I Became Artemis’ Boyfriend

High Noon on the Day of the Final Battle at the Mountain of the Gods.

Artemis was circling the skies around the Mountain of the Gods, pulling her celestial chariot.

At this moment, she was in a particularly good mood for two reasons.

Firstly, she was enjoying the cool wind as she galloped through the open sky.

Secondly, it was thanks to the swan and the winged horse, pulling her chariot.

These legendary creatures were famously exclusive, allowing no gods other than Athena to approach them.

Even as a child, when she had approached them ignorantly, they had frightened her and made her shed tears.

But despite that, they had accepted her, Artemis, treating her with gentleness.

“Hmm… Is it because your fiery temperaments have softened? Or is it because my status has risen so much?”

Umm-her-errr.

Hee-eee-ing.

Artemis shared her joy with the creatures by gently stroking their backs with both hands.

Just then, an uninvited crow, keeping up with the chariot’s speed with a mighty flap of its wings, perched on the chariot’s railing.

“Hello, Artemis?”

The speaking crow was unknown. If she had ever heard of it, it could only be a minor creature. How dare it say her name so freely.

Artemis narrowed her eyes and glared at the crow.

More accurately, she was scrutinizing the hidden identity behind the crow.

There, beyond the rippling space, she saw Aphrodite smirking unpleasantly.

“Aphrodite? What brings you here?”

“Ohoho… So disrespectful as ever, Artemis.”

“What? What is it? Tell me your business. I’m busy.”

Artemis did not have many friendly relationships with the gods. She found hunting in the mountains far more entertaining than conversations with them.

Particularly, she avoided goddesses like Aphrodite because after conversing with this goddess, she became unusually sensitive and nervous.

As if sensing Artemis’ reluctance slightly, Aphrodite, transformed into a crow, displayed a coquettish manner by flapping her beak and wings.

Even though Artemis reacted indifferently, Aphrodite folded her wings with nonchalant ease.

“Artemis~? While I was taking a little break, I heard that you were doing something quite amusing?”

“What amusing thing? Is war amusing to you?”

“Ohoho… Stop pretending. I’m talking about the Twelve Labors. Rumors say that Artemis has found herself a boyfriend, and now the heavenly Olympus is in an uproar?”

“No big deal. It’s only this presumptuous priest who harbors inappropriate feelings for me.”

The Twelve Labors themselves weren’t exactly a secret. They were bound to be revealed in the process. However, Artemis found it too soon.

It seemed that when Ark ingeniously completed the absurd task given by Poseidon, most of the gods of Olympus had learned about it.

As a result, she anticipated how the troublemakers among the gods might react, now that this annoying goddess had gotten involved.

“Artemis? Did I detect a slight hesitation?”

She had noticed too late, but Aphrodite immediately picked up on the gap in Artemis’ heart.

Artemis hooked the chariot reins and crossed her arms, glaring down at the crow.

“…Lately, Ark has proven himself to be admirable. But I am the Goddess of Purity. I could never be a man’s woman.”

“Ohoho! What a noble attempt to achieve something unattainable through the Twelve Labors! How pitiful, poor Ark. So very pitiful.”

“Why do you pity him? It’s unnecessary.”

“Why not?”

“It’s all just a formality anyway. Even if he fails midway, I’ll forgive him.”

That’s right. The Twelve Labors were just a formality.

A justification for me, as a goddess, to forgive Ark’s mistakes. If he fails midway, I can persuade him to change his wish, making it as if nothing happened, and then keep him by my side.

Even if he completed all Twelve Labors, it wouldn’t matter too much.

After all, Ark had sworn spiritual love to me in front of Father.

What does that mean?

It means always being by my side and soothing my heart. As he did for Athena, it means watching over and saving my heart at all times.

No matter what I think of Ark, he will never leave me.

Of course, since I think Ark is a little bit cute, I consider giving him a sugar cube of affection, wouldn’t I?

That’s enough for the relationship between Ark and me, the Goddess of Purity.

Naturally, with a sharp mind and competence like him, no other priest would replace him.

