December Double Drop!
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Suren sat alone atop the golden throne, his eyes empty as they gazed at the starry sky. But his gaze wasn't drawn by awe for its beauty; rather, it reflected his introspection, a yearning for something beyond the stars.
He had suppressed all desires during his first iteration. Yet, the endless, beginningless nature of his cravings gnawed at him. To relinquish them completely would leave "Suren" as nothing but an empty shell.
"I once defeated the Roman Beast, Nero Claudius, whose desires could have destroyed the world," he muttered with a bitter smile. "And now, for this laughable reason, must I become a second dragon and destroy the divine-era Greece I love so dearly?"
"But if I can't maintain this divine era, what else can I do?"
Rising from the throne, Suren lowered his gaze from the heavens to the earth, his vision encompassing all of Greece and, by extension, the world.
This glorious age, this divine-era Greece, had become a utopia under his reign. Every Greek enjoyed peace and happiness, and even their lifespans could be extended through their accumulated deeds, enabling them to reincarnate and reclaim their former identities.
Yes, Suren's Grand Mystery of Reincarnation didn't merely offer rebirth as another person—it allowed one to return to the mortal realm as their previous self.
This perfection transcended life and death, granting the Greeks a state of existence where mortality held no dominion.
"Yet, this beauty is finite, not eternal…"
Suren lamented the impermanence of the world. The utopia wasn't inherently beautiful; it was beautiful because of his presence, because he had shaped it.
Should he leave—or merely announce his withdrawal—this golden age would crumble instantly. The mortals, who constituted ninety-nine percent of the population, would be like tumbleweeds, helpless and unqualified to steer their destinies.
"I am not chasing fleeting glory, where my name and sanctity shine in history for but a moment. I pursue happiness and peace for all humanity. Yet, I am powerless before this endless suffering in the world."
"What must I do to change the inevitable fate of this divine era's end, of humanity's extinction?"
"I am, after all, just… a mere mortal."
A tear fell from his ebony eyes, perhaps the last vestige of his humanity.
At that moment, the doors of the palace swung open, and Artemis stepped in, interrupting Suren's descent into despair.
Her expression was as cheerful and warm as ever. Ignoring the suffocating aura emanating from Suren, she approached and cradled his head in her hands. Gently, she said, "My little Suren, my dear Suren, my precious boy, my most beautiful child..."
"Sleep. If you're tired, rest in Mother's embrace. Whatever troubles you, Mother will resolve it. You've always known I'm one of the omnipotent Twelve Olympians, haven't you?"
"Don't be sad. Don't be distressed. If you're lost, return to Mother's arms… I love you, without reason or question, simply because you are you, my Suren."
Suren's hollow gaze met Artemis' clear, innocent eyes—the same eyes he had seen upon first arriving in Greece. They were pure and flawless, eyes that could heal any wounded soul.
Those eyes…
They weren't Athena's golden gaze, filled with all-knowing wisdom and steadiness.
Nor were they Hestia's fiery eyes, brimming with the idealist's passion, capable of burning away all filth.
And they were nothing like Hera's thunderous eyes, exuding the authority of a ruler and the benevolence of a mother.
These were Artemis' unique eyes. Even as she called herself "Mother," Suren could only perceive her as a child wearing an adult's guise.
Yet it was precisely this pure, untainted fawn who had found the abandoned Suren in the forest and raised him. That's how he survived to grow up in divine-era Greece.
Memories replayed in his mind, vivid and clear, as if they had happened yesterday.
It felt as though just yesterday, he had been catching rabbits in the woods, fishing in the rivers, and devising ways to cook delicious meals to win over his fawn mother.
"..."
"Yes… I still have… you."
Suren's eyes closed slightly. Strangely, despite his usual need for divine wine to fall asleep, under Artemis' soothing presence, he drifted off effortlessly.
Artemis tilted her face upward, tears shimmering on her delicate features. Though her expression was grief-stricken, her actions remained gentle. Turning to the unnoticed presence of Hestia, she murmured, "Hestia, why has it come to this?"
"I… don't know."
Hestia lowered her gaze, her radiant face veiled by the flickering flames. The dancing firelight, shifting unpredictably, seemed to mirror the struggles and doubts of the goddess of the sacred flame.
"But I can't let everything my 'most beloved person' fought for come to ruin."
She hesitated before continuing, "The one I love, the divine era's greatest idealist, the most revered tyrant, Suren…"
"I don't like how he bears everything alone. Since the golden age of governance is here, why not enjoy it? Why must he concern himself with matters a millennium away?"
"If we sacrifice the 'now' for the 'future,' then—"
"Doesn't that mean the 'now' has been murdered by the 'future'?"
Hestia's voice carried unyielding determination. She would not forgive nor compromise. Her feelings for Suren rivaled anyone else's, driving her to risk Zeus' wrath by tearing apart her authority and offering half her sacred flame to sustain Suren's immortal body.
Yet she couldn't agree with his willingness to destroy Greece's present prosperity to gamble on an uncertain future.
Artemis, simple as she might be, caught the ominous undertones in Hestia's words. Her expression turned cold as she asked warily, "Hestia, what are you planning?"
