In a situation where death has been pronounced, who on earth is this woman standing face-to-face with Artemis?
As they stood in opposition, I scrutinized the woman’s appearance thoroughly.
Her body is covered with torn scraps of fabric, seemingly because she has no clothes to change into,
and her pristine white skin is nearly half-covered with dirt because she hasn’t been able to bathe.
Her uneven bangs suggest that she cut them herself, most likely with a knife, rather than going to a professional stylist.
In short,
she reminds me of my own appearance about a year ago when I first transferred to this world.
The other settlers avoid even making eye contact out of fear,
so how does she have the nerve to step forward like this?
Is it because, as Artemis said, she has given up since she’s already condemned to die, and thus throws etiquette to the dogs?
“If you’re a goddess, shouldn’t you see the truth? Accusing someone of devil worship without evidence and trying to kill them—heck, even passing goats would laugh at that!”
“Someone who’s been hiding in my mountain like a parasite still has a pretty mouth on them, huh. Annoying.”
Artemis’ cold gaze pointed to the defiant woman’s feet.
Then, from behind her, dirt began stirring again as roots appeared, preventing her from escaping by binding her ankles.
“Ah! Let me go!”
The woman flailed, but with her ankles caught, there was no way out.
The roots seemed determined not to miss her a second time and tightly wrapped her as if she were a mummy.
“Ah! Just because we’re powerless and poor, are you going to kill us like this? Why won’t you even listen to us…?”
The settlers’ desperate cries were left unfinished,
because a root quickly clamped over her mouth.
The merciless roots coiled around her like snakes, extending all the way up to her head.
“Kill them all by suffocation.”
As Artemis mimed cutting her throat, the roots began tightening around their necks.
“Kuaaaah!”
“A-Artemis-sama!”
“S-s-spare us…”
The cries for help from the settlers began filling the village and the mountain valleys.
But Artemis, unmoved by their pleas,
merely stood with a stern look, watching them die.
Looking at her icy back, I instinctively swallowed hard.
Indeed.
This is one of Artemis’ true forms.
She never forgives those who challenge her divinity.
One might even call her ruthless, as she doesn’t even give them a chance to explain.
That’s why the other gods and priestesses always find it strange when they see me.
I talk to Artemis freely, unafraid of her wrath and yet still live.
And so, it seems there’s no one else other than me.
Only I can save these settlers.
“Artemis.”
“Why did you call?”
Her voice was crystal clear, even amidst the cries of agony.
Like a highlighter underlining a line in a text filled with black ink.
The strange sensation I felt made my back slick with cold sweat.
“…”
“Why did you call me?”
“Ahh! Wait, could you just spare these people temporarily?”
“Why? Why should I? On whose authority?”
Once again, Artemis directed an icy aura toward me for trying to oppose her will.
The chill was so strong it made my nose tingle.
“It’s because of what that woman said earlier.”
“It doesn’t matter. Even if they weren’t heretics, their wrongdoing is undeniable.”
“I know. They’ve committed capital offenses.”
“So why try to save them?”
“Aren’t you curious? What exactly is this ‘Devil’s Water’?”
“…”
Artemis glanced at the settlers struggling against the roots’ bindings, seeming to acknowledge this was beyond her control.
With a little more persuasion, she could be swayed.
“This could inspire my quest. Can you trust me this once?”
“…”
“If the Devil’s Water is real, wouldn’t it be better to eradicate it at its source this time?”
Artemis’ wavering eyes.
As I slightly nodded, she sighed in resignation, as if she couldn’t refuse me.
“Hmph. Extending their lives for now.”
“Of course! Thanks!”
I opened my arms to celebrate her decision.
I rushed to embrace her,
but Artemis easily leaped away from my outstretched arms.
“My embrace is a reward…”
“You must’ve meant punishment.”
With a sarcastic reply, she reluctantly flicked her finger with a sigh.
The roots that were choking the settlers lost their strength and slithered back into the ground.
“Oof! Huff… Huff…”
As their airways reopened, the settlers collapsed onto the ground, wheezing.
But Artemis, clearly disgusted by the pitiful sight, scowled and stomped her foot again.
Crash!
“Do you think you’re going to stick around? Go back into your houses! I’m already memorizing your faces, so don’t think you can escape.”
“Whaaa!”
“Yieek!”
Startled by Artemis’ reprimand, the settlers quickly got up and hastily left.
Still, they showed some camaraderie as they all entered a large hut together.
Except for one.
The woman who had mouthed back to the goddess.
“…”
“Why aren’t you going inside?”
In response to Artemis’ question, the woman only glared at her venomously.
Seeing this behavior irritate her, Artemis was about to lose her temper again but stopped upon noticing my pleading look, sticking her tongue out.
“Tsk! I’m giving you an hour.”
An order to uncover everything from this woman within an hour.
And if the time runs out, whether we’ve uncovered everything or not, she’ll definitely be dealt with.
