Chapter 82

## Chapter Chronology

**Know Thyself** is the 82nd chapter of the "*Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok*" manga series.

## Summary

All the Goddesses supporting Apollo can’t believe the sight before their eyes: Apollo on his hands and knees, with his head bowed down. As Leonidas smokes his cigar, Heimdall announces to the audience that the indomitable Spartan King has dragged the Sun God down and forced him to the ground. The Humans are impressed by how strong Leonidas is, to turn the tables with one blow, and Hagis stands proud as the rest of the Spartan soldiers chant “Sparta!” out of excitement.

As Brunhilde cheers, Gӧll is taken aback by how Leonidas was able to crush Apollo head-on. Having seen what happened, Hlӧkk calls Leonidas cool for not going down, even after taking that beating, and as he sips his cup of tea, Jack the Ripper compliments Leonidas’ sturdy body, as well as his immense willpower. He notes that the Spartans are a terrifying people but Hlӧkk repeatedly pokes at his chest, insisting it isn’t only Leonidas that’s fighting. Hlӧkk recounts how Geirӧlul is the most terrifying of the thirteen Valkyries when she gets mad and she admits not even she’s seen what Geirӧlul looks like when she’s completely snapped. As Jack calls that reassuring, Hlӧkk hopes Geirӧlul continues to do her best. Very pleased with the attack they dealt to him, Geirӧlul mockingly wonders what Apollo thinks of that, calling him a narcissistic God. Heimdall questions if the match has been decided when Apollo slowly gets to his knees and looks up, revealing a deep gash across his face.

As Apollo falls back down while trying to get up, Heimdall laments over how the God renowned beyond all others for his beauty is now but a glimmer of himself. As some of the Goddesses shut their eyes, unable to keep watching, Leonidas approaches Apollo and reminds him of what he said: “Never stand against a Spartan.” He instructs Apollo to go to sleep already, guessing he doesn’t want to show off such an unsightly appearance. As he manages to get on his feet this time, Apollo says Leonidas is mistaken if he thinks this is unsightly. He asserts Leonidas should understand and Apollo states he set his soul ablaze, just to defeat the King of Sparta. Apollo considers this version of himself, who is giving his all to the fight, to be the most beautiful. As Leonidas stands silent, another God in the crowd clicks his teeth over how Apollo is bluffing. Another God thinks that’s all he can do as he’s already been beaten to a pulp.

The Gods think Apollo was a fool to fight Leonidas head-on and that this was the obvious result, making some of them question whether or not Apollo knows where he stands. Hearing their comments, Ares clenches his fists and wishes they would all shut it. This prompts Hermes to tease Ares over how he has a soft spot for Apollo, which Ares vehemently denies. Looking down on him, Ares says it’s just that there’s no way Apollo has forgotten where he stands. Chuckling, Zeus agrees and declares there is nobody more aware of themself than Apollo.

“Know Thyself.”

Those are the words inscribed at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. The Ancient Greeks believed that was Apollo’s way of telling them all to know their place. After all, Apollo was considered to be the most talented of all the Gods, being considered the God of Philosophy, the God of Poetry, the God of Medicine, the God of Archery, the God of Music, the God of Prophecy and then further hailed as the God of the Sun. It made sense to the Ancient Greeks that Apollo would benevolently admonish the foolish Humans. But was that truly Apollo’s divine will? No. It’s actually the complete opposite and there is a story to prove this very fact. Back in Ancient Greece, when the Gods and men still lived close to another, there was a monster in Delphi, called Python.

In the village of Delphi, wearing a scary mask and a cape with spikes along it, Python terrorizes the people, maniacally laughing at them to fear him more. Having been chased out of Valhalla for his appearance, Python would frequently attack Human settlements. As the people keep running, Ares’ Divine Honor Guard appears to exterminate Python. However, Python defeats them all with ease and cackles about how they’re nothing but fake Gods. As Python continues to chase the fleeing people, he looks into the window of a house and sees a mother hugging her scared child. That puts Python off from continuing to give chase and he promptly leaves. He was truly despised, just like a real serpent. And then, that day arrived. While Python was sleeping in his hideout, someone approaches and identifies him as the one who’s been kicking around the subordinates of his dear friend, Ares. Waking up and putting on his mask and cloak, Python questions who he is before gleefully recognizing him as one of the Twelve Gods of Olympus, Apollo. The Sun God reveals he will be Python’s opponent, so that he can answer the expectations of his divine friend. At the same time, Ares is told by one of his soldiers that Apollo went after Python because he had expectations of him, much to the exasperation of the God of War. Apollo explains his actions by comparing it to the rising of the sun: just like how the sun rises without being asked, he will answer the expectations of his friends without being asked.

