Chapter 12: Proud Artemis
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The next morning, at the south gate of Orario.
The early morning at Orario's gates was the quietest time of the day. With the sun just beginning to rise, there were only a few caravans or travelers rushing in or out. Apart from the guards dutifully stationed at their posts, the area was nearly empty.
It was under this golden morning light that Izzy appeared.
But he wasn't here to leave the city or conduct any urgent business. Instead, he was here to see someone off.
"...Lady Artemis, are you really leaving so soon?"
Standing near Artemis and Rethusa. both of whom had packed their luggage, Izzy felt helpless.
Was this about what happened while shopping yesterday?
"Not so soon. Didn't we already stay for a day yesterday?"
Hearing his question, Artemis shook her head, her aqua-blue hair tied into a neat scorpion braid swaying slightly with the movement.
Whenever she returned to Orario, Artemis and Rethusa typically rested in the city for a while, spending time replenishing supplies or simply relaxing. This time, however, it seemed they were leaving earlier than usual.
"To be precise, it's been only half a day," Izzy pointed out.
"Huh? What's the difference? If you round it up, it's a day, isn't it?" Artemis replied with a smirk.
"..."
Izzy opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words.
The phrase she used—round it up—was something he often teased Lante about.
Whenever Lante finished a battle, she'd eagerly tally her monster kills and proudly announce her score to the group. Izzy, ever the troublemaker, would always "help" her round the numbers—forty-eight became fifty, and fifty-two became fifty.
Lante would beam with joy if the count was exaggerated but throw a fit if it was too low. For this, Izzy often found himself at the receiving end of both her gratitude and her mock rage, much to their companions' amusement.
Now, hearing Artemis use the phrase so nonchalantly, Izzy couldn't help but feel a little flustered.
"Why so quiet, Izzy? Don't tell me you're the type to cry over a temporary separation?"
Seeing his hesitation, Artemis tilted her head, offering him a playful smile.
"That's not it," Izzy sighed. "I just feel a little sad that I won't be able to share the joy of becoming an adventurer with Lady Artemis. And… it might be a long time before we meet again."
His honesty seemed to catch Artemis off guard. Her expression wavered for a moment before she quickly looked away, her hands clasped behind her back.
Was she overthinking things?
'Why does it feel like Izzy is subtly expressing hope that I'll return more often?'
'No, it must be my imagination, she thought. He didn't actually say that, after all…'
Her thoughts were a mess, like a ball of yarn that had been unraveled. She felt strangely unsettled and avoided meeting Izzy's eyes, unsure of how to respond.
Izzy, standing less than half a meter away, noticed all of this. From her nervous gestures to the faint blush that bloomed on her fair cheeks, he caught every detail.
Before he could second-guess himself, his body moved on its own, and the words slipped out before he could stop them.
"Lady Artemis... can I have one more parting hug?"
Not far away, Rethusa and Lante stood under a tree, watching from a distance.
Though they pretended to be waiting patiently, their anxious glances toward the pair at the gate betrayed their interest. The scene reminded one of impatient children whose weekend plans had been foiled by uncooperative friends but who still clung to hope.
Although the two silly friends were right under their noses...
"But it's taking so long! What on earth are the goddess and Izzy talking about? Can't they hurry it up?"
Squatting with bent knees, her elbows resting on them and her cheeks supported by her hands, Lante couldn't help but complain, her tail practically flicking with impatience.
"It is a bit slow… but considering the situation, it's understandable," Rethusa replied, stroking her cheek with one hand, her tone calm and gentle.
Though, truthfully, what exactly she understood was anyone's guess.
"Ah!? Ahhh…"
As if witnessing the sun rise in the west, Lante suddenly leaped up, shaking Rethusa's arm furiously, her words stumbling out incoherently.
"Ah…well… if my eyes aren't deceiving me, then it should be what you're seeing," Rethusa replied, her voice trembling slightly as her hand holding Lante's began to shake.
"They're hugging! Hugging!!!"
"Stop shaking me, I can see it too!"
"Ooohhh~~~"
The two girls, now overcome with excitement, were even more animated than fans at the sight of a romance novel's climax.
But the hug ended quickly. Before Izzy could even process the moment, Artemis lowered her head and stepped back, breaking the embrace.
"Don't… don't think too much about it! It's just a parting hug!"
Her head remained down, her face hidden, but her hurried, tsundere remark made her feelings clear. Without another glance at Izzy, the goddess turned and strode away in haste.
If Izzy had followed her, he would've seen Artemis's face flushed all the way from her neck to her ears, her delicate cheeks burning red.
"So it's just a parting hug? I didn't realize until now that Lady Artemis has a bit of a tsundere side."
Repeating her words to himself, Izzy chuckled softly.
But a tsundere goddess was undeniably charming.
As Artemis hurried ahead, she quickly caught up with Rethusa and Lante, who were trying to feign calmness. With Artemis unwilling to break the awkward silence, the three set off in a peculiar, unspoken atmosphere.
"That's great, goddess…"
Back at the city gate, someone sighed aloud.
Surprisingly, it wasn't Izzy who spoke, but one of the city guards who had been silently observing the scene.
The guard's unexpected words drew Izzy's attention. He turned just in time to catch the guard giving him a knowing smile, followed by a universal thumbs-up gesture.
"I'm rooting for you, young man!"
The guard's well-meaning but misplaced enthusiasm left Izzy momentarily speechless.
"Um… I think there's been a misunderstanding. My relationship with Lady Artemis isn't what you're thinking. I mean, not yet…"
"No need to explain! I get it! You've got this, boy!"
The guard's overly confident reply left no room for doubt—or further clarification.
Love between gods and mortals wasn't unheard of in Orario. After losing their divine powers, gods became as mortal as anyone else, sharing the same joys and struggles. It wasn't uncommon for bonds to form between gods and those who worked alongside them every day.
And the inverse was equally true—mortals were often captivated by their deities.
To the guard, this was clearly one of those situations, and he had firmly decided to become a devoted fan of the supposed "couple."
No further explanation needed. He loved this pairing!
Watching the guard's delighted grin grow, Izzy realized that attempting to clarify any further would only make matters worse. Instead, he offered a casual wave before turning to leave.
As the guard stood there, grinning like a proud auntie, Izzy walked off, mentally preparing for his next task—heading to the North District of Orario, as planned.