As I ascended the mountain lost in various thoughts, I returned to the temple an hour later than expected.
The lights in the priest’s office and practice room were all turned off,
and from the women’s dormitory next to the priests’ quarters, the distant sounds of women’s laughter carried off by the wind could be faintly heard.
It seemed that Maia had finished her hamburger practice with the priests and was enjoying an evening chat.
The female priestesses were all off duty and had gone home, leaving this as a perfect opportunity for a serious conversation, just between Artemis and me.
Thump, thump.
As soon as I realized I was about to see Artemis, my calm heart began to race.
After all, I was finally going to hear her thoughts regarding our relationship.
“Should I go claim my reward? …But why am I so nervous?”
While trying to appear calm as I ran my palm over my pounding chest,
I worried that if I didn’t do this now, I’d likely chicken out and put it off for another time. Thus, I reassured myself and proceeded.
Passing through the main gate and across the temple corridor, I finally arrived at her private quarters located at the heart of the temple. Taking a deep breath, I gently knocked on the door.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Who’s there?”
“It’s me.”
“Arc? Seriously, what time is it…? Anyway, come in.”
Upon her invitation, I carefully opened the door and stepped into her chambers.
There sat Artemis on a vanity stool, her back turned to me. She had just finished bathing and was drying her damp hair with a towel, clad in a bathrobe that was a bit oversized, leaving one of her shoulders partially exposed.
Even though she was a goddess, I couldn’t help but feel uneasy in my heart, wondering if it was appropriate for her to be so defenseless in front of a man.
At that moment, Artemis glanced at me through the mirror.
“What is it? Is this urgent?”
“It’s kind of urgent, but not really…”
“What do you mean?”
Her curiosity got the better of her as she furrowed her brow, lowered her towel, and spun around to face me. The faint scent of citrus orange quickly filled the room, assaulting my nose with her natural fragrance rather than artificial perfume, making me fight hard not to lose myself in it.
“Hey, what is it already!?”
Whether she cared about my restraint or not, her impatience grew as she moved closer, prodding for answers.
Before I could react, her robe slightly parted, revealing a stunning sight that instantly captured my attention until I quickly looked away.
“Hmm?”
“Uh… well! Cough! I’ve come to claim my reward…”
“Reward? What reward?”
With a puzzled expression, Artemis tilted her head. It seemed she’d completely forgotten about the reward from the double labor.
Sigh, I should have known.
“Hey…”
Something was strange.
Why was I like this?
Clearly, the reward was hard-earned and rightfully mine. Until coming back to the temple, I had been so confident, almost arrogant even, but now that I was facing her, my tongue felt heavy and my words couldn’t form.
Admittedly, it was a bit embarrassing to ask something like “What do you think of me?” to a girl I cared about so much. But having already committed myself emotionally, this embarrassment shouldn’t matter.
Even so, I couldn’t quite understand why I hesitated so much.
Was it because of Artemis’s overly casual and straightforward nature, implying that she didn’t regard me as a man?
Strangely, I only began to think this after meeting her. But now that I faced her, my mind raced.
Maybe because I didn’t expect her to say she liked me.
If I asked about her true feelings, saying “Ah, you’re curious? If you want to know so badly, fine. Sure, I don’t like you. Stop pestering me,” would all my past efforts in her labors go to waste?
Not only would that effort be meaningless, but my own heart might also be shattered.
This was the Pandora’s box—should I truly know her heart?
Unfortunately, only now, when her warmth seemed to be slowly seeping into my skin, I was scrambling to block it with silence.
“Ugh! This is frustrating. What’s wrong? Is it about the Luna Burger launch? I already entrusted that to you and gave you the authority to proceed.”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then what? Just say it already! Stop being so frustrating.”
Forget it. Let’s do this.
Open Pandora’s box.
Whatever blowout happens tomorrow, future me will deal with it.
“I’ve come to claim my reward. From the double labor.”
“Ah…”
Artemis’s expression of annoyance immediately faded, and her usual bright, playful look returned as she pouted and turned back to her vanity.
Facing away from me, she pretended to continue drying her hair with her towel.
“Is this how things are supposed to go, Arc? You obviously can’t help yourself when you become curious about a woman’s feelings, so you come here late at night like this. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
“During the day, I have work to do, and you’re out hunting boars.”
“So? This isn’t urgent business, is it? Do you really think it’s appropriate for someone to simply show up in a goddess’s chambers like this?”
“Ah, I guess not, but…”
“Isn’t this getting a bit too casual for us lately? Even if you’re a priest, come on. Does any priest in this world think they have the authority to do this?”
