Artemis, who looked like she stepped out of a movie, used her dazzling earrings to emit a flashbang.
Perhaps my confession had become too painful for her to hear,
and she fled from me, quoting a memorable line from her favorite novel’s protagonist.
But I didn’t act hastily at all.
Sun Wukong, no matter how wildly he might jump around, is still within the confines of the Buddha’s palm, isn’t he?
“As long as you’re fully prepared, there’s no need to panic at all.”
After recovering from the temporary blindness and ringing in the ears caused by the flashbang,
I finally started moving and thoroughly searched the temple first.
After conducting an investigation with the Female Priestess and even searching the hidden storerooms within the temple’s inner chambers,
I concluded that she was nowhere to be found in the temple.
Our little Artemis isn’t stupid, it seems; she didn’t resort to a search strategy that looked right under her nose.
“Looks like she’s gone to Luna… but I imagine, she will contact me soon.”
Goddess Artemis.
There was one fact that this woman of unparalleled strength had overlooked:
while she was making me her errand boy, she was planning to play around herself…
But what she doesn’t even dream about is the fact that I’ve been quietly expanding our influence in the city, removing the old stones where new ones have been placed.
“Artemis, Artemis… poor Goddess indeed… How long do you plan to delude yourself into thinking Luna is yours?”
Muttering to myself and smiling smugly, I opened the priest’s office window and tied a newly written note to the leg of a carrier pigeon before letting it take off.
Vermont will surely arrive within 20 minutes.
Hmm?
Who’s Vermont, you ask?
Though I wished to keep it a secret, Artemis has run away, so it’s unavoidable, isn’t it?
Alright, I’ll explain who Vermont is.
Everyone knows that due to Athena’s recruitment, I created the Silver Knights and have been training soldiers—that isn’t exactly a secret.
Led by Commander Gilbert, they are currently fully focused on preparing for the upcoming battle against the Gigantes remnants.
However, I secretly founded an independent unit within the Silver Knights.
A unit dedicated to maintaining public order and stability—
none other than
the Public Security Division!
The reason for its creation was a bit like fixing the fence after losing the sheep.
In the past, there was a Luna city riot caused by a curse from Dionysus,
where I learned a painful lesson.
Governance with excellent policies is not enough.
Thus, originally, the Public Security Division was a small unit mostly focused on collecting intelligence to prevent rebellion.
Now, however, it has grown significantly and, as a direct subordinate unit to the Priest, it is also in charge of counter-espionage operations.
The reason is that the city of Luna has achieved radiant economic growth.
Following the development of cider and hamburgers, agricultural fertilizers and musical instruments devised from my ideas have followed,
and applied science research has far outpaced that of other cities.
As a result, a fair number of people naturally migrate to the city of Luna,
and recently, we detected an industrial spy sent by Apollo,
whose task was to steal the cider recipe and then blow up the factory.
Seriously,
Apollo’s obsession with cider was terrifying.
“Tch… still, it gives me shivers. Hmm… Should I give Apollo a carrot? After all, he is Artemis’s older brother, so I suppose I should give him a chance to save face?”
Just as I was seriously contemplating Apollo,
there came a knock at the door, like an irregular Morse code.
“Come in.”
“Argh, argh… Our most honorable Priest… You’ve worked so very hard…”
As the door opened, an old man, leaning heavily on a cane, entered, carrying a basket of fruit.
Struggling to support his own body, the elderly man carefully approached me and extended a trembling hand to offer the basket.
“Argh, argh… How can… I can’t leave without offering fruit to our hardworking Priest…”
“Vermont. This is the priest’s office. Is our cover secure?”
“Is it?”
The man called Vermont straightened his 90-degree-bent back like a hunchback and tore off the white wig and beard.
The disguise then revealed the real Vermont, a man in his 40s, who quickly knelt on one knee and saluted me.
“Major of the Public Security Division, Vermont, reporting to my direct superior, Arc.”
“Hmm. The salutation is complete. Please rise.”
“Yes.”
“Alright. The Goddess Artemis has fled from the temple, an urgent situation. What was the information I requested?”
Having picked up an apple from the fruit basket, I inquired about the message I sent with the carrier pigeon.
Of course, it was about tracking Artemis’ location.
“According to our reports, around 10:43 AM, the Lady descended to Luna.”
“Continue.”
“The Lady has several hideouts, but all of them are empty. Based on information gathered by our public security staff, it seems to be a solo action by the Goddess, excluding her close disciples. After entering the clock tower next to the central square, she has not appeared since.”
The clock tower.
A building with such a long tradition that it could be said to have been present since the birth of the city of Luna.
Similar to a thin candle stuck in a cake, it is tall and featureless.
The interior of each floor has nothing but circular stairs leading to the next level.
However, reaching the top of the clock tower grants a view of the large bronze bell and an opportunity to overlook the entire city of Luna.
