Chapter 171

Chapter 172: Food and Sex are Nature’s Way (Three Updates Begging for Subscriptions!)

Holding his blade, Izay emerged from the forest and immediately spotted the energetic young man sprawled on top of Hermes, wailing.

“What’s wrong with him?” Approaching Artemis’ side, Izay asked softly.

After a brief pause to choose her words, Artemis glanced at a certain deity. “Maybe he’s overly sad due to some misunderstanding?”

“Uh… I meant what’s wrong with Deity Hermes? Why did he pass out?”

“Oh that? Perhaps he just wanted to faint～”

The goddess tapped her chin lightly, blinking innocently as she replied matter-of-factly.

Since Hermes had passed out face-down, blocking the wound caused by Artemis hitting him with the hilt of her knife, Izay didn’t notice anything strange in her explanation.

It just seemed weird. Why would a deity randomly pass out like that?

Such frailty…

Around them, whether it was Hermes’ faction or Artemis’ group members, everyone was watching, acting as an audience enjoying the spectacle, not minding the drama at all.

The latter were purely there for entertainment.

The former were delighted to see Hermes in such a state, something rarely witnessed.

After shouting for a while, the spirited young man from Hermes’ group decided he’d had enough fun and stopped. He dusted off his knees, stood up as if nothing happened, joined the onlookers, and even shared his inner thoughts with friends, leaving Izay and Artemis stunned.

So you weren’t really upset?

Your loud crying almost convinced us!

Later, Asfi, unable to bear it anymore, ordered the tiger-man Falga to lift the unconscious Hermes and carry him away.

With the night attack over, everyone began cleaning up the battlefield.

Gathering magic stones, organizing equipment, rebuilding the fence that had been broken earlier…

Such tasks were not Izay’s responsibility. After putting his weapon back into weapon space, he found himself idle.

“Izay, where do you put your weapon? It just appears when you raise your hand. What’s going on?”

Noticing him storing his blade, Artemis asked curiously.

“This? You can think of it as space magic, my unique magic.”

“Space magic… Has anyone possessed it since ancient times?”

Letsha’s mouth twitched slightly, feeling like she might lose control.

“So it’s your unique magic.”

“Is that so…?”

Her lips curved slightly upwards in a small smile as Artemis looked at Izay.

Their first meeting half a year ago still felt vivid; back then, he’d been chased by a pack of gray wolves on the ground.

He’s become so strong now…

Protection…?

Recalling Izay’s previous words, Artemis cheeks flushed involuntarily, making her somewhat reluctant to continue looking at him.

However, just as the goddess was about to look away, Izay noticed her gaze.

“Is something wrong, Lady Artemis? Did I get something on my face?”

Seeing her staring at him, Izay instinctively thought there might be something on his face.

Especially after a battle, accidentally getting something stuck wasn’t unusual at all.

“No, no… I was just thinking…”

Staring at my face while thinking?

Even though Artemis didn’t say it aloud, she could read this meaning in Izay’s teasing expression. She immediately turned her head away, trying to hide her thoughts.

“Lady Artemis, Leader, we’re going to take a bath. Are you coming too?”

Just then, Lanti ran over with “good news.”

‘——!’

A single piece of information shifted the attention of the three.

While Letsha and Izay focused on the message, Artemis was focusing on Izay.

The goddess felt this person seemed different for a moment just now?

“We can go. These past few days, because we’ve been busy clearing monsters, we haven’t rested properly.”

After a little thought, Letsha nodded in agreement.

These days, due to dealing with monsters, they hadn’t rested well either. The stickiness from sweat covering their bodies was quite uncomfortable…

And most importantly, Izay had just eliminated a large number of monsters. Based on their findings these days, that was likely all the monsters in this area.

This meant everyone could rest peacefully here until morning.

As for water source issues,

There was one just a short walk ahead of the camp.

The rule against camping near water doesn’t apply to these high-level adventurers.

“How about Lady Artemis?”

Having heard Letsha’s opinion, Lanti turned to Artemis.

“Me? I’ll pass for now. You go ahead. I’ll join later.”

Unexpectedly, Artemis didn’t agree right away; it seemed she had her own plans?

“Then… Lady Artemis, we’ll leave first?”

“Hmm.”

Artemis nodded gently in response, then crossed her hands behind her back, facing Izay with a radiant smile.

Not quite understanding why she suddenly smiled so happily, Izay cautiously asked,

“Is there something else, Lady Artemis?”

At that moment, the goddess’ eyes curved into crescents as she said softly,

“Izay, didn’t you have an idea just now?”

—!??

Am I exposed?

No, it’s just a thought. How is that exposure?

“Cough… Which aspect are you referring to, Lady Artemis?”

“Well… Like wanting to peek?”

Izay opened his mouth but couldn’t find words.

Alright, I’m exposed.

Are goddesses’ senses so sharp?

Seeing his silence as if he didn’t intend to defend himself, Artemis tilted her head slightly.

“You don’t plan to defend yourself?”

“Um… Peeping is a man’s romance?”

“I asked you to defend yourself, not explain your motives!”

“Then… Food and sex are nature’s way?”

Even ancient Eastern texts came up?

Artemis inexplicably felt a bit drained.

In front of her, this guy didn’t seem to want to explain at all?

Her chest rose and fell several times as Artemis took deep breaths to adjust her state, then extended a delicate finger in front of Izay, speaking seriously to him.

“— No! Not Allowed!”

“Okay~” (said in a flat tone)

“I’ll be watching you closely. Not a single thought allowed, understand?”

“That might be a bit difficult…”

Izay muttered quietly.

Sometimes, his body acted independently.

The brain controls the brain, limbs control the limbs, each part doing its own thing without interfering with others. Even if his body can remain still, forcing his mind to stop thinking might be a bit hard.

“Hmm?”

Instantly, Artemis raised her chin, emitting a fine nasal sound, her expression saying, “Dare to refuse?”

Seeing Izay’s lips moving, even if she couldn’t hear, she could guess the content more or less.

Would she let him succeed?

Impossible!

At least under her watchful eye, Artemis, who still considered herself the goddess of chastity, wouldn’t allow Izay to do so.

Faced with the goddess’ authority, what could Izay do?

Nothing.

Only obediently lowering his head, appearing meek and compliant.

But Letsha, Lanti, and even Asfi could give up.

What about Artemis herself?

It was… A sudden realization of a blind spot.