061. Blessing
I immediately understood that Perseus had misunderstood. Thinking of this, I sighed softly.
"You're mistaken, Perseus. I'm asking this simply because the women here are so troubled by pregnancy, and then have to take care of their husbands and work after giving birth. I just can't bear to see them."
Perseus' movements stiffened slightly, his expression changing from complex to bewildered. He lowered his clear eyes, as if he was too embarrassed to look at me any longer. He raised his hand and touched his nose. "Sorry, I was wrong."
Although I didn't understand why Perseus associated this incident with me, I still vaguely guessed something when I thought of his mother's sudden death.
However, even though I sympathize with Perseus's plight and have gradually come to terms with the fact that he was the one who killed me in the prophetic dream, this does not mean that I have to compensate him for it.
I never owed him anything.
"But..." Perseus was silent for a long moment, looking at me cautiously, and then said, "Perhaps—"
I frowned, probably guessing what he was about to say, but ultimately I interrupted him and subtly dismissed him. "I'll wait for you to come back."
Perseus acted as if his hopes had been dashed. He lowered his head gloomily, took a deep breath, and finally replied, "I'll be right back."
As he spoke, he came to the outside of the house, drove the flying shoes of the messenger Hermes, and left here with reluctant eyes.
I felt a little relieved when Perseus left, but his behavior just now had already made me feel a little annoyed.
It's not that he is annoying. After all, Perseus changed his loyalty from being loyal to the gods to following me. Just based on this point, I changed my attitude towards him. In terms of strength and other things, he is also very good and can meet my needs.
However, his misunderstanding just now really frightened me, and I couldn't help but wake up immediately.
After going through so much, I found that the meaning of my existence in the past was like a joke. Even though I have found the purpose of living again now, it is not a good thing, but revenge. Everything else is just unimportant little things on my road to revenge.
Thinking of those women who were oppressed but didn't realize it, I just felt a chill, because it made me vaguely see the helpless and painful me when I was forced to submit to Poseidon, the god of the sea. I don't want to be so numb and take it for granted to give birth to a child for a man.
Therefore, I began to consider keeping a distance from Perseus for the time being so that he would not affect my reason and judgment due to insignificant things.
*
On the other side, Perseus was flying in his flying shoes on the way to find the famous doctor Hippocrates, but he was in a very depressed mood.
He didn't know what was wrong with him. He actually misunderstood Medusa's thoughts. She clearly said that women should avoid pregnancy, but Perseus couldn't help but think of Medusa.
However, it was at that moment of misunderstanding that Perseus' pain of losing his mother seemed to be suddenly cured, because at this moment he was no longer alone in spirit. Perseus was about to have a baby who was connected to him by blood and would become his only bond in this world. What's more, the child's other half of the blood was not from anyone else, but from Medusa, whom he deeply loved.
Perseus had never thought about this before, but when this question was suddenly put before him, he felt that the whole world became brighter, more brilliant and more beautiful.
He was almost ecstatic, but soon, thinking of Medusa's implicit intention to prevent all this from happening, Perseus immediately felt extreme pain, which was ten or even a hundred times more painful than enduring the pressure of Medusa's mark before...
Until Medusa told him that he was wrong.
However, once all these beautiful ideas appeared in his mind, they could no longer be erased and became Perseus' deepest wish.
But Medusa seemed to have noticed this and drove him away.
Perseus knew that Medusa was a strong and unyielding woman, just like his great mother Danae. After giving birth to him and being stranded on a strange island, she did not choose to marry any man, but raised him alone amid rumors.
It is this kind of woman who can unknowingly deeply attract his attention and body and mind, making him willingly do everything for her.
But it was also because of this that Perseus knew clearly that there was an extremely sharp weapon in Medusa's heart that rejected anyone who wanted to approach her.
What could Perseus do? Force her?
No, he would never do this kind of Poseidon-like coercion. He would not hurt Medusa again for any reason.
