The morning after spending a stormy day on Storm Island.
After hearing about the shocking change in Clotho’s fate, I spent most of the night unable to sleep, waking earlier than anyone else.
I also saw Lachesis and Atropos, two of the Moirai sisters, off as they left the island.
While sitting on a tree stump in the small clearing outside the cottage, trying to gather my thoughts, Clotho appeared.
In contrast to my messy state, she looked fresh and clean, having already finished washing up.
“You’re up early, Clotho.”
“Compared to the Savior and my two sisters, I’m still a late riser.”
“Yeah… Lachesis and Atropos went out of the island early again today. Is this a daily routine?”
“Yes. Unlike me, who deals with births, they oversee the rest of human lives and their ends. Their primary task is to observe the world and watch over humanity.”
“Checking if there are any abnormalities in the threads of life?”
“Yes. That and several other tasks.”
“Hmm… Never mind.”
I decided against asking Clotho if she also needed to check on the newborns.
It made sense that the fates of living and dying far outnumber those of birth.
But I soon regretted not asking the question, as I had already come up with my own answer.
“Savior? Is there something troubling you? You look a bit pale.”
“Huh? Oh… It’s nothing serious. I was just thinking about how even the simplest questions and conversations have meaning.”
“Hmm… I’m not sure I follow.”
“I’ll soon have to leave this place. I thought it might be less painful to spend my remaining time here with meaningless chatter rather than feeling regretful.”
“Hehehe. I always thought you were naively cute, but you seem to have depth after all.”
Clotho looked at me with appreciation, her large eyes curved into a mischievous smile, making her look quite fox-like.
Embarrassed, I could only scratch my nose and lower my head to avoid her gaze.
“Let’s see… Do you feel my affection, or does it make your heart open up easily?”
“Hehehe. There’s no need for you to feel sad. Our meeting again is fated.”
“Even so… somehow, I feel I’ll face many problems when I return to the temple. When will I see you again?”
“That…”
At that moment,
The door of the cottage burst open.
Both Clotho and I turned our heads toward the sound.
There stood Artemis, stretching her pudgy body with her arms outspread.
With sleep still lingering in her eyes, accompanied by some dried eye boogers, she yawned widely like an alligator.
Why does this remind me of an uncle at the bathhouse who loudly declares “Ahhh! This is refreshing!” while immersing himself in hot water?
Or an old man who insists on letting out a loud burp every time he sits at the dinner table?
It’s no wonder that other gods refer to Artemis as a troublemaker or a know-it-all.
“Indeed… such an overbearing personality…”
Clotho muttered to herself, seemingly accepting it.
Then she leaned closer to me and whispered:
“Savior, are you leaving now?”
“Yes. Artemis is awake. Is there something?”
“Since you received the sunglasses, I would like to give you a small farewell gift as well.”
“That sounds ominous. What’s your scheme?”
“Hehehe. I want to give the troublemaking princess, who is so carefree, a fresh shock. Don’t worry, just watch me.”
Her mischievous smile resembled the impish grin of Artemis herself, plunging me into even greater anxiety.
Just as I was about to question her plan once more!
“Hey! What are you two whispering so closely? Separate immediately!”
Artemis’s previously sleepy eyes suddenly lit up as she approached us with large strides.
While I flinched at her aggressive posture, Clotho did the opposite – she boldly linked her arms around mine.
Looking up at Artemis, she wore a taunting smile while
Artemis glared back, her eyes blazing with anger.
It was as if the goddess of jealousy had just awakened from her slumber.
“Hey, you tramp! He is my boyfriend! Why are you linking arms with him like this!?”
Artemis, whose possessiveness outshone even Hera’s jealousy, began gathering small orb-like moonlight energies as a silent threat to pierce Clotho’s skull should she remain.
When Clotho did not step back, Artemis turned her glare to me instead.
“Hey, you sympathy-seeking loser! What’s your problem just sitting there!? Get over here immediately!”
I found myself the unfortunate target of her wrath.
