I Became Artemis’ Boyfriend

Artemis.

She is one of the Twelve Olympians, a goddess overseeing many domains.

The moon, hunting, nature, archery, animals, and more.

Among these, what makes Artemis truly shine is undoubtedly her [purity].

She vowed eternal purity, choosing to remain forever unmarried, enjoying her freedom without becoming the wife of any man.

Living alongside her attendant nymphs and priestesses, she roamed the mountains, hunting wild beasts.

Her skin was as white as the moonlight.

Her short black hair contrasted sharply with it.

Her physique blended wildness and health, lean yet muscular.

Her shoulders were delicate yet had a perfect curve, her hips and abs were clearly defined, making her the epitome of slender elegance.

Above all, her free-spirited nature was highlighted by her preference for wearing tank tops that accentuated her charm.

Could any man not fall in love with such a woman?

Unfortunately, all men who dared to harbor affection for her met the same fate:

Death.

Artemis never forgave anyone who threatened her purity and authority.

She was like a flower blooming on a lofty cliff, untouchable by anyone.

In the past,

In the present,

And surely in the future, she would continue in this proud and aloof manner.

But I aimed a bullet of sincerity directly at her heart.

“My wish is to become Artemis’s boyfriend.”

Bang!

My confession was like a gunshot, declaring war.

Artemis, unable to immediately process the reality, could only muster an awkward smile.

“Ahaha… Joking, right?”

Was she trying to downplay it as a misfire?

Or was she pretending it was a firework explosion and avoiding it?

Shaking my head, I said,

“I’m serious.”

I pulled the trigger again for the coup de grâce.

“Ugh…”

The joyful expression on her face, which had invited me to share my wish, was now stained with embarrassment.

Her fists were tightly clenched, trembling with emotion.

But the embarrassment was fleeting.

As her wild nature returned, she revealed her fangs filled with hostility.

“Yaa…”

Her deep, growling voice was razor-sharp.

Just staring into her fierce predator-like eyes made my legs feel like they were about to collapse.

“Speak, Artemis.”

“I promised to grant your wish by swearing on the River Styx. So, I have no choice but to honor it.”

Of course.

That’s precisely what I had planned.

A vow sworn on the River Styx must be fulfilled, even by Zeus, king of the gods, without exception.

“Of course. My wish is to date you— gurk!”

“Are you insane?!”

Without waiting to listen further, she leaped up and delivered a powerful dropkick to my face.

I only stopped tumbling after rolling about three times backward.

There was no time to gather my senses.

An enraged Artemis leaped onto me, grabbing my collar tightly.

Her grip was so strong that my breath was almost completely cut off.

“Ugh! Khuff! Th-this… let go…”

“Don’t make me laugh! Quickly, change it!”

“Change?!”

“Change your wish!”

Since Artemis had sworn on the River Styx, she could not revoke the vow.

Thus, she was now trying to force me to alter the content of my wish in an underhanded way.

Though it felt like a cheat, there was no real issue with my changing the content of the wish, since she had vowed to honor it, not to forbid its revision!

In any case, her craftiness matched her pride.

Out of sheer annoyance, I stuck out my tongue with the most obnoxious look I could muster.

“Don’t wanna~ Ehehe~”

“Are you asking to die?!”

“Yup~ Artemis is my girlfriend~ hahaha.”

“You bastard!!!”

The grip from her two hands only tightened, and she started shaking me violently.

“You, what the hell are you?! Why are you trying to ruin my life like this!”

“Heehee~ You should tell Hermes~ Everyone in Olympus will know by tomorrow! Hehehe!”

“You’re crazy? What did you go and tell that loose-lipped guy?!”

“Melong~”

“Bastard… Hmph!”

The strength in her arms gradually waned.

Tears quickly welled up in the corners of her eyes, and a tear filled with deep sorrow rolled down her cheek to finally land on my face.

Was it because these were tears from a goddess?

The faint emotions contained within flowed into my heart.

Consternation, betrayal, anger, frustration, disappointment…

I didn’t know why, but the sorrow reflected in her eyes wasn’t as I had expected.

It wasn’t about the loss of her authority due to the existence of a boyfriend.

Nor was it about the despair of being shackled by someone like me.

It was the pain of betrayal by someone she had trusted.

Hmm… Did I go too far with my antics?

Looking at her face that resembled the sky falling apart, my exhilaration quickly drained away, and a wave of regret washed over me.

Although I had intended to tease her more, there was no way I could do so. I decided to share my true feelings with her immediately.

“Artemis, let me go, and let’s talk. I will honestly tell you how I—”

“Hold your tongue!”

Our goddess seemed to lack the mental space to hear even a word from me.

She raised the hand clutching my collar high into the air and slapped me fiercely without hesitation.

Before I could get a word out, the sudden severe pain caused me to lose consciousness.

====

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room.

Looking at the wall clock, it seemed I had been unconscious for about three hours.

Still feeling the throbbing ache in my cheek, I pressed my palm against it and got up from the bed.

“Ouch… That’s gonna leave a mark.”

Normally, it might be embarrassing to admit being knocked out by a woman.

However, the opponent was the goddess Artemis.

Far from worrying about wounded pride, I should count my luck just to wake up again.

“Still, where am I? Doesn’t seem like a hospital…”

Creak.

It felt awkward to keep lying in this strange room, so I carefully opened the door and stepped out into the living area.

My gaze immediately fixed on the center of the living room, where Artemis knelt, her lips trembling with a mix of injustice and anger.

What on earth is this troublemaker goddess up to?

“Ah, you’ve woken up?”

A clear, authoritative yet refined male voice greeted me.