Even his eccentric antics aren’t unpleasant. In fact, they’re fun and make me laugh.

We can live happily together, bickering in this way.

For a thousand or ten thousand years, no, forever, the two of us will live like this in the temple. This is just the process.

“Hmm~ Still, poor Ark. If I were you, I would have fallen for him by the time he completed the first labor…”

“Good enough already. Since spectating is free, you may leave. I have to continue my rounds around the mountain.”

Artemis shooed the crow away with a wave of her hand.

She feared that if she were to delve deeper into a conversation with this woman, her annoyance would rise, and her nerves would become sharper.

Whether she knew or not, the crow danced around her hand and had no intention of spreading its wings to leave.

“Go away!?”

“Artemis, I just pity you so much…”

Of course, her ominous premonition did not fail her. Aphrodite, with her characteristic raspy voice, scratched her ears.

As much as she wanted to just shake her off, hearing her tone made Artemis curious about the next part to the point of madness.

“…What is it?”

“Arc is adorable, but he’s still a man inside. You may be happy now just by having him by your side, but don’t you know, human desires have no end?”

“…”

“Right? When you talk, you want to hold hands. When you hold hands, you want to go on dates. It’s only natural, isn’t it~?”

“So? What do you want to say? Ark is someone who can restrain such desires and dedicate his life to protecting me.”

“Ah~ Poor Artemis.”

A deep note of sympathy was present in Aphrodite’s voice.

As if sympathizing with Artemis, the crow left the chariot railing and perched on her shoulder, flying close to her face to gently caress her cheek with her wings.

Then, she whispered softly into her ear.

“Ark has already fallen for someone else…”

“What?”

The word “breakup” was sadder, but the word “fallen” felt more unpleasant and revolting.

Since “fallen” means changing allegiance.

“Ark realized that no matter how hard he tried, he could never fully make Artemis his own woman, so he fell into despair. But then!”

“Then what?”

“Someone truly amazing appeared in front of him—Athena! Someone much stronger, cooler, and more beautiful… And someone who could fully reciprocate his love.”

“…”

“Isn’t it obvious? Athena saw a man who could truly empathize with her feelings that she had hidden for thousands of years. And he vowed to save her heart, swearing by the River Styx. Even though he’s mortal!”

What kind of story are you trying to tell, Aphrodite?

That Ark and Athena met miraculously and are experiencing a fated love affair?

You’d be better suited as a novelist than a goddess.

Ark is totally smitten with me, you old hag.

And,

“Are you getting Alzheimer’s in your old age?”

“Huh? Why?”

“Not only me, but Sister Athena is also a maiden goddess. Sister Athena, who vowed her purity by the River Styx—is there anyone who can break that? Talking about love and marriage, it’s even harder for Big Sister Athena than for me.”

The vow by the River Styx.

In short, it’s an absolute oath.

That’s why I’m now competing with Ark for this, isn’t it?

“You don’t know Athena’s true power yet, do you?”

“Why don’t I? Isn’t she a goddess with strength that rivals Father, Poseidon, and Hades?”

“Even knowing that, why do you say that? Isn’t it obvious what it means?”

“What?”

“Athena could obliterate the Goddess of the River Styx if she wanted. Just having her pull this chariot across the River Styx would make the river itself disappear from the map. Who then would ever view the vow by Styx as a binding promise?”

She can eliminate the River Styx itself?

Is that how powerful my older sister is?

I was a little angry that I didn’t have that kind of power yet.

But apparently, Big Sister already possessed that level of influence and strength…

It was hard to believe.

“…”

“Isn’t it likely that Athena is with Ark right now, alone in the tent, staring at each other with heated gazes? And… heheh.”

“Shut up! Sister Athena isn’t that kind of person! She’ll keep the vow by the River Styx!”

The dam of Styx, which seemed impenetrable, had been shattered.

For some reason, strange feelings of unease and impatience began to overflow in my heart.

Trying to block it with the flimsy paper of my implicit faith in Big Sister didn’t work.

