gods knew that no one but Idunn could pluck the golden apples from the tree. Even if someone used brute force, the apple would wither and rot the moment it was picked.

Just as the bird was thinking this, it saw Promise, standing beneath the tree, look up at the golden apples.

Then, he reached out his hand.

However instead repeating the same process as it thought, this time..

Without even plucking the apple, the golden apple seemed to respond to his call, falling from the tree and landing in Promise' hand.

The bird was stunned, staring at the golden apple in Promise's hand, then looking up at the golden apple tree.

It couldn't help but lift a wing in a humane way to rub its eyes.

After confirming that what it saw was real, it stood there in complete shock.

Through the bird's eyes, Skuld, who had been watching all of this, couldn't help but blink at the moment, even though she had somewhat anticipated this outcome.

"I knew it was indeed the case!" Idunn clapped her hands in delight, then turned and said, "I must share this wonderful news with everyone at once!"

As she spoke, Idunn prepared to leave the sanctuary.

She wasn't angry that Promise could control her authority.

On the contrary, she was quite delighted about it.

After all, Idunn herself understood very well how important her existence was to the gods, and this actually restricted her freedom in disguise, preventing her from easily leaving the divine realm.

Moreover, due to her uniqueness, the gods also treated her with a certain level of reverence.

Although Idunn had accepted all of this with grace, after so many years, she naturally felt a bit lonely and had always hoped to break free from some of these constraints.

And now, there was a child who could pluck the golden apples in her stead.

But just as she was about to leave the sanctuary, Skuld, through the emerald bird, stopped Idunn and prevented her from leaving.

The reason was simple.

If it were to be revealed that Promise could pluck the golden apples, it would spell true disaster for him!

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