"..."
Hestia's struggle was visible, the flames in the hall flickering as though torn by fierce winds. Finally, the fire settled, and Hestia revealed her solution.
"Destroy Suren's physical form. His soul has already attained immortality. Without a body, Suren will be no different from the Twelve Olympians without their vessels, posing no threat to this divine era."
Hestia's face was obscured in shadow, but her eyes, blazing like fire, betrayed her murderous intent.
"You can't," Artemis retorted, her expression frosty. "Not even Zeus could accomplish such a miracle!"
"The Father God Zeus may be powerless, but Hestia, the keeper of the sacred flame, is not!"
Hestia's lips curved into a faint smile, her resolve clear. "Do you know who granted Suren the cornerstone of his immortal body?"
It was the sacred flame—Hestia's flame.
This truth was common knowledge in Greece. Suren's monumental achievements were made possible by the support of three exalted goddesses.
"..."
Artemis' cheerful face grew frosty, her usually innocent eyes now clouded with complex emotions.
"If you dare touch Suren while he's in my arms, I won't forgive you."
"Don't push me, Hestia..."
Artemis left her threat unfinished, but a cold moonbeam pierced the golden palace, illuminating the dim room softened by moonlight.
Artemis was the Twelve Olympians' most devastating spear, the destroyer of stars, capable of unparalleled single-target destruction.
Though her reputation among mortals often suffered—many kings excluded her from rituals, despite her retaliations—she was undeniably a force to be reckoned with.
Now, for the first time, her pure gaze harbored foreign emotions directed at Hestia.
"You've grown, Artemis..."
Hestia sighed, her complex feelings evident. Her sharp intent dissipated, and the flames regained their warm brightness.
Silence descended upon the room.
It was a clash of ideologies, perspectives, and principles—irreconcilable by mere words or negotiations.
Hestia's bitter smile lingered. Despite her earlier fierce words, could she truly bring herself to harm Suren?
Could she really shatter his body and cast him down from his heights?
"..."
Even she was unsure. After all, this was the golden king she had followed, admired, and given her all for.
"Since neither of you knows what to do, how about listening to my idea?"
A third presence entered the hall.
It was Hera.
"Why are you all so troubled, oh exalted goddesses of the divine era?" Hera stepped forward, her voice a melodic lament. "As omnipotent beings, should worry and helplessness belong to us?"
"Hera, the queen who shares Zeus' authority, even your heavenly gaze that spans all of Greece cannot resolve his infidelity and whims. Surely, you understand our plight," Hestia retorted, her tone biting.
Artemis snorted derisively, "Hera, bad!"
"..."
Faced with such hostility, and words that struck at her sore spots, Hera's initial flash of anger was quickly replaced by a knowing smile. Shaking her head, she sighed, "I came with a solution that could lead us to a joyful ending… But since neither of you is interested, I see no reason to share it."
Artemis muttered, "What solution could you possibly have?"
Her mistrust for Hera ran deep—it was a longstanding feud between them. Hera, seeing no point in arguing further, turned to leave. But Hestia called out, "Wait…"
The goddess of the sacred flame locked eyes with Hera for a long moment before speaking. "As much as I think you're probably just teasing us, I must admit your words have intrigued me."
"I preside over 'pure love' and 'devotion,'" Hera began, casting a glance at the other two goddesses. Her gaze lingered on Hestia, who was visibly tense. "Pure love, as you know, refers to love that is untainted. And devotion…"
She paused meaningfully, allowing her words to sink in.
"…You both know what that entails, don't you?"
The two goddesses said nothing, though Hera continued. "The concept of pure love, this pristine ideal… Do you realize that it was Suren who introduced it? Before him, I had never considered such a beautiful notion. After all, you know the truth about my husband and mortal men alike."
"They are fickle. Always enamored with the new and forsaking the old."
Hera's voice softened, carrying a weight of sorrow. "But Suren, who conceived the idea of pure love and devotion, is unlike any man I have ever seen. He is the sort who would cherish one woman for all his life, remaining unwaveringly loyal to his family."
"And men like him, throughout all of history, across the entire world—there is but one."
"What exactly are you trying to say, Hera?" Hestia's patience held, but Artemis was the first to lose hers. She had never won against Hera in an argument and was often bested in action as well. The tension between them had always been palpable.
Hera smirked knowingly. "Do you think you can outmatch Athena?"
"..."
Hestia's expression turned cold. "Hera, you pitiful woman shackled by marriage and a wayward husband… How do you know I would lower myself to compete with other goddesses over a man, forsaking all my dignity?"
"You heard me earlier—I said I'd destroy Suren's body."
Her words rang false. If Hestia truly intended to act, she would have done so already. Despite Suren's descent into madness, she clung to a faint hope, praying for the return of the Suren she once admired. But as the head of the goddesses, she wouldn't allow Hera to control the conversation.
Her calm demeanor and lingering killing intent gave her an air of authority, even if her threats were little more than a bluff.
"Truly worthy of respect, Hestia." Hera chuckled. "Only Suren could make you bend."
