I Became Artemis’ Boyfriend

The pride of the port city Portna is undoubtedly the Temple of Poseidon.

The cliff itself has been intricately carved into the shape of layered waves, and the temple stands atop it.

Next to the temple stands a towering statue of Poseidon, so tall that even craning your neck back you can’t see its end,

Its beacon-like stance, sending light out across the vast sea, leaves no doubt that it serves as a lighthouse.

Truly, he deserves the title as the one and only god of sailors.

As I walk up to the grand entrance, I brace myself for the upcoming audience with Poseidon.

Whoosh—

A strong sea breeze rushes through the open space.

The wind swirls around me like a curious puppy sniffing me out, circling my body multiple times.

It starts off fierce, as if it could flip an opened umbrella,

And finally eases to a gentle spring breeze.

As if to announce “you’re approved,” the temple doors open automatically.

“Alright, let’s go in.”

My steps feel heavy as I move forward.

Perhaps it’s natural.

After all, I’m here to meet Poseidon for the purpose of completing the task at hand.

It’s far from the light-hearted feeling of visiting a friend’s house.

“What business do you have here?”

Upon entering the temple, a male priest waiting at the reception desk blocks my path and inquires about my purpose.

“I seek an audience with Lord Poseidon. Is it possible?”

“…Please wait a moment.”

The priest narrows his eyes, scanning me from head to toe before walking back inside the temple.

Leaning against a wall, I wait for about five minutes until he returns.

“You may proceed to the Audience Room.”

With an elegant gesture, the priest gracefully turns towards the direction of the Audience Room.

As he moves aside, the previously obscured door to the Audience Room comes into my view.

“Huff…”

Taking a deep breath, I forcefully push open the heavy doors of the Audience Room.

Creeeak.

“Huh?”

Completely unprepared, I close my eyes tightly.

The moment the doors open, thick and dense air filled with steam bursts forth.

Inside the enclosed room, it feels as though dozens of humidifiers have been turned on.

It’s as if someone is gripping my lungs tightly, making it hard to breathe.

“Enter.”

Poseidon’s low, resonant voice pierces my ears.

Unresisting the unyielding command, my body reacts before my mind, entering the Audience Room.

Walking forward on the damp carpet feels as if quicksand is pulling at my feet.

On the podium stands Poseidon, looking down on me.

True to his lineage, his resemblance to Zeus is quite striking.

While Zeus’s lightning-like wavy hair serves as his symbolic identity,

Poseidon, similar to Guan Yu from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, bears the iconic beautiful blue beard that drapes down.

“It’s an honor to have been granted an audience, Lord Poseidon.”

I immediately prostrate, paying my respects.

“You requested a meeting?”

“Yes. My name is Ark.”

“Hmm. What is your purpose?”

Here begins the real test.

My heart pounds like a massive drumbeat.

Calm down. Collect yourself.

I can do this.

I need to achieve my task by selling seawater to Poseidon. However, first,

I must buy seawater from him!

“I wish to purchase seawater directly from Lord Poseidon.”

“Purchase seawater?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

My statement causes not a single flicker in Poseidon’s expression.

It appeared pointless for him to engage in complex reasoning or attempts to discern my true intentions. He simply strokes his blue beard with his chin cupped, occasionally shifting his unfocused eyes between the ceiling and the floor.

What should I do?

I was prepared for negotiations with Poseidon to be difficult.

But this lack of any sort of reaction leaves me at a loss for how to proceed.

“Uh, Lord Poseidon, uh…”

Attempting to take the initiative before I hear his response,

However, Poseidon snaps his finger faster than I could act.

In an instant, the steam filling the room condenses into countless droplets.

Thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, of small water droplets pelt my face, merging into a large water bubble.

Despite my feet still being on the ground, I feel as if I’m submerged in the depths of the ocean, unable to breathe.

“Po… croak, croak… croak.”

I flail around, struggling to speak,

But all that emerges is a sound like bubbles bursting.

Attempting to peel the water bubble surrounding my face with both hands multiple times, proves futile.

“Grk…”

Water begins to force its way into my nose and mouth.

My whole body feels limp, and the strength to resist fades from my arms at an alarming rate.

Clack!

At that moment,

Poseidon snaps his fingers once again, and like a balloon pricked with a pin, the water bubble bursts.