Through the reflection in the mirror, our conversation carried on. Artemis smoothly steered the conversation away from the rewards topic, instead pointing out the ethical issues of my visit, her tone subtly implying that she was drawing a line—perhaps even between us.
I was overwhelmed with sudden confusion that arose in my heart.
Combined with her firm, yet chilly comments, I got the feeling something was about to happen.
“Then should I come back sometime tomorrow morning?”
“No, it’s fine.”
Before I could step back further, Artemis stopped me.
Was she playing hard to get?
She roughly dried her hair and then casually threw the damp towel to the ground before standing up. She then walked past me and sat on the sofa opposite, pointing her chin toward the chair on the other side of the table. Reluctantly, I took the offered seat.
Sitting across and looking at her, my body was tense, just like a new job applicant anxiously waiting during an interview.
Artemis’s expression changed rapidly as she observed me.
A mixture of joy and sadness, confusion and guilt.
Eventually, she turned her head and hid her face after a series of expressions flitted across her features.
“Hey, Arc.”
“Yeah.”
“Remember the first thing I said during the double labor? The first thing from my heart?”
“Of course. When you said the moment I took on the labor, you trusted that I would succeed.”
“Exactly.”
At first glance, her inner thoughts might suggest positive feelings towards me.
However, as a human being, I often prepare for the worst-case scenario rather than the best.
Striving to understand the deeper meaning behind what she had confessed, I reached a conclusion. Her intent was…
that I possess basic skills and abilities, making me competent at completing the labor.
Undoubtedly, this is one aspect that highlights my appeal.
But this appeal wasn’t the reason behind Artemis’s feelings for me.
“I can’t fully understand it yet. I need to hear the other one in order to gather enough insight.”
“Alright. I guess it’s frustrating from your point of view.”
“To be honest… it is very frustrating.”
“Arc…”
“Yeah?”
“While uncovering the truth, there’s a chance you might start to dislike me.”
“You mean…?”
“I’m saying, our current relationship might be the happiest we can have. You’re trying to change the status quo… meaning we might never return to what we had. Do you still want to know?”
She asked this question with a serious expression, lowering her voice.
Her question felt like stepping into a dangerous and warning-filled swamp, subtly emphasizing the point that once I take a step, there’d be no turning back.
“Of course. If I could so easily change my feelings towards you, I wouldn’t truly care for you.”
“Fine. Alright you have no choice.”
Appearing flustered, as though her plan had been disrupted, she scratched the back of her head in frustration and resignedly.
Finally, the time has come.
Even if the answer I get now is a riddle, it’s fine. By connecting both pieces of information, a clear path will surely emerge.
As I readied my determination and swallowed nervously, Artemis’s soaked lips slowly parted.
“I, Arc, have sinned against you in a way that can never be washed away.”
“Huh? Wha… what? Sin? What sin?”
“Arrggh!! It’s fine now! Go back!!”
Frowning, Artemis jumped up and approached me, forcibly standing me back up.
Then she pushed me towards the door.
“Hey, wait! This isn’t about your true feelings, it’s more of a confession! Confessions go to the priestess; reporting crimes goes to the police…”
“Be quiet! I said I’m done, now leave already!”
Like snow being bulldozed into piles, I was helplessly pushed out by her powerful suppression force, and she quickly slammed the door.
Bang! Click!
The loud sound of the door closing echoed and the chain lock was set.
The rejection in her actions felt like cold locks closing around my heart.
“Phew… seriously, what is it?”
I stood there for minutes staring at the closed door, then sighed deeply and turned away.
Back at the dorm, I lit the fireplace to warm the room cooled by the evening winds.
I sat by the roaring fire as I reflected on the day’s events while adding logs to it.
Thinking about it, it was all very strange.
Artemis, who is usually so cheerful and straightforward, had acted differently today.
I could tell she felt a variety of emotions when she saw me.
Even though she didn’t vocalize them, she clearly experienced them.
What Artemis had revealed was more obscure and bizarre than the first confession.
“…Let’s write this down.”
1. From the moment you accepted your father’s labor, I never once thought you would fail.
2. I have committed an unforgivable sin against you.
How did these two inner truths from Artemis align with each other?
Shouldn’t these X and Y coordinates meet at some point to form a comprehensible point?
I don’t understand.
I honestly don’t understand.
If anyone knows, please tell me.
“Eh, forget it. Let’s sleep.”
Eventually, I accepted that I couldn’t solve this riddle and gave up, lying down on the bed.
My extreme mental fatigue quickly carried me off into sleep.
