I Became Artemis’ Boyfriend

Inside the carriage heading to Ditesia.

The conversation with Iris was so enjoyable that I lost track of time and kept talking.

From casual talk about last night’s dinner of bread and meat,

to the interpretation of instantaneous acceleration graphs and the creation of clouds through rising air currents.

She absorbed all the scientific expertise I spoke about like a sponge.

Since she was incredibly smart, without realizing it, I was quizzing her, asking “Do you know this? How about this?”

The result was astonishing.

Though the concepts and definitions weren’t fully organized, all the knowledge was already there in her mind.

“Amazing. I give up.”

Watching Iris understand all my knowledge like a child absorbing everything, I raised my hands in surrender and stuck out my tongue.

“Arc is the amazing one. The vast amount of knowledge you possess. You’re like a walking library.”

“Hahaha, well…”

With the recent troubles overlapping, Iris’s compliment didn’t bring just joy.

Iris tilted her head in confusion, not understanding the reason.

“Why?”

“To be honest, I thought I was the smartest person here. But I was mistaken.”

“Mistaken?”

“Yes. That too, a big mistake.”

“What do you feel you’re lacking?”

“Military tactics. And… women’s hearts.”

Iris laughed out loud, then noticing my glance, covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.

However, from my perspective, her forced suppression of laughter seemed even more annoying.

“If you want to laugh, just laugh comfortably.”

“Ho ho ho. Sorry. Since the carriage started, your face had a strange shadow, and I was wondering why. So it’s because of a woman.”

“Yes. For me, it’s an unsolvable assignment forever.”

“If it’s okay, would you tell me about it? Maybe I have some idea that could help.”

Thinking that talking about it would just hurt my mouth, I shook my head.

But then, a thought crossed my mind – since Iris understands everything, she might be different. A sense of anticipation started to grow.

Moreover, Iris is also a woman.

Being a woman, she might have some insight into understanding Artemis.

As if possessed, I told her, albeit with some adjustments, about the complicated relationship between me, Artemis, and Athe.

Also, everything from confessing to Artemis to yesterday’s misunderstanding.

Of course, with some parts carefully omitted.

“So…”

Iris, who had been listening all along, glared at me with wide eyes.

Even though I hadn’t done anything wrong, her glare made me avoid eye contact.

“Necessity turned your promise to Athe into a lover’s relationship, and Athe refused, leading her father to impose twelve trials on you.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“After finishing the first trial, you swore to solve the deep worries of Athe’s sister Antenna?”

“Though some context is missing… Ahem, yes.”

“Then Athe saw you from behind, embracing someone, and assumed you were together, leading her to deeply resent you?”

“Exactly!”

Athe, a slang reference, Antenna – the tall ponytail on Athena’s head, thus “Antenna.”

If these two virgin goddesses were to learn the truth, they’d likely accuse me of sacrilege and throw a tantrum, but fortunately, there are only three of us here.

At least, being able to let out stress through gossip like this feels refreshing.

“So… you don’t understand why Athe is mad?”

“Of course not. After refusing me and even putting me through trials, why should she be angry when I get close to another woman?”

She wanted nothing to do with me, even going so far as to confront me.

I can’t understand why she pushed me for betrayal.

“Hmm~ Maybe it’s because she was beaten to it?”

“What?”

“Athe wanted to hug and kiss Arc first but was beaten to it by Antenna?”

Clunk clunk! Crash crash!!!

Suddenly, as if there was an earthquake, the carriage violently shook side to side.

“Uh… sorry, sorry. The wheel hit a big rock. Haha, ahahahaha.”

Jake, his face as red as a hot iron, apologized to us.

Before turning his head forward, I noticed he was glaring at me as if trying to kill me…

But Iris simply bypassed it as if she were enjoying an amusement park ride.

“Ho ho ho. Just kidding~ Still… I see why that person called Athe got mad.”

“Understand? How?!”

“Mr. Arc. Do you know the story of ‘The Goddess and the Woodcutter’?”

“The Goddess and the Woodcutter”?

It’s just like our country’s folktale of the celestial maiden and the woodcutter. In the goddess version.

It’s about a woodcutter who hides the goddess’s feathered dress, coercing her into a reluctant marriage.

The story ends with the goddess finding her feathered dress years later, leaving her husband to ascend back to heaven.

Personally, it’s quite dumb.

“I know. The woodcutter was terrible, trapping and binding the goddess.”

“Hey Arc, could it be that your mirror is a bit crooked?”

After my blunt evaluation of the woodcutter, Iris burst into smothered laughter, pointing her finger at me.

Following her finger, I stupidly pointed at myself.

“What…?”

“Arc and the woodcutter. Don’t you see the resemblance?”

“!”

It felt like being hit on the head with a hammer.

Why didn’t I think of that before?

In other words…

The goddess’s feathered dress equals the vow taken by crossing Styx.

I too have used Artemis’s vulnerability. That’s the conclusion.

“A…”

Stuck on her pinpoint evaluation of what I hadn’t realized, I could only hum in response.