Unfortunately, this leaves me drenched and looking like a drowned rat.

But who cares about appearances?

“Haa… Haa… Haa…”

Just being able to breathe in the air, precious as it is, to the point of hyperventilating, is satisfaction enough.

“So, have you come to your senses and are now ready to speak truthfully?”

Poseidon finally speaks after giving me a brief moment to recover.

…Speak truthfully?

The words send a shockwave through me.

And now I understand why he earlier seemed indifferent, uninterested, with his unfocused gaze.

Any need to probe or speculate about the other person’s true intentions was entirely unnecessary.

From the moment doubt arises, until the moment it’s resolved, simply overpowering the other party suffices.

“What… do you mean by ‘truthful words’?”

“An endless supply of seawater can just be taken freely. You coming here to personally buy it leads me to conclude that you’re a delusional con artist.”

Indeed, he harbors suspicions as deep as the ocean.

I feel it in my bones.

Now, I realize that I only have one chance to make my defense.

Thus, let me carefully recount my ‘story’.

“Hack… Hack… Lord Poseidon. Until today, I have lived quite an ungrateful life.”

“Ungratefulness? Repentance is something to be done before the party involved, not here at the temple.”

“To find that party, I’ve come here.”

By implication, I refer to Poseidon himself.

Understanding the hidden meaning without much difficulty, he unfolds the legs he had crossed.

“Alright. Speak. How do your words of ungratefulness align with wanting to buy seawater?”

“I came here from the city of Luna. On the way here, the cart driver told me about his grandfather.”

“And?”

“The cart driver’s grandfather, amidst a war, made a single ring from a lump of copper. That ring was passed down from grandfather to father, and then from father to the driver.”

After swallowing hard, I continue.

“Passed down over three generations, that plain copper ring became a symbol of the safety and peace for the driver’s family. That was when it struck me: the symbol of my safety and peace is seawater.”

“How so? Do you take me for a trivial human who can be swayed by sweet words?”

Highly cautious against flattering words, Poseidon flips his trident upside down and forcefully plants it into the podium floor.

A clear indication that if a single lie is detected, the next time it won’t be the floor that’s struck, but my own body.

Not a problem.

Though my story is fabricated, it’s all based on ‘facts’ I’ve experienced.

“…When I was young, I almost lost my life. At a seaside resort, a huge wave carried me away into the sea.”

“…”

“I couldn’t swim at all. All I felt was the terror of being drowned under the waves. And then, a miracle happened.”

This is the crucial part.

Taking a deep breath, I pause before continuing.

“As I sunk into the depths of the ocean, I felt as if someone was gently lifting me up from below, creating a sense of buoyancy.”

“…”

“Somehow, from the dark depths of the ocean, I rose back up to the surface, bathed in light. I consider this to be the grace of Lord Poseidon.”

“But why? Why does this make you ungrateful? Is it because you became a priest of my niece, Artemis?”

“…!”

A shiver runs down my spine.

Indeed, Poseidon.

Regardless of feigning indifference, disinterest, or ignorance, he’s fully aware of who I am.

Am I this famous among the Olympian gods?

Maybe the priest who saw me earlier whispered something in his ear.

Still, it’s fortunate.

He knows only my identity, not the task at hand.

If he had known, there’d be no reason for such a guarded reaction to the statement about buying seawater.

“No. Lady Artemis also saved my life, so I’ve never regretted becoming her priest.”

“Then?”

“It’s embarrassing, but although the accident happened when I was young, as an adult now, it shames me deeply to have lived forgetting Lord Poseidon’s grace. Like the cart driver’s copper ring, I wish to possess seawater and live with it.”

People buy souvenirs or take numerous pictures during trips.

I did the same when I was young.

We reminisce about those joyful times while looking at souvenirs and photos.

Harsh time might have turned us into adults, but those unchanging memories remain right where they are.

“Whenever I see seawater, I will remember your grace… Ahahaha. My own priests couldn’t express such admirable and loyal feelings!”

The previously stoic Poseidon finally bursts into laughter, revealing his teeth.

Like a venomous snake, he subtly fills me with sweetness.

“Arc.”

“Yes, Lord Poseidon?”

“In that case, I must again ask what I’ve already questioned earlier. Why go through the trouble of seeking an audience with me here all the way in the port city instead of simply collecting seawater in a bottle?”