Turning my head, I saw two middle-aged men and women seated at a luxurious round table.

Electric blond hair rippling.

A dignified and majestic face.

A deep yellow tunic adorned with lightning earrings.

No one living in this world would fail to recognize this figure:

Zeus!

“Hail the Eternal One.”

I hurriedly moved beside Artemis, kneeling and bowing deeply.

Since this was Zeus, Artemis’s father, I felt awkward and burdened as if I had already become the aggressor, unable to even meet his gaze as I pressed my forehead to the floor, awaiting any command.

“Ah, enough with the formalities. Lift your head.”

Zeus seemed pleased by the greeting, not demanding formalities and smiled warmly.

Trying to look as likable as possible, I slowly sat up straight.

After a few seconds of eye contact with Zeus, he stroked his beard and briefly glanced at the lady beside him.

A woman dressed in black, elegant and composed with a gentle smile.

Who could she be?

Sitting beside Zeus, she must be of high rank in the divine world.

“Leto. Could you please bring us some drinks?”

Leto?

Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis?

Then…

Did this unreasonable goddess knock me out and kidnap me to her parents’ house?

What a ridiculous situation!

Even kangaroos have their limits.

If you’re an adult, clean up your own mess!

Dammit, sure enough.

The hope that Zeus and Leto might be unaware of my confession was instantly shattered.

“Artemis?”

Standing up, Leto slowly approached and called her daughter’s name.

Her melodic voice was sweet enough to lull insomnia patients to sleep immediately.

“Ugh… Mother.”

Her mother Leto caressed Artemis’s cheek tenderly with concern at her almost deceased voice.

Then, looking between us alternately, she spoke again.

“Why don’t you both relax and sit down?”

Artemis, without waiting for Leto to finish speaking, immediately stretched her legs and sat down.

Understanding the situation, I settled into a cross-legged position comfortably.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Not necessary.”

Artemis declined.

Following her lead, I hesitated for a moment and also declined.

“No need to be formal. Order something.”

“Then, coffee, please.”

Realizing that it seemed Artemis would be unable to resolve the issue herself, she had knocked me out and brought me here.

Clearly, this was going to turn into an inquiry into me.

I needed to clear my head for that and decided to enjoy some caffeine.

Leto went into the kitchen and soon returned with a tray of cups.

“Take your time.”

Click.

Leto set down a glass of coffee in front of me.

But this… it seemed a bit different from the coffee I knew.

“Leto-sama? This isn’t coffee, but just cold water with some coffee beans tossed in…”

“Dear! Does it not suit your taste?”

“Not at all. The subtle fragrance of coffee is stimulating my nose.”

Would disparaging Zeus’s wife in front of Zeus be a form of suicide?

Swallowing the coffee, I also swallowed my questions.

Well, the coffee beans are chewable, and they are somewhat edible.

“Hem. Now then.”

As I placed my cup back onto the saucer, Zeus tapped the armrest lightly as a way to draw attention.

Once Leto, Artemis, and I were all focused on him, Zeus took a dry cough and began to speak.

“I’ve heard the entire story. You wished to become Artemis’s boyfriend, yes?”

“…”

“You can speak freely.”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… Did my daughter swear on the River Styx?”

“Yes.”

Zeus reconfirmed the situation.

Even while doing so, his face reflected deep thought as if he were pondering how to close this matter.

“Aah, Father! I was duped! That fellow mocked me for breaking promises and got me to relax by reminisce about old minor wishes! It’s void! Void!!!”

Artemis frantically tried to justify herself with flailing hands.

At this, Leto continued her gentle smile, giving a soft “Huhuhu,” which made Artemis flinch noticeably before lowering her head again.

Even this tough goddess seems powerless before her mother.

“Lord Zeus? Is there no chance of appealing to Lady Styx for revocation?”

“Impossible. A vow sworn on the River Styx must be honored. I cannot allow our family to tarnish Styx’s honor.”

Shaking his head from side to side, Zeus quickly rejected Leto’s suggestion.

Looking troubled, Zeus mulled it over for a minute before solidifying his resolve as he faced me directly.

“Was it Acras, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Change your wish as my daughter requests. I’ll promote you one rank.”

The tone of Zeus shifted to one of authority.

Yet, the carrot of reward followed the stick.

Promotion to the 8th rank would enhance the monthly pay and the power one could wield significantly.

It seems Zeus is set on preserving Artemis’s authority.

After all, any parent would be unlikely to welcome someone trying to take away their only daughter under the pretense of a wish.

Especially when that daughter is the Goddess of Purity.

“Do as I ask.”

A decree by Zeus, king of Olympus and head of the gods.

The weight of his single word was absolute.

His sternness weighed heavily on the room.

There was no way to resist such a command.

However, I would not give up.

I would not surrender absolutely.

I intended to prioritize and realize my beliefs and feelings.

I forced myself to endure the immense pressure that was pressing down on me and held my head up high.

“Lord Zeus. I have no intention of changing the wish. I want to make Artemis my girlfriend.”

I ultimately declared it.

Artemis looked shocked, her mouth agape.

Leto, covering her own mouth with her hand, opened her eyes wide and looked at me as if seeing me for the first time.

Only Zeus kept a perfectly stoic expression, staring at me with a lowered gaze.

“Are you aware of what happened to those who have cherished feelings for Artemis?”

“They all crossed the River Styx.”

“And yet? Do you think you, so lowly, can tarnish Artemis’s authority under the guise of romance?”

“…”

“If I were to recognize your relationship, how do you think the probability stands that I’d accidentally strike you with lightning the moment you lay a finger on my daughter?”

In a calm voice, Zeus delivered a chilling message.

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