And my face began to grow hotter with embarrassment, leading me to lower my head.

Even so, sensing that Iris was staring at me, I covered my head with both hands.

“…That wasn’t my intention… What have I done?”

With as much self-loathing for that woodcutter as I have for myself, it engulfed me.

I started, thinking lightly that I would just scold her a bit.

Using that as an excuse, I believed I had conveyed my true feelings in front of Zeus and Artemis.

Thus, I thought my love was transparent and pure.

But I was wrong.

“Ho ho ho. Arc? But even I, who met you just today, can see that you’re not a bad person, right?”

“Really? What do you…”

“Small rewards with each trial. Weren’t those about Athe… sorry, not Athe, wanting you to notice her?”

That’s right.

Little by little, getting to know each other and hoping that Artemis feels the same way I do. A little wish.

It started from sorting out the terms.

Then lunch, and dates, and so on.

How many things I wanted to do with her.

My wish list couldn’t even fit on a whole parchment.

“Therefore, you’re not like the woodcutter, Arc. You really like Athe – with sincerity. I guarantee it.”

Iris thumped her chest and continued.

“Only… it’s certain that both of you are clumsy. Athe is aware of you. She’s starting to believe in your sincerity. But the start was clearly a clumsy form of confinement. That’s why even though she can trust you 99%, she can’t shake off that 1% of doubt.”

“1% of doubt…”

“Arc, if you were in Athe’s shoes… how would you perceive the misunderstanding with Antenna’s hug from behind?”

“……”

Imagine myself squatting outside the tent, peeking.

If it were someone else, they’d likely immediately attack the scene, grabbing the hair and tearing it out.

But the opposite party is her sister.

I’d likely be too flustered to move.

And while watching that scene, I’d likely conjure up various fantasies in my mind.

“If I were in her shoes, the trust I carefully built up for Arc until now would collapse like dominoes. And that 1% of doubt would no longer be just 1%.”

“Yes. I just recalled a similar situation too. But I want to resolve the misunderstanding somehow.”

“Misunderstandings must be resolved. That said, you don’t need to explain it all in detail. Just improve going forward. Consider every word and action you take as building trust with Athe.”

“Don’t act recklessly but should stand firmly like a giant tree?”

“Exactly. As long as you don’t waver and provide confidence, Athe will absolutely not waver. Even if someone tries to sow discord.”

That’s right. Iris is correct.

Because it’s our first love.

Because of our innocence and naivety.

Because our hearts are pure.

That’s why we can easily misunderstand each other.

“Arc? Then what about that wish made by the vow of Styx?”

“Arc?”

I lobbed the most crucial question, and Iris lowered her voice to glare at me.

“Yes?”

“Suppose I served the banquet, you should eat it yourself.”

Since I’ve pointed out the direction to move forward, getting there is something you must do yourself. This was Iris’s another form of teaching.

She also pointed out the window.

Already, Aphrodite’s great city, Ditesia, was in sight.

Passing through the gate, the carriage continued toward the city’s central temple.

Seeing the golden temple of Aphrodite, I got out of the carriage first.

Then I moved to the driver’s seat, looking up at Jake.

“Uncle! It was unfortunate not to talk more today. You seem very unwell, but please be careful on your way back.”

“Eh? Ah… Ah… Sure.”

“Yes. Then please be careful on your return.”

“…Arc!”

As I was saying goodbye, Jake loudly grabbed my foot with a shout.

Turning to look, surprised, I saw Uncle Jake hide his now beet-red face behind a pressed straw hat.

“I… I’m sorry for being cold before. From next time onward, let’s be friends. And you must come back.”

Thus, we finally shook hands, something we failed to do in Luna.

“Yes!”

With my firm response, I stepped aside, and the carriage’s wheels began to move again.

I waved goodbye, watching Jake’s carriage slowly fade into the distance.

At that moment,

The carriage window opened, Iris popped her head out, and shouted to me.

“Arc! It was nice meeting you!”

“Same here! I learned a lot!”

“One last question! What do you think your relationship with Antenna is?”

What’s my relationship with Athena?

What kind of relationship?

Why is she suddenly asking such a thing?

And why do I feel it’s necessary for me to give Iris an answer?

Athena is quiet and mature.

Iris is full of energy.

Why do these two completely different people overlap in my mind?

“Relationship…”

Through Athena, I’ve learned countless things.

Through me, she’s courageously confronted her hidden inner self.

We were mirrors reflecting each other.

Thus, together we have grown.

I only know one word to describe this kind of relationship.

“Master and apprentice!”

I replied firmly as if shouting the answer.

Then Iris also waved her hand and answered with a warm smile.

“Yes! I think the same!”

That’s how we three parted with lingering regret.

After the carriage disappeared, I turned around and gazed at the huge temple of Aphrodite that seemed like it could pierce the sky.

The purpose is to receive the Iclina flower from Aphrodite.

“Huff… alright. Let’s go inside.”

With a firm resolve, I took my first confident step.

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