Yes!

Poseidon is almost convinced.

80% of my story is perfected.

Let’s finish with a flourish.

“Things easily gained are easily lost.”

“Hmm?”

“Even if I wouldn’t forget your grace by simply scooping up seawater from the ocean, I might forget its preciousness.”

“I’d rather purchase it from Lord Poseidon himself, even for as little as one coin, to cherish it deeply. And…”

“And what?”

“The city of Luna is surrounded by flatlands. There’s no view of the ocean. I wish to sell it to the citizens of Luna at the lowest price to keep the meaning the ocean brings.”

“Hahahahaha! You’re insane!!!”

Poseidon, letting go of his trident, repeatedly whacks his forehead with his left hand while laughing endlessly.

His insults seem more like an expression of interest in my unique thinking rather than actual criticisms.

“In this tense situation where many gods are aggressively competing for city expansion, and you’re a priest of Artemis, you come here to spread the grace of this Poseidon in Artemis’ city?”

“The favors I’ve received in the past are just as important to me as the ones I receive now. So, it’s only natural.”

With a strong voice, I reply swiftly.

“Natural? You, a priest of Artemis, dare spread the influence of another god? Is this not sowing discord amongst gods?”

“Lord Poseidon and Lady Artemis are uncle and niece. Is it really possible to sow discord among family members?”

Staring straight at Poseidon with wide eyes, my answer implicitly means, ‘Could your family be so shallow that discord like this would work?’

Whether their relationship is shallow or deep, I can’t discern now.

However, using this repetitive questioning, I can bypass his suspicion.

“Hmph! Hahahahaha!”

Having scored a hit, Poseidon claps twice in satisfaction.

Klack.

At this, a priestess carefully opens the door and enters.

She approaches me with timid steps and places a box containing ten small glass bottles in front of me.

Poseidon whispers “it’s done” and snaps his fingers again.

In response, the glass bottle caps pop open by themselves, and they start to fill with seawater.

The bright azure seawater shines vibrantly, faintly illuminating this dark room.

“What’s this?”

“Your sincere heart greatly moved me, so I shall sell you seawater blessed by me.”

Poseidon’s blessing!

The blessing that seafarers offer sacrifices to Poseidon before their voyages, giving up massive tributes to barely obtain.

This blessing has the mystical power to protect against storms at sea until its effects fade.

A blessing that seafarers struggle to obtain just once, and here I am receiving ten bottles of it!

“…This might be too expensive.”

“Hmm, indeed. All the sailors of Portna would have to combine their entire year’s earnings to obtain just one of these blessings.”

All the sailors’ yearly income?

Uh… so, exactly how much is this?

Watching me trembling nervously, Poseidon smiles and stretches out his index finger.

“One coin.”

“Excuse me? One coin?”

“That’s right. Ten coins in total for the ten bottles.”

Could this be possible?

The equivalent of 100 won in Korean currency will get me, not one, but ten bottles of this blessing.

This exceeded my expectations far more than I thought!

“Even though you’re the priest of my niece Artemis, I greatly admire your effort to encompass the deep meaning of Poseidon within your heart, thus this reward is well-deserved.”

“Thank you! Thank you!”

Pulling out ten coins, I continuously bow to express my gratitude.

But Poseidon waves his hand, indicating it’s too early to rejoice.

“Alright, last question. Explain why I divided the seawater into exactly ten glass bottles.”

“That’s—”

Seawater cannot be divided in form.

However, through the medium of glass bottles, it has been evenly distributed.

Thus, the implication is—

“The ocean is a public resource, infinite. This means not a general spread in Artemis’ entire city, but rather Lord Poseidon’s deep intention that the spread occurs specifically among exactly ten individuals, including myself.”

“Our niece, once she starts making demands, there’s no end to it. Indeed, Priest Arc, your mind is exceptional.”

“Flattery, Lord Poseidon. It’s your judgment, which encompasses everyone’s perspectives like the vast ocean, that only you can achieve.”

“Hmm, it’s rare to hear such pleasant words, which now make me rather drowsy. Now, you may leave.”

Poseidon taps the podium again with his trident.

As he does so, the doors of the Audience Room automatically open.

Simultaneously, a small wave rises, enveloping me before swiftly pushing me out of the temple.

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