Soon, Perseus arrived at the place where Hippocrates lived. After waiting for a long time, he finally saw the famous doctor who was surrounded by patients.
Ever since Perseus saved Medusa from facing the goddess Athena, they have never been separated again, so Perseus was a little anxious to go back and see Medusa.
So he didn't care about anything else and just asked loudly, "Respected famous doctor Hippocrates, is there any way to prevent a woman from getting pregnant?"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was almost a "swish" sound, and all the men and women turned to look at Perseus, their eyes were naked and even full of a bit of hostility, which made him feel extremely embarrassed.
What’s more important is that at that time, the vast majority of humans believed in gods. In everyone’s view, children were not only a gift from gods to humans, but also a way to continue their own bloodline. So how could anyone want to stop a woman from getting pregnant?
Hippocrates, the white-haired elder in the center, turned around and looked deeply at the embarrassed young man, Perseus. In the almost stagnant atmosphere, he calmly smoothed things over for Perseus. "Children are certainly important, but continuous pregnancies will affect women's work efficiency. Poor families can't even provide the food needed for so many people to survive. This is a good question."
As the most prestigious and authoritative person here, Hippocrates' words immediately dispelled the strange atmosphere and hidden hatred in the air. Most of the people here were poor patients, and they could not help but nod in empathy.
"You are right, Reverend Hippocrates. What are the specific solutions?"
A man frowned. "My wife just gave birth to another child. Food was already scarce, and now life has become even harder."
Another middle-aged woman said even more sadly, "I've given birth to five children, and three have died. Each time was almost torture for me, but I'm still afraid that I will go through it again and again in the future."
"It would be great if I could choose. I could have children when I want to, and not have them when I don't want to..."
Everyone started discussing it at once. Even though some people still disagreed with Hippocrates's statement, they were drowned out by the voices of the majority.
Perseus stood at the edge of the noisy crowd, and his memory suddenly returned to the hard and difficult life in his childhood, frame by frame, and the appearance of Danae as a young woman also appeared in his mind.
He was young and ignorant at that time, and Danaë was almost confined to take care of the young Perseus. He could only do things that now seem extremely simple to him alone, with limited ability.
Thinking about it now, Perseus suddenly realized that if it weren't for him, Danaë would never have such a life, and her life alone would definitely be much better than this.
Even though he is not sure who instructed such a terrifying sea monster to kill Danae, it must be related to those gods. If she had not given birth to him, or if she had the right to choose to have children, Danae might still be like a simple and naive girl, living in a high tower and looking into the distance.
Finally, Hippocrates spoke. His kind and generous voice seemed to bring comfort and confidence to everyone. "Although I don't know yet, I will do my best to study it."
After saying this, the wise old man slowly walked towards Perseus. After gazing at him for a long moment, he seemed to suddenly think of something. He gestured for Perseus to go to a deserted place and suddenly asked, "Is it your wife who is asking this?"
Perseus didn't expect that he still remembered him. "Yes, it's my...lover, that's what Medusa wanted to ask."
Hippocrates chuckled and didn't ask any further questions. "I'm researching a method of using animal intestines for contraception. Perhaps you could try it and tell me if it really works."
Perseus suddenly blushed and said in a dry voice, "Thank you, Hippocrates. I will try."
But as if he had thought of something, he asked again in confusion, "But why did you just say you didn't know?"
Hippocrates remained noncommittal, his eyes gleaming with wisdom and experience, yet he couldn't help sighing as he spoke. "First, I'm not sure if it's truly effective. It's very likely just a fluke. Secondly, aside from economic factors, most men here don't like using something so uncomfortable, unless they're truly concerned about their lovers."
The elder looked at Perseus with admiration, "You haven't had any children yet, have you?"
Perseus nodded blankly.
"That's right. The concern in your expression last time impressed me deeply. I trust my judgment. I won't make a mistake."
"With a considerate and kind lover like you, I believe you will eventually find happiness together."
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