Instinctively trying to stand up out of fear,
I discovered Clotho clung to my shoulder like a cicada on an old tree, showing no sign of letting go.
If anything, she pressed her chest even closer to my arm,
Maintaining her mysterious smile of victory toward Artemis all the while.
BANG!
Artemis could no longer contain her rage.
Using the gathered moonlight energy, she blasted a large crater into the ground beneath us, fully displaying her fury.
“No second chances. Separate immediately.”
Artemis’s voice, low and threatening like the deep sea.
Still, Clotho stood her ground.
In fact, she counterattacked boldly.
“Artemis, why are you threatening my boyfriend?”
“Wha… What?! Are you delusional? Ark is mine. My boyfriend!”
From my perspective, I couldn’t grasp what was going on.
However, the moment Artemis declared me as hers, my heart skipped a beat.
“The Savior and I have been soulmates since 100 years ago.”
“You… you… you… disgusting! Filthy!!”
Given the unclear connection through the threads of fate, it’s uncertain which part Artemis considered obscene.
Her seemingly pure thoughts are as empty as her hairless head (though it’s hard to tell which).
Yet, with the conversation progressing, I began to roughly understand what kind of gift Clotho intended to give me.
“Artemis, it doesn’t matter what you think. Since we are soulmates, I am also the Savior’s partner.”
“What?! Are you insane? What kind of new genre are you promoting, trying to steal another’s boyfriend?!”
Enraged, Artemis charged toward us, resembling housewives fiercely competing for a sale item.
She struggled desperately to separate Clotho’s arm from mine.
When that failed, she grabbed Clotho’s pink hair and pulled.
“Ouch! Let go of me, you servile woman!!!”
“Shut up! You’re the one trying to steal another’s boyfriend!!”
A battle commenced between the two goddesses over me.
Ah.
Is this what they call an Alpha Male’s life?
Somehow deeply moving.
Even if I were to die now, I would have no regrets.
“It’s not stealing! I’m just serving him as my lord.”
“What…? If that’s not stealing, then what is it?!”
“You can serve him as your lord too!!”
At Clotho’s shocking statement, Artemis froze like a statue.
Come to think of it, “you” too?
Two women sharing one man?
Could this be…
“Polygamy! Many women naturally follow a great hero like the Savior.”
“Wha… Wha… Are you crazy? Talking about polygamy!! Ark alone is more than enough for me!”
“Hmph! Anyway, you’ll end up making his life miserable by holding his hand and causing endless troubles.”
“I… I am the Goddess of Purity! It’s natural to uphold one’s dignity!”
“Ne~ Ne~ Then you can be the first wife in the display window.”
“…What? Display window? First wife?”
“I’ll live happily with the Savior and have tons of children. Enough to form a soccer club!!”
“……”
“I’ll ensure you, as the pure one, take care of the back room. That way I’ll become the first wife. Hahaha!!”
“……”
“While you maintain your precious purity alone in the back, I’ll take leisurely walks with the lord and our children. Hohehehe!!!”
“Sniff…”
Leaning in close, Clotho mocked Artemis with a smug smile as she heard her sniffling.
Clotho.
Too cruel. This is too cruel!
Ah, but… oddly satisfying.
“Huh? Artemis, are you crying? Huh? Hehehehe. Savior, look! She’s really crying!!!”
“DieeeeAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!”
Artemis’s bloodshot eyes teared up as she lunged like a demon toward Clotho.
Their battle over me, resembling children wrestling on a playground, continued until Clotho finally uttered the magic words.
“Just kidding. It was all a joke!”
“…Is that really true?”
“Yes. The Savior is unique in his own right.”
Even then, Artemis felt an inexplicable sense of danger and unease, sticking close to me until our departure from Storm Island, refusing to let anyone else approach.
Her wariness was no joke.
Thus, I returned to the Temple, basking in the warmth and scent of my girlfriend Artemis while feeling satisfied by Clotho’s parting gift.
I couldn’t forget Clotho’s radiant smile as she waved goodbye to us.
Ah, yes.
This was both a great present from Clotho and
A small retaliation to forgive Artemis.