It seems like Artemis is soothing her restless heart from my confession on the tower’s summit.
“What is the follow-up plan?”
“Two undercover agents are disguised as hot dog vendors near the clock tower’s entrance. Only a few citizens saw this, so they were given a gag order and no fake information has been spread yet.”
“Is the reason for entering the clock tower understood?”
“Not yet. The most important fact is that the first floor door of the clock tower is locked, so no one can enter. We only know that Lady Artemis’s mood has become turbulent again… that’s all.”
“Good. I will soon enter the clock tower; I’ll leave the rest in your capable hands.”
“Understood, Sir Priest Arc.”
The Commander of Public Security, Vermont, saluted me respectfully and then reattached the wig and beard to disguise himself as an elderly man before leaving the temple.
Once I’d confirmed through the window that Vermont, supported by the Female Priestesses, was heading toward the temple gate,
I donned my coat and headed toward the backyard to entrust Maia with the temple.
“Maia, I have a favor to a—huh?”
Maia wasn’t alone in the backyard.
A blond young man winked and waved his hand with a beaming smile.
“Yaaahh~ Arc, how long’s it been?”
“Lord Hermes. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
Trying to bow low in salute, he sprang up, signaling that it wasn’t necessary and kindly patted my shoulder, offering a seat.
Each of his actions felt genuine without pretense, making me feel at ease.
“Hahaha… I was coming just to see Mom, but I guess I’ve been caught? Are you mad that I came here to the temple so secretly?”
“Of course not, Lord Hermes. You are welcome to visit the temple as you wish.”
“Yaaah~ Arc, so bold! To treat her temple like your own house like that…”
“I am on my way to retrieve the runaway Goddess; I’ll only be handing the temple’s responsibilities over temporarily—it’s fine.”
At the word ‘runaway,’ Maia and Hermes both looked at each other and blinked.
While silently making some assumptions, Maia quickly arrived at a conclusion and was surprised.
It seems Maia noticed everything after witnessing and hearing all from nearby.
“…Arc. Aren’t you… confessing to her again?”
The word ‘again’ pierced my heart.
I must seem like a stalker.
“Hahaha, our mother is truly something else. You’re confessing before completing the Twelve Labors… eek? You really did?”
Hermes laughed it off, claiming it was absurd,
but when I didn’t deny it, he stood up in surprise and quickly confirmed the fact.
Once I nodded, he was left speechless, frozen on the spot.
Maia, ignoring the foolish son, looked at me seriously.
“Ark.”
“Yes, Sister Maia.”
“Do you realize that whether our Lady Artemis accepts or rejects your confession is a problem?”
“Yes. In any case, we’ve confirmed each other’s feelings now; I no longer find it necessary to enforce the Twelve Labors.”
“But—”
Maia’s eyes, worried for her child, tried to say more,
but Hermes stepped in and silenced his mother by crossing his arms with a serious tone, ending any such conversation.
“Are you prepared? Arc?”
“Yes.”
“Her running away might be about protecting you.”
“I’ve made a promise to myself: if my target runs away in a tsundere manner, I’ll chase her as a yandere.”
“…”
“You fit that description. However, the moment she accepts you, all the Gods who currently support her may turn their backs. What’s more, the accountability of our Lady’s uncontrolled emotions could lead to consequences.”
“I will protect her.”
Hermes said no more.
He simply read my sincerity in my eyes.
“Hmph!”
The mental battle of staring each other down ended with my victory.
Hermes turned his head, smiled wryly, and removed his hat.
After flicking off the dust on the brim, he flicked the hat over to me like a card.
“This winged hat…”
“I’m lending it to you for today.”
“…Lord Hermes.”
“The path of a man resolved cannot be stopped by anyone. I can see some resemblance to my younger self, but now, it’s hard to find.”
“Still, Lord Hermes is the unparalleled, unmatched hero regardless. You’ve protected your mother.”
“Hmph, yeah. You should go!”
“…Yes!”
After bowing to Maia and Hermes, I immediately flew off to the city of Luna.
It was a literal airborne flight.
Anyone wearing this winged hat Hermes lent me can fly,
and despite it being my first time, the level of stability made it unexpectedly comfortable.
“Mr. Priest! Come try our hot dogs!”
A vendor selling hot dogs near the clock tower called out to me.
As I approached, the disguised public security staff handed over a hot dog while reporting that the first floor of the clock tower was still locked, and no one had entered.
“Good work.”
“Yes, Priest! If you need it, there’s this…”
The vendor then showed me a sledgehammer hidden under the cart, a symbol of door breaching.
“No need.”
“So how do you plan to get into the clock tower?”
With a bemused smile, I tapped the winged hat on my head.
“I’ll fly up.”
As I hovered into the air, I slowly ascended to the top of the clock tower.
In the center of the open space at the top, where the enormous bronze bell that chimed every hour stood,
I quickly found Artemis, leaning against the bell.
“Artemis, hello?”