"Enough games," she continued, her tone becoming solemn. "I came to test your devotion to Suren."
Hera's gaze sharpened as she addressed the room. "Suren's madness and distortions stem from his love for humanity, his admiration for the gods, and his yearning for the beauty of the divine era. The end of this era would represent the collapse of all three pillars that sustain him. Without his ideals, he has become hollow."
"Desperate to reclaim his humanity, Suren has turned to his desires—for desire is, after all, an intrinsic part of being human. Have you not realized this?"
"..."
The silence that followed was heavy. All three goddesses had been so consumed with Suren's changes that they had failed to consider the root cause.
Hera, observing from a detached perspective, saw the truth and presented her solution.
"I will invert 'pure love' and 'devotion.' I will shatter his pursuit of selfish desires, of exclusivity, so that all of you can share true love with him."
Hera's words carried a grave sincerity as she declared, "Hestia, if you truly wish to save him, try awakening the passionate idealist Suren once was. Even if the effort proves futile and he spirals irretrievably into the abyss, at least you will have no regrets."
"To all of you goddesses—no, to every enchanting woman in Greece—I beg you..."
"Bring back the golden king, who teeters on the edge of madness. Save him from falling into the void."
"Use your unparalleled beauty and boundless tenderness to enrapture the king who is losing himself."
Hestia was left speechless, finally understanding the extent of Hera's plan. Her lips parted as though to protest, but no words came.
Though she detested the idea of sharing Suren with anyone, her primary concern now was his salvation.
Even Hera, the goddess of marriage and devotion, was willing to go against her very principles to aid him. In light of such sacrifice, Hestia felt her pride waver.
"…Everything, for the return of the former Suren," she murmured, her words drowned in the crackling of the sacred flame.
---
"Mm? Huh…"
Suren stretched lazily, rubbing his eyes. Artemis was gone.
"Ah, it was just a dream, wasn't it?" He chuckled, running a hand down his face. "Sleeping on that fawn's lap… a silly fantasy."
His mind wandered as he sat up. "What should I do today? Build something? Read? Ride? Battle…?"
"Hm. Perhaps I'll start with a small goal—read every book in Greece, absorb all its knowledge."
At that moment, the door swung open. Artemis entered, her expression as lively as ever.
"I'm hungry! I want grilled fish, Suren. Make it for me!"
"Make sure to use sour orange juice, a pinch of salt, and no sugar..."
"Alright, alright!" Suren laughed, ruffling his hair. "Hestia's still here, isn't she? Why don't I have her cook for you? She's far better at it than I am..."
"Ahh!" Artemis began wailing dramatically. "My child has grown disobedient! He used to jump at the chance to make me food! Now my legs ache from being used as a pillow, and I can't move at all!"
"Fine, fine! My bad," Suren surrendered, raising his hands. "I'll catch the fish myself from your favorite river. Wait here, alright?"
With a faint glow, he lifted Aurum Altissimum and disappeared into the skies, heading toward the forest of his youth.
---
Suren soon reached the forest where he had spent the first fifteen years of his life. Time seemed to have stood still here; the woods remained unchanged.
Memories washed over him as he walked, his steps eventually leading him to the sacred center of the forest—the spot where he had first built a shrine and worshiped the gods.
It was, of course, a shrine dedicated to Artemis, the Mistress of the Wilderness, located at the base of the forest's largest tree.
This tree was the heart of the forest, its roots sprawling across the land and birthing the woods around it.
"A single tree sustaining an entire forest..."
Before heading to the river, Suren knelt in reverence before the shrine, paying his respects to Artemis. Then, with a hand on the tree's bark, he closed his eyes and felt the immense vitality coursing through its roots, extending far beyond the forest.
"If someone uprooted this tree, the entire forest would perish..."
The thought crossed his mind before he turned to leave. However, just as he reached the riverbank, a familiar figure caught his eye.
It was Atalanta.
She was chasing prey through the woods, her movements swift and precise. However, her arrows, loosed in rapid succession, failed to pierce the illusory beast she pursued.
Suren watched for a moment, then raised his own bow. With a single shot, he struck the beast through the eye, killing it instantly without marring its pristine pelt.
"Suren?"
Atalanta's cat-like ears twitched as she approached, bounding toward him with a bright smile. "What a coincidence! I didn't expect to find you here instead of in your golden palace in Athens."
"I visit from time to time," Suren replied with a warm smile. "But this time, I came back to appease my goddess Artemis. What can I say? She's rather demanding."
His eyes softened as he spoke, his tone tinged with indulgence. It was clear he held Artemis in high regard, almost as if she were a mischievous child.
It was a sentiment few could echo.
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✧ New Story Announcement! ✧
Introducing: The Weapon Master Shall Never Die Bare-Handed in Genshin Impact! ⚔️ This isn't like the misunderstanding fun of Unreliable Harbinger or the calm, slow-paced journey of Incense Burner. Oh no, this one is action-packed, laugh-out-loud funny, and full of feel-good moments that'll leave you grinning like (๑>ᴗ<๑).
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check! Remember this is a fan translation!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]