Though he doesn’t know what Apollo is talking about, Python decides it’s perfect that the Sun God was the one who came down here. Running forward, Python swears to rip Apollo’s face to shreds. But right after, Apollo leaps in and squarely punches Python in the face, knocking him down. Laughing, Apollo guesses this is his win. Groaning, Python tries to get back up to resume the fight but he collapses again, unable to move from just one punch. Still, because he can’t stomach being beaten by someone like Apollo, Python forces himself to slightly get back up and scream about how he hasn’t lost yet. Smiling, Apollo says that’s great and decides to go again tomorrow. With Python in confusion, Apollo lays down in the serpent’s bed and orders him to go sleep somewhere else. The next day, and the next day, and the day after that – Python continually challenged Apollo and was soundly defeated each time. On a rainy day, with his mask broken, Python lies on the ground and curses about how he lost again. But as he clenches his fist, Python refuses to lose to someone like Apollo. Curious, Apollo asks Python why he keeps fighting him over and over again.

As he gets up, Python recalls how he was always despised and oppressed for no reason. He was purged out of Valhalla and was outcast, even on Earth. Python cries about how he was born a monster yet it wasn’t like he asked to be born like this. He insists Apollo is different as he’s been praised as the most beautiful, most reliable, and is loved and admired by everyone. Taking off his cloak, Python reveals that is why he can’t bear to lose against someone like Apollo. Having heard his past, Apollo praises Python for being beautiful. Python initially believes Apollo is making fun of him but Apollo assures him he isn’t. Python questions how Apollo can think he’s beautiful when he looks like this and Apollo clarifies that Python’s appearance doesn’t matter to him. What Apollo finds beautiful is Python’s existence, his own self. Apollo thinks Python is quite beautiful for facing his own self, setting his soul ablaze and fighting with such vigor. Still angry, Python asks Apollo what he can understand about him and Apollo tells him that he can understand because he is the same.

Did Apollo always shine with such brilliance and talent? No. Among the Greek Gods, Apollo was never recognized by anyone. He was a mediocre God. The God of Philosophy, the God of Poetry, the God of Medicine, the God of Archery, the God of Prophecy, the Boxing God – all those titles were not the result of some natural talent Apollo was born with. He seized them with his own two hands, to the point where he was bloodied and battered. He seized them with his own effort. That have-not, mediocre God found himself shoulder-to-shoulder with the Twelve Gods of Olympus and ultimately, he became heralded, far and wide, as Helios Phoebus. With Python in disbelief that they are the same, Apollo expresses his view that those without beauty are those who are satisfied with how they are and rest on the laurels on their prior good fortune. Apollo declares that those who know themselves are those that know they aren’t enough; those who know themselves are those who know their own weakness; those who know themselves are those who do not fear changing themselves. Apollo smiles about how those who know themselves are those who can, above all others, take pride in their beauty.

As that seems to resonate with Python, Apollo heartily laughs, only to stop when he notices the serpent crying over how he’s hurt so many people. Turning around, Apollo writes off Python’s actions as self-defense from violence, comparing it to how one will get bitten if they trod on a snake’s tail. But stopping that violence before it becomes a full-fledged war is what Apollo believes the duty of the Gods to be. Waving goodbye, Apollo remarks on how this was a nice holiday but he has to get back now. He thanks Python for the comfy bed and in turn, Python shouts to Apollo that he still hasn’t lost. Turning back, Apollo confirms that’s beauty and the two smile at each other, which is witnessed by a Human woman hiding behind a rock. From that point on, Python stopped rampaging in Human settlements and remained in Delphi, where he built a temple dedicated to Apollo, that he would go on to guard. Upon that temple, he inscribed the words, “Know Thyself.”

In the present, Zeus says that it is precisely because you know yourself that you are able to surpass yourself, which is why Apollo is able to continually improve on himself. Zeus goes on to confirm that to be the reason why Apollo is so strong. Apollo tells Leonidas that today, more than yesterday, and in this moment, more than the one before, in order to become even more beautiful, his soul shall remain ablaze. Taken aback at first, Leonidas says Apollo is still trying to act cool and complains about how he talks too much. Taking out his cigar, Leonidas widely smiles and crushes his cigar, admitting he actually likes that. He promises to take his bloodlust and murder Apollo with everything he has.

While he doesn’t like how vulgar his speech is, Apollo addresses Leonidas and admits his attack just now was beautiful. Since it seems like Leonidas is someone who knows himself and whose soul is ablaze, Apollo decides there’s only one thing left for them to do: to burn their souls together, as hot as they can, until one of them burns out.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Apollo
* Heimdall
* Leonidas
* Hagis (No lines)
* Brunhilde
* Göll
* Hlökk
* Jack the Ripper
* Geirölul
* Ares
* Hermes
* Zeus
* Python (Flashback)