I Became Artemis’ Boyfriend

The war that took place on the plains below the Mountain of the Gods concluded with the victory of Athena’s forces.

A little after midday, the battle report was submitted to the command post,

and it was a perfect victory with no casualties.

An unprecedented victory in a large-scale battle with no historical precedent.

Still, there were approximately 300 wounded, including both serious and minor injuries.

However, not a single one of the wounded was heard groaning, for the reason was that Athena, their supreme commander, had been the most gravely injured.

Indeed, the moment Athena fell had come as a shock to all.

In the situation where everyone was celebrating and cheering the joy of victory, the world suddenly flashed, and out of nowhere, lightning struck. How shocking must it have been?

Moreover, at the same time, in the same place, there were eleven consecutive bolts of lightning.

It was undoubtedly Zeus’s doing.

Everyone present on the battlefield believed that.

It was an undeniable fact.

However, no one dared to voice it aloud.

For life is precious.

Thus, the perfect victory of the Battle of the Mountain of the Gods quietly faded into a dark silence.

Just as the troops were preparing to disband, several priests of Athena approached us, pulling a chariot.

Their expressions were too solemn to be mere farewells, making me gulp several times despite myself.

“Lady Artemis, may I ask a favor of you?”

“What is it? Go ahead and say it.”

The lead female priest pointed to the chariot behind her and Athena, who still lay unconscious in it.

“The griffins and winged horses refuse to give up Lady Athena. It seems these sacred beasts wish to bring her to your Temple of Artemis.”

“Well, Big Sister’s condition is partly our responsibility.”

“Thank you. We will send attendants to the temple as soon as possible. And when you leave, you can take the chariot.”

“Alright. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes. Farewell.”

With their quiet, heavy salute, their retreat seemed forlorn.

If someone had seen me from behind, they might have called it a Déjà vu.

Sigh… what a thing.

This great victory in my first war feels so hollow.

“Hey, Ark. Let’s go.”

Artemis arrived with the chariot, stopping in front of me.

In the corner of the chariot’s seat, Athena lay motionless, a faint smile on her face, possibly dreaming of something pleasant.

That wretched Athena, thanks to whom I endured so much…

As I recalled the painful and tormenting final moments, I closed my eyes in agony at the sight of her face.

“Hey, get on already.”

“…”

Under her continual insistence, I reluctantly climbed aboard.

Crack!

With the whip cracking as the signal to depart, the griffins and winged horses soared high into the sky.

The chariot, which raced swiftly through the sky, seemed eager to bring its master to a place of comfort before the sunset entirely faded, arriving at the Temple of Artemis.

“…”

“…”

Perhaps it was due to the exhaustion from the war; from the departure from the Mountain of the Gods to arriving at the temple until Artemis entered her own chambers, we exchanged no words.

“Well, despite Big Sister’s state, I should at least see her lie down.”

Though Artemis may lack social skills and is a recluse of the mountain,

her indifference towards family members made me feel distanced from her.

The contrast between her comforting demeanor at the command tent earlier in the morning and now was strikingly embarrassing.

What can I do?

Let me assume she entrusted me with this because she trusts me.

Carefully carrying the still-slumbering Athena, I laid her down in a tidy guest room.

After requesting the two priestesses on temple duty to take special care of her, I stepped outside.

How fast it grew dark after our arrival at the temple.

Sssssh-!

The bitterly cold night wind made me wish I had a coat.

Climbing the slope beside the temple, I thought it a waste to return to my quarters with such a splendid full moon right before my eyes.

“Isn’t it beautiful? The moon.”

Turning around, I saw Artemis ascending the slope, facing the night wind head-on.

With her hands raised to secure her hair that was blowing in her face, her dress clung tightly to her body, revealing its contours.

Her slender shoulders and moderate curves, a clearly defined pelvis and abs; the slender physique of Artemis.

Among the countless beauties of Olympus, I can confidently declare that no goddess rivals Artemis beneath this moonlit night.

She may be my temporary girlfriend.

If only I could stroll with her through the heart of Seoul and bask in the envious gazes of other men.

In response, rather than speaking, I waited a moment for her to approach, which she did, living up to my expectations by standing close by my side and gazing upward at the full moon.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen the moon.”

“Lady Artemis has been engrossed in hunting and novels recently.”

“Uh, I haven’t had the time to look up at the sky. This is a good opportunity. Would you chat with me a bit?”

“Yes??”

“Why? Don’t you want to?”

“Oh, no! Of course, I’m fine.”

What exactly is this?

This overactive Artemis is so awkward!

Could it be that a sense of camaraderie is finally developing between us?

