In this way, Link joined the Artemis Family team and set off toward the legendary labyrinth city of Orario.
.
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In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed. During this time, thanks to his charming appearance and accumulated experience in "being human," Link forged strong friendships with the members of the Artemis Family and even developed a special bond with Artemis herself.
This was no small feat.
.
Artemis, the goddess of hunting in ancient Greek mythology, is known as the mistress of beasts and the hunt.
Alongside Hestia and Athena, she is considered one of the three virgin goddesses of Mount Olympus.
Free-spirited and independent, she cherishes wild life and opposes marriage between men and women, as well as any impure heterosexual interactions. Her preference lies with single virgins—at least that was true in mythology.
In Orario, however, years of family life had softened her stance somewhat, allowing her to gain a bit more humanity.
Still, her family adhered strictly to principles forbidding romantic relationships between men and women; all members were female.
Thus, it seemed nearly impossible for Link to officially join her Family.
But what if he could? For that one-in-a-million chance…
During a dinner party, Link broached this topic with Artemis but was met with a firm rejection.
"As a man, it would be very inconvenient for you to be alone in my family," she stated plainly. After all, introducing a man into a group of twenty innocent girls could lead to complications—harem dynamics that both emotionally and rationally Artemis wanted to avoid.
If Link wished to grow stronger and explore the dungeons, he would have to wait until they reached Orario and find another path forward. 'As for building a harem… I may not be able to do so now, but if I gain enough power in the future, who knows?'
Two days later, as they climbed a tall mountain together, the towering structure of Orario came into view.
"We're almost there! Orario is just ahead," Artemis announced confidently while flipping her slightly disheveled aqua blue hair from their long journey.
Link gazed ahead at the majestic white tower rising above a vibrant green landscape at the heart of a bustling city—a sight that left him breathless.
"Is that… Orario?" he exclaimed in awe, sounding like a peasant entering a grand city for the first time.
Although he had lived in modern cities filled with magnificent buildings before, nothing could compare to the overwhelming beauty of this place.
Finally arriving at Orario after more than two months felt surreal.
'Thank goodness I met Artemis and her party; otherwise, I might still be lost in that damn forest.' Throughout their journey together, Link had consistently used his gacha ability at midnight every day.
Over these two months, he had accumulated over seventy draws but only managed to obtain two noteworthy items: sword experience from Hawkeye—the strongest swordsman from One Piece—and some combat skills from Elden's Circle. The rest were mostly gold coins or everyday necessities along with healing and mana recovery potions commonly found in games.
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With these thoughts swirling in his mind, they finally reached the gates of Orario.
Built primarily as a defense against monsters escaping from dungeons, its massive stone walls stood tall and imposing. Only a narrow passageway about four or five meters wide allowed carriages and pedestrians through.
After waiting patiently in line for inspection at the gate, it was finally Link's turn.
Upon learning they were members of the Artemis Family, adventurers from the Ganesha Family guarding the entrance quickly waved them through.
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Once inside the city gates, Link's vision expanded dramatically as he took in Orario's true splendor.
The streets bustled with life—filled with all manner of passersby: girls sporting beast ears and tails alongside beautiful elves; Amazons dressed so revealingly it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call their outfits bikinis.
The fantasy world unfolded before him like an otaku paradise!
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"My goodness! This is incredible!" Link thought excitedly as his gaze lingered on all those enchanting figures around him.
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"Alright Link," Artemis warned playfully yet sternly as she noticed his wandering eyes. "Stop looking around! Be careful not to get lost! If you do get lost or someone bumps into you wanting to pick a fight… don't expect me to help!"
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Link quickly fell into step behind her as they made their way through the lively streets toward the Adventurer's Guild.
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Under Artemis's guidance, they arrived at their destination without incident. Once inside the guild hall, she led several family members to submit their commission for rewards while Link approached Eina—a half-elf lady with round-framed glasses and shoulder-length brown hair who greeted newcomers warmly.
"Hello! How can I assist you today?" Eina asked politely.
"Hi there! I'm here regarding matters related to Families," Link replied.
"Family-related? What specifically do you need?" Eina asked curiously.
"I just arrived in Orario without any Family yet," he explained. "I wanted to check which Families are currently recruiting."
Having planned ahead before reaching Orario's gates—so as not to face embarrassment by being turned away—Link knew that early development stages were crucial for success; having a plan was essential.
"I see! Please hold on for just a moment." Eina began sifting through papers behind her desk before returning with several recruitment announcements after a few minutes.
"This one belongs to Dian Cecht Family; what do you think?" She handed him one document.
Link scanned it briefly; Dian Cecht was renowned for its healers—doctors whose skills were highly sought after—but healing wasn't his desired path for growth. "Are there others? I'm looking for something more combat-oriented."
"I understand… In terms of combat-focused Families," Eina continued while placing additional documents on the table before him, "the Freya Familia, Ganesha Familia, Apollo Familia, and Loki Familia are actively seeking new members dedicated to dungeon exploration."
As she spoke about each option available within those Families dedicated specifically towards conquering dungeons together…