“Why? When Metis returns, Athena will discard her oath by the River Styx as casually as scrap paper.”

“What makes you say that so confidently?”

“Athena doesn’t not know love. She remained a maiden goddess because she felt she should not fall in love.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Artemis took a step closer to the crow.

Suppressing the strong urge to twist the crow’s neck.

“Ark must have misunderstood one thing. He seems to believe that only the child of Zeus and Metis could overthrow the Olympus regime, but Athena went one step further. She worried if her own children or descendants might overturn Olympus.”

“…”

“If Ark manages to bring back Metis and secures all defenses against the overthrow of Olympus…?”

“…”

“Wouldn’t Athena, who wept uncontrollably from longing for her mother, empathize with someone who understands and promises to save all her longstanding worries?”

“…”

“How would Ark who has opened his heart to the Maiden Goddess Athena view her… Oh~ By now, they must be in the tent… Aww~”

Annoyance filled Artemis, her expression darkening instantly.

Yeah, I hate this thing about Aphrodite.

She doesn’t come out and say something directly.

Instead, she uses abstract words, stimulating my imagination, planting uncomfortable and ominous situations into my mind.

And she does it subtly, like steam, rather than forcefully.

“Artemis~? While they are building an impregnable fortress, what are you doing right now?”

“I’m…”

Exactly.

What am I doing right now?

Why am I observing these foul demons in the sky above the Mountain of Gods for no reason?

For the stability of the continent and victory in the war?

But isn’t that Big Sister Athena’s responsibility?

Then why am I here, where she should be?

“Because you were in the way, so I drove you away!”

At that moment,

The tumultuous storm of conflicting emotions was pierced by the ominous crow whispering.

“No! Get out of here!”

Artemis waved her hands to drive the crow away.

But her resistance was too weak, and the crow easily dodged around.

“It’s because you wanted to be alone with Ark! That’s why you drove me away!”

“Shut up! Shut up! You cursed hag!!!!!!!!!”

“Stupid Artemis! Surely, they must have already confirmed their feelings for each other. And… It’s already too late!”

“Do you have evidence? What evidence? Stop spreading baseless rumors and trying to sow discord!”

I need to twist her neck immediately and silence these absurd lies.

But the crow deftly evades my hand, continuing her devilish whispers as she flaps her wings.

“Ahahaha! Artemis? Even if I present you with any evidence, you wouldn’t believe it. So, why don’t you go verify it yourself? What dirty deeds they might be doing in the tent after excluding you from them!”

“…”

“And if you believe my words… Send Ark to me as the second task. I will surely exact your revenge on your behalf!”

“Why… Are you helping me? Didn’t you come here to torment me?”

“Oh my! Artemis, no! I am just worried about you!”

Err-mer-her!!

Hee-eeh-ing!!

The swan and winged horse suddenly reared their front legs and screamed.

Could it be due to the crow’s prolonged presence, even in this form?

The holy beasts sensed unpleasant vibes and started causing a ruckus.

“Oh my! The beasts are getting unruly. Then I’ll be off, Artemis. Ahahaha!”

Aphrodite departed, looking quite satisfied with her work, leaving behind a single black feather carried by the wind into Artemis’ arms.

She merely glanced at the black feather.

And ultimately,

“Swan, winged horse, let’s head back to the command tent.”

She turned the chariot’s head, heading toward Athena’s camp.

With trust in Ark, who had never disappointed her so far, and also carrying a hint of uneasiness.

“Ark is a man who only looks at me. It shouldn’t be true.”

She saw Ark sitting outside the tent, hugging Athena from behind.

Although she couldn’t hear what they were saying, Athena and Ark exchanged heated, trusting glances with each other.

He’s never given me that kind of look…

“I must be misunderstanding something. Let’s ask each other after the war.”

She saw Athena fiercely embracing each other while shielding Ark with her shield against lightning.

How can she be willing to risk her life to save Ark when they’ve only met today?

“Ahahaha…”

With a shadow cast over her face, Artemis felt a mixture of despair and hatred overwhelm her.

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