With that, Artemis turned her back and settled down on a nearby log.
I confirmed her position and then looked down at the filthy woman.
“What’s your name?”
“Tell me yours first. You look like some scheming rat.”
Hmm.
Her sharp disposition reminds me of weeds springing up in the streets.
Still, I understand.
I arrived here about a year ago,
and these people have been hiding here for the last two years.
It’s possible they don’t know who I am.
“I am Ark, the priest of Lady Artemis.”
“Priest…? But Artemis didn’t have a priest a year ago.”
“That was a year ago. And address the goddess respectfully.”
“Tch! You’re trying to cover us with false accusations of devil worship and kill us! What respect? Stupid lackey Artemis!!”
SMACK!
Unable to listen any longer, I delivered a harsh slap across her face.
I hit her so hard that her lips split and bled.
She wiped the blood with the back of her hand, still glaring at me defiantly.
Her unyielding gaze reminded me of a wild stallion.
I met her defiant gaze head-on, not letting her intimidate me.
“Does shouting about injustice end things for you? Does it change anything?”
“Believing that nonsense of Devil’s Water!”
“Isn’t that why we revived their breath so we could uncover the truth?”
“…”
“Be honest. As it stands, you’ll all be dead soon. But if this Devil’s Water can be of some use to me, I’ll try to plead your case to the goddess.”
“Is it true?”
“It will depend on whether it’s helpful. Otherwise, if it’s just muddy water, it’ll be useless.”
The woman rolled her eyes, contemplating what to do.
But her deliberation didn’t last long.
Though she harbors grievances, their serious wrongdoing is undeniable. Thus, they’re left with no choice but to gamble their lives on my conditions.
“The Devil’s Water is—”
“First, your name.”
“Singclaire.”
“Alright. Our information suggests that the citizens of the Luna realm accuse your village of worshipping Devil’s Water.”
“False accusation! Ridiculous! True, a lost traveler did arrive here two days ago. I merely brought him some spring water when he complained of thirst.”
The source of Devil’s Water is the spring.
Good.
We’re narrowing it down.
“They say the citizen who reported it believed the water had poison in it. He said his throat hurt a lot.”
As I pressed, Singclaire furrowed and widened her brows repeatedly, contorting her face.
When I tilted my head in a questioning manner, she smirked, pointing at herself.
“Poison? If it were, we would’ve been dead already. We drink it daily.”
“Doesn’t your throat hurt?”
“It’s a bit sour, but it only tingles.”
Singclaire answered nonchalantly.
However, it struck me like being hit with a hammer.
Sour.
Tingles.
Not unfamiliar.
Actually, quite familiar.
“Yes… that’s it! That’s exactly it!”
I have unraveled the true identity of Devil’s Water.
The first-timers feel their throats painfully burning, but it’s no surprise for them to think it’s poison.
Hence, the reporting citizen assumed it was poisoned water.
The settlers drinking this water without a second thought must’ve seemed like devil worshippers!
“Where is it? Where’s the Devil’s Water? Where?”
Leaping up, I roughly grabbed Singclaire’s wrist.
Startled by my momentum, she widened her eyes.
“The spring is on the opposite side of the entrance, a little away.”
“Yes! Let’s go!”
I took an unwilling Artemis along and put Singclaire in the lead.
After walking for about seven minutes,
Singclaire, leading the way, pointed to a spot, declaring, “That’s the spring.”
Without waiting to reply, I rushed toward the spring to examine it.
It resembled a medicinal well.
Water was trickling from a cracked rock.
The flowing water gathered into a small hollow, forming a little spring.
Interestingly, there were bubbles scattered across the bottom.
My heart beats wildly, brimming with excitement.
I cupped the spring water with both hands and sipped it slowly.
Glug. Glug.
Pop! Pop!
Zzzziiiing—
The bubbles burst explosively in my mouth like fireworks.
It passed down my throat with a refreshing sensation that was absolutely delightful.
This is certain.
It is,
“Soda water!”
For the sailor who reaches a new continent,
or the adventurer who finds a treasure chest,
the discovery of this carbonated spring is an even greater joy than theirs.
“Artemis!”
Too elated by the discovery of the carbonated spring, I spun her around in my arms, dancing circles around the spring.
“Kyaa! What’s gotten into you?!”
“Got it! Got it! This is how I’ll complete the quest! Hahahaha!”
“Is it this? It’s just ordinary spring water.”
Seeing her skepticism, I clicked my tongue and wagged my finger.
“It’s not ordinary spring water. It’s soda water. It tingles.”
“Hmm? What exactly do you plan to make from this?”
Taking a pause, I dipped my right hand slightly into the carbonated spring and withdrew it.
Then I folded and unfolded my fingers, scattering droplets of soda water in all directions like blossoming petals.
As the soda water sprayed like mist all over me, I grinned triumphantly and eventually replied to Artemis.
“Soda pop.”
