Fate: I Heard After Death, You Can Ascend to the Throne of Heroes?

Artemis stepped in, surprising even Athena.

After all, they had just made a bet, wagering that Promise would be unable to complete the hunt.

She had even considered that when Actaeon, cursed into a giant stag, came before Promise, she would keep an eye on Artemis. 

After all, she suspected that the unwilling-to-lose goddess might intervene.

But what left her speechless was that Artemis did intervene, not to trip up Promise, but rather to help him by stopping Atalanta's arrow that was about to be released.

Well...the reason was simple. 

When Promise ate the golden apple, adjusted his state to perfection, and forgot everything except the lyre in his hands, playing a melody as if kissed by the goddess of art herself, the forest and its creatures, even the nymphs, accompanied him in harmony.

Seeing this beautiful scene, the moon goddess Artemis thought it would be too much of a pity to ruin it.

So she stepped in, stopping Atalanta's arrow and enjoying this special hunt with her beloved follower.

At that moment, Artemis seemed to forget the purpose of the hunting ritual and the bet with Athena.

So, as she patted Promise's head, she naturally spoke her true thoughts.

"Yes, he is indeed as cute as Athena said!"

Hearing Artemis mention Athena, both Atalanta and Actaeon, who was too scared to come closer, were stunned.

Promise, however, showed no change in expression. 

After all, she knew from the beginning what was going on between him and the goddess of fate, Clotho. 

And the goddess of fun, whom he had already labeled a "pleasure monster", would definitely not let him go!

"Thank you, goddess Artemis..." Promise began to reply, but then he felt something gently nudging him as he turned and saw a very beautiful deer.

Seeing it, Actaeon's eyes widened in an instant.

It was clearly the golden-horned deer that Actaeon had hunted, Artemis's most beloved messenger!

"Oh, I rarely see it being so close to anyone." Artemis blinked gently, then knelt to softly pet the golden-horned deer, smiling at Promise, "It seems to like you."

Seeing this, Atalanta couldn't help but pout secretly.

After all, the goddess she admired and revered was now praising someone else right in front of her!

But seeing how happy Artemis was, she didn't want to interrupt. 

So she naturally turned her attention to Actaeon, who stood silent and scared.

Looking at this monster, the target of the hunting ritual, Atalanta thought about reclaiming the goddess's favor from Promise and worried that Actaeon might harm the goddess. 

So she instinctively drew her bow again and aimed at him.

"Wait, Atalanta!"

Seeing this, Promise quickly stepped forward to block Actaeon.

At this point, Artemis finally focused on the monster, her previously gentle smile slowly fading away.

Especially when the golden-horned deer, seeing Actaeon, instinctively hid behind Artemis, she looked at Actaeon with even colder eyes.

Atalanta wasn't a fool. 

Watching Promise stand in front of the monster, she recalled his strange interactions with it... taking out a notebook, shouting about revenge in words she didn't understand.

And the monster's sudden desperate rush to Promise.

It dawned on her that Promise knew the monster.

So after a moment's hesitation, Atalanta lowered her arrow. 

She also remembered Meleager and the others who had come with them for the hunt and turned to look back.

But she was puzzled to find that she couldn't see their torches or hear their noise.

It was as if this place was isolated.

Seeing Atalanta lower her bow, Promise didn't relax, as he noticed Artemis's demeanor had drastically changed from the gentle goddess she had been moments ago.

Her eyes now looked as if she had caught someone in an affair and was ready to draw her bow and shoot them through.

Facing that cold gaze, even though it wasn't directed at him, Promise couldn't help but swallow nervously.

To be honest, he was always a bit afraid of Artemis, not because of the fear of dying by her hand, but because he feared being remembered by her.

That would be far worse than death!

Dealing with one virgin goddess was already troublesome enough, adding another one would be unbearable!

But because his choices were influenced by the goddess of fate, Clotho, and for the sake of Meleager and Actaeon, he had no choice but to stand before Artemis.

Taking a deep breath, Promise addressed Artemis, "Beautiful goddess Artemis, may I ask if I have won this hunting ritual?"

Atalanta, still puzzled by the sudden disappearance of the others, turned to Promise and frowned, "What are you talking about..."

"Yes," Artemis nodded lightly and replied straightforwardly, "You have won."

Although she had made a bet with Athena, they hadn't wagered anything significant. 

Besides, the music from Promise and the reaction of the golden-horned deer had made her quite fond of him.

Thus, Artemis, who didn't particularly care who won or lost, naturally didn't mind awarding the victory to Promise.

But Atalanta couldn't accept this.

Even if the person in front of her was the revered Artemis, she couldn't help but urgently protest, "Wait, goddess Artemis, this... this... Promise didn't actually hunt!"

"No, this child has indeed participated in the hunt and succeeded," Artemis's gaze softened again as she looked at Atalanta, "And didn't you witness it with me just now?"

"Hunting?" The latter recalled the recent scene, her eyes widening in disbelief, "You call that... hunting?!"

"Yes." Perhaps seeing her own earlier reaction mirrored in Atalanta, Artemis couldn't help but laugh, "Isn't it a rather interesting hunt?"

Atalanta fell silent.

She felt her understanding being refreshed at that moment.

However, recalling the scene where the monster sat down in front of Promise, closed its eyes, and listened to the music as if awaiting death, she found she couldn't refute it.

But this meant she had lost, failed in the hunt.

And more importantly, she had failed in front of the goddess Artemis!

Realizing this, Atalanta, as Artemis's most devoted follower, felt such shame that she even contemplated suicide.

Regaining her composure, she glared fiercely at Promise.

If Artemis weren't here, Atalanta, feeling deeply humiliated, would have likely pounced on Promise.

Having received Artemis's confirmation, Promise breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Since I have won, does that mean I can request a gift from the esteemed and beautiful goddess Artemis?"

"Of course," Artemis nodded, "As I promised, you may ask for a gift. So, what do you desire?"

As she spoke, Artemis suddenly paused.

She tilted her head slightly, as if listening to something.

She glanced at Promise, her lips moving as if conversing with someone.

After a while, just as Promise began to feel uneasy, Artemis finished her conversation and smiled again.

With a playful expression, she turned to Promise, blinking and saying, "So, the reason you participated in the hunting ritual is this, huh? It sounds quite interesting!

In that case, I can grant your request. Although I dislike him, because you are so endearing and tonight's hunt was so splendid, I can choose to forgive the sinner behind you.

However...

For this hunt, I will grant only one gift!"

With that, Artemis clapped her hands happily and continued, "Therefore, you must choose between Actaeon and Meleager, my dear child. You can only save one of them!"

At that moment, Promise understood.

The one who had just spoken to Artemis must have been the goddess of wisdom, Athena.

After all, such a choice could only have the flavor of Athena—too strong to miss!

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