Certainly, during this war, we shared life and death, forging a strong bond.

This is my chance. Let’s grow closer.

Ah~ Ah~, I need to clear my throat.

She smirked at my enthusiasm and pointed to the moon again.

“Look at that. The moon is so beautiful. How does it shine so brightly?”

“Yes, the moonlight is lovely.”

“This clear moonlight makes even the dark night as bright as day.”

“Indeed.”

She was uncharacteristically sentimental.

Perhaps she’s intoxicated by the romantic atmosphere of looking up at the night sky.

Certainly, including me.

This situation, where we discuss the moon with just the two of us, feels overwhelmingly sweet to me, a lifelong singleton.

“You know, I’m so proud of being the Goddess of the Moon.”

“Because it’s such a beautiful full moon?”

“That’s part of it.”

“But to me, Artemis is the most beautiful.”

I naturally expressed a small part of my feelings, speaking to her casually.

But when no response came, I glanced beside me.

Artemis was tucking a strand of her windblown hair behind her ear, nodding, and then shaking her head.

Then, seemingly unable to hold it in any longer, her lips quivered as they curved into a wide smile.

“Puht! Ahh, ahahaha~!”

Artemis laughed as if sound escaped her.

For a moment, I thought her amusement stemmed from my awkward compliment, but I instinctively ruled that out.

Her usual laugh was to mock and provoke me.

But now, perhaps under the influence of the night breeze and the moon’s energy,

an eerie and ominous premonition seized my throat as if I’d walked into a deserted house at night.

Still, I disregarded this feeling, knowing it was just my mood.

Because now, conversing casually with this woman I like, feels far better.

It’s the first event since we became temporary partners.

“The reason I’m proud of being the Moon Goddess is this: the moon does not betray.”

“Betray…?”

A word that should never be spoken now emerged from her lips.

Betrayal.

The strong negative emotions this word evokes transform into a strange sense of unease.

“Ahhahahaha~”

That laughter again.

It’s joyful, yet unsettling from my perspective.

There is definitely something directed toward me.

“What betrayal are you talking about?”

Any sweet whispering of lovers has disappeared.

Like a demon hunter interrogating a possessed human, I grilled her with suspicion.

Artemis effortlessly brushed off my stern expression.

With lifeless eyes, she reached out toward the moon, drawing a circle with her hand.

“When it wanes, it loses its light and becomes dark, then it becomes round again, brightening the entire world like this.”

“And?”

“It circulates in the same order. A waning moon doesn’t suddenly turn into a crescent.”

“If there are significant and minor changes yet it follows a regular order that doesn’t deviate, it falls within expectations, and thus, it’s ultimately trustworthy, you’re saying.”

It aligns with the modern expected value.

Selling one refrigerator per month for a year totals 12 units,

and selling all 12 in December after selling none for 11 months.

Even with irregular sales, the average expected value you can achieve is 12 units per year.

They’re the same.

Though it seems that to me, Artemis was asserting:

‘No matter how capricious I might be, I never break the rules of cyclic recurrence.’

“Indeed, indeed, Ark. You’re smart. Capable. Very capable.”

Clapping dryly without any emotion.

Not praise.

More like mocking ridicule.

“And what exactly do you want to say?”

“Because you’re so capable, you were able to commit that dirty act without hesitation?”

A voice so cold it felt like an ice spear piercing the heart, so unlike something Artemis would say.

That chill carried resoluteness and certainty.

Betrayal?

Dirty deeds?

Me?

Who?

Why?

My head grows more weary from the incomprehensible assault of these abstract words.

It feels like having an unsolvable math problem and wanting to grab the solution manual right away.

“Explain it clearly. Is betrayal referring to me? Tell me who I betrayed and what dirty deed I committed.”

“Filthy traitor.”

She defamed me with meanings I couldn’t comprehend.

Her hateful gaze bore down on me.

“You’re different today. You’re not the usual Artemis.”

“Ahhahahaha! A dirty traitor like you certainly has audacity.”

Like a police detective with twenty years of experience in violent crime investigation, she kept pressing, knowing everything, wanting me to confess quickly.

But from my perspective, there didn’t seem to be any hit,

and her presumptions only irritated me.

“Hey! What the hell are you talking about?”

“Ahhahahaha! Can’t wait, huh? Let’s change the topic briefly for atmosphere, shall we?”

Like a car illegally making a U-turn on the highway, Artemis abruptly changed the subject of the conversation.

But it was a reckless U-turn without slowing down,

leaving skid marks on the highway like the unpleasant words she had hurled earlier, deeply engraved in my mind.

In this messy mood, what more does she plan to say?

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